13. Elianna

Chapter thirteen

Elianna

After nearly a week of tirelessly informing the citizens of Ellecaster about our relocation and assisting them with arrangements, we were finally ready to proceed to their sanctuary beyond the mountains.

Preparations had taken longer than I had originally hoped. However, I reined in my nerves that refused to settle, realizing that I was asking these people, who still barely knew me outside of what they had recently witnessed, to completely uproot their lives once more.

Endless lines of humans, fae, carts, and livestock stretched around the bends of the city, waiting for us to lead them into the passageway hidden between the peaks. Significantly more people had decided to leave their lives here behind and journey to Alaia than we expected, making it clear that their fear of history repeating itself was at the forefront of their minds.

Scouts reported sighting several of the horses I had liberated from our enemy's army all those days ago, including Matthias. Once the scouts had gathered them up, they were swiftly escorted back to Ellecaster .

I followed my mate's lead as we led the army at our backs to the farthest inner edge of the city, where their stone structures met rocky cliffs. Glancing up into the sky, I watched Nox as he circled above in the nearly dawn sky as he waited for us.

We had sent word by falcon to those beyond the peaks, letting them know what was to come. The plan was for Jace and me to fly to Alaia on our own, making sure they were as prepared as possible for the onslaught of new citizens that were about to pour into the valley. It would also allow me a chance to formally meet the generals who watched over Alaia in his absence.

Zaela and Gage would lead my siblings and the rest of those who chose to relocate through the hidden passage.

We moved past the stone courthouse built into the mountain’s base, and a glorious chill made its way up my spine, knowing that Vincent’s body had been left to rot within it. The male didn’t deserve a proper send-off into the afterlife.

Once at the very back edge of the city, we came face-to-face with what appeared to be an enormous boulder molded to the mountain's base—that was until Jace whistled his command to the guards who watched this secret entrance. My gaze lifted to the top of the left tower, where a soldier pulled a lever. Out of nowhere, concealed ropes connected to pulley contraptions sprung to life, deftly maneuvering the boulder by slowly lifting it up the mountainside.

Our necks craned as we watched the enormous, heavy piece of granite climb the jagged edge of the cliff before us .

“Oh my,” Avery whispered as she sat atop Matthias, snapping me out of my trance.

My gaze followed hers to see that the passageway carved into the mountains had revealed itself as the dust and debris leisurely settled.

The pathway was by no means wide, and I could already envision some of the carts lined up behind us having a hard time getting pulled through without snagging on some sort of root or crevice.

“You’ve been through this many times?” Avery asked as Gage stood beside her mount.

“Oh yes, there's nothing in there. Don’t worry. The scariest thing will definitely be your witchy friend.”

Veli shot him a look of annoyance from where she stood a few paces behind them.

“Children found this passage?” I asked skeptically, as one of my brows lifted. Nyra danced around my feet in circles, letting out a short growl as she watched the dust settle.

“They believe the passage appeared when much of the city and mountainside had been decimated. They discovered it when people returned here to rebuild the city,” Zaela answered. “My father was a bit of a…menace when he was young. Exploring areas he shouldn’t have been.”

“Weren’t we all?” Gage chimed in.

“You’re not quite out of that phase yet, my friend,” Jace said as he took his place at my side. He wrapped his arm around my shoulder. “Are you ready, Lia?”

“This will take a day for them to push through?” I asked, as my gaze wandered behind our friends to the awaiting masses .

“Give or take. The children will remain in the wagons to prevent injuries and wandering. They are prepared to march through, as the passage is too narrow to make a proper camp in,” he answered.

“Excellent.” I blew out a breath and turned to Avery. “I will see you on the other side.” I glanced at Gage and then back at my sister. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

She answered with a wink, and when I stepped toward her, I leaned in close to her ear and whispered, “And that’s antagonizing Zaela.”

Avery scoffed as I turned to Finn and Landon, who had each mounted a horse. “Be safe.”

Zaela approached me from behind and clapped my shoulder. “They’ll survive. It's just a day, Lia,” she huffed before she started shouting out orders down the lines in preparation to leave.

Day or not, the thought of being separated from them all again made my chest tighten.

“Alright, everyone, let's move out!” Jace boomed.

The endless line of citizens took their first step in tandem. The sound of shouts repeating his words, wagons turning wheels, and the click of hooves on the cobblestones echoed throughout the air. And before I could blink, Zaela had disappeared in the passage, followed by Avery and Veli, while the boys all stood at the front of the entrance, guiding the lines through seamlessly.

Our people smiled, and the children waved excitedly at us as they sauntered by, making the corners of my lips twitch up as I returned their gestures .

Nox let out a loud shriek, forcing my eyes up to watch as he landed and perched himself on a looming cliff of one of the peaks, observing them all as they entered the passage as if he were watching over them himself.

We stood there for what seemed to be over an hour until the very last person in line entered. Jace gave the guards the signal to close off the entrance, and we remained until the boulder landed, sealing it shut behind everyone.