32. Finn

THIRTY-TWO

When we reach the tavern, there is a crowd outside. I push my way to the front, Briony close on my heels.

I do not care if I’m recognised. I need Garratt to open the fucking door.

I pound my fist hard on the wood. Behind me, someone shouts, “He’s busy. Can’t you hear?”

Pressing my ear to the door, I hear muffled cries from within. He’s screwing someone. That’s why he’s making everyone wait out here?

“Garratt, open up!” I yell. “It’s important. Open the hell-damned door!”

The noises stop. There’s a shuffling sound, then the door flings open. Everyone files inside as Garratt holds the door open, and when they have passed him, I grab him by the collar and drag him outside. “We have to go,” I tell him.

Shrugging out of my grip, Garratt straightens himself up. A female elf appears from inside. She is adjusting her skirt. “Everything all right?” she asks, staring at me, taking in my wings, and the bells on their tips, then biting her lower lip.

“Fine,” Garratt says. “Just having a word with an old friend.”

“I need you to get us into the castle.” I close the gap between us. I am taller and more menacing but Garratt doesn’t flinch.

“The castle? You’re starting already?” He lowers his voice. “Finn, I thought...”

“No. Not for that.” I am struggling to speak fast enough and clear enough. Briony steps in and speaks for me.

“Alana has gone to the castle to kill Lord Eldrion. Alone. We need to stop her.”

Garratt’s eyes widen. Something flickers in them as he looks at Briony, and Elodie notices it too because she slips her hand into Garratt’s.

He shakes his head. That was not what he expected to hear, clearly. Then, without hesitating, he gestures to the stable yard. “We’ll take my horses,” he says. “Elodie –”

“I’m coming.” She squeezes his hand. He looks at it with disdain but doesn’t let go.

“Fine,” he says. “You too?” He is looking at Briony.

“She’s with me,” I tell him, following quickly as we hurry into the yard and choose two grey horses. As I jump on, I pull Briony up beside me.

Garratt does the same with his elf girlfriend, and we canter out of the yard.

We travel through the streets of Luminael without stopping. When we reach the stretch of beach that leads out to the citadel, it is low tide. The water is too high for passing on foot, but not too high for the horses. So, we carry on.

When we reach the castle, Garratt turns to me. “Why would she do that?” he asks. “Go alone?”

“Because I told her she was capable of killing Eldrion.” I swallow hard. Briony pats my shoulder.

“It wasn’t your fault,” she says. “Alana is headstrong. She’d have done it regardless of what you said.”

I know that’s not true, but I am grateful to her for saying it.

As we approach the castle gates, I pull my cloak tighter around my face, making sure my wings are hidden. Briony does the same beside me. We can’t risk being recognised, not now.

Garratt takes the lead, striding up to the guards with a confidence that borders on arrogance. “Open the gates,” he demands, his voice ringing out across the courtyard. “I have urgent business with Lord Eldrion.”

The guards exchange a glance, then the larger of the two steps forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “The lord is not receiving visitors,” he says gruffly. “And he certainly isn’t expecting any elves.”

Garratt’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I think he’s going to argue. But then he smiles, a smile that doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “Ah, but he is expecting me. I have information for him, information about the escaped prisoners.”

The guard hesitates, uncertainty flickering across his face. “Wait here,” he says finally. “I’ll send word to the lord.”

He turns to go, but Garratt’s voice stops him. “No need for that,” he says smoothly. “Just fetch Pria. She’ll vouch for me.”

The guard frowns, but nods to his companion. The other guard disappears into the castle, leaving us waiting in tense silence.

Beside me, Briony shifts uneasily. “Who’s Pria?” she whispers.

“One of Eldrion’s guards,” I murmur back. “Garratt must have some sort of arrangement with her.”

Before Briony can respond, the guard returns, a tall, dark-haired female fae at his side. Her wings are small, her features sharp and angular. She looks at Garratt, then at Elodie, and something like recognition flickers in her eyes.

“Garratt,” she says, her voice cool and measured. “What brings you here?”

Garratt steps forward, lowering his voice. “I need to speak with Lord Eldrion. It’s about the empath, Alana. She’s coming here, and she means to kill him.”

Pria’s eyes widen, and for a moment, I see a flash of fear in their depths. Then her expression hardens, and she nods curtly. “Come with me,” she says. “Quickly.”

She leads us through the gates into the courtyard beyond. I keep my head down, my heart pounding in my chest. I can feel the eyes of the guards on us, suspicious and wary.

I recognise some of them. Just a few weeks ago, we were kin. Now, they are the ones who stayed and I am the enemy who fled.

Pria’s presence seems to be enough to grant us passage, and we make it into the castle without incident.

Once inside, Pria turns to face us, her eyes flicking to me and Briony. “Who are they?” she asks Garratt, her voice tight with suspicion.

“Friends,” Garratt says simply. “They’re here to help.”

Pria looks like she wants to argue, or ask why we feel it necessary to hide our faces, but then she shakes her head. “Fine. But if they cause any trouble, it’s on you.”

She leads us through the winding corridors of the castle, her steps quick and purposeful. Being back here is like coming home, and the very fact I feel that way sends jolts of despair to the pit of my stomach.

Everything is familiar. The smells, the sounds, the way the air feels.

Finally, we emerge into a large, circular room. The banquet hall. I look up at the ceiling. The remains of my very last act still hang from the rafters.

“All right.” Pria puts her hands on her hips. “Time for the truth, Garratt.” She jerks her thumb at me and Briony. “Who are they and what is going on?”

Squaring my shoulders, I push the cloak from my face and extend my hand. “I don’t think we ever met, but I remember you.”

Pria stares at me for a second, then shakes my hand. “The jester,” she says. “You’ve returned?”

I shake my head. “Garratt was telling the truth. But Alana is not coming here. She is already here.”

“That’s impossible.” Pria folds her arms in front of her chest. “I’d know if there was someone here.”

“Have you seen Eldrion today?” Briony asks, taking off her own hood.

When Pria sees her, she smiles. Clearly, they do know each other because they embrace and hold contact for a little longer than necessary. “Not today, no,” Pria says as she steps back. “But there’s no way Alana could have gotten in here without the guards knowing.”

“What if she used the tunnels?” I ask.

“They collapsed when you escaped. It’s simply not possible.”

“Alana is capable of more than you know.” I gesture to the doors. “Take me to Eldrion.”

Pria hesitates. “Finn... if he catches you here.”

“Alana is about to get herself killed,” I snap. “And I am not going to let that happen. You can help me or you can stand aside, like you did when we escaped this wretched place. Either way, I’m going to find Alana.”

My words have hurt her. I can tell by the way her gaze softens and she shuffles her feet. “Very well,” she says. “I’ll take you to him. But we have to cross the courtyard. He had the stairs to his chambers sealed. The only way in is via the spiral staircase on the outer wall.”

I extend my arm and nod at her. “Then, lead the way.”