Chapter 24

 

 

Two guards past their prime stood in front of my apartment. Obviously, King Zaeden had left behind those too young and those too old to fight in the war.

I recognized one of them, Bolen Lethburg. He had been a friend of my father. He tilted his chin, acknowledging me. “Chelela, you’ve returned. We were beginning to think we’d never see you again.”

I adjusted the sack on my shoulder. “What’s the meaning of this? Why are you guarding my door?”

“Extra precaution.” He wiggled his thick, grey brows and opened the door for me.

I found Mother coming upstairs from the larder with a loaf of bread. She burst into tears when she saw me “Chel! I was beginning to think you were dead!” She dropped the bread and crushed me in a tight embrace.

“Not dead, Mother, just sold to the island of Gwon.” I managed to get out with what little air was left in my chest.

She released me. The corners of her lips pulled downward. “I sent your brother and another woman in search of you. I haven’t heard word from them since they left.”

I picked up the bread and handed it to her. “They found me. It was too risky for them to come here. I’m to fetch supplies and meet them tomorrow at sunrise.”

She seemed relieved to hear that. She clasped my hand, blinking away more tears. “Oh, Chel. I thought you’d be safe in Cansbroke. I’m so sorry.”

“I know, Mother. It’s not your fault. The man who sold me is dead,” I assured her.

Mother looked at me then tilted her chin down. “I know. I went to Cansbroke myself when I never heard word from your brother after he left to find you. The head servant there told me both the duke and his brother had died, and that you had disappeared after Valron’s death. I know Percifal killed the duke’s brother. I assumed it was because of your disappearance.” No one ever argued that my mother wasn’t smart.

“You assumed correctly. It was his brother who sold me to Gwon.”

“How awful.” She shook her head.

“What’s with the guards outside?”

Mother’s face pinched. “I’m a prisoner in my own home! I’m to be watched at every move.” Maybe she wasn’t so good at talking her way out of things anymore. “Of course I’d let my son stay here in secret! What kind of Mother do they take me for?”

I sat on the blue, velvet lounger. “Percifal told me you helped him and Phyra when they came in search of me. I figured you’d have had a plan to get yourself out of trouble though.”

“I tried, but King Zaeden is most unreasonable these days. Anyways, he’s not here, and it doesn’t bother me much to have those two old crones there. I have nothing to hide. I’m just thankful Percifal didn’t come with you.”

“He knows he’s wanted.” I leaned forward and put my chin in my hand and asked the question that had been running through my mind since I’d gone through the gates. “Mother, where is King Zaeden and his army?”

Mother sat across from me and turned her face away.

“Mother?”

“King Zaeden took his army to march on Terra.”

I felt the blood drain from my face. “He—he can’t!”

“They left a few sunrises ago, I’m afraid.”

“Why Terra. Solis is much closer.” It didn’t make sense.

The worry lines around the corners of Mother’s mouth and around the edges of her eyes deepened. “I’m sorry, but I don’t know. No one except he and his army knows what his plans are.”

“And Thaimis?” I asked, fearing the answer.

“He’s with them.”

I groaned. “I don’t understand.”

Mother came and crouched down beside me. She brushed a strand of hair from my face. “Listen to me. The soldiers in King Zaeden’s army, they’re not themselves. He’s done something to them. I can’t explain it.”

I stiffened. “So it’s true. He’s using dark magic to control them.”

Mother nodded. “Yes, his soldiers all obey him blindly. They’re like soulless hounds. It started happening slowly. Only a few seemed off at first, but eventually the whole army lost all their sense.”

So it wasn’t just my imagination. Thaimis was under a spell. “I have to save Thaimis.”

“I have more dire news.”

“What more could there be?”

She held back a moment before the words fell heavily from her lips. “Sreda is dead.”

My hands shook. I couldn’t make my mouth work. The room began to spin.

“I don’t know if King Zaeden ended her life because he had no more use for her, or if being drained of her power ended her life, but the king announced her death shortly before he left with his army,” Mother said.

“Did he at least give her a proper death ceremony?” I bit the words out.

“There was no ceremony, but he did send her body out to sea.”

“She deserved better. He’ll pay for this.”

“He’s made it clear he has Vesirus on his side.” For the first time ever, I saw fear in my mother’s eyes.

“And the kingdom is okay with this?” I didn’t believe it.

“Well,” Mother paused. “No, but anyone who’s questioned him has ended up in the dungeon—or dead.”

Of course they had. I was the only one who could stop him.

“Go have a bath and put on some clean clothes,” Mother urged. “I’ll pack some necessities for the three of you before I start our supper.”

Mother had never cooked for us. “You’re preparing meals?”

She shrugged. “I get bored all alone here. I got rid of all the servants except Vera.”

I shook my head and hugged her again, the bread squished between us. “I’m sorry, Mother.”

She held me. “Don’t be.”

Now that I was presentable, I checked myself out in the long mirror. It’d been a long time since I’d worn anything so constricting. I’d almost forgotten how difficult it was to breathe in a corset. Still, I was pleased with my reflection. I’d chosen a gown with dark blue skirts and a silvery, velvet corset. I enjoyed wearing such fine garments.

Satisfied, I went to seek Mother out. I found her sipping on a goblet of wine. I poured myself some of the garnet coloured liquid and, taking a seat beside her, filled her in about my time in Cansbroke—and in Gwon.

Mother had asked Vera to finish preparing our meal. So she only did half of the cooking. That was more like Mother. I almost drooled when Vera placed a hot plate of chicken, sweet potatoes and fresh vegetables in front of me. I barely said a word as I devoured my meal.

I swallowed the last of my food and finished telling Mother about the plan to stop King Zaeden.

“What about the other elementals?” Mother asked. “There should be more of you.”

“I expect there are two more of us. The earth elemental should be in Terra. We’ll have to hope we find them when we get there, and Ventosa is too far to worry about finding the air elemental right now,” I said, reflecting the thoughts that had previously gone through my mind.

Mother stabbed the chicken on the plate like it was the enemy. “If I forbid you to go, would you listen?”

I pushed my empty plate away. “No. I’m not a child, nor am I your prisoner.”

She sighed. “I wish I could take your place.”

“I know, but you can’t. If I don’t do this, innocent people will die. This world will no longer be safe, for any of us.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Innocent people will die regardless.”

“You know what I mean.”

With a sullen face, Mother pushed her chair back and stood, unable to look at me. “I’ve had enough bad news for one night. I find myself weary. Rest easy, dear daughter.”

I retired to my bedchamber feeling guilty that night.