Chapter 24 #3
“Show off,” Aria muttered, but I nearly dropped the orb as my gaze swept around the room.
The furniture was in splintered piles on the floor.
The rug slashed to pieces under our feet.
I was surprised we hadn’t tripped on anything coming in.
The walls were marked with long gouges, the wood chipped violently as if it were hacked by an ax, and the metal sconces lay on the floor, bent and broken.
Something moved in the corner of the room, and I saw a heap of blankets, feathers, and silk rise and fall. The lumpy heap was on top of another pile of shattered wood, which I think used to be the bed.
“Dedra?”
Dedra was curled in a ball on top of it, the silken ripped blankets and mattress half covering her body as she held her knees to her chest, her back toward us. Her long strawberry-blonde hair was loose and long around her.
Aria must not have realized how bad it was until now, as she too was looking around the room in stunned silence. She placed the tray on the floor, and we both eyed each other nervously.
“Dedra,” I breathed again, taking a step toward her. She didn’t move, didn’t react. So, I kept moving closer until I was crouching over her, my hand moving to touch her shoulder.
“Don’t,” Dedra’s voice was raspy, and I drew back my hand, resting it on my knee.
“You need to eat something Dedra, drink some water.”
The rolled up mass of feathers and silk shook, and Aria came running to my side as a sob filled the room.
The noise broke something in me, and I sat down beside her, grabbing onto her shoulders and turning her so that she was in my lap, my arms cradling her to my chest. Aria was in front of me, and she wrapped her arms around the both of us, her head resting on Dedra’s.
We held our grieving friend who was now loudly sobbing into my chest, her nails digging into the flesh on my arm. I didn’t care about the pain; I only cared about her. We stayed like that for what felt like hours, though I was sure it had only been minutes.
Grabbing onto Dedra, I lifted her into my arms and brought her to the bathing chamber. I left Aria to clean her up, while I headed back to the room to try to do something with the mess.
I managed to get most of the debris swept to one side and brought in another bed from a vacant room down the hall. I would help Cameron and Elida clear everything out tomorrow but for now this would do.
Once Dedra was clean, and dressed, Aria called me back in to help her get back to bed.
I carried her again, but I made sure to keep her upright this time on the bed.
Aria and I flanked her as we leaned against the wall.
She hadn’t said a word to either of us, but she remained sitting and that was better than being a crumbled heap on the floor.
Aria handed her a slice of bread, and we both exhaled in relief as she took it and started to eat. I knew the news about Flynn would affect her, but I didn’t think like this. Dedra was always so strong, tough. Seeing her like this was alarming.
Dedra managed to eat half of the tray of food before slumping again against Aria. Her eyes were closed, and her breaths were even and calm. I glanced up at Aria and found her fiery gaze already on me.
“Thank you,” she mouthed, and I nodded, slowly slipping from the bed, making sure to not wake Dedra.
“Will you be okay the rest of the night?” I asked, hovering at the bed’s edge. Aria nodded but her hand shot out to grasp mine. Her hand was warm, and I didn’t want her to let go.
“I don’t have the words—I mean, Flynn… I don’t know what I can say to—” I shook my head, stopping her, squeezing her hand in reassurance.
“I know. Thank you.” My chest swelled and I couldn’t stop myself from pulling her hand toward my mouth and planting a kiss onto her wrist.
Aria's gaze softened, her face contorting with emotion. Tears welled in her eyes, and I stood, releasing her hand before saying, “Try to get some rest.”
*
The tavern had cleared, only a few straggling patrons remaining. I updated Cameron and Elida on Dedra, and they were happy to hear she had eaten. I assured them Aria was taking good care of her, and that I would be back in the morning to check on them.
After saying my goodbyes, I stepped out onto the darkened streets and made my way back up the path toward the castle. Even in the dark, I could see the outline of Flynn’s cabin, or of what was left of it at least. The charred wood and crumbling stone lay in ruins, scattered throughout the field.
