Chapter 14 #2
“How long will it take for us to reach the palace?” Forrest asked the lead guard, who was situated across from us, maintaining an ever-watchful eye.
“We will reach the Citrine Palace in less than half a day,” he responded, making eye contact only with Forrest. “We can take a break at any time, Your Highness. Just give the word.”
Forrest nodded at the guard. He took my hand in his, holding it as he looked at me, smiling, and mouthed the words I love you.
I smiled at him, hoping to hide the unease and nervousness eating at my insides.
I turned to look out the window, to take in the sights of the incredibly gorgeous realm.
Shadow’s Gate was beautiful in its own way, but Forrest’s kingdom was absolutely breathtaking.
Carried on the wind was the scent of sun-warmed blossoms, bursting from the greenery.
I’d never seen such vibrant colours in all my life—the sprawling shrubbery was a luscious green, while the blooming chrysanthemums and asters varied in colour, including purple, coral, golden yellow, and bright orange.
They swayed gently in the breeze, as if waving to us as we passed by.
Lulled by the hypnotic motion of the flowers and the rhythm of the moving carriage, my eyelids grew heavy.
Unable to fight the exhaustion suddenly pulling me under, I leaned into Forrest and shut my eyes.
*
Birds calling overhead woke me from my dozing. Forrest’s arm was wrapped around me while I lay against his side.
“Hey there! Nice of you to finally join us,” he joked.
“Sorry. I’ve never ridden in a carriage before. I guess the trip made me a bit sleepy.”
The guard sitting across from us stared straight ahead, his face a mask of casual indifference.
I sat up and looked out the window to see where we were now.
The scent of the salt water hit me before the sounds of the ocean below did.
I had lived in a mountain valley my entire life.
I’d had no idea what the ocean looked like, nor had I known that it smelled like anything.
I leaned closer to the window to get a better view.
Beyond the cliff’s edge, the ocean stretched to the horizon, the water sparkling like diamonds scattered across a sapphire blanket.
Thunderous waves crashed into the jagged cliffs, sending up mist from the surf below, which caught the sun, casting millions of tiny rainbows.
It felt like we were stuck in a fairy tale at the very edge of the realm.
“I can’t believe this place is real. It’s so beautiful.” I turned to Forrest, expecting to find him smiling at the beauty, but he looked forlorn. “Forrest, is everything all right?”
“Why do you keep calling him that? His name is Prince Sterling,” the guard interrupted as he leaned forward, placing an armoured glove on the hilt of his sword.
“Well, when I found him, he couldn’t remember anything, including his name,” I replied, leaning forward, imitating the guard’s attempt at intimidation. “I thought referring to him as you would be incredibly rude, so I made up a name.”
“Well, I suggest you drop it if you don’t wish to offend anyone any further than you already have.” He unsheathed the sword at his side and inspected the dazzling blade.
My whole body flinched, as if I had been slapped in the face. Who had I offended, and what had I done that was so egregious? I sank back into the seat, wishing I could disappear and escape this awkward moment.
“That was uncalled for. What is your name?” Forrest demanded, breaking the tense silence that now filled the carriage.
“My name is Thalos Evergreen, Your Highness. Captain of the Citrine Court Royal Guardians,” the guardian responded, expressionless.
“Captain Evergreen, apologize to Aurelia. Now,” Forrest ordered as he leaned toward the captain.
My mind went back to the day in the village when Forrest had last demanded someone apologize to me. I sat there, head hung, hoping that this would end differently, without bloodshed or broken bones.
“I’m waiting, Captain Evergreen. Or is it customary to ignore a royal command in my kingdom?” Authority dripped from Forrest’s voice.
I anxiously watched as Forrest spoke, his words promising violence, as if he had unlocked a forgotten part of himself and remembered exactly who and what he was.
“Your Highness, I understand that you don’t remember anything of your home, but that does not change how we should all conduct ourselves, just because you are enamoured of this human.” Thalos spoke of me as if my presence wasn’t worthy of any mention.
