Page 76 of Forgotten Fate
“Indeed,” I sighed. And after a few more minutes of rest, we started our ascent up the mountain once again.
We spent the next few hours scaling cliffs and climbing vines, trees, and whatever else clung to the side of the mountain. By nightfall, my arms and legs were screaming. Scaling the walls of Rimor Castle took maybe an hour. This was much harsher, and we were at it all day.
Before the sun completely set, we found a cave. Elias scoped it out and confirmed it hadn’t been recently inhabited by any dangerous predators. Even though the cave was fairly deep, a steady breeze seemed to consistently travel through it and I found myself shivering. The air at this height was much colder than the forest floor. Elias made a fire for us, but it was the heat of his body as he sat on the cave floor next to me that warmed me the most.
We sat quietly for a moment before Elias broke the silence. “Tell me about your mother,” he said.
His request caught me completely off guard, and I leaned away so I could get a good lookat him. “What?” I said, clearly confused.
Elias gave a half-smile. “You started telling Trybe about your life in Rimor, and you were right when you said I never asked.” He brushed a hand through his dark, silky hair as I stared at him. “I never asked because I was afraid to get too close to you, but now… I’d like to know more about you.”
I slowly closed my mouth and relaxed my posture. “I see,” I said quietly. “Well, I know she was beautiful and kind. And extremely loved by everyone she met. She cared deeply for her kingdom, and for me and my father. But…” I trailed off, not sure how to explain. “But when it comes to my memories of her…they’re so foggy. It’s like a literal haze surrounds each memory, and I can only recall small bits and pieces.”
Elias’s brow quirked. “That’s strange,” he stated.
“I know. I think about her a lot, but only small things are able to come through. I barely even remember the day she died.”
Elias placed his hand over mine, and it brought a sense of calm to my now restless mind. “What do you remember from that day? If you don’t mind me asking.” His voice was soft and inviting, not demanding.
“I…I don’t know.” I paused to think, Elias squeezing my hand gently in encouragement. “We were in a carriage with two of our guards, heading to Chatus. We left a day early, and my father was going to meet us there the following day. It was almost dusk, and we were still a few hours away. I remember the carriage stopping suddenly, and my mother called out to the driver to ask why we stopped, but he didn’t answer. Both of the guards stepped out and closed the door behind them. We heard the clanking of metal and some screams. My mother grabbed me and told me to run towards the woods, and not look back. So we did. She pulled me along and we ran as fast as we could. Then…I don’t know. I woke up days later inthe infirmary, and my mother was dead, along with the two guards and the carriage driver. They told me it was bandits.”
By the end of the story, my voice was trembling. Halfway through, Elias had placed his arm around me and pulled me closer.
“They found her body before they found me, but waited for me to wake before we buried her.” I sniffled slightly. “She was so beautiful, even in death.”
I remembered how I saw her lying in the casket, as if she were only sleeping. They adorned her hair with flowers, and she wore her favorite dress. My father put on a stoic face for the whole funeral, like the king that he was – strong and controlled. But that night, behind closed doors, I heard him weep until the sun rose.
“I’m so sorry, Aura.,” Elias said. I rested my head against his shoulder while he caressed my arm.
“It felt like something was taken from my soul the day she died.” I meant that in the most literal sense, but never told anyone. Not even Rose or Balor.
“I understand,” Elias said. “When my family was taken from me, I felt like I lost a piece of myself. My parents. My brothers and sisters. Gone.”
I turned to him. I lost my mother to a killer. Elias lost hisentire family. I caressed his cheek for a moment. “I can’t imagine,” I whispered. “But I also mean…I don’t know. Something was literally taken from me. From my soul. I wish I knew how to explain it. Ever since her death, something has felt empty – missing. Like whatever happened to me that night actually ripped something from my spirit.”
Elias pursed his lips, but listened patiently. I shook my head. “You must think I’m insane,” I laughed, feeling embarrassed.
“Not at all,” Elias reassured. “I wish I knew how to help you with that. With finding the missing part of you.”
I smiled. “That’s exactly what you’re doing, Elias. According tomy uncle, Zolmara has those answers. And you’re helping me get there to find them. All the money in the world couldn’t repay you for helping me. I just hope my Uncle Balor was right.”
Even if Zolmara didn’t have answers for me, I knew I would come out of this stronger. And, I met Elias. That alone made the journey worth it, answers or not.
Elias gave me a gentle smile. “Glad I could be of service,” he teased before kissing me on the forehead. We sat together in silence for a moment, enjoying the presence of one another and watching the crackling fire. Then Elias spoke again. “Facing the bandits must have been even more difficult for you, knowing what your mother must have experienced,” he said.
I nodded, but then my blood froze over as I processed his words. It had just occurred to me that Vick could have been my mother’s murderer. Her death took place ten years ago, and Vick seemed old enough that he could have been raiding, stealing, and murdering for the last decade or longer. But was Vick even strong enough to take out two highly skilled Rimorian guards when he could barely even take me on? And then also take out my mother and the poor carriage driver? I was the only survivor by some sort of miracle.
That’s what they told me. That my survival was a miracle. It didn’t feel like a miracle, when I awoke and my mother was dead. But I didn’t remember seeing the bandits at all, so there’s no way I could confirm it was him, especially now that he was dead.
“What are you thinking?” Elias asked, giving me a worried look.
I looked up at him, his sweet breath barely caressing my forehead. “I’m wondering if the bandits you killed were the ones that took my mother from me,” I said in a near whisper, my fists beginning to clench at my sides.
Elias pressed his lips against my forehead in a gentle kiss that sent blissful sensations through the rest of my body. “I’m sorry I killedthem before you could find out,” he said against my forehead.
“It’s okay,” I assured him. “Whether they were her killers or not, I still think you did the right thing.” I felt Elias pull away and we both sat up straight as he looked down at me.
“How do you still think so highly of me, even after knowing I’ve killed people?” The tone of his question was dismal, almost sorrowful.