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In the morning, Sorin woke with a blistering headache. It had been a long night and he had drunk more than he should have. He, Bron, and Anik had spent the better part of the night drinking from an old bottle of mulled wine, first reminiscing about boyhood stories of Elijah, and then coming up with a plan. They would honor Elijah properly when this was all over.
The Naga and the man-eating fog had confirmed, yet again, what they had suspected. The Stave had been rendered ineffective. The next matter at hand was: would they be able to salvage it, or had someone taken it? The mention of Nefari had shaken them. Even Bron and Anik had heard the stories as children. The Nefari haunted the tales mothers and nursery maids told naughty boys to scare them into behaving. Even the strongest Sorcerers had feared them.
If what Mavka said was true, then the Nefari would be prepared for them. They would have had years to organize any sort of trouble they planned to make. It seemed likely to Sorin that they had been biding their time until they found a moment of weakness. If that was the case, then it made sense that the blight had only begun when his father had gotten sick. The men all agreed that they needed to get to the Stave as quickly and as quietly as possible.
Bron and Anik had agreed to leave at first light to scout the areas around the palace grounds and near the Raven Wood. Bron woke Mavka before heading to bed, to discuss the plan with her, and she had generously agreed to be their guide to track down Atropani’s sisters, Clothsari and Lachtori. The forest girl was strange, but he had to admit that there was something endearing about her that made it easy to trust her.
Shaye was another puzzle to solve. Sorin had no idea where her head was at after what had happened last night. He had spent all morning trying to wrap his head around their moment in the library. It felt like a dream, being there with her in the dim light, the taste of her on his lips. He was not sure if the kiss had been about the guilt she had been feeling about Elijah, or if it was something more. The kiss had caught them both off guard, but he had welcomed it. He’d been glad she had done it. Until she ran away, that is. It seemed like every time she started to let herself trust him, she would retreat twice as far back away from him.
That was why he was searching for her now. Unsure of when they would be returning, he had decided to forgo his armor; traveling light would save them the time and energy they desperately needed. His sword was strapped to his back, and he placed multiple daggers on his person. More than anything, he wanted to make sure they did not lose anyone else on this journey.
Shaye’s room was empty, the bed clearly slept in. So he decided to venture downstairs. He ran his hand along the mahogany banister, hand-carved with vines and flowers. It was incredible craftsmanship and he wondered if it had been made by human or Magi. The difference between the Summer and Winter Palaces was striking. The Summer Palace was well designed and practical, it paled in comparison to the grandeur of the Winter Palace.
In contrast, here, ornate carvings could be found around every corner, lavish artwork lined the walls, and open crystal chandeliers were in practically every room. King Idor had certainly spared no expense when it came to the luxurious home of his court. It was no wonder he had rarely left to venture south. And why he had never seen the rebellion coming.
King Idor had not taken the time to know his subjects, to listen to them and the unrest they were feeling. Sorin had often wondered if he had even known of the poor treatment his Sorcerers and nobles had subjected the people to. Or had he been too busy living in his perfect little world, isolated in blissful ignorance?
He descended the long staircase, spotting Shaye by the ballroom door. He could see from her profile that she had a thoughtful expression on her sun-kissed face. This could not be easy for her.
“We could close the door, you know?” He was kicking himself for not doing it earlier. He had meant to close the ballroom door before she awoke, to shield her from the bad memories and the feelings that must accompany them.
Turning to him, she sighed, “I was just thinking about how worried I’d been before the ball, about the trouble I’d be in for getting dirt on my new dress. It all seems so silly and insignificant now.” She looked back to the ballroom. He noted the mess of it; broken glass and overturned tables littered the once glorious room. A few of the imported rugs had been removed with the bodies, but he could spot a dark stain here and there on the rugs that remained.
“You were just a kid. There’s nothing you could have done.” He knew what was really bothering her. It was regret at not being powerful enough to save them. He knew, because he felt it too.
“And yesterday?” Her jaw twitched. “I could have saved him, Elijah, if I had drawn my power sooner. I could have saved your friend. Just like the night of the spring festival and the Solstice. I failed my family, my best friend, and now I have failed Elijah... and you.” She looked up at Sorin, searching his face. “I’m truly sorry.”
He grabbed her hands and felt her tense up, but he did not let go. He needed her to know that he was sincere. They moved closer and he could feel the heat of her body near his own. He needed to tell her everything, to trust her. If they were going to get through this, then they needed to trust each other, to be able to rely on one another. “Shaye. That night, in the ballroom, I...”
“Sire. We’re ready when you are.” Anik stood at the entrance. Sweat glistened on his face. They must have gone all the way to the Raven Wood’s border while patrolling the palace grounds.
Shaye was still looking at him, waiting for him to finish. He had wanted to tell her that there was nothing to forgive. That he understood, had felt that same sense of failure, because he had not been able to save them all that night. Because he had chosen to save her instead; but it would have to wait. Right now he needed to put his duty as king ahead of his feelings.
“It can wait.” He offered a hand to Shaye and she took it. They walked through the door and out into the sunlight, leaving the palace behind, in search of the Fates.