Chapter Thirteen
I clean the blood from her face and try to hide my awe.
I should not be shocked that the Taruil hid her existence from us. There is simply no way that they could not have known what she was. Who she is.
More than likely, they were hiding her to prevent an uprising.
Our stories are clear. Our myth is true. So our prophecy must be as well.
Three in the form of one shall rise above a bond of treachery. The Noctifer Witch shall mark the return of peace across the realm of fae, and magickals shall walk freely once again.
Although, I truly have no desire to see the fae realm any longer. I should wish for the freedom of my people, but the dirty truth is that they are not wholly my people. They never have been, and while only a few were privy to that information, others knew something was different about me.
Laeryne made sure that no one ever laid eyes on my softly rounded ear, taking the first opportunity to lop it nearly clean off as a punishment for being disobedient. My poor little ear. The only true evidence of my halfling nature.
As the Noctifer Witch herself and both of her mates are all halfbreeds, I cannot help but wonder if she would find my presence more comforting if she knew my truth.
When I glance at the Royal Cons– no. He is nevermore the consort. A fact I am sure the Princess is also relieved to embrace. She had confided in me that she was beginning to have feelings for someone outside the castle walls, though I have no idea how she managed to find herself outside the walls. Perhaps our true paternal biology also gave my twin a few gifts as well.
I try to ignore the slight twist of jealousy at that. After all, if I had no outward signs, I would not have been secreted away to grow and train as a castle slave. No, that is not fair. There are many elves with worse fates than that of a Dryma, regardless of my treatment or limited prospects in life.
I drag my thoughts away from the spiral I tend to periodically wander down and realize that Lucian is staring quizzically at me.
“Are you troubled, Midori? Having second thoughts about helping us?” His words may ring with accusation, but his tone is calm and friendly. Almost as if he were concerned about me and not my loyalties.
“I am fine. I was simply lost in my thoughts, trying to devise the best path we should travel. Although, I must confess. It does not seem as though we have agreed on a direction.” I only feel slightly guilty for redirecting the attention back to him. I am simply not ready to divulge my life story to a group of strangers.
Prophecy or not.
Lucian opens his mouth but is quickly cut off by a bustle from outside as a guard shouts orders.
“We believe they have gone west. Your orders are to take the witch woman and the Royal Consort alive and unharmed if possible. Kill the Earth male and the traitorous elf whore.”
Buzzing sounds in my ears as my blood runs cold. a small bubble of laughter gets stuck in my throat as I ill myself to remain silent until they rush away.
Whore.
The most comical of degrading nicknames they could give me, seeing as the King made a law against the deflowering of a Dryma. My intact chastity belt proves as such.
Besides, not many would be interested in a tryst with a mutilated elf with odd resonating magicks.
I shake my head to clear the intrusive thoughts away. Lucian isn’t going to like this.
Keeping my voice low in case any remaining guards are nearby, I lay out the plan. “If they are heading west, then we have to head east. That means–”
He waves my words away and finishes for me. “Yes, it means we have to pass through Lebetem. However, once we are close, we will follow my lead.”
Anyone who has worked and lived in the castle long enough to know the Hybrid would understand his aversion to going anywhere near the domain where his mother rules with her fire and fury.
I nod in agreement, as do the others. We quickly finish dressing and make our way to the opposite side of the tent from where we entered. Once we reach the flap where we might sneak out, I hold up my hand.
Now is my turn to be brave.
“Let me check. If I am caught, you three can still make your way out.” I will not say that I refuse to allow a pregnant woman to put herself or her mates in harm’s way when I mean so little in this world, but that does not make it any less true.
Not waiting for a response, I carefully peel back the tent wall. Surprisingly enough, this seems to be the side that leads to the walkway behind the tents used for vendors. The Gods must have taken pity on us.
I glance back and bring a finger to my lips before pulling the hood down low to cover my face. After a steadying breath, I open the flap and slip out.
In order to avoid suspicions, I do not spare a glance behind me but am relieved when I hear the tent fabric rustle a few more times as footsteps follow me down the pathway.
By some miracle, we manage to make it past the entire market– sparing a quick moment to snag a few bits of food along the way– without being detected.
Unfortunately, once we reached the end of the vendor pathway, we encountered something we had not prepared for.
Vast open space.
As in, you can see for miles.
How the fuck are we going to travel through that and not be spotted?