Chapter 11
My brain swam with endless possibilities. Did they know who I was? Had they somehow heard of me? Were they merely interested in exploring my unusual powers, that I wasn’t even able to control?
My legs were shaking as Verena and Hannan led the way.
They were taking me somewhere, but they hadn’t told me where.
I caught them stealing amazed glances at me.
Hannan quickly averted his gaze when I looked back, but Verena’s intense stare never left me.
I trained my gaze on the cobbled path in front of us.
Trying to figure out what was going on made my head pound.
People smiled and greeted us, Verena drawing most of the attention. It was clear that she was a highly cherished leader.
I lifted my eyes reluctantly as their paces slowed, and felt my breath catch in my throat.
“We’re here,” she said, looking expectantly at me as I took in the sight.
We were standing by the wall to the very right of the base, the construction stretching high into the sky. A wooden house stood almost flush against it, and only a few, bigger, cabins lined the wall to the left of it.
As we walked inside, I realized this wasn’t a regular house.
A large table stood in the very middle of the room, papers and maps scattered everywhere.
The light was scarce, only provided by candles that looked like they’d been lit hours ago.
The walls were plastered with picture frames of all different sizes.
Hannan scanned the pictures before reaching for a sizable wooden framed one, plucking it off the wall. He ran his fingers reminiscently over a symbol engraved at the top.
My heart jolted as I realized what it was; it was almost the same symbol I had on my arm.
My mind swam with blurry memories, that symbol a constant contributor in every one of them. Frames, necklaces, tattoos. It was the symbol on the bag I’d inherited from them.
It was a full moon, not a crescent one like mine. A circle the size of a golden coin made out the middle of it. Gushing from it were rays of light. The moon’s many phrases took up the entire bottom half of the circle, curving along the dainty line.
Hannan handed me the picture, and I took it with trembling hands. As I looked at it, I could no longer contain the tears fighting for release. Instead, I let them flow freely down my cheeks to collect at the base of my neck and chin.
On the frame, two names were engraved neatly into the wood.
Elaila and Ray Caswell
My mother stood there, beaming at me and looking more alive than I’d ever seen her. My father stood next to her, an arm slung carefree over her shoulders. That same symbol hung from both their necks in gold and silver.
I steadied myself on the table. “What is that symbol?” I asked with a shaky voice.
“Your parents’ symbol,” Hannan replied. “Your dad was fond of art. He drew this for us many years ago.”
My eyes stung as I remembered Lili sprawled on the floor, long limbs stretched out in every direction, her eyes inches from the canvas as she drew for hours.
“For years, your mother and father incorporated this symbol into everything they made and encouraged the rest of us to do the same. It quickly became a symbol of the rebellion. Of our alliance with the suncasters and humans who, like us, couldn’t accept the Kingdom’s treatment of our kind.
We used it for messages and to mark meeting places with allies who had yet to join us at the base.
Even today, the rebels are scattered everywhere. ”
Hannan paused as he stepped towards me to glance down at the picture in my hands once more.
“Only, we became too recognizable when we scoured Erobred for exiled mooncasters and their allies. The Defenders started to take notice of us whenever we went. We had to stop using it.”
I nodded dazedly, trying to sort all the different emotions and information into something more manageable.
“How could they be a part of the rebellion? We lived in Perifer until my father died.”
“Your parents were an important part of the Rebellion before they decided to move,” Hannan said, drawing out a chair to sit down. I was too jittery to join him at the table.
“Why did they move, then?” I asked, my head pounding with questions. That familiar judgment toward my parents rekindled inside me. How could they leave a cause as important as this?
“They saw how this place affected you. How many children have you seen since you arrived?”
I racked my brain, but Hannan was undoubtedly correct. “None.”
“Exactly. War preparations aren’t exactly a suitable environment for a child. Your mother grew up in it and didn’t wish to raise you the same way she was. That’s why they moved to Perifer, a tiny village, too unimportant to attract the Defenders.”
