Chapter 20

The rain had passed, leaving the world slick and new. We stood in a meadow cradled by forest, the air thick with the scent of damp earth and crushed clover. Ahead, the trees clawed at the sky. From their deep, silent shadows, a predator emerged.

It was a wolf, larger than any I had seen, its fur the grey of a gathering storm. It did not stalk; it flowed into the clearing with a liquid grace that belied its menace. Its lips peeled back from yellowed fangs in a silent sneer, and a growl, like the grinding of stone, rumbled up from its chest. As if summoned by that sound, two more specters materialized at its flanks, their eyes catching the light—pinpricks of predatory hunger fixed entirely on us.

My heart seized, pounding a frantic rhythm. I dared a glance over my shoulder, a desperate, fleeting search for an escape that wasn't there. A sharp, explosive bark snapped my attention forward. The lead wolf was no longer watching; it was a blur of motion, a grey streak devouring the distance with terrifying speed. It launched itself, a projectile of muscle and snapping teeth aimed for my throat.

There was no time for thought, only instinct. My silent plea was answered by the thrum of power that was a part of me, a second heartbeat. Mana, raw and wild, flared to life. It erupted from my outstretched hand not as a simple blast, but as a wave of concussive force that warped the very air. The wolf, caught mid-flight, was swatted from the sky. It hit the ground with a sickening thud and lay still, a heap of broken fury. One of its companions, seized by a primal fear, vanished back into the woods. The other remained. It watched me, no longer with simple hunger, but with a chilling, tactical intelligence.

I summoned my power again, this time with intent. A swirling vortex of lavender-pink energy coalesced in my palm. It felt warm against my skin, a familiar and deadly comfort. Behind me, I could feel Cassius’s presence, a steady, silent anchor in the storm. The last wolf lowered its head, its body coiled. It crept forward, each step a deliberate threat, before it exploded into a final, desperate charge. I unleashed my mana. It wasn't a wave this time, but a spear of pure energy. The torrent of force slammed into the creature, pinning it to the earth with enough power to make the ground shudder. A sharp yelp, a final exhalation, and then… silence, broken only by my own ragged breath.

"You did well, Thalia." Cassius’s voice was low, close. He stepped to my side, his gaze falling to his own arm, where the curse was on his arm. His brow furrowed in annoyance. "Forgive my… distraction."

I met his gaze, my own fear receding. "It's okay. At least you aren't the one who got us..." I gestured vaguely at the landscape, "...stuck here." As I spoke, my eyes swept the horizon and snagged on a flicker of hope. In the distance, nestled in a valley, were the stone walls of a small town. Thin, silver plumes of smoke curled from its chimneys, dancing against the afternoon sky.

Cassius followed my gaze. "A town. We should go. You need to rest before we even consider another portal. Besides," he added, a wry twist to his lips, "we have no idea where 'here' is."

"Okay," I agreed, my attention drifting to the elegant, tapered points of his ears, stark against the darkness of his hair. "But those," I said carefully, "are rather… conspicuous. An elf of legend might cause a stir. Would you be alright to wait while I find something in town to cover them?"

He settled onto a large, moss-covered rock, the very picture of patience. "A wise precaution. I will wait. Just be safe, Thalia."

"You too," I said, turning down the dirt path that wound toward the town.

The closer I drew, the more the town revealed itself. The lively hum of afternoon commerce and conversation spilled over its stone walls. A strange, unfamiliar lightness stirred in my chest. When was the last time I’d been anywhere but the gilded cage of the palace grounds? The main gates stood wide open, unguarded. A good sign. A town at peace has no need for sealed gates. We still have time. We can still find allies.

The dirt path gave way to worn cobblestones slick with evening dew. The buildings were sturdy, crafted from the same grey stone as the outer walls, their slate roofs gleaming under the rising moon. People ambled along the pathways, their faces relaxed, their laughter echoing in the narrow streets. It was a portrait of pleasant, stunning normalcy.

My eyes landed on a town guard leaning against a tavern wall, his posture casual as he observed the flow of people. I approached him. "Excuse me," I began, "could you point me toward a shop? One that sells cloaks?"

He gave me a quick, assessing look, his eyes lingering for a moment on the quality of my dress before he nodded down the street. "Keep to this path. It opens into the town square. Look for a shop on your right, with a blue door. Timura's Boutique. She'll have what you need."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

"Thank you," I said with a grateful smile.

Just as he'd said, the street opened into a wide, circular plaza. In its center grew a magnificent, ancient oak, its gnarled base surrounded by a vibrant ring of night-blooming flowers. I looked to my right and saw the hand-painted sign: Timura's Boutique.

My gaze slid to the shop next door, its sign depicting a small, glittering diamond. The Gilded Gem. Trades & Acquisitions. Perfect. My hand instinctively went to the pocket of my dress, finding it empty. Of course. This wasn't a planned excursion. The jeweler first, then. As I walked, I carefully unclasped my necklace and removed my earrings—my mother's silver jewelry. I concealed the fine metal and cool gems in the palm of my hand.

