Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
FINLEY
Finley grasped the starlit lantern in her hand and crept down the spiraling staircase to the dungeon. Rafe and Ai had argued against it, but Finley needed to face her cousin one last time. Now that the curse on the castle was broken, it was time for them all to leave.
Soldiers from the village that Cadeyrn had trained were stationed throughout.
Without any magic, the chances of Amelia escaping her cell were slim.
But they couldn’t be too careful. Each of them nodded to Finley in acknowledgment of her presence and thanks for her assistance.
It was odd being so respected somewhere within common society.
“Are we going home now?” A high-pitched feminine voice asked.
Finley moved the lantern to see Charis leaning against the bars of her cell. “I’m going home. You are going to Farren City for trial. If they allow you go to home, I’m sure your own kingdom will have some choice words for you.”
Charis pouted in the way that only a spoiled rich child could. “I didn’t mean for it to get this bad.”
Finley rolled her eyes. “You did this to yourself, Charis. I’m sure whatever is coming to you is well deserved.”
The lady grunted and crossed her arms over her chest. “You’ve done terrible things, but everyone seems to like you.”
“Trust me, outside of this castle there are plenty of people who don’t.” Sometimes Finley still wondered if Eira and Rose liked or trusted her. “But we’ll be leaving soon. I’m assuming Amelia is farther back?”
Charis pointed down the hall. “She’s down there. I think. She hasn’t made much noise.”
Finley nodded and continued on her way until she reached a final jail cell. She shifted the lantern so it shone inside and there sat Amelia on the far side of the cell on a bench. She sat so still Finley almost thought it was a statue.
“Hello, cousin,” Amelia said. Her soft voice echoed against the stone walls. “Have you come to apologize?”
“I have nothing to apologize for.”
Amelia huffed. “You killed my mother.”
“And she might as well have killed me. But I had no choice. Stula’s orders.
” It was true. Even if Finley hadn’t been willing it was part of her new bond with the goddess of death.
If Stula willed something, Finley made sure it was done.
If she had learned anything from Rafe, it was that once commissioned the bond would win out in time.
“You think we’re so different, but we aren’t,” Amelia said. “We’re cut from the same cloth. The same family. The same magic. You think you’re part of this new happy family but just wait, they will abandon you knowing what you are.”
“Just because that was you that doesn’t mean that’s me,” Finley answered in a dark voice.
“And you like power. Admit it. You love that Stula gave you all this new power.”
Finley looked at her hands and couldn’t completely deny it.
Her new bond to Stula was going to be difficult, she wasn’t na?ve enough to think otherwise.
But the feeling she’d experienced when the new magic was poured into her, what it was like to transform into a banshee and let the monster out… there was nothing like it.
“Some things are more important than power,” she finally said.
Amelia’s lips quirked at the corners. “Whatever you say, cousin. Why are you here?”
Why was she here? Finley had to remind herself. “I wanted to let you know we’ll be leaving soon and they’ll be taking you to Farren City and the castle. There’s a good chance I’ll never see you again. I wanted…”
“To be sure I don’t have my magic anymore?
” Amelia finished. She took in a deep breath and stood then limped to the cell door.
Her steps were slow and heavy, but the restorers had done their duty and patched her up enough to be able to walk.
Amelia outstretched her arm. “Here, touch me. See if your magic calls to mine.”
Finley hesitated for a moment, even though she knew there was no reason to. But then took her arm. Family magic usually called to one another and this was the ultimate test.
Sure enough, there was nothing. Their magic didn’t call to one another. It was like touching a dead branch. Finley didn’t feel a thing. Another weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She knew they’d done what they wanted with the Shadow Slayers, but it was good to have the extra reassurance.
Finley pulled her hand back, and Amelia did the same.
“We’re still alike, even without magic. Just you see,” Amelia said. “We’re both wild things that can’t be contained.”
Her words set Finley’s stomach in knots, but she ignored them. “Goodbye, Amelia. Have a good life.”
Whatever is left of it.
Finley turned on her heel and walked out. There was one more person she needed to see.
When she arrived, she knocked a few times on the door until a soft voice said “come in.” Nell sat on the floor of her room surrounded by clothes and objects and an open trunk. She blinked several times and braced herself at the sight of Finley.
