4. Unwelcome Goodbye
UNWELCOME GOODBYE
Unease slithered through her, and Aaryn wasn’t sure what the source of it was.
It could be the guilt over Thea’s actions still rocking through her, fear that she’d done something wrong or said something to send the woman over the edge, to drive her to this. Or worse, what if Thea had used her from the beginning, played a long game that all led to… this?
What if it was none of that?
While the possibilities all raced through her mind, she was painfully present in the moment, in every step that echoed through the castle.
On the arm of the prince, all gazes were latched to her as he led her from the infirmary to the Tethered’s towers.
Wide eyes greeted them and hushed whispers followed them.
She bit the inside of her cheek and hated their attention.
“Ignore them,” Jarrick murmured as they rounded a corner to a blissfully empty hallway. “Whispers are harmless. I’ve heard them my entire life.”
“Yes, your majesty,” she agreed, but she didn't know if his words offered her the comfort he intended. Aaryn hated this feeling of their eyes on her, the weight of what they might be thinking.
She had certainly giggled and played into the scenarios the Tethered would spin about the bachelor prince beneath the afternoon sun. Now that a scene much like some of the silly fiction she’d encouraged was coming true, she wished she were anywhere else.
"We'll be placing extra guards on duty to secure the Tethered's safety while the outside wall is repaired," he explained, and as they walked past where the explosion had been, Aaryn blinked.
It hardly looked the same. Already there was a crew working on laying new bricks.
"We want the Tethered to feel safe."
He escorted her through the walkway, up the stairs, and to her room.
Aaryn gazed out of her grand windows, which offered a view of the back of the castle and the dragons’ field.
Usually the grass was covered with lazing dragons and Tethered, but now, guards were afoot and progress was being made on the wall.
She suspected by this week's end one could not distinguish if there had been an incident at all.
Aaryn watched the dragons from her window, restless within their caves, probably being comforted by their Tethered, as the prince began to speak. Thea had caused an explosion as a distraction while she mounted Starspark and flew away on his back.
Something angry brewed in her belly. Not even Aaryn had the privilege of riding Starspark.
It wasn't the place of a Tethered to ride the dragon. They cared for them. Riding was reserved for knights, those tasked with protection of Evergale, or with transportation of trade.
Aaryn ached to be with the others, to be with her dragon, to listen to Starspark’s purr rumble her ribcage.
Would she ever have that again?
“Prince—your majesty,” she stuttered, and she heard his steps as he approached her by the window, but kept his respectful distance. His guards awaited him in the hall, their presence obvious and yet fading into the background.
“Tethered Aaryn, you can call me anything you’d like, whatever makes you feel at ease.”
The Tethered talked about the prince so often, it was hard to call him anything else. She couldn’t wait to tell them how he said her name, uttered so deeply from his chest.
“Do you truly think you'll find Starspark?”
The movements below held her attention, but she sensed him stiffen and then relax, a soft sigh leaving his lips. She couldn’t resist turning her head just a smidge, catching a glimpse of his mouth tightening before he shrugged.
“I cannot say for certain, and I’m sorry that's the best I can offer. Once we have more information, I believe we'll know where to start.” He met her gaze, sincerity blooming in that spring green.
Honesty. How refreshing.
Aaryn slid her hand from her pocket. “Thea gave me this—well, I suppose by now it was yesterday afternoon.” Heat rushed to her cheeks as if a dragon’s breath resided on her tongue, but she swallowed her chagrin as he took the small note and turned back to the window.
“Obviously, she didn't want me here to interfere with her plan. I don’t know what clarity this offers, if any, or if I’ve just embarrassed myself in front of the prince for nothing, however—”
He glanced up from the quick words scrawled there. “This does help. In fact, anything like this will give us more insight into who Thea actually was.”
“Good," Aaryn murmured, something sour on the back of her tongue. She swallowed.
“It tells us she knew the risk of stealing a dragon beneath his Tethered’s nose, or… she cared for you so much she didn’t want to risk you getting hurt. Both are valuable.”
Aaryn swallowed, her heart leaping at the last suggestion, similar to the very thoughts she’d dared have earlier.
“Even if Thea did care for me, it’s vital you know I had nothing to do with…
. this.” She practically grumbled the last word, which in other spaces would be a rude tone to take with the prince, but she had been through quite an ordeal last evening and this morning, and he would just have to offer grace.