“I used to live here?” I asked, wondering how my parents had failed to mention it in the eleven years we’d been a family, before they were both ripped away from me. “How come they were together to begin with? It’s illegal, is it not?”
“Until you were two,” he answered, sighing deeply as he took me in. “Your parents met here at the rebellion, Prudence.” His voice had a slight edge to it now as he noticed the resentment in my voice. “They never thought they’d leave. Never thought of having a child. It just happened.”
I scoffed, thinking of the insufferable years Lili and I had to endure because of their accidents.
“Your father joined when he was very young. It was an instant connection between them. Almost chemical. They impacted the rebellion for the better and climbed the ranks together. Went on missions together.”
Verena cleared her throat. “Give the girl time to breathe, Hannan,” she said briskly, having clearly lost patience. “We need to discuss. Prudence, we’ll find you later. For now, you’re off duty.”
I was free to go.
I could barely comprehend everything that had happened in mere hours. One part of me wanted to celebrate. I was free, no longer afraid of being a suspect. Only now, I knew it had nothing to do with my own accomplishments. My entire success today was because of my last name. Because of my parents.
My whole world tumbled down around me, leaving me dazed. I wanted to be alone and pick up the pieces of my past I could still identify, to put them back together to a reality I could live with.
My legs had carried me all the way to the exit by the forest. I sighed in relief when the first leaves crumbled under my boots. Stroking the inky lines on my arm with a light finger, I thought of my sister. I knew that if we talked at this moment, I would break and tell her everything.
We’d talked almost every day since I was first able to contact her.
I’d spared her the unpleasant details of my situation, which left me with barely anything to tell her at all.
I’d broken the truth into tiny, harmless pieces, crafting the perfect mosaic for her and Archie.
If they knew what was truly going on, I knew they wouldn’t stay put.
And that’s what I needed them to do. This one part of my life had to remain protected and unharmed.
A pang of loneliness erupted inside me. I wanted to hear their voices again, to see them smile and chat as we cooked dinner over the small fire.
I knew we’d reunite one day. But right now, all I could hope for was that my carefully constructed truth kept them contained in Erobred.
The trees started to thin out as I reached the river we’d sailed across when the rebels first found me.
In a swift movement, I kicked off my boots and shimmied out of my pants. My cheeks burned from the memory of the humiliating moment when Daegal had found me pants-less.
I dove into the chilly water, letting the coolness wash away any evidence of shame. Then I scrubbed off the sweat staining my shirt and body from the stress of this morning.
Turning onto my back, I stared up at the sun, letting it momentarily impair my already blurry vision. I wondered about the powers it could provide me with.
Bright circles floated in and out of my vision as I remembered how those powers had been used against me. About the time those powers had claimed my father’s life.
That day was still vividly imprinted in my mind, despite it being over ten years ago.
Lili and I were in the garden, playing when an anguished scream cut through the air like a hot knife.
I’d grabbed Lili by the hand and dragged her behind the tallest bushes.
I held her face tightly pushed into my shoulder, shielding her from the scene I witnessed through the window.
My father, falling to the ground as a blinding whip of light pierced him straight through his heart.
Bursting with grief, my mother had lost control of her magic. In a second, our entire home, our entire life, had crumbled before my eyes.
I dove back under the water, trying to drown out my thoughts with the rushing water. I stayed under until my lungs burned, reveling in the pain for a moment before breaking the surface to fill my desperate lungs with air.
Then I hauled myself out of the water, only to flop back down onto the grass. The soft blades felt like warm feathers on my skin. Shivering slightly, I spread my arms wide to absorb as much heat as possible.
Sunlight escaped through the close-growing trees above me, the rays violating my squinting eyes. Yet, I couldn’t stop staring up at it in wonderment.
Dark spots swam in my vision as I tried to envision how I could use those beams to create whips of light and glowing orbs. It almost felt like betrayal, imagining those powers coming out of me.
How could I be a light—suncaster, when all the terrible things that had happened in my life had happened because of them?
