11. Confronting Kaelith

11

CONFRONTING KAELITH

(RIVEN)

“ R owena?” I knock on her door the next morning. “Rowena?”

I’m about to knock again when the door swings open, and she appears all smiles. Rowena’s ability to make the most of every situation is beautiful and endears me to her even more.

Before the curse took over last night, I spent hours worrying about Rowena, hoping she didn’t feel bad at Kaelith’s disregard for her. As soon as I thawed out this morning, she was the first thing that came to mind. I can’t wait to leave the Aldavar courts and be done with Kaelith. If I don’t see her in the next ten years, it will be too soon.

“Are you ready to leave?” I ask Rowena.

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

Laughing, we hurry down the stairway, only to run into Kaelith in the foyer. She’s like a bad spirit, hovering around and ruining everyone’s day. When she sees us coming, she smiles, and a chill runs up my spine because I can tell she has an ace up her sleeves.

“Hello, Riven,” she exclaims, and when she turns to greet Rowena, too, I’m now certain that she’s up to something.

“What are you up to, Kaelith?”

She frowns. “Don’t be rude. Isn’t it a good morning?”

“We’re leaving,” I answer. “Thank you for sharing your home for the night.”

She rolls her eyes. “It’s your home. Your father is the king.”

“Thank you anyway.” I start to leave, but she blocks my path, still smiling.

“I ordered the cook to make breakfast,” she says. “Surely you’re not about to leave without eating. She would be so sad.”

I sigh impatiently. “There’s really no time.”

She pulls away from me and takes Rowena’s arm, looping her arm in hers. “Rowena, I’m sure you understand it would be rude if you don’t stop for breakfast. It’ll only be a few minutes.”

Rowena glances at me, and I nod.

“Perfect.” Kaelith leads us to a huge dining table. The table has been served with different delicacies, and we sit down to eat. I’m not afraid of being poisoned. Kaelith might be many things, but she’s not stupid. Poisoning me in the Aldavar courts is all types of risky.

We eat silently, with Kaelith making occasional sounds of pleasure as she eats. She’s such an attention seeker. The meal is delicious, but nothing that warrants all the noises she’s making. Halfway into breakfast, a guard rushes into the dining room, holding a sealed scroll.

He bows to me first, then Kaelith, before handing the scroll to her. “This is addressed to your father.”

Kaelith takes it from him and waves him off. She drinks some water and slowly opens the scroll, but I pay her no mind, concentrating on finishing my food so I can leave. Rowena is quiet, and I can tell she’s uncomfortable. I can’t wait to take her far away from here.

“Oh wow,” Kaelith says suddenly. “I guess your travel with the witch isn’t as quiet as you want it to be.”

“What do you mean?” I suddenly lose my appetite because I know whatever she says next will ruin my day.

Kaelith shrugs. “It’s from your father. I’ll read it out loud so you and your guest can hear what the Fae king has to say.”

She clears her throat. “I hear my son is now in Aldavar after traveling around with a filthy witch.” She punctuates this by glaring at Rowena, who has also stopped eating.

“Find him, Kryon,” Kaelith continues to read my father’s words. “And let him know that if he doesn’t return to the palace before the week’s end, he should never return, and I will no longer have a son.”

She slides the scroll across the table, and I skim the words, confirming everything she read aloud. Slowly, I look up, pinning her with a glare.

“This is all you, Kaelith.”

She gasps and has the effrontery to act shocked. “What do you mean?”

“You sent word to my father that I was here,” I accuse. “If you hadn’t, he never would have known.”

Kaelith laughs. “Riven, you have no idea what you’re doing, do you?” She asks. “Your travel with the little witch is not as hidden as you think. Almost everyone knows.”

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone knows you’re searching for the key to your cure,” she answers. “And we all know you’re on your way to Solavien to get it.”

Her words slam into me, giving me an instant headache.

“My father knows this?”

“Yes.”

Hurt and disappointment flow in my veins as I suddenly realize my father knew the whole time. Even before I met Rowena, even before Rowena began to search for a miracle for me, my father knew that the key to my salvation was in Solavien, and he did nothing about it. My heart shatters to pieces.

Why does he hate me so much? Why would he know this and not help me?

Rowena reaches across the table to take my hand, and I look at her. It’s funny how a girl I just met has become the crux of my existence. She’s shown up for me in ways that my family never has.

“Return to the palace, Riven,” Kaelith says. “This little witch cannot help you.”

“My name is Rowena,” Rowena fires back, rising to her feet. “Have some respect and use my proper name.”

“Respect?” Kaelith laughs. “You’re nothing but dead meat, witch. I know you feel some sense of importance walking with the Fae prince, but he’s way above your league and the reason you’ll die.”

