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As Zelda moved through Dark Bloom Forest, she half-expected Calain to appear, stomping toward her through the trees, her messy red hair streaming, her eyes apologetic that she had been so foolhardy and so rash. Zelda hoped, wished, and prayed, but it never happened. She came across nothing but the odd goblin, a sleeping troll pup down in the mud (which she calmly stepped over), and a fox that fled with its tail streaming at the sight of her.
Calain, no matter how Zelda didn’t wish it to be so, was in danger. Zelda found it odd, as if some god had reached down and reversed their reality, for it was always she who needed rescuing. There was always someone who had captured Zelda, some woman who wanted Zelda for herself or else coveted Zelda’s power. Queen Ellanara . . . Melvalda . . . Even the Black Bear Clan had unwittingly “captured” Zelda through Revna’s manipulations. But now Calain was the one in danger. Zelda prayed she hadn’t been seriously harmed.
Queen Cilia had given Zelda a fortnight to reach the Gold Keep in Eriallon before Calain was executed. And so, Zelda had decided to apparate directly into Artas, a small wood on the outskirts of Alleren, the city capital where the Gold Keep resided. Apparating across water would be risky, but Melvalda had convinced Zelda that she was strong enough to do it. If she wasn’t, Melvalda wouldn’t have been so keen to have her join Raven’s Cross.
Zelda had learned a great deal about herself while with Melvalda. She had learned to recognize the strength of her own power and had walked away from Ravenhold with a slew of new spells. Now she knew how to fight pixies and fairies, not just repel them. Now she could apparate great distances, create her own staves from scratch, and she had even learned to Read minds a little.
Zelda would always value her time with Melvalda, mad as it had been, and wondered what the ancient Witch of the Dark was doing at that very moment. Cassandra had said she seemed very happy with Talaedra when she had left.
As Zelda traveled through Dark Bloom, she was happy to realize the charm she had placed on Selene’s necklace was working: the giant crystals had little effect on her, making her only vaguely drowsy. She had to travel far enough from Wolf Fortress that apparating would work, but she also had to stay far enough from the crystals that they would not hinder her magick. The necklace made things easier.
While walking, she found a long white tree branch that had broken off and fallen on the ground. She took it up, intent on using it as a stave and thinking the slender, twisted twigs on its tip pretty. Then, realizing she had walked far enough, Zelda apparated.