Though I still can’t see beyond blurry shapes, I sense the Wards around me well enough to know that it’s Neil who sets a tray on my lap. Mortimer guides my hands to a bowl of soup and a spoon set inside it. I take a sip and hum with delight—it’s a beef and vegetable stew, and it’s hot and seasoned with fresh basil and crushed garlic. I devour it, burning my tongue in the process.
“How much do you know?” I ask in-between bites.
“I know a bit,” Thorn says, still standing near me. “I saw you and Astralux slip into the Malum Palace. And Astralux told us that you went down the spiral stairs into the palace itself. I then learned enough from the Vladykars to know that you got Ariadna’s Star but that it had melded into you. And then at some point they took you to that pit of cold, murky water.”
I can’t help the shudder that runs through me, but I nod. It’s disorienting not being able to see, yet with my enhanced senses, I can feel the Wards hovering around me.
“If you want some of us to leave,” Mortimer says quietly, “just let us know.”
“Oh, no.” I fill them in on some of the specific details of my pitiful effort to rescue Ariadna’s Star. But the key being in the depths of the freezing water immediately draws their attention.
“How did you get it?” Volkan asks.
“I used my magic to wreathe my arm in flames,” I say. “Then with my shortsword, I was able to slide the key out.” I then explain Vladykar Malyncor and Vladykar Lochan’s arrival, my futile attempt to escape, and their threat to give them the Star. “But when I refused, Ariadna’s Star just…sank into me.”
“Did you feel it?” Veremund asks, his tone curious.
“The moment it filled me, the Star restored my energy,” I say. “And it burst so much into my magic that I lit up with fire.”
“Whoa!” Volkan says.
I explain how Vladykar Malyncor used his magic to smother my flames long enough for him and Vladykar Lochan to drag me to the pit. “And I remained there until Thorn rescued me.”
“Wait,” Neil says. “That was the same day you and Astralux went into Malum Palace? That evening?”
“Yes. Why?”
Veremund takes my hands into his, but he’s trembling something awful. “Estelle, that means you were in that pit for two weeks.”
I let out a small sob, and Mortimer rubs my back. “I can believe it,” I whisper. “The only reason I was still alive when Thorn came is because of the power of Ariadna’s Star. It gave me energy and kept me warm. That, and Astralux—every now and then, she gave me strength with her resolve.”
“Arianda above,” Neil whispers.
“How did Astralux escape being captured?” I ask. “I thought for sure she would have come after me. The Vladykars kept asking me about her whereabouts, which surprised me.”
“Astralux, for all of her fight,” Veremund says, “felt enough of a warning from you to know that the only way she was rescuing you was to not get caught herself.”
“Vite and I saw Vladykar Merari and Saurentais—they’re new bonded Vladykars—flying around the Malum Palace just after you and Astralux went in,” Thorn says. “Which is what delayed us. And then we saw Noxmalum, and I knew….” Thorn pauses, and to my surprise I hear him swallow. “Estelle, I can’t tell you how sick I was, forcing Vite and then Astralux when she snuck back out to us, to stay hidden. But Astralux, even in her frenzy, told us you weren’t dead, just deep in the Malum Palace, and slowly weakening. So, we hatched an escape plan, and then I carefully made my way into the Malum Palace.”
“Where Thorn hid, amongst the Vladykars, for a little over a week,” Neil says proudly.
“You were hiding in the Malum Palace for that long?!” I exclaim. “But, how did you not get caught?! Ariadna, I’m so glad you’re still alive!”
Thorn chuckles, although it still sounds sad to me. “It was incredibly difficult. I think I only dozed a couple of hours a day. I had so many close calls, so many moments when I thought for sure I would join you in the pit or be killed. But I was able to learn the movements of the Vladykars, I heard reports of you as they talked amongst themselves. And bit by bit, I was able to deduce not only where you were, but the best time to rescue you, which was in the middle of the day—the Vladykars sleep during the day, at the Malum Palace, and took turns taking day watches. So, I waited until Vladykar Merari and Saurentais were on watch, since they were the least experienced.” Then Thorn heaves a sigh. “But it still took me so long, I thought for sure you were dead when I got to the pit and didn’t see you.”
“I had gotten to the point of keeping just my nose above the water,” I say. “I was trying to conserve energy as much as I could.”
Veremund hugs me tightly. “Ariadna be praised that all four of you are here. A Vladykar messenger arrived days after you all left, announcing that Estelle had been captured. I didn’t know what to do, especially with no word of Astralux, or Thorn and Vitegadium. Kalteratem and I started to head that way, but the Vladykars kept us busy with attacks. Voxebellum has been a great ally along with Lyssa, not only defending Adytol but coming to alert us that a couple of Vladykars were pestering the city. So, we made Brixton our outpost, keeping the Vladykars at bay while we discussed plans on how to rescue you, and waiting for word from Thorn.”
“I do apologize for that,” Thorn says. “I thought to send Vitegadium, but everything was so precarious—”
“—No, don’t apologize. You did a stellar job, Thorn. And Estelle. I’m so proud of you both.”
I bury my face into Veremund, sighing. While I’m feeling better, I’m wearing down quickly. I have no idea I’m falling asleep until the tray starts to slip off my lap and someone catches it.
“I’m so tired,” I whisper.
“Rest, Estelle.” Veremund kisses my forehead. “You deserve it.”
Praise you, Ariadna, for these Wards.
