Chapter 31 #2
Larkin and Silas’s eyes widen as I carefully remove the folded page from the book. I set the book down and allow my mind a moment to grasp what’s happening. The paper is worn—yellowed and so thin—that I fear a strong gust of wind could rip it in half.
I slowly unfold the paper. Silas and Larkin remain on my sides, hovering over me and watching intensely. I try to steady my trembling hands and take my time making sure I’m as careful as possible.
With the document fully open, I pause for a moment to look at the paper. It’s blank—no words, no Rigils, and nothing that can help us. I hear Silas sigh from behind me, and Larkin places his hand on my shoulder in defeat.
“Maybe she was just speaking out of panic, Briar. Maybe it didn’t mean anything.” Larkin says.
I stare at the paper, hoping something will appear, that something will change, and that this entire thing wasn’t a waste.
“She wouldn’t have said that if she didn’t intend for us to find something, Larkin. I’m not making this up,” I bite back.
Larkin withdraws his hand, allowing me some space. “I don’t believe you are fabricating anything, but perhaps it simply isn’t what we expected.”
Silas moves to the large window and opens the curtains more, allowing more light to shine into the room. I stand with my back to the light and focus on the shadow of my body on the page, unwilling to accept defeat right now.
Think, Briar.
I scan the room with the page still in my hand, but I can’t think.
Nothing comes to mind, leaving me back at square one.
With a slight shift in my stance, a corner of the paper catches the sun, revealing a subtle change.
I squint my eyes, unable to process what I’m seeing.
The page starts to glimmer where the sun hits it, so subtly that if you weren’t looking, you would miss it.
Yup, I’ve gone insane.
Silas walks back across the room and comes to my side. He towers over my shoulder and looks down at the slight shimmer in the corner of the paper.
“What the fuck?” he whispers. “Move it into the sun.”
I slowly turn, moving the page completely into the sun spilling into the room. The entire sheet begins to shimmer like thousands of diamonds dancing on water.
My jaw drops open, and the page turns the brightest, glowing gold. I grab it with both hands and slowly lift it toward the window, giving the sun a chance to fully drench it in its golden rays.
Before my eyes, the shape begins to darken in the middle, and small words develop with the help of the sun.
“Gods,” I hear Larkin mumble. “It was warded.”
The words become clearer the longer they’re placed in the sun, and I wait impatiently for everything to develop before reading what it says.
An ancient Rigil forms at the center of the page, and excitement floods me.
I can’t help but squeal when I see we’ve found it.
Yara got the page from the book. I don’t know how, and I probably never will, but she managed to do it.
“That’s the Rigil,” Silas rasps, coming to the same conclusion. “Yara ripped it from the book.”
A large circle accompanied by two others fills the page. Lines and markings fill the space, creating a Rigil unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It’s a work of art, and I’m in awe of its beauty. There are words written within the largest circle, but it’s nothing I can read. We will need Oak for that.
A few other words begin to appear, and they're in a language I can read—our language. I quickly realize that it’s from Yara. Written on the glowing page is:
Briar,
This symbol is essential for entering the Archives with care. However, the Rigil can only be used once on a single person. Utilize it to acquire the information you seek. If you are reading this, I apologize that things did not go as planned. I look forward to seeing you again one day, my friend.
Yara.
My chest aches, but a sense of calm washes over me. It wasn’t for nothing; this wasn’t all a waste. She did it; she left this world a hero, and I’ll do everything I can to ensure that she is honored once this is over.
“We need Oak to translate what this text says.” I turn to Silas and Larkin.
They nod.
I move the page from the sunlight back into the shadows of our bodies. Before me, the page begins to fade, and the words slowly vanish, revealing a completely blank sheet. I carefully fold it back and secure it in the middle of the book.
I tuck the book under my arm and look toward Silas and Larkin. Silas stands with his hands tucked into his pockets, a sense of pride showing behind his eyes. Larkin looks distressed as usual, and I fear he’ll never get over the antics we seem to encounter daily.
“Should we go see Aerona?” I ask.
Silas clicks his tongue. “We should indeed.”
We walk toward the threshold, ready to move toward the far east wing of the castle, where Aerona’s quarters are. It’s a part of the castle I’ve never been to, so excitement and nerves dance in my stomach.
“You’re taking that book with you?” Larkin asks.
“I am.” I smile. “I think I’m going to read it.”
He shivers. “Don’t you think you should pick up something happier?”
