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It really felt like that, like I was killing a living thing And in a way, I was I was destroying the land’s connection to Katrice The land and its monarch are one Kind of an esoteric conceptbut, well, the truth I’d certainly felt it in the Thorn Land It hy I couldn’t ever stay away fro It called to me It was part ofthing in two White-hot power burned throughwithinto the dirt below I had little sense ofBelow me, in a spiritual sort of way, I could feel the land resisting at first It didn’t want to break its ties In the end, it had no choice The crown’sSeconds,it took, probably hardly any time at all But suddenly, it was done The crown’s power faded from me, and the land lay there open and unclaiic’s haze wore off, the rest of the world slowly shifted back into focus forfaces and at Katrice, huddled and sobbing I thought she’d aged before, but it was nothing co ripped froray now, her face gaunt and lined

And all aroundall around, the land was restless I could feel its energy, calling outreaching outyearning for a new nition of this They were still watching the drama of me and Katrice A few spectators had puzzled looks on their faces, as though they too could hear the land

It was because they were powerful enough to take it, I realized The land was already seeking those who possessed the strength to join with it, and looking up, I saw from Cassius’s face that he could sense that Katrice’s son hadn’t had the power to claidom, but her nephew did

So, for my next iround Just like the last tirew soft and warh sowar heat I closedto stay with that connection, to shoorthy Part of ht to claim this land as well

Then, I felt it I felt the land accept an to shake At first, I thought it was just soic, but then I remembered what had happened when the Thorn Land had bound itself to me The land took on the forht to dom had shaped itself into the Sonora Desert, the land of

No, no! Not again A se into a desert had wreaked havoc on its residents We’d faced starvation, drought, poverty It was only recently that the kingdo prosperous and self-sustaining I wouldn’t go through that again Frantically, I tried to think of some other form But what? I hardly ever left the southwestern United States A quick ie of the Catalina mountains flashed into my mind, the slopes snowy and pine-covered like the day Kiyo and I had fought the derip that picture, and I yanked it away This kingdoe of its terrain I couldn’t turn this place into Switzerland or Nepal

Stay the saed the land For the sake of its occupants, I needed the landscape to reh The land wanted to bond toback to the journey here, I tried to picture the rows and rows of cherry trees along the road I reh other deciduous trees and flowers growing in clusters I thought about the stretch of rowan trees Stay the same, stay the saan to slow its shaking and finally stop - except for one spot Not far froround cracked open and leaves and branches burst through I scurried back, watching in as rowing and unfurling its leaves to full-size in seconds I heldwhat it would be, this tree that dictated dom’s nature

It wasa rowan tree

I wasn’t the only one who thought this eird "Didn’t you claim it?" asked Jas dust off of my jeans

"I " Had I? That was a rowan tree,- the Rowan Land Which is what it had been already Maybe it hadn’t worked Maybe the crown hadn’t done what I expected it to Maybe Katrice had won it back somehow

But, no There it was I felt it The land The earth The rocks Every leaf and flower The scents, the colorsthey were all sharper and le piece of this land It hu, and I forced myself to shut it out for a ly "It’s mine" I stared at the rowan tree, e-colored berries bright against green leaves swaying in the breeze I reached out and stroked one of the leaves, vaguely aware of Katrice still sobbing A tingle of power ran through me "It’s still the Rowan Landexcept, it’s s were a little aard after that

The soldiers were no longer trying to imprison me, but they also weren’t ready to jump at my every order My companions were of little use Imanuelle, per her nature, was content to sit back and watch thelook on his face, and I feared I’d have a lecture co later Jasmine still seemed to be in shock The only time she came to life hen I debated what to do with Katrice and Cassius Unsurprisingly, Jasestion was to kill the someone would obey me "Guard them with "

I was kind of at a loss Theoretically, gentry kne this worked Whoever controlled the land ruled, but I wasn’t entirely sure the guards around here would be so keen about io Volusian, I thought Now that I was in control, I could summon him without fear Then, I realized I needed hily at Kiyo, needing no words

He nodded "I’ll watch the the foruards who’d decided to get on board with uard served two purposes I could trust hier I was safe from his disapproval

I then spoke the words to bring Volusian tothose who already watched me with terror I’d let the storm dissipate, but darkness still seemed to wrap around my minion as his red eyes assessed me, the Iron Crown, and the tree

"Unexpected," he said

"Go to Rurik," I told hi force here immediately" I didn’t knohat that meant exactly, but I did knowto secure the land Rurik would knohat to do Governing would come later "And then " Now I hesitated "Have Shaya contact Dorian about what happened Then return toelse Imore cahter It was all a waiting galanced around at the Rowan Land’s still-stunned residents

"Wellthat’s it Carry on as usual Guard the gates No one leaves And yougo get your soup orwhatever you’re eating" That was for the civilians When no one moved, I hardened my expression and repeated my orders more loudly Fear flashed across the Rowan citizens’ faces, and they sprang into action

This inner courtyard was huge, and I spotted an unoccupied spot near some carts that must have delivered supplies earlier I walked over to theround It was a weird spot for a queen, I supposed, but I wanted to rest while waiting for Rurik Plus, it still let erous situation The bulk of the guards were out here, and I didn’t thinkafter ather in anxious clusters and discuss what had happened

Jasainst the wall "I want to go hoets here, we’ll head back to the castle and let him deal with this"

"No" Her voice was small "My other home The huging uards to let them out "What? But you hate that world You always said this is where you fit in"

"It is," she agreed "But I just wantI want to get away froic And castles Andwhatever I want to watch TV I e my iPod And my playlist doesn’t suck"

I couldn’t help a laugh "I kind of want all those things too We’ll go soon We’llwe’ll cut those chains I-I’m sorry I don’t have the key with ed "It’s fine"

"Kiyo’s going to be upset about all this," Iin her

"You did the right thing," Jas Katrice and Cassius But you can still do that"

Any residual smile left on ," she said bluntly "He didn’t do anything"