Starkeeper of the Fractured Crown

“Is that what you wanted to tell me? That the Sehrsaws are back?”

Talaroe shrugged. “You know everything, care about everyone. I thought you would like to know.” He straightened, sorrow filling those ruby-red eyes. “It’s sad to think that you’ve lost your hope. Lost your way.” He snapped his fingers, opening a glowing door. “Sometimes it’s the darkest of times that bring out the best in people. I suppose we’ll see. I think your path is clearer than you want to believe,” he told me. “I think you’re scared even if you don’t know you’re scared, I think that’s what you are, but that’s okay, I’ve lost my way from time to time.”

My chest tightened at his words, my grip on the bowlessening. “And?”

Talaroe smiled softly. “He may be annoying, but my brother has never failed in helping me find my way back, even if he didn’t mean too.” He grabbed the brim of his hat between his thumb and index finger and dipped his head. “I hope.”

“For what?”

His eyes shined brightly. “I just hope. See you later, Astraea.”

~~~

I released a breath before pushing open the door to the house. Mom and Mark were sitting at the table, Mark drawing, Mom writing a letter.

I closed the door behind me, pulling my veil down, my heart already racing in anticipation for whatever she felt I deserved this evening. “What are you writing?” Her shoulders were tense, her spine rigid. She was angry.

I had left my bow and arrows in Madam Levine’s shop before grabbing some strips of old fabric from her to wrap around my hands. They were burned again, and I had no idea how, but it didn’t matter right now. Nothing mattered but the hard look on Mom’s face.

“A letter to the High King,” she said, tone clipped. “He deserves to know that Mark has decided to move in with him.”

A dizzy weightlessness filled me as my eyes found Mark’s. I couldn’t panic. I couldn’t react because I didn’t want to scare him. If he wanted that, then he deserved my support. I had just selfishly hoped he wouldn’t want to go. That Iwould have to convince him that it was the best thing for him.

I didn’t want him to want to go. “Really?” I asked, tears burning the back of my throat. “I didn’t know you knew about that.” Yes, I should have told him sooner. Way sooner, but I couldn’t find the words. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him. It was so selfish. So selfish.

He continued to draw. “Mom told me after you left.”

He was angry. At me? I should have told him sooner, but I had a plan. She was trying to make him hate me before they left, that’s what it was, I was sure of it.

“He wants nice beds and clothes without holes,” Mom put in. “It’s what he deserves and it’s more than you can give us.”

The pencil he was using broke, pulling my attention back only to find Mark glaring, his face twisted in anger.

Guilt filled me, shame. I should have told him sooner. He shouldn’t have found out from Mom. “Mark,” I tried.

He shoved himself up from the table, ripped the paper in half, and ran for his room.

My heart broke.

I started after him, only for Mom’s hand to wrap painfully around my wrist. I stopped, looking down, feeling my skin pinch, my circulation cut off.

I looked down at her, wanting more than anything to run after Mark, to grab him and apologize.

She gave me this familiar look and said, “Let me make a few thingsveryclear, you rat. You will not be joining us in that castle. You will never see Mark again. You will never break his heart again. Once those knights come to get us, you can go kill yourself for all I care. It’d be betterfor everyone if you were just dead. Is that understood?”

I swallowed, my heart, which at this point was just a paper-thin bag filled with broken glass, cracked a little more. I gave her the nod she wanted. It hadn’t been the first time she had told me that, and it wouldn’t be the last, but gods, today just wasn’t the day to hear it.

It was several seconds before she released me, and it took everything in me not to grab my wrist as I ran for Mark’s bedroom.

I pressed my hand against his door, grabbing the handle with my other hand. “Mark?”

“Go away.”

I always promised I wouldn’t do this, but I had to. I pushed open the door, despite his request, and stepped in, finding him sitting on the edge of his bed, arms crossed, hair hiding those beautiful eyes of his.

“I said go away,” he stated, turning his head away from me.

I shut the door behind me, dropping my satchel against the wall. “I know you want me to, but we need to talk.”