Chapter 19
The Evernean Forest
Lara
I gazed into the small mirror above the little dresser in my cabin. It was old and cracked, allowing my reflection to become a blurry kaleidoscope.
Nonetheless, one had to get by with what one had.
The summer solstice called for very specific celebration. It was the one day of the year when all of us, no matter how poor, made an effort to dress up. Black was the colour of choice and patterns and swirls were painted on our bodies and faces. The top half of my hair had been braided out of my face and I was surprised by how much my reflection had changed in the mirror compared to the year before, despite dressing exactly the same.
It was supposed to be a joyous occasion, but I didn’t seem to have much to celebrate, except perhaps for the fact that I was alive. I clasped a necklace, which I had stolen some time ago, around my neck and the amber contrasted with the light tone of my skin. I thought about how much nicer Cai’s necklace would look but discounted the thought as foolish. It wouldn’t be safe to be seen with it in the camp. Giving one last grin in the mirror, I turned to leave. The sound of chatter grew louder above the folk music as I opened the door of my cabin. My vision was filled with firelight coating the earth and the group of faces all made up similar to mine. I made my way between the trees and grassy patches towards the centre of the commotion.
The smell of fire-cooked food danced in the air and I ignored the rumble of my stomach. I hadn’t seen Ray or Cai since this afternoon and I had a goal of finding at least one of them. I was still walking when something that felt like a berry fell on my head. I looked up instinctively and found a pair of mischievous eyes staring back at me. It was difficult not to smile. “What exactly do you think you’re doing?” I asked Ray as he fell backwards and swung down from the branch. He had always been a better tree climber than I was.
Ray’s face had also been decorated with the dark swirling patterns and for a moment he reminded me of his father. They had the same eyes. When we were much younger, I spent a lot of time with Ray and his family. But then Ray’s mother got sick and nobody could do anything to save her. It took such a toll on his father that a few months later, in the village, he nearly beat a guard to death for mistreating an older woman. And he paid for it with his life. At least I had never known my parents. I couldn’t miss someone I’d never met.
“I’m looking for you.” He tilted his head slightly and I smiled at my childhood friend. “Come on, I’m starving,” he said.
We walked to tables laid with more food than we could usually afford. Most of the time every scrap was stretched out or saved for as long as possible. But not on the summer solstice.
“Have you seen Cai?” I asked Ray, who shook his head.
I bit my lip. “I’m supposed to be keeping an eye on him. Uncle doesn’t trust him at all.”
“He’s probably around here somewhere. I don’t think he’d actually be stupid enough to run.”
“Still, Arthur’s already upset with me as it is. I don’t have any intention of getting myself into more trouble.”
Ray let out a chuckle and I scowled at him. “It’s not funny.”
“I don’t know what’s more amusing, the fact that you mind getting into trouble or that you think Arthur’s capable of punishing you somehow. I mean, what’s he going to do? Exile you when this is over?”
Wouldn’t that be ironic? We walked through the commotion and I nodded in greeting at the faces that had become familiar to me in camp.
“I missed this,” Ray commented.
“Yes, it’s been a long time since we’ve really had something to celebrate around here.”
“No, I meant, I miss this.” He gestured between the two of us. “We were practically inseparable and then a few months ago you started acting all rogue, refusing to be part of this family.”
I stopped, turning to face him. “I told you, I didn’t want to be part of this rebellion. I know that things aren’t run fairly in this kingdom — believe me, I do. But killing people? Seeing the people in our clan get killed? Ray, I don’t think I can survive that. If anything were to happen to my uncle or you...”
“Hey, it’s okay.” Ray wrapped his arms around me and I had a flashback to when we were really young. Ray and I used to share a cabin with Uncle, and one night my uncle went out without saying where he was going. He didn’t return until the late hours of the morning — I was up the whole night, terrified that he would never come back. I started to cry and Ray, as always, was there to comfort me.
“I know this isn’t ideal. If life were, we would have had a fair king on the throne and we wouldn’t have to steal and kill in order to survive. But we need you on this. You’ve given us a lever we’ve been waiting for, for years. Even if it wasn’t intentional. Promise you’ll try to cooperate at least until we’ve figured out a plan?”
His eyes were so pleading that I couldn’t help but nod. “Okay, I promise.”
I gazed around and caught sight of blond hair weaving through the small crowd. Cai looked left and right, as if checking whether someone was following him, and then proceeded towards the outskirts of the camp.
“I have to go.” I didn’t even give Ray an explanation or a chance to reply before running off after the prince. There wasn’t time. At least Cai wasn’t running, which made it easier for me to catch up with him.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
He jumped a little upon hearing my voice behind him.
“I was going for a walk.”
My brows furrowed and I wasn’t sure if I believed him.
“All right, then I’ll come with you.” When he made no objection of any kind, I suspected he might have been telling the truth. “So.” I made a little foolish twirl, holding my dress. “What do you think?”
Cai didn’t seem to be in a very cheerful mood. He simply said, “You look different.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I looked down at the dress that stopped just below my ankles. The black material was just about as dark as the night. A belt hung low around my hips and the bodice was laced up in the front instead of the back like most of Princess Eloisa’s dresses.
“You look like you’re pretending to be something you’re not.” Before I could say anything in return, Cai stepped in front of me. “I don’t say that to be rude. I just mean that you looked more comfortable before. More like yourself.”
I closed my mouth, trying to process his words and somehow finding it hard to do so. Maybe because I thought he could be right. I didn’t really fit in with this family anymore. At least, it didn’t feel like it. It didn’t quite feel like I belonged anywhere. Maybe that was a blessing in disguise.
We continued walking below the high branches of the trees and I heard the hoot of an owl in the distance.
