Seth stared out his bedroom window into the moonlit night sky. Should he have shown the letter to Brock? Yeah, well, maybe. Was it his fault that his adoptive father didn’t even want to hear about what they’d found when they first got back? No, it wasn’t. If the letter was true, could Dane be the traitor? Yes, well, he did want to know where the other knights were that Brock was hiding. Dane hated commoners, no doubt there. His complete disregard for them and lack of caring for the deaths made that clear. Was it because he was a stuck-up noble who missed his privilege, or something else? When Seth told Brock about his suspicion, he was dropped down a few notches.
Seth blinked. What if he misread the letter? He pulled the letter out from the pair of pants lying on the floor. He crept up to the window and opened the letter in the moonlight.
Kolvar,
I hope your journey from Iron Fist Keep was without incident. We have located the blacksmith and the queen’s handmaiden that escaped Staerdale Castle with the prince. They are here in Crey Village with a thirteen-year-old boy, but I’m not sure he’s the one. He lacks certain qualities that are usually found in royalty. However, if he is not the one, I’m sure we can follow Brock and Sally Feran to the real prince.
I have infiltrated into a local resistance group that is obsessed with removing Kade from the throne. Foolish humans, don’t even realize that Kade is Tanyl’s puppet.
Tanyl is convinced that the prince could be the one that the prophecy is about. I have not seen any human male child that has magic ability in Crey Village. I will keep looking.
We have to move in soon. I’ll contact you.
Shania
What would Brock and Sally say when he showed them? Would they be mad? No, he would be told how much he was like his father by Brock. Sally would . . . she would just say how proud she was of him for saving the family. What then? It was obvious, wasn’t it? Seth and Brock would find the traitor and make him die a traitor’s death. What if they were upset because he didn’t show them earlier? They wouldn’t be. It wasn’t because he didn’t want to; no, it just wasn’t the right time.
A smile crept across Seth’s face. They would both be proud of him. Yeah, he would be their hero. Seth climbed back into bed and sank into sleep.
Hours later, and just before the sun came up, Seth went into the living room. Brock was sitting at the table eating a bowl of gruel. He felt the letter in his pocket, reluctant to pull it out.
Brock looked over at him. “What are you doing up?”
Seth swallowed. Should he just blurt it out or hand him the letter or . . . or was this a mistake? “Are you going to the shop this morning?”
Brock frowned. “You know I am. Did you want something? I wasn’t expecting you up for a while.”
Seth swallowed, hard. “I—well, yes, I wanted to show you something.” There was no turning back now. Why was he afraid? Brock would tell him that he was just like his father the knight. He moved closer to Brock and pulled the letter from his pocket. “Me, Jena, and Ellis found this,” Seth said as he handed it to Brock.
“What is it?” Brock asked. Without waiting for an answer, his eyes dove into the letter.
A knot began to form in Seth’s stomach as he waited with a tiny smile on his face for Brock to tell him how proud he was of him. His smile began to fade as Brock’s face reddened. “Father?”
It was almost like fire was coming out of his eyes when Brock glared at Seth. “Where did you get this?”
Seth’s heart sank as his naive dreams were shattered once again. “I—I—we got it from the Dark Elf camp a few nights ago. I tried to tell—”
“Why didn’t you show me this before?” Brock demanded. “You put the whole family in danger!”
Seth backed away from him. “You wouldn’t let me tell you! Every time I tried, you either ignored me or told me to go to my room or—please, Father, I did try to tell you.”
“What’s all the yelling about?” Sally asked from the bedroom door.
Brock handed her the letter. “Read this.”
Seth’s pleading eyes begged Sally to comfort him. Her beautiful face turned white and her mouth opened wide. What had he done?
“Brock, I can’t go through that again,” she said. “I can’t bear to lose any more family or friends for—” She slammed her mouth shut as her eyes looked over at Seth.
“What?” Seth asked.
