Carolena couldn't decide if she was relieved or infuriated by the delighted glint in Bastian's eyes when she informed him that she would travel to the Eternal Court. He had merely waved her off before leaning to one of the guards—the same man from the bakery—and announcing his departure.
A single wooden carriage drifted up to Carolena, and the guard offered her his hand. Her face twitched in resentment as she helped herself into the carriage, settling on the back bench of the cramped compartment. More of a coffin than a coach.
"It may not be much," the guard glanced at her warily. "But if you need something, please call for me."
Carolena allowed her eyes to travel across his face, across the scar that marred such a handsome appearance. "If I do need something, I suppose a name would be a good place to start."
She could have sworn his dark cheeks had tinted pink as he smiled softly at her. "Soren. Captain Soren."
The doors closed, and Carolena began counting her heartbeats as the wagon jolted forward into the dusk, her thumb massaging the medallion as if the warm metal would soothe her soul. As if anything could calm the storm in her.
Hours passed as the caravan of guards and carriages made their way across Lospeian, dusk fading into night. Glancing out the small window, Carolena tilted her head towards the stars that were still waking up. Her mother would know by now. Ma would have known it as soon as the prince's troop had vanished. The pendant in her hand seemed to warm in response, burning into her soul.
Something squeezed at Carolena's heart as she found the twin stars of the west, the two brightest burning in the sky. Her mother always said they showed Veya and Mael's love, eternally bound to the heavens despite the distance between the gods. One for the goddess of light and good, which shone white, and the second for her husband, the god of darkness and chaos that gleamed red. It was one of her favorite stories to listen to.
Guards hollered outside of her cage, calling for firewood and rations, and one even kept yelling about the mead they had stowed in a saddlebag. Assholes, Carolina thought bitterly. Every last one of the king’s dogs.
A fire roared outside of the window, tinting the smudged window crimson as gold licked at the edges of the glass. The warmth called out to her, carrying the smell of smoked fish, likely from the river down the way. Carolena had to fight for her stomach to stop gnawing at her bones at the scent.
The carriage door rattled, and Soren threw open the door to allow that warm air to waft over her face. “Pardon me, ma’am. Dinner.”
A plate of that smoked fish and whatever roots and berries they could find appeared in her lap, making Carolena’s mouth water in anticipation. “First of all, it’s not, ma’am; Carolena is just fine. And thank you, I wasn’t sure if meals were included in my travel.”
While the words had more of an edge to them than she had intended, it seemed more likely that Carolena would be thrown into the nearest dungeon upon their arrival at the Eternal Court rather than some guest suite. They hadn't exactly explained what was to become of her upon arrival, and she doubted they would spare such luxuries. For all she knew, Bastian wouldn't let her leave after she finished her task.
Judging the look on the captain's face, Carolena had assumed wrong. "Of course they would be. I would never let anyone who is helping the royal court go hungry. Is there anything else I can provide?" Carolena shook her head. "Very well, Miss Carolena. Linens, should you need them, are tucked under your seat."
Soren bowed to her in the carriage, and for a moment, Carolena debated asking to stretch her legs outside. The opportunity passed as the door swiftly shut after the Captain lifted his head. Somewhere outside the wagon, a loud laugh boomed over the field, causing the wood to rumble in answer. Maybe it would be best to come out in the morning.
Her attention returned to the plate of food, and despite her sense of better judgment, she scarfed it down in a matter of minutes. Licking the last of the remnants off of her fingers, Carolena reached below her seat and was astonished to see not just a small towel but a thick wool blanket that kept the frigid nights in mind. Perhaps she wouldn't end up in the dungeon after all.
The night began its descent, and the wild world around the caravan seemed to wake up as the light vanished over the hills. Fireflies danced to the cicada's symphony, an occasional grasshopper joining in countermelody. Through the small window, Carolena could see the dying embers of the campfire smoldering as the last guard slipped into his tent before the night watch. It made no difference if she was to join them in their slumber.
Hoisting the wool fabric over her shoulders, Carolena took one more peek outside the window before lying down. Her hand was still firmly grasped over her mother's final gift when sleep finally claimed her.
