Chapter 12
It takes three days for me to get back to the locked door.
Three incredibly long, boring days after my unexpected shopping trip with Thorne, in which I came away with the warmest fur and several warm shirts and pants.
Rauk hasn’t returned since he ran out at the sound of the alarm.
I ask Elowen every morning, but every morning is the same.
“He’s doing kingdom business.” I’ve had three days of sitting around the house and trying to keep myself busy.
I ventured outside a few times in my new fur, but without anything really to do, I never stay out long.
People just stare at me, and I’m over it all.
Redara took me out like she promised, and that was amazing; but that was a few days ago now.
I’ve had three days to sit and stew; and that’s really not good for a person like me.
I’ve had three days to prepare for what I’m going to say to Rauk the moment he shows his face.
But right now, I finally have a chance at this lock.
Elowen left the kitchen about thirty minutes ago to lie down, and I’m glad she did.
She looks dead on her feet, and there are circles under her eyes like she isn’t sleeping well.
I carefully insert my second dagger into the lock.
I watched Hector do this once, and he made it look so much easier than it is.
I’ve almost given up when I finally hear the click of the mechanism inside the handle.
Elation sweeps through me, and I turn the handle slowly and stand to my feet.
“What do you have hiding behind this door, Rauk?” I ask softly as I step through the doorway and stop.
It’s an identical hallway to the one at the other end of the castle, the one where my room is located.
I frown and start down the hallway. I glance inside a few empty rooms and then pause when I see a bedroom that I just know is his.
There are dark linens on the bed and several furs on the floor.
The room is neat but definitely lived in.
I keep walking down the hallway and stop when I hear.
..something. I creep forward towards the next open door.
I pull my dagger out of my sheath and palm it as I get closer.
I keep all my senses open and alert as I step closer to the open doorway.
I stop right outside the room and listen.
When I hear a voice speaking, I tighten my grip on my knife.
I know it’s not Elowen. It doesn’t sound like her; besides, she’s resting.
I hear something move, and I spring forward with my knife raised.
I freeze just inside the doorway as shock ripples through me.
“Oh, hello, Harper.”
My eyes widen as the girl, who was just playing with dolls, calls me by name. My gaze circles the room before landing back on the girl. “Who are you?” I finally ask.
“I’m Auri.”
I finally look her in the eye, and my breath catches. I know exactly who she is; she doesn’t even have to tell me. “You’re Rauk’s sister.” The dark hair and dark eyes are a dead giveaway.
“I am.”
I stare at her and try to take all this in. “How old are you?”
“Ten. How old are you?”
I smirk. She’s definitely his sister. “I’m twenty.”
She nods. “How do you like the Dragon Kingdom so far?”
“It’s...good.”
She cocks her head to the side. “You don’t really like it here.” I study her, unsure all what to say. “It’s okay; I won’t tell my brother.” I glance away, trying not to smile.
“Well, I won’t be here long anyway, so...” I let my words drop and look around her room and then back at her. “Why didn’t I know you were here?”
She sighs. “I told my brother you would figure it out.”
I frown. “I don’t understand.”
“My brother thinks he can protect me by keeping me hidden.”
My frown increases as I try to understand what’s going on. “Why would he need to keep you hidden?”
“He doesn’t want anyone to know about me.”
Anger burns through me. “Why not?”
She shrugs. “He says it’s for my protection.”
“Well, that’s no excuse. So, you’ve had to stay hidden since I got here.”
“What? Oh, no. I’m always hidden.”
My eyes widen in shock. “No way.”
“Yes, way. My brother is hoping that no one will find out about me. I tell him all the time I’m pretty sure that’s not going to happen, but I haven’t won that argument, as you can plainly see,” she says motioning around her room with her hands.
I’m honestly in shock with this crazy turn of events. I shake my head. “I am going to talk to your brother. This is ridiculous. You should not be stuck in this room all the time.” I walk over to her bed. “Can I sit here?” She nods, and I continue. “You obviously haven’t met me yet.”
“What are you going to do?” She eyes me warily, but I don’t think I imagine the tiny spark in her eyes. Hope, maybe?
“I’m not sure yet,” I tell her honestly. “But I’ll figure it out. In the meantime,” I glance around her room once again. “What do you want to do?” My eyes land back on her.
“Do?”
“Yes. What do you want to do?” She continues to stare at me as if I’ve lost my mind. “We’re both stuck in this castle. What should we do?”
She stares at me for a long moment and then says in a quiet voice, “You’re not seeing the whole picture.” Then she removes the large blanket over her lap. I take in the crude wooden chair she’s sitting in that has large wheels on either side. It hits me suddenly, and my gaze moves back to hers.
“You can’t walk.”
