James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

He leaned forward. "But think about the timing of all this. If you’re such a threat to them… maybe when Alaris made contact with you and realised that you might get your memories back, it forced them to act early. The Boundary is weak, but we know it hasn’t collapsed yet, not completely - why not wait until that happens, and send everything they have at once?" He nodded to himself. "I think… there’s a possibility this entire attack is about you, Caeden. I think they may have lured you here, and are coming for you before you can remember anything. While you’re vulnerable.”

Caeden felt a chill as he considered the possibility. “So I’m responsible for even more deaths,” he observed, his tone heavy.

“No. You can’t think like that. This has to be a precursor to Devaed’s real attack; the only reason he would send an advance party like this – giving us warning, time to prepare for whatever comes after – is if you are somehow a threat to him. Perhaps his only threat." Taeris shook his head. "It’s only a theory. But if I had to guess, I would say that he can’t risk you remembering… whatever it is you know.”

Caeden shifted uncomfortably. "Even if you’re right, I’m not going to be able to remember anything from a cell," he pointed out. "The princess knows I took off the Shackle, saw me sneak out. It’s only a matter of time before I’m locked up." He rubbed his forehead, glancing at the door, still half-expecting guards to come crashing through it at any moment.

“We will have to see how Karaliene reacts before we make any plans,” Taeris admitted. “If she wants to clap you in irons, then we will have to adapt. But I suspect she will at least hear you out - and from everything you’ve told me, there’s a good chance she will be grateful.”

Caeden gave Taeris a puzzled look. “Grateful?”

Taeris smiled, looking amused. “You did break her trust, Caeden, but… you also saved her life. You saved her and brought her back here, when you could have escaped and left her to her death. You may think what you did was the logical choice, but some people aren’t as naturally good-hearted as you." He shrugged. "Growing up here, Karaliene’s probably seen more of the selfish side of human nature than you or I put together. I’m sure that on some level, she’ll appreciate the sacrifice you made.”

Caeden frowned. He wanted to believe Taeris, but it had been his fault that Karaliene was in danger in the first place. Besides, her disapproving glares from earlier that day were too fresh in his mind for Taeris' words to give him any comfort. “And if she doesn’t throw me in prison?” he asked.

“Then nothing changes. I keep pressing Tol Athian to use the memory device, and hope that Karaliene’s contacts are helping our cause in the background.”

Caeden sighed. “So for now, I just… wait?”

“Yes. If you run then Karaliene will assume the worst, and this opportunity we’ve been given here will be for nothing." Taeris shook his head. "And anyway - if things go badly with her, we do have a last resort."

Caeden raised an eyebrow. "Which is?"

Taeris hesitated, then drew a small, smooth white stone from his pocket.

"I gave Nashrel the other Travel Stone, back at the Tol. I’m hoping he stored it with the other Vessels in Tol Athian." He stared at the stone grimly. "It’s not charged yet; I’ve only been able to use the smallest trickle of Essence here in the palace. But it should be ready in a couple of days. It was my intention only to use it if the Blind got too close to Ilin Illan, when there was no longer any chance of convincing the Council to help. But if you get locked up, we can use it earlier. Break you out, if need be."

Caeden looked at the white stone with trepidation. "Won’t Tol Athian know we’re there if we use it, though?"

"Oh yes," said Taeris with an emphatic nod. "The Elders will detect the portal as soon as we open it inside the Tol - we’ll have only minutes to both locate and use the Vessel that can restore your memories. If that."

"And if the other Travel Stone is somewhere else in the Tol?"

"Then it will be a short trip." Taeris slipped the stone back into his pocket with a sigh. "But there’s no benefit to worrying about any of that right now - it may be an option we’ll never have to use. The best thing you can do at the moment is try to sleep, if you can. Whatever action Karaliene is going to take, it seems likely at this point that she isn’t going to take it until morning.”

Caeden inclined his head. “Thank-you, for being so understanding about all of this. And… I truly am sorry for not telling you about Alaris sooner. I know I’ve caused a lot of trouble this evening."

"I’m just glad you know which side you’re on, now," said Taeris with a tight smile. He gave Caeden a slight nod, and slipped out the door.

Caeden stared into space for a few minutes after he’d gone, lost in thought. Eventually he gave a tired shake of his head and decided to follow Taeris' advice, lying down on the soft bed and closing his eyes, trying to ignore the knot of worry in his stomach.

Still, it was a long time before he could sleep.

Caeden yawned.

For a moment he lay in his comfortable bed, blissfully sleepy, aware that something had happened the previous night but not quite remembering what.

Then the memories returned and he sat up straight, any semblance of tiredness gone.

The world outside the open window was still dark, but Caeden could detect a hint of grey in the black night sky. It was morning, albeit still before dawn. That was a good sign; he’d half-expected to be woken sooner by guards with instructions to haul him off to the dungeons. It seemed the princess had decided against that course of action – or at least decided to hold off on it.

He rose and dressed, enough time passing that he was almost beginning to relax when a sharp knock at the door made him freeze.

“Open up,” came a stern voice from the other side.

Caeden glanced at the open window and for a brief, wild moment considered running. He wouldn’t get within a hundred feet of the wall before being stopped, though.

He walked over to the door and opened it, trying to look calm.

Outside he was surprised to see Karaliene herself, flanked by two burly and very displeased-looking guards. Her arms were crossed and a frown was plastered across her face; even so, the sight of her made Caeden’s heart skip a beat.

Then he took a deep breath, focusing. This was the princess - and she currently held his fate in her hands. He couldn’t afford to let himself be put off-balance, no matter how lovely she looked.

“Your Highness,” he said formally, remembering to bow just in time. “How can I help you?”

“You can help me by having a conversation with me.” Karaliene strode forward, grabbing his arm and steering him back inside. “In private,” she added with a glare, stopping her two bodyguards in their tracks. She shut the door in their faces.

Caeden waited for the princess to take a seat, then sat opposite her, his heart pounding and a heavy feeling in his stomach. This was it. He tried to tell from Karaliene’s face what his punishment would be, but her expression was inscrutable.

“You snuck out of the palace last night,” Karaliene observed, her tone flat. "You found a way to remove your Shackle."

“I did, Your Highness,” acknowledged Caeden.

Karaliene leaned forward. "You broke the two conditions I had for allowing you to stay here. The only two conditions."

Caeden swallowed. "Yes. I…." He sighed, not knowing where to begin, what to say. His shoulders slumped a little. "I apologise, Your Highness. I made a mistake." He put every ounce of sincerity he had into the statement.