A prickling came over me, like thorns stuck beneath my skin. I wasn’t just an outsider here; I was something lesser, something tolerated only because I had been found alongside Forrest.
“That wasn’t an apology,” Forrest said darkly.
The guardian let out an exasperated sigh before responding.
“My apologies, Miss Aurelia.” His words had a noticeable lack of sincerity.
“May I suggest that you keep the prince’s pet name to yourself once we enter the palace?
I am a tolerant man, as you can see, but not everyone in our kingdom is.
You would do well to keep to yourself and stay out of trouble. ”
Forrest growled at the guardian. I placed my hand on Forrest’s thigh, stopping him from making this any worse than it already was.
“Let it go, Forrest. I’m fine,” I whispered.
He looked at me, irritation now mingling with the tension already existing within the carriage.
“I said, let it go. Please.”
He glowered at Thalos. “When it comes to Aurelia, I will not tolerate anyone, and I mean anyone, speaking to her in that manner. I may not remember who I am or where I come from, but I know that the way you and your ilk have treated Aurelia in the short time we’ve been with you has been wholly unacceptable.
The snide comments and looks of disgust were not as well hidden as you all may have thought.
Share this with everyone as a warning, because if it happens again, they will have to deal with my wrath. Am I understood?”
Thalos studied Forrest for a moment before responding. “You may not remember anything, Your Highness, but your edge still very much remains.”
“You didn’t answer my question, Captain Evergreen. Am—I—understood?” Forrest repeated angrily.
“Yes, you are understood, Your Highness,” Thalos replied, his cool indifference slipping slightly.
Forrest curtly nodded his approval.
Leaning back into his seat, he held my hand, our fingers entwined as he looked out the carriage window, watching intensely as we continued on our way toward his palace.
Unease slithered through me. If this was how I would be treated in front of Forrest, I was less than eager to learn how I would be treated when he wasn’t around.
What did this mean for the other humans in this realm?
Based on the way Thalos spoke of “my kind,” I assumed there had to be others.
Regardless, I had an ominous feeling that I would find the answer to my questions once we reached the palace.
*
A few hours later, the trail crested a hill, and suddenly the realm opened before us.
I gasped despite myself. A gigantic, opulent palace loomed in the distance.
It looked as if it had been built into the cliff-side.
The palace was a multi-tiered structure, appearing to be made out of golden crystal.
The main portion of the palace was backed by numerous towers that reached up to the sky, past the clouds and out of sight.
Delicate ivy-covered bridges connected terraces that appeared to be floating above the ocean.
Spread out in front of the palace was a sprawling town made up of thousands of buildings and homes.
The midday sun shone upon the palace, bathing the town below in an ethereal golden glow.
Even in my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have been able to conjure up something this beautiful and resplendent.
As breathtaking as this place was, I knew I didn’t belong here.
I could feel it in every guarded stare and in every lightly veiled insult spoken to me.
I was unable to shake a deep-seated dread that I was being marched toward my own gilded cage.
Panic rose within me—the unknown of what lay ahead getting the better of me.
A bead of sweat fell down my spine, and my breaths became quicker.
Instinct telling me to open the carriage door and run was becoming almost too strong to ignore.
I sat on my hands in an effort to conceal their frantic shaking.
I stared at the floor of the carriage, unable to take in the landscape around me any longer.
I desperately needed to get myself under control before anyone noticed.
As if he could read my mind, Forrest reached out to me, his expression filled with concern. “What’s wrong, Aurelia?”
I shook my head, and my throat felt tight, as if the air had been cut off to me.
Forrest gently squeezed my thigh, leaning closer. “Hey, don’t shut me out now. What is it?”
I stared at Forrest, begging my mouth to open and speak.
“It’s nothing. I’m fine. I’m just a little nervous is all,” I said, the lie bitter as it rolled off my tongue.
After taking another glance at the golden palace that lay ahead, I closed my eyes, allowing myself to revel in the darkness, if only for a moment.