by Andra Leigh
Sensing Laleita was watching her, Eliscity peeked her eyes open. Laleita’s pale eyes had settled her with a mothering stare.
“Don’t you think it’s time to stop avoiding him?” she said kindly.
Screwing her face up, Eliscity resisted the urge to throw herself on the ground and have a tantrum. She knew the longer she put off talking with Drae the worse it would be.
He was in their room already when she closed the door behind her a few minutes later. She waited for him to say something, preparing for more bellowing and name calling. But Drae didn’t follow in Raiden or Acanthea’s footsteps.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, Drae said calmly, “I’m coming with you.”
“No,” she replied sharply.
Drae didn’t rise. He didn’t react past repositioning himself to focus completely on her.
Great, it looked like she’d have to argue with logic rather than sheer volume. There was a tactic she hadn’t yet had to try.
“The Clinic takes people, Drae. They steal people that won’t be missed and destroy them. They like fresh blood. That’s you if you get caught.”
“And you.”
“It’s already me. All of us here have already been caught. The only thing more they can do to us is kill us.”
“That’s not –”
“Trust me when I say death is preferable to the Clinic. I don’t say that for effect. I think we all genuinely believe it.”
“I refuse to let you say something like that and then wander off to that place. Not without me.”
She wished he would yell. Every time her voice rose she felt like she was losing the battle, while he stayed calm and strong.
“Please…” she didn’t know what the rest of her sentence should be. “I need to know you’re safe. With you there, I don’t think I could survive that sort of distraction, Drae.”
She had hit upon a crucial point. He would understand that she couldn’t have that blind spot when entering the Clinic. She knew that he had realised she would be going and he would be staying, everything from here on out would dictate the way they parted.
“You don’t have to go.” Drae took her hands, squeezing it lightly through her bandages. “You’re only half healed.”
“I was only half healed when we left Eltarn. And it’s not like we’re leaving tomorrow.”
Cyan’s relief placement wouldn’t begin for a few days, leaving time for preparation and further healing. She hoped she would be completely bandage free by the time they were to leave.
“Jinx is right. I can’t protect you.” Drae sounded defeated.
Eliscity rested her head down onto his lap, closing her eyes as he stroked her hair. “Drae?”
“Mm?”
“Even when I couldn’t remember you, you kept me alive.”
“I can’t lose you again, Eliscity.”
He stilled his hand and she sat up to look at him. His eyes were wet, glittering as they searched her own eyes. He didn’t look away for a moment. She loved that about him.
“Don’t you get it?” Eliscity felt her own eyes cloud. “You’ve never lost me. I know that seems like a ridiculous thing to say. But just listen. It doesn’t matter how far away from you I get taken or how long for, or even why. Marriage, the Clinic, my memory; none of it was enough to keep us apart. I think it’s safe to say, you’re not going to lose me –”
Eliscity stumbled over her sentence in a rush to make a correction.
“ – unless you choose to.”
Drae brushed his thumb lightly across her bottom lip before kissing her gently like he had done in her memories. Butterflies took flight in her stomach, fluttering through her body and out across her skin.
She wanted a life with Drae. A real life. And he wanted one with her. She was going to do everything in her power to get that life.
●
The lake was so large it had its own tide.
Eliscity and the Family reached the lake’s southern shore at sunrise three days after they left the Manor. They approached it from the Cityel Border rather than crossing into Heuthan. They’d decided early on it would be easier and less conspicuous to approach the Clinic from the south, moving through the Cityel Border and into the Cityel. Travelling north would have involved sneaking through Heuthan and finding a way to cross the river that fed the lake, before reaching the long empty stretch of the Cityel that would loop around to where Eliscity found herself standing now. They’d taken the easy route, but Eliscity could still see the tiredness creeping into the faces of the Family. They’d walked for twelve straight hours the first night, making it to the Cityel Border in the tunnels. There they had hunkered down to sleep for the day on the walled roof of a coinhouse. They continued their journey at nightfall again, walking for another twelve hours, this time camping in an abandoned building. The Triplets, usually so full of vitality, had started moaning about their sore legs on the third night. It had also been the night that Eliscity had wished they’d put a bit more energy in trying to find a way to get Kitten and Chaser into their plan. But they hadn’t and so the two horses had been left at the Manor.
Having only ground to a halt a few minutes ago, at the point where the Cityel Border opened into the Cityel, the Family were stretching out along the lake’s bank in varying states of weariness; Laleita bore her exhaustion with silence; Raiden had begun puffing breaths the second night into their journey, his thick frame not used to being joggled around so much; Fletcher was already asleep while his brothers compared blisters. Only Casamir seemed ready for more. Eliscity was thinking about whether that had something to do with the approaching full moon when Jinx joined her on the flat-topped rock she had perched herself on, her feet dangling in the lapping water.
“We’re not even halfway through our journey,” Jinx sighed, glancing back at the Family.
“They can do it,” Eliscity reassured him. “They haven’t journeyed outside of Seltley since getting to the Manor. You can’t blame them for being a little out of breath.”
