"Take him up the mountain."
Two guards seized me, one on each side. I hauled my broken body forward, one step, one bow, one step, one bow.
Two days without food or water, freshly poisoned and wounded. I passed out and came to and passed out again along the way.
I have no memory of how I obtained the blessing charm. All I know is that the moment I saw Lola waiting at the bottom, my legs gave out and I collapsed.
She caught me and gathered me into her arms.
"Alaric, you've suffered so much. I promise, even after I marry Milton, you'll be the only one in my heart."
I closed my eyes slowly. Three days ago, I might have believed those words. Now they made my stomach turn.
"You have your blessing charm. Let me go."
But she ignored my plea and had me carried back to the cottage.
"Alaric, don't be stubborn. Tomorrow is my wedding. Milton has agreed to let you keep living in the cottage afterward. You'll stay out of each other's way. All right?"
Before she left, she added one last instruction: "The Crown Prince may attend the ceremony tomorrow. Stay in the cottage and don't cause trouble."
Shortly after she was gone, my father's covert agents found me.