Knightingale [THE FIRST DRAFT.]

EPILOGUE

"In which we are left with more questions than answers."

[ THIS BOOK is available illustrated on my KOFI @/2ndstarart ]

In the time it took Adric to rush home, the moon had settled nicely in the middle of the sky. He thought it quite odd for a moment as he thought back to how much time he had spent at the Tor Tower and how much time he had gone without much sleep. The thought of being able to collapse on his bed quickly swarmed his mind.

Opening the door with an unapologetic bang accompanied by the creaking of wood, Adric frantically looked around their small kitchen.

"Mallory?" He called, stepping inside the room, failing to close the door behind him.

"Hello?" He called up the stairs. Looking at the counters he noticed the room was cleaner than usual, not a speck of berry juice, not a grain of flour in sight. The most peculiar thing was Mallory's apron folded and placed to the side.

Rapid steps came from the floor above, the dust falling from the ceiling and settling on the floor of the kitchen.

"You're-" The voice exclaimed as a ginger-haired girl descended the rickety floor. "-back." Her voice slowed and her body paused once she saw the boy. With no magpie and no Mallory.

"You're excited to see me," Adric smirked. He made note of Edie's appearance, she wasn't wearing her mother's corset for one, in fact, what she wore was something quite simple by Edie's standard. Her hair was up in a bun, with no flora in sight.

She fought against the urge to widen her eyes and ask everything that was on his mind, but the girl was smarter than to show her true emotion at this time. Did Adric know? Did she even make it to him?

"Where have you been!" She smiled, deciding to remain joyful.

"You will never guess! I'll tell you all about it tomorrow." He gestured widely, rubbing his eyes for a moment as sleep was slowly taking control of him.

"Hey, where's my sister?" He added and smiled wide, making his way to the staircase.

"She-" She paused. That answered one of her questions. "Erm, She went to the north village."

Quickly coming up with an excuse, she turned away from him, holding herself up with the counter. Mallory's apron inches away from her pinkie finger.

"Some new herb has been imported. Meant to be amazing in bread." Edie swallowed hard.

"And she left you in charge? Ha!" Adrick chortled, taking his first steps up the stairs. He had climbed so many stairs that day.

Edie turned her head momentarily just to make sure the boy was leaving. "Ha ha, yeah. Terrible mistake." She brushed off, her small hand coming to lay on the apron.

As Adric started up the stairs, Edie finally let out one tear. A small choke sob begged to escape her mouth as she worried for her friend.

"Tomorrow, come to the training grounds." The boy's voice rang out quickly as he popped his head back into the kitchen waiting to see the girl's expression.

"Sure." Edie's voice wavered as her face remained obstructed, knuckled turning white as he held on tight to the stained garment in her hands.

"Gee, next time I won't invite you." Adric grumbled, finally submitting to the idea of sleep as he slumped to his bedroom, dreams taking over the moment he closed his eyes.

***

Gale's first night in Eyocahn palace was uncomfortable. Light was everywhere which did not help her condition as all she could pick up were her tattered clothes in a sea of white marble. The room in the west wing was particularly bright and thankfully bare enough that she wasn't falling into furniture or worse, fragile decorations. It felt like nothing more than a cage.