Chapter 11
“Any updates?” Ryder asks Artemus from across the table.
“Everyone in the realms is ready.”
“Perfect. They’re all on the list for the celebration, so they shouldn’t have any issues getting into the kingdom,” Ryder reports.
“And what about Kane and Slader?” I turn my attention to Ryder. “You said we would get them out.”
“I haven’t forgotten my promise. You will wear Cylas’ cloak to get down to the dungeons. Ramus will go with you disguised as a guard so that he can disarm their power dampeners.”
I look to the large, bearded man, and he only nods. The whole time I’ve been here, I think I’ve only heard him say five words. It makes me wonder what his backstory is.
“Once we get them freed, we’ll meet you in the Throne Room.”
Ryder doesn’t look too pleased, but he’s finally accepted the idea that I’m joining the fight whether he likes it or not.
Of course, he only conceded once I agreed to follow his orders, no questions asked.
If he tells me it’s time for me to leave, I have to do as he says.
At least, that’s what I want him to think.
I may have agreed, but if I have an opportunity to go after the king, even Ryder won’t be able to stop me.
“How’s her training coming?” Ryder directs the question to Artemus as if I’m not sitting right here.
“She’s come a long way. She’ll be ready in a month’s time,” he assures.
“How’s the letter going?” Ryder asks with a nod to the book he gave me weeks ago.
“I think I’ve found the right translation. I won’t know until I put it all together, though.”
“Good. Hopefully there’s something in there that can help us.”
“Have you been able to find anything else regarding the location of the island or how to access it?”
Ryder leans back in his seat, locking his hands behind his head.
“Unfortunately, no. I’m hoping Slader will be able to look into my memories and find something. I know when I was young, I had heard about it, but it’s been so long the memory is like a whisper in my mind.”
“You’d really let him into your head?” I ask with a raised brow.
“If it comes down to it, yes.” Ryder tilts his head back, looking up at the ceiling.
“Is Cylas—” I don’t finish the question. The look on Ryder’s face confirms what I already knew.
“My father has already replaced him with another Cyron representative.”
“That didn’t take long,” Roman snickers.
“What’s worse is my father declared him a traitor and spread word he had been executed for it.”
“Why would he do that?” I ask.
“He would rather use it as an opportunity to elicit fear rather than show weakness. If people knew a Circle member had been captured, it would make him look vulnerable,” Ryder answers as he stands up. “I have to get back.”
“That’s the last one.” I shoot up from my seat and rush over to Artemus, who has been helping me decode the hidden message in my father’s letter for the past hour. “Wait,” he says, reaching for the letter as I pick it up from the table in front of him.
I reread the beginning of the letter, making my way to the hidden message. By now I practically have the first part memorized by heart.
My dearest, Reign,
If you’re reading this, I’m sure you have an endless sea of questions.
I wish I could answer them all for you, but just know that I’ve only ever wanted the best for you.
You are the best thing to have ever happened to your mother and me.
I need you to be strong now. You may feel alone for a while, but just know that your mother and I are always with you.
When the time comes, decipher the hidden message below.
My heart clenches slightly as I read back his words that I have kept with me all these years. Suddenly, part of me doesn’t want to read the decoded message. It’s the last thing I have from him.
For so long, I thought I would never see him again. Now, I cling to the hope that he’s still alive in the Shadow Lands, waiting for me. With that thought, I continue reading.
Reign, you have always and will always be my daughter.
Your mother and I planned on telling you together one day once you were older, but it seems we won’t have that privilege.
We wanted a child more than anything in this world, but it wasn’t so simple for us.
After years of not being able to get pregnant, your mother and I went to see the Divinity Oracle.
It was not without a price, but one we were willing to pay.
The Oracle led us to you, our greatest gift.
You are a rarity, and you deserve to know the truth.
Three drops of your blood to this parchment will reveal a map to the Divinity Oracle. It is there you will find your answers.
Just know that whatever the Oracle tells you doesn’t change the fact that you are our daughter. No matter the path, our souls found you for a reason. I will love you forever and always.
Until we meet again.
When I look up at Artemus, I don’t feel as though I’m in my body anymore. This wasn’t written for me. It couldn’t have been.
“Are you okay?” Artemus is waiting for me to answer, but I can’t seem to find words. I feel frozen. Like time has completely stopped. “Reign. Come back to me.” I hardly feel my body moving as he shakes my shoulders, trying to pull me out of my paralysis.
“He couldn’t have written this.” It’s all I say, and it’s barely a whisper.
“It’s okay. We’re going to figure this out,” Artemus reassures as he guides me to sit down.
“There’s nothing to figure out. It simply isn’t true.”
I stand up and grab my daggers on my way out the door.
It’s early evening when Ryder appears in front of the body target, catching my dagger before it has a chance to land between his eyes.
“I think you’ve had enough throwing practice for one day,” he says as he walks over to me. “Tilly’s made dinner.”
He grabs the other dagger from my hand, and I don’t stop him. When we walk back into the house, there’s an air of awkwardness. It’s like everyone is holding their breath, unsure of what to say.
