“And if I don’t come with you, then you’re going to tell Pip?” asked Ariel.
Pip stepped quietly behind a rosemary bush, keeping her breathing to a minimum.
“I won’t tell her,” said Raphael, raking his hands through his hair. “It’s not my place. And if she never wanted the throne as you say then it’s of no consequence if she finds out that Tate’s claim to it is false.”
Pip’s hands flew to her mouth to hide her gasp. Tate’s claim to the throne was false? How could that be possible?
“Tate’s a wonderful King,” said Ariel. “The most wonderful. I couldn’t be prouder that he’s my son.”
This time it was impossible for Pip to hide her reaction and she stepped forward shaking her head as she tried to process what she’d just heard.
“Tate is your son?” she asked, her eyes fixed on Ariel. “But how?”
Ariel staggered back and rested on a raised garden bed, hanging her head in her hands.
Tate chose that moment to come marching into the garden.
“What’s going on?” he asked. “I saw you from the window. Are you ill, Ariel?”
“Don’t you mean Mother?” asked Pip.
Tate’s eyes opened wide and he looked from Ariel to Pip.
“Raphael worked it out,” said Ariel, shaking her head. “Then Pip heard us talking just now.”
“I don’t understand,” said Pip, her world crashing down on her.
“I swapped them as babies,” said Ariel. “I knew the Prince was evil, so I swapped him for my own child. I did it for the kingdom.”
“You’re talking about Edison?” asked Pip. “You’re telling me that your son—the man I was forced to marry—was actually my true brother, and Tate is the son of a herbalist? That’s ridiculous.”
But the looks on the faces around her told her that no matter how ridiculous it sounded, it was true.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked Tate, aware that her voice had risen to a shriek. “How could you keep this from me?”
“Some secrets are better off not having to be kept,” said Ariel. “Don’t blame Tate. It’s not his fault. Blame me.”
“Would you have wanted the throne?” asked Tate. “Because if I thought you did, then I’d have told you. I promise I would’ve.”
“I don’t want your throne!” This was the truth. Tate may not be her brother but he knew who she was and what she did and didn’t want. “But it would be nice to have been told the truth, instead of being treated like a child. You always treat me like a child. Making decisions for me and keeping secrets from me. I’ve had enough of it!”
“I’m sorry, Pip.” Tate took a step toward her with his arms outstretched, and Pip turned and ran.
She didn’t want to feel his arms around her. She didn’t need his comfort. He’d lied to her in the worst possible way!
She ran from the garden into the Village, then for the first time in many years she took the path that led to the hedge that separated the Village from the palace grounds.
Ignoring the aching in her chest from the sudden burst of activity, she pushed on, running right through the palace gardens and out into the cornfields beyond. This was where she’d seen Tate escape to in the early mornings when she’d been closed up in her bedchamber. She never did find out what had drawn him to the cornfields, no matter how many times she asked him, but perhaps there was something here that would bring her solace.
She ran down a row of corn, brushing at the leaves as she passed them and throwing herself on the ground when she was sure she was hidden from the world. She needed to be alone. Away from Tate and away from Ariel. Away from everyone who’d looked her in the face and lied to her over the years.
Tate wasn’t her brother. Edison, the awful man she’d married who’d died at their wedding feast had been her flesh and blood. How could this possibly be true?
A strange grinding noise caught her attention and she crawled along the ground to see a rabbit caught in a steel trap. It was thrashing about, desperate to find its way out.
“Oh, you poor little thing.” Pip went to the trap and got to work on the release mechanism.
As soon as she’d pried open the jaws of the trap, the rabbit rushed out and ran like a flash of black lightning as far away from her as possible.
It was then that Pip started laughing. All these years when she’d asked Tate what he’d been doing in the cornfield in the morning, he’d winked at her and told her he was saving the rabbits. She’d thought he’d been joking. Suddenly, she knew without a doubt that he’d been telling her the truth, He had been saving the rabbits.
Her laughter dried up with the thought that although he hadn’t lied to her about the rabbits, he’d been lying to her about something so much more serious. He’d lied to her about who he was.
Maybe it was time she learned a lesson from that rabbit in the trap. Perhaps she was just like that poor creature, only the trap was her own doing. She’d holed herself up in her bedchamber for years, only to finally break free and hole herself up in the kitchen instead. She’d never seen the world. She’d never even seen anything outside the palace gates.
Maybe the arrival of these three strangers was meant to happen? Maybe instead of sending them away and staying in the safety of her kitchen, she was actually supposed to go with them. Ariel certainly seemed to think so, with her insistence that Pip was the one they were meant to talk to.
At any rate, going with them would get her away from Tate and Ariel and everyone else who’d lied to her and allow her to sort out her head.
But how could she leave Griffen? Unless…
“Pip! There you are!”
Tate was standing before her, his hair flying in all directions and his chest heaving for breath.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Saving some rabbits,” she said, holding up her bloodied hands.
“I did tell you that’s what I was doing.” He sat next to her on the ground, keeping a safe distance, no doubt worried he’d scare her away again.
