75
Ezryn
Ileap to my feet.
Kairyn tucks the blanket tighter around my father’s shoulders and quirks his helm. “What’s wrong?”
“I … I don’t know.”
But something is terribly wrong. I feel it in my chest, as if my heart has lost its cadence. Squinting my eyes close, I rub my armor, wishing I could feel my skin. A chill runs through me and my lungs feel like they can’t get enough air.
“Brother?” Kairyn stands and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Sit back down. Your erratic movement is disturbing Father.”
A flutter sounds through the air. A small wren flaps its wings desperately, swooping back and forth as it speeds into the open-air healing garden. It heads straight for me; its flight is so off kilter, I snatch it in my hands.
The bird opens its beak. “Your Highness!”
I jolt, nearly dropping the thing. As familiar as I am with talking animals, I’ve never seen one do so during the day. And that voice…
“Eldy?”
“There’s no time to explain!” the bird cries. “It’s Rosalina! She fell into the river! She’s drowning, sire!”
Not a single moment passes before I’ve dropped the bird and sprinted across the healing garden. This feeling in my chest…
It wasn’t my fear. My pain.
It was hers.
Sounds fade away. My brother calls after me. Something about summoning the guards to find her, but I can’t stop.
“I’ll lead you to her!” the bird cries, but I’m faster than its tiny wings.
I don’t need him, anyway.
My heart knows the way.
I run faster than I’ve ever run before, surging through the keep, shoving guards out of the way. My boots pound against the stone, as fast as my heart against my ribs. How could this have happened? She was in her room when I last saw her. She was with Astrid and Marigold. Eldy said he was going to look after her.
IpromisedI would keep her safe.
Sickening bursts of fear course up my body, but I can’t give in to it. Not now. I’m out the gate and sprinting through the streets within seconds. The city streaks by me. The river … It runs down Mount Lumidor and empties out into Sylvanita Lake.
Empties via a waterfall.
I have to get Rosalina before she plunges into the rocks.
Hold on,I cry in my mind.I’m coming!
I’m not sure what I was expecting, but there’s no response.
The city gives way to the mountain trail. Every muscle feels alight as I push myself beyond any speed I’ve ever run before. The river rages beside me, white and spitting. I jolt to a stop at its shore, looking up and down.
West. My heart thunders the word, and I follow the river at its command.
“Rosalina!” I yell. The water is nothing but bubbling swells and slick rock. “Rosalina!”
She’s here, Iknowit. I must be faster than the river to catch her.
