Myles wraps me in his warm embrace; his usual calm demeanour slips for a moment while we acknowledge the foreboding sensation. His soothing touch calms me, easing my anxiety.I pray he is right. Now and again, they grace us with their presence, their awful blood red tunics are hard to miss.
“I should go check on Mum and Elana, make sure they’re ok. And not too peeved they have to stay at the inn.”
“I’ll come with you. No point opening the shop with the town like this. Easily attainable weapons might not be a great idea today.”
I tug the laces of my boots too tight, accidentally cutting off the blood circulation in my feet in a rush to find out what’s happening. The sunlight burns my eyes. I let its heat radiate through my bones, releasing the tension that has been building within me for days, but the peace fades with shouting below overcoming my senses.
Folk fight back against the guards that are corralling them into every inch of the square. Guards stand alert on the steps, bordering the square, strong-arming anyone who tries to flee. All shops remain closed, no stalls in sight, everyone from all corners of town murmur amongst themselves; craning their necks, waiting for the reason for meeting the captain. His vicious, lop-sided smile makes the hair on my arms stand to attention.
Myles’ tight-lipped and resigned face watches the guards, counting them as we make our way to the inn. Meeting my worried gaze, he gives me a reassuring smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes.Gripping each other’s hands tightly, elbowing through the crowd, we find Mum and Elana waiting at the door of the inn.
“What’s going on? Have they said why they’re here?”
“No. They started showing up last night, according to the innkeeper. I’m going to find out. Stay with your sister,” Mum answers, taking a step out into the crowd, but Myles stops her.
“No, you stay here. I’ll go.”
Before Mum can reply, he gives my hand one last squeeze, his fingers slipping out of mine as he disappears into the crowd.
Folk yell and point at the guards. Men step in front of their wives and daughters, shouting profanities, trying to usher theirfamily out of the square. Surrounded by wailing and angered voices, I pick my finger beds raw with the agonising wait.
Myles charges back through the crowd, forcing his way through like a bull with a red flag. Wyatt follows behind, wide-eyed and skittish. Myles grabs my arm and pulls me around the corner, into the alley beside the inn, beckoning the others to follow.
“They are looking for you.”
I inhale a sharp breath. Myles rubs my arm as he continues, “They have a decree from Adrian that allows them toinvestigateall women in Vendyl, searching for an unusual marking on their back.”
My heart thunders, and Mum gasps, wrapping her arm over my shoulder.
Wyatt says, “They aren’t telling the townsfolk why they’re looking, just that they may use ‘any means necessary.’ Myles and I agree that you should go. Right now.”
“Leave home. Leaveyou?” I say, looking at those I care about most. How can I leave them behind? I know I must, but that doesn’t make the choice any easier. Where would I go? How far is safe enough? Will I always have to hide?
My breathing becomes laboured, and the ground disappears beneath me. Myles grips my hands, leaning his forehead against mine. “Breathe… Close your eyes, feel the wind against your face, listen to the birds singing. Drown out the crowd. It’s just us.”
I do as he says, I block out the shouting, paying close attention to the birds chirping on the roofs, the warm breeze sweeping my face and toying with my hair. My heart and breathing abate as I focus on the deep russet shade of Myles’ eyes, admiring the gold hues that sparkle in the sun.
“It’s the only way to keep you safe,” Myles says, “we’ll go pack some essentials. Wyatt can saddle up Misty, then you and I will get as far away from here as we can.”
“You’re gonna come with me?” I ask, my eyes swell, and my body sighs in relief.
“Of course, I am. You’re stuck with me, love,” he replies, tugging me into an embrace. “I belong to you, remember,” he whispers in my ear.
I nod my head towards Mum, showing her it’s okay, that I’m okay. I don’t think any of us have a choice; they know it too.
I don’t want to find out why Adrian wants me.
Mum and Elana unwillingly agree to adhere to the guard's demands while Wyatt and I sneak through alleys back to the cottage. Myles, though dubious about leaving me, accepted the plan. Wyatt saddles up Misty, and I cram some clothes and Mum’s navy cloak into a leather backpack, tucking Dad’s box under some clothes. My foggy eyes scan my bedroom, taking it in one last time.
Having shared this room with my sister for as long as I can remember, I commit every detail to memory: the drawings on the wall that no matter how hard Mum tried, could never be removed; the hideous curtains that Elana made when she first learned to sew, and the ‘organised’ mess she keeps.Scratch marks on the door frame of Elana and I’s heights over the years. I touch each marking until the two become three when Wyatt joined our little family.
Taking a shaky breath, I close the door for good.Memories appear before me as I walk through the cottage, mirages of Dad dancing around the room with Mum, Elana, and I skipping beside them. Sitting with Dad in his armchair, reading tales of dragons and adventures. The echo of laughter bounces off the wall of the cottage, so full of life.
Will I ever see this place again?
My eyes burn as I close the door on the memories and ghosts of the past. I’m going to miss my gorgeous little cottage, the greystones, the ever-growing ivy climbing to the roof, the birds that made the oak tree their home. I always knew I would leave one day, though I thought I would be close by, with my own little family. Perhaps with Myles beside the Willow tree.
At least he’ll be with me. I doubt he would stay behind if I asked him to.
