Chapter 18

“Do you really have to leave?” I asked Navine as we strolled through the courtyard.

A few days had passed, and despite the calm, the Leviathan issue was still a nagging worry. It hadn’t retreated back to the sea, which was troubling Navine. He felt the need to go to the mountain base and strengthen the barriers he’d set up.

I wasn’t naive. I knew the risks involved and had voiced my concerns about him going alone.

Navine turned to me, his face unreadable but his eyes soft.

“Raelina, I promise you, I’ll be okay. I’m not reckless. I won’t put myself in a situation I can’t escape from,” he reassured me.

I glanced around before speaking my mind. “Then let me come with you. I’ve been cooped up in this palace for too long. I want to see what you do.”

His response was immediate. “Absolutely not.”

“Why not? I’ll be with you. You can make sure I’m safe,” I argued.

“I’m not taking any chances. That’s final.”

I crossed my arms, not caring if I looked childish.

“Navine, I’m tired of being left behind every time you have to do something. Can’t I come with you just once?” I pleaded.

“No, and that’s final,” he retorted. He sighed. “Let me handle this. Then we can figure out how to make you feel less confined. Is that okay?”

I didn’t like it, but I saw no other option. He was as stubborn as I was, and his intentions were good. He didn’t want me to get hurt, and I didn’t want to face anything dangerous either.

“Fine, but you better keep your promise,” I finally agreed.

“Good,” Navine said, cupping my face and kissing my forehead. “Just hang tight. I’ll be back before you know it.”

“All right. Be careful, Navine,” I said.

I watched him fly away, a mix of worry and frustration churning inside me. I knew he was right. I was safer here in the palace, surrounded by high walls and guarded gates, with Nanash for company.

But a part of me felt like my freedom was slipping away, a feeling that had been gnawing at me since my visits with Lorelei and Anika. I loved the security and my relationship with Navine, but I felt like I was missing out on life. I was beginning to realize that despite having everything I could want, I was losing the freedom I once had.

This realization was a bit depressing. I admitted this to myself as I stood by the south gate, looking at the surrounding forest. I knew Navine would be gone for a while, and though I could spend time with Nanash, I didn’t feel like it. I felt a strong urge to escape these walls, even if just for a little while.

I couldn’t explain why I felt this way. Maybe it was because I was used to doing what I wanted before I met Navine. Anika never had a problem with me wandering through the forests around Forge. She’d always reminded me to be careful, in case there were any dangerous creatures lurking.

Maybe that was it. I missed the freedom to explore nature whenever I wanted.

But I also felt trapped in this world. This feeling had been growing over time. I loved being here with Navine, but the idea of being confined to the palace was starting to get to me. Yes, visiting Anika and Lorelei had been nice, but only because Navine took me. I wasn’t allowed to leave the palace grounds on my own.

Navine had told me, “It’s too dangerous for you to wander out there, especially without wings.”

I knew deep down he was right, but the temptation of the unknown was too strong to resist, especially now. I glanced back at the palace, weighing my options. Would it really be so bad if I slipped out and strolled along the walls? If danger presented itself, I could always retreat back to safety.

I sidled up to the gate, casting a quick look over my shoulder before focusing on the wall. I had discovered a small crack shortly after my arrival at the palace. I assumed Navine had overlooked it, or perhaps he thought the opening was too small to pose a threat.

Regardless, I had left it untouched, thinking it might come in handy someday. Being a petite Fae, I believed I could squeeze through the gap if necessary.

With this thought in mind, I scanned my surroundings for something that could help me widen the crack. There were a few sturdy sticks that had fallen during a recent storm, but I doubted their strength. It seemed I would have to venture inside to find a suitable tool.

The palace was eerily quiet as I stepped through the grand doors and made my way upstairs. But as I reached the top, I halted. A strange sensation washed over me, as if I had stepped into a vortex. My surroundings took on a sepia tone, reminiscent of a distant memory.

I tried to speak, but no sound escaped my lips. It was as if the world had fallen silent. I looked around, noticing that the palace seemed different. The stairs and hallways were familiar, but the décor was antiquated, the furniture and drapes reminiscent of styles I had only seen in old illustrations.

What was happening? Was I losing my mind?

“You cannot forget the past. Let it haunt you forever,” a whispered voice said. The voice was distinctly male, but I couldn’t identify it. I spun around, searching for the source, and my eyes landed on a figure descending the staircase. She was a vision in white, contrasting sharply with the sepia backdrop, her long hair and silver wings leaving a trail of sparkles in her wake.

I hurried after her, barely keeping her in sight. It felt as though time had slowed, preventing me from catching up.

