by K. T. Webb
When she broke through the edge of the tilled ground, she continued at full speed until she reached Nero. Theon was farther behind due to the cumbersome movements of the cart. Nero was pale. His eyes were closed. The bleeding looked like it had slowed, but she was not sure if that was a good sign or a bad one.
“Nero, your father is almost here to help us. He has a cart to bring you to the palace. Renata will fix you up,” Legacy offered a hopeful whisper as Nero’s eyes fluttered again. “I do not know if you heard me before, but I believe we found your mother. She is alive. Please hold on so you can see her again.”
Legacy fought to keep the tears from her eyes. She had failed to protect Noble from the Shadow Mages. Nero was distracted by her presence and ended up suffering a terrible wound from Emrys. She looked at the lifeless body, not ten feet away. With grim satisfaction, Legacy noticed that the pitchfork was still embedded in his body. The angle at which she thrust it into his chest was one that left him propped against it in a gruesome manner.
Emrys was dead. She was going to have to break that news to Evander. Regardless of the actions his brother had taken, she was certain Evander did not want his brother to die. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she considered how he would react when she told him she had been the one to kill his brother. Legacy shook her head; now was not the time to think of such things. Now was the time to focus on Nero. Theon had arrived.
“Oh, my son,” he cried when he saw the state Nero was in.
“He is conscious. We need to get him to the castle. We will get your other boys along the way. Renata will tend to him.”
She and Theon gently lifted Nero into the cart. He only released a weak groan. Legacy climbed into the cart and began applying pressure to the wound that had started to bleed again. Theon quickly hoisted the wagon and started the journey back to the castle at a run. Legacy spoke softly to Nero to keep him awake. The wound appeared deeper than she initially thought. Nero was ashen from blood loss. She stroked his hair and told him how proud she was of him for standing up for their brother. Time passed so quickly she had not noticed their arrival at the woodcarving shop. Through the window, Legacy saw both Calix and Rune meandering within as the prepared to open for the day. Theon used his key to open the door and went inside to talk to his sons. From her vantage point, she witnessed the fear and concern take over the two older brothers. The family had experienced enough heartbreak. It pained her to see them endure more, especially when she felt partially responsible for the injury Nero sustained.
In no time, the family was racing through the streets toward the square. Legacy saw Maris and waved to her frantically. Maris caught up to them with ease and gave Theon an apologetic shrug when she joined Legacy on the cart. Theon knew they could not afford to slow down, but he also understood that Maris needed an update on the situation.
“Emrys is dead. He threw Noble into a portal of some kind. Nero was injured in the process. Send some of the guards to collect the body and return to the castle right away. We have to begin our search for my brother,” Legacy shared the barest details.
Maris nodded, “Right away. See you soon. I hope this young man makes a full recovery.”
She hopped down and took off at a sprint. Theon charged directly through the gate leading into the courtyard of the castle. They came to a stop at the base of the stairs. Calix helped Legacy out of the cart before he and Rune gently hoisted their brother to be carried between them. There was no time to waste, and the best way for them to determine the true identity of the woman she thought was Daenera was for them to see her without any preconceived ideas. She led the way upstairs to the medical room where Renata had taken up residence. They were sure to find Renata and Evander looking after the other patients.
The room was elongated with cots placed along the left side. It was clear the area had once been used to care for soldiers and staff members as the walls held cupboards filled with bandaging and linens, and the far end of the room had been set up like a greenhouse with hanging troughs for herbs. An adjoining bedroom was set up for a live-in practitioner; it suited Renata quite nicely. The brothers made it as far as the first vacant bed and gently laid Nero on the cot. The first two beds were occupied by the women they found in the cells. Evander sat beside his own mother, gently washing the dirt away from her face. She was sleeping peacefully.
In the second bed, the unidentified woman had been cleaned and given something to improve her color. Legacy knew from looking at her that the poor woman must have been at the brink of death when they found her. If Junius had been keeping the women down there, no one else might have known about them; if that was the case, they had not been fed since he died. That seemed entirely too long to go without food. Renata would see to it that the woman received the herbs and nutrients needed to regain strength. Legacy glanced at Theon to see if his face showed any sign of recognition when he looked at the woman; he had not even looked in her direction.
“Renata! We need your help. Nero was injured,” Legacy called to the practitioner.
“Nero?” Evander left his mother to rush to the young boy’s bedside, “What happened?”
Legacy touched his shoulder to guide him away from the bed as Renata approached to examine his injuries. Once they were far enough away to speak without disturbing the others, she told him what happened by the fields. Legacy could not help but think there were far better places for them to have a conversation about his brother’s death, but it could not be helped.
“Evander, Noble released Emrys from his cell. He must have been in a trance again based on the way your brother described him. From what I understand, Noble led Emrys out of the castle, telling him the Shadow Mages wanted him to take Noble to a portal of some kind. I saw it. He threw Noble into it,” Legacy whispered.
“He threw him. Where did Noble go?”
“I do not know exactly where he went, but we have both been there in our nightmares,” Legacy told him.
