Chapter 22
Cai
I tucked in my shirt without much care as I hurried to Elara’s room the next morning. After everything that had happened yesterday, I wanted to make sure she was all right. I would never forget the fear in her eyes as she beheld the blood on her hands from killing the Argonian soldier. I wish I could have protected her from it.
There were two guards stationed outside her door. Their expressions grew nervous as I approached.
“Your Majesty.” One of them corrected his posture and fisted his hands at his sides.
“Is Elara still in her chambers?”
The guard cleared his throat, taking too long to respond.
“No, Your Majesty. She’s asked that we give you this.” The other guard said.
He handed me a white envelope with my name written in Elara’s handwriting.
Something about the guard’s expression told me the contents of the letter could only be less than desirable.
Dear Cai,
I’m sorry to have left without a goodbye. Though you know I was never really good at them anyway. I have things to take care of back in Everness. My kingdom needs me now. Please send my apologies and love to Cordelia.
Love, Elara
I scrunched up the letter, which still smelled of her, and hurried out of the room.
“Jack!” My shout echoed through the palace hallways.
“Jack!” I called out again as I made my way towards the training area, where he was most likely to be.
I didn’t know if it was the panicked tone of my voice or perhaps just coincidental proximity that made him appear before me suddenly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He blew out a breath, giving away that he’d been running.
“It’s Elara, she’s gone.” I was out of breath myself, though the origin was more likely panic.
“Gone?” Jack frowned, and I pressed the crumpled piece of paper to his chest.
“She left me this.”
He quickly read through the letter before looking back up at me. “Your Majesty?”
“Something’s not right.” I gulped.
“Because she needed to go back to Everness or—”
“Because she wouldn’t have just left like that without saying anything,” I said. “Not unless something was wrong.”
“Are you sure she truly didn’t just have to go home, Your Majesty? Things aren’t exactly going well in Everness.”
I shook my head. “She gave no indication of coming back or any future meeting between us. She wouldn’t do that unless something happened. Something that made her run.” Like a bird always looking to escape the cage of her reality.
“Maybe with everything happening with Argon, she’s just trying to protect herself. This court hasn’t exactly been the safest of places.”
“Ready the horses, we’re going to Everness,” I ordered., ignoring his comment.
“Everness?” he questioned. “With all due respect, is that the wisest thing to do right now? You need to be protected now more than ever, Your Majesty.”
“Aries isn’t interested in overthrowing my kingdom just yet. If he was then he would have sent an army yesterday, not just a few rogue spies. This is personal. I killed his brother. He wants to hit me where it hurts, and I have my guesses that he knows about Elara too by now, and if he doesn’t, he’s going to find out soon. As long as she is alone, she is a target.”
“You think Aries will come for her in Everness?”
“I’m counting on it.”
* * *
“Well.” Thatcher folded his hands together. “This has all gotten very interesting.” He leaned back in one of the chairs in the sitting area of my rooms while I readied myself for the journey ahead. The servants were in a bustle, the palace full of whispers about the sudden departure of the Queen of Everness.
“The longer Elara is alone there, the more danger she is in. Aries is going to come for me by chasing and threatening her.” Though no one knew of the engagement, it was clear there had been a security breach in the palace. If Aries’ spies could get me poisoned and attacked, it was certain that Elara wasn’t safe. Jack was doing everything in his power to find the culprit, but that kind of thing could take a long time. I would never be at ease when I couldn’t be certain she was out of danger.
“You’ve always been so noble, Cai.”
Although I appreciated his compliment, now was not the time. “Focus,” I said, tying my belt in a hurry. “Are you coming with me or not?” With all the chaos that had seemed to ensue since I’d been crowned, there was a feeling of comfort at the thought that I still had my oldest friend by my side. It was the familiarity of him that gave me the delusion we were still two kids running amuck.
“You think I would miss out on an adventure like this? I’m afraid you don’t know me at all.”