“We won’t,” Brock said. He looked right into Seth’s eyes. “You mentioned something about Dane last night. You said that you didn’t trust him. Was that because of the letter?” Brock asked.
Seth nodded. “He came into town recently, and after the Dark Elves hit Mother. He also wanted to be with the other knights you have hidden at Arrowhead Lake.”
“What about Alya?” Brock asked. “Why don’t you suspect her?”
Seth shrugged. “She arrived before this all started happening.”
“He’s right,” Sally said. Her fearful face looked right into Brock’s eyes. “What do we do?”
Seth moved towards Brock. “We question Dane and find out the truth. He either tells us what he knows or clears his name.”
Brock smiled. “I wish. No, we’re leaving.”
“What? You can’t do that. I have a life here and I won’t give it up,” Seth said.
Brock grabbed Seth by the shirt and slammed him against the wall. “Don’t you dare tell us about sacrifice. We gave up everything for you! My sister was tortured and killed to protect you.” His face hardened. “Many people died to save your lousy goblin ass.”
Sally pulled Brock’s arm back. “Stop it. It’s not his fault.”
He dropped Seth. “I—I’m sorry.”
Tears tried to burst through, but he held them back. “What’s not my fault? Damn it, you have to tell me! I’m not some magical component or a side of beef. I’m your adopted son. Talk to me!”
Sally glanced at Brock.
“No,” Brock said. “You proved you’re not ready. Your father would’ve shown this letter regardless of whether I wanted to see it or not.”
The dam cracked and tears rolled down Seth’s face. “I’m not leaving.”
“Are you willing to watch them torture and kill Jena and Ellis because of you?” Brock demanded. “How far are you willing to go?”
Seth’s tears began to turn into fire. He moved closer to Brock and his face hardened. “At least I’m willing to do something about it.”
Brock slapped Seth, knocking him to the ground. “Mind your place, boy. Pack up your things today, we’re leaving in a few days.”
Seth rubbed the handprint on his right cheek. “I hate you!” He ran out, slamming the door behind him.
Seth’s heart raced as he bolted down the street towards Jena’s house. He never should have shown Brock the letter. If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be leaving, right? He clenched his jaw. Yeah, it was because he had to be the hero. Seth was so anxious for praise that it never occurred to him that Brock could be angry. A slap in the face or punch in the gut he could handle, but not moving away. Everything was perfect until those damned Dark Elves showed up. They destroyed his life and hurt his adoptive Mother while Brock did nothing, like a coward.
The sun cast long shadows on the road. Another few turns and he would be at Jena’s house. Seth picked up the pace. What would he tell her? His stomach twisted. Would he tell her why he really doesn’t want to leave? Should he? Maybe he’d just make it worse. Yeah, that’s it. Seth swallowed as her house came into view.
Seth felt the tears pressing from behind his eyes as he knocked on the door. What if she’s not up yet or maybe . . . maybe her mother sent her to get some herbs. His mouth dried up. Maybe this was a bad idea. No, he had to tell her, right? Seth turned around and started walking. Maybe later.
“Where are you going?” Jena asked.
Seth turned and smiled at Jena standing in the doorway. “I—I thought it might be too early for you to be up.” He felt the tears trying to free themselves, but he beat them back.
“We’re always up before dawn. You know—what’s wrong?” Jena asked.
He hugged her. “I—can we talk?”
Jena nodded. “Sure.”
Seth followed her inside.
Alya and Keya were chatting on the couch, drinking tea. Freshly cooked bacon invaded Seth’s nostrils. Normally, he’d be charging at the breakfast plate, but not today.
“You’re here pretty early. Everything all right at home?” Keya asked.
Jena glared at her mother. “He wants to talk.”
Alya’s face dropped as she put her tea down. “Are your parents all right? They weren’t—”
Seth shook his head. “No, nothing like that. I just need to talk to Jena.”
“Talk about what?” Keya asked.
Jena pushed past them. “We’ll be out back where it’s private.”
