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"Jasmine "

"I’aze level and steady "He talked a lot of talk when he came to see metouched me a little But that was it I think they just wanted to scareI didn’t ask I was just relieved she hadn’t gone through what I had "I’m sorry," I told her "I’m sorry I didn’t protect you better"

Now she sht? You won"

I turned away, staring off into space "I guess I did"

We didn’t talk ic Apparently, using an ancient, powerful artifact wasn’t as easy as it seee piece of land I’d felt wiped out last tiotten out of the Thorn Land as quickly as possible Now, sitting here, I was stuck in the Rowan Land, still acutely aware of its every sensation That intensity would fade, just as it had with the Thorn Land, but for now, it was like a ha attention

I practically flew to the gate when Rurik arrived Once ad the situation, he had a reaction similar to Volusian’s

"Really?"

"Things happened kind of fast," I ad this land was aKatrice in battle"

I scowled "Well, can you possess it for now?"

He grinned "Gladly"

Turning froathered "You’re all now subjects of Queen Eugenie, daughter of Tirigan Stor," he barked "Kneel"

I looked on imperiously as they obeyed I knew this was necessary to establish our control No weakness, no hesitation We were conquerors I’d long since taken off the Iron Crown but wished I’d brought my normal one of authority Oh, well It wasn’t like I could’ve foreseen this when packing

Everyone in the keep fell to their knees, heads bowed We let them stay like that for several seconds while my stomach sank Finally, they were allowed to rise, and Rurik kicked into fullan assessees He had a few tasks for me - more actions thatI could leave

"I’ll sort out the immediate problems," he told me in a low voice My own soldiers were now out and about, establishing order "We’ll lock this place down, start scouting the i out those who can be trusted" He paused eloquently "I’ll probably have to throw a large part of their eon"

"Do what you have to do," I said I had a feeling he’d eventually want to talk executions but was holding back for now I iined I looked as tired as I felt

"And you simply want to imprison the former queen for now?" he asked

"For now"

Jasmine scoffed beside me, and Rurik’s expression showed he shared her opinion

"Well, don’t stay away long," he said "You need to make your presence felt And you need to connect with the land"

"I know, I know," I grumbled I’d avoided the Thorn Land before, but it had kept calling me back "I kno this works"

He arched an eyebrow, that sardonic s "Do you? Do you knohat’s happened?"

I threw dom"

"Do you kno do whoever did must live far from me

"No one," said Rurik

"IWhat? No" Dorian hadme think it ested as much "There must be someone else"

"No one," Rurik repeated "You’re the only one The only one in ageswell, except for Storain I once o soer smile to Rurik’s face, but I swore there was a little syratulations," he said "Congratulations, Eugenie - Queen of Rowan and Thorn"