I peered over the elaborately carved walkway, staring down at the vein-like river ways that ran through the monstrous trees Kandilin was built on. Boats and ships moved across the water beneath, they looked miniature from up above.
I didn’t remember much of the journey to Eldnol, or what happened when we arrived. I was thankful for the missing memories.
I’d also not seen Gallion for days. Word was he was preoccupied with days of meetings in Lilioira with the Queens regarding the attack. He’d promised to come back for me once Hadrian was better. But in the two weeks since, there was still no improvement in his health.
A large, amber griffin chirped when I walked past it, the saddle on its back shifting. I reached across and ran a hand down its feathered head. They were the most beautiful creatures I’d ever seen. It had been sent to guard me and had followed me to and from Hadrian’s room every day. Its sandy tail twisted in pleasure when I scratched behind its ear. I was getting used to his company. He was one of many that filled the treetop city. I could see them flying amongst the trees, an Alorian rider guarding the city. Everyone was still on high alert.
I walked ahead, beginning to recognize the buildings close to me. I was near.
To my right, I waved at the Elementist who had removed my gold band when I first arrived. He smiled and waved back. He was a gentle man, and someone I owed a lot to. He’d worked hard on Hadrian, extracting the poison from his blood.
I rounded the corner, stepping through the silk curtain into Hadrian’s room.
“How are you feeling today?” I asked, moving straight to the side of his bed and dipping a clean cloth into the silver bowl of water on the bedside table.
“Better,” Hadrian grumbled, his eyes close. “I was having a dream, a nice one.”
“Dreams. It’s been a while since I’ve had one of those,” I replied, running the damp cloth down his face. It had taken a lot for the healers to bring him from the state he arrived in. The burns from the gold cage had become infected, they still looked raised and sore. They said it would take a long while for it to be out of his system. Time, I worried, we didn’t have.
“You are later than usual,” Hadrian said.
“I slept in. I was with Nyah last night, she’s been preparing me for today. So, as you could imagine, I didn’t get to bed until late.”
I dropped the cloth back into the silver bowl and picked up a chalice of water. Hadrian sat up on his own, wincing, and I helped tip the water into his mouth.
“Is there any news on Browlin’s burial?” Hadrian asked.
The mention of her name sent an uncomfortable twisted feeling in my chest. “No. I haven’t heard from Gallion still.”
“I hope he returns soon. I would have thought he would be back for your ritual today.”
I leaned into his hand, thankful for his touch. “Did I…”
“I am feeling much better, let me come with you. I want to be there for you.”
I shook my head. “I’ll be fine. And you still need the rest.”
“Is that woman going?”
“If you’re talking about Emaline, then no,” I replied.
Emaline had not spoken a word to me or anyone since the incident on King Dalior’s ship. I’d asked after her daily, but I got the same response. She didn’t want anything to do with us.
He tutted in response, grimacing when he led back down. “At least you have Nyah.”
“I know. I’ll come and find you after, fill you in with all the details.”
I could tell that Hadrian’s smile was forced.
We hadn’t spoken about what happened on the ship. That was Gallion’s only suggestion before he left. From what I understood Hadrian didn’t remember much of what occurred. But I did. I replayed it over in my mind every spare moment I had. I saw King Dalior’s face melt until it was no longer him. It had never been him. My heart broke every time I thought of it. Hadrian still believed his father was out there. It’d never been King Dalior.
I remembered the burning of the gold, the pain. I remember his threats. Petrer, Browlin, everything.
“Will you stay with me till I fall asleep?” Hadrian asked.
“Of course.”
I began to trace my fingers across his bald head. I traced patterns and designs with my nail. I felt the slight pricks of new hair growth beneath my fingertips when I ran circles around his skull.
We were silent for a while, the only connection between us was my hands caressing his head. I moved down his neck every now and then until the hairs on his arms stood on end and his skin was covered in goose bumps.
A deep horn sounded beyond the room. I dropped my hand from his head and he looked up at me.
“I have to go,” I said, knowing that the horn was my signal. The ritual would start soon. I placed a longing kiss on his forehead and moved for the door.
“They say that fire is nothing without the air that fuels it. You are my air, without you I would just stop. I need you, I want you and I will get better and be there for you.”
I swallowed back the lump in my throat and looked at him from the side of the room, wishing I could jump into his arms and have him hold me.
“Sleep well,” I said, biting back the tears that wanted to release.
***
THE AIR PRESSED in on me. I was frozen to the stone floor inside the pentagram that’d been etched beneath me in white chalk. The room was bathed in darkness.
Around me, the hooded figures of empaths swayed and chanted in a language I’d not heard before. They each held a single candle, illuminating their faces beneath their hoods. Although their song was beautiful, it didn’t distract me from the building feeling within me.
As their song grew, I watched the smoke from the candles build into a cloud of shadow above me. It swirled in circles, darkening in colour until it was hard to make out in the black of the room. Everything began to melt away, the empaths disappearing, but their chants still audible. I was pinned to the floor, staring at the ceiling of a shadow. It spun faster, the bubbling sensation building within me until I couldn’t take the pressure any more.
I opened my mouth to scream and the shadows stilled.
They hung in the air for a moment, then shot towards me, filling my mouth.
The pressure built within me.
Then my world exploded in light.
.
First, I want to thank all those who said I couldn't do this. That I would never be able to write a book, that it was stupid for me to try… jokes on you.
I want to thank these incredible supports of Cloaked in Shadow before the book even came out. Thank you for giving it a chance and reading it. Jo Painter, Emily R. King, Kathryn Purdie, Danielle Paige, Gabriella Lepore, Rachel E. Carter, Emily Sowden, Hannah Quinn and Kirsty Bonnick, Mum, Dad and Sarah.