Chapter 14
Books, scattered papers, and scrolls clutter my father’s desk—the room looks no different than a few hours before.
I glance toward the closed door as I make my way to his massive oak desk sitting in the middle.
I scan the various scrolls for any information that could be useful, but half of the papers are in an old language long forgotten by Shadow and Lumor Wielders.
I move around the room, looking at the bookshelves covered in dust—a musty smell tickles my nose as I crack open an ancient text bound in thick leather that catches my eye.
The book feels heavy in my arms as I turn the pages slowly.
I notice a marking scribbled at the bottom of a page—the same marking I found on the crystal in the woods.
I tear out the page and place it in my pocket as the crackling of the wide fireplace catches my attention.
As I near the violent fire, the black flames call to me in a whisper. My eyes squint against the blaze stinging my vision as I spot a figure standing amid the flames, burning.
Fear washes over my body like the flames before me as the figure emerges, its black cloak completely engulfed. It strides across the carpet, leaving burning footprints in its wake. I step back into the desk, the wood pressing into my legs as the creature approaches.
Even wrapped in flames, I know this is the creature that haunts me.
My shadows swell inside me, trying to provide protection.
The air drains from my lungs as a wall of darkness surrounds me, creating a barrier between me and the burning figure.
It attempts to push through the shadows—its face pushes against the barrier, creating a horrifying shape against the darkness.
The creature behaves as if it wants to touch me, coming closer to me than it has in the past. It knocks against the wall of darkness once more, and I shut my eyes.
“It’s here,” the dark creature whispers, pointing to my chest.
Fear sets in alongside desperation, and my stomach rolls—my magic thunders within me, almost as hard as my pounding heart.
“What are you?” I ask.
“Nothing of this realm, child, but I see you. The real you and what lies inside. Do you know what lurks beneath your surface?”
I attempt to move backward, but the desk prevents me from gaining more distance. I gasp, my body rigid and too frightened to scream. A few books tumble to the ground, producing a loud bang that echoes through the study.
The door flies open as Axl steps through, the creature vanishing as if it never existed. My shadows dim in its disappearance. “What are you doing in here?” he asks.
I can’t shake the slight tremble when I say, “My father left me in here after my grand announcement. I hope you didn’t miss it, Axl.”
He shakes his head before responding, “No one in this kingdom missed it. You’re lucky he hasn’t punished you yet for your defiance. I know that wasn’t easy—are you okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be okay?” My chest feels as if it’s caving in. “But I sure am lucky, aren’t I, Axl.”
We both know that’s a lie as I stride past him, hoping my false confidence doesn’t create any suspicions.
“Let me know what I can do to help, Princess,” Axl mumbles as I leave the room.
Maintaining my composure for just a moment longer, I turn the corner and race up the stairs back to my bedroom.
The twisting walls of this back hallway never become easier to navigate at full speed as I bounce off each wall, sustaining my momentum.
I collect myself as I near my bedroom, anticipating that the guards will be waiting for me.
“That was quite the stunt you pulled today, Princess.”
I roll my eyes, pausing for a moment before shouting around the corner, “Please piss off and find someone else to bother.”
“I’m beginning to think you speak to everyone that way. Or am I just special?”
Silas leans against the heavy doorframe, arms crossed, exuding a calm poise that sends a chill down my spine. His composed demeanor radiates confidence while his handsome face remains striking—even in the dim candlelight.
I stop inches from him. “I will speak that way to whomever I please, whenever I please, Prince. You are no exception here.”
“I guess I’ll allow it,” Silas breathes, towering over me. “Since you said it so nicely.” The corners of his mouth twitch.
My chest flutters as I suppress the feeling, pushing past him. He stops me, his rough hand against my soft skin that sends a tingle rushing through my body.
“You know, a lot of people would be afraid to speak to me that way,” he remarks.
“I think you might have forgotten that I also have my own bad reputation, Mr. Nastronde. I haven’t seen a single thing that would make me afraid of you.”
“Yet,” Silas smirks.
His gaze remains steady on me, and my stomach twists in knots at how close we are. His hand glides down my arm and gently touches mine as my entire body tenses.
“Was there something I could help you with, Silas?” I push, retracting my hand.
“I saw you in the crowd out there today and knew you were about to cause a scene. I just came to… check in,” he mumbles, clearing his throat.
My eyes shift up and down his body as I recall our encounter. “Thank you for not saying anything or trying to stop me.”
“I have a feeling there aren’t many people who can stop you once your mind is made up, Princess. Plus, it wasn’t my place to ruin the fun.”
We stand closer than most would in a typical conversation as if a gravitational pull exists between us. A sound echoes down the stone hallway, causing me to flinch. It wouldn’t be wise to get caught speaking privately with a competitor.
“Don’t do anything reckless during these trials, Briar.” Silas frowns. “I can’t always keep you safe, and it’s haunted me for years—I just didn’t know it was you. And…the trial. What you did today, what we faced today, would unsettle anyone. If you need anything or want to talk, just let me know.”
He moves a strand of hair from my face. My legs start to wobble. I try to understand what he’s talking about as I replay his words in my mind.
“Why do I know you? How do I know you?” I blurt out.
He stays focused, his haunting eyes reverting to their usual, intense gaze. “I’m not sure how you know me, but I know precisely where I remember you from.”
I narrow my eyes. “Well, are you going to tell me?”
