If Nova doesn’t like Cedar, she most definitely doesn’t like Cedar’s mom, Ash.

There is something about her presence that puts Nova on edge. It’s like she feels like she knows Nova more than she does herself. Ash and Nova’s mom knew one another, so perhaps she does know a few family secrets, but that doesn’t mean she knows Nova.

For the first time, she feels out of sync with Haze. Haze seems perfectly happy with their new travel additions. She profusely chats with them like it’s normal to be taking them to the castle.

Faira is in the same suspicious boat that Nova is in. They both pulling up the rear, keeping the new people in their sights.

Ash turns around and looks at Nova. There’s this smugness that emanates from her. It causes chills up Nova’s spine. “Did your mother ever tell you——“ she gets cut off by Nova who in an instant has her knife out.

She’s not pointing it at Ash, but she spins it in her hands, glaring at her. “You don’t ever get to use our mom. She did enough for you for you to do that.”

Putting her hands up as if to say she surrenders, she gives a chuckle before facing front again. “You are exactly how I remember, Nova.”

Good. It means she always knew how to survive. Though she doesn’t need validation from her.

Though Ash doesn’t say it as a compliment.

Haze swivels with a concerned expression on her face. Nova shakes her head. She doesn’t need Haze to calm her down. She’s calm.

As the three walk in front of them, Faira slows down further. Nova matches her pace, careful to have Haze still in her vision. She doesn’t like how friendly the Callarays are being. They aren’t known for being the kindest creatures in the Wild Thicket.

Once the trio is far enough for them not to be heard, Faira says, “Do you trust them? Even if they tell us something, can we believe it?” Nova doesn’t trust many, especially the Callarays. So she doesn’t trust them.

But she does believe in their information. So that means unfortunately, they have to go through with this deal.

“No. But their knowledge is. No matter my feelings about them, they are not liars. They will uphold their promise.” Faira nods, that being enough for her.

The rest of the journey is smooth. The Wild Thicket not throwing anything they couldn’t handle their way. With three witches, even if they hit a few bumps, it is easily avoided. The woods must know of their deal, the words carrying in the breeze.

She hopes that it knows of her and Haze’s mission. Clearing the witch name could mean something to her home. They won’t need protection anymore if the stereotype of witches is dispelled.

Once they reach the end of the treeline, the castle comes into sight. She never knew she could be so relieved to see it.

Its height no longer warps into unrelenting highs. It is just a building. A building that holds Ward. And Princess Aziza.

The pinks of the sunset bathe the stone into this beautiful glow. It makes the castle look like it is in the heavens.

She wonders if this is how her mom saw the castle and royal family. Their mom had so much faith in her story of the Oreza kingdom. Maybe if she could see this, she would say that this was directly plucked from her dreams.

But she isn’t here. She’s stuck with Ash and Cedar.

“We’re approaching the castle. I think it’s time we hear what you know,” Faira comments, eying the witch mother and daughter duo.

Cedar goes to protest, but Ash puts a hand up to stop her. They share a look that quiets Cedar down. “Don Vesperine is a very old man. Has lived much longer than any other natural life. While witches’ magic revolves around the natural world, a wizard doesn’t have the same limits. There once was a time that witches were revered and wizards were the ones shunned.”

That’s news to Nova. Maybe her mom’s stories weren’t all fairytales.

“What changed?” Haze inquired. Nova looks to her and can see the curiosity in her eyes. The hope. The hope that the stories weren’t just stories.

It’s that hope that concerns Nova. She doesn’t want to see Haze be disappointed or disheartened.

That’s the risk of going to Ash and Cedar. Not all the information you get, you’ll want to hear.

Ash hesitates, teetering on what to say. It’s the most uncertain she’s ever seen the woman to be. Usually, she is the smartest one in the room and she knows it. Which is infuriating. But this, she isn’t sure. “I’m not exactly sure. We get our information from the trees and wind and water. Secrets carry through nature. But that only goes so far. Something I do know is that the shift begins with Sebastian. When he was king. Something happened to him. Tragic. Heartbreaking.”

“Something so bad that would cause him to hate an entire species?” Nova asks, raising an eyebrow.

“Precisely.”

They have a starting point. A direction to go in.

While not as explicit as she would have liked, she should have known that stopping a wicked wizard wouldn’t be easy.