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42. Chapter 42

Chapter 42

" I 've got to get out of here, Cirrus." He perches on my shoulder as I peer out my window, fantasizing about running away. "Do you think Luc would come after me if I left?" Cirrus caws loudly. "I think so too. He's been reading books about sirens lately. It worries me."

He hops off my shoulder and lands on the windowsill. "I thought August might have come for me by now, but I guess Razenna was right. I should dash out any hopes of him rescuing me." I lift my necklace, showing him. "Eoin would come for me if I snap this."

I hold the small bar between two fingers, and Cirrus caws again, flapping his wings.

"You're right. No sense putting him in danger."

Cirrus flies off, and I sigh. Alone again. I return to my room and fall back onto my bed like a starfish, closing my eyes.

Something hits my face—a juniper berry.

A quick knock on my door, followed by shuffling feet, has me out of bed in seconds.

"A message from Selene, miss." The servant hands me a scroll with the official Selene wax seal and scurries off.

"That was fast," I say, waving the scroll at Cirrus. He cocks his head.

I crack the seal and read the hastily written text aloud to Cirrus, as he's my only friend these days.

Bronwyn,

We received the below urgent message from Eoin. We will not make it in time, but perhaps you can.

Bron,

Ravton Bay is surrounded by frygt. I see their red eyes in the forest. Each night, they get closer. They have not entered the city yet, but I fear for our safety. We are running out of time. Send help.

Eoin

When did he send this? My hand trembles. I run through the hall toward the royal suite. Oh, gods please let there be time. Guards stop me at the door and my knuckle barely taps the door as one of them pulls me back.

"Luc!" I shout through the door, and the guard sets me down. I pound on the wall and shout again.

"Stand down!" The guard shouts, but I ignore him, pounding on the wall.

"Luc it's me I need help!"

"Let her in," a muffled voice calls within.

The second guard opens the door, and I stumble into the living quarters, straightening my blouse. "Where are you?"

"I'm bathing." His voice carries from another room.

I pass through the reading room into the bedroom, eyes catching on his oversized four-poster bed.

"Luc, I need your help."

"Mmmm hmm. I'll be out in a bit, but you can wait in my sitting room." The languid splashing of water adds to my panic. He's not taking me seriously.

I pound on the door loudly. "This is an emergency!"

More gentle splashing. I burst through the door. Luc sets up straight in the tub and looks absolutely astonished by my behavior before taking a relaxed sip from his wine glass. "Care to join me, Legs?"

"What?" I'm momentarily taken aback. "No, I need your help." I approach him with the letter and hand it to him. He reads it, and his eyebrows furrow. He looks up at me and hands the letter back.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with that." He genuinely looks disappointed and eyes me cautiously. "Even if I wanted to, wards were placed in border cities when the treaties were signed. Someone inside Ravton would have to disable them for us to even be able to enter the city. Only human blood can cross the borders freely."

"I can go in." My words tumble out faster than I can think of them. "I have human blood. I can cross. I will find someone to disable them. Please, Luc. I'll do anything."

He eyes me intensely and then stands. He steps out of the tub and takes the note from me, reading it again. "We can take a small group. If you can disable the wards, we will help your friends."

I throw myself into his wet, soapy arms and squeeze him. "Thank you." He stiffens, and I'm suddenly aware of how naked he is. I clear my throat and step back, trying to look anywhere but his naked form. "I'll let you get dressed then."

I return to my room and change out of my dress and into travel clothes. Cirrus repeatedly flies in my face and even whacks me in the head once. "I know, Cirrus, I'm trying to hurry. Oh!" I run to my pile of laundry and pull out the ripped page. "I need you to take this to Razenna. It's an emergency. Tell her I know the Prophet isn't our target, but something really doesn't feel right about him."

Within the hour, we stand on the front lawn with Sven and seven other hand-picked Helios warriors. They are armored to the teeth, and I realize this is the first time I've seen anyone in Helios in full battle armor. Large sun emblems are molded into their golden chest plates, which shine bright in the afternoon sunlight. A long billowing cape is attached to Luc's armor, displaying the Helios court colors of ivory, gold, and crimson.

One by one, Luc takes a soldier and phases with them until he returns, and it's just the two of us. "Ready?" he asks, and takes my hand.

The first thing I notice when we phase is the sudden difference in humidity. It's hard to breathe, and I'm already sweating. My balance is thrown as the planks below me shift, sending me flailing.

"One of my favorite tricks," Luc says. "You have to phase somewhere you've been before, but no one said that ship can't be moved elsewhere. We are fortunate I had one of these close by."

