Page 63 of Queen of Thorns
Rai squats beside me, but he doesn’t speak. He lets me mourn these first few moments without her. I don’t know how long I stay there, but eventually I lift my head and give Rai a pathetic, bitter laugh.
“I have a bottle of scotch with your name on it,” he finally says, smacking my back. “Come on.”
I resist the groan. As much as scotch isn’t my favorite drink, the pain and burn may be more welcome than usual today. Rai keeps his arm slung over my shoulder as we walk down the hill toward Black Lake. A rushing sound catches my attention, and I stop, watching the usually silent waters slosh.
“Did something change?” I ask.
Rai frowns. “It’s been a tad more active these last two days. Still no tides, no disruptions. Just a gentle shifting of the waters.”
I purse my lips. “Keep me updated on any changes.”
“We’ve increased security all around.”
I nod. “I’ll send a message to the queen to send over some High Court guards to help. It’s important we know the moment anything changes here.”
Rai nods and guides me down a path the other direction toward his capital city. I’d planned to head to the Luminescent Court tonight to meet with my father, but... Rai is probably right that spending a night drinking away my sorrows first may be exactly what I need. Tomorrow, I will face the Luminescent King.
Rev
The moment the HighCourt carriage bumps through the portal, there are gasps of awe.
I hadn’t announced I was heading home, so they are unprepared, but one look at the gold carriage, and the Luminescent Court soldiers leap into action. One sprints back toward the palace, the other three run toward us. There are also half a dozen High Court guards marching behind us.
I spent a full day moping in the Crackling Court, chatting with Raijin. It was necessary to leave Caelynn in the Shadow Court, but it still hurts to be apart from her. To know that our relationship will never be the same.
Rai’s wife was suspiciously absent, and I suspect it was for my benefit. They were right, too. As much as I’d never ask her to stay away, seeing Rai with her would have taken me out. I’m happy they’re happy, but I’m miserable that I am miserable.
Today, though, I woke up determined. There is hope. It’s far in the distance, but there are things I can do so solidify the future I want. The future I must know is possible or the next several decades will be torture. I honestly don’t know if I’ll survive it without a tangible path to being with Caelynn again.
In the Luminescent Court, the High Court portal is only a few hundred feet from the palace steps. But the other ruling court portals are farther out, closer to the rest of the city.
Since we passed through the Crackling Court portal, we’re half a mile away from the palace gates and closer to the townspeople. And just as I expected, there are shouts and a pattering of footsteps as people rush to witness my return.
It’s only the second time I’ve been back to my homelands since I was named High Heir, and it wasn’t well known that I returned at all the last time. This time, the people will know.
The more interest I can stir, the better.