“There’s never been a Tethered in history who would forsake their dragon in such a way. I do not expect it to start with you,” he said.
A piece of her relaxed at that, and she settled more comfortably into her own skin. “That’s a relief to hear,” she admitted. “Thank you.”
Bravely, she turned her head and gaze to him as she uttered the last two words, and he smiled, lifting his hand before lowering it again, maybe considering it to be inappropriate on such a night. She appreciated his hesitation.
“We will do everything within our power to find Starspark,” he vowed.
“I will do anything to help,” she told him, and meant it with her whole being. “Really, anything. Not just wishing you the best from my tower,” she said, and waved a hand at the arched window.
At this, he looked uncomfortable. “It is not the Tethered’s place to—“
“You just said there’s never been a Tethered in history who would forsake their dragon in such a way. You are correct that I will not be the first. Let me assist.”
Prince Jarrick studied her for a long moment, the evening light striking his features with a soft white glow.
“What would you like to do?”
Aaryn threw her hands up. “I don’t know, I’m not an expert in solving… dragon-nappings!” His lips twitched and she pointed a finger at him—brave, or stupid? “Don’t laugh at me, Prince!”
His smile smoothed out. “Not a laughing matter. Yes, Tethered. Let me speak to the king, and I will make sure you have a place in the discussion moving forward.”
At the mention of the king, Aaryn lowered her finger. Stupid, indeed. “Apologies. I forgot myself.” She bowed her head, as was polite, and the prince chuckled.
“Don’t apologize. It’s refreshing to hear someone speak to me like I’m a person instead of a figurehead.”
“Oh,” she said simply, because that is the only word that came to mind.
Silence fell between them, its crater filled only with the awkwardness of speaking to royalty.
“Well,” he finally said, and stood straighter, stepping back exactly once. “I shall see myself out. Thank you for your cooperation, and I will make it a priority to find you after I speak to the king myself.”
Warmth rose to bloom in her cheeks once more. “Thank you, Prince, for your kindness.”
He paused by the set of guards. “I’m leaving one of them here, for your own safety,” he said.
“If you feel it’s necessary,” she offered, brow furrowed.
“On the morrow, Tethered.”
Once he was gone, she met the eyes of the guard left behind. “Thank you for watching over me,” she said.
Striking feminine teal eyes met hers. “Of course, Tethered Aaryn. It is my pleasure.”
"What's your name?" she asked.
"Runa of the Second Guard."
Second Guard. Had Runa known Thea? Did she know anything about the investigation thus far?
It would be rude to ask, surely. Right?
"Nice to meet you," Aaryn said, and then paused. Aaryn had never had a guard before. Did she offer them water? A snack? A bound book to pass the time with?
The guard offered her a smile, and her striking teal eyes were kind. “You can close the door. I'll be here, should you need any assistance.”
“A-alright. Thank you,” Aaryn said, and returned her smile, albeit awkwardly, before doing as she'd been told and closing the door.
Once she was alone, Aaryn slumped against said door, and took a deep breath for the first time in hours.
Aaryn stripped off her layers one by one, feeling more free with every bit of weight removed.
She bathed herself quickly and practically, her mind so full of thoughts it might as well have been empty, for she couldn’t focus on any particular trail before it would find another to scurry down.
The result was to faceplant into bed, wishing for the darkness of sleep simply so she could find a moment of peace.
But sleep evaded her, and she stared toward the ceiling with tired eyes but a racing mind.
Thea had taken Starspark from her.
Why?
Had Thea seen her as an easy mark? Someone to be taken advantage of? Someone to betray so easily?
She felt the sneer on her face as she turned over to stare at the moon casting light in her room.
Aaryn would not curl into a ball and cry over what she had lost.
If she started, she might not stop.
Instead, she’d dedicate every waking moment to the one who deserved it: Starspark.
If that meant she had to find Thea to do such a thing…
Well.
By the time she made it to the Great Hall for breakfast, word had reached all that Aaryn was a Tethered without a dragon. The ache in her heart, the tightness in her belly, and the knowledge she’d failed hurt more than any lingering stares, but they certainly didn't help, either.
Was she still welcome at the table with the other Tethered? Aaryn wasn’t sure she could stomach breakfast and their pitying glances.