…
From a deep, peaceful slumber, I slowly wake, feeling warmer than I did before, and I snuggle the blankets. I rub my eyes and peek out. It’s still a bit uncomfortably bright to me, but at last I’m able to make out someone sitting beside me. Slowly, as I blink and let my vision adjust to what feels like a sunlight-lit room, I make out a Wards’ uniform. Then I begin to realize that this man is quite large, with a bald head, and a blonde beard tied with rings. Beside him, resting against a blue-painted wall, is a massive greatsword.
“Neil?” I whisper.
The Ward lifts his head, dark brown eyes meeting my gaze and glistening with tears. “Estelle! You can see!”
“It’s getting better,” I say.
“Hopefully the sight of me didn’t set your vision back a little,” Neil teases.
I laugh, my throat a little raspy.
Grinning, Neil helps me sit up. “It’s good to hear you laugh.” He walks over to a door to my far right, pokes his head out and speaks to someone before sitting beside me. “Food’s on its way.” He gives me a hug and then pours water from a pitcher on a side table beside my bed into a porcelain cup, which he hands to me.
I take the cup and down the water. “Where are we in Brixton?”
“Lord Ithel’s manor,” Neil says. “Lord Ithel’s very kindly hosted us, King Mahlir and Prince Philander, and the generals here.” There’s a knock on the door, and Neil walks over, accepting a tray from someone outside, and brings this over to me. “I got you a bit more than soup, hope you’re up for it.”
I stare at the tray as my vision slowly focuses on the food. There is beef and vegetable soup on the tray. But there’s also biscuits topped with apple jam, what looks like a cranberry sauce, a cup of sliced strawberries, an assortment of steaming squashes and green beans, a cut of grilled fish topped with sprigs of lemongrass and lemon cuts, a slice of apple pie, and a plate of buttery crumpets.
“Neil! This is a lot of food!”
“Humor me,” Neil says. “You lost a lot of weight.”
I have no idea if that’s true, but given the fact that I went two weeks without food while treading that heavy, cold water, I can only imagine.
At Neil’s recommendation, I start with the cup of soup before getting into the solid foods. But the moment I taste the crumpets I moan and devour them half at a time.
“Easy, easy!” Neil chuckles, but I hear a strained tone underneath, like he’s sad for some reason. “Be nice to your stomach.”
I eat slower, savoring every bite. I’m halfway through the squash and green beans when I feel a little full. Despite that, I still manage to eat almost everything, and scoop the pie into my mouth with delight before sitting back with a sigh.
“Amazing,” I murmur. “So, so good.”
Neil takes the tray, laughing lightly. “Glad to see your appetite’s returned! Hopefully that will help you strengthen a little faster.”
“How long have I been in Brixton?” I ask.
“Almost two weeks.”
It’s been nearly a month since I first entered the Malum Palace. I rub my eyes, wanting to see better than the haze that’s before me.
“Do you want to sleep after all that food, or would you like to stretch your legs?” Neil asks. “If you’re up for it, I know Astralux would love to see you.”
My heart skips with eager hope, and I pull the many blankets back off my legs. I discover that I’m dressed in two cloth pants, three cloth shirts, and a heavy, long sweater, while a strange, fuzzy robe has been wrapped around me. I swing my legs over, wincing at how sore every muscle is. Deciding not to push myself, I sit at the edge of the bed and lift my legs, one at a time, making circular motions with my feet, which have several pairs of socks over them.
“Doing okay?” Neil asks.
“Yeah, my muscles are just tight,” I say. “Need to warm them up so I don’t injure myself.” I plant my feet on the ground and stand slowly, keeping a hand on Neil’s arm. I’m definitely still weak, but I also feel relief to finally be moving. And, Ariadna’s Star is even now giving me energy from within, although it’s not blazing like it was before.
I take a couple of steps, teetering at first, and then gaining confidence as my muscles relax and adjust. The food does wonders, and within a few more minutes I nod at Neil. “I think I could take a short walk.”
Neil puts soft slippers over my feet. “If you get tired, just let me know, and I’ll carry you.”
“Okay.”
Still holding onto Neil’s arm, I make my way to the door. The hallway is much brighter, and I spend a minute squinting against it and rubbing my eyes before we continue on down a short hall that leads to stairs. Now it’s so bright with sunshine from windows that I have to close my eyes, but Neil guides me down with ease.
“Honor to you, Wards,” someone murmurs from nearby.
“Thank you.” Neil leans close to me. “The people of Amenyl say that to us all the time. It’s really strange.”
I giggle as Neil leads me on. I hear a door open, and I’m startled by a wave of city noise of people talking, children laughing, the creaking of wagons, the squawk of chickens running amuck. I also hear the march of soldiers drilling, the heavy beating of wings from afar of dragons flying. The smell of people, animals, food wafting through the air, and grasses heated under a summer sun fills my nose, and I pull back a little at the shock.
However, the warmth of sunlight on my skin feels amazing. It’s blazing painfully bright through my eyelids, but I lift my face to it, soaking in the heat.
“Estelle!” Astralux calls from afar. I can feel her presence nearing rapidly, hear the beating of wings, and smile as I hear her land. “I thought I felt you awake!”
“Hi Astralux!” I hold out my arms, and Astralux pounces on me, grabbing me with both of her front paws and “sitting back” so that she can hold me to herself. She happy growls, nuzzling me, and our combined joy brings me to tears and I bury my face into Astralux, too overjoyed to do anything but cling to my bonded dragon.
