* * *
As I leave,Onyx and Stellan are ready to go too, busy beating each other up in the courtyard over the last biscuit. I grin, despite the cool lump of unease that sits in my stomach after seeing what happened to Rexxan. I think I'll struggle to think of anything else for a few days. No wonder he never sleeps.
I love that these two are as light-hearted as me. "You've already had seven!" Yells Onyx. "I've had two!"
"You've had three!" Replies Stellan, the biscuit between his teeth as Onyx pins him to the floor. He snaps the biscuit right out of Stellan's mouth and stuffs it into his own. Stellan slams Onyx against the floor. "You fat bastard!"
"I'mfat? What does that make you then?"
"I didn't get a biscuit!" I yell. "You've had ten and not saved meone!"
"You were too busy banging Rexxan!" Counters Stellan.
Onyx punches him harder. "Don't say that about my sister!"
"Your sister is getting fucked into the next dimension, Onyx. The sooner you accept it, the better."
I laugh. That doesn't even cover it. From the nauseous look on Onyx's face, I decide it's time to change the subject. "Ready to go?"
"Born ready," they reply, in perfect time.
Rexxan produces three vials of glowing liquid. "Don't lose these. They're rare and expensive. This is all we have left in this entire kingdom. They won't just dull your pain, they'll make you feel none. Use them only if you need them." He stalks off to the edge of the courtyard. "Stellan, these are for you. I enchanted them earlier," he hands Stellan a bunch of arrows, the silver tips glowing pale blue. "Go and collect them after you've shot them, if you can. You can reuse them."
"Wow," says Stellan, holding one. "You have sky powers, right?" He asks, and Rexxan nods. Stellan shoots a training dummy, and lightning lashes out and strikes the training dummy on either side. "Oh. My. Gods,” he squeaks, bounding over to collect the arrow. My heart warms at seeing the two of them get a little closer after such a tense start.
"For you, Onyx," says Rexxan, handing Onyx the rarest of weapons; an orange enchanted sword. I've seen them before, on the four Forest Guards that protect the first door of the vault. "On loan. There's only six in the kingdom."
"Why don't you use one?"
"Don't need the help," says Rexxan, his usual arrogant self. "You'll find killing people is a lot easier with it. It's lighter too."
Onyx swings it around his fingers, nodding. I can tell he's doing somersaults of joy inside. Onyx collects weapons, and the chance to use this one is a dream come true.
"And you, Rennalya," his voice lowers in volume. “There is no weapon I could give you to better the skills you already possess. You are indestructible. Insurmountable. Indomitable. As inevitable as the tides on the shore.” He pulls me down to kiss him, and I feel his fingers tickle the back of my neck. When he pulls away I see he has threaded the chain of my necklace through his favourite ring; a gift from his mother the month before she died.
“Keep it. It’ll keep you safe. You're the only one for me. I'll see you in a couple of weeks."
I will not cry. Not now. "Goodbye, Rexxan."
"Goodbye, Rennalya," he whispers, eyes on mine as his huge hands hold my face with such gentleness. "Come home to me, won't you?"
I nod, swallowing the emotion in my throat. I'm so in love with him. I don't want this to be goodbye forever. "Now and always.”
I smile, but it’s wobbly as I walk backward away from him and try to commit every one of his features to memory.
Chapter35
The Summit (Renna)
It takes six hours to reach the forest’s edge, which once an opening into a huge expanse of open land, is now a riverbank.
I see for the first time the extent of the destruction at the hands of the River King and Queen. I regret leaving Lana alive. I should’ve finished her off. When I arrive at the makeshift beach, Rex is trying to resuscitate a child on the river bank, Lynna crouching at his side to help him. It's an execrable sight, one that burns itself into my retinas forever.
It seems relentless here on the front line, endless boats washing up on the shore from different kingdoms. But we will take them in. We will share our food, and our homes, and our medicine until they are on their feet again. And gods forbid we should have to flee our homes, I know they would do the same.
Some boats arrive crammed full of shivering people, but some are empty and a little battered by the water, which is even sadder.
Onyx slings our three bags into a boat whilst Stellan's tattooed fingers untie the ropes, his boots thudding as he hops in first. With a quick nod at the hopeful crowd gathered to wish us luck, I join the other two in the boat, pushing us off as the two of them start to row north.
