Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Emily sat cross-legged on the floor of the library, a half-read book in her lap and a dozen more spread out in a chaotic ring around her. She hadn’t moved in hours—except to throw another log in the nearby fireplace and curse the cold.

Caelan was gone. Again.

Not gone gone. Just…absent. Tucked away in that damn conference room for days now, buried in strategy maps and risk charts and gods knew what else. Every time she asked someone where he was, the answer was the same: “Still in planning.”

Apparently, planning a heist against the most fortified vault in the kingdom took time. She understood that.

But understanding didn’t make it easier.

She only saw him in glimpses now—when she startled awake in the dead of night and found him beside her, already asleep, tension carved deep into his brow even in rest. And by the time she opened her eyes in the morning, he was gone again. No note. No goodbye.

Just cold sheets and silence.

Emily sighed, dragging her fingers through her hair and tossing the book aside. Her gaze flicked to the tall arched window, where streaks of pale light filtered in through frost-kissed glass.

Emily stood with a restless breath and moved to the window, bracing her hands on the stone ledge as she looked out.

Below, the enclosed garden courtyard sprawled in a perfect oval of grey stone paths and sleeping winter grass. And in the middle of it—Varis and Tess. The two of them were running in wide, zigzagging loops, chasing each other in a playful blur. Tess let out a high-pitched squeal of laughter as Varis caught her around the waist and spun her in a circle.

Emily smiled, the tension in her shoulders easing for the first time all day. It was so normal. So stupidly sweet.

She watched them for a few more seconds, then pushed away from the window.

Screw the silence.

She was done waiting around like a half-forgotten accessory. If Caelan wanted to lock himself away with plans and maps, fine. But she wasn’t going to wilt in his absence.

Emily grabbed her cloak from the back of the chair and headed for the garden. It was time for something fun.

Even if it was just a few minutes of chasing a child through frost-bitten grass.

Emily stepped through the arched doorway into the crisp afternoon air. The courtyard was colder than it looked from the window—sharp, fresh, and alive with the echoes of laughter. Frost still clung to the stone edges, but the sun hung low and golden in the sky, warming the tops of the hedges and casting long shadows across the garden paths.

Emily thinks to herself. “It’s definitely… oh, what did they call it? Frostwake, I think. Her thoughts drifted, quiet and amused. So this is winter here.”

Tess was the first to notice her.

The little girl let out a thrilled squeal and darted away from Varis mid-chase, beelining straight for Emily like a streak of brown robes and tangled curls.

“Emily!” she shouted, her eyes wide with glee.

Before Emily could so much as wave, Tess skidded to a stop in front of her, tapped her quickly on the arm, and grinned wickedly.

“You’re it!” she announced triumphantly, then spun on her heel and bolted back across the courtyard, giggling the whole way.

Emily blinked, startled—but then she laughed. A real, full laugh that shook loose something tight in her chest.

“Oh, it’s on,” she muttered, pulling her cloak tighter around her shoulders and giving chase.

Varis looked up just in time to see Emily tear after Tess, her boots thudding softly over the frost-hardened grass. The healer’s mouth twitched into a quiet smile, and she stepped back to the edge of the garden, letting them play.

For the first time in days, Emily felt weightless.

Eventually, they all collapsed onto the grass, breathless and laughing. Emily leaned back on her hands, face flushed from running, and Tess flopped down beside her with a triumphant grin.

“Guess what?” Tess asked suddenly, practically vibrating with excitement.

Emily looked over, eyebrows raised. “What?”

“It’s my birthday today!” Tess beamed.

Emily’s eyes went wide. “What? That’s amazing!” She scooped the little girl up into her arms and spun her in a full circle. “Happy birthday, Tess!”

Tess giggled wildly, arms flung out as Emily twirled her around. When she set her back down, Tess staggered a little, dizzy and grinning.

Emily turned to Varis, still catching her breath. “Are we doing something to celebrate? What’s the tradition here for birthdays?”

Varis smiled warmly, brushing a bit of windblown hair from her face. “Yes, we will. We celebrate the moment of birth itself. Tess was born at 10:38 p.m., so that’s when her celebration begins.”

Tess jumped in place. “Yay! I get to stay up late!”

Varis laughed softly. “Yes, you do.”