The ten of us stand on a large vessel just outside of Ravton Bay. I can see the pier ahead and behind it, several small merchant stalls. It must be market day. Everything looks ordinary. I turn to Luc. "How will you know when the shield is down?"

"I'll know." He really does look like a high lord today, ready to lead his people into battle. "Be careful."

I remove my shoes and leap into the water towards the pier. The sudden plunge into cool water awakens my senses. Thankfully, the tide is calm today, and I make it to shore with minimal breaks.

I get a few odd looks from sailors and merchants as I pull myself, dripping wet, onto a walkway. I ring out my hair and head straight for The Snakebeard. If anyone knows where Eoin is now, I bet Jessa does.

My wet bare feet slap against the cobblestones as I weave through the merchants to The Snakebeard. The bell above the door rings as I rip the door open. Several patrons look my way as I slip on the wood floor and catch myself. I want to enjoy being here, but the urgency of Eoin's letter spurs me on.

"Where's Jessa?" I ask Antoine behind the bar.

"Bronwyn?" Antoine looks both concerned and confused. "Why are you all wet? Are you okay? I didn't know you were back."

"Where's Jessa? It's important."

"She doesn't work today," he says gently. "Are you sure you're alright?"

My heart sinks. Of course, she doesn't. I could try St. Agatha's. They might know where Eoin moved to and, presumably, took Tomas. I don't know if I have that much time. "Do you know where Eoin is?" I ask, testing my luck.

His face changes from concern to pity, and my heart sinks. Has something already happened to him? "Oh, hun."

Why is he consoling me?

"He built a place about three miles south near the old Plekton farm; a small cedar house with green shutters. You can't miss it."

"Thank you, Antoine. Did you keep all of my stuff in my room?"

"Sure did; you paid ahead. They searched it, though, so some things may be missing."

I fly up the stairs and find an old pair of boots before taking off in a reasonable jog south. I'm not in shape enough to run fast long distances. I'm guessing it will take me half an hour to get there. "Eoin, if this is a prank of some sort, I'm going to hit you," I say to myself, already short of breath.

I pass the Plekton farm and see a modest cedar farmhouse with green shutters ahead. The cedar is still bright and warm and hasn't grayed with time. The steady, repetitive thwack of someone cutting wood draws my attention to the rear. I slow down and catch my breath as I approach. The sound stops, and Eoin steps around the corner with a bundle of wood in his arms. He sees me and drops the wood, rushing towards me.

I find myself in his arms, fighting back tears. I miss this. Eoin always knows what to do.

"I got your letter. I'm so glad I made it in time. I'm so glad you're okay."

He pulls me at arm's length and looks me up and down. "What do you mean? What are you doing here, and why are you wet?" A long creak behind Eoin grabs my attention, and he turns to the door as well, letting go of my shoulders.

Out of the house steps Jessa, long blonde hair flowing gently in the breeze. Her eyes bounce between us.

"Jessa is visiting." He's stiff. I know what this means, and I don't care right now. I'm so glad I made it in time. "Wait." His tone is serious. "What are you doing here? I didn't send you a letter."

"You said there were frygt. . ." I trail off. Eoin isn't listening to me anymore but scans the surroundings with an alertness that sends chills to my bones. Something isn't right. I scan the swamp and forest to the rear of the farm, spotting several sets of red eyes.

"Eoin. . ."

"I see them," he says calmly. "Jessa, go inside and grab my long and short sword." Eoin's words are calm and steady. He pulls me towards a stable, and we quickly saddle his two horses.

"We need to disable the wards," I say urgently. "Luc is here with soldiers to help." He looks at me like I've gone mad.

"What did the letter say? The one I supposedly wrote."

"That the city is surrounded by frygt."

His jaw clenches. "Then it surely is. Best pray your friends really are here to help. Take Jessa to the barracks. They'll keep her safe. Ask for General Laurent; he'll know how to disable the wards. I will hold them off." He hands me a set of reigns.

"No, Eoin. There are too many. Come with us."

"I don't care!" His tone is sharp, and I flinch. He's never yelled at me like this. "I need you to be safe. Do you know the way?" I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. Jessa returns with the swords, and Eoin hands me the short sword.

"If you can get to St. Agatha's after you speak to the general, Tomas is there visiting friends. I'll meet you there."

Jessa starts crying and clings to Eoin's arm. "What's going on?" Tears stream down her flushed cheeks.

"Eoin!" I point to the swamp, where several cloaked figures emerge, all with red eyes. Jessa screams and cries harder, clinging to Eoin. He helps her onto the horse behind me and loops his sword through his belt. He mounts up and grabs a bow and set of arrows from the stable wall.

