We had stuck to the road, and our journey was far easier because of it. I’d taken Fae’s advice and decided not to hide myself, or the Vulmessian’s, and it was going better than expected.
No one dared to stop us, or even talk to us. Children watched us pass from their bedroom windows, and mothers stood on the doorstep, hands over their mouths. I ignored the whispers and kept my head held high, sometimes hearing snatches of what onlookers were saying.
‘It’s her. The one from the posters.’
‘Is she a bad lady, Mummy?’
‘She’s just … just a teenager by the looks of it.’
‘What are those things they’re riding?’
‘I’ve never seen anything like it before in my life.’
I didn’t bat an eyelid. Perhaps I was being cocky, but I felt invincible upon Hawthorne. My gaze passed over the onlookers, daring them to try and stop me. None of them did. Fae had been right. Either they feared me, or supported me. I couldn’t be sure which was true.
Fae and Dagon rode Shadow and Emilija on either side of me. They were my entourage; Fae with her bow and arrow, and Dagon with his rippling muscles.
Perhaps Dagon had planted the idea of rebellion in my head, and Fae had fuelled my thirst for revenge, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to go to Concord City and face my enemy. The Realm had taken too much from countless families.
We were currently walking the streets of Scyre, and were being followed by a number of curious onlookers. When I turned around to look at them, however, they pretended to be doing other things.
‘Who are we here to see?’ Dagon asked.
‘The Greenwoods,’ I replied. ‘We’re almost there.’
‘And they’re yer boyfriend's parents?’ he asked.
‘His father and step-mother, yes,’ I said.
My thighs ached from riding Hawthorne for so long, and I was looking forward to a rest stop.
‘Their apothecary is up ahead,’ I said, pointing forward. ‘You and Fae can wait out the front. Watch for any suspicious activity, okay? If you need to alert me, get the Vulmessians to yelp as loud as they can.’
‘Gotcha,’ said Dagon, giving me the thumbs-up.
‘Fae?’ I said, turning to face her. ‘Did you catch all that?’
‘Hmm? Oh, yeah. Sure.’ Fae looked as though she were a million miles away.
‘Great,’ I said, dismounting Hawthorne. I stretched my legs and rubbed my thighs vigorously. They were so stiff that my first few steps were slightly strange.
We stood out the front of Greenwood’s Apothecary, Fae and Dagon watching for any suspicious activity.
I entered the shop, the bell tinkling loudly, and found Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood behind the counter, measuring herbs on a set of brass scales. They both looked up as I entered and gasped at the sight of me.
‘Avalon!’ Mrs. Greenwood said, clutching her heart. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I needed to see you both,’ I said.
‘But … you’ll be seen by the guards!’
‘Don’t worry about me,’ I said, jerking a thumb over my shoulder. ‘I have lookouts.’
Mr and Mrs Greenwood looked over my shoulder and out of the shop window. They gasped when they saw the three magnificent beasts standing on their doorstep.
‘My goodness!’ gasped Mrs. Greenwood. ‘What are they?’
‘That’s not important right now,’ I said, waving a hand. ‘I’m here to ask you something.’
‘You know Jack is looking for you, right?’ Mr. Greenwood interrupted.
‘Jack?’ I repeated. ‘You’ve seen him?’
‘Yes,’ he said. ‘He showed up a day or two after you did.’
I cursed. Jack had indeed assumed I would go to his father’s apothecary. It was too bad I hadn’t been able to stay to greet him. That was Caroline’s fault.
‘Well, it was hard to stick around and wait for him,’ I said, glancing in her direction.
Mrs. Greenwood bowed her head, looking ashamed.
‘Did he say where he was going?’ I asked.
Mr. Greenwood nodded. ‘He was heading to the Capital City, to find out if you were captured.’
I pursed my lips. ‘Well … In that case, I will see him soon enough.’
‘What?’ blurted Mr. Greenwood. ‘You can’t go to the city! You’ll be arrested within seconds!’
‘Don’t worry about me,’ I said. ‘I came here because I need your help.'
‘Our help?’ Mr. Greenwood repeated. ‘What do you need?’
I began to tell them what had happened over the last few weeks since leaving their home, including Hawthorne and Emilija in the story.
‘I’ve decided to fight the Realm,’ I admitted a few minutes later. ‘And I will help you get your son back, Mr. and Mrs. Greenwood, but I need your help in return.’
‘You’re … you’re going to get Jaime?’ Mrs. Greenwood asked, breathlessly.
‘Mrs. Greenwood … I’m going to free every damn human in the country,’ I said.
They looked at each other, surprise in their eyes.
‘Will you join me?’ I asked.
‘Go with you?’ asked Mr. Greenwood. ‘To find Jaime?’
I nodded. ‘And free the others that have been forced into slavery.’
Mr. Greenwood nodded fervently. ‘Yes, of course. I need to find my son.’
‘Will it be dangerous?’ Mrs. Greenwood asked.