I sag against Golem behind me as tears of anger and stupidity threaten to spill out.
“I want to go, Golem,” I nearly cry in a whisper, “please.”
Golem’s hands tighten on my shoulders, holding me in a tight embrace. He keeps us standing in front of the door as the two of us watch Keane glance at his brother, the Master Informer nodding once again behind the man’s back. Keane bows his head to Desmond in recognition, then looks down at the bloodied man before him.
“One last question…”
“And you’ll let me live?” the Discerni looks up hopefully.
“I’m still considering,” the Prince replies.
The Discerni closes his eyes, missing the exchange of the green agate dagger as Desmond passes it back to Keane.
“We have not traveled to Woodlands in some time,” Keane crosses his wrists behind his back as a hint of curiosity greets his calm voice, “tell us, do relations remain the same as they always have?”
The blonde raises his head to the Prince as the air in the room becomes thick, a slight breeze moving in from the single window to the right.
“You want me to tell you of Woodlands?” the Discerni smirks for the first time. I narrow my eyes on his features, swearing I see a small hint of arrogance dancing across his lips.
“I do,” Keane nods.
The blonde stares at the Prince head on and chuckles, “relations have not changed, Your Highness. Nor will they. The humans are nothing of importance to us…”
The breeze from the window flows in behind Desmond, turning into a silver mist that falls to his feet. I watch in horror as it rises up behind his back, the Ancient of Death and Exploration stepping around the Master Informer as his gold eyes meet mine. His face is just as hard and cold as the brothers’ as he stares back at me, no hint of the previous youthful features from last night showing across his face. I fall harder into Golem’s grip and watch as his black hair waves around him from the breeze, his movements slow as he steps towards the Prince. Both Keane and Desmond seem completely unaware of his presence, the blonde Discerni also unaware and continuing his answer.
“We tolerate them only for your father, and for the general cheap labor that comes from them…”
“Close your eyes, Alex,” Hirovale looks at me again, stopping at Keane’s side.
“Though I wouldn’t expect the same curtesy to be extended to you.”
Keane brings his arms to his chest with a look of disgust, holding the green agate blade firmly in his right hand as he looks down at the Woodlands Discerni.
“May the Ancient of Death and Exploration greet you on the other side,” Keane begins Death’s Prayer quietly.
“Oh, I will,” Hirovale releases my gaze to look down at the man.
“May he assist you in reaching your final resting place…”
“He will not rest,” Hirovale glares.
“And may you find peace in the next exploration of your soul,” Keane finishes, plunging the blade straight into the Discerni’s heart.
I gasp and push with all of my force into Golem behind me. We fall to the ground together, the hard wood of the hall hitting us from below. I quickly roll off him and stand to my feet, my body limp and shaking as I begin running towards the stairs. Golem’s padded feet run behind me, following me down the stairs and through the building as I frantically push at the door. I vaguely hear Golem close it behind us and then appear next to me, his sudden presence startling me so hard that I fall forward and onto the ground. My face hits a sharp rock on the forest floor, Golem leaning down with a grimace as he lifts me up with a strength I had no idea existed within him. He holds my arm briefly until I settle myself upright and begin running again.
I run away from the mills and away from the dead man within them, feeling as Stormfall pushes off my shoulder and leads us down the stream. We run through the forest and land back on the road, the three of usmovingand never looking back. We run until we see the lights of the sleepy village come into view, until the cut on my face becomes so searing that I have to slow into a walk. I bring my hand up to my cheekbone and feel warmth dripping down my skin and onto my shaking fingers, the sight of the blood making me run once again until I’m sprinting into the courtyard of the inn. Stormfall flies towards the window of my room and pushes open the slats as Golem and I race through the door and into the common room. I hastily make my way down the hall and into my room, slamming the door behind us as I bend down to my knees.
“Lock it, Golem!”
My breathing turns shallow as tears threaten to fall from my eyes.
“Lock it and do not let anyone in. I don’t care what kind of summoning you need to use. That door does not open tonight.”
Golem moves to stand in front of me, his face completely overtaken with concern.
“Don’t,” I shake my head at him as Stormfall caws at me from the bedpost, “just lock it.”
Golem takes a moment before he finally nods, walking behind me. I turn and watch as his hands come up from the folds of his robes, his palms landing on the flat wood as the door gives a slight rattle. I groan at the sight and attempt to stand up straight, walking to the window above my bed as I close the wooden slats and lock them in place as well.
