Girl of Dark Flames | DISCONTINUED

Twelve: The Wolf and the Crown

"A man might befriend a wolf, even break a wolf, but no man could truly tame a wolf."

- George R.R. Martin, A Dance with Dragons

―

TWELVE: THE WOLF AND THE CROWN

"The portal hits randomly?"

Ezra stopped for a second in his pacing to face me. "It hasn't come in a few hundred of years. It's impossible to know for sure."

Even after seeing Ezra during the night that one time, I had avoided going to the Atrium in case I would see him or someone else that I didn't want to. But even so, I wasn't a child either, and I didn't want to hold grudges or be cowardly. So I came to Ezra, and I told him that I didn't want to be caught unprepared against the portal.

He said that he didn't want to either.

"Your best guess?" I watched him pace from my place perched on a stool in the library.

He tapped a pen against his fingers. "Around here somewhere. Portals ― solstices are drawn by something, in this case, your powers. It would only make sense that it would be naturally be around where you are."

"And if I don't go through?"

"It will never leave until it collects its bounty, and it will always be calling to you. I doubt it's easy to resist its pull, but again, it's impossible to know."

"So I have to go to Ealyndris." My voice was flat, but inside, there was a yawning black hole growing by the second. I would be forced to leave everything I had ever known all because of a stupid, stupid, stupid magic legacy that was forced onto my shoulders by birth.

Ezra paused again in his pacing, but this time just as he was about to turn again, his back facing away from me. "I―"

"Tell me the truth."

"Yes, you do." His voice was soft, and for a moment I could've swore his fists clenched, just a little, before he turned and faced me again.

There was silence, when I finally said, "What do I have to know?"

"I don't know much, but there are books you can read. Old ones, from years ago, so the world has changed, but...it should help at least a little."

The solstice was predicted to hit within a month, maybe two if I was lucky, and in that time, I would have to learn about an entire world that I would live in for...the rest of my life. I didn't want to think about languages and currency and government, so I took my mind off of it. "Are you coming to the Atrium today?"

He didn't even blink as I changed the subject. "If you want to. There's still more you need to learn ― your form needs work, as does your balance."

"I'll see you at eight, then?"

"Eight," he said, nodding, as I got up. I didn't have anywhere to go, and I didn't have anything to do, but anything to take my mind off of what was current occupying it. The best thing for that was what I used to do every evening ― take walks and listen to music.

―

The sun seemed to set faster than usual, or maybe it was because my mind was constantly occupied and I never had a moment to rest. It was dark outside by the time I was completely dressed and had everything I needed.

Keeping my eyes out for anyone outside, I made my way to the Atrium, picking my way over the trail, stepping over rocks and bumps and bushes. There was no one below, so I figured that Ezra would be coming soon.