“Oh right,” Emily said, her eyes widening a little as she glanced down at Tess. “She gets her classification today.”

Varis nodded solemnly. “Her fifth birthday marks the awakening. We’ll find out who she’s meant to be.”

Later Emily held a string of tiny glowing lanterns in one hand, untangling them slowly while Varis unfolded a long cloth across the table.

“Do they really need to be this high up?” Emily asked, stepping onto her toes to loop one of the cords around a low-hanging tree branch.

Varis gave her a rare smirk. “You’re taller than I am.”

Emily huffed and reached higher. “Barely.”

They worked quietly for a while, the courtyard bathed in soft afternoon light, the castle wall casting a long shadow over the setup. Tables were half-covered, small wrapped packages stacked neatly on one of them, and a few local children had already started sneaking glimpses from the gate.

Emily rubbed her arms through her sleeves and glanced around. “How are we supposed to stay warm out here tonight? It’s already freezing.”

Varis didn’t look up from arranging the tablecloths. “One of the rune mages crafted heat stones. They cover about five feet each—we’ll place a few around the seating areas, and we’ll be fine.”

Emily raised her brows. “That’s cool.”

“It is,” Varis said, pausing. “Or rather, warm.”

Emily snorted, and they both chuckled before settling back into their tasks.

Varis finally broke the silence. “How are you doing?”

Emily glanced over. “What do you mean?”

Varis tilted her head, adjusting a row of folded paper birds. “I heard what happened. With Luvney.”

Emily paused, then nodded. “Right.”

The word hung there a beat too long, and Emily didn’t know what to say.

“I’m... falling in love with him,” Emily admitted, her voice low.

Varis didn’t miss a beat. “Falling? You already fell. Hard.”

Emily laughed, brushing her hair behind one ear. “Yeah. I guess I did.”

They moved to the table, laying out small jars of spiced sweets and twisted bread rolls. Emily hesitated, then asked, “Do you know how Luvney is? Did she heal okay?”

Varis nodded. “Physically, yes. But… after she left the medical wing, Caelan was waiting for her.”

Emily’s eyes widened. “He was? Why?”

Varis leaned in slightly, voice lowered. “He wasn’t subtle. Everyone heard. Said she was disloyal to the crown, untrustworthy, a danger to classified strategy.”

Emily blinked, then whispered, “Good.”

Varis didn’t react to the comment—just watched her quietly.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Out loud, Emily added, “What happened after that?”

“He kicked her out,” Varis said simply. “Completely. Not just the keep. She’s not allowed in the village either.”

Emily straightened the edge of the tablecloth, her lips curling into a quiet smile.

“Well,” she said, “happy birthday to me then.” under her breathe.

The back gardens had been transformed with soft glowing lanterns, warm against the creeping dusk. Rune stones shimmered in even circles along the grass, chasing away the bite of the evening cold. Workers moved quietly around them, laying down mats and trays of glowing fruit. Everything felt hushed, sacred—even in its simplicity.

Emily tucked her hands into her sleeves and watched as Varis carefully knotted another loop of orange thread.

“Okay, I’m just going to admit it,” Emily said. “I have no idea what we’re doing. I didn’t know birthdays were... like this here.”

Varis looked up, brows lifting in surprise. “They’re different where you’re from?”

“I mean, we eat cake. We open presents. That’s... kind of it.”

Varis smiled softly, almost wistfully, and handed Emily another thread loop.

“Here, we tie blessings,” she said. “Each guest gives one thread—just a wish or a hope. The child wears them around their wrist or ankle until they fall off naturally.”

Emily turned the thread between her fingers. “So like... prayers you can wear?”

“Exactly.”

Varis walked to one of the tables where golden fruit was piled neatly in bowls. Each piece glowed softly from within, casting amber light across the wood.

“Then there’s firefruit,” she said, gesturing. “It only grows near active leyroots. The sweetness is said to reflect the joy of a second life.”

Emily blinked. “It glows.”

“And it tastes like apple and honey,” Varis added with a small smile. “You’ll see.”

Emily followed her to the edge of the clearing, where Varis knelt and began sweeping the grass with slow, deliberate movements.

“What’s this part?” Emily asked, watching as Varis pulled a small pouch from her belt and began pouring fine white sand in a rough circle.

“This is for the Soul Mark Ritual,” Varis said quietly. “This is where Tess will receive her classification.”

