Page 51 of The Curse Between Us

It wasn’t long before he arrived at the castle gates, darkness having already claimed the sky. The torches lining the stone causeway flickered in the evening breeze, casting dancing shadows. The guards snapped to attention, their salute sharp as they watched him approach. Zephyr offered a quick nod in return before leading his horse toward the stables, leaving her to an attendant with a familiar flick of his wrist. There were more urgent matters to attend to.

Without stopping to change, Zephyr found the first servant he could and sent them off to find Clara and Ollie. His pace quickened as he made his way to a small audience room, his thoughts tangled. He paced near the hearth, feeling the warmth against his chilled skin, but the cold dread inside him only seemed to grow. Could such a small detail as less snow mean something larger? He couldn’t afford to dismiss it, not with everything else that had happened in recent weeks.

Ollie entered first, his usual scowl firmly in place. "Now what?" he grumbled, plopping into the nearest chair with a resigned sigh.

"I’ll explain shortly," Zephyr replied, his voice tight with a mixture of apprehension and purpose. "I’d rather only say it once, though, so we’ll wait for Lady Clara."

At the mention of Clara’s name, Ollie’s frown softened, a flash of respect crossing his features. Zephyr couldn’t help but smile at the contrast. Ollie, tough and ever cynical, reserved his respect for very few, and Clara was certainly one of them.

The High Priestess entered moments later, her presence calm yet commanding. “Your Majesty,” she greeted Zephyr, her voice smooth but laced with curiosity. “Sergeant Turner.” She nodded to Ollie, who rose immediately and bowed, pulling out a chair for her. Clara gathered her robes, settling herself with a quiet grace.

Zephyr cleared his throat before speaking, the weight of his own words settling heavily. "I was riding home from the mountains today," he began, not bothering to explain further, though he knew they both understood the reason behind his trips. "As I neared the castle, I noticed something… odd. The snow—it isn’t deepening as it normally would. It’s only an inch thick, yet we’re so close to the castle now."

Ollie’s scowl deepened, his lips curling in mild annoyance. “And you didn’t think it’s just because of all thetraffic? You’ve been traipsing through those mountains for weeks, and there’s all sorts of folks tagging along, poking around. The snow gets trampled.”

Zephyr was about to respond but paused, realizing the flaw in Ollie’s logic. His mouth closed, and a slight flush crept up his neck. That makes sense, he thought. But there’s something more to it. I know there is.

Before he could find his words, Clara spoke, her expression unyielding. "That could be the case, Sergeant. But I don't believe that’s the explanation here." She looked at Zephyr, her gaze piercing through him with an unsettling understanding. “There are more things at play in these mountains than we realize.”

She rose slowly from her seat and walked to the stone wall, laying her hand against it as though sensing something beyond the surface. “This is not the first time strange phenomena have reached Eskarven. The land itself... is changing.”

A chill ran through Zephyr, one that had nothing to do with the fire at his back. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice dropping to a whisper. The weight of her words pressed into him, and a knot of dread tightened in his stomach.

Clara met Zephyr’s gaze, her expression carefully controlled but the shadow of unease still clouding her eyes. She had always been the picture of unwavering resolve, a constant force at his side through both the highs and the lows of his reign. But now, for the first time in his life, Zephyr saw that faint flicker of doubt, a vulnerability that he rarely allowed himself to acknowledge. It unsettled him, even though he understood why it was there.

“Earlier this morning,” she began, her voice steady despite the weight of what she was about to reveal, “I was in the sanctuary, performing my usual contemplation. It’s a quietplace, a place for focus and connection. But then, I heard something... a loud noise. A cracking sound, almost like ice shattering beneath pressure.” She paused, her eyes narrowing slightly as though trying to recall every detail. Zephyr waited, sensing that she was not yet finished.

