Chapter Twelve
Andi
Myles and Mum ponder over the map, disagreeing about the best route to take that will get us to Yiren quickly and safely, while I pick at my already bleeding fingers. My usual calming techniques should have stopped me long before I got to this point, but then again, I’ve never had so much worry.
Mum argues with Myles that the mountain pass is the choice she and Dad would have taken, but Myles is adamant we would be safer hiding right under Zury’s nose, sneaking past the city undetected.
My thoughts are as far away from the conversation as is possible, staring out the window, watching the townsfolk rush away with packed bags, clutching possessions under their arms. I daydream; creating a fairy tale in my head, one where I’m not some magical heir who is going to be running for her life in the very near future.
That I am just Andi. Daughter of a woodworker and healer.
Raising a family in the same town where I grew up.
Living a safe, uneventful life.
My illusion is burst by a thundering of hooves that rumble and shake the entire cottage to its bones.
Jumping to my feet and straining my neck, I witness a cascade of horses galloping up the road, crossing the bridge two at a time.
Torches light the way, the red and orange flames reflecting off silver armour, illuminating the golden spires in the middle of the breastplates.
The deep red flag with mirroring spires, flies in the wind above the horses, proudly announcing their arrival from Zury.
“Guards. So many guards. We need to leave.” I claw at his arm. “Myles, we need to go right now,” my voice cracks.
Slowly drowning in a sea of panic, my lungs are paralysed. I gasp for breath, but the more I draw in, the more light-headed I become. Movement outside the window catches my eye, two guards stomp up our garden path.
“Oh no, they’re coming,” I whimper, ducking under the window. Myles slides off the chair, crouching down beside me and squeezes my shoulders, hushing me.
Mum lifts the rug, revealing a hatch I’ve never seen before. “Quick, in here.”
Myles lifts me to my feet, but my legs are frozen in fear.
Sensing my inability to move, he pulls me forward, guiding me towards the opening and lowers me down into the filthy crawlspace beneath the house.
Tucking myself into the furthest corner possible, I shuffle around to get in a comfortable position, but being unable to stretch out my legs, it’s no use.
Myles climbs in behind me, squashing himself in with his knees bent at either side of my head.
Mum lowers the door of the hatch, locking it in place.
I have never been one for phobias, not until this moment.
My heart races, and the air is thick with dust; I have to cover my mouth with my hands to breathe.
Myles wraps his arms tight around me. He always knows how to calm me when my panic attacks appear.
Although they have become much more frequent of late.
“Open the door.”
A man’s voice bellows through the cottage.
The urgency in his voice is crystal clear.
The door opens with a loud creak, heavy footsteps thud, and residue floats around us with each booming footstep on the old floorboards.
Throwing my arms over my face to keep the dust from scratching my eyes, Myles lies quiet behind me, still as a statue.
The pounding of footsteps moves further into the cottage.
“How can we help you, sir?” Mum asks kindly.
“Hi there, ma’am. We’re here to investigate the attack in town today. What do you know about it?” a low and hoarse voice says.
“Oh, I’m sorry, we weren’t in town today. What happened?” Mum imitates concern.
“A witch killed some guards,” the hoarse voice answers. On cue, Mum and Elana gasp.
“Obliterated, actually,” another voice spits. “None of you were in town today. Never saw or heard anything?” the second man hisses, his feet trudge along the ground, the dust and debris reduces as he moves further into the cottage.
Mum gasps. Chair legs screech across the floor. “Oh no, that is sad news. Who would do such a thing?”
“Townsfolk said it was a young witch, someone local.” The man with venom in his voice pauses, “Funnily enough, no one seems to know who she is or what she looks like.”
“Can you imagine, in a small town like this…” The first man says, his voice full of suspicion. “What happened to you?”
Wyatt clears his throat, “Got into a bar fight last night, some idiot was trying to cheat at cards. I didn’t like getting called out for it.” Trust Wyatt, always so quick-witted.
The guards walk back our way, the floorboards creaking and groaning with their heavy footsteps. I bite my fingers to stop myself from making a sound.
The talking lowers to a quiet grumble, then the door slams shut. I sigh in relief. My body aches from remaining still in an uncomfortable position for so long.
I remain still, listening to the silence above, wondering if the guards took prisoners. But then there was no sound of confrontation. So, I remain idle, waiting for any sign that they haven’t left us alone to rot in this hole, slowly suffocating.
Rustling and quiet murmurings come from above, I hold my breath and strain my ears, trying to make out words. At the words, ‘sure’ and ‘gone,’ my heart leaps in hope.
