Chapter 2
Two
Sorin
“We’re here, girl.” I give Amis a quick rub on the nose before tying her to a nearby tree. We rode straight through from Wickersham, only stopping for necessities. She more than deserves the rest.
Despite it being the first weeks of Autumn, the forest is alive today with sun and birdsong. The yellowing leaves littering the ground and the crisp air, the only reminder of how long it’s been since Elora and Galen were taken.
Weeks.
Much too many.
The thought of the two of them sends my heart racing, nerves stretching taught on my insides. I brush my hair out of my face, willing my hands to steady themselves so I can get back to work.
I take a deep inhale, savoring the chill that fills my lungs before focusing on the task at hand.
The object I’m looking for is warded using forest witch magick, much like that of Letty and Eviey’s, but there is a small tell hidden amongst the foliage. One that is so subtle, it would be easily missed by anyone not familiar with the forest.
Squinting, I locate what I’m looking for through a small crack in the bed of vines. The gold glistens in the late afternoon light.
Just like I remember.
Stepping forward, I glance back at Amis just once to make sure she’s okay. My heart pinches at the sight of her. The wolves disappeared a few days after we made it to Wickersham, as soon as Ruse was well enough to walk. It broke me losing that piece of Elora, but a small part of me still hopes they’re waiting for her. Doing whatever they can to be ready for when she’s free.
The final thread of my sanity snapped the moment I laid eyes on Amis. Charles brought her with him from Loxley and now she feels like the last tether I have to Elora. Something tangible. A solid reminder that the time spent with Elora was real.
Amis grazes peacefully on the lush forest floor and with her contentment, I return my focus to the gold medallion. It’s cool as I brush my thumb against it, a gentle thrum reverberates from the metal.
I take a step back and the ivy shifts, bends, and parts down the middle revealing a worn golden gate beneath it.
“Clever.” I smirk. Someone will be here to greet me at any moment. I remove my bow from my back and straighten out my tunic, attempting to look put together and not as if I’ve been half awake for the last several weeks.
“What is your purpose?” The guard’s voice is low and gruff, his eyes narrowed as he draws an arrow from his quiver and places it against his bowstring. He wears dark leathers and a peculiar cloth covering the lower half of his face.
I square my shoulders. “I’ve come to speak to Lord Thaddeus.”
“Everyone that comes to the Jade Guild wishes to speak to Lord Thaddeus.” The strings on his bow pull taught. “So, again, I ask you what is your purpose?”
Sighing, I run a hand down my face. I knew I’d be met with a bit of reluctance, but I have not the patience for it. The Jade Guild, despite having locked their doors four years ago, is responsible for overseeing all of the Trinity Forest. Just as the Onyx Guild is responsible for the residents in all of the Kirsgaurd Mountain range. The Bloodstone Guild in charge of the dwellers and taboo cities of the Montrock Caves. And of course, The Cerulean Guild, who surveys the coast of all of Teravie.
Not that any of them have done anything to help the towns that reside in their respective Guilds during the blight or during Roman’s reign.
“My purpose ,” I say, drawing out the word, hoping my irritation shows in my tone, “is to speak to Lord Thaddeus. None of the rest is quite frankly your business. Now, go on.” I gesture him away. “Tell him Sorin Rudhek is here.”
The guard shifts, his leather boots squealing. His blue eyes go wide for a moment before he shakes his head and clears his throat. “I don’t care what your name is.” The tip of his arrow is pointed through the gate, aimed directly at my chest. “Leave, now.”
“Let me be very clear.” I step forward, wrapping my hands around the gate and dipping my head to meet his eyes. Ignoring the slight stab of his arrowhead to my chest, I drop my voice low. “Go tell Lord Thaddeus that Sorin Rudhek from Loxley is here, or I will use your own weapon against you then drag you with me as I search the Guild until I find him.”
I shove my hands in my pockets and take a step backward.
“Rudhek,” he says with a roll of his eyes. “Wait here.”
Minutes tick as I pace back and forth in front of the gate. The stone that makes up most of the Keep is partially covered in green ivy. The single tower looms overhead with an arched window overlooking the forest. The guard stationed there doesn’t lower his arrow, but his eyes dart between myself and the entry.
Ignoring him, I rub my hand over the back of my neck. My shoulders ache from the constant tension but knowing Sam stayed in Wickersham to wait for the others offers some semblance of peace. The last couple of weeks have been torturous, but Agnes and the others from Loxley should arrive in Wickersham any day now. Together, we’ll pull every ally we have, and together, we’ll get Elora and Galen back.
“He’ll see you.” I flinch at the guard's voice, so lost in my thoughts. “Follow me.”
He guides me through the stone keep, his body rigid, eyes glancing over his shoulders every so often. Likely to ensure I haven’t wandered off. I chuckle and shove my hands in my pockets.
I’m not sure what they expect from me, but having a last name like Rudhek is sure to earn some uncertainty from strangers.
The thick vines from outside continue inside as we weave through a labyrinth of hallways. Bright yellow wildflowers tangle with the greens making for a beautiful, natural tapestry. At the end of the enclosed hallway, a large rectangular window lets in a shock of bright sunlight on this particularly bright Autumn day.
