Battle mages rushed forward and gathered the fallen man, who let them carry him out of the room without a fight, keeping his eyes on the floor.
Finnegan broke away from my side, heading in Cerridwen’s direction. They exchanged a few quiet words before she turned and followed him out of the chamber.
Reagan’s gaze followed them until they disappeared through the arched doorway. The audience was only able to see the sideof his face, but I could see it fully. The blank, steely expression gave no hint of whether he regretted punishing the mage or not killing him.
With no more than a flicker of acknowledgement, Reagan took his seat, casting a bored glance at his third-in-command.
Barracus said, “Step forward and state your name and petition.”
CHAPTER 6
The next morning, I drifted through the castle, steering clear of the staff as I searched the exits. The fortress felt like a maze, and every area with access to the outside was heavily guarded. That meant I’d have to be creative.
After some time strolling through corridors, I made my way back to my bedroom and gazed out the window where the tunnel that led to the Northern Forest lay. The only path to reach the station was guarded by battle mages around the clock, though they seemed to swap shifts at regular intervals.
They were bundled in heavy coats, fur-lined around their necks. I’d need to wear something just as warm and leave my luggage behind.
During the day, it seemed much harder to slip through, with workers constantly moving about. Night would be my best shot.
If I made it out, I would need to cross that forest to reach the trains. That part would prove the most perilous, but I was already working on it. Once I made it to the station, I couldboard any train to escape, and they wouldn’t find me. And even if they did, I would rather be with Father and Joy, having warned them, than letting them be discovered. I saw how they treated threats here.
Inside the room, the air had grown thick and stifling. I drew back the dark curtains and pushed the heavy glass panes open. A rush of freezing air flooded in, prickling my skin with goosebumps.
The cold didn’t bother me. It felt like home.
Ehrfurt was a mountain town where warmth was a rare visitor, yet its people had long since grown accustomed to the harshness of its weather. Otherwise, it was small and secluded, turning into a ghost town by midwinter.
A predictable and uneventful town, with nothing else to explore or learn but the same routine repeating over and over again. It wasn’t a bad routine, though. It offered companionship, decent lovers, and honest work.
Not bad at all. No reason to want to hurl myself down the steepest hill.
It didn’t really matter. I needed to go back, nonetheless. Salvage those shipments first because we couldn’t afford to lose them. And it had to be me.
It was abundantly clear that Father couldn’t handle any more weeks of endless standing and exhausting travel. His condition had taken a toll on his energy. No matter how much rest he got, no matter how well he ate, he was just...not the same.
It was just the three of us, and I was older than Joy. Twenty-four to her twenty-two. Besides, Father and I would be worrying about her.
Without the money from the fair, our accounts would be nearly drained by the end of the month, so I would be away for that long. That was the agreement. Joy would be left alone toshoulder the house, the chores, and the care of Father. I could already feel the strain it was going to put on her.
I exhaled sharply, the cold air escaping in a visible puff.
Joy would be fine. She could manage everything, including herself. But worry still gnawed at me with the thought that I wouldn’t be there if she needed me. If another episode happened.
I couldn’t let her manage everything for too long. There was no way I would stay here for a damn year.
A few drops fell on the window jamb, melting instantly. I stared ahead, squinting as more began to appear, and swallowed the sob in my throat. It wasn’t raining.
It was snow. The first snow of the season—or would be at home.
Despite the freezing cold, a rush of warmth covered my chest, like a small flicker of hope I needed.
White flakes floated down, twirling in the breeze as the ground gradually turned white.
My shoulders sagged. I lost track of time watching it until a knock on the door startled me.
I stood up, wiping the tears that had fallen down my cheeks. The room had grown freezing and darker. I walked to the door and cracked it open, finding a tall figure on the other side.
Reagan.