Evander shook his head, “No, he cannot be there. We need to find him.”
“We will,” Legacy paused as though the longer she waited to tell him about his own brother, the easier it would be to break the news. “I have to tell you something, Evander. Your brother attacked Nero with a scythe. I tried to stop him from taking Noble. Emrys is dead.”
His expression grew somber, “How did he die?”
“It was me,” she was afraid the words would break him. “I am so sorry. I had no choice,” her voice cracked under the words.
“Shhh,” he reached up to touch her cheek. “Tell me how.”
She swallowed against the lump in her throat, “He tried to run into the portal with Noble, I had to stop him. I knew he would escape with Noble if I did nothing. I took the pitchfork Nero had been using to defend himself and . . .”
Evander nodded his acceptance. “Emrys made his decisions, there was nothing we could do to save him from himself. I am only sorry he did not live to see our mother again.”
Legacy glanced at his mother laying peacefully on her cot. It would be hard enough for her to adjust to life outside of the strange cell she had been held in, now she would also have to face the death of both her son and husband. She wondered if Evander should stay behind when she left to search for Noble. Selfishly she knew that was not possible if she wanted to survive the flames that would engulf the forest. She knew Evander would never let her go without him.
“Please, give me some room to tend to him,” Renata insisted as she tried to get closer to Nero.
“Father!” Nero cried out and gripped his father’s hand tightly.
“I am here Nero, what do you need?”
He opened his eyes to look directly at his father, then allowed his gaze to land on his older brothers, “I did not hide this time. He needed me, and I did not hide.”
“I know, son. I am proud of you for doing what you thought was right,” Theon tried to keep his voice even.
Legacy felt her chest tighten at their e
xchange. Nero blamed himself for his mother being taken. His older brothers were mature enough to make the connection but too immature to keep themselves from mentioning it to him as they grew up without her. They blamed him also. Calix and Rune tried to fight the Makt, but Nero had only been around four of five when Daenera was taken. If he had wanted to stop them, he might have been killed.
“I love you,” Nero whispered.
“I love you too,” his father replied.
“That goes double for us,” Calix told him for both older brothers.
Renata cleared her throat, “This is touching, but if you do not get out of my way, that may be the last time any of you says those words to each other.”
Theon ushered his sons away from the cot while casting furtive glances toward his youngest child. When they were closer to Legacy and Evander, the worried father took an unsteady breath and watched Renata clean the wound in Nero’s abdomen. Legacy watched his expression when he caught sight of the women on the other cots. First, she saw pity, then recognition and confusion took over his features.
“Daenera?” His voice was barely audible.
Theon walked hesitantly toward the cot, falling to his knees when he was beside her. The woman opened her eyes and looked at him, blinking back tears that were slow to gather due to her low hydration levels. Daenera raised a shaky hand to touch his cheek; he leaned into her touch.
“I thought you were gone. They told us you were dead,” Theon whispered.
“Not dead, but close,” Renata said as she breezed past to get herbs for the healing paste, she was making to administer to Nero’s wound.
“Where did you find her? Did you find my son? Arkin?” Theon cried.
“We found her in a cell below the dungeon. We had no idea they were there, we only found them because we were looking for Noble,” Legacy explained. “I thought it may be your wife, but I could not be sure until you saw her. She did say Arkin just before she lost consciousness. He might still be here. Noble told us about a boy who brought food to him, he may have been bringing food to them too.”
Calix and Rune were struggling to keep their own emotions in check; on one bed, their brother lay in critical condition and on the bed beside his, lay the mother they had mourned for years. If their younger brother was still alive somewhere in the bowels of the castle, they would find him. Legacy was happy to play a part in their reunion, but she felt partially responsible for the injuries Nero sustained. If he died, she would never forgive herself. Legacy gripped Evander’s arm and gently led him out of the room.
“I have to leave. The longer I wait to start looking for Noble, the slimmer my chances are of finding him. I think you should stay with your mother. I will take Nikita with me,” she told him carefully.
Evander immediately began shaking his head with vehement disagreement. “No. Why would you suggest something like that? I told you I was going to protect you, and I meant it.”
“Evander, you just found your mother alive, and I killed your brother. The last thing you need to do is go off on a wild goose chase with me. We do not even know where that forest is! We could be gone for a long time.”
“My mother will be in good hands with Renata. Emrys made the decisions that set him on the journey that ended tonight. My brother took your brother from you. We have to get him back,” Evander took both her hands in his and gave them a soft kiss.
Legacy sighed, “I still think we need to bring Nikita.”
“We will talk to her, but we need to make our plans right away. We leave today, it is still early enough that we could make decent headway before nightfall.”
“Where are you going?” Theon’s voice startled both the Queen and her guard.
“We have to find Noble,” Legacy told him.
“I am coming with you,” he insisted.
“No, Theon. Please, stay and care for your son. Daenera is alive! And Arkin may be within these walls, hiding as he was told to do by my terrible father. You should be with your family,” she did not want to put any other members of that family in danger.
