“I refuse! I would rather die than marry him!” Oleander seethes through her teeth. A wicked light gleams in the eyes of Gaelheart’s son.
Marry him? This is the son that The King and her father wanted her to marry when she was fifteen!The thought of bargaining off his daughter when she was so young boils my blood. My only solace is in envisioning Pyralis set on fire.
“You should burn, you bastard!” Oleander yells then covers her mouth with her hand. I feel her shock at the outburst shudder through her.I was the one who thought that! Oh no, no, no! Did I make her say that?
Pyralis looks as equally shocked as I feel. He whips his head to see the reaction of The Wolf with what looks like fear taking hold of his expression.
“Please, your majesty, excuse her outburst. She knows not what she says. I am to blame for her fiery heart,” Pyralis pleads, bowing his head in subservience.I never expected him to fear anyone…
“Very well. Your trial will be the day after tomorrow, at dusk.” The Wolf gives her a grin, showing his now elongated fangs before pushing up from the table, leaving through a backdoor that is camouflaged in the wood paneling without another word or glance at Oleander.
The day after tomorrow? That’s too soon! Is this just a bloody business deal to him?
Oleander washes her face in her hands and looks up to see Galeheart and his son have also departed. She is left with Pyralis.
“Why? Why blame me father? Why not just let me be?” Oleander pleads.
“Please… Darling you must know it is for your own good. For the good of the family.” He gets up and comes to sit right next to her, leaning in close as if he is hugging her. She glances at the vargs who had been guarding her but they are in conversationwith themselves. Pyralis whispers in her ear, “if you know where she is you must tell me. Please, I only wish to protect her. Embrys can go retrieve her and bring her to safety.” He clasps her hand as he pulls away but she sends a burst of flame through her hands, encasing both of their arms in fire. Pyralis just shakes his head and looks at her with pity. Oleander snarls in response.
“I wish you had turned out more like your mother, but you are allme,” he seethes as he pulls his hand away and strides towards the door, signalling the vargs to bring her back to her room.
Oleander crumples from his words for the briefest of moments but when the vargs grab her again she ignites. Her whole body is covered in flames, causing them to yelp and pull back. Before she can make her escape she is doused by a deluge of water. Nerius appears from the hallway that Pyralis had just exited to and gives Oleander an equally pitying look before turning to follow his employer, leaving her soaked from head to toe and shivering from the icy water.
I gasp and open my eyes to find that I am back in my glow worm illuminated room.The trial is in two days! I need to talk to Embrys, I need to warn him…
The presence of the crystals hums through the walls. They are calling me. They know what I must do and now, so do I.
Chapter Nineteen
Iquietly make my way to the main cave, not wanting to wake anyone but also unsure of what time it is. The constant glow worm light doesn’t really help with that, it probably contributes to Gaius’ insanity.
When I round the corner I see that the animals are indeed sleeping. They are curled up in various groups so I tiptoe around them, trying not to alert anyone of my movements. Gaius is snoring in his bed at the far side of the room, I’m grateful for the sound to cover up my sneaking. I am almost at the cave when Selene, the wolf, steps in front of me, blocking my path.
Where do you think you are going?her low, growling voice questions me.
I must enter the crystal cave. My friend’s life depends on it. You will not get in my way!I try to step around her but she steps closer to the cave, blocking my entrance.
You heard Gaius. You are not ready. You will get lost.
I must try, please. A dear friend of mine is in danger and this is the only way I know I can help. You would do this for Gaius.The wolf bows her head then looks back to where Gaius is sleeping before stepping out of my way.
Thank you! Give me a few minutes before you wake him.I can read her intention to inform him but she nods at my request and sits down.
I look at the crystals and can feel their pull. The humming is growing louder and I swear I can feel my necklace humming in response, the metal grows hotter against my skin. I don’t have time to consider what this might mean. I must find Embrys and warn him. I step up into the cave, crouching low and sitting down, cross legged like I saw Gaius doing. The points of the crystal are sharp but don’t break any skin as I sit there.
Now what…I close my eyes but nothing happens. The necklace is growing almost painfully hot against my body and is becoming a big distraction so I lift it out from under my night dress so it is not resting on my skin but as I let go, it floats up in front of me.
A flash of light illuminates the cave, starting at my necklace and sparking to a large crystal to my right. I feel the burst of energy twang in my head like a hammer hitting a nail. My vision starts to blur and the last thing I see is the wolf jumping on to her feet and running towards the sleeping Gaius.
I’m in a dark purple,swirling vortex with shimmering lights, like the glow worms, but I cannot see the cave any longer. A dense smoke clouds my vision. I sense that I am dissolving into the void within the crystals but strangely, I am not afraid of it. It feels natural and good. My task is completely forgotten.
Time is strange here. I both feel like I have been in this state for an eternity but also for only a few seconds. I find peace and slowness within the spaces between the in breath and out breath. Everything is simple here and yet so beautifullycomplicated. Everything is spun out of the same web and I am both of that web and spinning it at the same time.
It would be so easy to just let go of myself, so easy to let go of the notion of self. It feels like the warm embrace of a welcome home.What was so urgent? What was I worried about?I can feel the cells of my body merging with the soft tendrils of purple smoke and I want to just relax and melt away.
Nuria,a voice calls my name and I feel it like a jolt to the system. The necklace around my neck is tugging me up, up, up.
Nuria.I do not recognize the voice. It is neither male nor female but its urgency brings my awareness back into focus.
