Chapter 18

Chapter

Eighteen

H arald awoke with a start, the first light of dawn filtering through the delicate, shimmering curtains of Karalyn's room in the fairy castle. The soft, floral scent of the room was familiar, a comforting reminder of the woman he loved, but as he reached out for her, his hand met only cool, empty sheets.

His heart skipped a beat as he sat up, blinking away the remnants of sleep. The room was eerily quiet, and Karalyn was nowhere to be seen. "Karalyn?" he called out, his voice rough from sleep, but there was no answer.

His instincts flared with unease, and he quickly swung his legs over the side of the bed, his senses sharpening. The room felt wrong—too quiet, too still. Harald's eyes swept across the space, taking in every detail, and that's when he noticed the subtle signs that something wasn't right.

The delicate glass vials on the vanity were knocked over, their contents spilled across the surface. A chair was overturned near the window, its backrest broken. The curtains were slightly torn, as if they had been caught in a struggle. His breath quickened as he approached the window, where the faintest trace of dried blood marred the pristine sill.

Panic surged through him. Fear gripped him as he leaped out of bed, his mind racing. "Karalyn!" he shouted, louder this time, his voice echoing through the room, but the only answer was the unsettling silence that hung in the air.

His heart pounded in his chest, a cold dread settling in his stomach. Someone had been here. Someone had taken her.

Harald's mind raced, running through the possibilities. They had many enemies—sylphs, wyverns, manticores, shapeshifters… those who resented their alliances and their marriage… Any one of them could have struck. His fists clenched at his sides, the fear for Karalyn mingling with a rising anger. Whoever had done this would pay dearly.

He forced himself to focus, to think logically despite the fear clawing at his throat. He needed to act, and quickly. Harald crossed the room in long, determined strides, scanning for more clues. Near the window, he found the enchanted sea shell that had been his mother. The necklace meant to protect one from the sirens had been broken in the struggle.

Harald's blood ran cold as he picked up the shell, the small item somehow heavy in his hand. It was proof of her resistance, proof that she hadn't gone willingly. The thought of her fighting alone, trying to fend off whoever had come for her, made his heart ache with fury and helplessness.

He knew he couldn't waste another moment. He had to find her and track down whoever had taken her before it was too late.

As there was no sign of her out the window or anywhere near there, Harald rushed to the door. He flung it open and was met by one of the fairy guards stationed in the hallway.

"Where is Karalyn?" Harald demanded, his voice low and urgent.

The guard's eyes widened in alarm as he took in Harald's expression. "We… We've had no reports of her leaving the castle."

Harald cursed under his breath, gripping the doorframe to steady himself. "She's been taken," Harald said, his voice tight with controlled panic. "Get help—now. We need to search the castle, the grounds, and the skies."

"Taken?" the guard gasped out.

Harald nodded grimly. "There's been a struggle in her room. She's gone, and I fear she's been taken by one of our enemies. Gather every available guard. We search the entire castle, the grounds, and beyond. We must find her."

The guard nodded, his face pale, and quickly hurried off to carry out the orders. Harald turned back to the room, his eyes scanning the space once more as he tried to piece together what had happened. His mind flashed through every enemy they had made, every threat they had faced, but the possibilities were too many, too overwhelming.

A deep sense of dread settled over him as he imagined Karalyn in the hands of someone who wished them harm. The thought of her being hurt or worse was unbearable. He had to stay focused, push his fear aside, and think like the warrior he was.

Harald moved to the window again, leaning out to look down at the ground below. It was a sheer drop from the fairy castle, the kind of fall that could only be survived with the help of magic. His eyes narrowed as he spotted a faint, shimmering trail leading away from the base of the castle, disappearing into the dense forest beyond. It was the residue of fairy magic, likely used to transport Karalyn or her captors.

He turned on his heel and headed for the door, his mind already forming a plan. He needed to follow that trail, and quickly, before it faded completely. But he also knew he couldn't do this alone. He needed help, and he needed it now.

Harald rushed through the castle's corridors, his heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. It was difficult, nearly impossible, for him to think clearly. He needed help, and he needed it fast.

After fruitless searching for who knew how long, he stepped back into the room. Sea raiders did not possess magic within themselves as the species did, but might fairy eyes be able to see something that he could not?