***
Dark seas tossed and thrashed about in the storm, lightning cracking open the sky and demanding the heavens to roar. Pine and earth wafted around Carolena as she forced her eyes to open. Wherever she was, she was neither in the carriage nor safely home in bed.
Light cleaved the air once more, causing her to stumble backward onto the soft, needly ground. Carolena's jaw went slack as tremors rattled her body, soft soil digging under her fingernails. In her short life, she had seen some impressive and terrifying images.
But never crimson lightning.
The trees swayed along with the earth under her feet as Carolena scurried under the forest canopy. Her feet could not move fast enough; with every step deeper into the darkness, branches reached out to grab at her legs, arms, and hair as she flew past.
Not real, not real—Carolena squeezed her eyes shut and allowed her magic to sense the path. It couldn't be real, none of it. Arms reached out, and the sudden feeling of warmth trickled down her arm, followed by the coppery scent she knew so well. Real. Real. Real.
Blood rushed to her ears, overtaking the thunder as another crimson knife flashed across the sky. Somewhere in the abyss of pine and black, an animal growled as she neared its den. Carolena didn't bother to stay to find the noise's owner.
The trees thinned out to a clearing, and the sound of water lapping onto the shore guided her to sanctuary. Carolena stumbled into the water and tread deeper, waist high, into the frigid lake. Her body began to sink to the bottom as every magic user did as she slipped deeper into the water. It did not matter if she resurfaced. This was a dream; she was still in the carriage.
Lirae.
That purr scratched down her mind, invading every sense as the water squeezed every last drop of air from her lungs as if that would kill her. Claws ran down her back as another bolt of lightning struck overhead, muffled by the water.
Carolena didn't hear the last strike, however. She was still biting back a scream when she reached the bottom of the lake and came face to face with a swollen corpse, its bulging eyes still gazing into the depths above. A jagged smile under the chin of the unfortunate ripped clean through the spinal cord. It was only when her mouth opened in panic that the metallic taste invaded her mouth.
A lake of blood and bodies.
***
Her lungs forced the scream out of her lips as Carolena woke with a start. A bead of sweat trickled down the nape of her neck, frigid and soaked.
Sweat, not blood. Just a dream, nothing more.
Carolena took a deep breath and caved into the seat, shivering as she watched her breath swirl out against the cold air. She convinced herself the shivering was also from the icy temperatures. It was odd for late autumn, but after the unusual weather this past spring and summer, it wasn't surprising.
Footsteps rushed up to the door, and it flung open, revealing Soren's eyes barely opened and a red flush on his cheeks. "What is it, ma'am? Did someone try to come in?"
"No," Carolena straightened the grey blanket, noticing the embroidery of marigolds for the first time. "Just a bad dream."
Soren nodded as his jaw spread open in a yawn. "Of course, ma'am." Those amber eyes blinked lazily at her in the misty light before he reached for the door.
"Wait," the words caught in her throat as her hand reached the window. "I—I wouldn't mind stretching my legs a bit this morning. I'm sure we have a long day ahead of us." Carolena watched the focus come back into his face, assessing her as he considered her request. "I have no intention of running either."
His brows furrowed, and for a moment, Carolena wondered if the request had been too much. Not allowing someone they've ripped from their home to see the light of day seemed excessive, but the Eternal Court had done far worse to more innocent victims if the rumors were true.
Soren nodded at her, and relief flooded her nerves. "Of course, but ma'am—"
"Carolena, Captain Soren, please."
"Carolena," He frowned at her, his lips stretching into a thin line. "When did you get that gash?"
Her gaze fell to her arm, the flickering morning light catching on something dark and jagged. Blood. Thick, dried streaks clung to her skin, trailing down to her fingertips like a cruel echo of her nightmare. Her breath hitched, the air in her lungs heavy as realization struck her with the force of a storm: this wasn’t just a dream.
The lines between waking and dreaming had shattered, and for the first time, Carolena wasn’t sure she would ever know the difference again.
