The purple smoke feels so thick now that it is making breathing a task I have to actively focus on.
Breathe in… breathe out. Where am I?
Breathe in… breathe out. Embrys?
Breathe in… breathe out. What have I done?
Breathe in… breathe out. Help!
The smoke is getting thicker, a panic attack starts building up in my body, closing my throat and threatening to rip my heart out of its cage. My fingers tingle, my hands start to shake and my breaths are now coming in heaves, which I know is not allowing me to get enough oxygen.
What have I done? Embrys… Embrys!
The smoke suddenly clears, I cough and gasp for the sweet fresh air to fill my lungs.Thank The Mother!I keep my eyes scrunched closed and double over to brace myself on my knees as I level out my breathing and feel my heart rate start to slow. I open my eyes to see I am standing on a gravel path.
Nuria?I can hear Embrys’ voice call my name and I can’t explain how relieved I am to hear it. I snap open my eyes and whirl around, looking for him but instead I see Pyralis’ estate looming over me and no one is in sight.
I turn back around to see that I am in front of the stables. It seems to be mid- morning here judging by the height of the sun, but I had entered the crystal cave in the middle of the night.How long have I been in there?
“Embrys?” I call out, searching for him.
“Master Embrys? What is wrong?” A boy of about fifteen comes out from the stables with the reins of a large black horse in hand.
Was he talking to me?
Yes, Nuria… you’re in my body.I hear Embrys’ voice again.
Oh! How are you able to talk to me? Can you see through my eyes?
No, everything is dark. I can hear your voice, that is all. What is wrong? What is happening? Are you dreaming again?
No, I… entered the crystal cave. I had to reach you!
You what! Nuria, it isn’t safe! What were you thinking?His voice booms so loudly in my head that I clasp my hands over my ears.
“Um… Master Embrys? Can I assist you?” The young man is staring at me with raised eyebrows.
Right… I’m Embrys.
“Oh, no I am all right… Carry-on with whatever it was that you were doing… uh…” I stammer, not knowing this servant’s name.
His name is Jacob.
“Jacob.” I give him a smile, he nods and goes back into the stables, giving me one more quick look of concern before closing the big door behind him.
That was Lillian’s brother? Have you seen her? Was she all right after the gromlin flip?
Actually, she apparently fled and no one knows where she has gone. Jacob has been worried sick but strangely did not join on the search for her... Nuria, what are you doing here?
Right. I’ve come to warn you that Oleander’s trial has been moved up to tomorrow at dusk! She refused The King’s offer of marriage to Gaelheart’s son. He said they have witnesses that say she set the forest on fire. Embrys, I’m worried she is going to be found guilty. What is the punishment for burning a forest?
The punishment is death, Nuria. To balance the lives lost she will be condemned to death!I can hear the panic rise in his voice.
No! There must be something we can do. Embrys… I have to come. The Wolf said he wants me, he tried to bargain with her for her freedom, asking her to give up my location but she refused. I can save her. Use me to bargain for her release!
In the distance I can hear the clopping sounds of a horse approaching. I turn towards the gravel path leading out of the estate to see Pyralis galloping in. He stops and dismounts right in front of me and Jacob comes running out of the stables to grab the reins to lead the horse inside. Pyralis has dag circles under his eyes and his hair is wind swept and messy.
“Embrys, good. We must make haste; your sister’s trial is tomorrow evening. I rode all night to retrieve you once I received word that you returned home. We must show a united front. You need to convince her to marry Elias. She still seems to look up to you, she must listen!” Pyralis grasps Embrys’ shoulder and I have to restrain myself from shoving him off and snapping in his face.
