Long strands of chestnut hair catch on my cloak as we try our best to escape and a horse’s tail flicks against me. Through the bond, Iri can feel every touch, the sensation of each other’s presence strong as the adrenaline and fear grow within us. Iri twists, throwing his hand between me and the horse. The strands flick away.
“I’m okay,” I whisper. “Keep going.”
He turns back, worry creasing his eyebrows as he nods. The incoming clouds hide the sun, casting a mocking night over us. Lightning flashes as Rigs breaks through the crowd, creating a clear path.
Yelling breaks out on the other side of the carriage. A new group of villagers charging forward like they have been waiting for this moment for far too long.
Something in Rig’s expression sends a sting of pain through Iri’s and my bond, the feeling unidentifiable as his or my own as it tugs at my emotions so strongly. His gaze begging Iri to stop this, even as his body twists this way and that to defend his king.
Rigs knows what Iri could do. We all do.
A guard stumbles and falls into our path, clutching his bleeding side. Blood oozing between his fingers where someone has slipped a blade between his upper and lower armor. Rigs hooks his arms under the man's shoulders, whispering fiercely into his ear and lifts him back to his feet. The camaraderie between the two obvious as it propels them back into their tasks.
Old but well-managed buildings become the target. Black rock lining the small alleyway behind them. Lightning shatters the skyline, lighting up the shops. Wind violently rocks the wooden signs that tell of the store’s names.
The crowd's focus remains on the carriage. Rigs shoulders through the last few straggling people, leaving us space to pass by. He bows his head, turning to catch the few drifting eyes that follow us as we sprint away. His sword cuts through their voices before they can even dare to say a word about the location of their King and Princess.
Cold drops of rain begin to sprinkle down. A gentle warning of what is to come. It flattens my hair, slicking it against my forehead the harder I run. Every spike of noise gives me more adrenaline, pushing me to go faster.
The long wall of a shop passes, and I press myself against the back wall. Iri paces near me.
“Should I have stopped it? Should I stop it now?” Sparks ignite and fall away from his palms as he presses them together.
“If you kill all of your citizens, then you won’t have anyone to rule over,” I hiss.
Rain falls harder, my hand rising to wipe away the droplets running down my face. Iri shakes his head, watching me then watching as the crowd breaks through the guards and begins shaking the carriage.
“They’ll realize we aren’t there soon. We have to go.”
“You’re right.” I jog two feet, stopped only by Iri’s hand on my shoulder.
“Where are you going?”
“We’re going to the fountain?”
Bear rakes his teeth over his lip. One open palm lifts from his side, his eyes closing, his mouth opening. Promptly, he closes his mouth and balls his fist.
“You don’t even need to think about this.” I grab both his hands, pulling him toward me. “You’ve been the Cruel King for long enough. Now, you’ll be the King who saves them.”
Large burnt-honey eyes fill with desire to fill that role. His thoughts echo a deep-seated doubt, which in turn combats the strength of his pride that says that he can. Bear rolls his shoulders and with a nod, takes off toward the fountain. I follow closely.
Buildings come and go beside us. Every so often, the gasp of a pedestrian startles us, as they see their King, glowing embers trailing behind him, and their Princess, now shoeless, running by. It doesn’t deter us.
The beautiful space where carnivals are held, where the Cursebreaker festival was held, is empty. Lights are dim in the storefronts. Some shops already closed in anticipation of the storm or boarded up as families have fled the city for fear of its curse.
My eyelashes feel heavy with water, each blink a bit harder than the last. Rain rolling down my cheeks like the tears that I should have cried. Fatigue tells me to slow down. The strained beat of my heart telling me I should have done more cardio and less fine dining.Now isn't the time to be thinking about going on a diet.
In a circle, large, important buildings loop around the fountain. Goddess Celeste’s statue pours into the water that feeds to the rest of the kingdom. Rain bounces off the surface, creating ripples that eat the drops and fill the fountain nearly to the rim.
We slow, Bear reaching the fountain first. He lowers himself, dropping his face toward the water and inhaling.
“I don’t smell anything.”
I step forward, dipping my hands into the chilling water. I want to feel the poison. I beg the water to tell me anything, to identify the poison within its composition.
The witch’s words echo in my mind.“Maybe you are not asking the right questions. Does the water tell you of every person it drowns? Does the water tell you of its story or simply the stories of others?”
The water is aiding in the deaths of thousands. She was right, water never told me of its downfalls. Desperately, I lift tendrils of water up into the air. They arc in dripping shapes like translucent trees sprouting from their roots. I beg my magic to separate the two.