“When I went to check, none of the sculptures had been disturbed, but I could feel the unease stirring within me. I took a torch and descended to the catacombs. It’s the one place beneath Eskarven that remains untouched by time, preserved and sacred.” Her voice dropped to a hushed tone, the weight of her words heavy in the room. “There, in the burial chamber, I found it.”

Zephyr could tell that this moment was difficult for her to relive, the unease creeping into her voice as she continued. “A fissure in the earth. It ran right down the middle of the chamber, splitting the stone floor. It wasn’t deep, but it was unmistakable. And it wasn’t just a crack—it splintered outward in many directions, like something had reached upward from beneath, and then slammed down with enormous force, as though... as though it was trying to break free.” She paused, her eyes flicking to Ollie for a brief moment before returning to Zephyr.

Zephyr remained silent, his mind processing the gravity of her words. He could sense something was amiss, something deep beneath the earth itself that was causing these strange occurrences. It wasn't just the snow, or the unsettling changes in the land. Something much darker was stirring.

Ollie, ever the skeptic, leaned forward in his chair, his brow furrowed in confusion. “But the earth is frozen solid. It’s winter, Clara—how could it just split apart like that?” His voice carried a touch of disbelief, but there was no denying the edge of concern in his tone. Clara’s answer was slow, deliberate, as if she was still grappling with the enormity of what she had discovered.

“I’ve wondered that too,” she said quietly, the torchlight flickering in her eyes. “But I’ve learned, over the years, that not all changes are visible at first. Some are beneath the surface, waiting to manifest. I told you once, Zephyr, that not all change is good.” She turned to him fully now, her gaze unwavering. “And I fear that this—this splitting of the earth—is only the beginning. I fear what it may precede.”

A heavy silence fell over the room, the crackling of the fire the only sound to fill the stillness. Zephyr closed his eyes, his mind racing. They had all known that this day might come, that the signs would eventually become too significant to ignore. He had hoped, foolishly, that they might be spared the worst. But now, with Clara’s revelation, there was no denying the truth. The land itself was responding, shifting, changing in ways they couldn't yet understand—and it was clear that whatever had caused this fissure was not a random occurrence.

He drew in a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves, but the weight of the situation pressed down on him like a suffocating fog. It was no longer just about the unknown dangers lurking in the mountains. This was bigger—much bigger—and there was no time left to deny it.

“Spread the word,” Zephyr said, his voice strong despite the unease gnawing at his insides. He opened his eyes once more, looking between Ollie and Clara, both of whom were watching him intently. “Anything out of the ordinary—no matter how small—must be reported immediately. I want every detail, every sign of change, brought to us without delay. There can be no more hesitation.”

Ollie gave him a sharp salute, his face set in a grim expression. He wasn’t one for flowery speeches, but his respect for Zephyr was clear in that single gesture. Zephyr nodded to him, signaling the importance of the task ahead.

“Ollie,” Zephyr continued, turning to the sergeant, “tomorrow, you will ride for the outlying villages. Take ten guards with you. We cannot afford to leave them defenseless. If this disturbance is spreading, we need to know, and we need to be prepared. Gather any information you can, and make sure the people are safe.”

Ollie didn’t hesitate. “Understood,” he said with a quick nod, already planning his route in his mind. He had a reputation for getting things done quickly, and Zephyr knew he could rely on him.

Turning to Clara, Zephyr’s expression softened slightly, though the seriousness of the situation remained. Clara was more than a priestess to him; she was his closest confidant, someone whose wisdom and insight had guided him through countless challenges. Her strength was undeniable, but Zephyr could see the strain in her eyes. She had always been the one to lead them in matters of faith, but now she would need to lend her strength in other ways.

“And you, my lady,” Zephyr said, his voice gentler now, “pray for us all. This is a trial unlike any we have faced before.”

Clara met his gaze, her eyes dark and knowing. There was no fear in her; she would rise to the challenge, as she always had. But Zephyr could see the burden in her eyes, the weight of the responsibility she now carried.

“I will,” she said softly, her voice unwavering. “But we must be ready. For whatever comes next.”

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