Jinx raised both eyebrows at her.
“Fine. More than a little out of – look, we’re out of the Border. Even if we still have a week to the Clinic it’s not like we have to hide during the day on the unpopulated Cityel. There are no guards looking for my face out here. We can stop and start whenever we want.”
“Probably a good thing since the terrain is about to get less fun.”
Eliscity had to agree with him. There was no hiding from the heat or hard, uneven earth on the Cityel.
The only up-side was that they would be able to keep the lake on their left until they reached Millem Falls. All the water they could drink, readily available. It wouldn’t be a repeat of The Horizon. Eliscity would still be filled with fight by the time she reached the Clinic, rather than collapsing on their doorstep. Something she considered a refreshing change of pace.
“What do you reckon our chances are that the Triplets won’t have the energy to make it to the Clinic?” she asked, her gaze flickering over to them. Fletcher was now snoring soundly.
“Is that your underhanded way of giving me permission to push speed out of everyone?”
Eliscity sighed. “No. I think it would kill Raiden or Laleita before them.”
“We could always send them on scouting missions. Make them run back to make sure we’re not being followed and ahead to check for danger,” Jinx joked.
“You could have asked them to stay at the Manor,” she muttered. “They would have listened to you.”
“They have a right to be here, Eliscity.”
“They’re just children,” she snapped.
“I don’t think that’s enough reason to stop them from being part of this.”
“What if they get hurt, Jinx?”
“Then you can make me feel bad about it.” Jinx stood, clearly done with their conversation.
“I don’t want this to end up an ‘I told you so moment’,” she said just loud enough for Jinx to hear.
CHAPTER EI
GHTEEN
The Returning Reigness
• Acanthea •
The Manor had emptied six nights ago. Cyan had left for Wrethic and would be there for another day, while Jinx and the others had left for the Clinic. Only she and Drae remained behind; the good little house trained puppy, eager to follow his owner’s orders. It made her sick. Drae hadn’t argued with their being banned from the trip at all. He’d just fallen into line and accepted everything Eliscity had said.
Acanthea wasn’t so easy. She refused to roll over and play dead.
Flicking her hood up over her head, she fastened the cloak around her throat and resettled her satchel under its fabric. She wasn’t taking everything she owned, just what she needed. She was going home but she wasn’t planning to stay.
The burning wicks in the elemental lanterns mounted on the walls were not glowing as bright as normal as she tiptoed through the silent bedchamber level. She wondered if it had something to do with the Triplets being gone. The crystals were their creations, infused with their magic, perhaps their proximity was an important part to keeping the embers alive inside the casings.
Reaching the staircase to the Manor’s surface Acanthea didn’t bother tiptoeing anymore. Sound wouldn’t carry to Drae’s room from that distance. He would wake tomorrow morning to find himself the sole occupant of Vance Manor. Acanthea thought he’d probably appreciate the solitude. After all, the man had been alone for years with only trees to talk to.
With no one to draw the curtains, the glow of the starry sky streamed through the ground floor windows, bathing the space in deep blue. Acanthea manoeuvred around the shadows of furniture and into the main hallway.
“Going somewhere?” asked a shadow to her left.
Acanthea yelped and leapt back, knocking into a child sized vase.
“Drae?” she hissed at a tall shadow that moved against the wall to her left.
“How did you manage to sneak out of a palace full of guards and maids when you can’t even get out of here without being caught by the only other person in the house?”
“Go away,” Acanthea sneered.
Drae pushed off the wall, chuckling deeply. “Going to the Clinic?”
“No.”
“Didn’t think so. Going home?”
Acanthea tossed her head in frustration, annoyed that he had guessed her intention. “Your damaged girlfriend can ban me from going to the Clinic, but she can’t stop me from going to see the Reigner.”
“Because you miss the bedtime stories?”
Acanthea ignored the jibe. “Destroying the bank won’t stop them going after those with lineages. Like Cathrainra’s family. The Reigner’s the only one with that power.”
“So you’re going to ask him nicely to pretty please not kidnap anymore children of the Bloods?”
“Yes, Drae,” she sneered sarcastically. “That’s exactly my plan. Because, see, the Reigner is such a kind, compassionate person. He would do anything for his only daughter. Except, you know…anything.” She pushed passed him, stomping toward the front door.
“So what is your plan then?” Drae shrugged into his coat and followed her.
Acanthea turned around and backed up a step, narrowing her eyes at Drae. “Stay,” she ordered with a sharp jab of her finger in his direction.
Drae adjusted his collar, unfazed. “Does that normally work on people?”
“Maids,” she shrugged. “Guards…dogs.”
“Well, I’m none of those so… shall we go?”
Getting impatient with him she tossed her hands up in the air. “Fine,” she breathed, wheeling around. “But just know, as the Gentle Reigness, I can have parts of you cut off.”
“Is that how you threaten all the boys you bring home?” Drae teased, holding the door open for her.
“Yes, actually,” Acanthea didn’t wait for him as he closed the door behind them. “It’s only the girls I don’t threaten.”
