Page 14 of Cages and Crowns
“You will do as you’re told.” His voice is even as he holds Enzo’s glare. I flick my gaze back and forth between them, my palms growing sweaty.
“Youare not my king.” Enzo snaps before rushing out of the room. I roll my eyes and sigh. One thing Enzo tends to do is throw tantrums like a child when he’s stressed. Most of the time he’s even, stoic, but when it comes to Elaenor he's unhinged and rash.
It’s going to get him killed.
“Talk to him, Nithe. If he attempts to cross the border right now, he will cost us everything.” My father orders as he goes back to peering at the map. I nod and sigh, before standing and following behind.
Chapter Seven
The Protector
My heart is racing, my breathing ragged as I lean my forehead against the cool glass.Breathe.Every time I get upset, I can almost feel the feathers brushing up against my skin, begging to be released. Shifting is new for me. Something that has been brewing beneath the surface,literally, for months now. I can control it, for the most part. At least what I shift into, which I am grateful for. I accidentally shifted into a horse one day when I was sparring with Ni, and he pissed me off. That was a shock.
My father said the ability to shift came from my grandfather. I guess it’s a trait that can only be passed onto male children. I asked him about my grandmother, and he said she was a witch, like Sybil and Elaenor. I wonder ifthat’s how he met her.
I can sense his presence before he speaks, and I sigh. He can always tell when I’m stressed and on the brink of losing control. He may not have his seeing abilities, but his intuition when it comes to my sister and I,has never failed him.
“What happened?” His voice is soft. Not that he is without emotions, but he never lets them show. The only time I saw him genuinely break down is when Sybil died. It was the first and only time I had seen him cry.
“He’s using a collar. A collar fitted withspikesto control her.” I spit out, clenching my eyes shut and pressing my forehead harder into the glass.
“Has Dav received word?” I can hear him collapse in one of the green settees placed around the small sitting area. The library in the Rakushian palace isn’t large by any means, but it’s comforting, warm. It’s also rarely used so it’s my favorite place to escape, to hide.
“Ren sent a raven. I guess Thel met with Elaenor and Tobias today. She’s alive, but she doesn't look good. She looks sick.” I told him what exactly Ren said, watching for his reaction. I don’t miss the fury that flashes in his eyes, even if it only lasts a second. He loves Elaenor, probably as much as he loves his children.
“I don’t know how much I trust Ren to be honest with you, son. He’s been working for Tobias’s father for years, and now Tobias himself. He may claim to be on our side, but he has stood by and watched as Elaenor is tortured. He may be a man of the church, but he is watching as a young girl is in need of help. He could be doing something to assist her.”
“He has never lied.” I turn and face my father. His dark hair is cropped close to his head, his yellow eyes are soft, tired. He’s wearing a long sleeve tunic and breeches, light but still warm enough to stave off the last of the spring chill.
“That we know of. Regardless of his honesty, he hasn’t stepped in. He hasn’t helped us, or her. He’s provided information. That’s it.”
“Information we wouldn’t have otherwise.” I counter.
“I’m just saying, don’t get hung up on anything until we receive a raven from Thelonious himself.” He says softly, as if he’s being cautious howhe speaks to me.
“I doubt they’ll let him be alone in any capacity for quite some time, father. Tobias doesn’t sound like a trusting man.” He snorts and runs his hand through his short strands. I step away from the windowsill and drop into the settee across from him. His eyes are fixed on the window, wonder and calm settling in.
“Have I ever told you what Sybil called Elaenor when she was younger?” I shake my head. It isn’t often he speaks about his time with either of them, but I long to hear all of the stories he has to tell.
“Starlight.” He smiles and looks down at the floor, thinking. “She used to say her hair was as deep as the night sky, but was so shiny that it glittered like a thousand stars. She was so beautiful, so at peace when in her mother’s arms. You two would have gotten along. She was stubborn, but she was free and adventurous. You would’ve influenced each other to do risky things, I presume.” He chuckles softly, his eyes softening as he looks up at me.
“Tell me about her.” I say quietly, hoping he’ll keep talking.
“Elaenor?” I nod and he relaxes a little more into the plush cushion.
“She loved the trees, to be outside. I think she got that from her mother. Whenever I was around, she was either reading some book far too adult for her age or begging to go exploring deep in the woods and mountains. I went often, accompanying Sybil and Elaenor as they traipsed around, explored. Chatis is mostly trees, much like Noterra, but it’s cloudy and humid. You had to run to keep up with her as she played, she would disappear in the fog, only to sneak up and scare you moments later.” He laughs and I allow myself to smile.
“She sounds mischievous.”
“That she was.”
“Do you think she’s still the same?” I think I know the answer, but I don’t truly know. He ponders for a moment before looking at me.
“After Sybil died, and I escaped Viktor’s claims of my involvement in her death, I went back a few times to check in on her. I never saw her leave the palacegrounds. Not even once. I was able to get into the palace one day when Viktor was elsewhere. It was when she was fourteen years of age. Still young, but it was seven years after her mother passed. Seven years since I saw her last.” Unshed tears in his eyes catch the light, and he blinks them away quickly.
“How was she?” I whisper.
“She was broken. I don’t mean that to sound as horrible as it does, but she was no longer the little girl I knew and loved. She wasn’t in her room when I searched for her, but in the infirmary. She had deep wounds across her back, so much so that stitches were barely enough to keep the skin closed.” My eyes widen and my lips part.
