“What about him?” Rowan questions, his grip firm on my wrist, but I feel his body physically stiffen at the panic in the young knight’s voice.
“He’s gone. He left through the gate.”
I turn to the young knight, confused.
“But he can come back, right?” I ask.
It’s Rowan that responds, his voice changed to something I don’t recognise.
“There is no way back.”
Chapter 17
Elodie
“Rowan, stop. Where are you going?” I call, rushing to keep up with him. He stormed straight out of the hall as soon as he learned the news.
There is no way back.
Rowan’s words play on repeat, as my mind reels through all the reasons Kael would do this.
“Rowan, slow down. What is going on?” I ask again, reaching after him, knowing it’s useless. My eyes dart around in a panic before I see the gate. The once-empty arch of stone, which I have tried and failed to use as a return route. It now sits with a slow, pulsing distortion of light in the centre. I can feel the warmth of its pull from afar.
The glow isn’t centred in the arch.
It’s angled like a projection.
I follow the line across the courtyard.
The statue.
It stands several paces from the gate, where it’s always stood. I’ve passed it countless times, always assuming it was just another relic. Tall, elegant wings carved from pale stone fanned wide behind a robed figure with its arms extended forward, hands gently cupped as if offering something. And now, I see exactly what the statue is ‘offering’. Suspended midair between its palms is a butterfly. The butterfly’s wings spread wide as if caught mid-beat, yet its legs move wildly. Thin threads of golden light arc from the wings. The statue’s wings are not ornamental at all. They are etched with symbols, hundreds of them, too shallow to notice before in ordinary daylight. But now, they are ablaze, glowing a golden yellow. So Rowan wasn’t lying when he told me it didn’t work by simply ‘touching’ the stone. It’s just like the illustrations in that book I saw. But this definitely isn’t how I remembered it happening for me. I’m locked in a trance when Rowan’s voice booms through the training yard.
“Everyone inside. NOW!” he shouts, and there isn’t a single person who dares disobey. He storms over to the statue, reaching his hand in and removing the butterfly. It beats its wings, unharmed, and disappears into the night, its wings reflecting under the moon. No blue in them, a bright red with fiery orange. The beam of light disappears instantly, and the low hum of energy ceases with it, creating a deafening silence. He turns to me, his voice low.
“I said everyone.”
“No,”
His face contorts as if it’s a word he is not used to hearing.
“What?” he says, moving closer.
“I said, no.” I fasten my hands to my sides, clenching my fists and willing myself not to break.
“I am not one of your knights,” my voice shakes. He doesn’t respond, only stares at me with a piercing gaze. “I’m the one trying to help you save this kingdom from collapse.” He moves close to my face, invading every sense. I catch my breath, unsure of what he’s going to say before his face turns cold.
“You haven’t saved shit, Hawthorne,” he seethes, the words sharp enough to draw blood. For a moment, I can’t breathe. The pure bitterness of his words hitting me like a train in the night. My heart beats loudly in my chest, anger and hurt mixed into one. All I can hear is the way my name sounds in his mouth when used like that.
There is nothing left to say.
His chest rises and falls twice, his breathing heavy. I feel the start of tears forming in my eyes, the look of pure hate and anger on his face. He mirrors my expression, a silent vow of pain between us.
“Get inside,” he says again, but his voice cracks. No longer carrying that same steeled edge. “Elodie,please.” I clamp my mouth shut, giving him nothing back before turning and walking away.
I don’t know where I’m going, but I don’t care. I just need to be somewhere the air isn’t so thin. Where I don’t feel like I’m being strangled. Losing a battle I didn’t even mean to be in. The gardens thin into gravel paths until the castle looms behind me like a dark shadow. Were it not for the commotion of Kael’s sudden abandonment, which has obviously caused some chaos amongst the steel guards, I don’t think I’d have gotten this far any other night. The stables appear ahead, their lanterns still on. The horses shift softly in their stalls. I pause in the doorway, heart pounding, half expecting someone to shout my name. But no one does. Driven more by need than thought, my fingers clumsily reach for the nearest halter. I close my eyes, willing myself to just find some courage and escape. I step into the saddle and swing my leg over fast, trying to gain some momentum before I realise I’ve done it. Landing rather ungracefully onto the horse’s back, I sigh in relief. I did it. I steady the horse, stroking my hand on the side of its neck before grabbing the reins and nudging the horse forward like I saw Kael do.
Kael
