AERIS
Chapter 17
Aeris eased herself through the window, moving with the slow precision of a hunter stalking through dangerous terrain. Evening had settled, and still, Zerek had not returned from whatever abyss had swallowed him.
Fear threatened to coil around her thoughts, but she refused to let it take hold. The drop was steep, the ground far below. Yet what was worse? Shattered bones or remaining caged in Zerek's grasp, a pawn of his will? She chose the fall.
Hand over hand, she found the cracks in the stone, her fingers brushing over the cold grooves worn by time. She descended as swiftly as she dared, her heartbeat thudding against her ribs, every shift of weight a battle against gravity. Then, at last, the soft embrace of grass met her feet.
She turned, scanning the grounds. Empty. Silent. Her legs, stronger now, nearly healed, carried her toward the left. There, beyond the corridors and towering staircases, she would find the entrance that led to her siblings. She had to warn them. The Duskari could not bend to Zerek's will, could not be swallowed by his war-thirst. And Soren. She had to see him, had to know that her sacrifice had not been for nothing.
Voices rang out above. Skaldur tongue, sharp, commanding. The men had entered the chamber. Aeris ran. Whether they followed, she did not know. Did not care.
She spotted a maid moving along the corridor, the soft glow of torchlight casting long shadows. Without hesitation, she caught hold of her.
"Princess," the maid stammered, attempting a bow, but Aeris cut her short. "Where are my brothers? Where have they gone?"
"I do not know, Princess." The woman's voice quivered, her gaze darting behind her. Aeris did not need to turn to know the Skaldurs were there.
She ran, her breath ragged, her muscles burning. She dared a glance over her shoulder. Two of them followed, not running, not chasing, merely stalking. Their hulking frames cast long shadows, their dark eyes sharp.
The maids scattered, screams echoing in the halls as they abandoned their burdens, linen and trays crashing to the floor in their retreat.
"Selene!" Aeris called as she ascended the stairs. The sheer size of the castle made finding anyone a torment, and fleeing only drained the strength from her limbs.
"Thorne!" She cried each name, desperation thick in her voice. Then, as she rounded a corner into yet another endless hallway, she collided with a figure, a force meeting her head-on.
Aeris barely had time to register the familiar scent of lavender before she grabbed hold. "Nyra!" Relief surged through her as she clung to her sister. "Oh, thank the gods!"
"Aeris—how are you here?" Nyra held her, eyes wild with disbelief. "Zerek took you. He has been at odds with our brothers in the courtyard, refusing to release you. So how—how have you escaped?"
Her words faltered as her gaze shifted, locking onto the Skaldurs who stood behind Aeris, silent, unmoving. Watching.
"Tell father not to fight. Tell him not to go to war," Aeris said, panting.
"What do you mean not to go to war, we cannot just let you get taken!"Nyra's fingers dug onto Aeris as if she would hold her there by sheer will.
"Listen to me, tell father I am willing. That I would go. I will marry the bastard so don't start a war for my sake. Hurry Nyra. " She didn't wait for Nyra to agree, shoved her backwards and gestured for her to go.
"Tell Soren I love him," she added as Nyra turned slowly, hesitantly. Her sister had no reaction to the words, most likely thinking it was just a meaningless word, one siblings often told each other at special moments. But Aeris did not know if she could ever see Soren again, if she could tell him those words herself so she had to send it through Nyra and hope she could deliver it.
"Little princess," said the Skaldur warrior behind her, the barbarian had his hair braided in corn rows and his face tattooed. "Return with us. "
"It is princess Aeris to you," she kicked his chin as hard as she could and had the pleasure of seeing him dance with pain and a howl. The other Skaldur raised his hand as if to strike her.
Aeris did not flinch. She stepped closer, brought her face up to his, her eyes sharp as daggers, burning with the fury that roared inside her chest. "I dare you," she growled.
He froze. His hand hovered for a breath longer before he dropped it. Zerek must not have given the order or perhaps he gave no orders at all. The warrior stepped aside, jaw clenched, eyes dark.
Aeris walked past him with her chin high and her back straight. She would not give Zerek the pleasure of seeing her broken, would not crawl or weep or tremble. Let him take her body. He would never take her pride.
Even if it cost her everything. Even if she lost herself in the end, her will would be the last thing to burn.
She prayed Nyra could reach their father in time, could make him see sense. Her heart twisted at the thought of his face lined with years of war and grief. He was growing old, she had seen it in his eyes, in the way his shoulders slumped after each loss. Could he bear to let her go? Could he live with the silence her absence would bring?
Better to let her go than lose more sons, more Duskari blood spilled over pride. This was the right choice. Zerek wanted war, wanted her to be the fire that sparked it. If he failed to get it, if the Duskari held their ground and gave him nothing but her, then all his planning, all his shadowed threats would mean nothing. Let him choke on that disappointment. Let him carry her away and know he lost.