The woman led me outside to the courtyard and straight to the gates, which swung open for her. I followed without hesitation, struggling to keep her in view as she weaved through the trees. The dense forest and unusual lighting made navigation difficult.

Suddenly, the woman halted, standing still and gazing upward as if observing something. I approached her cautiously, reaching out to touch her shoulder. But just as I was about to make contact, everything changed. She disappeared, leaving me alone in the vast forest.

I stood there, stunned, trying to make sense of what had just occurred. Had I experienced a vision, or had someone cast a spell on me?

Then it hit me. I looked around, realizing I was indeed in the forest. Somehow, I had ended up outside the palace grounds, surrounded by the trees that blanketed the mountain.

This was not good. While I had wanted to escape the confines of the courtyard, I had planned to stay close to the wall for a quick retreat. Now, the gates and wall were nowhere in sight.

“How far did I run out here?” I wondered.

I turned slowly, surveying my surroundings in a futile attempt to orient myself. I had no idea where I was. The palace was nowhere in sight, and the forest lacked any discernible paths.

After a moment of near panic, I forced myself to calm down. It was okay. I could find my way back. I just needed to stay calm and rely on my knowledge of the forest.

I was grateful for my upbringing. As a Sun Fae, I had a deep connection with nature. My early years were spent in the forest with my parents, where my father taught me its secrets.

This education continued under Anika’s care. She often ventured deep into the forest to gather rare herbs, and she would take me along, teaching me how to navigate the wilderness. I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me. This could be my saving grace.

The first thing I did was scan the trees for moss. The thicker the moss, the more water it held. Given that we were on a mountain, I figured the water would naturally flow downward.

So, if I went in the opposite direction, I’d likely end up at the palace. I was pretty sure I’d descended a few smaller areas, which seemed to back up my theory.

Once I’d figured out my bearings, I set off in the opposite direction of the densest moss. But navigating through the trees wasn’t exactly a walk in the park. The ground was slick, and hidden bumps lurked beneath the leaves and brush.

I tripped over them a few times, barely managing to stay upright by grabbing onto nearby trees. But that only resulted in scraped hands. But I wasn’t really focused on my physical discomfort. My mind was consumed by what had happened to me.

I was sure it had to be some kind of spell, but I couldn’t figure out how it had happened. Navine’s palace was supposed to be spellproof. How had someone managed to breach that magical barrier?

And then there was the woman I’d been chasing. The more I thought about it, the more she resembled the vision I’d seen in the mirror, even from behind. I also had this nagging feeling that I was reliving a memory, and not just because of what that eerie voice had said.

“You cannot forget the past.”

But what else was I supposed to remember?

I tripped again, this time letting out a small cry as I went down. My knee throbbed with pain. I winced as I lifted my skirt to inspect it. It looked swollen. I must’ve twisted it when I fell.

This was not good. The palace was still nowhere in sight, and now I was worried I wouldn’t be able to walk.

“Raelina!”

The familiar voice echoed down the mountain. For a moment, I wondered if I was hallucinating. But I couldn’t afford to ignore it.

“Nanash!” I called back.

After a few minutes, I heard the sound of slithering approaching. Relief washed over me as Nanash emerged from the trees.

“You found me!”

“I’ve been searching all over the palace for you! How on earth did you end up out here?! I didn’t even think you could leave the grounds!” Nanash exclaimed, looking as shocked as he sounded.

“It’s a long story,” I sighed, wincing as I shifted my injured leg.

Nanash glanced at my knee. “Be careful. You’ve twisted your knee pretty badly.”

“I know. Can you help me get back?” I asked.

“I’ll do my best.” Nanash looped an arm under my shoulders, lifting me up so he could support my knees with his other arm. “I know this isn’t comfortable, but bear with me. We need to get back before you’re seen.”

I winced as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, trying to ignore the pain shooting through my leg. The forest was eerily quiet, which made me nervous. Silence like this usually meant a top predator was nearby, and I doubted the creatures considered Nanash to be that predator.

Nanash quickly slithered back in the direction I’d been going, pausing occasionally to look around and listen. He was being unusually cautious. It made me suspicious.

“You’re looking for something. What’s out here?” I asked him, keeping my voice low.

“I think there’s a Forest Golem around. I felt the vibration of footsteps while I was searching for you, but it seemed far enough away for us to be safe for now,” Nanash replied.

“There’s a Golem on this mountain?” I asked, unable to hide my surprise.

“Forest Golems live along the mountain ranges, much like the Mountain Trolls. They’re the biggest predators in these parts, although the Golems tend to sleep a lot, especially this time of year. Something must’ve woken this one up,” Nanash explained.

I wondered if what had happened to me had disturbed it. Had there been enough of an energy shift to wake this creature?

