ARC: The Wizard's Promise by Cassandra Rose Clarke

care of.”
    “An errand? An errand ?” I threw my hands up in the air in frustration. “You couldn’t have told me about it?” Then I peered at him, considering. “Why’d you bring me, anyway? You clearly don’t need me.”
    Kolur hesitated.
    “Well?” I snapped. “I know it’s not just because you thought I’d have a good time. You’re the most unadventurous person I’ve ever met.” Even though I wasn’t so certain of that now.
    Kolur let out a deep breath. “I didn’t know about it until after we had made sail. I had to make a quick decision, and I chose to bring you.”
    I stared at him. “The bones,” I said, remembering the way they had scattered across the deck, foretelling times of strife and strangers coming to town. “I knew what I saw.”
    Kolur looked away from me.
    “And you lied to me. You said they spelled out the same thing both times.”
    “I know what I said.” He ran a hand over his wind-tangled hair. “I didn’t handle it as well as I should have.”
    “You think?”
    He gave me a dark look. “Well, you’re always saying you wanted an adventure.”
    “You still lied to me.” I pointed back at Frida. “Besides, you don’t even need me. That’s why she’s here, isn’t it? ‘Cause you need someone trained to do magic? Real magic?”
    Kolur gave me a long look and didn’t answer.
    “Sea and sky, why didn’t you just say from the beginning–”
    “It’s difficult to explain.” He gave me a weak half smile. “If I’d turned around to take you home, I’d never have made it. But I swear I’ll have you back home in only a few weeks’ time.”
    “A few weeks?” My chest tightened. “Mama will be worried sick. Papa, too – they’ll come looking for me.”
    “I sent word that we were delayed.”
    “You what ?”The whole world spun around. Kolur kept staring at me, as unperturbed as if we were arguing about the fishing schedule or repairs to the boat. “You told them but you didn’t tell me?”
    “I had my reasons,” he said quietly.
    I tore away from him, shaking with fury. Frida looked at us from her place at the wheel, the wind tossing her braid around. Everything was falling into place. The extra supplies. Frida joining us on the trip. Kolur’s strangeness during the storm–
    “You caused this.” I whirled around to face him. “You made all this happen. I don’t know how, but you – you’re planning something.”
    He didn’t deny it.
    My eyes were heavy, and my face was hot. I raced over to the stairs and climbed down below. As soon as I was off the deck, the tears spilled out. I thought about Mama receiving word that I’d be home in a few weeks. It was from Kolur; she wouldn’t think anything of it.
    He’d betrayed me. He’d betrayed her .
    I slammed the door to my cabin and shoved the trunk of old sails up against it. I hoped that would be enough to hold him – I hoped he wouldn’t get Frida to use magic. Then I dug through my stack of clothes until I found that charm I’d bought in Beshel-by-the-Sea. I’d taken it off when I’d boarded the boat, thinking I was safe.
    I slipped on the charm, and its thin protective spell rippled through me. I collapsed down on the bed and took deep breaths as tears dripped down the side of my face.
    I didn’t know if the bracelet would keep me safe from Frida’s magic. It certainly wouldn’t take me home, where Papa could soothe me the way he had once when I was a little girl, telling me that all liars are punished by the ancestors. But it was better than nothing. Even so, I lay there weeping, with no idea what to do next.
     
    I woke with a jolt in the middle of the night. My face was sticky with dried tears, and the charmed bracelet had twisted tight around my wrist. I couldn’t see anything. I was in a void.
    No – I just hadn’t activated the lantern before I fell asleep.
    I crawled out of the cot and felt around until I found the lantern’s familiar round curves. “Light,” I whispered,