by Aleah Raynes
A nudge on my arm brought my attention to Pyria, who sat crossed-legged in front of me. She handed me a roll and some berries. “Thanks,” I muttered.
“It’s not much. But we could have a large lunch. I’m not sure how far we have to make the food last.” Pyria spoke softly as she darted her gaze to Jaden.
Dain sat up and leaned into my shoulder. “Protein stays with you longer. Incorporate a palm-sized portion of meat or eggs into every meal and you can stretch everything. If we can stay close to the river, then we can catch fish. Vander and Caspian are good at hunting rabbits and other small game. We’ll be okay.”
My sisters stared at him like he’d gone mad. I was thankful for his insight and knowing we wouldn’t starve. “You will have to teach us.”
Dain perked up and nodded. My sisters groaned. Shooting a glare at Luna, I silently asked her to make the other two agree to try. The boys were helping. Like it or not, we were stuck with them.
Luna motioned to the journal next to my bed. “Where does it say we need to go?”
“To the Oighear Kingdom. We need to take the teardrop there. But we need to be quick about it and figure out how to keep it from melting.” I picked up the box holding the tear and clench it to my chest. Hopelessness tightened around my heart.
Dain wrapped an arm around my shoulders and hugged me. “Have you tried to reach your magic?”
I nodded. I had. “Last night when we first noticed it was melting. I may be able to keep it at the temperature it is now, but I’m unable to freeze it.” Tears stung the backs of my eyes.
Dain pressed his head to mine briefly before turning to Caspian. “Can their powers be unbound? Like their wings were?”
Caspian shook his head. “That is different. Their powers aren’t bound like their wings were. If they were, they would have unlocked when their wings were freed.”
That made sense. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and tried again to reach my ice magic deep inside me. It was there. I could sense it but not reach it. Then I felt a trickle of magic travel through my veins. Hope filled my insides, so I pushed harder. Reached deeper toward the source of my power.
Nothing.
A touch on my cheek made me lose focus and open my eyes. I met Luna’s saddened stare. She shook her head. “Don’t waste your energy. We have a long trip ahead of us. Now, eat.”
I sucked in my bottom lip to keep from smiling. It was so comforting when Luna took charge and played the mom figure, while at the same time it was heart breaking. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. My heart broke at the thought of our parents. Killed in cold blood by our uncle.
The sadness shifted to anger. Ievos Arolan would pay for murdering our parents and stealing the throne.
With renewed purpose, I tucked the box with the tear into the backpack Baxter gave us and quickly ate my breakfast. Beside me, Dain began packing items into the bag. When he lifted his gaze to mine, I smiled. My heart fluttered and butterflies formed in my belly.
After we stuffed as much into the pack as possible, Dain threw it over his shoulder, then looped his other arm through the strap. Holding out his hand, he waited. The whole act was something I remember seeing Dad do with Mom. Carry her bags, offer a hand to help her stand or get in and out of the carriage, and any small jester a gentleman should do for a lady.
With tears in my eyes at the memory of my parents, I forced another smile. I was far from a lady. Still had three years to go to be considered an adult.
I placed my hand in his and allowed him to pull me to a stand. A quick glance at the others and I noted they were busy with loading their own bags and not paying us any attention. Good.
Moving past Dain, I exited the barn. He followed me as I expected, stepping up beside me. A soft sigh slipped past my lips. “I’m concerned about failing before we get started. Without my magic, I can’t keep the tear cold enough so it doesn’t melt. Oighear is easily a three-day hike. We won’t make it.”
He closed the small gap between us and drew me into a hug. At first, I stiffened. It’d been a long time since I’d been hugged by anyone other than my sisters. Dain was a stranger, who was fast becoming a friend. And he was a boy. My heart thundered, but I relaxed and hugged him back, resting my cheek on his shoulder. As soon I did so, he tightened the embrace.
After a moment, he said, “We will make it. The closer we get to Oighear, the colder it will get, right?”
“Under normal conditions, yes. But with the weather changing wildly, we can’t count on it.” Hopelessness settled into my heart. How were we supposed to set things right again?
