Chapter 64 Not Out of the Woods
Not Out of the Woods
Asterious
As the trio traversed back through the Woods, Asterious' thoughts weighted each step.
The Veil still stood. Sinevia was still queen. And in the furthest reaches of his mind, old scars had been torn open.
He knew the path to healing them would be a kind of torment all its own.
But for now, he had all he cared to want.
And as he watched the amethyst-eyed, fireborne woman walking ahead of him, leading them out of these Woods, he decided there was no kingdom he wouldn’t let burn for her.
She might have been a goddess of old, carrying herself with unshaken poise, new confidence blazing within her, ash and scorched shadow tracing her beautiful face like the memory of flames that had dared to burn her, and failed.
Even the trees seemed to bow in her wake.
As they wound their way through the Woods with Brenn in tow, the only sound was frost splintering beneath their boots.
There were no longer any traces of hissing Shadows or their chilling distant whispers, leaving the forest unnaturally still.
A strange quiet had settled, a fragile peace that almost felt more dangerous than the Shadows’ presence ever had.
Still, the unseen weight bore down on him of what had happened at the Veil.
He’d been so sure—so foolishly sure—that once he had the Blade on his side, he would be able to reach Sinevia and pull her from the darkness that had ensnared her.
Yet, she’d been unreachable, even as he’d offered her every chance to turn away from the Shadows.
“You did everything you could.” Caramyn said softly, calming the storm raging through his mind. He hadn’t even noticed that she’d stopped to wait for him to catch up.
The prince smiled weakly and looked ahead, the edge of the Woods a beacon of light in the distance. “Sinevia will come for you again. We must learn the extent of your power before she does.” He clenched his jaw at the thought.
Sinevia didn’t hesitate to stab Caramyn—didn’t show an ounce of restraint at the thought of killing her.
There was no further room for grace. He couldn’t keep lying to himself.
He could no longer choose to see Sinevia as merely a victim of his father’s cruelty, no longer only his misunderstood sister.
She was an enemy who refused to yield, even when given the chance.
And suddenly all of it—the magnitude of what lay ahead hit him like a gust of wind.
“Before long, we’ll need more allies to help oppose her…
and we must begin spreading the truth of my identity to gain the people’s trust.”
Brenn’s voice cut through the crunch of slush and dried leaves beneath their boots—surprising Asterious, given how long he’d lingered at the back of the line without a word.
“I’ve heard talk of remaining Lightborn in hiding and secret druid councils that may be willing to accept the ascension of a half-Lightborn king—even if he is a Blackwynd.
I’ll spread the word and see if we can get them to organize. ”
“Thank you, Brenn.” Caramyn nodded.
“Make no mistake, I don’t do it for him.” He jutted his chin toward Asterious. “I do it for magickind. For my family,” he said. “And if this half-breed mutt prince is my best hope of seeing them again, then so be it.”
Asterious glared at him, but his voice was hopeful and sure.
“I cannot promise to restore everything lost—but I can promise to try.” He turned away, resuming his forward pace toward the edge of the forest with Brenn and Caramyn trailing on either side.
“Bring those that you find to Vaerwynd. We can build ally camps in the witchlands.”
Brenn flicked his head in acknowledgement before straying from the path as the clear landscape ahead came into view through the lines of the trees ahead.
“My horse awaits further down,” he said.
“If I find anyone willing, I’ll do as you’ve asked.
And Caramyn,” he looked at her, his words landing softer. “It’s been an honor.”
Caramyn lifted a hand in farewell, dipping her head in a slight bow. A few shuddering breaths and trudging steps later, Brenn had already put a wide stretch of forest between them, their paths, and their destinies, quietly diverging among the trees.
“You trusted him enough to tell him all that?” Caramyn blinked, lining her steps with Asterious’.
“I’m not sure I have much of a choice. He already knows everything else. Besides, I’m sure you’ll burn him to a crisp if he tries to double-cross us.” Asterious laughed. “Don’t worry. I’m sure we haven’t seen the last of him.”
Caramyn wrinkled her nose. “What makes you think I’m worried about whether or not we see him again?”
“You kept his talisman, didn’t you?” Asterious teased as Caramyn shook her head without response.
Their steps quickened as the edge of the Woods greeted them.
The last light of ember sunset dwindled through the branches and guided them towards the silhouette of a small camp where Leejia, Starke, Tyrios, Gariel, and Riven awaited them.
They met them with tears and embraces and tale of how Wyran managed to slip into the Woods, despite their efforts to stop him.
“It was as if the Shadows wanted him for some unknown purpose, drawing him in while casting us out.” Leejia explained.
“The Shadows have a way of making people think they’re in control.” Caramyn uttered. “Wyran was just a willing pawn in a much bigger game.”
“As we all seem to be at some point or another…” Asterious stared into the stretch of open land before them, the looming Bleak Wilderness waiting to be traversed before the next snowfall. “For now, we return to Vaerwynd Court to regain our strength. We’re going to need it for whatever lies ahead.”
Alofreise nudged his hand, and he gave the stallion an affectionate pat before mounting, Caramyn settling behind him in the saddle. Together, they all set out for home, back to the forbidden witchlands, leaving the Shadow Woods and all that it held behind.