Chapter 10 – Rowan
ROWAN
Moments after the second horn sounds, the castle shudders with a near-deafening boom, shaking the floor, the walls, the very heart of the stone castle.
The sounds of crumbling rock and brick followed quickly after, along with screams and shouts as anyone remaining within the walls started sprinting for the tunnels.
Sword in hand, Riven turns for the door.
I follow, quickening my steps to keep up with his long strides.
Though exceedingly similar as twins, Riven left me behind somewhere around year sixteen.
He’s far taller, with much longer legs. Sensing me at his back, he whirls around, and I nearly crash into his chest from the abrupt change in direction.
“You can’t come with me. It’s not safe.”
I shoot him a look, but the look he gives back says this time he’s not having it.
“Wait at the entrance to the west tower. I need to find Kazel and ensure they’ve finished evacuating and seal the tunnels.”
“I can help—” I start, my voice shaking with the fear I feel running through me, despite my best efforts at hiding it. “I can heal.” My thoughts turn to the other power, one I’m still working to control. That could help too, if only I knew how to use it.
Another loud boom rattles the stone beneath our feet, and Riven reaches out, gripping my arm to pull us under a sturdy archway as pieces of stone and a spray of dust and debris drop from the high ceiling above.
“Holy shit,” I whisper, realizing just how unprepared I am for war.
The thought appears to hit Riven at the same time. “Your healing won’t be of any use down there; the injuries—” his jaw works, “—will be catastrophic.”
“But what about—”
“No.” Riven’s eyes lock on mine, his position on this firm. “We can’t risk it.”
I chew the inside of my cheek, my fingers tightening at my sides. If I could help, if it would make a difference… maybe it would be worth it.
Riven shakes his head, reading my mind. “Even if you are willing to risk it, you can’t control it. You don’t even know if you could summon it at all.”
I clench my jaw tighter, but only because he’s right.
I’ve only ever summoned it once fully—accidentally.
And while I can feel its warmth, the light, the sheer power of it encased within my chest, sometimes sparking along my fingertips when I’m furious, I have no way to release it.
And even if I could… Once I do, the magic won’t listen to me.
It’s always been wild, uncontrolled, and dangerous.
Riven’s right. I could just as easily hurt the Sitari soldiers while trying to hit Kovaria.
My brother glances back over his shoulder, the shouts from the yard growing louder—the army on the move.
“Go to the west tower,” he urges. “I’ll meet you there.”
The fear of losing him is threading cracks through my chest. “Promise me.”
Riven gives me a long look. “I promise.”
The words ease my worry, but only slightly. My heart lurches violently when Riven reaches into his pocket, pulling out a small, folded scrap of old parchment and thrusting it at me, already half a step away.
“No,” I say, shaking my head, even taking a solid step back. “If you’re trying to give that to me, I’m not taking it.”
“You have to.” There’s a grim look on my brother’s face, and he closes the gap between us, taking my hand and shoving the scrap of parchment into it.
“But you promised…” I can feel the tears threatening the corners of my eyes, but refuse to let them flow.
There’s another loud bang and a rise of shouts from the yard; this one less impactful than the last, but my brother’s frown only deepens. “You asked to help. This is how you can help.” His eyes stare hard into mine. “And I promised my intentions, but even I cannot control the outcome.”
One tear escapes, leaking slowly down my cheek.
“If Kovaria breaches the gates, if they make it into the castle and I’m not back, you must escape through the tunnel on your own, but not before sealing the entrance at your back.
” His hand moves to mine, taking it and slowly folding my fingers around the page.
“It’s the sealing spell for the tunnel door.
Once spoken aloud, the stone will seal shut, and no one will be able to get through. ”
His hand keeps my fist closed, even as I try to fling the parchment away from me, shaking my head. “No, I won’t do it. I won’t leave you here.” My eyes flicker to the window; the sound of war is loud outside.
Despite our circumstances, and his obvious frustration with me, Riven’s eyes soften.
“You have to.” He releases my hand, pulling me instead into his chest in a deep hug.
“If Kovaria—or the Raven—breaches the walls, and you don’t seal the tunnel, everyone—the court, the servants, the villagers… their children… They won’t make it.”
A lump forms in my throat and I fight it back, breaking free of his hug at the same time.
“Fine. I’ll seal the damn tunnel,” I bite out venomously, hating having to even consider such an outcome.
“Promise me, Rowan.” Riven’s body is half turned, anxious to attend to his duties, but I know he won’t leave until he hears it.
“I promise,” I say, almost against my will. “But it won’t matter because you’re coming back. You’ll be there,” I practically growl at him.
He gives me a small smile at the familiar sharpness of my tongue.
“Yes, I will.” His eyes promise me as he reluctantly pulls himself away, leaving me behind, but not before calling back over his shoulder.
“Go to the tower, Rowan. If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, you go without me, and you seal that fucking door! ”
I stand, watching him run the length of the hall until he disappears around the corner and into the stairwell. I stay put, eyes peeled on the empty corridor before me for a few moments after, breathing hard.
The castle around me shakes again, and I release a scream of both frustration and rage as I whirl around, heading for the west tower, feeling little sparks warm the tips of my fingers at the volatile release of emotions and my hate for the soldiers outside the walls.
They’re threatening my home, my friends—my brothers.
Riven will be back. He’ll make it. He has to.
He promised.