CHAPTER 34 #2
I wished we could hug in this moment, but there were too many wandering eyes around us; gardeners were collecting leaves, servants were hustling and bustling about the manor, and other members of the household were out for their afternoon stroll.
I was shocked to see that a heavy patrol of guards was following the Queen as she made her way through the gardens.
I hardly ever saw her around the grounds, as she kept to her room most of the time.
She had a glass of wine in her hand, and a poor servant girl was running behind her, bottle in hand, ready to refill her cup at any moment.
Zen noticed his mother too, because his shadows retreated, and he took three steps away from me, creating a larger space between us.
The space between us now filled my heart with an empty hollow of longing for this man.
I don’t think that Queen noticed us, too preoccupied with her afternoon drink.
Zen and Ulric departed to assist the new guards with their training, no doubt giving Max extra special treatment. The poor guy didn’t do anything, but I knew they were going to be harder on him.
They’ve only dropped him to his ass a dozen times.
Great. How do you know all this?
Annnnnddddd silence. Shocking.
I had to talk to Max, without Zen or Ulric making jokes.
I wrote a note and gave it to another guard on duty to give to him.
I had asked him to meet me under the willow tree after he finished with training.
I didn’t want to take him to Zen, and I’s special spot, but we needed somewhere private away from prying eyes and ears.
Training finished in the mid-afternoon, and the guard I had asked to deliver the note came to let me know that Max had received it and was on his way to the tree.
I asked Maya to keep an eye on Zen and Ulric, and to tell them I had decided to lie down for a while, hoping they wouldn’t ask too many questions after my morning ‘training’ session.
I knew that the three of them would be in the training room, so I snuck out back using the servant hallways and made my way to the willow tree to find Max standing under it.
He was looking around at its branches and tangles of leaves before his eyes found me.
“Did you know the tree can move?! Its branches parted for me!”
I laughed at how oblivious he was.
Not too long ago, you were just as oblivious.
Ugh, not you. Can I have a moment of privacy, please?
I am always here. It is a matter of whether I choose to listen or not.
Then choose NOT to listen. End of conversation.
I walked over to where he was standing, “You get used to it after a while.”
“So it is true? This world and everything that was hidden?” He asked as his brows furrowed together.
“Yes. It is.” I responded with a straight answer, no lies or secrets about this. “Max, there’s something I need to tell you… I … I… well… since we left The Academy… I never thought I would see you again. I figured we both would move on and move towards our futures.”
“I thought that too, but I am here now,” He took a step closer to me, just like Zen had on that magical night, but now, I took the step back, wanting to create more distance between us. “Avyn...?”
“I… I’m sorry, Max, but I am with someone else.
” I could see the moment his heart shattered into a million pieces.
Tears brimmed in my eyes knowing that I was the one who just smashed it with my words.
“I’m so sorry, Max!” I took a step forward, but he was the one who stepped back now.
“Please don’t hate me … I never thought I would see you again …
and then,” I almost slipped and said Zen’s name, “he showed up. We’ve created something special… ”
He cut me off mid-sentence, “I thought we had something special?!" Tears of sadness glazed his eyes, while his words were pure anger.
I couldn’t control my own anymore, and they poured over my bottom lashes. “We did. We did Max. I just…”
“I don’t want to hear anymore. I get it. We're done. Nothing will ever happen.” His anger radiated off his body.
“Max…please just listen to me!”
“No, Avyn.” The way he said my name sent a dagger through my heart. “I have to get back to training.” He didn’t say anything else and turned away from me, walking out of the covered tree.
The willow didn’t move its branches this time, and he swung at them forcefully, whipping them aside before disappearing into the distance.
I whispered a silent apology to the tree, not even sure if it had feelings, but it felt like the right thing to do.
Needing a moment, I gathered myself before the willow branches moved aside as I passed through, except for one that trailed along my back, giving it the most delicate pat of encouragement.
“Thank you,” I whispered faintly into the wind.