The jeweler's door chimed softly as I entered. It was a quiet, dimly lit space, smelling of dust and old metal. A man with sandy blonde hair and shrewd, calculating eyes looked up from the silver locket he was polishing. "How may I help you?"

I stepped forward and laid the necklace and earrings on the dark, polished wood of the counter. The silver seemed to glow in the lamplight. "I'd like to sell these."

His expression remained a carefully constructed mask, but I saw the flicker of avarice in his eyes as he slid the pieces closer. He picked up the necklace, his fingers expertly testing the weight of the chain, his thumb tracing the flawless cut of the center diamond. "This is fine work," he stated, his voice flat. I can offer you five gold coins."

I held his gaze, my posture unwavering. "They are worth more than thirty. I will take fifteen."

A flicker of surprise, then grudging respect, crossed his face. He’d expected a desperate girl, not a negotiator. "They're beautiful, but a specialty item. Difficult to move in a town this size. I can do ten gold."

"Fifteen," I repeated, my voice as cool and hard as the diamonds on his counter.

He let out a theatrical sigh. "Listen, lady. The travel to a city, the risk, finding a noble buyer… my final offer is twelve gold coins. Take it or leave it."

I allowed a moment of silence to stretch, letting him wonder. Then, a single, sharp nod. "You have a deal."

A slow smile spread across his lips as he shook his head. "You drive a tough bargain." He turned, retrieving a stack of coins from a heavy lockbox. He counted out twelve heavy, gold pieces and slid them across the counter. I swept them into my pocket, their solid weight a small comfort.

"A pleasure doing business with you," I said, turning to leave.

"And you," he replied with a tip of his head.

Next door, the bell above the entrance to Timura's Boutique jingled cheerfully. A woman with striking green eyes and neatly pinned black hair offered a polite smile. "I'm looking for a man's cloak," I said.

My fingers ghosted across a simple but well-made black one. The wool was thick and tightly woven, promising warmth and invisibility. After paying the fifty silver, I stepped back out into the plaza. As I walked, the air grew hazy with the smell of hot metal and coal smoke, and the rhythmic clang... clang... clang of a hammer drew my eye. A small, open-air blacksmith shop, its heat a visible shimmer in the cool afternoon. I wonder…

I found him by the gate, a shadow against the stone. He rose as I approached. "Success?"

"I managed," I said, handing him the cloak. He swung it around his shoulders, the dark fabric swallowing the last of the light. His black hair seemed to melt into the material, making the brilliant, piercing blue of his eyes all the more startling. "A question for you," I said. "Can you handle a sword?"

A dangerous glint sparked in his eyes. "I am... proficient."

"Good. I saw a blacksmith."

We walked back to the humble shop. Cassius didn't browse the wares spread across the tables. His eyes locked onto a single longsword with a simple, unadorned crossguard. He picked it up, his grip instantly sure and practiced. He tested its balance with a slight, fluid wrist-roll, a movement so economical it spoke of a thousand hours of training.

The hammering from the smithy stopped. A burly, sweat-soaked man emerged, wiping his hands on a leather apron. Before he could speak, Cassius addressed him, his gaze still fixed on the blade. "You crafted this?"

"Aye, that I did," the smith said, his voice a proud rumble. "Learned the steel-folding technique in my travels." He watched as Cassius angled the blade. The polished steel caught the light of the sun, acting as a distorted mirror of the plaza.

A flash of white hair in the polished steel—stark and out of place.

My breath hitched. My head snapped up, scanning the plaza. And then I saw him. Across the square, a slender man with hair like spun moonlight, moving with a catlike grace that was horribly familiar.

Kaelen.

My blood turned to ice in my veins. No. Not here. Not now. Darkness is approaching. If Kaelen was here, my father was making his move.

"How much?" The words tumbled from my lips, sharp and breathless.

Cassius’s head turned, his brow furrowing at my sudden change. He followed my gaze, saw nothing, and then looked back at my face. His own expression hardened with alarm.

"Ten gold," the blacksmith answered, oblivious.

The price was an afterthought. I fumbled in my pocket, the coins clinking in my haste, and pressed the gold into the smith's calloused hand. "Thank you."

We turned as one. "We have to leave. Now," I whispered, my voice tight with a terror I hadn't felt even when facing the wolves.

He didn't question me. His hand found the pommel of his new sword as we strode swiftly toward the gate. "Thalia, what is it?" he asked once we were clear of the walls.

"I saw Kaelen," I said, the name tasting like ash on my tongue.

"Who's Kaelen?"

"He's one of my father’s people. A mage of terrifying power and absolute cruelty. In my last life, his appearance meant creatures would or had already attacked. If he even suspects I'm here... I'm sorry you didn't get to rest."

"Don't be," Cassius said, his voice a low, grim promise. His eyes scanned ahead. "The peace was nice while it lasted. Let's go."