I open my mouth to defend Rowena, but she does it herself.

“And what about you?” She asks Kaelith. “You think you’re in his league? Because you’re the daughter of the deputy? Because you were born into it?”

“Probably,” Kaelith mocks, but Rowena shakes her head.

“If Riven has any self-worth, he’ll realize that you’re not worthy of him,” she says, and the smile in Kaelith’s eyes disappears.

“You are not worthy to be called his friend, let alone anything more valuable,” Rowena continues. “Riven is the bravest, strongest, kindest person I know, when he has no reason to be because of his power. You had the privilege to be his fiancee, and you ruined it. Now you want to play him like a game. He will find the key, and he will get well; then, you will eat your words.”

Kaelith rises, meeting Rowena’s gaze head-on.

“Big words for a small creature like you,” she says. “I know who you are, Morgath has told me.”

Morgath?

What’s Kaelith doing talking to Morgath? There’s something sinister going on, and this is deeper than I ever imagined.

“You’re nothing like your mother, little witch,” Kaelith says. “And you will never be as strong as her. You can’t help Kaelith get to the key. You’re no match for this journey.”

“That’s enough, Kaelith!” I bark at her.

“Don’t worry about it, Riven.” Rowena touches my arm. “I won’t be taking advice from someone who barely knows how to put on her own clothes. You’ve never had to stand up for anything. You’re the real definition of a coward.”

Kaelith snarls. “Morgath will find you,” she says. “And when she does, I hope she tears you into a million pieces until your existence is only remembered by the earth that drank your blood.”

She turns to me. “You don’t know what you’re getting yourself into, Riven. If your father exiles you, you’ll have nothing left,” she says harshly. “Who are you without your power? Just a boy who turns into stone from dusk till dawn.”

Her words cut deep, but I don’t let it show. “You don’t know who I am, Kaelith. You only know the power I hold; you don’t know Riven.”

She purses her lips. “Riven, I’m only trying to help.”

“Help? I remember you to be a selfish and manipulative girl, Kaelith, and looking at you now, that hasn’t changed.” I push my chair back and step away. “Rowena, let’s get out of here.”

Rowena hurries toward me, and we head to the door.

“Riven, on the night of the lunar eclipse, the curse will be permanent,” Kaelith says, causing me to freeze. “On that night, you will become a stone permanently. You will lose all your consciousness and memories and cease to exist until the end of time.”

“And who told you this nonsense?”

“Queen Morgath,” she answers. “And it’s not nonsense if it’s true.”

“Really? And I’m sure she told you the solution; otherwise, your little meeting with her is incomplete, so humor me; what’s the solution?”

Kaelith takes a deep breath. “If you marry me, the permanence of the curse will be averted.”

Rowena stiffens behind me, but I keep my attention on Kaelith. “ Marry you?”

“Yes.” She nods.

“And what’s in it for you ?”

She rolls her eyes. “Riven! I’m doing this for you.”

“Well, guess what?” It’s my turn to laugh. “I will not be marrying you, Kaelith.”

Her mouth falls open. “What?”

“I would rather turn into a stone for life than be joined in marriage with you.”

Without waiting for a response, I storm out of the dining room, ensuring Rowena is behind me. As we make our way out of the palace, I battle with a hateful heart toward everything I’ve ever known.

Is my mom involved in this? Did she know there was a key in the elven realm of memory that could help me get over the curse? I’m disappointed at my dad’s involvement, but I can’t say I’m surprised. But mom? It would break my heart even more to learn that my mom knew.

“Riven! Please slow down.”

At Rowena’s call, I turn to see her a short distance away, struggling to catch up with me. I was too engrossed in my thoughts to be mindful of her. I rush down to her, an apologetic smile on my face.

“I’m sorry, Rowena. I got carried away.”

“I understand,” she answers, out of breath. “But your legs are so long!”

Laughing, we continue walking at a slower pace while Rowena tries to catch her breath.

“I’m sorry about Kaelith, Rowena,” I say. “I should never have agreed to stay the night.”

“What? No!” She scoffs. “I’d take her insults ten times over if it meant sleeping on that bed. It was so comfortable, I was knocked out as soon as my head touched the bed.”

I burst into laughter. “Rowena, you’re something else.”

“But seriously, you don’t need to apologize,” she says. “Her words have got nothing on me. In fact, it makes me want to work harder to get to Solavien. We need to get that key, Riven.”

Hearing her words, I almost confess my feelings to her. Maybe my father exiling me is for the better. Perhaps if I’m no longer a Fae prince, I can live with Rowena in the Forest of Herbs and finally be happy. It’s a long shot, but the more I think about it, the happier it makes me feel.

I can only hope that at the end of this journey, we’re both satisfied with where we’re at.