The Serenader

Chapter 13

Atlas' POV
Cal and I slept late the next morning, which was probably to be expected. Still, it came as a surprise to both of us. We were hoping to be on the road by sunup, but by the time we woke and split the remaining rolls, the sun was already directly ahead of the tree canopy. So our time of arrival was delayed a few more hours.

We followed the path quietly. Having nothing else to do, I listened to all the sounds of the forest, taking in how different they were from the sea. I'd rarely stepped off my ship for more than a day or two since the first time I'd walked on - and most of the times I'd gone off were just onto docks. Patrolling didn't usually require a ton of intervention, though I could name a handful of times where that rule fell short. Nevertheless, the feeling of the hull of the ship constantly rocking back and forth was second nature to me. Walking in the castle or in the woods, the earth felt so stagnant; every once in a while I felt almost disoriented on the solid ground.

That discombobulation was sort of how I felt now, but for a different reason. Cal and I had our bearings - we were following the path with every step - but I didn't see anything that resembled a safe haven. I was certain we'd passed it or taken a wrong turn, or perhaps both, when we stumbled upon a little cottage right in the middle of nowhere. It was the only building around for miles.

"This is it?" Cal asked.

The exterior wasn't in great condition. The paint of the little house was peeling off and the vines were overgrown like it had been abandoned. I figured the place must have been empty for a long time.

"I guess so," I answered, just as confused as she was. The cottage was underwhelming. I certainly hadn't expected anything grand, but I wasn't entirely sure what this house could have to offer us. "I'd say we have the wrong place, but this is the only house around."

I wasn't sure what to do, so I knocked. When that provoked no response, I tried the doorknob. It was locked.

"Why would our father send us to a locked safe haven?" I mused. "And beyond that, why send us here?"

"Because there are people inside," Cal replied. "Three, actually."

I took her word for it. Now that she had brought it up, I did see signs of other people. A bent stick there, an indent in the overgrown vines just big enough for a foot, that kind of thing. I had hoped they would be expecting us, but that didn't seem likely. If they had been prepared to let us in, they would have.

Cal knocked this time. When there was no answer, she turned to me. "Any ideas?"

"Can't you use your Illusion?" I suggested.

"That's not how it works," she told me. "I can't just force people to do what I want."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," I started, feeling like I was treading water again. One wrong word and the conversation was sure to go south. "But can't you project intrigue or curiosity or something like that? Just enough to get them to want to open the door."

"I don't want to go too far," she said. "Besides, are intrigue and curiosity even emotions?"

I had no good answer for her, so that was that.

"I don't want to have to do this," I muttered under my breath. It was time for Plan B. I jangled the doorknob loud enough for anyone inside to hear.

"This is General Atlas, heir to Harmonia," I called. "I'm under orders to-"

Mid-sentence, the door swung open. A frail, elderly woman leaning on a cane stood on the other side. I got the feeling she had heard both of our previous knocks but had chosen to ignore them.