Chapter Five.

Sierralya

Keholts raised one hand. His wolves stopped advancing.

“I just want to talk to my sister,” he said.

His voice was the same. The same voice that had read me bedtime stories when I was small. That had taught me to climb the old oak in the palace gardens.

Three nights. It felt like three years.

“Let her speak,” Keholts said, looking at Kael. “Please.”

I stepped towards him.

Keholts' face, I'd never seen him look like that. Tired, desperate, scared.

“Sierralya.” My name came out rough. “Come home. Please.”

“Home?" The word tasted bitter. "You mean the dungeon?”

“That was one suggestion, and Father didn't refuse it."

Keholts looked away. “I'll protect you.”

“The way you protected me when they threw me in chains?" The words came out sharper than I meant. “When they locked me in the darkest cell they had and left me to rot?”

“What was I supposed to do?” Keholts's voice broke. “He's the king. My father. Our father. I can't just.”

“You're his heir,” I said. “His favorite.”

“I tried.” He stepped closer to the invisible line between us. “I tried, Sierralya. I argued. I begged. He wouldn't listen.”

“What do you think happens if I go back?” I asked. My voice was steadier now. “Really. Tell me.”

Keholts was quiet for too long.

“Exactly,” I said.

“Then we'll send you somewhere safe.” He was talking faster now, desperate. “Somewhere remote. Away from the capital.”

“A prettier cage,” I interrupted. “That's what you're offering. Another prison.”

“Where you're alive!”

The shout echoed through the trees. Behind him, his wolves shifted. Uncomfortable.

“For how long?" I asked quietly. "Until Father decides I'm too dangerous even hidden away? Until someone whispers about the prophecy again, and he decides he can't risk it?”

“That's why mother—” I stopped myself before I could finish the thought.”

Keholts's face went white.

“Don't,” he whispered.

“So that’s it,” Keholts said. “You’re choosing him. You’re turning your back on your own brother because of him.”

“I'm choosing myself,” I said. “Because I want to live. Not hidden away. Not locked up.”

“Then come with me. Not back to Moonveil. Somewhere else.”

“You'd abandon Father? The throne?”

Silence.

"That's what I thought," I said softly.

Darius spoke up from behind me. "We're standing on neutral territory, Princess. White Wolf lands behind you. Black Wolf lands ahead; two days to Shadowpeak.”

“Decide now, Princess.”

Keholts' jaw clenched. “If you keep going, if you reach Shadowpeak, you’re declaring yourself a traitor.”

“I know,” I said, and took a step forward. Not toward him. Toward Kael.

“She's made her choice,” Kael said.

Keholts turned on him. “You. You've done this.”

“I offered freedom,” Kael said coldly. “Nothing more.”

“You are going to start a war.”

Kael's smile was sharp as broken glass. “Your father started it twenty years ago when he locked those doors and set the fires. I'm just finishing what he began.”

“If she keeps going,” Keholts said, voice shaking now, “if she reaches your territory, we'll consider it an act of war.”

Keholts looked at me one last time. “Sierralya. Please. I'm begging you.”

I took a breath. “Goodbye, brother.”

“Then you're no longer my sister.”

The words hit like a blade.

I didn't stumble, but I stepped back from the threshold. One step. Then another.

Keholts stayed where he was.

He did not call my name again.

King Aldric

The door to Aldric's study slammed open.

Keholts stood in the doorway, armor still on, mud on his boots.

Aldric looked up from his desk. Looked at his son. At the empty space behind him.

“Where is she?”

Keholts's jaw was tight. “Gone.”

“Gone.” The word came out flat. Dangerous. “Explain.”

“She crossed into neutral territory. With the Black Wolves. They're heading for Shadowpeak.”

Aldric stood. Slowly. “You had twenty men. She had five. You're telling me you couldn't stop one girl?”

“You said not to cross into neutral territory.”

“I said not to invade without cause!” The shout echoed through the study.

Keholts flinched. Said nothing.

Aldric breathed hard. Forced control. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

“We tracked them to the border. I tried to negotiate, and I gave her a choice, but she refused.” Keholts's voice went quieter.

“Because you let her choose.” Aldric turned away. Looked out the window at his kingdom. “You should have dragged her back in chains if you had to.”

“She's your daughter!”

Silence fell heavily.

Aldric's expression went cold. “Not anymore.”

"Father.”

“Get out,” Aldric said quietly.

Keholts hesitated, then left.

Aldric pulled the bell cord. A servant appeared.

“Summon the council,” Aldric said. “Immediately.”

Privy Council Chamber

They gathered quickly. Lord Caspian. High Councilor Theron. The others. All looking wary.

Aldric stood at the head of the table. No preamble.

“She's gone. Crossed into neutral territory with the Black Wolves. Heading for Shadowpeak.”

No one spoke.

“Your Majesty,” Caspian said carefully, “what are your orders?”

“We wait,” Aldric said. The words tasted like ash. “For now. We can't invade neutral territory without justification.”

“She IS justification,” Theron argued.

“She's not worth uniting every smaller pack against us.” Aldric's voice was firm. “If we invade neutral lands chasing one girl, every pack between here and Shadowpeak will see us as the aggressors. They'll rally to the Black Wolves. That's exactly what Kael wants.”

“So we do nothing?" Caspian looked incredulous.

“For now.” Aldric sat. “We watch. We wait. And when she arrives at Shadowpeak, and Kael officially harbors a traitor to the crown, then we strike.”

“There's another option,” Theron said slowly. “We could... put out a bounty.”

“On the princess?" Caspian looked shocked.

“On the traitor,” Theron corrected. “Sierralya Ainsworth is no longer recognized as a princess. She's an enemy of the crown. And enemies of the crown have prices on their heads.”

Aldric said nothing. He listened.

“We place a bounty. One substantial enough to make every mercenary in the empire hunt her.” Theron leaned forward.

“Enough that the Black Wolves won't be able to protect her. Enough that even the smaller packs might turn her over for the gold.”

Aldric considered this.

“Your Majesty,” Caspian tried again.

“This will start a bloodbath,” Caspian warned. “Everyone will be hunting her.”

“Good. Let them.”

“High Councilor Theron, draft the decree. Sierralya Ainsworth is hereby declared a traitor to the crown.”

"She made her choice, and now I'm making mine.”