“That explains it,” he said, falling into step beside her. “Except your aversion to my ‘damaged girlfriend’ as you so pleasantly put it.”
“She’s not my type.”
“Have you tried to get to know her?”
Acanthea halted. “Let’s get one thing straight. We’re not doing the whole ‘bonding’ thing. That’s not what’s going to happen here.”
“Does that mean I can’t ask you if there’s a girl waiting back in Heuthan for you?” Drae asked, halting a split second after Acanthea.
Acanthea huffed and began her brisk walk again, detouring briefly to approach a post and tear down a poster seeking her whereabouts.
Drae caught up easily, but didn’t pursue an answer, for which she was glad.
They lapsed into silence for a few minutes before she glanced up at Drae’s tall silhouette striding next to her. “You knew I was going to sneak out.”
She could just make out the corner of his mouth pull up into a smile. “You’re anything but subtle with your intentions, Acanthea. I was a little surprised you waited so long before leaving. I expected you to be gone the moment the house cleared out.”
“The Seasons Sect has only just ended,” she said. She frowned, realising she was heading back to the palace at the end of one of the same celebration she had left in. “I didn’t fancy heading home in the middle of celebrations. Why are you coming with me?”
“Do you honestly believe I’m content to sit at home while Eliscity is out there risking her life? Again.”
“Yes,” Acanthea answered without hesitation.
Drae didn’t reply. Apparently she’d struck a nerve. She hadn’t thought he had any.
Their silence lasted longer than the previous one, broken only by the click of their steps and the poster of Acanthea’s face rustling against her thigh as she swished her arms.
It was Drae who spoke first. “We’ve got a long walk ahead of us, you may as well tell me the plan. Or we could go back and get the horses.”
“The plan?” Acanthea adjusted the direction she strode in as she found the thing she’d been looking for. “The plan is to make sure there’s no long walk ahead of us.”
Drae hurried to keep up as Acanthea walked with purpose toward a guard station.
“What are you doing?” she heard Drae hiss behind her.
Acanthea ignored him. A snub nosed guard looked up at her as she approached the wooden shelter.
“Hello.” Acanthea smiled sweetly as she held the poster of herself up next to her face and pushed down her hood. “Are my cheekbones really this puffy?”
The guard was so shocked at Acanthea’s abrupt appearance his mouth dropped open in reply.
Rolling her eyes she asked. “Are you going to take me home or what?”
The guard snapped back to attention, his teeth clicking together in his rush to shut his agape jaw. “We’ll arrange your passage to the palace immediately, Gentle Reigness. The Lord Reigner will be relieved you’re safe.”
Acanthea’s laugh caught in her throat. “Aha. I’ll wait in here.” She entered the small guard’s station. She sensed Drae move to follow her and saw the guard bar his way out of the corner of her eye.
“I’m with her,” Drae explained.
“Yeah? Who are you?” the guard grunted.
“Him? Oh, he’s my kidnapper,” Acanthea interjected cheerily over her shoulder.
Less than an hour later Acanthea was seated in a cart heading for the palace while trying to suppress a giggle at Drae who was bound and gagged beside her.
Leaning over to him, she whispered, “Isn’t this so much better than walking?”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Millem Falls
• Eliscity •
“I can’t go any further.” Faust fell to his knees dramatically, bowing to the morning sun that was beating down on the back of his neck. Its dry, hot light glared off the sand underfoot and water they walked beside.
Unperturbed by this sudden outburst, Eliscity stepped around him muttering, “Okay, see you on the way back.
”
All three Triplets had indulged in similar attention seeking tactics since entering the Cityel. Even Laleita was getting agitated with their performances. Not even Jinx’s growling had stopped them. Apparently seven days of walking had destroyed their majestic visions of him.
Eliscity’s comment was enough to make Faust groan and find his feet again, but she knew it wouldn’t be enough to stave off the next bout of complaining.
“Wish we’d left them behind now?” Eliscity muttered to Jinx.
“I do,” Casamir snarled. Even in the cool of night, sweat had soaked his skin all over. The thick layer of hair that coated his body served as a winter coat in summer heat. At one point he’d gone as far as swimming in the lake alongside them in a desperate attempt to cool down.
So far, heat and the aches and pains of walking for so long had been the only problems they had encountered. Eliscity wasn’t sure if that served as a good omen or a bad one.
“Do you hear that?” Casamir said suddenly, halting them.
“The sound of Raiden snoring while awake?” Fletcher grumbled. “Yeah, we all hear that.”
Raiden’s breath was rattling in his nose with every lung full of air he took, audible from every position in their progression.
Casamir shook his head. “Not that.”
Laleita reached for his hand, her pale eyes grazing the land in front of them.
“What do you hear?” Jinx asked, trusting the Wolf’s senses.
It wasn’t Casamir who answered, but Forrest. “Water.”
Faust and Fletcher looked from the lake’s surface lapping next to them back to their brother, clearly thinking he’d cracked.
“Where?” Jinx asked.
Eliscity briefly joined the two Triplets in wondering if they were suffering from heat stroke before she clicked. “A waterfall?”
