Chapter 63
Escaping with my sister is both terrifying and exhilarating. Knowing that she is within an arm’s reach, racing to safety, brings me more peace than it should in this dire moment.
I suppose all the dangers we faced before this make this mad dash feel lukewarm in comparison. Even with the tree branches scraping my face, the brambles scratching my arms, leaves catching in my hair, spiderwebs sticking to my skin—it is nothing to me now.
“This way!” I yell, making a sharp right through a clearing. I’m not sure how long we’ve been running—maybe ten or fifteen minutes—before I finally spot the trail of lanterns marking the way to Meriva in the distance. Almost there.
“Wait!” Analla wheezes, stopping to press a palm to one of the tree trunks.
“Analla, we can’t stop. We have to get off of this cursed land now.”
“I—I know. I’m just— My body is still weak, Zaira.”
She looks up at me with misty brown eyes, dragging in breath after breath. I swallow hard, taking a sweep of our surroundings as I rush to her.
“Can you walk at least?” I ask, tossing one of her arms over my shoulder.
She bobs her head. “Yeah.”
“Good. Cause we can’t stay here. Seferin probably has people looking for us right now.”
“Fucking shadows,” she curses.
Fucking shadows is right. If we don’t make it away from The Shadow Nest and closer to Meriva, we both are going to die, if not by Seferin’s hand, then by one of his henchmen’s.
Fortunately, Analla is able to keep going.
We don’t take the lit trail. It’s too obvious, and it’s best for us to stay hidden in the depths of the forest. I keep a close eye out, taking a route through the woods parallel to the lit path, holding on to her tightly as we weave between thick tree trunks.
Owls hoot, and the slightest noises cause her to gasp, but I keep going.
No looking back. It will only slow us down.
We press on as the minutes tick by. I know we’re closer to Meriva when a loud gong reverberates through my bones—the clock striking the next hour. The trail of lanterns ends, and as we break through the trees, houses and other dwellings come into view.
“We’re almost there,” I say. “We just need to reach the port.”
Analla finally pulls her arm from my shoulder, and I take her hand.
She clings to it, and we walk along slick cobblestones with alert eyes.
As we get deeper in the city, we pass the Tilted Crystal.
I spot Bolivar through the glass standing behind the counter, cleaning a mug with a rag.
He’s speaking to a patron on a stool across from him who is making animated gestures with their hands.
He doesn’t notice us go by, but Crumb does.
I feel so much guilt shooing the dog away, but we must go undetected.
Next, we pass The Flour Tower, and that’s when I feel a tightness in my chest as we drift past the dark stone building. I imagine the scent of hot bread, steeped tea, sweet cakes, and the sunlight on my skin as it pours through the stained-glass window.
My eyes water, but not nearly as much as when I pass the refugee center.
For a split second, I stop and stare at the massive wooden double doors, wanting so badly to go inside and hug every single child.
To hug the director and bid her farewell, because that’s what this is.
Farewell. I risked everything to save Analla, and now a powerful Grim sorcerer and The Shadow Guild will make it their mission to hunt us down.
I peer up at the tall roof. The one Thane jumped off of the second day we met.
I blink rapidly and take in a deep breath. He’s made standing here with my sister possible. My plan wouldn’t have worked without him. No doubt, more guards heard the fighting and swarmed the place.
What if they’ve killed him? What if he can’t beat his way out of the battle this time?
Orvena, please let him survive.
“Z?” Analla calls, tugging on my hand. “You okay?”
I turn my gaze to hers but can hardly see her through my tears. Sniffling, I wipe them away with the back of my arm. “Yeah. I’m okay. I just…” I close my eyes, and the ache in my chest intensifies, carrying over to my heart now.
“Aw, sis,” she whispers, wrapping her arms around me. “I’m so sorry I got you into this mess.”
“It’s fine. I’m okay.” I tip my chin, spotting Solyen’s ship ahead, the sails billowing in the wind. “Come on. We should go.”
Solyen’s speedship is docked in the same location. The gangway is still lowered, so I take Analla’s hand and hurry on board. Conred is sitting on one of the benches, whittling away at a piece of wood.
“Zaira, there you are!” he says, placing his carving knife and hunk of wood down.
“Hi, Conred. Solyen on board? We need to leave now. Like right now.”
“Solyen went to one of the taverns.” Conred swings his eyes to Analla, eyebrows stitching as he gives her a rapid scan. “Who’s this?”
“My sister, Analla. When will Solyen be back?” I ask.
“I’m not sure.”
“Gods, no. He said he’d be here when I returned. He knew we had to leave right away.”
“Yeah, well, you know how he gets when he needs a drink.” Conred shrugs as if it’s no big deal.
“Which tavern?” I demand, and the intensity in my tone causes Conred to frown.
“Zaira, are you okay?”
“Which tavern, Conred?”
His throat bobs as he swallows. “I’m not sure. Is everything all right?”
“No, everything is not all right. We need to get out of here as soon as possible or…”
Wait.
What if, in turn, Thane was right behind us? Perhaps we can spare a minute or two just to see.
