Page 46 of The Curse Between Us

She scoffed, but the flush of pink in her cheeks betrayed that Edric had clearly struck a nerve. Zephyr couldn’t help the soft laugh that escaped him, amused by Eileen’s feigned indifference as she launched into yet another tale of her pursuit of the enigmatic Dorothy, one of the other guards. The story was as playful as Eileen herself, full of exaggerated details and theatrical flourishes, but Zephyr was content to let the warmth of her voice—and the increasingly gentle heat of the day—wash over him. It was a peaceful moment, one that felt like a small break from the ever-present tension of their journey.

But no sooner had Zephyr sunk into a state of relaxation than it was shattered by a sharp whistle from Ollie. His horse pranced nervously under him, and Zephyr instinctively soothed the animal with a gentle hand on its neck. He could see Edric’s hand reaching for the sword at his waist, and Zephyr’s own hand drifted to the knife at his belt as his senses sharpened. The air around them felt suddenly heavy, and his eyes darted across the jagged rocks, searching for signs of movement. The atmospherehad shifted—an ominous quiet settled in, as though the valley itself was holding its breath.

“Skies above,” Ollie’s voice rang out, sounding more awed than afraid. “Forward, all of you.”

The tension ebbed away as quickly as it had arrived, replaced by a more cautious curiosity. Zephyr relaxed his grip on his knife and nudged his horse forward, the steady clip-clop of hooves on gravel the only sound now. A few steps ahead, the path widened enough for Zephyr to draw up beside Edric. Together, they rounded the corner of the rocky outcrop, both of them taking in the sight that lay before them.

The rocky trail suddenly gave way to a low, expansive valley, its soft green grass rippling in the breeze. Clusters of colorful wildflowers dotted the landscape, their hues vivid against the soft green of the earth. To their right, a burbling stream wound its way through the valley, its gentle gurgle adding an almost melodic quality to the silence. Low shrubs and blossoming trees offered shade from the sun, the air thick with their sweet fragrance. It was serene, peaceful—completely unexpected.

Zephyr’s breath caught in his throat as he looked around. It was beautiful, undeniably so. And it was utterly foreign. He had never seen anything like this in Eskarven, nor had he imagined it could exist just beyond the mountains. His gaze flickered to Edric, whose expression mirrored his own: a mix of awe and wonder. Neither of them had words for it.

“What is this place?” Eileen asked, her voice soft as she trotted forward and swung down from her horse. She crouched, her fingers brushing the delicate grass, as though she were trying to make sense of it through touch alone. “This is—”

“This is new,” Clara’s voice interrupted, quiet yet carrying an unmistakable undercurrent of concern. There wassomething in her tone Zephyr hadn’t heard before—something unfamiliar. “Lady Hadley, have you ever—”

“Never,” Hadley answered before Clara could finish. She dismounted as well, her long white robe billowing behind her as she walked swiftly toward the stream. She knelt down, cupping the cool water in her hand, then poured it back into the stream, her brow furrowed. “Never have I heard mention of this place.”

“I told you it was new,” Ollie said gruffly, remaining on his horse. He looked at the others, but his eyes kept darting back to the valley as though he was eager to return to familiar ground. “But what is it?”

No one had an answer. The air felt thick with uncertainty, the silence that followed oppressive. Alec, ever the pragmatist, surveyed the area with an experienced eye. He dropped to the ground, his posture shifting into the stance of a general. “Spread out and investigate,” he ordered, his voice calm but firm. “Stay within sight, and stay with a partner.”

Zephyr’s heart tightened as he turned toward Edric, who offered him an expectant glance. “Shall we?”

Walking through the valley with Edric by his side felt surreal—like the most impossibly beautiful dream that Zephyr had stumbled into by accident. As they walked, their steps measured but steady, Zephyr marveled at how the land around them seemed to breathe with life, something wholly new, untouched by the war that had once defined both of their lands. The soft breeze caressed their faces, and the sun, though warm, felt gentle rather than oppressive.