“I thought you were Alvis or Myra wondering if I was done packing,” she said.
Finley looked around the mess on the floor. “I’m guessing you’re not close to done?”
Nell shook her head sheepishly. “I don’t have much experience with things like this.”
“No, I’d imagine not,” Finley agreed and perched herself on a chair.
The two of them looked at each other in silence for a few agonizing minutes that felt more like an hour.
Finley had spoken barely three words to the girl and was suddenly regretting this entire idea.
She had no idea how to talk to an eleven-year-old.
Or was she twelve? She should figure that out.
“Would you like to have more experience in things like this?” Finley finally asked. Her voice was unusually high pitched and quiet.
Nell looked around the room. “More experiencing in packing?”
Finley sighed. This already wasn’t going well. “Not exactly. Travel. Going to different places and seeing new things. That means you’d have to pack a lot.”
“Oh. I see. I think.”
From the scrunched up look on Nell’s face, Finley could tell she couldn’t see at all.
Finley took in another deep breath. Maybe it would be best to just let it all out.
“What I mean to say, is I was wondering if you would like to come with us on The Mystic. I know you don’t know me, and if you don’t want to, I understand.
But you are half sorceress, and it’s possible I’m the only blood family you have.
Your magic will be growing stronger soon and someone should be there to help you.
I know my magic is mostly gone, but I can still help.
It would be temporary. We can bring you back to Oxare when you’re ready so you can be with Alvis and Myra and Xaneth.
I know they’re your family and you wouldn’t want to be away from them long.
But I already talked to Alvis and Myra and they said if it’s what you want, they’d let you come with me. ”
The words poured out of Finley like a fountain, but she was glad she was able to say them.
She had no business in trying to mentor a child and a tiny part of her hoped Nell would say no.
But it was an idea Ai had, and Finley had to admit that it was a good one.
Finley would have loved to have someone at Nell’s age to help her understand what it was to be part sorceress and how to not be ashamed of it.
“When do I have to decide?” Nell asked in a low voice.
“We leave in the morning with everyone else.”
“And I can go back to Oxare someday?”
“Of course.”
Nell sat back on her heels and looked around the room for a long time without saying anything. Finley didn’t think she’d ever been more nervous in her life.
“I think it would be fun to see the world.”
And to her surprise, Finley’s heart lifted as high as the sky.
“I guess this is where we part. I left Kartek in charge so who knows what destruction has become of Eral,” Rose said.
It was only the day after the cursed had been broken, but Rose had been away from Eral Forest for too long, and her bond to it was calling.
Hardly any time for them to gather their thoughts and senses after all that had happened.
Finley stood outside Luana’s mountain with Rose, Myra, and Eira.
Alvis and Ai were getting Nell settled and were preparing The Mystic with Rafe, then Cadeyrn and Cal were with the soldiers escorting Charis and Amelia.
Finley was anxious to get back to The Mystic and start her new life as Stula’s servant, but her chest felt oddly hollow now that everyone was going their separate ways.
“If you are in need of anything, Alvis and I will do what we can,” Myra reassured them all. “I know we’ll be far away, but we’re all family now.”
“All of you are,” Finley pointed out.
Rose rolled her eyes. “You’re one of the cursed queens. One of us. And besides, you have the dagger. We have to trust you at least a little bit.” She winked.
Finley touched the dagger at her side. They had each kept one of the Shadow Slayers: Finley the dagger, Rose the sword, and Eira the bow and arrow. It felt a little wrong to not give Myra one, but she still had Stula’s necklace at least.
“We’re all family, part sorceress included,” Eira said with a smile. It really wasn’t fair for someone to be both so kind and beautiful at the same time. As much as Finley hated to admit it, Eira had grown on her.
“I’m sorry about your friend,” Finley told her. “I didn’t know Aytigin well, but I’m sorry. And about your magic.” Finley knew the feeling of lost magic all too well at this point. “Will you be all right?”
Eira was silent and looked behind her at the mountain, then back at the other women. “I have to be, don’t I? At least in time. Now, before I start to cry again we all need to go. Please let’s all hug now.”
They all laughed and came together for a hug. Finley couldn’t even remember the last time she’d had one of those.