He turned and strode through the castle, his heart pounding with every step. He needed to find someone who could help him understand what had happened, and his thoughts turned to the Guardians of the Air, whose duty was to protect the skies and the floating isle. If anyone could track down the use of magic in this realm, they could.

Harald made his way to the airy spires where Florian was often stationed, fear for Karalyn gnawing at him with every passing moment.

As he reached the spire, Florian, with his gilded armor and serene presence, was already there, seemingly alerted by the disturbance. The Guardian of the Air's silver hair caught the morning light, and his wings, delicate and translucent, fluttered as he turned to face Harald.

"Harald," Florian greeted, his voice calm but tinged with concern. "I sensed a disruption in the air. What has happened?"

"Karalyn is gone," Harald said, his voice strained. "There's been a struggle in her room. I need your help to find her."

Florian's expression grew grave, and he nodded. "I feared as much. The magic here has been restless, uneasy. I will search the skies and any magical trails that lead from the castle. If she has been taken by magical means, I will find the path."

Harald's tension eased slightly at Florian's words. "Thank you, Florian. I'll need all the help I can get."

As Florian prepared to take to the skies, Harald struggled to think of who else could help. What about Elmer, one of Karalyn's friends? Her best friend, Eliana, remained in Tridor as far as Harald knew.

Harald asked every fairy he came across if they had seen Karalyn. None had, of course, just as none had any idea of her whereabouts. Then, he asked where Elmer might be found, and most suggested the central gardens.

The gardens were quiet, the usual vibrant energy subdued, as if the very plants sensed the tension in the air. Elmer was there, tending to a cluster of glowing flowers, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Elmer," Harald called out.

Elmer looked up, his face breaking into a smile that quickly faded as he saw Harald's expression. "Harald? What's wrong?"

"It's Karalyn," Harald said, trying to keep his voice steady. "She's missing. There were signs of a struggle in her room. Florian and many others are searching the skies, but I need to know who might have done this and where they could have taken her."

Elmer's face paled, and he dropped the flowers he'd been holding. "By the stars… this is worse than I feared." He quickly composed himself, his eyes narrowing in determination. "I'll do everything I can. We need to search the castle and its hidden passages."

"Hidden passages?"

Elmer chuckled nervously. "There might have been times when Karalyn would slip out of the castle without, ah, permission. Fairies tend to look skyward, but the passages are lower, closer to the ground… even within the soil of the floating isle…"

For a moment, Harald allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. If Karalyn had come up with some sort of idea or plan or learned something of note…

But why would she have not woken him? Alerted anyone to her notions? And the blood…

"If she's been taken," Elmer continued, "they might have used one of them."

Harald nodded grimly. "Let's start now. We can't waste any time."

Together, they began their search, moving swiftly through the castle's winding corridors, secret nooks, and hidden doorways. Elmer led the way.

As they searched, Harald's mind was a whirlwind of fear and anger. The image of Karalyn fighting alone haunted him. He had to find her and bring her back safely. There was no other option.

They had just exited a narrow, hidden passageway when Florian appeared, descending gracefully from the sky. His expression was serious as he approached.

"There is a trail of magic," Florian said, his voice low. "It leads away from the castle, toward the eastern edge of the isle. It's faint, but it's there."

Harald's heart leaped at the news. "Then we follow it."

Elmer nodded, his face set with determination. "I'll come with you."

Without another word, they set off, following the trail. The path was faint and winding, leading them through dense forests and over narrow, rocky outcrops. Every step brought them closer to the edge of the isle, and every moment felt like an eternity to Harald.

As they neared the edge, Harald's fear for Karalyn's safety grew stronger, but so did his resolve. Whoever had taken her was about to face the full force of his wrath. He wouldn't stop until he had her back, safe and sound.

They reached a small clearing at the edge of the isle, where the trail seemed to dissipate into the open air. Harald's heart pounded as he scanned the area, looking for any sign of Karalyn or her captors.

"Where to now?" he demanded. "Is the trail in the skies? Do we head to Skyemoor? She must have been taken by someone who could fly."

"Or by a shapeshifter," Elmer commented quietly.

Florian grimaced. "I cannot sense where Karalyn had been taken after this point.

Harald stood at the edge of the clearing, staring out over the clouds below and then at the other floating isle that belonged to enemies and more enemies. His fear for Karalyn's safety was a constant, gnawing ache.

He would find her. He would bring her back, and whoever had taken her would pay dearly for their mistake.