Page 11

CHAPTER 11

T he chest holding the clothes my father had picked out for me was removed from my room an hour ago. Already, I had another packed and waiting by the door. Katie didn’t have a choice but to follow my father’s orders in packing only the most elegant of dresses, but I couldn’t imagine spending the entirety of this trip in suffocating outfits. The tight girdles atop bulky piles of skirts would be unendurable during our journey. If the dresses in the first traveling case were anything like the one I was forced to wear the night of the masquerade ball, I was making the right decision in bringing spare clothing.

“This one as well, my lady?” a servant I’d never seen before asked, gesturing to the case.

I gave a curt nod, doing my best to keep my chin held high, despite my reservations about leaving. I was beyond eager to cross the bridge leading out of Amosite, but unsure of what to expect once we did.

“Very well,” he said, hefting the chest in his arms and exiting the room.

Aside from what I’d packed, my wardrobe was still overflowing. All the garments in the other case were newly sewed, and it made me feel all the more guilty for wearing them. The people in Silicate needed them far more than I did.

“Auria,” Katie said from behind me. I tore my attention from the window, where I’d been etching the view I saw day in and day out into my memory, as if it wasn’t already stuck there like a preserved painting. “Are you ready to leave?”

I took one last glance at the city in the distance, knowing my answer before she even asked the question. “Yes.”

“Your father would like to say his goodbyes.”

I turned, facing her. I inhaled as deep as my corset would allow, having half the mind to ask her to loosen the strings before my departure, but knowing it would be no use. My father had given strict orders that I must look my best on our way out of the city. My lungs would be aching for air until we stopped for the night and I was finally able to change, though I wasn’t sure they were ever truly filled in this dreary castle. Some people starved for food or water, but I was peckish for a whole different reason.

I wondered what a change of scenery might do for me.

Katie leaned close as we walked side by side down the hall, two guards trailing behind us out of earshot. “Taylin is waiting in the gardens if you would like to say your farewell. It’s on the way to the throne room, after all,” she muttered.

My heart seemed to skip a beat, the realization that I’d miss her more than ever while I was gone hitting me in the gut. “I would like that. Thank you, Katie.”

She gave the barest nod. “Of course.”

After heading down the stairs, my slippers padding lightly on the steps, we emerged through the large doors leading into the garden. The servants hadn’t had time to make me proper shoes for the trip, so I’d have to deal with the ones I had. I was almost certain I wouldn’t be doing much walking anyway. If I knew my father at all, he’d have ordered them to keep me in the carriage and on a tight leash at all times.

“Auria.” Taylin stood from the bench, immediately throwing her arms around me with not a single worry that someone might see and pull us apart. Even if someone saw her as a threat, I’d forfeit my life before she was ever put in danger.

I bit my bottom lip to keep myself composed as I hugged her back. Leaving Amosite was bittersweet, but I refused to cry. I’d be getting away from the place that was more a prison than a home, but I’d be far from the only friend I had ever had.

“It won’t be long,” I told her.

“I’ll be sitting on this bench in three weeks’ time, waiting for you.”

All those stories I’d heard of true love, but they never said that love didn’t just come in the form of a significant other. It came in the form of friendship, too. Taylin was living proof of that.

“I’ll try to bring you something,” I said, pulling back.

She let me go, a smile on her face as she waved me off. “Don’t bother. You enjoy your time. From what I’ve heard, the rest of Serpentine is a beautiful place. Take it all in, and don’t you for a second waste time thinking about me. This trip is for you. In the end, I’ll be happiest seeing you walk back through those doors”—she glanced at them towering behind me, a sadness in her eyes—“gift or not.”

“You’re too good to me, Tay.”

“And you, to me.”

We’d recited those words many times before, and I was sure we’d say them a hundred more.

“I’ll tell you all about it when I get back,” I promised.

“And about Lander, I’m sure,” she added, with a dance of her eyes.

I shook my head, unable to hide my grin. “If there’s anything to tell.”

“You never know,” she teased.

We would definitely not be doing what she was indicating.

“Maybe this vacation from you will be a good thing,” I joked.

Her mouth gaped, and I laughed. I’d miss this.

She sobered her expression. “Be safe, Auria. Don’t trust anyone out there. You’re a special person, and anyone could be looking to take advantage of that.”

“I will. Don’t worry about me. We’ll have two dozen guards, and Lander and his brother will be there, too.”

She frowned. “He’s handsome, but that doesn’t mean you should immediately put your life in his hands.”

“Believe me when I say my confidence in others does not come easy. I’ll be unassailable out there.”

“As if that doesn’t sound as confident as ever,” she said with a roll of her eyes.

I smiled, then pulled my friend in for one last hug. “I’ll see you soon.”

She nodded in response before letting me go. I reluctantly headed back into the castle, dreading my visit with my father before I departed.

Katie faced me before we entered the throne room, folding her hands together in front of her. “I will see you in three weeks, Lady Auria.”

I rolled my eyes at the formality. “I’m sure you’ll enjoy every moment of my absence,” I said, attempting to make light of the situation.

She inhaled through her nose, doing her best to keep herself together. It was improper for her to laugh with me in the eyes of my father. “One might say it will feel like a bird’s first flight, the rest of the flock waiting back at the nest for their return.”

“It’ll be a smooth flight, I’m sure.” Though I couldn’t tell if I was reassuring her or myself. There was something exciting about the unknown, yet it remained formidable.

“Safe travels, Lady Auria.” With a dip of her chin, she was heading down the hall, leaving me to face the doors before me.

How many houses could have been built rather than wasting such resources on all these grand doors?

The guard standing post stepped forward, opening them for me. I entered the room, leaving him in the hall.

“Auria,” my father greeted. How welcoming. “Being tardy to your own trip is not the best impression.”

Heidi glared at me from her throne beside him, her eyes promising chastisement had my father not been present. Surely, I’d receive her infliction upon my return.

“My apologies,” I said quietly. “Packing took longer than I thought, as you’d expect, given I’ve never been away for so long.” Or at all , I wanted to add, but thought better of it with my stepmother seated only ten feet away. I’d rather not add to her already growing list of reasons to punish me when I returned.

“As you are aware, you will be traveling for three weeks. After you have visited Sulphur, Torbernite, and Feldspar, your traveling party has direct orders to return to Amosite immediately. The wedding ceremony is set for one week after your return.” My brows shot up at that, but he continued. “There is no room for debate, and if you are not back when you are expected, there will be consequences. Is that clear?”

I fought the urge to turn my eyes to the ground, instead keeping them trained on my father. Even in the small bit of freedom I was being given, I was still to be controlled, but did I expect anything else? It was the way my father talked of objurgating me if we were unpunctual, as if it’d be my fault. He rarely, if ever, was the one to dole out threats to me, so what was different with this? The risk of losing me for good? If instilling fear was his assurance that I would return, I worried it might only do the opposite.

I didn’t miss the hint of a smirk on Heidi’s face.

“Yes, Your Majesty. We will return in three weeks, and not a day later.”

Not so much as a blink indicated he heard me. “I will see you then.”

So much like the words I told Taylin moments ago, yet with a completely different emotion behind them. No pleasantries or hugs, just a formal farewell. I should have expected that from my father, yet somehow, I thought this goodbye might go differently.

I turned to leave, but my stepmother’s voice stopped me in my tracks. “I’d suggest following the rules laid out by your guards and being on your utmost behavior.” Her eyes narrowed, her voice lowering on what she said next. “Word travels.”

Her threat was loud and clear.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

And then I left, heading for the carriage that would take me away from the only place I’d ever known.

A place I wasn’t sure could be called a home.