Perhaps the incident with Kenric had been a coincidence. The cuffs could’ve been faulty, and I was really using moon magic. Perhaps it was a trick of the light.
My life would be a million times simpler if I were just a mooncaster. But then I’d still be trapped in Orken. Here, at least, I was free. The sun was a bittersweet embrace, the memories of the suffocating month I spent in that place being still so fresh.
Not to mention all the people, all the friends, I had betrayed by going alone. I should’ve fought harder for them. Refused to leave unless they came too.
My heart ached at the thought of the other prisoners, wondering if they were even still alive.
Though, as much as leaving them behind felt like a betrayal, it was the only way I could ensure Lili’s safety at home. Even if that meant leaving Elvira, Amari, and the other prisoners to rot. Even Ashton, as insane as he was, didn’t deserve that.
Refusing to listen to my own pitying, self-loathing thoughts a moment longer, I launched myself off the ground.
Shoving my pants back on and jamming my feet into my boots, I set off back to base.
The pity party was over. It was time to get my act together and keep fighting.
My determination shattered the second I saw the cold, dark eyes watching me.
I jumped back, heart hammering in my chest. Daegal was leaning against a tree, his arms firmly crossed over his chest, like they seemed to be every time he was looking at me.
“What are you doing here?” he asked coldly, following my movements with his gaze.
“You’re questioning me? You’re the one watching me bathe!” I seethed, stomping towards him.
He rolled his eyes, straightening up to his full height. “Don’t flatter yourself. I just got here. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen this before,” he smirked, gesturing at me with a lazy flick of his head.
He looked me up and down, eyes snagging on the shirt I could feel cling to my damp skin. My cheeks burned hot as I watched him.
“I’m not in the mood, Daegal,” I scowled, moving to walk past him. He stepped to the side, effectively stopping me from storming away. Instead, I looked up, glaring at him dangerously.
“What do you want?”
“Have you told anybody?” he asked, finally deciding to drop the act. “About… about my tattoo?”
He eyed me suspiciously, a slight twinge of red covering his sharp cheekbones. He was nervous.
I shrugged carelessly, tilting my head to the side while giving him a mocking smile. “Scared I’ll tell on you?”
He stepped closer, running his hand through his dark, wavy hair. “No, I’m not scared,” he snarled, looking down at me. “I just don’t want you going around spreading lies about me.”
I was sure that if I placed my hand on his chest, I’d feel a rapid thumping underneath his tense muscles. I settled with tapping a finger to my lips in mock consideration.
When I didn't answer, he continued, “You know what will happen if you decide to blabber. "
“Do I? You must’ve forgotten, but I’m a free woman now,” I said, moving my finger from my lips to run it over his crossed arm. I didn’t know what compelled me to tease him. I just wanted to watch him squirm. “Even you voted for my freedom.”
He huffed, unfolding his arms and looking to the side to avoid my gaze. “You know I only did that because it would look strange if I didn’t. Everyone else believes your lies, and—”
“And you can’t tell them the real reason you think I’m lying,” I cut in. “Or you’d have to admit to being one of the King’s little minions.”
His eyes snapped to mine again, narrowing. “You got quite a mouth, don’t you?” he snarled scathingly. “This will be your only warning, Prudence. If you tell anybody, I’ll ruin you.”
“Is that so?” I asked. “Will you let me leave if I act like I’m scared?”
I stuffed my hands into my pockets to hide how badly they shook. He didn’t seem like the type who’d explode out of nowhere; he wasn’t like Kenric. But his hatred for me had me doubting that theory.
He laughed bitterly, hooking a finger under my chin with such force that I winced. “For your sake, I hope you take my advice seriously.”
With a satisfied smirk at the sight of my widened eyes, he spun on his heel and walked away.
My heart hammered frantically in my chest. I leaned against the tree, pressing a shaky hand to my stomach. This man was going to destroy everything.
I had to accomplish this mission before Daegal could stop me.