Seth looked back at Alya before he went out the back door, just for a second. Her hair was fuzzy, as if he needed spectacles. He blinked and it was gone. I’m going nuts.
Jena sat down at a small wooden table with benches on either side. “Have a seat.”
Seth swallowed as he sat down across from her. What if he gave her the wrong idea? That this was not bad news? Should he tell her the whole truth? He reached across the table.
Jena grabbed his hands and smiled. Her gaze broke down all the walls Seth built up during his short walk here. “What is it?”
“Do you remember the letter we found at the Dark Elf camp?” Seth asked.
She nodded. “Yeah, what—”
Seth leaned in. “I showed my adoptive father the letter.”
“What did he say?”
A single tear broke free and rolled down his right cheek. “He got angry with me. I thought he would’ve praised me for finding it. I even told him that I thought Dane could be the one described in the letter.”
Jena blinked. “The letter talks about a woman.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“What’s he going to do?” Jena asked.
He pulled her hands close to his heart. “He’s making us move.” His eyes softened as he stared into hers. “I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you.” Seth swallowed. Should he tell her? Did she already know? If so, there was no need to tell her, right?
Jena’s face blushed. “I—I don’t know what to say. I don’t think my mother would have a problem if your parents are fine with it.”
Seth shook his head. “There’s more. Brock said that they’d kill everyone here to get at us if we stayed.”
“Why?” Jena asked.
Seth blinked. “I’m not sure. It has something to do with me, but I don’t know what. They won’t tell me.”
“Why not?”
“I—I don’t know.” Tears rolled down his cheeks.
Jena got up and pulled Seth into her arms. “I’m here.”
Her touch soothed his heart like magic. He pulled her in tightly. “I can’t let anything happen to you. I couldn’t—I couldn’t bear it.”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me,” Jena said.
Seth looked right into her eyes. “There’s something I have to tell you.” No backing out now.
“What is it?”
His stomach twisted and his throat became dry. “I—I—I love you.” There, he’d said it. Seth braced for a forcible rejection.
Jena’s eyes glistened. Her smile stretched across her face. “I love you too. I always have.” She kissed him.
“I can’t stay here. But, you can come with us? Maybe?” Seth asked with pleading eyes. “We love each other and—well, maybe we can get married someday.”
Jena stepped back. “I can’t go. Why can’t you stay?”
“What if they torture you to get to me? I couldn’t have that on my conscience,” Seth said.
“They won’t,” Jena said as she moved away from him. “I can’t go because my mother needs me. I’m not the one who has dreams about being something that I am not. I want to be a healer like my mother. I need to learn from her,” Jena said.
Her words were like a sword through Seth’s heart. “But, I love you. You said you love me, too.”
“I do love you, Seth, but not enough to leave my home.” Tears flowed down her cheeks. “I’m going to miss you so much.”
Seth hugged her with all his heart. “I—I can’t let anything happen to you.”
Jena’s puffy eyes looked into his soul. “I know. I—”
“What’s going on?” Alya asked. She had put on her leather armor and her swords were at her side. “You heard me.”
“How long were you standing there?” Seth asked.
“Long enough,” Alya said. “Where are you going, Seth? What letter?”
Could he trust her? Alya? Yes, she had been there for him and Sally, since the summer. “We’re moving. Father says it is too dangerous here. I—I don’t know why.”
“The letter?”
“We found that at a Dark Elf camp in Sarun Grove,” Jena said. “He showed it to his father before—”
Seth elbowed her in the side. “Jena, stop.”
Alya smiled. “It’s okay. Your secret’s safe with me.”
“What’s going on out here?” Keya asked.
“It seems that Seth and Jena are in love,” Alya said.
Keya smiled. “How sweet.”
Seth rolled his eyes. “Please.” He gave Jena a kiss on the cheek. “I’ve got to get back. I’ll see you later. I promise.”
“I’m sorry I can’t go with you,” Jena said. “I love you.”
He looked over at Alya. Was it a mistake to tell her? “Bye,” Seth said as he left the house.