When I got back to my room, I found Maya curled up in my, our, bed, so I decided to find Ketra to see if she could find anything else out about, well, anything.
I didn’t have to look far for her, as she was in her usual spot in the library, hunched over a book at the wooden table in the back. Today her braids were lined with feathers, woven into each strand. She didn’t look up from what she was reading as I approached.
“Hi Avyn! Just give me one second.” Her eyes skimmed the pages in front of her, and then she closed the old, worn, leather-bound book.
“There. All done. So! I’ve found some interesting facts in my readings about your markings!”
Straight to business as always with her; I didn’t even have to ask her. Of course, she already knew why I was here.
“Remember how I said there have been historical instances of incantations on weapons?”
I was about to respond, but she continued without waiting for my answer.
“Well, after translating more of the old Drycarthian, we were on the right path, but instead of an incantation, the weapons are infused with power!” She grabbed a book from the stack at the edge of the table, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought of her father’s books on his desk. “Here! See!” She said excitedly.
She turned the book towards me; the old, weathered pages looked like they would turn to dust at the next flip.
A curved sword was displayed on the page, with flame-like markings on the blades; on the opposite page was a man with similar markings covering his arms. I glanced down at my own markings and traced a finger over mine, following the lines that flowed along my veins.
“The book says that some ancient weapons are infused with power, binding the person to the weapon. Almost like they become one!” She flipped the page, but it was torn, leaving only shattered remnants.
“It started talking about what material was used to craft them, but unfortunately, that page has been destroyed.” Her expression fell, and grief flickered in her eyes, a subtle nod to the damaged book and lost information.
She continued, “I don’t think it was an incantation to prevent someone from stealing them, but rather an incantation infused in the weapon! ”
Finally. Someone who knows what they are talking about. Was that…. Pride in its voice?
So, the weapons chose me? I asked the voice in my head.
I chose you.
Wait, you chose me? What does that have to do with infused weapons?
Silence. Always fucking silence.
“Do you have the weapons with you?” Ketra asked, bringing me back to our conversation, and not the one in my head.
“No, but I can get them,” I responded.
You should always have them.
I answered with silence. Good, let’s see how they liked it.
“Yes! Get them! I’m curious to see them!” She grabbed another book off the stack sitting beside her as I stood up to leave.
Moments later, I returned to the library with the two swords in my hand.
A couple of servants along the way gave me startling looks as I walked through the halls with them.
I lay them down in front of her, and Ketra looked up from the book she was reading.
Her eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked down at the swords before her.
“Amazing! Look at the markings!” She motioned to touch the swords.
I wouldn’t do that if I were her.
But before I could warn her, her fingers grazed the blades, and she jumped back, wincing at the pain that just shot through her. I grimaced, knowing what the pain could feel like.
A half-laugh, half-snort resonated in my head.
Oh, shut up. I thought back.
“Shit.” This was the first time I saw her lose her composure. “Are you okay?!”
“Yes, I’m fine. But what an interesting find!” Only Ketra would find getting hurt interesting. She continued, “They are definitely bonded to you!”
“So, wait, Zendryk gets a companion half-man, half-wolf bonded to him, and I get swords?”
A growl of a grunt radiated in my mind.
She didn’t hear the hint of sarcasm in my voice. “Yes! I wonder what other powers they hold! If something else happens, you must tell me!” She grabbed another book. “I’ve searched all of the history books, and besides the one I showed you, I can’t find anything else on them.”
Grab the swords! We are under attack!
Panic flooded my veins, and my stomach dropped. “Ketra, you can’t ask me how I know this, but you need to go hide now! We’re under attack!”
She looked up at me, “But how do you know? The warning bells haven’t chimed….” She looked around at the peaceful library.
“Go! Now!” I demanded as I grabbed my swords off the table and bolted out of the library.
Where are they?! I demanded from the voice.
Outside, at the back of the manor! They are approaching the gardens. Be careful, it’s not the Soulless you are used to.