Partin: the Chosen

By Riley J. Perrie

The prophecies foretell of a coming savior. A savior, who will bring back the King of Light. Or a champion, who will help the Darkness rule over all. Only one can win.

Rah

• Language: English
• Publisher: Riley Perrie
• Release date: Aug 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798987118924

Book preview

Chapter 1

We Must Hurry

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Rahuin

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The light blinds me, and I barely move fast enough to avoid the powerful magic from hitting my chest.

Catch it, Rahuin! Wen screams at me as the orb of magic hits the large oak I had been standing in front of. You’re never going to learn to control light magic unless you catch it! he says, helping me up from the sodden ground. I pull my curly red locks from my face and tuck them behind my pointed ears as fluttering green leaves wink sunlight around me.

My ears.

The pointed devils that had caused so much trouble in the village. Everyone said I’d bring bad luck to Castlehaven, and maybe to them, I already had. I hadn’t been blind to the way they regarded Wen and me in the village.

Wen, a young sorcerer, is just three years older than I am. He showed up in Castlehaven four months ago, on the eve of my eighteenth birthday. When I first met him, he asked if I wanted to learn more about my heritage and the gift of magic I possessed. I was so surprised when he appeared because I had seen his gray eyes and white tattoos in my dreams long before our actual meeting. I had agreed to become his apprentice, and here we were, practicing magic until my mind was twisted with the sev intentions. 

Please, try again, I say, turning my back to the scorched tree and bringing my focus back to Wen. He brings the palms of his hands together, and an orb of light magic materializes between them, causing the white tattoos on his arms to start glowing. The ball steadily grows larger as his gray eyes seem to taunt me, saying, "You will never catch this, and because you won’t, you will never learn to master the art of magic." To stop my fear of the giant orb racing toward me, I close my eyes and try to concentrate on anything I could think of as beautiful light. I hear a sound like a thousand buzzing bees, and warmth covers my body.

Rahuin! I hear Wen call out to me, but I don’t acknowledge him. The power in my hands fills me with wonder and strength. I open my eyes and look at the beautiful glowing light in my hands. I did it! Wen shoots me a confident smile, but it soon disappears as he registers my evil grin. I launch the ball back to him, and he falls to the sodden earth before it can hurt him. I laugh. Birds titter in the trees above me, adding to the cacophony.

See, it’s not so easy, is it? Especially when you’re tired of hearing someone nag you because you can’t seem to catch it, I tease as I saunter over to where he crouches in the sod. He watches me with his steel gaze, and with one quick motion, he wraps his tattooed arms around my waist and drags me down on top of him.

You are going to pay for that, he says, his smile flashing bright in contrast to his tawny skin. I smile back at him before I kiss him.

Is my payment sufficient? I ask, feeling heat rise to my cheeks.

Yes, he whispers and kisses me again. Now up on your feet. I roll onto my back and help myself up. I reach a hand toward him, helping him to his feet. We’re not leaving here until you can form an orb of light in your hands all by yourself.

Alright, how do I do it?

You call upon the magic from within yourself, exactly as you’ve been doing, he says, stepping away from me. Magic, to my bafflement, was not operated by spells but rather by my intention. I had to have the correct intention to call upon the magic I possess. I think about light magic and try to draw it from my veins.

You’re thinking too seriously. You should feel it. Magic originates from your soul, not your head, Wen advises.

I understand, but how can I not think?

Alright, think about the feeling you had when you held the magic in your hands earlier . . . meditate on the feeling.

I recall the feeling once more, trying to remember what the magic had felt like in my hands. Lights dance at the edge of my vision, and I close my eyes to ‘meditate on the feeling,’ as Wen had called it. Nothing happens. I open my eyes and wander around the grove of trees, studying the soot left behind on the tree after my first few failed attempts.

I breathe in, remembering the warm sensation I felt after I had finally caught it. How can I feel it instead of think about it? How can I connect the feeling from my soul and not my head? I call upon the magic again, but nothing happens. I groan with annoyance. Wen, noticing my frustration, concludes our session.

