But I continue. Ever needs me to continue. I can rest when she’s safe. When we’re both safe.
As my vision blurs, and I stumble for what must be the dozenth time, I hear another noise. Rubble, maybe. Footsteps? My hand reaches for the knife at my back, and I clench my fist around the hilt as I flatten myself back against the rock.
It isn’t the monster I first thought of that appears around the corner.
It’s General Aster.
He locks his gaze with mine and trails it to the knife that is now fully drawn and resting comfortably in my hand. On any other day, I might have a chance, but today, when I can barely stand, he’ll be able to overpower me and take me prisoner with no doubt.
But his eyes soften as he sees me, and his stance relaxes.
“Put the knife away. Here.” He reaches to his side and closes the distance between us before handing me a waterskin. I gladly accept and guzzle the water in several mouthfuls. The water quenches my dry throat and washes the lingering burn of salt from my lips.
“Thank you,” I gasp. The refreshment eases a dormant fear inside of me that I might not be able to do this on my own. And that my banishment might hold, cutting me off from my home, my family, and everyone I know, including Ever.
Looking around, my options are limited, and my path blocked. I look back, and struggle to formulate some semblance of a plan, but…
“Don’t, Aten. I am no fool.”
“No, General.” I pause, realising that anything from this position would be a failure, and I can strategise that without any help from Aslendrix. “Where was I spotted?”
“You weren’t. Crimson told me what you’d asked, and what she thought you might do. Before you judge her too harshly, you might want to hear her side of the story.”
I ball my fists, my teeth threatening to break my own jaw, despite how drained I feel. “What about Calix? What about Ever?” I ask, swallowing my anger.
“Calix is…” He takes a steadying breath. “He’s in the infirmary. Recovering. Perrin is doing what he can, but that is limited until Aslendrix returns to us.”
“What happened? Is Ever safe? Did Calix get her out?” My questions fire off, running over one another.
“Sheis why he is wounded. Badly. According to Crimson, he risked his life. They both did.” General Aster’s voice reverberates off the planes of stone as if to make his point, and it knocks the fight out of me.
“Is he okay?” The General only turns away, the silhouette of his broad frame edging into the shadows.
“He will live.”
I sag, the air deflating from my chest with relief.
“And Ever? Where is she?” The temptation to push my power to tug on the tether between us is right there, regardless of the new moon or not.
“She… escaped.”
“Bullshit.” My eyes narrow on General Aster as he turns back to face me.
“She ran the last time there was a new moon,” he points out.
“That was different.”
“Aten, she is a Fifth. Don’t give up everything for a girl you barely know.” He storms towards me, full of all the might he’s always had. He willingly gave his power to Calix, ensuring he was as powerful as he could be, and it hasn’t cost him. He is still a formidable man, commanding the same respect from his Warriors as before the Transference.
I think of my mother and the toll the Transference has taken on her in comparison, and rack that up against my father’s faults alongside his need for secrets and ultimate control.
This is bigger than my personal grievances. “Don’t aimlessly go along with what the Orders have fed you. The first attack didn’t make any sense. Are you telling me these aren’t related?How did Ever escape? She’s been in that cell, what, a week, a little more?”
“You are banished, Aten. You have no say here. You shouldn’t even be here.” His tone is full of authority, and he crosses his arms as if barring me from travelling farther.
“Who attacked Calix? What did Crimson say?” I shift my weight, the itch in my hand to grab for my knife again, distracting. “I will not take banishment as a punishment for protecting Ever. For protecting a trainee. You know the rules. So why did my father allow it? Come on, Cetus. You know something else is going on here.” It’s a risk. General Aster is my father’s third and the commander of the armies, so his loyalties should be with him. But he is fastidious about protocol. And rules. And that’s what I’m counting on to get me back to The Court, or at least to check on Calix and find out what the Zuns happened to him and Crimson. Nobody should have been able to take them down together.
“The mountains will be full of Warriors. They are searching the coast. You’ll never go unnoticed.” General Aster ignores my questions.
