Crown and Cloak

Chapter 5

Erik

"How could you possibly have let her get away." I watched my father pace the room as I leaned on the wall near the door. He may as well have steam blowing out of his ears. "I didn't 'let her get away'," I sneered. "

"She wore a magic-blocking cuff, and the door locked from the outside. Perhaps we've underestimate her." My words only seemed to infuriate him more, and he crossed the room to where I stood, his brown curls held in place by the crown he wore. His face was so close to mine i could feel each steaming hot breath he took.

I tried not to cringe.

"This happened under your watch, boy. There is no we, only you and your constant failure. Perhaps I never should have told you of my search. I'd hoped it would cause you to grow into a more proactive heir by allowing you to help, but all you've done is continue to hinder my progress!"

Tilting my head, I peered into his eyes. Pure rage filled his irises, and more than that, relief and disappointment. It wasn't in me. It never could be. He wasn't capable of it. This disappointment was aimed at himself. It was as if he had finally accepted that he was right about me. It was as if all his accusations of being unworthy and undriven finally rang true, and at last, he could stop putting his effort into a lost cause. "She could not have gotten far. She's only attended Adoronia for a month. She can't know her way around the entire campus."

He slunk away as if everything I said was a waste of time. Something in his posture told me that he'd always known that in the back of his mind.

"There will be no more chances, boy." The pitch in his voice dropped to an unnatural level as he stared me down. "This is an order. Find that girl. You have two weeks and if you have failed me again, i will tear this building apart brick by brick until i find her and strip you of your title!" I let out an incredulous huff but bit my tongue to prevent any words from spilling. Father raised an eyebrow at me.

"And to ensure you do not fail me again, two of my knights will remain here to help you in your search."

We stare at each other for a long while. I can feel his irritation filling the room before he storms out. I try to feel anything other than relief when he leaves, but my brain no longer registers anything else when it comes to him.

As my father said, two knights waited for me outside, standing at attention and waiting for me to speak. "I'm sure my father gave you your orders. Go." The two men nod and march off in opposite directions. I have no doubt that my father has ordered them to keep an eye on me, which will make it challenging to meet with Aoife.

I return to my dorm, finding Zeke sitting on his bed surrounded by sheet music. "New song?" He didn't look up when I crossed the room, his fingers running across the parchment and scribbling down music notes. Aoife couldn't have expected my meeting with my father to be as quick as it was. Hell, I was surprised he didn't take the time to reiterate the importance of his goal and how the safety of our people must be put first. Father's tantrums were his own. As far as i'm concerned they're just ramblings of an old man who became too invested. I wont be like him. I'll find The Great Witch and bring her to justice.

"Shit!" Zeke crumbled a piece of paper in his hand and threw it in the nearest waste bin. The bed probably wasn't the best place to write music. "How many times have I told you to make use of the desks?"

His gaze traveled to me, looking slightly vexed. "And how many times have I told you that there's no room?" He speaks as if he's won the conversation, causing the right corner of my mouth to lift. The wooden desk beside his bed stretches to fit most of the wall space but Zeke has always argued that it had never been enough to hold all of his physical talent.