Dain pulled back and framed my face in his hands. I stared into his golden-brown eyes as he spoke. “We will make it. The journey will have its challenges, but don’t they make us stronger?”
I nodded. Hearing the others file out of the barn, I stepped out of Dain’s embrace and pushed all emotions away.
Luna stopped beside me and glared at me before saying, “Oighear is to the northwest. We can break off in pairs and walk a few yards from each other. It will be safer in case of an attack.”
Caspian emerged from the barn last, tucking a device of some kind into his pack. “Luna and I will hang back. Vander, you’re with Ena and will leave first. Jaden and Pyria will be next. Then Dain and Ayla. It’s also better if we were in a random pattern opposed to a straight line.”
I glanced from Caspian to Luna and almost giggled at the look on my eldest sister’s face. She didn’t like someone else taking charge.
The others nodded and Vander and Ena moved out, heading a little more north. A few minutes passed before Jaden and Pyria moved to the northwest. Dain took my hand, linking our fingers together. When I met his gaze, he offered a kind, warm smile. The flutter in my belly returned.
When it was our turn to go, we walked to the north for about an hour before turning in the direction of Oighear—the land of the Ice Fae. That was when Dain broke the comfortable silence that fell over us. “Have you tried to reach your ice magic again?”
I nodded. “I feel it, barely, but it’s out of reach. Whatever spell they used to bind it seems unbreakable.”
Dain walked closer to me so our arms brushed with each other’s. “Caspian says every spell or curse, no matter how strong, can be broken. It’s the way the Universe keeps the balance.”
“Is Caspian a wizard?” k`1`2
Dain laughed. “No one is sure what he is. He doesn’t talk about his biological parents. I’m not sure he knows who they are or what heritage he is. He was found as an infant by a witch and she raised him until the king…”
I pursed my lips, anger rising within. “Ievos is not the king. He may sit on the throne, but he is no king.”
He bobbed his head up and down. “I agree. Sorry. It’s a habit…anyway, after that monster claimed the throne, we were separated from our parents.”
Sadness swirled within me, forming a lump in my throat. Looking for something else to talk about, I asked, “What heritage are you? When I first looked into your eyes at the camp, I thought I saw a hint of magic.”
He hesitated. “Vander and I are dragons from the elemental clan of Croi.”
A dragon. “Can you shift yet?” I knew dragons had to be a certain age before they could transform from human to dragon.
Dain glanced away and shook his head. “No, not yet.”
I reached out to him, but stopped when the hairs on the back of my neck rose. My wings shimmered and fluttered like they did when danger was near. Dain gripped my hand, drawing my attention to him. His gaze mirrored my own dread.
“There,” Vander pointed to the east. “The king’s guards.”
My heart thundered and I began to tremble. They found us. Panic rose, making it hard to catch my breath. I glanced to Luna, begging her with my eyes to tell us what to do. Run or fight? Were we strong enough to fight?
Too Young to Be an Outlaw
Dain
We were out of time. To hope we’d make it to the castle and save everyone wi
thout facing some kind of trouble, for lack of better words, wouldn’t come to pass. However, I didn’t think it would find us so quickly. Which meant our disappearance had been relayed to the mad king and we were officially outlaws.
“Run. Hide.” I didn’t know what else to say. We didn’t have weapons, and the girls’ magic had been bound still by whatever spell or curse placed on them. “We’ll find you. Keep the tear safe.” I turned from her and glanced at my friends. They were of the same thought—keep them safe. When I faced her again, my heart broke. Fear and dread were etched into her beautiful features. “I promise.” I kissed her cheek before reluctantly running from her.
I don’t know why I did it. It felt…right. I liked her all right, I guess. Heck, I couldn’t dwell on it right now, I needed to think. Maybe if we distracted the guards the girls could continue to Oighear. We’d catch up with them when we could.
I followed Vander to a craggy area where boulders would shelter us for the moment. Caspian pushed in between us along with Jaden. Our breaths came in heavy pants, echoing off the rocks surrounding us. We couldn’t stay put, the girls were out there alone. “What are we going to do?”