As they remained within sight of the others, it felt as though the two of them were the only ones in the world. The sky above them was wide and clear, free of the usual clouds that hung like a weight over Eskarven. Zephyr closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin mixed with the coolness of the breeze. It was a sensationhe could not remember ever experiencing before. The contrast between Eskarven’s constant cold and Rafria’s overwhelming heat was too stark. But this? This was different—balanced, serene.

“How is this real?” Zephyr whispered aloud, as if asking the valley itself. “How could we not have known about this place’s existence?”

Edric, looking back over his shoulder at the sound of his voice, shook his head slowly, his eyes wide with wonder. “If anyone has answers,” he said quietly, “it will be them.” He glanced over at Clara and Hadley, who had walked closer to the stream, absorbed in a quiet discussion. Edric shrugged lightly, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “As for me,” he said with a playful gleam in his eyes, “I’m too amazed to ask questions quite yet.”

Bending down, Edric plucked a small golden flower from the earth and held it up to Zephyr with a crooked grin. “I hope I won’t be punished for doing that,” he said, teasing. “But I wanted you to have this.”

Zephyr’s heart leaped as he accepted the flower from Edric’s hand, careful not to let their fingers brush. The warmth of Edric’s smile sent a wave of longing through him, but he fought the urge to pull him closer. Instead, he tucked the flower behind his ear, its soft petals brushing against his skin. For a brief moment, Edric’s smile slipped, and something raw and intense flickered across his face—an expression that made Zephyr’s chest tighten with desire. But just as quickly, Edric dropped his gaze, lifting his hand to his hair. “Zephyr—”

Before he could finish, Alec’s shout cut through the moment. Edric’s shoulders straightened, and he turned toward his brother with purpose. Zephyr stood frozen for a moment, watching Edric stride away, his heart aching with the sudden distance between them. After a pause, he followed, trying to shove aside the longing that still gripped him.

“There are no signs of habitation,” Alec said, his voice clear as they gathered around him. “I heard some birdsong, but I couldn’t identify the birds themselves.”

Zephyr reached up to brush his fingers over the golden flower tucked behind his ear. “The flowers are unknown to me as well,” he murmured, his voice almost lost in the quiet of the valley.

Alec’s eyes flicked to the flower, then down to Zephyr’s face. For a moment, something warm sparked in his eyes, but then his usual briskness returned. “As the path to this valley was first discovered by Sergeant Ollie”—he turned and nodded toward Ollie—“it falls under the control of Eskarven.”

“No,” Zephyr immediately interjected, his voice firm. He shook his head. “No, we will not lay claim to it. Let it be neutral territory. After all”—he glanced over at Edric, smiling softly—“our lands are meant to be joined now. Let this valley belong to all of us.”

“It already does,” Clara’s voice interrupted, low but clear, drawing the attention of everyone in the group. She looked up from the stream, her face serious. “Lady Hadley and I have been discussing the strangeness of this place. We believe—” She sighed, her gaze flickering toward Hadley, who nodded in quiet agreement. “Please, make yourselves comfortable. If we are to explain this properly, we may be here for some time.”

A cold chill of foreboding crept up Zephyr’s spine, but he nodded, sitting down on the soft grass as they unpacked the provisions they had brought with them. Despite the tension that lingered, the valley’s beauty almost made it impossible to stay fully on edge. He found himself settling closer to Edric, seeking comfort in his proximity. Edric gave him a small, reassuring smile, though Zephyr could see the unease in his eyes, mirroring his own feelings.

Once they were seated, Clara cleared her throat, folding her hands in her lap. “You are all familiar with the tale of Being and its division, the resulting war between Plenty and Abyss?”

Zephyr glanced around at the others. They nodded, each of them listening intently.

“What you may not be as familiar with,” Clara continued, her voice calm yet filled with gravity, “is the prophecy that this war has not yet ended.”

Eileen let out a small noise of surprise, her eyes wide. “A prophecy?” she echoed, clearly unsettled.

“Yes,” Hadley answered, exchanging an unreadable glance with Clara. “It has long been foretold that when Plenty cast Abyss down below these very mountains, it was not a decisive victory, but only a temporary triumph. Abyss has been imprisoned, yes. But not entirely defeated.”

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