Chapter 51
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
Dane drops the dust over our heads and we disappear, magic pulsing around us before we slam back into the ground.
Gone is the sea air and cool breeze of Berrendahr, and we are surrounded once again by the stifling humidity of Dawnlin.
Darkness has fallen, and the scene from the plateau is much different from the last time I landed here.
A sole torch lights the space, and Dane walks over toward it, pulling it from its perch.
“We need to move quickly. It’s not safe to be out in the open like this.”
Dane’s urgency tonight is a stark contrast to his behavior the last time he was here.
We watched, hidden in the marshes, as he and Storm walked down the path, casually at ease, anger being the only sign of discomfort.
They didn’t seem to have any concern about being discovered or confronted by the Castaways.
Has this all just been part of the lie Dane has spun?
Was he ever truly worried about us running into them?
It’s not me you need to protect yourself against.
Weston said it back when I first met him, when he threw my weapons into the lagoon, so I didn’t use them against him. I didn’t believe him at the time, but now it’s just another element of Dane’s deception that falls into place.
I nod quickly, agreeing so we can get back to camp faster.
“How is it dark already? Were we gone that long?” I ask.
“Time passes differently here, remember? We don’t really know how fast it moves compared to home.”
An entire day, wasted. I can feel the pressure settling on my shoulders, knowing that I only have one more day to figure this out before my time is up, and I have no choice but to take the dust and leave.
But now, because we went back to the real world, we didn’t get the chance to look anywhere else here, or follow any leads. There isn’t enough time left.
Dane keeps his hand on the small of my back as we traipse down the path, his head swiveling back and forth, constantly monitoring our surroundings and assessing for danger.
It’s like he’s expecting someone to jump out of the trees and snatch me from his grasp.
Now knowing that Weston followed me around the island, and after begging Sig to keep him back on the ship so I could finish this task, I know Dane’s worries aren’t really that unreasonable.
I don’t know if any of the Castaways are out on shift tonight, and I can’t risk someone seeing me, especially if Sig couldn’t convince Weston.
We need to get back into the safety of camp.
The moment we step through the portal, the gravity of the day settles on me like a crushing weight. We found nothing. My time to find answers is running out, and all we accomplished was stealing a future from more people.
I want to curl up into a ball and cry. I want to wallow in the failure I feel, but I can’t.
I may have lost precious time, but the stakes are too high to give up, and I can’t do anything that would make it seem like I’m in a hurry.
I have to act normally, like we have all the time in the world, because Dane thinks we do.
As long as no one calls the Guardian.
The clearing is lively, filled with Voyagers winding down for the evening. Crackling of burning logs echoes through the air, alongside voices and laughter. It’s just like before I left. Nothing has changed, except Taril isn’t here.
The Voyagers before me have no reason to behave any differently. They don’t know what Dane knows, what I know. None of them have any clue their lives are about to be halted in a never-ending cycle.
I spot Roley over at the archery lanes and turn to Dane. “I’m going to go shoot with Roley for a bit. I promised him I would now that I am back.”
“Sure,” Dane says with a small smile. “I’m going to go check in with Storm and make sure nothing happened today I need to know about. Meet you after?”
He brushes a kiss on my cheek, and I give him a curt smile. After my anger and evasion earlier, I’m glad he didn’t push and is letting me have space. He sets off toward the ladder, and I toward the lanes.
Roley is alone. His normal practice partner is off on the ship, probably being told a bedtime story by Weston at this very moment.
My chest aches thinking about it.
I clear my throat as I approach. “Hey Roley.” My voice comes out high, filled with emotion. “Hitting that bullseye?” I stop next to him and peer down at the target. Arrows are scattered all over, some sticking out of the ground in the middle of the lane.
“Hi Lennox,” Roley says, the usually energetic and chipper child is now sullen and quiet, just like Taril said.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, kneeling down in front of him. “Did something happen?”
He shakes his head, but doesn’t make eye contact with me.
“You can tell me Roley.”
Keeping his eyes on the lane, he nocks an arrow and lifts his arms, pulling back the string until it is taut.
I quickly reach out, adjusting his stance and hold, then pull my hands back.
He looses the arrow and strikes the target on the outer ring.
Surprise lights in his eyes for a split second before the sadness returns and he lowers the bow.
He kicks the grass, eyes trained on the ground, and mumbles, “Mara says we’re all supposed to hate you. She says you’re not one of us anymore.”
My heart sinks. He’s only a child, barely older than Fin. I don’t expect him to understand the intricacies of the situation. All he can do is pick up on the emotions and words of everyone around him, and it’s clearly bothering him.
“Is that what you think?” I ask, keeping my voice calm.
I’m not mad at Mara. She’s not technically wrong about me anyway.
But she doesn’t understand the complete picture.
She’s been lied to as I have, but there’s nothing I can do or say to convince her that she wouldn’t attribute to the Castaway mind games.
Now I know how Weston felt.
I sit on that realization for a moment, then shake my head. I can’t dwell on that. I need to focus on my purpose, and Roley, standing here in front of me.
