My stomach churns in fear.
Gods, where are you?
A nearbycawhas my head snapping towards the raven perched on the rail of a neighboring balcony. Except this raven is about half of Horus’s size, and he doesn’t have the white feathers collaring his neck.
Gods, I want to scream.
My hands tremble as I send out a desperate plea to Akash.
Please, don’t make me leave you.
I peek around the corner again, ears straining.
More silence.
I dare a whispered hiss.“Horus.”
More silence.
Interrupted by an abrupt knock on Lucen’s front door.
An icy tendril of fear licks up my spine; urges me tofoldaway while I still can.
But I squeeze my eyes shut.
I cannot leave here without you.
The sound of Lucen’s bare feet padding across the floor challenges me otherwise, until I realize his footsteps are traveling away from me.
The front door clicks open a moment later.
The fear in Lucen’s voice is a mirror to my own. “Your Majesty…”
I cease to breathe at the sound of my father’s voice. “I gave you but one task…:
My fear and defeat are enough to buckle my knees.
Tears blur my vision as I search, one last time, in futility for my precious guardian.
Having nothing left to give, I pull off one of my gold and emerald earrings. Setting it on the stone ledge of the balcony railing, I send a silent prayer to Akash that Horus finds it.
I’ll find you again, old friend.
I love you more.
RAIA
ONE MONTH LATER - CAERWYNATH - BELLORUM
It’s been precisely four weeks since I came to Caerwynath, and I am still nothing more than a husk of my former self. But, much to my dismay, life goes on.
And it is merciless. Caerwynath has proven to be as expensive as it is beautiful. The satchel of gold and silver coins I’d taken from Thessaly’s safe was only enough to last me for a single month of lodging.
Finding work is even more troublesome. No one is interested in hiring a flueratheurge with no references, and I’m too terrified of my father finding me to dare mentionwhoI trained with as an apprentice orwhythey can’t provide a reference for me.
A cafe nearly hired me, but required that I provide identification.
Something that I obviously could not provide in fear of my father finding me.