The Children of Riverfield

Chapter 28: Lust

Caspian

Her words hit me hard than any wind.

"What do you mean she's gone?" I stuttered, aghast and shocked all at once.

Through her tears, Brielle managed to explain what had happened. I listened to her tale, horror-struck with an increasing feeling of guilt. When she got to the part about the dark figures, dread filled me. I had read something about them, a while ago now. If I was right, they were called the Forest Floaters and they were not exactly good news.

I kept this information to myself, not wanting to scare my already distraught sister.

As she described Arabella's kidnapping she used a term with shocked me profoundly. Absolute light was not casual magic. It was one of the most powerful forms of magic that existed. The light that these rare people could radiate off their bodies was so powerful it would send anyone to their knees. It was so bright because it sucked away the life source from that person, meaning that if someone had used it on the Forest Floaters and had still managed to get away with Arabella, then they had severely strong powers.

"You have to go to the forest. You have to get in there and rescue her."

"Sister, it is too late now... she is long gone." I croaked. If only I had been there, if only I had not been distracted by Aspen. Maybe I could have played with her, so she would not have ventured alone into the forest. All this could have been stopped if I had been more present.

"What do we do Caspian?"

I stopped, her words catching me off guard. What do we do next? With mother and father away, I was in charge. I felt my whole world come crashing down. I was trusted enough to be left responsible and look what had happened. My little sister, taken or worse.

Brielle's trembling body brought me back to my senses. I had not been there, so I had to help now.

"Come." I spoke softly, gently taking hold of her hand. We walked the short distance back to the castle in silence, Brielle shell-shocked and me thoughtful as I tried to collect my thoughts and guide my sister back.

The moment we walked through the door, Birch came running over to us. People already knew something bad had happened.

Birch took one look at Brielle and beckoned over a maid. "Take Lady Brielle up to her room and help her get cleaned up." He spoke gently, but a sense of urgency could be felt behind his words. "You, call for a healer." He barked at a male servant, who scurried off.

The maid came over and took hold of Brielle's arm gently and started to guide her towards the staircase. I watched in fear as her corps like figure followed behind, silent and pale.

Once Brielle was taken upstairs, Birch turned to me.

"What happened?" And so I transcripted what Brielle had told me, almost word for word, trying not to leave any detail out.

"I think what she saw were Forest Floaters." I added, hoping that Birch's expert knowledge would confirm my theory.

Birch nodded. He too had recognised them.

"If they are, then why are they back?" I frowned. The Forest Floaters were known to come back during times of pestilence, war, famine, and death. They were evil spirits conjured thousands of years ago in the time of high magic to bring order back in times of crisis.

Birch bowed his eyes. "Your father didn't want you to know, but I believe you have the right to know what is going on in your nation."

My heart sped up.