SWNOVELS Chapter 36 - the Escape
I flew down the stone steps of the winding staircase as if I was being chased by wolves. I dashed through the empty hallways and by the quiet courtyards, and didn’t slow my pace until I got to my bed chamber. I went inside, and paused as I feverishly tried to come up with my next move.
“Sometimes, those decisions lead the other to feel, or quite literally become, trapped.” I looked around. What would I bring? What possessions did I even have? What might I even need?
I settled on the bow and arrows and dagger Aricor had given me at training, a bedroll, and the leftover potions Phaedra and Maista had given me, and turned around. Just before leaving, I remembered the last thing Aeloria had said to me. “Time to go free yourself, child. And bring your cloak, when you do.”
I looked down at Thoridor’s coat. It seemed warm enough. Would I really need to bring a cloak as well? It would just add weight— I interrupted my own rambling thoughts, remembering the significance of everything Aeloria had said to me so far. A cloak it is, then.
I grabbed my cloak from the hook by the door. I had barely worn it since Phaedra had given it to me, as it was quite a lot of fabric to carry around — I much preferred wearing a shorter, more form-fitted coat. The cloak was beautiful though — a hooded, floor-length garment, made of a thick, black material. It was open on the sides, as if the fabric had been draped over the shoulders, but someone had forgotten to sew it together. There were decorative feathers on the shoulders, similar to the ones Aricor wore on his coat, but these were black instead of beige.
I contemplated switching out Thoridor’s jacket for the cloak, to save room in my satchel, but decided against it, as I felt more comfortable in his coat than I would in the cloak. I also figured I’d stand out more, dressed in the cloak, and standing out was something I was actively trying to avoid right now. My satchel was too full to buckle it fully, so I just pulled the flap down as much as I could, and left the room.
There was only one stop I needed to make on my way out. I walked to Warrian’s door, and raised my hand. I hesitated for a moment, but then knocked. I waited, and waited, and finally knocked again. Just when I was about to give up and turn around, I heard a stumble on the other side of the door. Then, it opened, and Warrian’s handsome face popped through the door opening, his messy golden locks looking extra disheveled, as if he had been sleeping.
“Hi,” I whispered, as Warrian confusedly looked me up and down. My eyes slid down his body, and I noticed his chest was bare. Crimson spread over my cheeks and my eyes grew wide in realization.
“Oh, I’m so sorry,” I stammered, “I didn’t know you had company!”
Warrian furrowed his brows and looked down at his chest. “I don’t,” he said, and swung open his door.
“You’re more than welcome to come in, if you’ve changed your mind,” he said jokingly. I smiled joylessly at him.
“I’m here to say goodbye,” I confessed, “I’m leaving Aquatic Ardanis.”
Warrian opened his mouth, and closed it again. “I can’t come with you,” he finally said, “I have to stay with Morai.”
He lifted a helpless hand, and then dropped it to his side. “You’re vulnerable,” he mumbled, “you shouldn’t go.”
I smiled at him as I hoisted my satchel higher onto my shoulder. “I’m not vulnerable,” I corrected him, “but I promise I’ll be careful.”
Warrian bore his eyes into mine, and then sighed. “I’m not going to be able to stop you, am I?” he asked.
I shook my head. Warrian smirked. “Okay,” he nodded, “don’t get killed. I’ll come find you as soon as we get up there.”
I threw my arms around his neck and pressed myself against his chest, soaking up the comfort that lay in his embrace. Best savor this.
I released him, and looked at him for a long moment, before turning around, and walking away. I couldn’t promise him I wouldn’t get killed. I couldn’t promise him we’d meet again. Nor could I promise him I wasn’t putting his Crown Prince, and best friend, in grave danger. I didn’t look over my shoulder once.
I made it to the palace gardens, and sprinted through them like my life depended on it. I didn’t slow down until I got to the wall of water. I reached out my hand, and watched the water dent back again. I waited for a Nixal to show up, but soon realized it wouldn’t.
Not on its own, at least. I closed my eyes, and tried to focus on the water —tried to locate any living creature in there— any blood. Then, I felt it. A large presence, looming dangerously in the dark. I called it toward me, mentally beckoning it to come my way. I tried not to wield it too much, but rather lure it toward me on mostly its own account.
It didn’t take long before I could see the black-and-white shape move toward me through the water. I waited for it to come close enough, and then reached out, grabbing onto its fin the way I had that first time with Thoridor.
This time, though, instead of being submerged in the water, the water kept denting away from my body, forming a bubble around me. Although I was pretty sure I wasn’t wielding the water away from myself, and was slightly confused as to how it was happening — I was mostly grateful to hopefully arrive on land with dry clothes.
Right as we approached the surface, I made the Nixal jerk to a stop, hoping to retain enough momentum to propel myself forward. I did, and I flew through the air, before crashing face first into the shoreline. I groaned in pain as I slowly straightened myself up, and then froze. Something had changed.
The already dark sky had turned more opaque somehow, a heavy, pressing gray. Smoke. Then I smelled it too — the smell of sulfur, and burned wood, and something else too. My stomach turned as I recognized the scent — scorched flesh.