“Now, you’re getting it.” I stare at her, trying to wrap my mind around this. And then if that wasn’t enough, she adds, “You don’t have to do anything with me; I’m used to playing alone.”
Her words do something to me; I’m not exactly sure what. I don’t try to figure it out. “Well, I’m here; so, you don’t have to play alone anymore.” She doesn’t say anything, and I try to think of something fun. “How about we play hide and seek?”
She frowns. “I can’t play hide and seek.”
“You don’t know how?” I ask, pretending not to know what she’s getting at.
“I know how; I’ve just...never played. I can’t play in this chair.”
My heart breaks a little more, but I keep my face void of expression. “Do you know how to navigate in that chair.”
She rolls her eyes at me, and I’m grateful to see her spunk. “Yes.”
“Then you can play. Do you want to count first or hide first?”
She’s quiet for a long while, and I mentally urge her to give in. “Count,” she finally says.
“Okay. Close your eyes.” I step towards the door. “No peeking.”
“Wait,” she calls out, halting my progress. “You can’t go outside my room.”
“Why not?”
“Because...” She’s preparing an argument, but I don’t let her.
“I’m hiding now. Close your eyes and count.
” I don’t stick around to let her talk herself out of it.
I stand in the hallway and listen to see if she’s going to do it.
When I hear her start counting, I start moving.
I walk down the hallway, trying to take into account her chair while I search for a hiding spot.
“I’m coming.”
I quickly dart into the next open doorway, which just so happens to be Rauk’s room.
I curse myself but move through the room quickly.
I head towards his bathroom but stop at the last moment, not knowing if she’d be able to maneuver in there easily.
Knowing I’m running out of time, I race over to his bed.
I hear the wheels on her chair getting closer, and I race to the other side of his bed and drop to the floor.
The end table and bed hide me from view unless she comes over to this side.
I hold my breath when I hear her wheel into the room, but then she leaves.
I blow out a breath and wait for her to come back.
While she searches, my mind races over everything I’ve learned in the past few minutes.
I reach out to Redara. Did you know Rauk has a sister?
I do, she responds.
I scowl. That would have been good to know; thanks for sharing.
There are lots of things I’ve learned. If I dumped them all on you at once, you’d be overwhelmed.
My scowl increases, but I don’t know what to say in response to her words. Maybe let me decide next time.
My apologies. I will not keep pertinent information to myself.
My ire fades. Thank you.
You are doing well?
I am, I send back.
You?
I am well.
Good. I’m currently playing hide and seek with Rauk’s sister.
I thought she stayed hidden.
Not anymore.
You risk angering Noxlyn’s bonded.
Oh, I know.
I feel her humor. Let me know if you need me when you face him.
Oh, I’ll manage him just fine.
“Found you!” Auri’s voice makes me jump.
I stand to my feet. “All right. I’ll count; you go hide.”
She crosses her arms over her chest. “That’s not fair; I can’t hide in this thing.”
“Sure, you can.” She gives me a look, but I hold my ground.
“You can if you really want to. Now, I’m going to your room to count.
” I don’t leave her a chance to object. When I get to her room, I start counting loudly.
“One, two, three...” I stop counting at fifty and don’t hear anything.
Taking that as a good sign, I step into the hallway.
I stop suddenly when I see her sitting just outside the room.
“This is a child’s game. I don’t want to play anymore.”
I take in the look on her face and don’t push. “Okay. What games do you have in your room?”
“I don’t have any games.”
My eyes widen in surprise, but I quickly readjust. “Okay, no problem. You ever play rocks and sticks?”
She crosses her arms over her chest again. “Rocks and Sticks? That sounds like you just made it up.”
“I didn’t. I played it all the time growing up.
” A memory hits me of a time Kinsley and I played, and I smile at the memory, even as a pang hits me, reminding me I miss my friends.
I force a smile and push those thoughts away.
“Come on.” I lead the way to her room. I glance around her room and quickly realize she has nothing that will work.
“I’m going to go outside and find what we need. I'll be right back; don’t go anywhere.”
She makes a disbelieving sound. “Where would I go?”
I don’t answer as I leave her room. I stop by my room to grab my fur in case it takes longer than I think it’s going to.
All in all, it takes me nearly twenty minutes to find rocks and sticks.
I finally make it back to her room. “Sorry that took so long. I—” I pause when I see Elowen standing next to Auri’s chair.
I’m prepared to stand my ground and tell her that I’m not leaving Auri’s room, but she surprises me.
“Auri told me you’re going to play a game.”
“Yes.”
“Good.” And that’s that. “I’m going to go work in the kitchen.” On her way past me, she squeezes my arm but doesn’t say a word. I watch her go for a moment and then turn back to Auri.
“You ready to get destroyed?” I ask, lifting my collection of rocks and sticks.