“Grab whatever you can. This is a long shot.” By far. Vander didn’t have to say it aloud.
“We’ve got your back.” I clapped him on the shoulder. It might not be a great plan, but what did we have to lose?
“Distract them, pull them toward Vander and me. We’ll be up here. We’ll find something to knock them out.”
Which in turn would give us enough time to get far away and find the girls. I grabbed a few rocks then stuffed them into my pockets before scurrying away. In the distance, the blue fabric of Ayla’s cloak disappeared into the thickest part of the forest and trees, and I could breathe a bit easier. Thankfully, the snow became rain once more and their tracks would be hard to follow. We needed them as far as possible for this to work.
Jaden took up position behind a row of trees, and I waited by the banks of the stream. The men were closer now. Their voices were grew louder, and thankfully, they hadn’t seen any of us yet. My heart pounded. Anxiety made my hands shake. I realized the minute I left home, this quest wouldn’t be easy, yet it didn’t stop the quiver of dread racing down my spine. For as fearless as I’d been this whole time, I couldn’t help the idea that this was “it.”
I might die today.
We all might.
I licked my top lip as perspiration gathered there. My fingers curled around the smooth stone within my pocket, waiting for the moment I could sling it at the coming guards. Anticipation tightened my muscles. My vision narrowed to the task at hand. Just a bit closer. I flicked my gaze back to Jaden, who gave a quick jerk of his head.
I launched the rock in my hand then ran, finding a new spot to hide. The yelp of surprise along with the ting of the object hitting the metal of their armor let me know I’d hit my target. It was quickly followed by another cry of shock.
Back and forth, Jaden and I pushed them, hoping to stay hidden. I had been thinking in too lofty of terms how easy this should be. The third member of their band hollered, “Over there.”
I glanced up and found them charging Jaden. They were too close. The front guard’s face contorted into a mask of rage as he reached for my friend. Without hesitation, I threw another rock and hit him in the knee, sending him sprawling. His head hit a rock on the ground, and he instantly stilled.
I killed him. My insides burned with dread. Bile crawled up my throat, leaving an acidic trail in its wake. What had I done?
From where I crouched, I saw the blood trickle from the gash at his temple. I hadn’t meant to. I only wanted to keep Jaden safe. Instead, I took another man’s life. Rage and grief threatened to consume me. This was all the king’s fault. He forced our hands. Turned us into murderers. My stomach cramped.
I swallowed down the bile as Jaden’s wide-eyed gaze met mine before he scurried into a crawl space between two rocks. In those few seconds, I understood the words I’d said before entering the slavers’ camp. I give my life to protect the princesses and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe.
The two other guards came around the bend in the road and hurried for their fallen soldier. We retreated, circling them. Their shouts were sure to draw attention if they had a garrison with them. We had to make a hasty departure. Running through the thicket, the small branches of the low hanging trees smacked me in the face as we scurried toward where Caspian and Vander waited.
I waved my arms to signal it was us, not the guards. I had to tell my brother. He had to know the truth. We’d be fugitives. Killing a king’s guard meant death. I’d be beheaded if captured, which also put them at risk. They’d be considered accomplices besides the fact they were with the princesses and had escaped the slave camp.
“We have a problem,” I said between trying to catch my breath. My hands went to my knees. Buzzing filled my ears.
“He killed a guard,” Jaden told my brother. “He did it to save me.”
“Are you sure?” Caspian asked.
I nodded. “He tumbled. Hit his head on a rock.”
Behind us, the hollers of the guards grew near. “We have to run,” Vander stated. “We can’t be captured.”
“Our path is beyond the guards. We’ll have to go through them,” Jaden muttered.
“Then so be it,” Caspian stated. “We knew this might happen. We have to find the princesses and get them to safety. Nothing else matters but them.”
Vander rapped me on the shoulder. “Are you good to run?”
