“Just remember what Evren told you,” Sam says. “You answer by his name, you were a hunter, but you came to the Jade Guild to assist Thaddeus in his old age.”
“Right.” I nod, but my mind has drifted. Panic begins to gnaw its way through my gut.
Everything hinges on the Autumn Moon.
On the trust that hangs between Lord Thaddeus and I. He’s promised to aid us, promised that the other members of the Guilds will be in attendance. If this plan doesn’t work, if we don’t get Elora?—
No.
I won’t let myself think that far. Wewillget her out. We have to.
My heart constricts as I look at the mask again, smirking under it for my sister's cleverness.
“You’ve outdone yourself.” I say to her over my shoulder. She smiles, leaning against the doorway.
“You’d better get a move on, Thaddeus will be waiting for you.”
“I’ll see you at the Onyx Guild in a week, Sam. Be careful.” I fight the urge to scratch at the mask around my eyes. “Take care of the pups.”
She laughs. “Please, Jarek has already named them. That man couldn’t resist a puppy if he tried. I love you, brother,” Sam says, giving me her biggest shite-eating grin. “Be safe.”
“I love you, too.”
With Sam gone, I take one more glance in the mirror before changing and meeting Thaddeus. A smile dances over my lips as I trace my fingers over the black mask.
The Autumn Moon is a party for sheep, and my sister has dressed me as a wolf.
The caravan creaksand wobbles as it makes its way down the cobbled streets into Valebridge.
My fingers are restless, tempted to draw back the curtains and get a peek at the royal city, the very one I grew up in. The one I’ve dreamt about returning to often as a boy. But I remain in my seat, eyes focused on Lord Thaddeus across from me. He hasn’t stopped talking since we left Ramshire and on the second hour of travel, I tuned him out completely.
Is this what people mean when they say I talk too much?I’ll have to reconsider my entire personality after this trip.
“Did you hear me, Sorin?”
Shaking back to reality, I blink a few times to disperse the glaze that’s taken over my eyes.
“Sorry, Lord, I’m a bit distracted.” I can’t see much of Thaddeus’s face behind his mask made of ivy and golden branches, but I imagine it’s the same look of annoyance he’s so fond of giving me.
“I said the heads of the Guilds will meet us in the grand hall.”
I nod, half listening.
“They’ve agreed to review your decree of birth. Once they’ve deemed it suitable, they will hold a meeting with the council. If the council verifies it to be true, there will be a trial to remove Roman from the throne. Once he’s dethroned, a coronation will take place in a few weeks. We’ll return?—”
“You forgetting an important piece of the plan, Thaddeus?” My knee bounces in time with the caravan as we hit another stretch of cobbled bumps.
Thaddeus pushes up his mask so it rests on his forehead. His eyes narrow before softening at his realization. “Right,” he says. “The girl. Of course. How could I forget?—”
The caravan comes to an abrupt halt, and he topples forward. I barely catch him in time before his knees hit the floor.
“Thank you,” he gruffs, settling back into his seat for a moment. His yellowing teeth glint in the moonlight that’s fought its way in through the musky curtains.
The door swings open and a cacophony of sounds hits me from outside.
Varied string instruments play over one another. Songbirds and bards compete to have the highest voice. If the circumstances weren’t so vile, I may have even enjoyed the mixture of sounds and revelry. The musicians set forth with another upbeat tempo, setting the mood for a night full of undeserved revelry. Steadying my breaths, I wait for Thaddeus to finish chatting with the caravan driver.
Rain coats the cobblestones and lamp posts lit with an ever glowing flame line the road, leading up to the ivory castle. Spires shoot toward the sky like weapons. Large arched windows carved from marble surround all sides of the castle, each adorned with rich Autumn colors. Orange and red and yellow leaves piled together in elegant bouquets. Swallowing thickly, I return my gaze to the path before me. Hundreds of white pumpkins, carved with the bear crest, a candle lighting them from the inside out, line the path to the castle.