In a quick motion, the hatch lifts open, light bursting into our little hole, exposing Myles and me cowering and covered in dust. Multicoloured spots spread in front of my eyes, trying to adjust to the unexpected change in light.
Myles throws the bags up onto the floor, using the sides of the hatch to pull himself up, giving me enough room to shuffle back.
Before I can grab hold of the framing, I am yanked out of the hole by Wyatt and Myles. “Gently, please,” I grunt. Apologetic looks grow on their faces. “You should be more careful.” I glare at Wyatt, knowing he is still very much wounded.
Folding into myself, I whisper, “Do you think they’ll be back?”
Mum shrugs. “Possibly? I’m not sure the townsfolk will keep quiet about your whereabouts for long.
I think that you two should leave now. Hopefully, you can slip away while it’s still dark.
” Mum looks me dead in the eye. “Get as far away from here as you can.” Turning, she whispers something into Elana’s ear. My sister jogs to Mum’s room.
“I’ll saddle up Misty,” Wyatt says as he rests his hand on my shoulder, then opens the door a crack before stumbling out into the night.
Myles reaches into his bag, pulling out a fresh top and slips past me to get changed, giving me a half smile and nodding his head towards Mum.
With the room painfully quiet, unspoken words hang in the air, closing in on me.
Words that are too hard to say, and words that I maybe don’t mean, not yet at least.
But needs to be said all the same, because you never know what life is going to bring.
“I never thought I would ever leave Vendyl,” I mumble, my gaze drifting around the room.
Taking in every scratch on the floor, on the walls and on the bookshelves.
Every memory soars through my mind from all the years, never once considering maybe I didn’t belong.
Because Mum and Dad always made it so that I never felt out of place.
They loved me.
Knowing full well I wasn’t their blood and knowing that I could cause them harm. They still brought me up in a loving, happy family. I’ll never forget that.
I was really leaving this time, possibly for good. “Thank you, Mum, for everything you and Dad did for me. I had the best childhood. Growing up here was like a dream. You loved and cared for me. If you hadn’t taken me when Edrina asked you to, I would probably be dead.”
Mum sobs, “You are my daughter, Andrina. Regardless of blood.” She walks towards me, placing her hands on my shoulders. “I love you. I have loved you from the second I held you in my arms. Don’t forget about us.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I weep into her chest, “Never. I love you, too.”
Elana creeps behind us holding Dad’s box and a coin purse, her eyes blotchy and red, the corners of her mouth dip. I smile at her, brushing the hair out of her face and take the box, but refuse the coin purse.
“Dad and I started putting a little away with each sale, just in case. We always hoped you would never need it, but here we are. It’s not much, but it will allow you some warm nights in an inn at least.” She takes the purse from Elana and pushes it into my hands. I nod; tears sting my eyes.
Myles pauses as he walks around the corner. Mum lets go of me and pulls him into a bear hug. He leans into it, wrapping his arms around her, too.
I turn to face Elana, taking her by the shoulders and saying, “That baker’s boy is nowhere near good enough for you.”
She chuckles. “Oh, he knows.”
I laugh under my breath, pulling her in for a hug. I’m going to miss her so much it physically hurts. Mum still grips Myles, whispering something in his ear. I narrow my eyes as I watch them. Myles pulls away and nods at Mum, she pats his cheek and lets him go.
I pick up my bag, placing the box and coin purse inside before opening the door a smidge, checking to see if it’s clear. Outside, there’s a murmur of voices on the path. Guards on patrol.
I wait for the voices to fade before Myles and I sneak around the side of the cottage to where Wyatt waits with Misty.
He holds his hand out, taking my bag and tethering it to one side while Myles does the other. My heart is heavy, taking in the comforting landscape I’m leaving behind.
I have no choice but to leave.
I need to learn to use my magic, preferably before Death or the witch appears. Once we find a safe place to stop, I’ll hunt the box for the name of the priest who said they could help. Hopefully, he is still alive.
“All that talk of adventure when we were kids, and you get to live it.” Wyatt smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. I remember the conversations we had as kids, forever planning to run off to join a pirate ship or infiltrate a group of bandits.
“One day. But until then, stay out of trouble or Mum will have a heart attack.” I smile at him, pulling him in for a hug. “Take care of them for me, and yourself. I love you.”
“Come on, they’re my family too, since you forced them on me.” He chuckles. “I wish I was going with you. Please watch yourself out there. I know you trust Myles, but something doesn’t feel right.”
“That’s just that brotherly protectiveness,” I joke.
“I’m serious, be careful. I love you,” he says, pulling me into one last hug. I nod to him, my mouth gone too dry to form words.
Goodbyes are too damn hard.