The Mountains Blade

Chapter Fifty

Chapter Fifty- Away We Go

Avelina Greywater stared out the window of her room in the obsidian castle. She had locked herself inside the room and ignored any visitors. 

She watched from her window as Elwyn came barreling through the courtyard. The statues of wolves seemed to shy away from her presence as she fumed. Her hands were clamped at her side, brows creased as she huffed. Her heels dug into the grass before she took them off and threw them against the stone pathway she finally came upon. 

Avelina raised her brows in curiosity, seating herself at the windows ledge. Evander was a few feet behind her, his own expression blank. There was no emotion present on his face. 

Avelina watched as the grass began to wilt where Elwyn had stepped and the plants in varying ceramic pots, crumbled into dust. 

Evander's eyes followed the trail of destruction she left behind before coming back to Elwyn.

Her sister bristled as she noticed where his attention went and she swung around to face the king. Elwyn began to yell something inaudible but all Avelina could hear was the ringing in her ears. 

Elwyn's auburn locks whipped forward, the backless ruby red dress, displaying an artwork of scars. 

The flesh was carved, burnt and lighter than her olive complexion. They weren't in any way ugly, seemingly bringing character to her persona, to the story Avelina still did not know. 

Avelina covered a delicate, thin hand over her mouth and held in a gag. As if they could hear her, both turned up to the window where she sat. Avelina snatched the curtain and pulled it shut. Her heart beat erratically in her ears and she closed her eyes focusing on her breaths. 

She counted. In and out three times. 

~

Soon enough, time had flown by and the time to journey home had arrived. Avelina had nothing to pack and Elwyn had only the pockets of her attire housing blades. 

Avelina adjusted the layers of her skirts as she smoothed over the layers and watched her sister. Elwyn sat across the aisle from her decked out in black. She wore black pants and a fitted silk button down. The top few buttons were pulled open, exposing her collar bone. Her face was set into a irritated expression, eyebrows drawn, hands clenched in her lap.

Avelina took note of the ice licking up her hands and then melting. She had barely found out about that after yesterday. She had always thought Elwyn human, normal, powerless. The heir continued smoothing her cream skirts as she waited for the pilots to prep the plane for takeoff. 

Avelina couldn't help but look out the window past her sister to search for Markarious. She chewed her lip anxiously and placed her hands in her lap, examining her nails.  They were chipped, and different lengths. She prayed her mother wouldn't scold her for their appearance. Her red hair had been brushed back into an updo, spiral curls dropping onto her teal cloak. The dressing around her wounded wings still ached and bled, seemingly fighting the healing that should have already occured. 

Avelina didn't want anyone to see if blood somehow bled through the wound dressings. 

She was so entranced in her thoughts, she barely registered as the sound of feet climbing into the plane reverberated. 

The heir looked up and raised her brow in surprise. Dane and Markarious ventured inside, the latter heading into the cockpit. 

"You're coming?" Avelina asked as she tried to mask the relief that coated her soul. 

Markarious nodded, brown locks falling into his face as he eyed the seating options. All other areas were occupied aside from the seat beside either Avelina or Elwyn. 

Elwyn looked to the man before her and shifted her body to stretch her legs across the empty seat beside her. 

Markarious scoffed at her and shook his head. 

Avelina turned to glare at her sister but she was already facing the window again. 

Markarious sat beside her, his body heat covering her in a warm embrace. He remained as respectable a distance as he could, practically hanging over the edge of the seat. 

Avelina felt a small laugh escape her and the surprise he looked at her with, matched her own. 

The man cleared his throat. "How are you doing?" He asked gently. 

Avelina felt herself stiffen at his comment. "What do you mean?" She asked sounding more bitter than intended. 

"You know, with everything that has happened recently."

Avelina clenched the fabric of her dress. "I'm great." She smiled, teeth grinding against each other before she found herself looking out her own window. 

She looked at the landscape, opposite of what she had been told growing up. She had heard the stories of Evander Kane, the man who had murdered for sport and slaughtered any who threatened his reign. 

After seeing the man with her own eyes, she doubted the stories credibility. But as the male began to make his way to the plane, Avelina tried not to balk. 

His hair was expertly combed away and he wore black fighting gear. Avelina knew, like Elwyn the man hid weapons beneath his clothing. He wore black pants with thick steel toed combat boots and a black button down, tucked into slacks, a polished black cargo jacket over his outfit. 

He looked up at Avelina and met her eyes. Avelina stiffened at his hardened gaze. His face seemed ready for war, the want for revenge coating the air around him. As he made his way to the planes door, Elwyn stiffened. 

Avelina watched her sisters reaction with bewilderment. Her nails dug into her pant legs and she grit her teeth, not taking her gaze from the window. 

Evanders weight made the plane sway as he lifted his heavy boots upon the platform. He looked around, eyes lingering on Avelinas sister. 

"I will be flying and taking you home today. I want to apologize for any incident that may have occurred as a result of my brothers- Aldric's- actions. I assure you that I will find and punish him."

Elwyns eyes snapped to Evanders with cold hate. "Not without my participation." She growled. 

Evanders jaw tightened. "I will discuss that with your king and queen."

Avelina looked over to Elwyn, her heart twisting at the anger on her face. 

"I am the next in line to the throne, you may discuss this with us." Avelina interrupted before Elwyn could launch an argument with the king. The heir could see the fight blooming on her sisters tongue as they awaited his response. 

Evander studied her for a long moment. "You are not yet queen, princess." And then he left to the cockpit.