Chapter 32. Old Secrets.
Alone, Francis and I stared at each other, without saying a word, by the pillar of the covering. The first rays of sunshine appeared from the horizon; the snow shone under its touch. I felt nature wake up as the morning enveloped it in its embrace.
Francis’ hand fell atop mine; unclenching my fist, he caressed my palm, soothing the throbbing ache. He then planted a tender kiss on my still reddened skin.
“Are you ready to come back inside?” he whispered, breaking our silence.
Annabelle sighed in reply, bringing a small smile to my face. I turned to her, making sure her reins were still tightened around the pillar; when satisfied, I offered her a small pat.
“Yes,” I faced Francis, taking his hand into mine before walking back towards the house as the rays of sunshine followed after.
The door screeched open at my push, revealing three pairs of eyes that bored into me.
I walked into the house, ignoring the stares of those within, leaving my boots—covered in dirty snow—at the threshold.
I stepped onto the rug inside the corridor that also served as a kitchenette, taking a seat on the small couch against the wall across the wooden table.
Silent eyes watched my every move until Francis dropped onto the couch beside me with a loud sigh.
“I need a drink,” Roxanne mumbled, taking a seat across Simon: at a stool by the table.
Simon took the canteen out of his cloak, offering it to her.
Gabriel leaned against the small set of stairs by the chimney, desperately avoiding my gaze.
Awkward silence fell upon the room as Roxanne chugged the contents of the canteen before returning it to Simon. Her face squirmed when she wiped her lips; her eyes watered.
Gabriel cleared his throat, willing our attention back to him. “Caleb told me you might come.” He glanced at Francis, taking a seat on the stairs.
“You saw him.” Francis’ eyes shimmered with curiosity... and concern.
“He came last week.” Gabriel nodded. “He said your cabin was destroyed and you might need a place to stay.” He walked across the room, towards a little cabinet attached to the wall.
Gabriel looked through it until his hand pulled out a folded piece of parchment.
“He asked me to give this to you.” He handed it to Francis.
Francis broke the red seal with a Royal stamp on it, unfolding the letter.
“What does it say?” Roxanne pressed, reaching for the parchment.
Francis crushed the parchment in his fist.
“What did it say?” Roxanne’s brow crooked.
Francis shook his head before raising his gaze to her. “Caleb is behind the burn.”
“What?” Roxanne’ brows furrowed.
Francis disposed of the letter into the chimney. "Kane learned we’ve been lingering around the palace, and wanted to send us the message,” he said, sitting back on the cushion. “He ordered Caleb to destroy it.”
“He didn’t think to mention it when we saw him last night?” I seethed.
“He knew that dagger would’ve been in his heart instead of his shoulder, were he to confess to my face,” Francis scoffed. “He didn’t know we would come to the palace tonight.”
“Why are you here?” Gabriel looked around the room, meeting our silent glares.
“What else do you know of Caleb’s whereabouts?” Francis asked instead, his eyes darkening.
“Nothing!” Gabriel blurted, putting his hands up in surrender. “I swear, I know nothing. I saw him last week for the first time in years.”
“It’s safe you don’t know,” Roxanne insisted. “For us, and for you.”
“What if I am able to help?” Gabriel wouldn't give up.
“I doubt it,” Roxanne scoffed, leaning against the wall on her stool.
“Try me.” Gabriel challenged.
“Don’t,” I said before anyone could reply. “He is not very good with secrets.” I glared at him.
Gabriel laughed, rolling his eyes. “Who would I even tell around here?”
“Apparently you keep Wurdulacs as company.” Roxanne shrugged.
“Wurdulacs?” Gabriel’s brows furrowed. “I had no idea Caleb was a Wurdulac until he showed up here. And when I confronted him, he reassured me he is working as a spy, to destroy their forces from within,” Gabriel protested. “Why are you going to the palace?”
“It matters not if he knows.” Simon’s words cut through the air as he looked around the room. “Tomorrow we either come out alive and get far away from this place, or we don’t.”
“I like you, ginger man.” Gabriel nodded at Simon, earning an eye roll from me.
Francis and Roxanne glanced at each other, locked in their wordless conversation. Silence fell upon the room before Roxanne offered a barely visible nod.
“We need Royal steel to stand a chance against their army,” Francis spoke, meeting Gabriel’s gaze. “We are here to break into the palace’s vault and find archives on how to make it for our army.”