He chuckles. “So impatient, Princess. I think what we have going is fun. We have plenty of time to get to know each other better. I have somewhere I need to be, but we have more to discuss, don’t we?
” He turns, walking down the hallway without another glance.
My heart gallops as I burst through my bedroom door and lock it behind me.
However, nothing feels safe about a lock these days when someone around me could shift inside and slit my throat.
I push Silas out of my mind and walk to my sitting area. I take the small piece of paper from my pocket and examine the mark I remember seeing on the crystal. Nothing about it makes sense—this is not a Rigil I’ve ever encountered before. Maines would know more about this.
A knock sounds at the door as I burst from the chair, assuming Silas is back to bother me once more. “Silas, please go away. Don’t you have someone else to annoy?” I swing open the door to find Maines and Rohhit standing before me. A massive grin spreads across her face.
The light radiating off him is nearly blinding in my dark bedroom. The crimson curtains remind me of the blood leaking from those poor men, making my stomach roll. “Does Silas Nastronde visit your room often, Princess?” He angles his head, waiting for my response.
Maines grins wildly behind Rohhit, clear of his view.
“Gods, no! Only when he wants to be a pain in my ass.”
Rohhit nods, the side of his mouth twitching upward.
“I see. Well, I was coming to check on you after the riot you caused during the first trial, when I ran into this one.” He points to Maines, who waves from behind him.
“Oak has told me many stories of the two of you as children. I’d very much love to hear the stories from you one day.
” He smiles. “However, I’ll leave you two to speak in private. ”
He turns and continues down the long hallway, his light illuminating the darkness around him.
“Wow,” Maines sighs as she moves into my room, plopping down in her usual spot. “Maybe you should go through with this, Briar. I’d be okay with men like that after my hand in marriage.”
I swat her arm. “You are a pig.”
“So, you are really going to do this, aren’t you? Fight alongside those men?” Maines’s grin quickly fades.
“Yes. I am. It doesn’t seem like I have a choice in the matter now, either. I’m going to win.”
“Oh, I have no doubt about that, but I worry about the in-between. This is going to be dangerous and we truly don’t know what we are up against yet.
You just killed a man. I need you to be honest with me, Briar.
” Her serious tones make the room shift, a cold breeze traveling in from the open window.
“We’ve seen what Thatcher can do on his own.
The stakes are high. He’s dangerous, Briar, and I’m scared.
Is something going on that I don’t know about? ”
I remove the paper tucked in my pants and place it on the table before us. “I found this in my father’s study.” She blinks, not understanding what I’m showing her. “It’s the same marking I found on the crystal in the forest. With a note from, I think, my mother.”
For once in her life, Maines is silent. “How do you know these letters are really from your mother?”
I move to sit in my favorite antique chair—the deepest blue fabric with trees embroidered around the middle. “I’m not sure. Something about them just feels familiar.”
She shakes her head slowly, studying the small torn piece of paper and my face. “So, this is all linked, you think? Your family, the trials, this crystal, and the marking. Where is the crystal? Maybe it can help us figure out what’s really going on?”
“I didn’t touch it nor bring it back to the castle. It felt… off. I left it in the forest. I figured it was one of my mother’s ritual crystals, not an important piece to this insane puzzle.”
She flashes me a concerned look. “Briar, I don’t know why, but something tells me you are the only person who should have their hands on that crystal.
We can’t let anyone find it, so it’s probably best that you leave it hidden in the forest.” She grabs my hand.
“I’ve been studying the poison that killed your brother at the House of Hedro.
It’s ancient and like nothing we’ve seen for hundreds of years.
I’m not sure how my brother got his hands on something like that, but if it’s anything to do with your father, these trials just got a lot more deadly. ”
I stare at the ceiling, memories of the last few days replaying in my mind. “Are you okay, Maines?” I ask.
“I’m struggling, Briar. I can’t stop thinking about my brother and what he did to Barlowe. I can’t sleep without having nightmares of Barlowe gasping for air or my brother standing over my bed, ready to slit my own throat.” She lowers her head in her trembling hands.
“I know exactly what it’s like to have nightmares that leave you feeling haunted.
Thatcher won’t get away with this, Maines.
I can’t stop thinking about it either. When the time feels right, and I can ensure we are safe, we will go to someone.
We will tell them the truth, and I’ll do what I can to bring justice to Barlowe.
” I take her hand, trying to steady her.
She raises her head, tears pouring from her piercing blue eyes. “He died because I couldn’t save him. I couldn’t heal him—I’m supposed to be a top healer. How many other countless people will die because I fail?” Her soft cries turns to sobs.
Tears form in my eyes as well. “You did everything you could, Maines. We were both there and couldn’t stop it.
Researching this poison could save many people if we run into this again.
He knows we did everything we could.” I wipe her tears.
“Losing someone changes you, but every day gets easier to live with the pain. Let’s take this one day at a time, okay? ”
Maines only nods—her breath still quivers, and I squeeze her hand. Maines has watched me fall apart many times over the years of our friendship. Even though I want to sob alongside her, I will remain strong for my friend right now.
“You need to focus on the next trial, Briar. Everyone is expecting you to compete.”
“I’ll absolutely be competing if I want to live— I’m going to be fine. I don’t even know what I should prepare for or what I should focus on. Who knows what my father has up his sleeve.”
She begins to pace, brushing the tears. “Being the daughter of Elrod Madden has its unfortunate perks.” She stares at me before responding, “I know what the second trial is and when it is—you aren’t going to like it.”