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He slumped to the ground. I wasn’t sure if he was dead, but I didn’t stay to find out. I ran from the castle before anyone saw the bodies.

My horse snorted at me when I turned the corner of the stables, like she was pissed off that I hadn't come to see her. I pet her as I snuck her out of the stable, then walked her deep into the trees to picket her while I went into the city. I couldn’t take her to Leer’s home; it would look suspicious.

“I’ll be back for you shortly,” I assured her. “Be quiet.”

I turned and ran toward Leer’s house, thankful that he lived on the outskirts of the city. When I got there, I walked in without knocking.

“Thea!” Leer jumped up and wrapped his large arms around me, squeezing me to near death. “I thought you were going to die.”

“I’m sorry for barging in.” I breathed a small breath as he let me go. His wife, Larissa, gasped when she saw my face. I glanced away from her. “You said you were in debt to me, right? I’ve come to ask a favor of you.”

“Anything,” he nodded.

“I want you to take your family far from here. Take anyone from Cerithia that you care about and leave.”

Confusion was clear on his face.

“But…”

“No, please don’t argue. You and your family need to leave. War is coming, and Cerithia will be destroyed.”

“What will you do?”

“I will destroy it, Leer. I cannot, will not, stand by and destroy other innocent kingdoms because Jesper and my father are greedy bastards. I will take Cerithia and Kizar down with me if I must, but you have a family that you just got back. I don’t want to see you killed because my father will gladly sacrifice all the guardsmen for greed. So, I need you to leave and never come back.”

He looked at his wife, who shared the same worried expression.

“Leer, I don’t want to lose you,” Larissa whispered. “We should listen to Thea; she is our only friend here. I trust her.”

The words warmed my cold heart. He looked back at me with wide eyes. I could see all the questions forming in his mind, but I couldn’t answer them. I didn’t have the time.

“Where should we go?”

“Crimson. They will gladly let you live there.”

“Our biggest enemy?” he frowned.

“They aren’t monsters there, like the fae in Cerithia or Kizar. They will not kill those who seek refuge from my father or Jesper. I know they won't. You saw how happy everyone was there; it’s nothing like here.”

“No, they wouldn’t harm us,” he said. “We will go tonight.”

“They will be searching for me in the woods soon. You need to go now and not stop until you are in Crimson.”

“Alright,” he nodded. Larissa was already running around, throwing their belongings into bags.

“I must go. Travel safe.” I looked at all of them. Leer grabbed my arm and turned me back to him.

“If you ever come back to Crimson, find us. You will always be welcome in our home.” He gave me a tight hug before I nodded and left. I would never return to Crimson again. My father would make sure of that.

I ran through the darkness and into the forest, where my Kaida waited. She was standing silently.

“Good girl,” I whispered before climbing on her back and urging her to run.

?????

When we entered the Forbidden Wood, it was just sunset. I could feel the adrenaline start pumping through my body as anticipation and dread filled me. I was worried about what I would find—or not find. Once I spotted the large tree I had carved an X on to mark the shadow border, I dismounted from my horse and told her to stay.

It turns out I didn’t need the marker, though, because the shadow border was no longer there. Almost scared to look, I turned my gaze to where the town should be.