I search the docks for his familiar form, a spark of gold—anything that may prove he’s nearby. But there’s nothing. My heart squeezes so tight I think I might collapse.
I wanted him to help me, but I don’t want him to die.
I don’t care how angry I am. I’ll be devastated if he’s dead.
“There you are, little girl!” Solyen’s voice booms. Thank Orvena.
“We were just fixing to leave you! You said two hours max! Started to itch for a drink!” He has a mug in his hand, and as he nears us, some of the ale sloshes over the rim.
“Conred, there’re two barrels of ale at the bottom of the gangway. Roll ’em on board, will ya?”
I shift from foot to foot. As badly as I want to hold out for Thane, I can’t risk it. And he most likely won’t want me to. “Solyen, we need to go now,” I plead, expecting Seferin’s men to storm the dock at any minute.
“Yeah, yeah. I hear ya. Who is this?” His eyes are fixed on Analla.
“My sister, Analla.”
Solyen looks between us, like he wants to ask something but doesn’t have the patience to hear the answer. “Right.” He lumbers past me, sipping his ale. “Where to now?”
“Junsho, please.”
“That’ll be more coin, understand?”
“Yeah, sure. Let’s just leave quickly, please.
” I grip the rough railing of the ship to keep from fidgeting.
As much as we need to get away before Seferin finds us, a part of me is holding out hope that the only man with the ability to tie me in knots is still alive and will come sauntering up that gangway.
There’s still nothing in the distance. I sigh as Solyen starts yelling orders at his crew.
“Should he be steering a ship if he’s drunk?” asks Analla.
“Trust me, he’s always drunk,” I say. “I’d be more concerned if he were sober and trying to steer.” I turn and lean against the railing, spotting Conred halfway up the gangway with the second barrel.
After a stretch of silence, Analla says, “Oh, no.” She tugs at the sleeve of my top as her eyes grow wide. “I—I think they found us, Z.”
My breath catches as I spin to see a dark silhouette jogging up the gangway. For a split second, I think she’s right—that it’s an assassin from The Shadow Guild.
But then his hands swirl with gold, eyes flaring, as he propels Conred and the barrel up the gangway and onto the ship with a gust of magic. Conred topples over the barrel of ale, tumbling onto the deck of the ship and cursing loudly at Thane.
I’m surprised I remain steady enough not to collapse with relief.
Holy Crystal. He made it. Thane is back. He survived.
“What in Xaimur’s hells is—” Solyen can’t even finish what he’s about to say because a throwing star slams into a wooden beam right above his head.
Thane throws a massive whorl of gold at a cluster of sorcerers in dark hoods and buffers on the dock who are sprinting toward the ship, then creates a thick wall of fire. It stretches to the sky, and the sorcerers leap back, glaring at the fire with illuminated eyes.
But one of them in the middle stands their ground with their fists clenched. Wafts of purple surround their hands and brew in their eyes. They’re slighter in build than the other six of the guild.
“Hey!” someone shouts. I turn my head to the sound, and two Meriva guards are storming toward the chaos, swords already drawn.
The person with purple essence turns their head slowly, and that’s when I see a thick, silky braid lying over their shoulder.
It’s a woman. She throws up a hand, blasting the guards and disintegrating them to ash.
Literal ash. Just like that. With hardly any effort.
I don’t have much time to consider the fact that so many of The Shadow Guild are standing on the other side of Thane’s mounting fire, especially when he shouts, “I can’t hold them off for much longer! Move this fucking ship!”
I swear Solyen sobers up in that very moment, dropping his ale and running for the helm.
The boat lurches in an instant, and Analla crashes into me as we’re both thrown toward the center cabin.
My back hits the door as she hisses, “Shit,” and yanks my arm.
She hauls me to the side, just before a barrel of ale rolls in our direction and slams into the cabin door.
“Crystal’s sake,” I breathe, watching the wood splinter and the liquid drench the deck, spilling in different directions.
I hear Thane grunt and notice his arms shaking as he holds up both hands, trying to keep the fire in place.
From here, I can see a streak of lavender cutting through the middle of his flames and the woman stepping right through them with a sword in hand.
Thane roars louder, keeping his stance. The fire wraps around her, but she fights against it with a shield of lavender.
Then, when we are far enough away that the attackers are no more than specks, Thane drops his arms and slams his palms down on the ship’s railing.
He breathes raggedly, head hanging low, sucking in much-needed air.
Numb, I stand in the middle of the deck as Meriva grows more and more distant, the tips of the Crystal Palace gleaming in the moonlight.
The Shadow Guild appears to be nothing but ants as they scatter, likely returning to Seferin’s keep.
They know not to linger in Meriva for too long, especially after killing two guards.
Once we are a safe distance away from the kingdom, Thane finally lowers his defenses and turns around to meet my eyes.
I stare at him.
He stares at me.
And because I’m so overcome with relief and elation and my blood is humming with adrenaline, I hurry across the deck and throw my arms around his neck.
He catches me and holds on tight, releasing a satisfied sigh over my shoulder before saying, “I’m here. I’ve got you.”