Chapter 24
Cai
The journey felt long and tedious, while a tense atmosphere lingered between members of our party. Thatcher tried to lighten the mood with occasional humour, but it was of little use. We didn’t stop to rest often, pushing to get there as soon as possible and only adding to everyone’s tiredness and irritability. Even Gwen was too exhausted to talk. Alastor and Jack led our party safely across the border and into Everness.
When we finally arrived at the palace, it took a moment for the guards to realise we were royal visitors. Everyone seemed to scramble, unprepared. It was Lady Anesta who finally came out to greet us.
I didn’t ask where Lance was, nor did I particularly care to see him.
Anesta told me that Elara had gone out riding and Rhen spotted her before she left. He’d gone after her, but they hadn’t returned. It had been a few days.
I forced myself not to imagine the worst. I didn’t even want to consider the possibility that Aries might have already reached her. The Evernean Forest was a monstrosity of tall, dark trees and slopes, and she could have gone in any direction.
I needed to rest, to eat and sleep, but I wouldn’t be able to do any of those things until I’d confirmed Elara’s safety. I asked if we could borrow some of the palace horses, allowing ours to rest. I took Jack and a few guards with me, leaving the rest of our travelling party to get settled at the palace, all while trying not to think about the political storm that would surely follow my sudden arrival. I simply didn’t have the time or energy for protocol and hoped Lady Anesta would be able to smooth over the worst of it until I returned to the palace.
“Any idea where she might have gone?” Jack asked me once we’d left the grounds.
“If she’s upset or something’s wrong, she is likely to go to a place where she feels at ease and peaceful.”
“That could narrow it down to a few places.”
“That’s also assuming I really know anything about her,” I replied.
“Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I’m sure we’ll find them.”
Jack was a good tracker. If we stuck to the main routes through the forest, combined with visiting some of the places Elara might have gone, we stood a chance of getting to her.
* * *
I found her sitting alone by the lake.
The one we’d visited during our travel to Woodsbrook. It had taken quite some time to track her and her guards (who kept quite a distance), but Elara could be predictable in some ways. The sky was covered in clouds and a breeze began to form. Elara’s arms were wrapped around herself, and I wondered if she was cold.
I dismounted and tied my horse to the nearest tree before rubbing my eyes. I was beyond tired, and yet still I had to hold myself back from running to Elara and thanking the heavens that she was safe and unharmed.
If she’d heard me behind her, she made no effort to show it. Elara stared out into the lake as if answers to all the questions could be found beneath the surface of the water.
“You know, some would say it’s dangerous for a queen to be out here alone.”
She jumped at the sound of my voice. She really must have been so deep in thought that she had no idea I was there.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
She only looked at me for a moment. If she was surprised, she made no effort to show it. The breeze ruffled her hair. She was so beautiful. Her eyes scolded me before she shifted her gaze back to the water, which rippled in the last of the sunlight.
“What are you doing here, Cai?”
“I came back for you.” The five simple words that meant nothing and everything all at once.
“You’ve got much to worry about in Norrandale. You should be there, on your throne.”
“No,” I replied, before taking a seat next to her on the ground. “I should be wherever you are.”
“Don’t,” she said, too quickly. “Just don’t.”
“Elara, please listen.”
“No, Cai. You listen.” She finally turned to face me. “I overheard you talking with Thatcher.”
“What do you mean?”
“You told him about where I come from and what kind of upbringing I had. At least now I know the real reason you waited so long to agree to the alliance.” Her expression was so full of hurt, and I hated that I was the cause of it.
“That’s not what it was about. I was trying to protect you, Lara. You have to believe me.”
“Like the time you were trying to ‘protect’ me by not telling me I was the heir to the throne?” Lara’s tone was cold, and it was as if I could physically feel the wall she had placed between us.
“It wasn’t my place,” I said. “No matter how much I wanted to.”
She looked away, refusing to meet my gaze.
“What do you think would have happened if I’d told you? First of all, you wouldn’t have believed me. And secondly, I thought back then that you wanted a different life, that you hated the monarchy. I believed that you wanted to leave that life and Everness behind to go and live somewhere else. And I believed you would do it if given the chance, regardless of what you thought of me. So imagine my surprise when you showed up at the palace that day of the rebellion? And even more so when you decided to take the throne after Lance got imprisoned, or abdicated, whatever you want to call it.”
“I came for you because I cared, you idiot,” she cried out. “I came back because I couldn’t stand the thought of you dying.” Elara shook her head. “And when Lance told me the truth, yes, at first, I didn’t want to believe him. But I hoped that after everything we’d all been through, I might be able to do something good. I might be able to make a difference instead of just running away like I always do.” She sighed deeply. “But it looks like I just traded one cage for another, shinier, one.”
“You’re the only person that can put you in a cage, Elara.”
Her look told me that she didn’t quite believe me.
“Yes, this royal life comes with its limits and consequences. It’s a lot more responsibility than anyone is really willing to sign up for.” I placed my hand on top of hers. She didn’t move away like I had expected. “But it’s only terrible if you go through it alone.”
“Do you really think I’m a terrible queen? That I’m nothing more than a common girl with a crown?” Elara said, after a few moments of agonising silence.
“I think the world of you, Elara.” And it was the truth. “But being queen of Norrandale will bring so much more danger to your life.” The kind of danger she’d wanted to escape from when she was still a bandit. Elara had always wanted a simple life, but it no longer seemed like a possibility for either of us.
“The thing is, I don’t think I’m that afraid anymore.” She stared out to the water. “Or maybe I’m just too tired to be afraid.”
She finally looked back at me and then shook her head as if attempting to pull herself together. “We should start thinking about heading back. As much as I would like to, I can’t stay out here for ever.”
“How are things faring with the council? I can’t imagine they are very good if you sneaked out of the palace to be here alone.”
Elara shrugged. “I needed time to think. Besides, I’m not alone. Rhen and his guards have been keeping an eye on me.”
I sucked in a breath. “I thought we could make the announcement of our engagement.” Elara raised an eyebrow. “But once we do, Aries will do everything in his power to come after you too.”
“Is that why you came back here?”
“You’ve seen what Aries is capable of. He doesn’t care about rules or law or peace. And now that he knows about you and the possible alliance, Everness has also become Argon’s enemy. With all due respect to Rhen and the royal guard, I couldn’t leave you here to fend for yourself.”
“I’m a big girl, Cai,” she replied kindly, though her expression suggested understanding of my concern.
“Everness has already faced so much with a rebellion and a new monarch. Do you believe it’s ready for a war too?”
“Is anyone ever truly ready for war?”
“Aries always seems to be.” I turned my gaze over the still waters.
“Won’t our kingdoms at least have a better chance if we stand together?”
“Maybe. Wars cost more than human lives. It will be expensive to fund.”
She squeezed my hand, and I squeezed back. “We’re not doing this for our own sake, Cai. We’re doing this because we have to, for the protection of everyone. Aries is coming whether we want him to or not and we need to protect our kingdoms. If Norrandale falls, Everness is next.”
She was right.
Aries was coming.
“We should get back to the palace. It’s not safe out here.”
Her face softened and her mouth turned into a slight smile. “Have you forgotten you’re in the presence of the Masked Bandit? You’re safer with me than anywhere else.”
“Of course.” I stood up and held my hands out to her. “Forgive my insolence, my lady.”
Trying to hide a smile, she took my hands, and I pulled her into an embrace.