Emily hesitated, then stepped closer. “Do you want help? You could show me how.”

Varis paused—but didn’t look up.

“I have to do this part alone,” she said gently. “It must come from me. The universe knows.”

Emily nodded slowly and stepped back, watching as Varis leaned in, her face intensely focused in the soullight.

Guests are already gathered in the courtyard, soft music drifting through the back gardens. Lanterns strung above the paths. Everything feels warm and festive.

Varis and Emily went to fetch Tess from their rooms.

Varis had gone in a few minutes ago to wake Tess up—apparently, the kid had knocked out cold and was still curled up under a pile of blankets.

The hallway was quiet except for muffled music.

Then—footsteps.

Emily turned, and her whole body reacted before her brain did.

Caelan.

He came around the corner, dark robes sweeping, hair a little windblown, and just the sight of him made her heart twist. She knew she missed him, but she hadn’t realized how much until now.

She ran. No hesitation.

He barely had time to register before she jumped—arms and legs wrapped around him, mouth on his, hard and fast.

He caught her like it was nothing, one hand on her back, the other under her thigh. He kissed her right back, deep and warm.

“Well hello to you too,” he said, voice low against her mouth.

“I missed you,” she breathed. “I haven’t seen you in days.”

He set her down gently but didn’t let go. “I know. We’re almost done. But I wasn’t going to miss Tess’s birthday.”

Emily smiled up at him. “That’s sweet.”

Right then, the door behind her creaked open.

Tess burst out in a big brown robe that almost reached the floor, curls a mess and face lit up. “Yahhh! It’s time!”

Emily laughed as Varis stepped out behind her, calm as ever. She scooped Tess up without a word, and the kid immediately slumped onto her shoulder, halfway asleep again.

Didn’t matter. She was grinning.

They all headed back toward the courtyard together, soft music and warm lights waiting for them outside.

They stepped into the courtyard, the warm lantern glow washing over them. Music floated gently through the air, and the scent of firefruit and honeybread lingered between the tables. Guests moved in small clusters, chatting and smiling. A few children chased each other near the edges of the garden, their laughter rising over the music.

In Varis’s arms, Tess inhaled sharply.

Her eyes went wide, fully awake now as she took in the lights, the decorations, the people moving everywhere. Her whole face lit up.

She flung her arms around Varis’s neck, squeezing hard. “Thank you thank you thank you!”

Varis laughed, the sound soft and warm. “You’re welcome, little one.”

Tess immediately began wiggling to get down. Varis set her on her feet, and Tess took off at full speed toward the other kids from the village, brown robes flapping around her ankles.

“One hour, Tess!” Varis called after her.

The girl didn’t look back—just waved wildly as she disappeared into the group.

Varis turned, smoothing her robes. She gave Emily a small smile. “Excuse me.”

Then she bowed slightly toward Caelan. “Your Majesty.”

Without waiting for a response, she moved quickly after Tess.

Emily leans into Caelan, her side pressed against his, and he slips an arm around her shoulders without a word. They stand there like that, warm and still, watching the courtyard move around them.

“Thank you,” Emily says quietly.

Caelan glances down at her. “For what?”

In the distance, Varis has managed to wrangle Tess and is now guiding her toward the thread tie station. A little table has been set up under a canopy of lights, and a line is starting to form—guests holding colorful loops of thread in their palms.

Emily watches them for a second, then looks up at him.

“For making Luvney leave,” she says. “That makes me feel better.”

Caelan doesn’t answer right away—he just pulls her a little closer, his hand settling over her hip.

“Of course,” he says finally. “Anything for you.”

Emily turns to him, lifts both hands to his face. She holds him there, gently, and brings his mouth to hers in a slow, tender kiss.

“I know,” she says softly. Truly understanding now.

For a second, they just stay like that, the world quiet around them.

Then she lets go, smiles a little, and says, “We should get in line.”

She grabs his hand and pulls him along, the two of them joining the slow-moving line of guests, each one ready with a thread and a wish.

They move up in line, slow but steady. Emily watches the villagers ahead of them, noting how they glance toward Caelan.

They seem... nervous. But not in the way people usually are around him.

It’s like they’re holding both fear and awe at the same time—half bowing, half smiling. Some whisper as they pass him, but their hands are steady when they tie their threads. A few even make eye contact.