Roley shakes his head. “No,” he murmurs.
“Then that’s all that matters. No one should change how you feel about someone else.
That is up to you to decide.” Another weight settles in my stomach.
Dane did exactly this to all of us about Weston and the crew.
If only I had someone telling me I didn’t have to listen when I first arrived, things may have been very different.
I’m grateful I’ve at least learned these lessons now.
“I don’t want you to be one of them,” he says, his voice wobbly. “I want Fin back, too.” My heart breaks as I watch tears fall onto his cheeks.
I don’t think. I don’t even know what prompts me to do this, besides watching this innocent little boy, my friend, suffer under the control of Dane.
Looking around to make sure we are alone, I drop my voice to a whisper.
“Roley, I need you to listen to me, okay? Please raise your bow if you understand.” He pauses for a moment, then lifts his bow.
“I’m going to keep talking, but I’m going to move around like I’m showing you something with the bow. Say ‘yes’ if you understand.”
“Yes,” he says.
“Do you trust me, Roley? I mean, really trust me?” I reach over and adjust his stance, shifting his hips to align with the target, waiting for his answer.
“Yes.”
“Can I trust you? I’m going to tell you something, but I need it to stay between us.”
He looks straight at me then, eyes still glassy from the tears only a few moments ago. He nods.
“Look toward the target,” I say, and he does. “I promise I am telling you the truth. Fin is fine, he’s doing great. He really misses you, too.” I lift his elbow so it is parallel to the ground. “The Castaways aren’t what everyone thinks. Dane hasn’t been honest about them.”
Roley’s eyes widen slightly as he listens to me. His lips stay pursed, and he doesn’t move.
“I’m not staying here, Roley. I’m going back. You can’t tell anyone, not a single word, understand?”
His lip starts to quiver as he realizes what I’m telling him. I jump in, trying to explain and give him some hope.
“We’re trying to fix things. They’re kind of broken, right now, and I’m trying to help fix them.
But Dane is lying to you. I can bring you back with me, but it can’t be right away.
” I push his bow closer to his body and reach over to grab an arrow, placing it in the right spot and helping him pull it back.
“If you want to go with me, you need to tell me. I promise it is safe, and Fin is there. I would never hurt you, Roley.”
He lets the arrow fly, and it strikes the target on the second ring. His arms fall, lowering the bow, and he turns to face me.
“I know Lennox. I believe you.” Childlike innocence fills his face, but more than that, it’s trust. “You helped me, before. And so did she. That girl, the one who was with you. They can’t be bad if she still let you help me.”
Sig. He remembers Sig trying to help him, just before we were attacked from behind.
“That’s right. She’s not bad. None of them are. They were all once Voyagers too.”
“So what do we do?” he whispers, his eyes widening as they dart toward the clearing and then back to me.
My lips turn up slightly and I hand him another arrow. To anyone watching, it hopefully looks like instruction, but to me, it’s saving someone I care about.
“In four nights, I want you to meet me somewhere. You’ll have to sneak out at night, alright?”
He starts to object, but I cut him off. “I promise you, it is safe. They will not hurt you. Remember? It’s not like Dane says.”
I try to come up with a place he can meet me, somewhere that isn’t too far, so he isn’t scared, but also isn’t too close to something important. If anyone follows him, I don’t want them catching on.
“Do you know the rocks, just on the other side of the rope bridge?”
He nods. Obviously, he does, but what he doesn’t know is that the tunnel we used on the night of the marsh incident pops open right there.
“Meet me there, near the edge of the trees. But don’t take the rope bridge. It’s too dangerous. Take the long way.”
“But I’ve been over that bridge a bunch of times,” he says.
“I know. It’s different at night. I want you to be safe.”
He nods and shoots another arrow.
“Four nights, remember? Tonight is night one. That way, no one will suspect anything. Just be patient, I’ll be there, and I’ll bring you back with me. I promise you it is safe.”
“And Fin will be there?” he asks, his eyes lighting up with hope.
“I’m not going to bring him with me, but he will be there when we get back.”
“Alright Lennox,” he whispers. “I trust you.”
My body warms as I smile at him, and he returns it. Fin will be so happy to see him, and I’ll have saved another person I care about from Dane’s clutches.
“And remember, Roley. You can’t tell anyone. No one at all.” My smile drops and I show him how serious this is. His understanding is crucial to his safety, and for the safety of the Castaways.
“I won’t,” he says. “Promise.”
I wrap my arms around him, squeezing him into a big hug.
I can’t leave him behind, not after everything I know, and how clearly this entire situation is affecting him.
Weston is going to be furious with me once he finds out my plan, but I don’t care.
If the dust runs out, I don’t want Roley living for eternity in camp, alone and upset by the influence of everyone older than him.
The least I can do is bring him home with me for his own happiness and safety.
I just hope he keeps his word and stays silent. Sending a quick prayer to the gods and the island, I beg everything works out smoothly, and we all get what we need.