“Why didn’t you get rid of the traps?” she asked. “You could’ve outlawed them.”
“I did,” he said, shaking his head. “Guess I might have to check on the farmers a little more often. I didn’t know some had started using them again.”
“How long have you known?” asked Pip. “About Ariel.”
“Not until after I’d already been crowned,” he said. “I really thought I was doing the right thing not telling you, Pip. I couldn’t see how it would benefit you.”
“You can’t protect me forever, you know,” said Pip.
“I know. I’m sorry.” He shuffled a little closer to her and her heart broke to think he wasn’t really her brother. “You were right with what you said back there. I need to stop treating you like a child.”
“I’ve decided to go.” Pip reached for Tate’s hand.
“To Feldspar?” He looked stricken.
She nodded. “It’s time I saw the world. It’s time I did something. Something more than this.”
“Is there anything I can do to stop you?” he asked, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “Because I really don’t want you to do this.”
She shook her head. “I need to do this.”
“Then I want you to take a Guardian with you,” he said. “To keep you safe.”
She smiled. “I was hoping you’d say that. Because I know just the one.”
AZRAEL
THE NOW
Azrael slipped off her shoes and dug her toes into the sand. They’d made it to the shoreline. Somewhere across that large expanse of ocean and over to the east was Feldspar. The kingdom nobody knew much about except that when you got close, you’d see a line of dead trees. But what was behind those trees? Or perhaps more importantly, who was behind them?
Pip collapsed onto the sand next to her and Griffen knelt down, asking if she was okay. That man took his job as a Guardian very seriously. King Tate had asked him to look after Pip and h
e’d hovered over her the whole journey. Although, it was becoming obvious there was something more between them.
They’d all played their part in getting them safely to this point. Pip had been able to identify foods along the way that they could safely pick and eat. And the tonics she’d filled their waterskins with had gone a long way to keeping them fueled with energy. Azrael knew that Raphael was disappointed Pip had come in place of Ariel, but Ariel had been very insistent and they were lucky to have any kind of herbalist come with them. They weren’t in a position to be fussy about which one it was.
Micah had taught them how to whisper, explaining that although the whispers were most powerful when the Whisperers in the palace conducted them, they were all able to send their wishes into the sky. Before they’d set off, they’d sat in a circle and held hands, whispering for their safe arrival and the successful return of Lily. Saying the words out loud had filled them with confidence and Azrael had heard each of them continuing the chant at various times as they’d walked.
Raphael had sprinkled various elixirs on the inside of their wrists and the collars of their clothes and Azrael could feel the focus that they gave her.
And she herself had been tasked with performing healings each evening to restore them to health. They made an excellent team and the journey didn’t seem like it would’ve been possible without each of them doing their part.
“Can you heal her?” asked Griffen, looking up from Pip’s side.
Pip looked tiny next to Griffen. All wispy blonde hair and delicate frame lying back on the sand. Her eyes were closed and she was groaning softly. But to give her credit where it was due, she’d managed to walk all the way here, when before that she’d never left the grounds of the palace.
Azrael knelt down beside Pip and placed her hands on her, working on the energy centers that needed her attention most. She wasn’t in peril. She was just exhausted. They all were.
“How are we going to get over there?” asked Raphael from the shallows. He’d thrown off his shoes so he could enjoy the coolness of the waves lapping at his ankles.
“We’ll find a way,” said Micah, running straight past Raphael and plunging into the water.
“You’re crazy!” laughed Raphael.
“It’s beautiful in here.” Micah scooped up some water and splashed it onto her face.
Finishing up with Pip, Azrael decided to join her. The sun was high in the sky and there was plenty of time to dry their clothes before the cold night air settled in. It would feel nice to have clean skin.
She waded out past Raphael and sat down in the water beside Micah, grinning at her. “Not sure I’d call this beautiful.”
“I would.” Micah skimmed her hand over the water, splashing Raphael, laughing when it hit him in the face.
Raphael shook his head and smiled, before diving into the water and making his way over to them.
“Come and join us!” Micah called to Pip and Griffen.
“Pip’s just resting for a bit,” called back Griffen.
“Anyone else think something’s going on between those two?” Micah asked in a hushed voice.
Raphael nodded so vigorously it made Azrael laugh. She didn’t have many friends back home, apart from Empress Rani. She had her little sister, Bindi, who was a lot of fun. And her mother, of course. But Micah and Raphael had come to feel like friends of her very own. Micah with her irrepressible courage and determination and Raphael with his wisdom and gentle soul. He was so unlike any of the men back home and she wasn’t sure what to make of that.
When she’d been younger, she’d thought that she was in love with Rani, but those feelings had faded over the years as she’d seen Rani marry and give birth to her twin daughters. If Raphael lived in the Colony maybe she’d fall in love with him? But then again, maybe not. She looked over at Griffen hovering over Pip. Did she want that for herself? Not especially. Perhaps she wasn’t destined to be in love with anyone. Was it wrong that for her that was what felt right?
“What are you thinking about?” asked Micah.
“I’m wondering if we should’ve taken King Tate up on his offer to give us a boat,” said Azrael, not willing to share her true thoughts.
