Stella
The hooded man pulled me away from the royal estate, but the grassy ground did little to hide us. My stomach clenched. If the guards discovered the tunnel or climbed the tower overlooking the estate’s borders, they’d find us.
“Who are you?” I gasped.
He didn’t answer, instead pulling me to the right. A forest darkened the horizon some miles ahead. My legs wobbled as I realized our destination.
I needed sustenance to overcome my weakness from healing Bolin, and all this exertion made it worse. Confusion over the situation didn’t help either. Why did I run away? Because a voice in my mind demanded it? Dario wouldn’t have hurt me. At least, I didn’t think he would.
Nausea tightened my guts and forced me to slow down. My limbs trembled and thirst clawed at my throat.
“Don’t stop! Not here!”
“I can’t,” I moaned.
He glanced over his shoulder, his features paling.
I stumbled with a squeak and tumbled into the grass. My eyes roved the clear blue sky as I lay gasping. No images taunted me.
The cloaked man’s concerned face blocked the sun when he bent over me. He cursed under his breath.
“Come with me to a safe place. Please.”
“Who are you?” I rasped.
Everything was happening too quickly. I couldn’t keep going like this, not after pouring so much of myself into Bolin.
His green eyes moistened. “I’m your friend, Eric,” he finally responded. “If we make it, I think we can get your memories back.”
Friend. Memories. Warmth burst through my chest and I attempted to sit up. He knew the real me! My muscles shivered against the strain.
He gripped my shoulders, steadying me. “Climb onto my back. We have to move or they will catch us.”
I obeyed without speaking, forcing my aching body up. I wrapped my arm around his neck and he hoisted my legs over his hips. He advanced as fast as he could with me weighing him down.
Prince Fernando
We scoured the estate in record time, but she was nowhere to be found. Dario informed me that she jumped and fled from the window without any explanation.
I suppressed the desire to shake him by the collar. She’d shown no behaviors indicating she wanted to leave, which meant he, or someone else, must have provoked her.
The utter shock on Bolin’s features when I asked him where she was proved his ignorance. Questioning him further would only delay finding her. We had no time for worthless endeavors.
I met up with Dario by the guard wall a mere ten moments after she escaped. We should have located her by now.
“She’s out there,” he said grimly.
“You sense her past the barrier?” It didn’t matter that it should be impossible for a barefoot, exhausted woman to scale it. If he sensed her in the distance, then that’s where she was.
He nodded once.
I jogged toward the stable, then yelled over my shoulder. “Are you coming?”
He hesitated, then ran to catch up. “Someone is helping her. An air wielder.”
“Fetch Rocco!” I shouted at the smattering of servants and guards near us. “Send him to the stable now!”
As we ran, my thoughts jumbled over the question of why Rocco hadn’t intervened against the air and shadow wielder. He was skilled, and he should have repelled the winds. I shook my head. I’d ask him about it later. Catching Stella was all that mattered.
Within minutes, Dario, Rocco, and I rode past the gates. Dario took the lead, angling northwest.
We saw nothing, but I trusted his ability.
Rocco blinked against the sunlight.
“Are you ready?” I asked him.
He raised his open palm over his head. A light breeze blew over us from the opposite direction of the natural wind.
“The shadows suppressed me,” he confessed. “As long as this wielder doesn’t use forbidden magic, he can’t defeat me.”
He spoke softly, but fiery rage flowed beneath the gentle tone.
“Good,” I said.
“There.” Dario pointed in the distance.
I squinted at the speck. Equal parts of relief and rage streamed through my blood. We’d capture them soon.
Comentários