The World Cannot Know

Chapter 45

Matthew Wild

The air was thick with the scent of herbs and the faint tang of blood, mingling with the tension that hung over us. I sat in a worn wooden chair by Arney's bed, the creak of its joints the only sound in the otherwise silent room. Arney lay unconscious, his chest rising and falling slowly, each breath a small reassurance that he was still with us.

His mother sat on the other side of the bed, her shoulders hunched as she wept quietly. Her tears fell onto Arney's hand, which she held tightly, as if her grip alone could anchor him to this world. Her sobs were soft, but they cut through the silence like a knife, each one echoing the helplessness we all felt.

Alice and Elizabeth stood nearby, their faces etched with concern. Alice had her arms wrapped around herself, as if trying to ward off the chill that seemed to permeate the room, while Elizabeth hovered near the bed, her eyes fixed on Arney with a mixture of worry and determination.

"He will be okay, Mum," I called out to her, trying to inject some confidence into my voice. But the words felt hollow, almost like a prayer more than a certainty.

Arney's mother didn't look up, her focus entirely on her son, but her grip on his hand tightened, as if she were holding onto my words for strength. "He has to be," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I can't lose him too."

Alice shifted beside me, her expression softening as she glanced at Arney's mother. "He's strong. He's made it this far," she said gently, though there was a tension in her voice that betrayed her own fears. 

Elizabeth, still standing at the bedside, nodded in agreement. "He's a fighter, he's not going anywhere."

Arney's mother finally turned to look at us, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. She shook her head slowly, her voice trembling as she spoke. "I don't know what mess you and Arney have gotten into," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and frustration. "But whatever it is, it nearly cost me my son."

I felt a wave of guilt crash over me, knowing that our choices had put Arney in this position. "I'm so sorry," I said, my voice thick with emotion. "I never meant for any of this to happen. I was just trying to help."

Arney's mother looked down at her son, her expression softening as she brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead. "I just want him to be safe," she whispered, her voice cracking. "That's all I've ever wanted."

"I'll make sure of it," I said firmly. "No matter what it takes."

...

Arney was left at home to rest, his mother's watchful eyes never leaving his side. I couldn't shake the worry gnawing at me, but there was still work to be done. Alice, Elizabeth, and I made our way to the tavern, the cool night air biting at our skin as we hurried through the dimly lit streets.

The tavern was quieter than usual, the usual raucous laughter and clinking of mugs replaced by hushed conversations and the occasional glance in our direction. We pushed through the door, the warm glow of the lanterns inside offering a welcome contrast to the cold outside. The three of us moved toward a secluded corner, where Throne was already waiting, a serious expression on his face.

"Throne," I greeted him, sliding into a seat across from him. Alice and Elizabeth followed suit, their expressions mirroring the tension in the air.

Throne didn't waste any time. He leaned forward, his voice low. "I've been looking over those papers you and Arney lifted from the Valorian general. There's something big here, bigger than any of us thought."

My heart raced. "What did you find?"

Throne spread out the papers on the table, pointing to a series of maps and documents marked with symbols and codes. "These aren't just military orders. They're plans—plans for a full-scale invasion. The Valorians are gearing up for something massive, and it's not just about taking territory. They're after something specific, something they think is here."