“Nanash.” I squeezed his shoulder, signaling him to stop. “What if it’s because of what just happened to me?”

“What do you mean?” he asked, looking even more worried.

“I think I was having some sort of vision, and that’s how I ended up here,” I tried to explain, my words stumbling over each other. “I don’t really remember coming out here. It was more like I was chasing someone I thought was there, and then I woke up out here.”

Nanash’s body tensed at my words. His grip on me tightened as he moved faster through the underbrush.

“We don’t have much time,” he hissed urgently. “We need to get back now!”

“What…?” I started to ask, but my question was cut short as the entire mountain seemed to shake beneath us. Nanash held me tighter, his tail wrapping around a tree trunk to keep us from falling as another tremor—then another, and another—rocked the mountain.

I could hear the sound of trees snapping about fifteen feet behind us. Turning my head, I saw a massive shape rising from the forest. It was one of the most bizarre things I’d ever seen. The creature’s body seemed to be a mix of rock, dirt, and moss, and its deep black eyes glared at us from its square head.

It opened its enormous mouth, a screeching roar echoing from what looked like a deep, dark pit.

“Shit!” Nanash cursed, his voice tight with fear. “Hold on! We need to get back behind the walls as fast as we can!”

He moved with a speed I hadn’t thought possible for a Snake, darting around trees and up the mountain, all while keeping a firm grip on me. I clung to his shoulders, glancing back to see the Golem following us. It wasn’t fast, but its size allowed it to cover ground quickly. Its arms swept trees aside as it pursued us, clearly intent on catching us.

The palace walls finally came into view as Nanash narrowly avoided a swipe from the Golem’s long arm. He maneuvered us around the trees, out of the Golem’s line of sight, and gestured toward the gate. It clicked open, but only slightly.

The Golem lumbered through the trees, stopping near the gate and looking around. It seemed wary of the gate and wall, perhaps sensing that it was entering Navine’s territory, but it didn’t retreat. It was focused on finding us, even if it meant waiting.

Nanash kept us hidden behind a large tree trunk.

“We’ll be safe once we’re inside,” he whispered to me. “Stay quiet and we’ll wait for an opening.”

I did as he instructed, holding onto him tightly and listening to the Golem’s grunts. It didn’t sound like it was moving. Not a good sign, I thought.

After what felt like forever, but was probably only five or ten minutes, we heard the booming sound of the Golem moving away. Nanash peeked around the tree, and we saw that the Golem had its back to us as it moved in the opposite direction. Something had caught its attention.

This was our chance. Nanash coiled his body, ready to move as quickly as he could. His speed was astonishing as he darted toward the gate.

The Golem whipped around as he moved, and suddenly, we were on the ground. It took me a moment to understand why.

The Golem had slammed one of its fists down on Nanash’s tail, stopping us in our tracks.

“Get to the gate!” Nanash ordered, releasing his grip on me.

“I can’t just leave you!” I protested, but my words were drowned out by the Golem’s hot, putrid breath. I clung to Nanash, closing my eyes and bracing for the worst.

Suddenly, a gust of wind swept over us, followed by a loud cracking sound. I opened my eyes to see the Golem flying backward, crashing into the nearby trees. Navine landed in front of us as the Golem struggled to get up.

“Just in time,” Nanash murmured, slowly coiling his body around us.

The Golem managed to right itself, leaning toward Navine, who stood his ground as the creature hissed at him. Part of its lower jaw had been broken off, leaving only moss hanging there.

Navine raised a hand toward the Golem.

“Go back to sleep. My power is greater, so you will obey me,” he commanded.

The Golem stood frozen for a moment, then gradually retreated, disappearing into the forest. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. We were out of danger. Navine had arrived just in time to scare it away.

Nanash propped himself up next to me, grimacing as he gingerly touched his swollen tail.

“You sure know how to make an entrance,” he remarked.

Navine chuckled.

“I like to think so.” His amusement faded as he approached us, his expression turning stern. “What on earth possessed you two to leave the palace grounds? You both know the kind of creatures that lurk out here.”

Nanash bowed his head.

“I apologize, my lord. I had hoped to bring Raelina back before anything discovered us.”

I quickly interjected, “Please, don’t blame him. This is my fault and he’s hurt.” I was deeply concerned about the extent of his injuries. Even though it was just the tip of his tail, I had no idea what the repercussions could be if it wasn’t treated properly.

Navine’s stern expression softened slightly, but the anger was still there. He bent down to help lift Nanash’s injured tail.

“All right. We’ll continue this conversation inside while we tend to his wounds,” he conceded. “But I want a full account of what happened here. No details spared.”