Lost Heir (Blood Weaver Trilogy #2)

Chapter 20

20

I spent the next few days wrapped up in Ronan, which was fortunate since Selene was secretly meeting Marcellus. Occasionally Ronan and I would come up for air and wander the grounds, and on those occasions, Henry was our little shadow. As I predicted, the days went by in a blur and the third day was upon us sooner than we liked. Ronan would leave for the Grasslands after lunch.

The morning of his departure was charged with unspoken sorrow. We both tried to keep the mood light, laughing and reminiscing about our time in the Central Plains and Valoria, but the impending goodbye loomed over us like a dark cloud.

Before lunch, we decided to take a walk through the gardens, a place that had become our sanctuary in the past three days. The flowers were in full bloom, their colors vibrant against the pale backdrop of the palace. It was beautiful, yet I couldn't fully appreciate it knowing that in just an hour, Ronan would be on his way back to the Grasslands.

“Leila,” Ronan said, breaking the silence between us, “you know I wish I didn't have to go. ”

I squeezed his hand tighter, suddenly finding it hard to swallow past the lump in my throat. “I know.”

He stopped walking and turned to face me, cupping my face in his hands. “Remember, no matter where I am, my heart remains with you. I'll return as soon as I can.”

I nodded, my eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I'll be waiting,” I managed to say, my voice barely above a whisper.

We sat at a table nestled in the gardens and waited for the court ladies to finish serving our meal. When Tessa came over with her tasting plate and spoon, I rolled my eyes. “Tessa, you really don’t have to check my food every day. No one wants to poison me!” I chuckled and reached for a piece of bread.

Tessa stopped my hand and scolded, “Your Highness, please .”

Letting out a deep sigh, I patiently waited as she tried everything. She nibbled a piece of bread, tested the salad, and ate a bite of the meat course. But when she took a spoonful of the soup, she paused for a moment and suddenly dropped the spoon with a clatter. Tessa’s eyes bulged and she clutched her throat as foam trickled at the corners of her mouth. She dropped to her knees before us, her face going beet red as she gasped for air.

“Tessa!” I shrieked.

“Viktor!” Ronan shouted for my guard, who was standing outside the garden to give us privacy. “Call for the healer!”

Sensing the urgency in Ronan’s voice, Viktor ran off.

I gathered Tess’s convulsing body in my arms and Ronan dropped to the ground beside me. “Hang in there, Tess,” I murmured. “Just …” A thought crossed my mind and my eyes widened. “Ronan! Pass me a knife!”

He frowned in confusion, but leaned up to the table and grabbed a knife. With it, I quickly pierced the tip of my finger and applied pressure to stimulate blood flow. Once a scarlet drop of blood welled up, I squeezed several droplets into Tessa’s gaping mouth.

“Leila,” Ronan started, “I don’t think your blood can cure poisoning—”

“My blood can cure anything!” I shrieked. “It has to! It cured Caelan when he was poisoned!”

Tessa's body convulsed as I desperately tried to feed her more of my blood, hoping beyond hope that it would save her. Her eyes locked with mine for a fleeting moment, filled with fear and agony, before they rolled back into her head. Seconds stretched into minutes as we waited for any sign of improvement, for a miracle that seemed increasingly out of reach.

But nothing changed.

“Tessa?” I whispered, shaking her lightly. “Tessa, stay with me.”

Her body grew still and cold in my arms, the last breath escaping her lips in a soft sigh. The garden fell silent all around us, the vibrant colors fading to dull shades of gray as grief washed over me like a tidal wave. I searched the garden for a lady-in-waiting or anyone who could possibly help, but Ronan and I were alone.

Ronan placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his eyes filled with sorrow. “I'm so sorry, Leila, but she’s gone.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks as I cradled Tessa's lifeless form, feeling a crushing weight settle in my chest. “No. She can’t be!” I wailed. “Why … why would someone want to poison me?”

“I don’t know,” Ronan answered truthfully. “But we’ll find out. Your father won’t let this slide, I can guarantee that. ”

Before I could respond, someone screamed my name.