I shrug. “Not my style.”
Silas takes the lead as we move into the castle halls, knowing exactly where he is going after making trips there his whole life.
I reflect on my childhood in Daramveer Castle.
To many, the hallways were a maze, but I knew each turn and crevice like the back of my hand.
The memories of the many times Barlowe and I played games throughout the halls send a wave of sadness mixed with happiness through me.
We would spend hours running through the halls, desperately trying not to get caught by one of my father’s many useless guards.
I watch Silas turn with purpose around each corner, and I quickly catch up to wrap my hand around his.
A heavy exhale escapes his chest from my touch, and he cuts his eyes toward mine.
A soft smile curls on his lips, and he squeezes my hand twice in return.
Larkin follows closely behind us, glancing over his shoulder every so often to ensure we are making this journey alone.
As we move through the long hallways, further away from the center of the castle where Malachi spent most of his time, the air seems lighter.
This wing has more windows, allowing more light to shine through, illuminating the halls with a sense of hope.
It’s easy to get lost in the gloom near where we stayed, tucked into the center of the castle.
I understand why Aerona chooses to stay in this wing instead of the others, but I can’t for the life of me understand why Silas and Fen decided to remain in those rooms.
I glance out a passing window and see that we’ve traveled quite high near one of the castle's points. The distance between us and the ground makes my palms tingle, and I subconsciously move further to the inside wall.
Silas notices my flinch and chuckles. “I forgot your fear of heights, my love.”
“For the hundredth time, I’m not afraid of heights, but the thought of falling isn’t my favorite.”
He laughs again and lets us move further away from the passing windows.
We round the last corner and come to a large wooden door embellished with a snake, just like the others.
“I will start us off with my mother,” Silas says. “She will want to hear from me what happened with Malachi.”
Larkin nods, and Silas looks directly at me. “I would like you to chime in as well. Since you are going to enter the Forgotten Archives, I want you to ask the questions you need answering.”
Shock paints my face. “I’m entering the Archives? I didn’t think you would let me do that alone.”
He smiles. “Believe me, I want to argue with you, but I know that would be useless, and I would lose just like every time before. Everything within me tells me that you are the person who needs to do this, no matter how scared it makes me.”
“But, what if I don’t want to?” I ask.
Silas laughs. “Wow, the one time I don’t argue, you would have listened to my persuasion. That seems about right. If you choose not to, then I will go, but please know that the decision is ultimately yours.”
“Thank you,” I mutter.
He steps closer, his large presence looming above me.
“Briar, there are creatures in Andorwood that have existed here long before the Great Wiitches. I’m going to let you enter the Archives, but not before you are prepared.
If the Archives contains documents this important, I can only imagine the creature that haunts the space.
I fear we are facing something truly terrifying. ”
Fear runs through my veins like icy water.
“I don’t know, I feel like I’ve had my dose of terror from the Traveler in the woods,” I say.
“That will seem childish compared to what’s in the Archives.”
Silas raises his hand and drives his fist into the heavy wooden door. The knock echoes down the long hallway behind us, and I can’t help but listen to the nerves that fill me. Light footsteps sound behind the door, and I brace myself for another awkward meeting with Silas’s mother.
The door swings open, and to my surprise, Fen is standing there. I wasn’t aware she would be joining us today.
“Come in,” she says with a smile, but a heaviness still weighs her down. She moves for us to enter.
Silas strides in, followed by Larkin, and I have to convince my feet to move into the room.
The air is light, the sun is bright, and the room is drenched in an emerald green that makes it seem as if the forest and her room are the same.
It’s stunning and a room I could only dream of having one day.
Vines cover most of the walls, and the real forest peeks into the windows from behind the castle.
The room is vast and seems to stretch for miles longer than the other rooms.
The room has several seating areas, but the main one features a few grand chairs and a dark couch that looks divine.
Fen walks back toward the large fireplace, settling into what I assume is her assigned chair.
Silas joins Fen in a nearby chair, followed by Larkin, and my eyes catch sight of Aerona.
Her back is to me, but I can already sense her piercing gaze.
“Come sit, Briar,” her strong voice calls.
My senses urge me to stay alert as I cross the room and find the last available chair, directly across from Aerona, and tuck the book behind my back. From our few meetings, I can’t help but have a guard up around her. I sit down, and her gaze locks onto mine. A broad grin spreads across her face.
“Welcome,” Aerona says.