Before we make it to the end, the guard makes an abrupt left turn. Skidding to a stop, I peel my eyes from the sun shining through and turn to the guard. He’s stopped in front of yet another ivy-covered wall. A man in similar garb joins him, and the two whisper back and forth for a moment.
My attention drifts to the Jade Guild. To the stone walls and endless forest that pours around it. The last time I was here with William, my adoptive father, was in my thirteenth year. He had a meeting scheduled with Lord Thaddeus to discuss a slough of crimes happening within the forest, and because Sam was busy training with Ulric, I got to attend with my father, alone. And I cherished every moment.
My stomach turns thinking of him. Thinking of how disappointed he’d be if he knew the years I let waste by. The people I’ve let down. Shaking myself free of the thought, I run my fingers across a few of the green vines scattered over the walls.
“Is Lord Thaddeus a big fan of ivy?”
The guard turns over his shoulder, brows furrowing. “Turn around.”
“I don’t like the sound of that.” I laugh, taking a step backward to do what he’s asked of me.
The ground shifts, and the horrible noise of stone scraping against stone makes my ears ring. Despite the guard’s instruction, I spin to face the wall. It slides slowly apart to reveal a small, hidden room.
“Lord Thaddeus will see you now,” the guard says.
Casting him another smile, I breeze past him, biting my tongue so as to not upset my already surly guide.
The sunlight beams through several large windows, filling the hidden room with warmth. Vines and foliage scatter across the glass but not thick enough to keep out the light. A cool breeze sends a few of the fallen leaves across the floor.
A throat clearing draws my attention, and there on the dais sits a throne of woven branches with Lord Thaddeus, perched like royalty.
He’s just as I remember him, albeit significantly aged. His graying hair is swept back, barely gracing the tops of his shoulders. He dons the Jade Guild colors, wearing a green tunic with gold lining and dark breeches. His light eyes scour my face, the lines etched into his fair skin much more pronounced than when I saw him last just after my father died.
My jaw ticks at the memory. The sleepless nights I spent traveling here from Loxley. Begging Lord Thaddeus to show me the way to Valebridge. To help me take the throne. To avenge my mother. But just as Agnes always had, he denied each request.
“You’re bold to show your face here, Rudhek.”
“Are you surprised, Lord Thaddeus?” I smile, pushing the discomfort I feel in his presence away. Taking a step closer to the dais, I place my hands back in my pockets. “Did you think you could stay locked away forever?”
He scoffs and stands from his throne of branches. He takes the two steps down to the ground, pointing to a pair of wooden chairs surrounding a small, oak table. “Sit.”
Once seated around the table, a woman sweeps by, dropping off a kettle of tea and two chipped mugs. Without speaking, she fills our cups, the steam hitting my cheeks in an instant.
At first glance, the room we're in is grand. Stunning greens and dripping yellow light. White-washed stone and a throne made of earth. But as I wait for my tea, I realize just how broken everything looks. The deep crack running through the center of the dais appears as though it could snap in two any given moment. Even the chairs we sit in are worn on the arms. The dress the woman wears is fraying on the edges, her sallow skin at such odds to her shining hair.
“The last time I saw you, I told you you’d achieve greatness,” Lord Thaddeus says before pausing to take a sip of tea. “But that mouth of yours would doom you.”
The woman makes her exit and my eyes trail after her golden hair, barely recognizing the words Thaddeus has spoken. My skin prickles, and I finally turn to him.
He glances at my arm, where my black shirt has been pushed up to my elbows. “I see the rumors of William’s reckless son aren’t true. You bear no ink from the curse of the Wicked Wood.”
Oh, the rumors were very true.
I take a small sip of tea, the bitter taste of pine needles coats my throat as I swallow it down. “My point in being here is brief, but unfortunately, the terms are severe.” I place my mug on the worn tabletop.
Lord Thaddeus eyes me for a moment before setting his cup down as well and crossing his arms across his chest. “You have five minutes.”
My eyes narrow at his command.
“You aren’t the king, Sorin Rudhek,” Thaddeus says, “so don't expect me to treat you as such.”
“That is my point, exactly.” I take another sip of my tea. “You’re one of the few that know my heritage. My father—William trusted you. And for many Winters aided your Guild and your people when the first uprising happened.”
“That was decades ago.” Thaddeus huffs a laugh, throwing his hands in the air. “We haven’t needed help from anyone in years. We’re managing fine.”
I nod, taking in his moth-eaten tunic, the shake of his hand as he reaches for his tea, the slight sag of his shoulders when he leans forward.
The Jade Guild is anything but fine.
“You have shut off communication with King Roman for the last four years.” I watch him intently. “Why?”
His cup lingers at his mouth. “For reasons that are none of your business.”
“But they are my business. Everything that happens here is my business.” I shoot him another smile, knowing damn well it will only frustrate him further.
“And why is that?” The table rattles as he slams down his cup. “William was a good man, and he helped the Jade Guild when we were desperate. But that was long ago, I don’t owe you anything, and you do not rule anything except for that village of outcasts.”