“I need to ask you something.” Cai sounded breathless. The walking must not have been doing his body any good, considering he hadn’t had time to heal properly. I was worried about his injuries when he joined us on the hunting trip. But he didn’t appear to be in any pain.
We slowed down and I replied, “Fire away.” I picked a blade of grass and played with it between my fingers as I leaned against an old tree trunk.
“Where is the necklace?”
Not the question I was expecting.
Not the question I had planned to answer.
“It’s buried where no one will ever find it.” At my words, Cai looked up and there was genuine concern in his eyes.
“I’m going to need it back.”
I shook my head. “That necklace almost caused a war. It’s better if no one has it, then no one can abuse its power.”
“First of all, the whole story about the necklace being magical is ridiculous. These tales have been around for centuries and as the Prince of Norrandale, I can assure you, they are not true. Secondly, that necklace belongs to my family. It is my rightful property and you know it.”
I wasn’t sure if I liked the stern tone in his voice.
“You could be lying about the jewel not being magical. If that’s the case, and that necklace falls into the wrong hands again, it could be worse than a war. Everyone is safer as long as no one ever finds it and you know that.”
Cai snorted and I laid my head back against the tree trunk. The evening slowly started to set in as the longest day of the year came to its end.
“Should have known never to trust a thief.”
It was strange how I actually felt a pang in my chest as Cai said that. I didn’t meet his eyes. Couldn’t, perhaps, because of my guilt and knowing I had never apologised to him for my betrayal.
“And what do you plan to do with it? Take over Everness? Eliminate your enemy for good?”
“I just want to give it back to whom it belongs to.”
To whom it belongs to? Did he mean Eloisa? Was he still planning to marry her? I was curious. But I wouldn’t ask. “I’m not giving you that necklace, Cai.”
A jolt of nerves went through my body when Cai’s hands wrapped around my upper arms and held me against the tree. I couldn’t look away now. His eyes were greener than they had ever been before and, without meaning to, I could hear both of us breathing.
“Where is the necklace?” He didn’t shout. Didn’t try to hurt me. His voice was soft and serious, making me think about the night in the maze at Woodsbrook Manor. And how I kissed Cai in his rooms before running away.
He’s still a prince , the voice in my head reminded me.
I was quick to knock Cai’s hands away. “Do you have a hearing problem?” Even though he was no longer touching me, Cai didn’t step away. “I told you it’s gone and buried. The best thing is to just forget about it.”
“I am the future king of Norrandale.” As if I needed reminding. “It would be in your best interest to give me what I want, Lara.”
“Of course, now you want to abuse your power.” There was a twitch in his expression, and I wondered if my words might have hurt his feelings. Good. He did call me a scheming thief.
He looked away for a moment. “You really think the worst of my kind, don’t you?”
“Your kind has given me very little reason to think otherwise,” I spat out, contemplating shoving him so I could walk away from this conversation.
“That piece of jewellery is part of my family legacy. I need it back.” Cai’s voice rose slightly, with an edge of desperation to it.
“If it’s so damn important, then why did you give it away in the first place?” I worried for a moment that someone would hear us, but the music would conceal the sound of my yelling.
“Because I was going to marry Eloisa and she was going to come and live in Norrandale, and it wouldn’t have mattered.”
“Well, I’m sorry to have ruined it for you.” I threw my arms up in a slightly dramatic fashion.
It was only then that Cai seemed to notice our proximity, the fact that we were now so close that our breaths mingled in the night air.
The prince’s face softened and the tension between us shifted into something that was no longer fuelled by anger.
“Yes,” he breathed out. “How very ill-mannered of you.”
Before I found myself getting caught up in his gaze again, I quickly looked away.
“I’m sorry.” Any confidence my voice possessed before was now gone. “I can’t tell you where it is.”
Defeated, Cai let it go and took a step back. “Very well, then.” He headed towards the camp and I stood back for a moment, watching him walk away and deciding I didn’t like it. Nor the fact that I felt as if I disappointed him. Shaking my head, I caught up, and in silence, we made our way back to the firelight and music.
“So what usually happens at these events?” he asked, as if the conversation that had just passed between us had never happened.
“Well, as you can see, there is plenty to eat and drink, which is pretty much the highlight of the evening.” Meat was being roasted on the nearby fires, while the tables were loaded with breads and fruits. All of which had been baked and gathered today. “That and the dancing. It gives us something to think about so we can forget the hardships, even if it’s just for the night. We’re not really ones for pretty speeches and ceremonies.”
We stood at the edge of the party, like outsiders looking in. Like neither of us really belonged there with the rest of them. “What do you usually do on the summer solstice?” I asked.
“Those who can, go to the beaches. We usually have a garden party during the day and then at night we celebrate in the ballroom. It’s a lot like this only...”
“Only completely different?” I finished his sentence and he smiled as he replied, ”Yeah.” The moment of peace didn’t last very long before Ray came out of the crowd and jogged towards us.
“Where have you been? Everyone’s looking for you,” he said, and his demeanour had changed completely since the last time I saw him, not too long ago.
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Arthur wants to talk to you. Both of you.” He glanced towards Cai, who looked just as surprised and confused as I was, but we followed him nonetheless.
The door to Uncle Arthur’s cabin was open and Ray closed it behind us as we stepped inside. Cai and I stopped in our tracks. The last person I’d thought I would see again was standing there in his uniform, looking like he’d seen a ghost. Rhen breathed heavily, as if he had just run all the way here.
“What are you doing here?”
“Sit down,” Uncle said before Rhen could reply.
We both took a seat. I had no idea what to expect.
“Your friend here—” Uncle gestured to Rhen — “has brought us some rather important news.”
“What is it? What happened?” A million bad thoughts were going through my mind.
“The King of Everness is dead.”