James Islington - The Shadow Of What Was Lost

Just as he finished, another soft knock from the hallway – this one familiar – made him curse silently. Wirr’s timing couldn’t have been worse.

He hesitated, considering just waiting until his friend left. The room was unlocked though, and locking it would give away the fact he was there; Wirr was just as likely to come in uninvited as he was to give up.

Moving quietly, Davian stuffed the bag beneath his bed.

Wirr looked up as the door swung open, a solemn expression in place of his usual grin. Davian gestured for him to enter, mind racing. There were only minutes before he had to leave, and Wirr would want to stay for longer than that.

He came to a decision before the door was shut. Ilseth had warned him not to talk to anyone, but this was Wirr. Besides, he needed to tell someone .

“I’m leaving, Wirr. Tonight.” He said the words softly but firmly.

Wirr blinked. “ What ?” He had begun to sit, but now stood again, shaking his head. “Dav, no! That’s a bad idea. I know becoming a Shadow is a terrifying thought, but -”

“I’m not running away,” Davian interrupted. “Elder Tenvar, from Tol Athian, was just here. He asked me to go.” He hurriedly related the conversation, finishing by reaching into his pocket and pulling out the bronze Vessel. He unwrapped the cloth cover and held it up for Wirr’s inspection. “The Elder doesn’t know what this is, only that it will guide me to where I need to go - somewhere to the north. Once I get there, I’ll start my training. Learn how to become an Augur. Hopefully help seal up the Boundary again, before it’s too late.”

Wirr, who had listened to the entire story in silence, frowned. “You’re sure he was telling the truth?”

“Yes. Completely. I wouldn’t be doing this otherwise.”

Wirr’s expression didn’t change; if anything his frown deepened as he thought. “’North’ is a little vague, don’t you think?”

Davian shrugged, turning the box over in his hands. “Apparently this will lead me the rest of the way.”

“Perhaps.” Wirr still did not sound convinced. “And you can’t mention this to anyone here?”

“I know how it sounds, but it does make sense. There’s a reason we haven’t told the Elders what I can do.” Davian glanced at the door. “I have to go in a couple of minutes, Wirr. Ilseth is distracting the guards; it’s my only opportunity. I’m sorry to leave you like this. Truly.”

Wirr considered his friend, looking conflicted. Then he straightened. “I’m going with you.”

Davian shook his head fiercely. “No. I appreciate the offer, but I have nothing to lose. You do. You’ll do well at Tol Athian, probably end up an Elder in ten years or so. You can do something meaningful with your life. I can’t let you give that up.”

“I know exactly what I’m giving up, and it’s my decision to make.” Wirr voice was calm, his words measured. “You’re my friend, Dav, and this thing that you’ve been asked to do – it sounds dangerous. Fates, if the Boundary is really about to collapse, it is dangerous. I’d regret it forever if I let you go without someone there to watch out for you.” Gone was the customary lightness to Wirr’s tone.

“You can’t come,” Davian said, lacing the sentence with as much authoritative finality as he could muster.

“Then I’ll have to go and wake Elder Olin,” responded Wirr.

Davian ran his hands through his hair in frustration. Wirr had the upper hand, and both of them knew it. “There’s no time. You don’t even have any clothing.”

“I have about as many things as you do, Dav. It will take me all of two minutes.” Wirr stood, heading towards the door. Davian instinctively stepped into his path, but Wirr just raised an eyebrow in amusement at him, looming over his much smaller friend. “Really?”

Davian flushed, then stepped aside. “I’m not happy about this, Wirr.”

“Strangely enough, I’m fine with that.” Wirr paused as he opened the door. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard. And Dav - ” he held up a finger in warning – “ if you leave without me, I’ll raise the entire school to come after you.”

Davian rolled his eyes but nodded a grudging acknowledgement, releasing a breath he hadn’t realised he was holding as Wirr vanished down the hallway. Beneath his reluctance, he felt a flood of relief. Davian truly hadn’t wanted his friend to make such a sacrifice for him… but he hadn’t wanted to do this alone, either.

He waited for a few more minutes, each seeming an eternity in the silence of the evening. Eventually he snatched up his bag, slipping outside as quietly as possible. There was little chance of running into anyone at this hour, but he nonetheless kept to the shadows where he could, heart pounding. The night was cloudy, with only a few stars providing any natural light. That was good – it meant that once they were outside, there was little chance of being spotted on the road.

Wirr was already waiting when he reached the courtyard, clutching a bag similar to Davian’s. “No sign of Jarras and the others,” he whispered as Davian approached. “Your Elder seems to have kept his word.”

Davian nodded, a jolt of anxiety running through him. This was it, then. “We shouldn’t waste any time,” he whispered.

Without speaking further they crept towards the gate. Every muscle in Davian’s body was taut, and he expected someone to shout out a warning at any moment. Nothing stirred, though. Within seconds they were beneath the portcullis, and then past the edges of the torchlight and into the night.

They jogged silently along the road until they were at the tree line, then stopped as if at some unspoken signal, turning and looking back at the school. There were no cries of discovery; the looming structure was quiet. Peaceful.

“So. This is the last time we’ll be here,” Wirr said softly.

Davian nodded; he felt it too. Regardless of how their journey went, he did not expect to see the school again.

“It’s not too late for you to turn back,” he observed.

The corners of Wirr’s mouth curled upward. “You won’t get rid of me that easily.”

Davian just inclined his head in response. Tearing their gazes from the familiar lines of the castle, they continued along the derelict road and into the shadowy forest.

Neither looked back.

Asha stared dully at the ceiling.

She’d been doing that for the past few minutes now, ever since she’d woken and remembered what was happening today. She knew she should be leaping from her bed and finding Davian before the Trials began, even if it was only to spend just a few extra seconds with him. Her body, though, refused to move. Today would be the last she would see of him for a long time – probably ever. Getting out of bed felt like it would just bring his leaving a little bit closer.

Finally she gritted her teeth and found the energy to throw back the blanket; she rose, shivering in the morning chill, and quickly dressed. The first true rays of dawn were brightening the horizon outside her window, and Asha grimaced at the sight. The Athian Elders would have already departed their inn in Caladel. When they arrived, the Trials would officially begin.

Suddenly she paused, puzzled.

She’d seen several Trials during her time at the school; from her experience there should have been a cacophony of sound from the courtyard outside – certainly something to indicate students and Elders preparing for such a big event. The silence was decidedly odd.

The more she thought about it, the more she realised that the entire feel of the morning was… off . From the corner of her eye she could see that her roommate, Quira, was still fast asleep in her bed. That wasn’t unusual, though; the younger girl tended to sleep well past dawn. Asha turned and was about to slip outside when something made her hesitate.