“So, how are things in the kingdom?” Jace finally asks Ryder.
“Things have settled down. There’s almost no talk of a rebellion anymore.”
“Well, that’s good news,” Artemus chimes in. “They won’t see the attack coming then.”
“Even so, we need to continue to take extra precautions until then,” Ryder warns.
The others continue to make small talk throughout dinner, and I’m thankful when none of them direct conversation my way.
“Thank you for dinner, Tilly.”
“Oh, you’re welcome, dear! I’m glad you enjoyed it,” she replies in her usual cheerful voice.
“Care to join me for a walk?” Ryder asks as he hands Tilly his empty plate.
“Do I have a choice?”
“Not really,” he answers with a slight curve of his mouth that gets under my skin.
“Fine.”
I follow him out the back door and through the colorful trees. The two of us walk in silence as he leads the way.
“Where are we going?” I finally ask, unable to suppress my curiosity any longer.
“You’ll see.” A classic Ryder answer that I should’ve seen coming.
Minutes pass, and I’m about to ask again when the trees suddenly open up, revealing a turquoise lake.
“Whoa!”
“It’s not the beaches of the Southern Territories, but it’ll have to do for now.”
“I think I can make this work.” I step closer to the pool of sparkling water.
“Go on. Get in,” Ryder nods.
“Not with my clothes on,” I retort.
“Fine, I’ll turn around.” He waves his hands in the air before covering his eyes with them.
Once he’s turned around, I quickly strip off my clothes and throw them into a pile near the edge of the lake. When I take my first step, I expect to be met with a chill, but to my surprise, the water is slightly warm.
“Can I turn around now?” Ryder yells from where he’s still facing the tree line.
I dip down into the water, letting it cover my shoulders. Unlike other lakes I’ve seen, the water here is dense. It’s almost like swimming in milk.
“Yes,” I yell back before dunking my head under. When I come back up for air, I choke on the water as I watch Ryder walking deeper into the lake without a scrap of clothing on. “What are you doing?” I shout as I cough up water.
“Oh, I’m sorry. Are you the only one allowed to swim?”
“No, but what if I had come up for air a few seconds earlier?” I swim out a little further, keeping a good amount of space between us.
“Then I guess your view would’ve gotten a lot better.”
I can’t stop my jaw from falling open, and a devilish grin spreads across his face.
“Please, I have enough nightmares as it is.”
He sinks into the water, and when he comes back up, he’s only a few feet from me.
His wet hair glistens as he runs his hands through it, pushing it back from his forehead.
The setting sun casts a golden light against his skin, and despite his icy blue eyes and jet-black hair, there’s almost a warmth to him now.
“Are you going to tell me why you really brought me here?” I ask before dipping my head back into the luke-warm water.
“Am I that obvious?” he says, standing up.
The greenish-blue water drips down his bare chest, and the image has my mind flashing back to the dream I had of him in the shower when we were in Strellesia. I quickly shake the vision from my thoughts and focus my attention on treading water.
“Yes, you are.”
“Well, since my cover is blown, Artemus told me about the message in your letter.” His eyes narrow on me like he’s trying to gauge my emotions.
“I figured.” I move a little closer to the shore so that I can stand on my toes. “It was just another trick the king had planted when he sent the Royal Guards to seize my father. I’m sure of it.”
“Reign, I don’t think that’s what this was,” he responds cautiously.
“Yes, it was!” I bite back. “You of all people know what he’s capable of.”
Ryder slowly drifts further into the lake like he’s trying to give me space. He stops once the water reaches the tops of his shoulders.
“I do know what he’s capable of. That’s why I know he wouldn’t waste his time forging a letter to an eight-year-old girl he knew nothing about.”
“You’re lying!”
I turn away from him and move toward the shallow bottom, making sure to stay below the surface. I don’t get more than three paces before Ryder reappears in front of me. The water only reaches the middle of his protruding abs now, and my eyes land on the scar shaped like an X over his heart.
“You’re in denial, and it’s okay, but that doesn’t change the fact that what your father wrote to you is true.
” His tone is gentle, but his words carry a sharpness.
I step to the side, trying to pass by him, but he matches my movement, cutting me off.
“I know it’s a lot to process and you don’t know what to think or what to believe, but your father wanted you to know the truth.
He knew they were coming for him, and instead of fleeing, he took the time to write you this letter. ”
“You don’t understand.” I draw a deep breath as the tears start to fall from my eyes.
Ryder dips his head down, and the expression he wears is one I haven’t seen before.
“I may not understand completely, but I do know what it’s like to learn information that you wish you didn’t.”
“If I’m not theirs, then who am I?” I manage between sobs.
“You’re Reign Calloway. You’re still their daughter.
None of that has changed. There’s just more to your story now.
” Something about what he says seems to comfort me, and I catch my breath, allowing the feeling of panic to calm.
“I’ll take you,” he offers, taking a step back.
“If you want me to, I’ll take you to the Oracle. ”