His bright smile fills my mind, the sound of his carefree laugh, and the way he would tip his head back when he found something hilarious. Why did he go? Is he escaping before the kingdom finally takes its last breath? But why would he leave Rowan, his family? The moment we move, something in my chest loosens, and I give into whatever it is driving me forward. I don’t look back, simply letting the horse take me down the windy gravel path. We move through the forest, and at first I consider turning around.
This is reckless and stupid.
But I just don’t care anymore.
I relax my shoulders, letting myself sink into the saddle with ease. Rowan’s words felt like a punch to my stomach, maybe because he’s right.
I have saved nothing.
I’m failing miserably.
But I actually believed he had faith in me. That maybe I had it in me to figure it out.
How stupid is that? As if the High Warden could ever trust some random girl.
The village lights appear ahead, a warm glow against the dark night. I find the spot where we left the horses before we went into the clothes shop. Swinging my leg over and landing almost on my feet, I steady myself. Taking in my surroundings, I find it’s quiet. Really quiet. I walk into the village along the water’s edge. The Stone Cup appears in front of me, its lights aglow with the faint sound of murmurs.
“Elodie?”
I spin on my heel to find Bryn moving towards me. Her face red and puffy.
“Bryn,” I say, unsure how she will react to seeing me here alone. She takes a long look at me, her face confused, and that’s when I realise I’m still in my silk dress.
“Did you come here alone?” she asks me.
“I had to get away… I just…I needed…” I mumble, but she cuts me off, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“You don’t need to explain, here.” She gives me her jacket and places it over my shoulder. “Where were you planning to go?”
“I don’t know. Anywhere really.” I admit.
“Well, would you like to stay at our cottage? You won’t find anywhere with rooms in town. Most places are closed for good.”
“That would be really nice, thank you. If you’re sure it’s not a burden.” She shakes her head at me, not responding. I catch her face again in the light. She looks as though she’s been crying too. Does she know about Kael?
“Come on, I’ll take you home,” she says, offering me a brief smile, walking me back to the horse that sits patiently in the shadows. This family doesn’t deserve the sadness that is about to rip through them.
Can I do that to them?
Tell them Kael has left?
How do I even explain it?
“Thank you for letting me stay here tonight, Mara.” I offer, taking the warm cup from her hands. Bryn headed back into town not long after dropping me here with Mara. She caught me wandering the streets alone in the middle of her shift at The Stone Cup in town.
“I must warn you, you may get into trouble for this. The King won’t be happy I’ve left.” I wince at the way I say that line as if it’s become the norm for me now.
“Fuck him,” she says, and I all but choke on the warm liquid soothing my throat. I sputter, placing my hands on my chest to compose myself.
“I’m sorry… I just, well, didn’t expect you to say that.” She places a blanket over my lap before taking a seat in the chair beside me.
“Well, it’s not something I would normally say, but needs must sometimes.” I smile at her, feeling a sliver of guilt at the knowledge of Kael’s disappearance.
“Mara… there’s something I need to tell you—”
“Kael’s gone. I know,” she says, her voice cracking as she stares down at the floor in front of her.
