Page 100 of The Witch and His Crow

‘Have you changed your mind?’ Arwyn said softly at my back. I dared look at him as the golden light of the fireflies imprinted the two words into the back of my mind. As quickly as the breeze changed, the creatures dispersed, bathing us in shadow once again. ‘Now you know what we’re going to face.’

My body was trembling, my mind whirling with unspent possibilities. But regardless of the anxiety, my answer didn’t waver. ‘No. I’m sorry to disappoint you, Arwyn, but I’m staying.’

I stepped towards the direction of the willow, pushing the curtain aside.

‘Hector… please.’ It was Arwyn’s last desperate plea. ‘If I need to get on my knees and beg you I will.’

‘Arwyn, stop. I’m going to beat this next Trial, and the one after. Do you plan to stand in my way?’

His silence was enough of an answer. I was confident I heard something splinter, like glass cracking, except it came from inside of my chest.

‘I’ll never hurt you,’ Arwyn said as I stepped into the natural dull light beyond the willow. ‘I want you to know that.’

‘Someone once told me not to make promises I cannot keep,’ I said.

We both knew who’d said it.

Arwyn had.

‘It sounds like you surround yourself with idiots and fools,’ Arwyn called after me, a knowing glint flashing in his bright eyes.

‘No,’ I replied, ‘hewasn’t a fool.’

My mind was whirling, conflicting thoughts fighting for space within my busy head. The Dreading, just the name of the trial alone made me sick. Arwyn wanted to bring me to aplace that would weaken my shield, only to use his chance to manipulate me out of the Witch Trials.

I left him, walking away, knowing he was watching. I didn’t even wait to see if he followed me or not. Part of me longed for him to shout out for me, to run and place his body before mine, block me from taking another step and wrap his arms around me.

But like all my life before, only the dark around me was comforting.

I made a plan in the minimal clear space in my head. I’d get back to the castle and find Romy even if I had to turn the entire building upside down. Then I’d find my own way through the next Trials. Without Arwyn. I’d focus on surviving, on winning, so I could find out what scared my mother so much she’d turn against her own people.

I looked up to the window of our old bedroom, focusing on every step when I saw movement behind the glass. A tired face. Curly hair. A fist banging on the window.

Romy. Her mouth was split open, as though she was shouting something. Although I couldn’t hear her, I sensed her panic and fear. It emanated from her silent scream. She was up there, in our room.

Terrified.

‘Romy!’ I screamed.

‘What’s wrong?’ Arwyn called after me. I dared to take my eyes off Romy, but there was a draw about his voice that won me over. He parted from the strands of willow, looking between me and the room to our window.

‘She’s up there,’ I exhaled, sparing a second to glance at him. There wasn’t a need to lift a finger and point, but I did it anyway. I was shaking. By the time I turned back around, the window to the room was empty. Romy was gone, like she was never there. But I’d seen her. She was real and frightened.

‘There’s nothing there, Hector,’ Arwyn said, trying to reach out for me.

I shrugged him off, ignoring the siren call of his calm voice.

I had seen it. My mind was busy, but it was sharp. Before Arwyn could say another word, I was running. The castle was a blur around me. Arwyn was calling my name, but his voice was barely audible beneath the beating of my heart. But as I threw myself up the stairs, I realised the noise wasn’t my heart at all.

It was the toll of a bell.

TRIAL THREE - THE DREADING

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Ididn’t stop running. Iwouldn’tstop.

Every time I blinked, I saw Romy’s terrified expression through the window, her hand planted upon it as if she was pleading to get free. But it was the suddenness of how she disappeared that scared me. I couldn’t comprehend what she was warning me against.

---