The Last Throne of Golah

Chapter 6

Icy rain misted their hair and clothes as Morgana sensed a hand grasping the air in front of her. Caliath felt it too because he tightened his arms around her, and they fell backwards into a shadow. Morgana's belly lurched into her throat, as Caliath's earth magic turned them over, making them land on their feet. Muffled yells drifted overhead. Caliath grabbed Morgana's hand, and they ran, feet pounding sodden leaves and sticks as they wove through shadows and leapt over bushes. After a moment, armored boots clanked from behind as a Shadow Walker gave chase. Cold panic clawed Morgana's chest, as the clatter of armor got closer and closer. Caliath yanked her into a shadow, and they fell sideways. His earth magic turned them upright before they landed onto a thick carpet of leaves. They jumped into another shadow, and a metallic crash followed as the Shadow Walker was back on their heels. Caliath turned, and fire roared out of his hand, momentarily lighting the trees around them. Heat boiled the air. Whoever was chasing them screamed. After a few more leaps and sprints, they made it back to Morgana's room, hearts thundering and out of breath.

"You must go," Morgana gasped. Sweat trailed down her neck and a stitch gnawed on her side. She shoved Caliath towards the balcony where the shadows were thickest. Their magic rings faded from scarlet to clear.

"No." He spun around, and she collided into his chest.

"If they catch you here, then everything we've done would be for nothing."

"I can't leave you."

"You must." Morgana's voice was pleading, desperate.

He shook his head, jaw tense.

Morgana wanted to scream.

"If they've followed us, you must come with me to my court. Please." Caliath gripped her shoulders, his throat bobbed.

A beat and then. "I'll go with you if it comes to that."

Then what followed was one of the longest and most horrible moments of Morgana's life. The silence closed in on them like the jaws of a sluagh closing over the head of a rabbit. They waited for guards to pour out of the shadows, for arrows to come flying out. Morgana waited for the cold press of a sword against her throat. She paced, adrenalin pumping through her veins as she thought about whether Caliath would be able get them out in time, and that if he didn't, she'd take a few guards down no matter the state of her powers. She still knew how to fight. After ten minutes had passed it became clear that no one had traced them back to her room. Morgana stopped pacing and sighed.

"I think we're in the clear." She slumped onto her bed, drained.

"There shouldn't have been that many guards in that part of the woods tonight." Caliath frowned. His fists were clenched, and his jaw was tight. "I don't know why they were there."

An unwelcome thought strayed into Morgana's mind. She lifted her head and met Caliath's gaze. "What if the guards were there because someone had followed us?"