Something about that had troubled her. Nym’s conscience had never gotten in the way of her duty but something about this particular job made her feel like she could be on the wrong side of things. She’d tried to squash those worries whenever they cropped up but it became difficult to do. It had begun to feel less like a mission and more like a vacation. Spending time with Jacob had been invigorating and she’d become extraordinarily fond of him.
When orders finally arrived from the elders, they were only a few days away from Loral. She could sense another elf following them in the woods and had waited until Jacob was asleep then slipped out of their bedding and into the trees. She’d found Sen easily and he had quietly handed her a slip of paper then disappeared into the forest without a word.
She remembered opening the paper to read the words inside and how they broke her heart.
“Kill him and return.”
That was all the note had said, four simple words.
A tear rolled silently down Nym’s cheek as she recalled the pain and averted her face from Lana. It was the first time she had ever considered ignoring her orders. She had wanted to warn the prince, to run away with him and try to keep him safe. She’d wanted to cry, to beg the elders to spare this man who was so full of life and whose heart was so pure.
It would have been useless. If she had refused to follow their orders, they would have sent someone else. He would have been in danger as long as he lived. She’d spent that night in the woods, sitting in solitude and trying to decide what she should do. In the end, it was inevitable. She would kill him and return, just as she’d been ordered. Sneaking back into camp and to his arms, Nym had relished every moment she had left with the man she thought she could have loved given a little more time.
It was simple and quick. A short twist of his neck from behind, leaving his body there on the ground with his horse. She knew someone would find him on the road and the message he had been carrying from the elves would identify him. It was just another job, another successful mission. Nym had pushed her feelings away and started her journey back home, not realizing that she would soon meet up with two people who could fill the role of the family she’d never had. Not realizing that one of them was sister to the man she almost loved. Not realizing that she would soon be wrestling with the knowledge that she had betrayed this woman before she had even met her.
* * *
Lana stood quietly, watching Nym as she stared into the forest border. The woman seemed lost in thought so she waited in silence. The two of them spent a lot of time that way, speaking to each other only when necessary. After some time, Nym seemed to snap out of her daze and turned to face Lana.
“This is the beginning of the elven lands,” she said deferentially, her eyes cast downward. “These trees are kind only to elves and no human may pass without an elven escort. You are half human and half elf so I don’t know if they would let you pass alone. You must stay close to me.”
Lana nodded to her and walked toward the imposing trees. She reached out a hand as she passed by and felt their quiet watchfulness. She wondered if Clay had passed this same tree, touched it in greeting the way that she had.
Pushing Clay from her mind, she squared her shoulders and walked into the woods, Nym following closely behind. The forest was dark and silent. The only sound was the wind moving through the branches and the crunching of leaves under their feet.
They walked for hours with few breaks, Nym in the lead so Lana wouldn’t take a wrong turn. There was no path in here despite the fact that a road led to the exact spot they entered. It was as if the forest didn’t want anyone to know the correct route to Eva. Nym never hesitated, though. She led with complete confidence and Lana didn’t question her.
“We will stop here for the night,” Nym said once they had reached an area that was mostly clear of trees for several feet. “We should reach Eva by nightfall tomorrow. We don’t need to take watch here, the trees stand vigil and will warn us if anything approaches.”
Lana didn’t respond, she simply dropped her pack and spread out her bedroll and then laid down. She didn’t know if she could sleep in this place. The quiet was unnerving and seemed to amplify any sounds they made. She could clearly hear Nym’s quiet breathing and knew as soon as it changed to the deeper breaths of sleep. She stared up at the canopy of trees, keenly aware of the first time she had lain like this. It was just after Clay had taken her from the castle, rescuing her from a threat she had only just learned of.
Lana closed her eyes, pushing him yet again from her thoughts. He would answer her questions when she found him and until then it didn’t do to dwell on his abandonment. She felt herself becoming drowsy despite her troubled thoughts and for the first time since Clay left, she dreamed.
She sat upon a throne, but it was not the golden throne of Loral. It was a tree that had bent at its
