Summary

In Chapter 17, Agnieszka suffers through the trip on horseback to the capital. One night, she asks Marek to let her and Kasia return home, but he says the king sent him to “deal with Sarkan's corrupted village girl,” and that he intends to deliver Kasia or Kasia's head to the king (228). Marek says that Kasia and Queen Hanna will have the same fate. Solya later says that the law requires that corrupted be killed. When Agnieszka asks if the king will pardon the queen, he does not answer. They are met outside Kralia, the capital, by magical officials who perform spells showing Kasia and Hanna are not corrupt. The king orders a magical healer named Willow to see after them. Agnieszka sneaks in to see Kasia but is quickly ordered away. She announces she has a letter for the king.

In Chapter 18, Agnieszka...