Chapter 24

Chapter

Twenty-Four

A t the prow of the Stormbreaker , Harald stood, the salt air filling his lungs. He was ready to press on, but before he could give the order to continue, a new sight caught his attention. A group of fairies raced toward the ship from the direction of Fae Falls. Their wings shimmered in the sunlight as they flew at top speed, their urgency evident.

The sea raiders and the fairies on board paused in their tasks, watching as the approaching fairies landed gracefully on the deck.

The leader of the group, a stern-looking fairy with a sense of command, quickly stepped forward, her expression grave. "Harald," she called out, her voice carrying over the deck. "We bring word from Queen Rebutia and King Giles. They've requested that you return to Fae Falls immediately."

Harald's brow furrowed in confusion. "What's happened? Have they found something?"

The fairy shook her head. "Not exactly. They're hoping that the seers will speak more if you're present. They believe that your actions—your battles, your confrontations—are agitating the forces of Evermore. The seers won't speak if they sense you're ready to fight everyone who stands in your way. The queen and king believe that your presence might coax more information from them, but only if you return now and show restraint."

Harald clenched his fists, frustration surging through him. He understood their reasoning, but the thought of turning back, of delaying the search for Karalyn, filled him with a deep sense of dread. Every moment spent away from Theriana felt like a moment wasted, a moment when Karalyn could be slipping further out of reach.

"They want me to abandon the search," Harald said, his voice edged with frustration. "To leave Karalyn in the hands of those shapeshifters while we hope the seers say something? I can't do that."

The lead fairy's expression softened slightly. "I know this is difficult, Harald, but the seers may have knowledge we don't, but they won't speak freely if they believe you're on a path of destruction."

Harald's mind raced, torn between the urgency to continue the search and the need to heed the wisdom of the seers. He doubted the seers would help. They only told him the details of his own curse after he had threatened them.

He let out a slow breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions inside him. Finally, he turned back to the lead fairy. "We'll return to Fae Falls," he said, his voice firm. "But we won't wait long. If the seers have something to say, they need to say it now. Karalyn's life depends on it."

The fairy nodded, relief evident in her eyes. "Thank you, Harald. I'll send word ahead that we're on our way."

Harald gave the order to turn the Stormbreaker around, the ship's sails catching the wind as they changed course back toward Fae Falls. The fairies who had delivered the message took to the skies once more, leading the way.

His knuckles were white as he gripped the railing of the Stormbreaker , his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where Theriana lay, just out of reach. The decision to turn back gnawed at him, but there were the mermaids, visible in the distance, their sleek forms gliding just beneath the waves. Their presence was a reminder of the delicate balance of power in these waters. To anger them now, without knowing where their loyalties lay, could spell disaster.

They would have to sail around Ashelin or else travel across elven land to reach the shapeshifter's kingdom. If the elves learned that Harald instigated a battle against the Kingdom of the Skies and then the sirens, they might believe that Harald was intent on waging war across all of Evermore.

Harald's heart ached as he gave the order to turn the ship around. He felt like he was abandoning Karalyn, like every moment spent sailing away from Theriana was another moment she was in danger, but he had to be rational. The seers in Fae Falls held knowledge that might be crucial. As much as he wanted to charge ahead, he knew that charging blindly could lead him—and Karalyn—into even greater peril. Maybe the shapeshifters weren't to blame, or maybe many of the species of Evermore were conspiring against him and his.

The return to Fae Falls was tense, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on everyone. Harald could see the concern in the eyes of his crew and the nervous fluttering of the wings of the fairies. He felt as if they were teetering on the edge between action and destruction.

When they finally docked back on the isle, Elton was already there, ready to assist Harald on the ascent to Fae Falls. The moment he reached the floating island, Harald was met by Queen Rebutia and King Giles. Their expressions were a mixture of relief and deep concern. They had been waiting for him.

"Harald," Queen Rebutia said softly, her voice filled with understanding. "We know how difficult this is for you. We share your pain and worry, but we saw the battle with the sirens… We must be careful. One wrong move could set off a chain of events that none of us can stop."

King Giles stepped forward, his gaze steady and filled with concern. "We're here to help you, Harald. I did mean what I told you earlier, but the seers… We need to think carefully about our next steps. The seers have knowledge that could guide us, but they're wary. They won't reveal what they know if they sense we're on the brink of chaos."

Harald's fists clenched at his sides, his heart pounding. The thought of sitting back, of waiting for answers that might never come, was unbearable. He wanted to trust them and believe that they were all working toward the same goal, but doubts filled his mind, sowing seeds of distrust and fear.

"I don't know if I can trust anyone," Harald admitted, his voice rough with emotion. "Not even myself. The curse… it's twisting everything. I don't know what's real anymore. How can I trust the seers? How can I trust that their words won't lead us deeper into darkness? How do we know that they didn't…"

Queen Rebutia's eyes softened with sympathy. "You must hold on to who you are and to the love you have for Karalyn. The seers may speak in riddles, but they do so because they see the threads of fate that bind us all. They can help us find her but only if you're willing to listen and trust."

Harald shook his head, his thoughts a storm of conflicting emotions. "How can I trust when I don't even know if what I'm feeling is real? The curse is in my mind and heart. It's trying to break me and turn me against those I care about. I don't know if I can trust my own judgment anymore."

King Giles placed a hand on Harald's shoulder, his grip firm and reassuring. "That's why we're here, Harald. You don't have to face this alone. We're all affected by this, but together, we can find a way forward. We can't afford to let the curse win. Not now, not when Karalyn needs us the most."

Harald looked between the two of them. He wanted to believe them, but the curse's grip was strong, and it was hard to silence the voice in his head that told him he was alone, that he couldn't trust anyone.

Not even himself.

Especially not himself.

Finally, he let out a long, shaky breath, nodding slowly. "I'll listen to the seers and hear what they have to say, but if I sense that we're wasting time… if I feel that we're losing her… I can't promise that I'll stay here. I have to find her. I have to save her."

Queen Rebutia gave him a small, sad smile. "We're not asking you to abandon her. We're only asking you to consider every option, to use every resource we have to bring her back safely."

King Giles nodded in agreement. "The seers may hold the key to finding Karalyn. We must give them the chance to speak."

Harald swallowed hard, the knot in his chest loosening just a fraction. "Very well," he said, his voice low but resolute. "Let's see what the seers have to say."

With that, the fairies flew off, leading the way to the seers. Harald waited a moment before trailing behind them on foot.

This time, he would listen. This time, he would try to trust.

But the doubt remained, a shadow that lingered at the edges of his mind, waiting for the moment to strike.

Especially because he could not forget that the sea raider seers had failed his mother.

Was history repeating itself?