I hadn’t realized I had walked toward it, not until I nearly tripped over a wooden beam that was camouflaged in the tall grass. The back of my eyes burned, and I was about to step onto the first step when a twig snapping had me spinning, crouching low to the ground.
It had come from the forest's edge, and I gritted my teeth, anger heating my blood at the thought that they would fucking attack so soon again, and at night no less. Cowards.
To my right, a figure appeared, walking out from around the cabin, and a feminine, light chuckle sounded. “Hello prince.”
Lana stepped out from the shadows, the moon half illuminating her face, her scars gleaming under its pale light. My muscles coiled, but she didn’t attack. She was purposefully standing still. Did she come for her sister? Or to destroy more of our village, our home?
“What do you want?” I said through a growl, my jaw clenching so hard, my teeth nearly cracked.
“Where is my sister?”
Lana still didn’t move, not a muscle, and I rose to my full height. She smiled, and it was just as cruel as Morgana's. I drew my weapons, sword in one hand, a dagger in the other, and I could have sworn she rolled her eyes.
“I’m not here to fight. I am only here for her.”
“Then you are going to have to fight,” I said, squaring my shoulders, my magic rising as I felt it prickle under my skin.
“Haven’t you all lost enough?” she spat, but she still didn’t move, still stood like a statue in the tall grass. The only things moving were the wispy strands of her hair and the grass at her feet.
“Haven’t you all the decency to let us grieve in peace?” The words were biting and sharp, but I was too fucking tired to play whatever this game was. I threw my dagger, the blade slicing through the air, propelled forward with my magic. It landed its mark, right into her thigh, and I blinked.
Blood poured down her leg, the dagger embedded to the hilt.
She didn’t flinch, didn’t move. Not even a hitch in her breath.
She looked down at my dagger then back up to me.
“That wasn’t very nice,” she hissed, and I could hear the strain in her voice this time, but she hid it well.
“As you can see, prince. I’m not here to fight.
” She reached down and grabbed the dagger, throwing it onto the ground a few feet away from her, toward me.
“Zara is no longer your concern. Leave.” My brows were pinched. What was she doing?
“She is your prisoner I suspect?” Lana said thoughtfully. I didn’t reply, and she laughed lightly. “So, she will be in your dungeons then. Don’t worry, I know the way.”
The energy around us charged, and I could sense she was about to run, to shadow, to leave.
So, I didn’t hesitate and shadowed behind her, my hand already wrapping around another dagger at my side and unsheathing it.
The dagger was slicing down for her throat, but she blocked it, spinning with too fluid speed and kicking me in the chest. I went flying, my body rolling over the damp earth, until I was able to steady myself, crouching and lunging myself back toward her.
Lana had a sword in her hand now, and I realized it was mine. Growling, I shadowed another into my palm from the training yard and met her blade. Each strike echoing in the night around us..
Panting, she said. “Not bad, brother.”
“Don’t call me that,” I roared, and her smile widened.
She struck so forcefully that my blade flew from my palm, the wind sending me flying backward onto my back.
She was above me, palms up as if she were surrendering, and this time I stayed down.
She hadn't hurt me. Only defended herself.
She threw the blade she stole from me onto the ground, her palms still up in surrender.
Her brows pinched as her eyes fell, and I followed her line of sight.
The black pouch Xavier had given me was open on the grass next to me.
My uncle's black pendant peeking out of its case.
Lana was already reaching for it, and I scrambled too, my hand meeting hers as we both touched its smooth surface.
A twisting sensation deep in my gut flared, and the ground fell out from beneath us.
My hand was still touching Lana's, our fingers somehow fused together as we both touched the pendant.
“What magic is this?” Lana spat, and I shook my head, meeting her gaze.
Swirling darkness surrounded us, and a flash of blue exploded, filling my vision as we fell through a glittering expanse.