She looks up at me in confusion, her ice blue eyes sharpening.
“We are looking for someone,” I continue as I step closer towards the wooden brown desk she is standing behind. I press my chest forwards and look down at the woman in front of me, making sure we get the answer we need. “Gwen Fenyra and Hazel Taryn Angevine,” I breathe out, looking a bit irritated, but I don’t mind. She flips through the pages of the books.
“Mmm,” she murmurs, looking up at me and taking her glasses off. “Aren’t those candidates off those king’s trials?” she asks, fixing her messy grey bun with her hands. Just like all puzzle pieces click together she blinks her eyes a few times, her mouth opens as she looks from me to Eliane and back to me. She swallows before speaking up again. “You are contestants, that is why your guys are wearing those funny clothes and weapons,” she whispers, just like she can’t get those words over her lips.
“Fighting leathers,” I correct her in a whisper. The lady gives a disagreeing look before turning to Eliane.
“Yes, we are.” Eliane nods her head in agreement before answering, elbowing me.
“Eliane Lux Angevine, isn’t it? And Braxton Lance Dunkeld?” she asks. I want to correct her that it actually is Prince Braxton Lance Dunkeld, but I keep my mouth shut, preventing another elbow in my groin. She focuses her gaze on Eliane, grabs her hand and her gaze softens.
“How come you need to find your sister?” she asks, but she doesn’t look really surprised at all. Before Eliane can open her mouth she starts talking again. “Come follow me, sweet girl, I have been waiting for you.” Eliane gives me a disoriented look, but still follows the woman into the dark. I follow her, scared oflosing her. She is getting dragged into a room and gives me a look over her shoulder before the old lady somehow slams the door close in front of my nose, not wanting me to follow. My hands grab the knob of the door and start pushing it.
It won’t budge.
I do the only thing I can possibly do at this moment. I break through Eliane’s walls and get in her mind. How come her walls are this weak already? I feel someone else in her mind, but I can’t tell who it is. I can feel Eliane thinking and can feel the woman’s eyes on here. Eliane’s mind slips to a saying I assume the old woman has told her.
“Repeat it, please. I want to hear what she is saying to you,”I tell her, but she doesn’t react. It feels like minutes have passed, but it can’t be more than two. My body feels tired, sore and tingles as the door opens again. The old lady hurries besides me, and Eliane gives me a shrug. “Now let’s see. Hazel and Gwen, wasn’t it?” the old lady squeaks. I nod my head firmly. She looks through the book using her pointing finger to read, but the pages of the book fly without using her hands.
How did she do that? Is she a tele too?
“What is your signet?” I huff out. The pages fall down and ice blue eyes shoot towards me.
“Gwen and her parents live at Lunarislane 31. Hazel lives with her parents on Taploz at Vrynella 72,” she hisses, ignoring my question from before. She slams the book close and strolls towards the back. Her hips shake and it almost looks like she is flying. The door of the backroom flies open and before she can slam it close, Eliane’s voice sounds loud.
“Thank you, miss,” she rejoices, smiling at the lady. The old woman gives her a slight smile as she looks over her shoulder. She slams the door closed, leaving the shop shaking.
Chapter 21
Eliane
‘When darkness falls, sharpen your aim,
follow the call that echoes your name.
Your heart will burn, unless you let it in,
don’t go in denial, not again.
You are the curse, but so the kingdom’s last hope,
let your light guide you where shadows elope.
Keep your calm during the fourth, or past will return,
trust the voice where the answers burn.
On the shelf lies the key to it all,
listen to the calling, or the kingdom will fall.’
I repeat the saying this old lady told me after she dragged me into the strange looking cabin in the back, trying to memorize it word for word. There were potions across every table filled with things I don’t want to think about. Some of them were green, others dark brown and some as red as blood. But those weren’t the strangest things. There were marks written in blood on the wall in a writing I have never seen before. I am not sure it was blood, but by how it looked and the smell of iron that still clingsin my nose, I assume it was. Braxton and I stroll through the dark towards Gwen’s house. He hasn’t asked me what she told me, and I don’t think he will, but something tells me he is dying to know. My brain hurts as I try to wrap my head around it. My heart will burn? Unless I let it in? Does she want me to fall in love? I don’t get it. And what does she mean with the fourth? Does she mean the fourth trial? She doesn’t need me to stay calm, Braxton is the one with anger problems. Braxton speaks up and wakes me from my thoughts.
“I think we’re there.” My eyes look up from the ground and try to take in this huge building in front of me. As we walked, the houses got bigger and I understood we approached the richer part of Ilanos. Except this building is almost half the size of the palace. It has this rich white kind of color. I know that is strange for white because it is the palest color there is, but this white is rich in color. The entrance has a big stair and a huge garden that surrounds the house. That isn’t the problem, though. We stand in front of an enormous fence that has points that look as sharp as the daggers stuck in my belt. My gaze finds Braxton. He rubs his chin, and my eyes trace the tattoo on his neck that disappears under the hem of his shirt. Before I can open my mouth, he speaks up.
“Step back,” he commands. I do as he says but can’t stop myself from reacting to his commanding sound.
“Alright, mister bossy, or should I say self-centered prick.” The corner of my mouth turns up and he looks at me with his lips straight but this sparkle in his eyes as they light up. A gigantic stone flies through the air as Braxton twists his hand. With a fast speed it hits the lock of the gate. It flies open and I look at him shocked.