“Too conspicuous,” said Raphael. “We don’t know what weapons they have. There has to be another way.”
“We need to get on one of their boats,” said Micah. “Have I told you about the time I stowed away in a crate to get to my brother, Jeremiah?”
“Only several dozen times,” teased Raphael.
“This is a little more serious than that,” Azrael gently reminded her.
Micah’s face fell and she looked away. “If I’d been caught, I’d have had my head chopped off. Is that serious enough for you?”
“I’m sorry,” said Azrael, realizing there was so much they didn’t know about each other’s lives. “I didn’t mean…”
“I know,” said Micah quickly. “It’s okay.”
“Think we could whisper for a boat?” asked Raphael.
Azrael breathed a sigh at the diversion.
“Great idea!” said Micah. “But there’d be more power with five of us.”
They stood and squeezed the excess water from their clothes. Azrael held her arms out to the sun and looked at her goosebumps. She was cold but clean. With any luck, soon she’d also be dry. Thankfully her dress wasn’t heavy and would dry quickly.
Wading their way through the water, they went back to Pip and Griffen. Pip looked far healthier now than when they’d arrived. Azrael was pleased she responded to healings so effectively.
“What’s wrong?” asked Griffen.
“We’re going to whisper for a boat,” said Micah. “Like the whisper we did before we left to ask for our safe journey here.”
“Is that the best idea we have?” Pip let out a long sigh.
“We need a boat,” said Raphael. “And yes, whispering is the best idea we have. Unless you fancy yourself a good swimmer?”
“Let’s whisper,” said Pip, allowing herself to be helped to her feet by Griffen.
They stood in a circle and grasped hands, focusing on their goal just like Micah had taught them.
Azrael brought the image of a boat to mind, imagining what it would feel like to see a boat on the horizon and how she’d fold herself up into a ball as she hid herself somewhere below the deck as it traveled to Feldspar.
“The Whisperers are whispering,” said Micah.
“The Whisperers are whispering,” they all repeated. “The Whisperers are whispering. The Whisperers are whispering.”
“A boat has come ashore,” said Micah.
Azrael smiled. She liked how the whispers were said in present tense as if they’d already taken place, rather than them being something they were willing in their future.
“A boat has come ashore,” they all repeated. “A boat has come ashore. A boat has come ashore …”
On and on they chanted until their voices were hoarse and Micah indicated that their work was done.
They let go of each other’s hands, although Azrael noticed that Pip and Griffen continued to hold onto each other.
“If you’re going to have a swim, you’d better do it now while the sun’s still out,” said Azrael, pleased that her dress was already almost half dry.
They nodded and wandered off to the water.
“Will it work?” asked Raphael.
“The whispers always work,” said Micah.
“But haven’t you been whispering for Lily’s safe return for years now?” asked Azrael. “And that was with proper Whisperers doing it.”
“Yes,” said Micah.
“But…” Azrael didn’t have the heart to finish her sentence. If that whisper hadn’t worked, then why should they expect to see a boat come ashore?
“But nothing,” said Micah. “We whispered for her safe return and that’s exactly what’s going to happen. There are no timelines on whispers. Sometimes they happen straight away and sometimes you have to wait.
”
There was a scream from the water and they spun around to see Pip pointing toward the horizon.
“A boat!” Pip jumped up and down, her face lit with joy.
Azrael squinted in the direction she was pointing, blinking when she saw what had caused the excitement.
There really was a boat, far out on the horizon. And if Azrael’s eyes didn’t deceive her, it was headed straight for them.
MICAH
THE NOW
Seeing that boat on the horizon was the happiest moment of Micah’s life. Actually, no, that was a lie. Seeing Jeremiah for the first time after cheating her way into the palace as a Whisperer had been the happiest. Or was it when she’d seen the evil King fall from the balcony of the Arena? Perhaps it was when she’d realized she was in love with Tallis?
These jumbled thoughts made her smile. Because the truth was that no matter how miserable the start to her life had been, it had also been packed with happy moments. Moments that had made surviving all the misery worthwhile.
Knowing that nothing happy could come from a boat from Feldspar, they’d hidden behind some bushes back from the shoreline and watched and waited, their fear increasing with every moment that passed. All they needed was an opportunity to climb aboard and hide themselves. Griffen would be the hardest to hide, due to the sheer size of him.
Pip and Griffen had gone off in search of some food, saying they needed strength for what lay ahead. They’d returned with a large parcel of walnuts, tied up in a cloth Pip had brought for the purpose. Micah’s mouth had watered when Griffen laid them out in front of them, cracking them one by one with his huge hands.
“The boat’s taking forever,” said Pip, straining her eyes as she looked out to sea.
“My brother found some walnuts once,” said Micah, ignoring Pip as she crunched down on a walnut. The floury taste stuck to her tongue and she swallowed it down, despite her stomach feeling sick with nerves. “He wears one of the shells around his neck. Says it’s his lucky walnut.”
“And is it?” asked Pip, taking half a walnut from Griffen’s outstretched hand.
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 99
