Joshen peeked at the contents in disgust. “Truth serum.” His face blanched. “So that’s why I couldn’t stop myself from answering your questions, why I couldn’t leave.”
Senna shot him a glare just as baleful as the one she was using on Arianis. She’d warned him the other Apprentice would use him. Why hadn’t he listened? “How long ago did you start drinking it?”
He set the cup down on the table as if it might grow teeth and bite him. “Long enough.”
“You had better have a good reason for giving Joshen a potion without his consent.” Senna’s words came out with a chant-like, dangerous edge—nearly a song. With her sensitivity to the Four Sisters, she felt them perk up, listening.
Arianis tossed her wavy hair over her shoulder and thrust a folded piece of paper towards Senna. “So tell me, Creator-touched, when can the Truth Serum be administered?”
Senna stared unseeing at the paper before her gaze slowly shifted to Arianis. Without having to read it, she suddenly knew. “When did they advance you to a full Keeper?”
Arianis’ smile transformed her from beautiful to radiant, but Senna knew she was truly monstrous. “Three days ago. I think Coyel was feeling a bit guilty about discarding me for you. Besides, we need a glassmaker to replace our windows. But our inability to stop the earth tremor and wave will probably anger the Nefaliens. They needed a face no one in Corrieth would recognize as a Witch.”
Senna’s mouth went dry. She turned to Joshen. “A Keeper may use the Truth Serum when she’s considering Guardians.”
Anger colored his cheeks. “Without informing me first?”
Arianis smiled gently at him, as if he were a child throwing a tantrum instead of a grown man who’d been tricked into drinking a potion. “You would have resisted had you known. For that reason, the Heads gave me the discretion not to tell you.”
Her gaze went back to Senna. “So you believe you’ve Traveled? And there are hundreds of Witches outside Haven that threaten us? And I never would have guessed you’d seek out Espen. I wonder what the Heads would think of that.”
Joshen looked drained. “I had to answer her. And I couldn’t leave. I’m sorry.”
The potion would make him weak-willed. Malleable. If Arianis had told Joshen to stay, he would have. She addressed Arianis. “Have you forgotten what happened to the last Witch who hurt someone I loved?” Senna felt powerful and dangerous.
Apparently oblivious, Arianis set her jaw. “I didn’t hurt him.”
Again, Senna had to tamp down her anger. Joshen knew nearly all Senna’s secrets. And now so did Arianis. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t shove Bindweed down your throat and let you molder like the worthless lump you are.”
Arianis had the good sense to blanch. “The Heads would imprison you until you freed me and then banish you from the island.”
Fury burned so bright and hot in Senna that she had a hard time forming words. Finally, she said, “I’ve fought Witch Hunters. Crossed an ocean while blinded by fog. I’ve been shot and born the weight of men dying for me. Faced the Dark Witch alone. I’ve seen the Creators’ faces.
“I’m not afraid of you, Arianis. And you have no idea how dangerous an enemy I can be.”
Fear finally touched Arianis. “The Heads recommended Joshen as my Guardian.”
Of course. They wanted to keep Senna and Joshen apart. What better way than to send him away? “Joshen, get me out of here before I do something I can’t take back.”
He obeyed the command without hesitation, laying a hand on her shoulder. His touch spread through her, cooling her anger. Shaking, she let him lead her from the tree house.
“I have chosen Joshen as my Guardian,” Arianis cried out. “He will accompany me or be released from his Guardianship. Is that what you want, Senna?”
Joshen’s grip tightened on Senna’s shoulder. “I’ll talk to Reden. He’ll straighten this out.”
Senna didn’t think there was anything Reden could do. The Heads outranked him. Still, she kept walking.
“I’ll tell them about Espen,” Arianis called after them.
Senna caught sight of Collum, watching from his position half hidden beside a tree.
“Collum, shut her up,” Joshen ordered. “I’ve got Senna for tonight.”
Collum nodded once and strode toward Arianis.
“Do you know he feels trapped here?” Arianis struggled against Collum. “That he longs for adventure, for horses and the open sea? That he has every intention of stopping you if you try to leave the island?”
Joshen whirled around, his hand automatically straying toward his musket. “You’re twisting what I said!”