Closing my eyes, I recalled how it had been before, when I was young and hopeful and innocent. I wasn’t that Aofie anymore, and with that knowledge, I lunged for the sword. Something warned me, and I knew better than to touch it with my bare hands. I pulled the strip of fabric loose and hastily wrapped the sword in it before securing the bundle to my back, and then I ran for the open window and leaped for one of those spindly branches.
“Thief!”
The call rang out as I swung through the air, the branch bending to fling me close to the ground. In the dark, the height was dizzying. Only the call of “Thief! Thief!” and the glow behind me forced me to let go.
I fell, my mouth open in a silent scream as I hit the ground. My ankle rolled, sending a fiery pain up my leg, but I forced myself up. Reorienting myself, I made out the path that led to the bridge. I had to reach it before the elven warriors did, or I’d be staying in Anon Loam, likely in the dungeons, for I’d disobeyed the direct order of the queen.
Hurling a ball of light into the wood to confuse them, I fled, ignoring the pain in my ankle.
My luck held, for the darkness covered my flight as I pounded over the bridge and into the wood, each step sending a stinging pain flaring through me. I did not want to be caught, and kept going as vague shapes fluttered around me. When I looked behind, lights flashed and hooves pounded the ground. They were searching for someone, something, although they did not know who. I had no doubt that if the queen found me, she’d know, for she’d sense the magic I had stolen.
Heart in my throat, I continued, my breath rough from my impassioned run.
“Aofie?”
A shape stepped out and I heard the snort and paw of a beast.
“Romulus?” I slowed, chest heaving.
“I’m here too.” Takari held up a blue light, her face pinched with confusion. “What happened?”
“They are coming.” I pointed back toward the crystal palace. “We should go before they catch up.”
A pause added tension to the air, and then, “Come, we have horses.”
He led me to one and helped me swing up. Relief at getting off my ankle soon passed as I tried to adjust to riding. I squeezed my legs around the horse and grabbed the reins as we raced into the mist, leaving the elven warriors and Anon Loam behind.
Chapter Forty-Six
“What did you do?”Romulus demanded, eyes dark, mouth set. In his fury, he appeared more icy than usual.
My limbs shook with exhaustion, but no more than those of the horses, who were shivering and sweating, stamping out their disapproval at being driven so hard. The sky had turned pale enough to allow me to see our surroundings. The throbbing of my ankle had faded into a distant ache, and the weight of what I’d done settled like a shroud around my shoulders. I lifted my chin as I met his gaze, letting my frustration bleed through. “I did what I thought was right.”
Romulus swung off his mount and tied the reins to a nearby tree before removing the saddle. He stomped over to me and snatched the reins out of my hands, making me wobble. I grasped the saddle horn for support.
“No.” He glared up at me. “They wouldn’t have chased us if you’d done something right. You stole something and now they’ll assume Takari and I were in on it. Did you think about that before you made an impulsive move?”
A muscle in my jaw twitched as I stared down at him, fully aware that a year ago, I would have apologized. Nay, a year ago, I’d never have stolen the sword lashed to my back. “I only took what was mine,” I told him.
“Without consulting Takari and I?” Romulus demanded, pointing at Takari, who was speaking to her horse and ignoring our argument.
I wanted to get down but was afraid my legs wouldn’t hold me. They felt stiff from sitting in such an awkward position, and I did not want Romulus to see any more of my discomfort. “I did not think you needed to know,” I told him. “You decided to come with me and that was enough.”
“Why must you be difficult?” he snarled.
“Why must you be angry?” I retorted, wondering what had gotten into me.
“Because that’s my home and you’ve destroyed the peace! Now I have to go back and fix it, which will only delay us.”
I chewed my bottom lip, thinking, for the first time, maybe I should have thought through my actions instead of being impulsive. I did not know how to explain it, but I needed the sword. It was part of my future, although I did not understand how or why. Now the madness that had driven me faded away. I’d used too much magic and left myself exhausted. I blinked, my vision blurring. I needed sleep. “I’m sorry,” I murmured. “Ever since you took me to see the sword, I’ve wanted it, and now…”
I trailed off as his eyes widened. Dropping the reins, he gave a low whistle and stepped back, a new regard coming to his eyes. “That’swhat you stole?”
His voice was awed, hushed, almost respectful, as though I were a goddess appearing to humans for the first time.
I nodded, still unwilling to bring the sword into the light. I’d been afraid to ask about it, afraid to read about it in the scrolls, even though I searched them for knowledge of magical weapons. Even Donia’s training had only given me the knowledge to see if it were mine, to take it for myself. Now I knew the sword belonged to me, but Takari’s warning gave me pause about using it. Aside from the red glow, I did not know what the sword looked like, and hidden in the fabric, the hum it produced was minor, as though blocked.
“Aofie. The queen will be furious.”