“Miss Leila!” Henry rushed through the gardens to reach me. He hadn’t come from the Eastern palace. Where had he been? Henry gasped for air as he took in the scene before him. “No,” he muttered, horror-stricken. “I’m too late.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

He nibbled his lower lip. “Miss Leila, I overheard Prince Caelan. I know his plan.”

Ronan shot to his feet. “What did you hear, Henry?” he asked urgently.

“I told you not to go near him, Henry!” I chided. I clung to Tessa, afraid to let her go. If I did, it would make this real.

“Henry!” Ronan shouted, trying to get the boy to focus. “What did you hear?”

Henry cleared his throat. “Prince Caelan told the Queen he was going to frame you for poisoning Miss Leila to get you out of the way. He’s already sent word to King Malik. The guards will be here any moment.”

“What?” I gasped as more tears streamed down my face. “That can’t be! He was trying to kill me?”

Ronan scoffed. “Caelan knows your food gets tested every day. He knew you wouldn’t get hurt. This was it, Leila. This was the ace up his sleeve. If I don’t leave now, I won’t leave here alive.”

I gently laid Tessa on the ground. “Henry, watch over her, please.”

He knelt beside me. “I will, Miss Leila. I promise.”

“What are you doing?” Ronan asked as I stood.

“I’m coming with you,” I said adamantly. “You won’t be able to leave the palace without me. If Caelan has already told my father his lies, then all exits will have been cut off. There’s no way out.”

“I’m not putting you in danger, Leila,” Ronan declared. “ It’s safer if you stay put and explain things when everyone arrives. Once I cross the Central Plains and reach the Grasslands, I’ll be fine.”

I shook my head. “They’ll be expecting that. You’ll never make it.” I stepped toward him. “You need to cut through Keldara.”

His eyes widened and he looked around the garden to make sure no one was listening. “Leila, you know I can’t go through Keldara! My people are slaves there. If I’m caught …”

“I have a plan,” I said quickly. “But we need to act fast.”

“No. Leila, no,” Ronan said unyieldingly, stepping around me to leave.

I grabbed his arm to stop him. “Ronan, wait!”

“Leila, I’m losing time,” he urged.

“And you’ll get caught if you don’t listen to me!” I turned to the young boy kneeling with my fallen guard. “Henry, watch over Tessa until Viktor returns with the healer. Tell Viktor everything you told us; he’ll know what to do.”

“Lyanna!” Marcellus rushed toward us from across the garden, holding hands with Selene. “I came to warn you! Father—”

“We heard,” I interrupted brusquely. “Tell me you know a way out of here, baby brother.”

“Of course I do.” He smirked, then eyed Ronan warily. “He didn’t really try to…”

I shook my head. “Of course not. This was Caelan’s grand plan to get rid of Ronan and force me to be with him. Look – we need to get out of here now .”

Selene rushed forward, her eyes wild. “You’re leaving with him?”

I nodded. “I’m not leaving him to fend for himself.”

“No,” Selene said. “You can’t. You’ll be in danger! ”

“No I won’t,” I sighed. “I have a plan.”

What the others failed to realize was that Commander Mykal had spies everywhere. I was banking on the fact that he had them posted here in Valoria. If he heard about my escape, he may just come and find us. Possibly. It might put Ronan at risk, but I had to pray to the goddess that Mykal could be reasoned with. This was our only option. Staying here was a death sentence, and cutting through the Central Plains was even worse since the governor was in Caelan’s pocket.

Selene glanced around nervously. “What’s your plan?”

Before I could answer, Ronan spoke up. “Can we talk and walk at the same time? My life is sort of on the line right now.”

“Right!” Marcel snapped his fingers. “Follow me.”

I dropped down beside Henry. “Stay safe. Whatever you do, don’t get involved. Viktor will protect you.”

Although he wore a forlorn look, Henry nodded. “Yes, Miss Leila.”

With nervous anxiety buzzing through all four of us, we left Henry behind and Marcellus led us out of the gardens. Under the bright noon sun, we hastened across the manicured grounds of the Eastern Palace, dodging the prying eyes of courtiers and servants. Marcellus, with a brisk pace, navigated us through less frequented paths, lined with blooming flowers and towering hedges that provided a semblance of cover.

