Daithi stops short of setting me ablaze. The fire once again rests in his open palm, lighting the room as well as his grimace.

This seems to be my only chance now. I do not want to aid the villain. I cannot allow Daithi to win, but I don’t want to die. I’ll think of what to do after I’ve guaranteed my survival.

Standing tall, I strike the best deal I can come up with given the situation; “Like I said earlier, there are traps as well along the way to Arlador. I will tell you of them so we may get through them quickly and easily, possibly even before your siblings learn you have the map. Will this be proof that I speak the truth?”

In the novel, Daithi gets by fine without assistance. Not to say the traps aren’t a hassle because they definitely are, but I’m sure he’d like to know of them before we get there! We follow Daithi very rarely in the novel. Luckily the discovery of Arlador is one of those rare instances.

Daithi’s gaze narrows. He’s mulling it over. My hands shake, twisting together behind my back to hide the nerves. Time ticks away slowly until he gives a reluctant nod.

“When you retrieve the sword, I will even help you through the trials so you may master it. If not, I promise that you will never wield Arlador and you will lose during your fruitless attempts to do so.”

Daithi bristles at my words. Based on what I know of his character, he hates to lose. He hates being told he can’t do something. He’ll take that as a challenge and prove you wrong, like a child throwing a tantrum. That’s one of the many reasons he’s so dangerous. He doesn’t back down.

His flames grow higher when he asks, “What do you want?”

“Huh?”

“Surely there is a prize for your information, should it be true.”

Yes, that’s a good question. What I want is to go home, but I don’t know how to do that or if it’s even possible. I’ll continue to search where and however I can. If my fate is to remain in Meredin though, then I need to guarantee my future here as well.

“Safety,” I finally answer. Daithi wrinkles the bridge of his nose. “I will help you wield Arlador and give all the knowledge that I have in hopes to aid your cause. In exchange, I want to live a long, healthy, and safe life.”

The disgust on Daithi’s face almost makes me ill as well. I can take a guess as to what he’s thinking.

“I don’t need a mansion or mounds of gold, just enough to get by,” I explain. “Give me a nice space here at the castle until our work is done then send me to a comfortable cottage with enough to live out my days. That is all.”

“You say that now,” he growls, the words of a man that knows well what greed makes one become. He and his siblings know most of all. They’ve known only greed since their father’s passing.

“We can make it official in writing!” I declare. “Should I bother you for more than what is already promised, you can—”

“Execute you.”

“Ah that’s...isn’t that a bit excessive?”

“No. I find such a threat works wonders.”

Oh, he really is the villain. Why did I wake up as Kaeda, why?!

“Fine, you may... execute me.” I shiver then hold out my hand when asking, “Do we have a deal, Your Majesty?”

The flames disappear, taking the harsh light with them. Now there is only dim moonlight cascading in from the open balcony doors. A cool breeze circles in the room, brushing dark strands over Daithi’s unreadable gaze.

Between the two of us, he’d make a better spy. He’s able to hold eye contact without fear. He questions everything and everyone. He has the poker face of a professional. For all I know, he may be planning to kill me.

Daithi is not Aquilan. The book does not focus on him. While I know the future of the book, I do not know the one that I’ve possibly laid out before us. I can only influence it and hope that influence will still lead to the true end where Aquilan kills Daithi, and Meredin has it’s happily ever after.

One way or the other, I must steal the sword to take to the true protagonist or sabotage my own promise of guiding Daithi so Aquilan will take the sword himself in time. I’m walking a dangerous line.

“You’re an odd one,” says Daithi, looking me up and down with a slight grin. He steps closer, encasing my hand that dwarfs his in comparison. “We have a deal, Kaeda Jordilyn.”

The name sends a shock through me. I guess there is no going back.

Faith Piers is no more. Now, and possibly forever, I am Kaeda Jordilyn.