I watch helplessly, my soul screeching in horror as they fling him into the light. He disappears. Then so does the portal. Winking out of existence as if it was never there.
I stare in horror at the spot where it was. Where Llywelyn was. He is gone. Thrown out like so much rubbish.
I don’t know where he has gone, but I know it’s not anywhere on Earth. We are no longer under the same sky. He is so far away, my human mind cannot comprehend it.
I thought exile would take time. I was thinking of an escort to the gates, the border. A slow ride into the sunset.
Not this.
Not just gone.
I didn’t even get to say goodbye.
Chapter forty
Rhydian is blocking my view. He is standing in front of me. Preventing me from staring at the spot where Llywelyn disappeared. I need to keep looking at it, in case my eyes admit they are lying and he is still there. Or in case he reappears.
“Ethan,” Rhydian says sternly.
I blink. I guess I shouldn’t ignore the crown prince. The man I was supposed to defeat, but who has instead destroyed me.
My focus comes slowly. The throne room is nearly empty. It is only me, Rhydian, and Dyfri. The three of us standing in a small circle beside the unremarkable flagstone Llywelyn was last standing on.
I look at Rhydian. I have no idea what he has been saying.
He frowns. “Do you wish for a new master, or to leave court?”
My leash clinks softly, its soft leather handle lying forlornly on the floor. It is an effort to tear my gaze away from it.
“I can just leave?”
After everything, they are simply going to allow me to walk out of here?
“Yes,” says Rhydian.
“That sounds great,” I say weakly.
I think about returning to Llywelyn’s rooms to pack my things, but I don’t have any things. Just a few changes of court robes. And I won’t be needing those anymore. I came here with nothing. I’ll be leaving with even less.
Dyfri steps up to me. I stare at him dumbly. His fingers go to my collar. Oh, that is what he is doing.
I watch his dark eyes. I see an eyebrow rise. My mind moves like treacle. Oh, he has seen my necklace, tucked under my silks.
The collar snaps open, and Dyfri steps back with it. He flashes me a strange look. I think it is a relieved look. Almost pleased. I’m far too dazed to process it. But deep in my mind, thoughts begin to click and whirl. There are riddles and puzzle pieces to decipher, and I’ve always enjoyed those.
I leave my subconscious to it. And I think instead of Llywelyn’s empty rooms. Rooms that neither he nor I will ever return to.
“Will you hire Tae?” I blurt at Dyfri.
He nods solemnly. “I will.”
My lungs manage a shaky breath. I turn on my heels and I walk. Out of the throne room. Out of Buckingham Palace. I walk and walk. I’m barefoot in the middle of London, wearing imperial purple silk robes. I keep on walking.
I find a car to steal, and then I’m driving. My mind still as blank as before. It’s a good thing The Agency trained me so very highly in driving skills. I’m pretty sure I can drive in my sleep. I don’t need to attempt the insurmountable task of pulling myself together. I can simply drive. Drive and not think.
As London falls away behind me and the cityscape slowly morphs into countryside, thoughts start to flicker back to life.
I think about how very effectively Llywelyn has been removed from the board, and me along with him. I thought I was playing the game, but all along I’ve simply been a piece in someone else’s way. Llywelyn’s destiny was to be a side character in someone else’s story.