Selene's gaze darted around as she observed the lush surroundings with a mixture of awe and anxiety. “This place is like a labyrinth!” she commented, her voice hushed.

“Keep up,” Ronan urged, casting a wary glance over his shoulder at her. His alertness was palpable, a stark contrast to the serene beauty around us .

Marcellus, leading with confidence, pointed towards a distant archway that marked the transition from the Eastern to the Western Palace. “We'll need to cross the open courtyard of the Central palace,” he said, his tone serious. “Stay close and act natural.”

As we stepped into the square, the vast expanse of the courtyard stretched before us, bustling with activity. Nobles strolled leisurely, guards patrolled the area, and servants hurried about their duties. We blended into the crowd, our group appearing as nothing more than a casual assembly of palace dwellers enjoying the day.

Moving swiftly across the courtyard, the Western Palace loomed closer, its grandeur casting a long shadow over us. I felt a tug on my sleeve and looked over to see Selene, her face etched with concern. “There are a lot of guards, Leila,” she whispered, her voice barely audible over the chatter of the courtyard.

With a reassuring smile, I gently squeezed her hand. “It’ll be fine. The guards searching for Ronan probably went to the Northern palace, and when they can’t find him there, they’ll head to the Eastern palace,” I whispered back.

As we hastened across the sunlit courtyard, the sudden, sharp call of a guard cut through the air, shattering our brief illusion of anonymity. “There they are! Stop !” The command was directed at us, an authoritative voice slicing through the casual hustle and bustle.

We quickened our pace and tried to blend into the crowd, but it was too late. The distinctive clank of armor grew louder as more guards joined the pursuit, alerted by their comrade's call. Panic knotted in my stomach as I glanced over my shoulder to see several guards breaking through the throng, their eyes locked on our group.

“This way, quickly!” Marcellus urged, his voice tight with urgency. He veered off the main path and raced down a less trodden garden trail. His knowledge of the palace's layout was our only advantage.

The sound of our pursuers' boots against the cobblestones grew louder, a relentless echo that spurred us forward. Ronan, ever the protector, moved to the rear of our group, casting wary glances behind us, his posture tense and ready.

“Keep moving!” I heard him say, the determination in his voice bolstering my resolve.

The once peaceful courtyard transformed into a maze of fear and desperation as we dodged statues and barreled through archways, the looming Western Palace our only beacon of hope amidst the chaos.

As we neared the secluded door Marcellus was aiming for, the guards’ shouts grew ominously close, their presence an ever-looming threat at our backs.

Beside me, Selene ran with a grace born of her time at sea, her breaths measured despite the panic. “We're almost there,” she panted, her encouragement mingling with the adrenaline that coursed through my veins.

Finally, Marcellus pushed open the concealed door and we slipped through one by one, the dim corridor of the Western Palace swallowing us whole. The door shut with a quiet thud behind us, momentarily silencing the clamor of the chase.

“We can't stop now,” Marcellus whispered, leading us deeper into the labyrinth of the palace, the sound of our hurried footsteps the only evidence of our flight.

As we navigated the shadowed passageways, the reality of our situation weighed heavily on me. The palace, my home, had become a prison from which we had to flee, our freedom hinging on the success of our desperate escape .

Marcellus guided us through a series of winding, dimly lit passageways that felt increasingly claustrophobic as silence pressed in on us from all sides. Eventually, we arrived at a nondescript wooden door that seemed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding stone wall. Marcellus pushed it open with a firm shove.

“These are the underground tunnels—a network of forgotten passages that run like veins beneath the palace and its grounds,” he explained as we tried to peer inside the darkness. “No one but me knows they exist. I use them to sneak out of the palace once in a while. It’ll spit you out close to the border of Keldara.”

“Good.” I nodded. “That’s where we need to go.”

Marcel frowned. “You’re going to cross the border?”

“Yes. It’s the only way.”

Marcellus sighed. “Be careful, Lyanna. They might not be after you, but they could definitely leverage you if they needed to.”

“We’ll be careful,” I promised.