“My wife was taken from me and forced to bear a child for a monster, but she loved that child, nevertheless. Arkin was taken by that monster and may be alive but hiding to save himself. My son, Nero, faced a terrible man and could die as a result; he did it for the brother he just met. What kind of example would I be to them if I did not do everything in my power to save the boy who brought us back together?”
Legacy was blown away by his line of thinking. It would have been easy for him to resent Noble. He was a child born to his wife from another man. His son was injured trying to protect that same boy. His passion for his family helped him see beyond the things that should not have happened and accept that they did. Tears prickled her eyes as she failed to keep them from falling. She nodded at Theon.
“Yes, you can come with us. We would be happy to accept your help. Please speak to your sons as soon as possible, we leave today.”
Hours later, Nero was sleeping peacefully, and Renata had done all she could. It was uncertain if he would regain consciousness.
Daenera was looking much better, but she, too, was hanging in the balance between life and death. Arabella was already beginning to show signs of making a full recovery. Her color had improved, she was alert and offering assistance to Renata even though the latter insisted the former stay in bed.
As Legacy prepared for her journey, she wished Honor was with her. The idea of leaving to search for their brother without her sister made her uneasy. Wherever her sister and brother-in-law were, they had no idea the struggles she was facing in Pallisaide. She decided she should send a message to them somehow. Honor deserved to know what was happening.
Legacy had no idea what to bring. On the journey from Kilgore to Pallisaide, all provisions had been made in advance for her. Not to mention, she had been protected by soldiers on a mission to take down a wicked king. Now, she was leaving with a rag-tag crew of a woodcarver and a former Makt soldier. It was far from ideal, but it was all they could manage. They were prepared to leave and not return until they found her brother; the biggest problem was they had no idea where they were going.
After describing the forest she had seen in her visions to Renata, Legacy began to wonder how many puzzle pieces made up her destiny.
“I never had a chance to tell you about the nightmares Noble was having. He described a wood very much like the one you just told me about. He could not remember much, but he remembered the fire. The strangest thing about it was the color. He said—”
“The flames were blue.” Legacy cut Renata off before she could finish, she already knew.
“Yes. I assume it was the same for you,” Renata paused to lean closer to Legacy. “He could hear you on the other side of the fire. Each time he woke, he sobbed and told me you were going to die, and it would be his fault.”
“I have to find him, Renata. None of this is his fault. Please, what can you tell me about the forest I saw?”
“The trees you described can only thrive in the warmer temperatures found south of Pallisaide. Unfortunately, in all my travels, I have not encountered anything like what you have described,” Renata explained as she hurried around the room, cleaning up from the sudden influx of patients in need of her care.
“Okay, so . . . south it is. I cannot imagine how alone Noble is feeling out there,” Legacy whispered.
“Worse than being alone is who may be holding him there,” Evander joined the conversation seamlessly.
He was right. Legacy shuddered at the thought of the Shadow Mages having Noble in their grasp. Her heart nearly broke thinking about what he may be experiencing. Evander interlaced their fingers and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. Legacy reminded herself to take a deep breath in and release it in a slow exhale. She was preparing to ask more questions but was stopped by the sound of a heated conversation just outside in the room.
“Are you crazy? You cannot leave us like this! N
ot now.”
“You misunderstand my reasons for volunteering to go. I am not leaving you; I am finishing what your brother started,” Theon insisted.
Legacy knew Calix and Rune would struggle to understand why their father was joining them as they left to find Noble. Calix was two years past receiving his mark, the same age as Legacy herself, but he had a great deal of maturing ahead of him. Rune had only recently received his mark; he was just a few months into adulthood. It seemed odd to think of herself being so much older than the boys who were the same ages as she and her sister, but both girls had experienced more since receiving their marks than Theon’s older sons.
“Rune, he is doing this for Nero and Noble. Whether you see it or not, they are both our brothers. How many times did we make Nero feel like he had failed our mother by staying hidden? We were wrong. He was barely more than a toddler. How could we have expected him to fight grown men with weapons? The best thing we can do now is look for Arkin. He is still just a boy and has been forced to hide in this castle.” Calix was taking the situation better than expected.
“We were too young to fight them, but we tried!” Rune insisted.
“No, boys, none of you should have been put in the position to fight for your mother’s freedom. The King was a terrible man. He did terrible things and hurt more people than we will ever know. He took your mother for his own purposes, and because of that, you now have a younger brother out there who needs our help,” Theon reasoned. “Soon, both your mother and Nero will wake and wonder where I am. I am relying on you to tell them I went to save the young boy who means the world to us all. If he had not been born, I do not think your mother would still be alive today.”
The silence that followed seemed to stretch into eternity. Legacy respected Theon, but his explanation to his sons increased that respect exponentially. Calix and Rune may not have been pleased with their father’s decision, but they would come to understand in time. Nero and Daenera would need them when they regained consciousness. If they could find Arkin, their family may be reunited completely. Theon entered the infirmary with his shoulders squared and a solemn expression.
