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GINATA’S HAPPY TO LEAVE Ceryn and runs quickly through the castle passageways. She pauses outside her door. When she snuck in to take the things she needed for the death draught it’s where everybody was congregated and she’s assuming they still are.
A sick feeling comes over her. She doesn’t want to face them. She doesn’t want to face Everleigh. She cannot bear to see the disappointment on their faces. And if Ceryn is anything to go by, none of them will be glad to see her. They’ll still be suspicious. They’ll always wonder.
Shaking her head, she turns away from the door.
Her time here is done. It has to be.
She will be able to make a new life for herself with a lighter heart, a happy heart. The betrayal was real, but the blame is not hers. That’s as much as she needs to know to move on with a clear conscience.
As she moves away from the door, through the castle corridors, across the courtyard, keeping to the shadows, the opposite side to the stables, and down to the woods, she is smiling. And crying.
There is regret, but it’s not a bitter regret. Maybe a bittersweet one.
She is not stupid enough not to know when things have changed irrevocably. And they have.
And it’s not just Ceryn, she realises, it’s herself as well.
Staying at the castle, even if everyone except Ceryn forgives and forgets what she’s done, believes she had no fault in it all, accepts that she was tricked into falling in love with Millard, she would always have that issue between them.
She would always feel guilty, always feel like she had to make amends and atone.
And, in truth, that would be exhausting.
If she had cross words with anybody, she’d be worrying that they were questioning her character. In any situation, her loyalty, her fealty, might be challenged.
It would be tiring, but also disheartening. She is innocent. She knows it and she feels it. If nobody else truly believes it, it won’t matter if she’s not around to see the shadow of doubt in their eyes when they look at her.
She wipes at the tears blurring her vision, and looks back at the castle. She closes her eyes. Is she right to leave?
The next step she takes, moves her further away from the castle and she knows she is right.
***
ARCHER AND CERYN ARE deep in conversation, the whole way to Ginata’s rooms, Ceryn filling him in on the whole situation at Ginata’s cottage. What Finn did, what she told Ginata, the whole lot, as well as her thoughts on what she should say and do next.
“What do you think?”
Archer is nodding his head. “I think it’s a great idea, but it depends on what Ginata’s said. Whether she’s told the truth.”
Ceryn snorts. “I doubt it!”
“Stop it.” He gives her a shove with his hip. “We know she wasn’t at fault. Don’t you believe the teacher?”
“I do, I do. I just think it’s...convenient.”
“Convenient? Falling in love with an evil maniac? You’ve got some strange ideas.”
“Thanks.” She shoves him back.
They knock on the door and wait for an answer.
“It’s us. Ceryn and Archer.”
The door opens and Everleigh flings her arms around Ceryn, before drawing back. “What happened to you, Ceryn? Where’s Finn? Did you find him?”
Della is peering over Everleigh’s shoulder, trying to see past Ceryn and Archer, to see if her brother’s there. “Did you find him?”
“Where’s Ginata? Did you find her?”
“She’s not here?”
Everleigh shakes her head, confusion colouring her face. “Come in. Explain everything.”
Della pushes past Will. “Did you find him? Is he...?”
Ceryn shakes her head, the image of Finn’s dead body, the way he turned on her, and the tears that fell when he realised what he had done, fresh in her mind. “I’m so sorry, Della. I was too late. When I got to the cottage I could see there was someone inside. The door was ajar, there was smoke coming out of the window. I snuck closer and Wolf caught me. Millard punched me.” She gestures at her face, the blood. “Finn was already dead.”
The cry that Della lets out, sounds inhuman and she drops to the floor, anguish and upset emanating from her every pore. Will hunkers down next to her, arm around her, rocking her softly.
“I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” Ceryn stands helpless, but knowing that she did the right thing, said the right thing, sheltered Della from the truth. Everyone circles around Della, listening to her sobs.
Everleigh moves to Ceryn’s side. “Don’t feel bad,” she whispers, taking her hand. “It wasn’t your fault.”
Ceryn nods. “Ginata was there, and they tied us both up and left us there. We got free, and I told Ginata the truth – about the love potion. I don’t know where she is. I told her to come here while I helped Archer.”
“Oh, the courtyard, what happened?” Everleigh spins around to face Archer. “Was it in the name of the King, again?”
“Yes. They set the stables on fire.”
Everleigh’s hand covers her mouth. “The horses?”
“All fine. We saved them all. No one was harmed.”
She sinks against Ceryn and Archer. “I cannot bear this. Finn dead? Ginata gone.”
The teacher brings a drink for Della, a sleeping draught. She protests initially, but he takes her hand and talks quietly to her. “Della, you need to sleep, and you need it to be dreamless, you cannot do anything for your brother now. Let yourself sleep.”
Della nods unhappily and allows the teacher to tip back her head and help her drink.
Will and the teacher take her through to Ginata’s bedroom and tuck her into bed with Addyson.
Closing the door softly, the five of them convene in the main room, but they are silent.
Eventually Ceryn stands up, goes to Ginata’s bedroom and then comes back to the group. “She’s sleeping. I have to tell you all something. I think I was right to keep it from Della, but I don’t want to keep it from you.”
At Ceryn’s insistence, they all take seats, close to the fire, as she begins her tale. Telling the truth of what Finn did and what he said, and how he really died.
“I had no idea...” Everleigh is shaking her head, and Archer takes her hand.
“Why would you? It’s not your fault.”
The teacher looks serious. “It’s no one’s fault except his own. He made his choices.”
“But he didn’t hurt me. He had the chance, more than once.”
“Millard said that he thought he would have killed you if he asked him to, he was that angry. But he said he wanted to kill you, he wouldn’t let anyone else do it.”
“That figures.”
“So, he betrayed us, attacked you?”
Ceryn nods, sadly. “I don’t think Della needs to know.”
“You’re right.” The teacher pats her arm. “Very wise, Ceryn.”
“And what about Ginata? You told her about the potion?”
“I did, I promise.”
“Where is she then? Do you think someone took her? Or has she run off.”
“I don’t know. I saw the fire and I sent her up here.”
“She never got here.”
“Everleigh, she is a grown woman. You cannot make her stay with you, if she doesn’t want to.”
“But how do we know if she’s left or been hurt?”
“We don’t but we have to stay together. We cannot split up again.”
“I know you’re right...and my brother?”
“He’ll be furious when he finds us gone. His plan was to bring us here tomorrow, kill us, fight you, kill you probably and take his crown back.”
“Did he say he had an army?”
“He said he had his men, and that you only had three protectors.”
“So, Finn didn’t tell him about Weaver?”
“No. He doesn’t know.”
“So, he still might come here tomorrow?”
“I would say he definitely will. When they realise we’re gone.”
“Why didn’t they check that you had no weapons? No means of escape?”
“I wondered that myself. Stupidity or arrogance. I wasn’t sure which one.”
“Or both in equal measure.”
“That did cross my mind.”
“And he didn’t leave anyone watching over you?”
“Yes. He was outside and I killed him.”
“So tomorrow...”
“Tomorrow. This all ends.”