Chapter 7> Find Her

“What will happen to the girl if you find her?” I finally managed to ask. Everyone seemed so focused on finding her, yet no one had stopped to ask what would happen once they caught her. Even my father looked interested in hearing the answer. The High Mage's expression remained cold.

“She will be sacrificed to the Voidborn. It is the only way to keep it from being released.” My father glanced at me. He knew from the look on my face that I wasn't going to accept that answer easily.

“There has to be another way,” I said. “You're telling me the only solution is to sacrifice an innocent girl?” The High Mage lowered his gaze.

“There is no other option, my prince.”

“But…”

“Enough, Theron.” His voice hardened. “That girl has become a threat to the entire kingdom. If sacrificing her keeps the Voidborn sealed, then that is what must be done. We cannot fight the Voidborn if it is released.” I clenched my jaw.

My father had already ordered the guards to search every part of Oakridge and the surrounding forest for Avery. If he discovered that I had her in the palace, he would be furious but I couldn't hand her over. She was a victim too, she didn't even understand what was happening to her.

When I found her in the forest, she could barely move. She looked frightened, exhausted, and completely unaware of the power everyone was now afraid of.

I was certain she had never even learned how to use magic before the ceremony.

Yet somehow, the entire kingdom was now being threatened because of her.

What exactly are you, Avery?

My father's voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Theron, I need you to help with the search. Find her before the guards do.”

I looked at him, he had no idea that the girl he wanted me to find was already somewhere in the palace.

“I'll find her,” I said. But I knew one thing for certain, I wasn't going to hand her over.

~Elarion Palace~

~Avery's POV~

I woke up again in the palace. Sometimes, whenever I thought about where I was, it still didn't feel real. I was actually inside the palace of Elarion, a place I had only heard about in stories. “Hello,” I called for the servant. The door opened, and the same servant from earlier walked in.

“Yes, Miss Avery.” She bowed.

I still wasn't used to people bowing to me. I was a servant myself, so having someone treat me differently felt strange. “I want to take my bath,” I said. “Your bath is ready, Miss Avery.” She held my hand and led me to the bathroom.

After taking my bath, I dressed and decided to take a walk around the palace. I hadn't seen Prince Theron since I woke up, and I found myself wanting to see him again. I didn't understand why I felt that way. Maybe it was because he was the only person who had shown me kindness since the ceremony.

“Where is the prince?” I asked the servant who followed me. “He went to Oakridge, Miss.” I stopped walking. Did she just say Oakridge? “What for?” I asked.

“The relic cracked during the Awakening Ceremony. The High Mage sent a message to the king, so he went there with Prince Theron.” I felt my heart dropped.

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

The relic, they were going to Oakridge because of the relic. I was sure the High Mage would tell the king that I was the one who had cracked it. And if the prince found out the truth, would he still protect me?

What if he handed me over to them?

I couldn't take that risk, I had to leave.

“Take me back,” I said. The servant looked confused but nodded. I hadn't come to the palace with anything, so there was nothing for me to pack. I only needed to get away before Prince Theron returned. Once we reached the room, I looked around one last time.

For three days, this had been the safest place I had known but I couldn't stay.

I walked out of the room. “Don't follow me,” I told the servant, she bowed. I continued walking until I reached the entrance. Two guards were standing outside. “Miss,” they greeted, bowing. “I want to take a walk outside.”

They looked at each other briefly before opening the gate. That was easier than I expected, I guessed Prince Theron had told them about me, so they didn't see any reason to stop me, I stepped outside.

The moment I was far enough from the palace, I started running, I didn't look back.

I ran as far as my legs could carry me, afraid that someone would realize I was gone and come after me.

I didn't know where I was going, I only knew I couldn't be there when Prince Theron returned.

~On the Road to Elarion~

~Theron's POV~

My father and I were on our way back to Elarion, the ride was quiet. Neither of us had much to say after everything we had learned in Oakridge. I kept thinking about Avery and the conversation with the High Mage. My father wanted her found.

The High Mage wanted her sacrificed and I had no intention of allowing either to happen, I had to speak to Avery, I needed the truth from her. Not because I wanted to hand her over, but because I wanted to understand what had happened to her, she had been terrified when I found her.

She had barely been able to speak, yet she had still tried to hide whatever she was running from.

I wanted her to know she could trust me.

As the palace finally came into view, I felt some of the tension leave my body.

I would talk to her and I would make sure she understood that she was safe but the moment we entered the palace grounds, something felt wrong. The guards at the entrance seemed uneasy, so I looked toward the palace.

I didn't want to mention her to my father's hearing, so after my father went to his chambers I hurriedly went to check on her, I got to her room but didn't see her, I saw her servants. “Where is the girl?” I asked one of them, and the maid's expression changed. “What girl, Your Highness?”

“The one I brought back.” I said. “Miss Avery?” She asked. So her name was really Avery, the maids knew her name but I didn't.

“Yes where is she?” The maid lowered his head. “Miss Avery left the palace, Your Highness.” I stared at him.

“She what?”

“She said she wanted to take a walk outside, and asked me not to follow her.”

I looked toward the gates. I went to the guards standing at the gate. “Which direction did she go?” The guard pointed toward the woods.

I didn't wait for another word, I turned my horse around. If Avery had left because she was afraid of what happened in Oakridge, then she was probably running again and this time, I had to find her before someone else did.