The air within the tunnel was cool and musty, filled with the scent of damp earth and the whisper of secrets long buried. As we stepped into the shadowy confines of the passageway, Marcellus produced a torch from a nook by the entrance and lit it, the flickering flame casting eerie shadows on the earthen walls.

“This is where we part ways,” Marcellus said, his voice echoing slightly in the confined space. “These tunnels will lead you out beyond the palace grounds. Just follow the main passage until you reach the old oak tree. You'll find another exit there.”

Ronan nodded, his expression grim. “Thank you, Marcellus. For everything.”

Marcellus clapped him on the shoulder, a silent message of camaraderie between them. “Just make sure you both stay safe. And Ronan, take care of my sister for me.”

Ronan's gaze met mine, filled with a promise that needed no words.

Selene stepped forward and hugged me tightly. “Be careful, Leila,” she whispered. “I'll see you soon.”

With one last look at my brother and my best friend, Ronan and I turned to face the darkness of the tunnel before us. Hand in hand, we began our descent into the bowels of Valoria, the torchlight casting our elongated shadows ahead of us as we navigated the uneven ground.

The tunnel was narrow, the walls rough and cool to the touch, moisture glistening on the stones in the dim light. Our footsteps were muffled by the soft earth beneath us, the only sounds the distant drip of water and our own steady breathing.

As we walked, the weight of our departure settled over me—a mix of fear, sadness, and a burgeoning sense of freedom. With each step, we moved further away from the life I had known and into an uncertain future.

“Watch your step,” Ronan whispered as he led the way, our hands interlocked.

“How far do you think this tunnel goes?” I whispered in return.

Ronan shrugged. “It must be fairly long, if it exits on the other side of the palace. We’d literally have to cut through the Western palace to get there.”

Other than the sound of our hurried footsteps, the tunnel was quiet. “I’m sorry, Ronan,” I murmured.

His steps faltered and he peered over his shoulder at me. “Sorry for what?”

I fought the tears that pricked at my eyes. “This is all my fault. Everything that happened— ”

Ronan resumed walking. “It would have eventually happened, Leila. Caelan wants me out of the picture so he can make you his. Whether it was now or a year from now, he would have devised a plan to make it happen. None of this is your fault. It’s his .”

While deep down I knew he was right, I couldn’t help the feeling of guilt that weighed down my shoulders. If Ronan had never met me, he’d probably still be living comfortably in the Grasslands.

“Do you ever regret it?”

“Regret what?” he asked as we continued our trek through the tunnels, guided solely by torchlight.

“Regret us ,” I said, my voice low.

“Never,” he said confidently. “Do you?”

I shook my head. “No, I don’t. But in times like these, I just wonder …”

“Stop wondering,” Ronan interrupted. “Living life filled with what-ifs will never bring you peace. Live in the moment, Leila, and live for the future. Our future. The one where we’re together. Safe, healthy, and happy.”

A smile stretched across my face at his words. He always knew the right thing to say. He was right. I needed to stop worrying so much. I wouldn’t accomplish a single thing if I continued to second-guess everything that led to this moment.

Eventually, the narrow passage gave way to a wider cavern and fresh air heralded the exit. The old oak tree Marcellus mentioned loomed ahead, its gnarled roots encircling the hidden door that would lead to freedom.

Ronan pushed the door open and we stepped out into the cool air, the sun beaming down on us and over the landscape. The palace was behind us now, both a part of us and a world away .

“We did it!” I said, my voice a whisper.

Ronan squeezed my hand. “Do you know how far away Keldara’s border is from here?”

“Not far,” I answered. “That’s why they were able to attack us so easily. The palace is close to the border.”

He nodded, then took a moment to survey the palace behind us with a thoughtful expression. “Then we must be cautious. Keldara still poses a threat – both to you and me.”

Concern etched deeper lines on Ronan's face. The weight of responsibility and the burden of keeping us both safe visibly wore on him. Yet, his grip on my hand was firm, a silent promise that he wouldn't let anything happen to me.

“We'll stick to the shadows,” he said, scanning the horizon as if already mapping our path. “Avoid main roads and use the forest for cover. We can't afford to be spotted.”