Caelan doesn’t react. He just watches quietly, unreadable as ever.

When they reach the front, a table waits with a shallow basket full of thread loops in every color. Caelan, without hesitation, reaches for a black one. Emily picks up a soft orange, smiling faintly at the accidental match.

She glances down at their robes—his black, hers still bright orange.

“Cute,” she murmurs.

Tess is standing still now, arm held out patiently while Varis gently steadies her wrist.

Emily steps forward first.

She crouches so she’s eye level with the girl, her voice quiet but steady.

“I hope you always know your worth. That you grow into someone brave enough to choose who you are... even when the world tries to choose for you.”

She ties the orange thread carefully around Tess’s wrist.

Then she steps aside.

Caelan moves in behind her, taller than everyone in the circle, and Tess tilts her head up at him like he’s a mountain.

He holds the black thread between two fingers, eyes on hers.

“May your power never be taken from you,” he says. “May you wield it with wisdom... and never have to bow to those who would use it against you.”

He ties the black thread directly beside Emily’s.

And the moment it touches hers—both threads glow.

Soft at first, then brighter.

They shimmer and shift, sliding together like they’re alive—wrapping and twisting around each other until they fuse into a single black-and-orange spiral. A perfect twist.

The crowd gasps. Even the children stop moving.

Emily stares at it, then glances at Varis.

Her face is frozen in surprise. So is Caelan’s.

“Has that ever happened before?” Emily asks.

Varis shakes her head slowly. Caelan does the same.

“No,” he says. “I didn’t even know that was possible.”

Varis steps in to examine it. She gently runs a finger over the fused thread, trying to pull it apart—but it won’t budge. She turns Tess’s wrist to find where the knot should be.

It’s gone.

The string is a perfect circle now. Seamless. Like it was always one piece.

Emily frowns. “Is that... permanent?”

“I don’t know,” Varis says, eyes still on the thread. “But people are waiting. We’ll try to cut it later, after the ritual.”

Tess doesn’t say anything.

She just looks between the adults with wide, quiet eyes.

Later that evening Varis gently ushers Tess toward the center of the ritual circle.

The little girl practically bounces out of her shoes. Her face is lit up, eyes wide, curls bouncing as she half-skips, half-hops into place.

The moment she crosses the line of white sand, the sigils along the circle’s edge begin to pulse—slow, steady glows rising from the runes like they’re waking up.

Around the edge, people begin to form a ring. One by one, they join hands.

Emily frowns, leaning toward Caelan. “What’s happening?”

He doesn’t look at her. “Just follow along.”

Emily grabs Varis’s hand on her right, Caelan’s on her left.

The circle is complete.

In the center, Tess is practically vibrating with excitement, bouncing in place and spinning in a slow circle like she’s trying to take in every single face around her. She beams up at them all, cheeks flushed, chest puffed out like she knows this is big. Like she feels it.

The sigils glow brighter. And brighter.

Then they erupt—a blinding flash of white light bursts outward, slamming into everyone like a wave.

Emily stumbles back a step, her hands gripping tightly. If she hadn’t been holding on, she knows she would’ve been thrown flat.

She blinks hard, trying to clear the light from her eyes. “Jeez,” she says, turning to Caelan. “Was that supposed to happen?”

He’s staring straight ahead, brows drawn.

“Yes,” he says. “But not with that much force.”

Emily turns to Varis, who looks equally rattled. Her brow is furrowed, lips pressed in a tight line. Then her gaze snaps back to the center.

“Tess?”

The girl is lying on the ground, arms spread, eyes closed.

Varis immediately steps forward, moving fast.

Emily’s heart jumps and she rushes after her. “Oh my god—is she okay?”

Varis kneels, already checking Tess’s pulse. “Yes,” she says calmly. “This is normal. It always knocks them out for a bit.”

Caelan drops to a crouch beside them, his expression unreadable.

Emily kneels too, hovering over Tess. She looks peaceful—but small. Too small.

Caelan nods to Varis. “Lift her sleeve.”

Varis does it carefully, pushing back the wide brown fabric.

A mark glows faintly beneath the skin—like a tattoo etched into light. The letters are bold and swirling, almost alive. It stretches from the inside of her wrist to just below her elbow.

One word.

Veinwitch.