“I’ve made Royal steel before.” Gabriel’ brow crooked slightly. “Is that it?”
“No, you have not,” I scoffed, shaking my head.
“Brian taught me.” Gabriel shrugged.
“Nonsense!” I laughed at his foolishness. “He couldn’t have!” My voice cut through the space.
“And yet he did.” Gabriel’s lips turned into a small smile.
“Do you still remember how to?” Simon asked. “Can you make it?”
“He is lying.” My hands shook.
“It hurts that you think the worst of me, Lia.” Gabriel sighed. “Brian taught me before our last battle in Vel’mi’. And yes,” he turned to Simon. “I still remember how to.”
Impossible. My stomach turned upside down as I leaned against the wall. My lungs ached with every breath I took.
“It’s quite easy,” Gabriel started. “But I still need—” he trailed off, looking over everyone before continuing, “—the golden flint kept in a hidden room behind the Royal forge.”
I glanced down at my mother’s ring that sat heavy on my ring finger. The symbol of my parents’ nonexistent love now decorated my hand deep crimson. The symbol that we took from the grave of my resting mother was now useless.
We disturbed the dead for nothing.
I was going to be sick.
“So we must go to the palace either way.” Simon sighed.
“Where is this hidden room you speak of?” I held my breath, already having a great idea where that was. Brian had mentioned the mysterious flint once after scolding me and Sandra for playing hide and seek deep in the dungeons, near the forge.
“Neither of you are allowed here, and you know it!” He’d yelled at us. “You are lucky I was the one to catch you here, and not our King.”
I swallowed when Gabriel met my gaze. “There is a door behind the chimney.”
I nodded as a set of new problems arose: the rooms underneath the palace did not have hidden passages—the only way in and out was through the Royal corridors, and—now guarded—doors.
“Did you tell Caleb?” Francis narrowed his eyes on Gabriel.
“What? No.” Gabriel shook his head. “I would never share a secret like that.”
“I am glad you can at least keep something to yourself,” I mumbled, trying to remember the best path to the forge—I remembered none.
Gabriel sighed. “Here, these are for you.” He passed me a small casket decorated with crimson ravens trapped in a black widow’s web.
I opened the casket, revealing dozens of letters carefully arranged in order. I closed it in an instant when I saw the name of the sender. Brian.
“It is decided then.” Francis glanced at the casket in my hands before meeting the eyes of our company. “We are going to the forge with the sunset.” He got up from the couch, everyone else followed.
“I am coming with you.” Gabriel nodded along, getting up from the stairs.
“You are a human.” Francis shook his head. “Breaking into a palace full of Wurdulacs isn’t such a great idea as a human.”
“I wouldn’t say it’s a great idea for anyone,” Gabriel countered. “But I can take care of myself. And I am the only one who's made Royal steel before. You need me.”
Francis sighed, looking over at me; when I offered him a shrug, he relented. “Fine. You will come back with us to Faris, but you are staying to watch over our horses at the palace. It’s final,” he said.
Gabriel rolled his eyes, but didn’t argue.
“Tomorrow is promising to be long.” Simon sighed, taking a sip of whatever it was in his canteen.
The dark green curtains of the small room hid me, Francis, and Roxanne from the sunlight.
The room downstairs didn’t carry any beds, leaving us to the woolen blankets on the floor. Simon and Gabriel disappeared upstairs to a similar arrangement.
The house seemed rather empty, despite Gabriel claiming he had lived here for the last five years. The walls held wooden shelves that carried anything from articles of clothing to jars of seeds to plant in the spring.
“You can never leave her, Francis,” Roxanne’s voice traveled through the darkness of the room as all of us lay on the floor by the walls across from each other: Francis and I by one side, Roxanne by the other.
“Or she will find and murder you, and I’m afraid I will be far too entertained to stop her. ”
“I am right here, Roxanne.” I rolled my eyes, staring at the ceiling of the tiny room. The corners of the ceiling were covered in spider webs and darkened spots from leaks.
“I know,” Roxanne said, I could hear the smirk on her face. “My point still stands.”
“I wasn’t planning on leaving.” Francis’ hands pulled me closer in his embrace, fixing the blanket around us. “Now go to sleep, both of you,” he said as my eyes closed against his warmth.