The gate hums behind me, the way it always does. I’m on the last half of my shift now before we close the gate for the evening. These last few weeks have been the most uncertain I think I’ve ever seen. With the Blight spreading rapidly, I’ve already warned Aldric about keeping the gates open, the mourningwings have been acting differently. Strange behaviour. I don’t know why, but something in my gut tells me it’s bad news. Footsteps echo behind me,
“Masen, if that’s you, you lazy bastard. I’ve been on shift without you for hours.” He comes to my side, his eyes wild and searching,
“What’s wrong?” He hesitates briefly before giving me a soft smile.
“I think I found the answer, Rowan, to the blight. I found somewhere that got rid of it. Aldric wants me to get answers immediately.” He’s been looking into research for weeks. He’s as knowledgeable as the scholars in this stuff. I wonder why he even became a knight, though I suppose that’s why he’s Master-at-arms. He deals with the mechanism side of this gate, the why’s and the how’s.
“I can go? Shifts nearly over anyway?” I say without hesitation. He shakes his head immediately. “No”
“Why not? I can come with you?”
“No, Rowan, I need you to guard it, okay? I’ll be fine.” I narrow my eyes at him, something feeling off, but I brush it off, moving over to the mechanism.
“You got the veinstone you need?” Masen reaches into his pocket, pulling out the smooth marble sphere. Runes etched across the surface. I’ve seen this a thousand times, but the way Masen pauses before placing it into the statue makes me wonder if there’s something I’m missing. I can’t tell what butterfly is within the veinstone. You never can until it’s open.
“Okay, I think you’re ready,” I say, giving him a smile.
“What the hell are you two doing? Gate hours are closed. And whatever it is, why are you doing it without me?” Kael’s voice booms as he grins between us.
“Masen thinks he’s found the answer to the Blight. Aldric wants him on it as soon as possible,” I say as Masen remains quiet at my side.
“Masen, the genius you are. I’m glad one of us is smart.” Kael steps forward, clapping Masen on the shoulder.
“I’m a rank above you now, Kael, remember that,” I reply with a wink, knowing it pisses him off. “Whatever,” he says, rolling his eyes.
“Are you ready?” I turn to Masen, whose expression is still unchanged. He gives us both a smile before nodding and heading towards the gate.
“I’ll be back soon, I promise. Don’t wait for me.”
And then he’s gone, stepping through the gate towards an ivy-wrapped stone wall.
“You heard him, let’s go to the Cup. It’s your turn to get the round,” Kael says, flicking his dagger in the air before catching it.
“I was hoping you wouldn’t remember. I had to drag you home last week,” he laughs at me as I switch the mechanism to standby, but before I reach for it, the gate hums once.
Then, a flicker of blue.
Something pushes through the gate, a minor fracture in the stone.
A Mourningwing.
One wing bent as it beats weakly against the air.
Masen.
I don’t move, the world around me completely muffled. Kael’s shout is right beside me, yet it seems so far away. Kael drops to the ground by the butterfly, the meaning of it all too clear. Masen’s gone. It was a dead realm. And now, so is my brother.
And I let him go.
Chapter 26
Elodie
Sam is here.
My Sam, the person who I looked up to as the big brother I never had.Is he here to take me home? But how did he get through? And why did I hear Rowan call him Masen? Who is lying to me?The questions take on a life of their own, firing one after another in my head. Bryn’s skin is still pale but warmer than it was in the meadow. With one hand stroking Bryn’s hair, Mara sits beside her, her fingers gently resting on Bryn’s wrist. Counting.
“I’m sorry, Mara,” I whisper. “This is my fault.” Mara doesn’t look up.