“Yeah.” I stood, letting out a deep breath. I couldn’t dwell on what happened. I needed to concentrate on finding Ayla. Later, I’d ask forgiveness for my transgressions. “I have to be.”
When Vander and I were younger, I killed a frog by stepping on it. I cried and cried and cried. My brother laughed at me. My mother pulled me into her embrace and held me tightly. The smell of baking flour and stewing meat clung to her apron as I breathed deeply, trying to control my outburst. My mom shushed me. “Your heart is big, Dain. Your empathy is worth more than your strength. Without it, you’re no one. Don’t forget.”
I never forgot.
“You were protecting Jaden. He’d have been taken or worse,” Vander said. “Don’t dwell. I know you better than you do.”
I tried to chuckle. “I won’t.”
He scrubbed my head. “We have to go.
We separated, not wanting to be on the same path as we came toward the guards. It would make the odds better for us. The two men who came to find their friend had their swords out as they stormed the lane.
“Here!” one of them yelled, pointing toward my brother.
My brother smirked. His eyes narrowed. He headed straight for the guy, not caring what would happen. I couldn’t watch. I had to keep running. Vander would catch up. “Don’t stop,” he yelled.
I didn’t. I zigzagged through the rocky outcroppings, around bramble bushes. I used the stream to knock them off my trail while not looking back. The stamp of running behind me got closer. My heart pounded. My lungs burned from the exertion. The sound grew closer, and fear gripped me. The tingle wriggled down my spine and settled low in my stomach.
“Come here, boy.” The man reached for me.
“Not happening.” I wrenched my arm away from the man.
The guard snatched at me again. “Your friends are dead. You’re next.”
No, they weren’t. “You’re lying.”
He grabbed me again and this time pulled me against his body. He wrapped his arm around my neck, cutting off my ability to breathe. The buzzing returned to my ears. Fear made my blood go cold. I had to get away from him. I twisted and pulled in his hold, but it only caused it to tighten.
“Stop fighting, whelp,” he snarled, shaking me.
I saw stars. The world shook back and forth, making me sick to my stomach. I had to make him stop. I had to get away. “Never.” I stomped on his foot, then mule kicked his shin. When he turn
ed, I went for the bollocks. He crumpled to the ground, the shrill scream he let loose with sent me scrambling backwards.
He rolled on the ground, face turning deeper shades of purple and blue by the second. That had to hurt. Backpedaling, I continued searching for Ayla. I had to find her, though my whole body ached. The strain of overexerting my muscles caused my calves to cramp, so I limped. I didn’t know what happened to Vander or Jaden or Caspian, but they would find me.
Soon, I hoped.
When I came to a clearing, I slid down the slope and entered the stream. Sweat coated my body causing me to overheat, but the icy waters soothed away the pain. I sank into it, letting it soak my clothes through. I’d pay for this later. I knew it, yet for now, I enjoyed it. I took a few moments to cool off and allow the rapid beat of my heart to slow, then I exited and continued.
“What were you thinking?”
I smiled at my brother. “I got hot.”
He laughed. “You’re an idiot.”
Perhaps. “Where’s Jaden and Caspian?”
“Here,” Caspian answered. “Jaden is on the way. You hurt?”
“No. You guys?”
He shook his head. “We’re okay.”
I climbed onto the bank. “Let’s find the girls.”
They were where we expected to find them. Ayla paced while Pyria frowned, watching her. They were huddled under a bramble alcove, completely hidden from prying eyes. The only reason I’d seen it was due to Ayla’s cape. The pale blue matched the color of her hair. It fluttered, catching my attention as we followed the path we were supposed to take.
“Did you miss us?” Jaden announced our arrival.
Ayla turned. Her gaze met mine seconds before she launched herself into my arms. The awkwardness of how I’d left us didn’t return this time as I hugged her. Even I didn’t think I’d see her again after everything. A part of me unfurled and I breathed a sigh of relief.
“You’re wet.”
I grinned. “I took a dip. Sorry.”
“I didn’t think I’d see you again. I had to force my sisters to stay here and wait. They were ready to leave.”
