Reign of Embers

Chapter 9 - Regrets

Aelin

Me and Rowan make our way to the entrance courtyard through our secret passageway near our bedroom. There are loads of passageways in the castle, and since the war I have made sure to refresh my memory of them with Aedion. Me and my cousin are the only ones who know about all of them, the others know the important ones, but I always refuse to tell them the others. This particular passageway leads from behind a tapestry of the insignia of Terrasen just down the hallway from our room, over some of the many arching bridges and walkways and down hidden staircases, to behind a similar tapestry in a hallway just around the corner from the foyer. Alternately, it leads to a side door near the stables, in case we ever need to escape, It's one of the escape routes I've told Rowan about. I've told the rest of the court that that particular passage was blocked off in the war, which is true, but I had it cleared so I could sneak out at night without using windows. Which isn't as fun, but sometimes it's necessary.

The passages are all torch lined, with an old carpet running down the floor. Every so often there are secret rooms that can only be accessed by these paths, but they are hardly used. One such room, which is only accessed by going through a passageway that only leads to that room in the playroom nursery complex. We decorated the room to be like a den for the children, with strung up balls of fireflies hanging around the walls, and big comfy pillows and rugs strewn all over the floor. They think that no one knows about its existence except me, but they never seem to notice that no one is worried when they go 'missing'. There is a small grate that looks down on the den, hidden behind a painting of a ring of magic folk dancing around in the Oakwald forest. This allows any passing member of my court to peer down and check that all is well. Naturally, because they think I'm the only one who knows where it is, I hand deliver all the milk and cookies that they request.

We reach the end of the cramped hallway and step out through the tapestry, startling a passing servant. I apologise and run down the corridor to greet our guests, Rowan right on my heals. We left Fleetfoot in our rooms, where she spends most of her time if she isn't running around the castle, grounds, or in the kennels.

When we round the corner, I nearly crash into Aedion.

"Sorry cuz." I shout, then continue running down towards the others, desperate to see Dorian and Chaol.

When I arrive at the doors, no one else is here yet, so I signal for the guards to open them and rush out into the evening sun.

A smile breaks out on my face when I see Chaol and Dorian. I make my way down the steps, Rowan now arriving behind me, but slow when I see that they look really pale and worried. Neither men look my direction as they dismount from their horses.

Something's wrong Rowan

I turn, ready to warn Yrene before she sees them, but I'm too late. Yrene rushes from the castle and runs down the steps, but freezes at the bottom.

Chaol climbs into the carriage, Dorian stood outside watching. With my fae hearing I can tell that he seems to be talking to Aislinn and Asterin, telling them to stay in there until Josie has left.

Aelin...

What's going on rowan? What happened?

Yrene seems confused as to why no one is saying hello, and I wish I could tell her. I'm about to make my way towards her, to tell her that something has happened, when we see Josie. Yrene's hand shoots to her mouth as she slets out a strangled sob and rushes to her child.

"Shit." Rowan mutters.

Yrene

My knees buckle and I'm running to my pale and blatantly injured daughter. My powers are drawn to her, to heal her. I can sense no blood but she's in pain. I can tell by the way that she winces when she thinks no one is looking, or takes a sharp intake of breath when someone touches her bandaged arm.