I was slightly relieved, though I wouldn’t admit it to Thatcher. He loved spending time at court, and we’d never travelled this far together before.
“I’ll take that as a yes, then.” I grabbed my jacket, motioning for Thatch to follow me. We headed out the door and to the stables, where the horses were being readied for the journey.
“You must love her a lot if you’re willing to fight for her like this.”
I stopped in my tracks for a moment. “Haven’t you ever cared for someone enough that you were willing to give up everything, just to see them safe and content? Even if it didn’t always make sense? In fact, most of the time it doesn’t make sense.”
Thatcher seemed to think for a moment. “Can’t say I have. Though you might want to look into it, because you sound like a raving lunatic.”
I shook my head, thankful for his humorous attempt to cheer me up.
“If I may ask . . . ?”
“We both know you’re going to ask anyway, regardless of my response.”
“True.”
The halls were busy with plenty of servants but many of the courtiers had chosen to stay in their chambers. I couldn’t blame them after what had happened yesterday. I was terrified myself.
“Well, the thing is,” Thatcher started. “I was just wondering, since the two of you are not officially engaged, what kind of message this would send out to the people, to Argon too?”
I bit my lip. Nothing was official yet. But Thatcher was my best friend.
“I’m telling you the same thing I told Jack — with the number of spies Aries has in my palace, news would have certainly reached him about Elara. Fiancée or not, he’s coming after her.”
“Because you killed his brother?”
“Aries wants revenge. Revenge for his brother. Revenge that he couldn’t conquer Norrandale.” More likely he was probably after Norrandale’s biggest secret.
“I guess you’re right.”
I changed the subject. “Will you be packed in time? We’re almost leaving.”
“I have my charm and wit.” He shrugged. “What more do I need?”
“Don’t know,” I replied as we reached the stables. “Everness can get pretty cold, you might want to take a blanket.”
“Don’t worry. I had my servants pack the moment I heard you were leaving.”
“Wait up!” Both our heads turned in the direction of the voice calling out. Dressed in her riding attire, Gwen came running with a small bag over her shoulder. “Don’t leave without me.”
“You’re not coming,” Thatcher said in disbelief when she came to a stop next to him. She huffed, out of breath, dropping her hands to her knees.
“Oh yes I am,” Gwen argued, causing him to raise his blond eyebrows at her.
“What makes you think we’re letting you come along on our boys’ trip?”
“Don’t be a pig.” She hit his shoulder.
“Mother will kill you if she finds out,” Thatcher persisted.
“Mother doesn’t have to know.” She bent down to retie one of her boot laces. I looked to where Jack fastened the last of his belongings to his horse. Cordelia stood by his side, ready to bid him farewell. She would come to Everness a few days after us, bringing the rest of my guards. They had yet to return from their search for the assassin.
“She’s going to find out eventually and you know it. And if she doesn’t kill you, she’s going to kill Cai for not forbidding you to come.” Thatcher placed his hand on my shoulder. “Think of poor little Cai, Gwennie.”
“Well, then, I guess it’s a good thing that Cai is king and doesn’t have to obey the likes of anyone.” Lace tied, she straightened herself, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“It could get dangerous,” I warned her. “Are you certain that you want to come along?” It wasn’t a lie. I had no way of guaranteeing her safety on this trip.
“I won’t get in your way, I promise. But I’ll drive myself mad if I have to stay in this damned place any longer.” She looked at the palace walls with dismay.
Thatcher and I stared at her in silence, waiting for more of an explanation.
“You guys can come and go as you please. Cai, you’ve been gone more in the past few years than you’ve been home. I love Norrandale but I need to see what’s beyond the palace walls every now and then.”
Gwen was very hard-headed once she’d set her mind on something. I called for the stable boy to saddle another horse.
“Fine, but if you get killed, it’s not my fault.” Thatcher crossed his arms. Gwen ignored him and moved towards the stable boy, gathering her horse’s tack.
“I may be a lady, but I can still kick both your arses,” she replied over her shoulder.