Twisting my father’s ring on my fore finger, I grit my teeth. “You don’t owe me anything, but what of the people in your jurisdiction? Who live right here in the Trinity Forest? Or have you forgotten them in the years since you locked up?”
A muscle feathers in his jaw, and his eyes drift to his lap. “My duty is to Valebridge. To ensure law and civility is upheld in the Trinity Forest and all of its towns. My duty is not to you despite how highly you may think of yourself.”
“And yet you’ve closed your doors to the king? Haven’t attended an Autumn Moon Ball in four years.” I whistle and place my hands behind my head. “Perhaps your duties have changed?”
“Get on with it,” he says, his lip snarling. “Tell me why you’re here.”
“My point is, surely there will be benefits to aiding the rightful heir to the throne.” I place my hands back in my lap.
His eyes narrow slightly before his face relaxes. “So, you think it’s time to take the throne?” He laughs, low and deep, and my fingers dig into my palms. “How can you be so certain the council will accept you?”
“Because you’re going to help me,” I say bluntly before braving another sip of the tea. “And so are the other Guilds.”
A crease forms between his brows, but his body is unflinching.
“Listen, I wouldn’t ask for your participation if there was another way. I know you’ve denied me in the past, but this can’t go on any longer. Your removal from events in Valebridge must cease.” I square my shoulders, feigning the confidence I know I’ll need to win him over. “I need you to pull the other Guilds together for the Autumn Moon.”
“Giving demands already?” He shakes his head, but I can’t stop now. Not when there’s so much on the line.
Not when Elora and Galen’s lives are on the line.
I lean onto my elbows, so my face is closer, and my body is taller. “I understand your lack of interest in going to Valebridge. No one wants to bear witness to the horrors done there to the Enchantresses.” My mind drifts to my Enchantress and the possible horrors she has already faced. Swallowing down the rising panic in my throat, I continue, “But we can’t sit back any longer. We’ve wasted years hiding away like cowards. It’s time to take a stand and time for change. I am that change.”
A few beats of silence pass before he lets out a long, ragged sigh. “What is her name?”
Baffled, my body recoils back. “I beg your pardon?”
Thaddeus smiles, his eyes crinkling as he does. “The girl you seek to save. What is her name?”
My stomach flips, but I don’t let my panic show. “Elora Leigh.”
Nodding, Thaddeus reclines in his chair. “So, it’s true,” he mumbles.
“What—”
“You know my nephew, Evren, is about your age. Was always difficult to keep him locked down.” Thaddeus smiles. “But he’s here now. He is to be my heir, since I have sired none. And his wife…” He leans back in his chair, the shake of his hand more prominent than before. “His wife, Tallulah, is an Enchantress. Such a lovely girl.”
I force myself to keep my composure. How he has any idea about Elora, and why he chose to harbor an Enchantress for his nephew yet denied my efforts to go to Valebridge all those years, is perplexing, but I don’t press him for answers right now. I can’t.
“All the more reason to help me get the throne,” I say, my confidence resuming. “I’ll put a stop to this madness, Thaddeus. I should have—” A knot forms in my throat thinking of all the years I’ve let slip by pretending the problems in Valebridge weren’t my own. All the lives I didn’t bother to save because I only saw what was right in front of me. “I should have put a stop to this years ago. We should have stopped this.”
He runs a hand down his face before his weary eyes meet mine again. I can see the battle behind them, wanting to help but wanting to stay safe. It’s the same battle I’ve had with myself for years. Desperately wanting to keep Sam and Agnes protected. Keep Loxley protected.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about, Rudhek. It was never as easy as bringing you to Valebridge.” His eyes roam my face, his fingers laced together on the tabletop. “I assume you have a plan? I won’t risk Tallulah or Evren being put in harm's way. They’ve been through enough.”
Nodding, I finish off the bitter tea despite my instinct to throw it in a fire. My mind is reeling with questions I know he won’t answer but nonetheless, relief unclenches my shoulders. For whatever reason, he’s decided to help me, and right now, I need all the help I can get.
“Get me into Valebridge. Get the other Guilds to agree to attend the Autumn Moon Ball and fortify my decree as the rightful heir. Together we can stop Roman and then you and your family will have nothing to worry about. They’ll be free. Tallulah, Elor–” I choke on her name. “They’ll all be free.”
Thaddeus steeples his hands, watching me over the tips of his fingers. The same scraping sound from before echoes through the room and I turn my head to see not the reckless boy I remember from my childhood, but a man.
His dark auburn hair is pulled back low at his nape, a few rogue waves hang around his face, framing his green eyes and freckled skin.
Evren.
Next to him is who I assume to be Tallulah. She’s lovely with silky, onyx hair bound in two braids. Her glowing, tanned skin is enhanced by her lavender dress and the brightness of her blue eyes catch my breath. She doesn’t smile, but grabs Evren’s hand, keeping her eyes pinned on me.
“We’ll help you,” Evren says, his eyes trained on his uncle. His grip on his wife’s hand tightens, her eyes bouncing between Thaddeus and I.
My gaze drifts back to Thaddeus who simply nods. Slumping back into my chair, my shoulders deflate. I’m one step closer to the throne.
One step closer to her.