"Hang on," I tell Jessa, and she wraps her arms around me, still sobbing.

We take off at a full gallop towards the barracks. I glance over my shoulder at Eoin, taking out a straggling frygt with his bow.

Distant screaming confirms Eoin's suspicion that the city is surrounded, and the screaming grows in number as we get closer to the city. We breach the city limits, and the sound of thunderous hoof beats on grass is promptly replaced with the sharp clack of hoofs on cobblestone and more distant yelling. The screams are closer now and on all sides. We're forced to slow down as we weave between buildings.

Jessa squeezes me so tightly I can hardly breathe. I release one hand from the reigns and place it over Jessa's, giving her some gentle pats. She relaxes and then lets out a blood-curdling scream as something as large as a ship flies over us, spewing fire.

A gust of wind wafts past us as it beats its massive wings. "Dragons aren't real. Dragons aren't real. Dragons aren't real." Jessa repeats this mantra to herself as we wind through the city, bumping past fleeing citizens.

A man fully engulfed in flames rushes past us, screaming, and collapses on the ground. It feels so much like a dream—like I'm not really here.

"We're almost there, Jessa. Hang on just a little bit longer." The barracks ahead are bustling with soldiers gearing up and riding out. I see a familiar face and kick my heels into the horse. We rush towards the barracks entrance but are stopped by two soldiers on horseback. They hold us back, allowing a steady stream of men to exit and charge the city.

I hop off the horse and help Jessa off. We run around the guards to the gate.

"Henry!" I yell at the young, freckled man who straps on his armor. He looks around.

"Over here!"

He grabs his helmet and jogs over to us, letting us pass through the gate. "Jessa? Bron? What are you doing here? Where's Eoin?"

"He's on his way. Do you have somewhere safe for Jessa to . . ."

All three of us duck as an explosion sounds close by. I look over my shoulder. Black smoke billows skyward, and the beast torches several other buildings.

"A dragon," I whisper in disbelief, watching it fly gracefully overhead, dipping and gnashing its teeth.

I turn to Henry; all color drained from his face. "No," he says. "Nowhere is safe." He swallows hard and puts his helmet on.

"Wait!" I grab his arm. "I need General Laurent to disable the wards. There are fae warriors here who can help." His unfocused eyes snap to mine.

"Follow me." I grab Jessa's hand and pull her through the lines of soldiers in the barracks. Henry leads us into a stone building and through a metal door. Several armed men engage in a heated argument, pointing fingers and raising voices.

"General Laurent," Henry salutes and calls to the General. An older man with white hair glares at him. "Nine fae warriors await just offshore. They're here to lend aid. Bronwyn brought them."

"Bronwyn? Eoin's Bronwyn?" He turns to me, and Jessa's hand falls from mine. "Do you trust her?" He directs his question to Henry.

"I do." The brief moment the General contemplates this feels like an eternity.

"Get me the mage!" General Laurent orders resolutely and then more quietly, "You better be right." One of the men runs quickly from the room and slams the door behind him.

A mage, but they're illegal. I don't understand.

The man returns with an older, frail man in shackles. He shoves him into the room, and the man stumbles but doesn't fall. His clothes, if you can call them that, are tattered, and he brings a distinct smell with him.

"Mage!" The general shouts at the old man while pulling a necklace from inside his shirt. "Disable the wards, and we will let you go."

A wicked grin spreads across the mage's face, and he extends his arms. The general nods his head to the guard, who unshackles him.

The mage seems taller, yet the long curve of his spine remains. He takes the necklace from the general and begins chanting, just as Eoin does with the rune gates. An uneasiness blossoms in my core, unrelated to the terror outside.

The necklace hums and glows and the general tosses his desk over, revealing a trigger plate in the stone floor. He presses it and up pops a rod with a recessed cavity shaped like the necklace.

The mage places the necklace into the rod, perfectly completing the sphere shape. The mage chants more, raising his hands in the air, and the runes on the necklace glow and hum loudly. The mage cackles loudly, and the rod disintegrates.

The air around me prickles slightly, similar to the energy I pick up when regenerating my well. I narrow my gaze on the mage, wondering how much different this was than opening a rune gate.

"Did that work?" Henry asks. "How will we know if it worked?"

Another explosion sounds, this time closer. The ground shakes, and dust plumes from the ground and stone walls.

"It worked," I say, trusting my intuition, the reality of the situation finally sinking in. These people are dying and gruesomely. I need to get to Tomas.

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