Ah, the day has come to an end before we have even finished. Let’s get back into the city before they lock the gates, he says, getting up from his spot on the ground. I sigh as he places an arm across my shoulders and steers me out of the grove of trees and toward the city gates.

Castlehaven is a dreary and gray town with splotches of color here and there. Many years ago, it had been an outpost during the War of the Races, but now it is a trade town between Casta and Färrin that mostly deals in elven herbs and silver. Booths in their vibrant shades of color line the main square just past the gates. During the day, the square is the busiest place, making Castlehaven appear livelier than it actually was, but now most of the booths were closed or starting to close.

Unlike its name, Castlehaven didn’t house any actual castles, but a dark-stoned temple loomed just past the square. People were already starting to gather there for the evening incense burning. It was a form of worship to the King of Light that many villagers took part in. Although, I was skeptical about how many actually worshiped and prayed for His return.The few times my parents had taken me, it seemed more like a place of gossip than worship. We turn down one of the narrow, cobbled streets to the right of the square, and Wen stops us in the alleyway between my parents’ and the seamstress’ shop.

I’m sorry for losing my temper at you earlier today. You did awfully well, and I know it won’t take long for you to bring about the magic from within yourself, Wen says, adding another one of his handsome smiles that I loved so much to the end of his words.

Now you’re begging for another kiss. I mock him with my eyebrows raised, hoping he will kiss me again.

Perhaps, he says, his hand slipping behind my neck. Out of the corner of my eye, I see someone turn down the dim alleyway, and I pull away from him before he kisses me.

Oh, I’m so—sorry, a woman with long black hair pinned up on her head mutters. She balances a large basket in her arms full of all the materials she uses as the seamstress.

No need to apologize, Wen huffs. The seamstress nods and hurries past us to the backdoor of her shop. I look at Wen, unease building in my stomach. That had been too close. My parents weren’t aware of my relationship with Wen. I had never told them because I am certain they wouldn’t approve of him. What if the seamstress tells them?

Goodbye for today. I’ll see you tomorrow, he says and kisses me swiftly. I love you, he whispers, and then he’s gone, disappearing behind the maze of stone buildings.

I walk into the side door of my parents’ shop. They’re busy waiting on a customer, so I turn and make my way into the little courtyard behind the house where the animals are kept. A small shed protects the two horses from the weather. To the right of the shed, a mud pen holds a fat pig that is steadily getting fatter. The chickens amble around the courtyard eating old waste and moldy grain. A tethered heifer stands to the left side of the shed, where my older brother, Jarret, sits on a short stool milking the cow. Upon hearing my footsteps, he looks up at me.

How was your lesson today? he asks, even though I know he isn’t the least bit attentive.

Good, I finally mastered the properties of light, the most powerful of magic. A chicken pecks beside my feet.

Jarret looks back at the heifer.

Interesting, you and Wen are still affectionate with each other? He doesn’t look at me. Dread twists in my stomach. Ever since Wen had asked to school me in the art of magic, Jarret had been uneasy concerning him, but he became even more intolerant of Wen, when he caught us kissing in the back alley a few weeks ago. Ever since then, Jarret had been indifferent towards me also. He hadn’t mentioned a word to our parents, but I still wish this rift hadn’t come between us.

I don’t care if my affection toward Wen bothers you. He is a good man, I retort.

How would you know the difference between a good man and a bad one? he scoffs, his mouth curling in disgust.

He is kind and has a good heart, I answer. Golden clouds swirl above us, melding into lavender and orange with the setting sun.

Would you rather me tell Mother and Father? I’m sure they wouldn’t take to it lightly.

Then tell them! Why bide your time? I grind my teeth, hating that I have to defend Wen against my own brother.

He stands to his feet and glares at me with his chestnut-colored eyes. "Sev! Rahuin! When are you going to see he is an enchanter enticing your heart with his black magic?"

Anger makes my cheeks flush red.

Don’t you ever speak of him like that! He loves me! I shriek at Jarret. His sharp eyes question me. Does he?

I turn with a huff and hurry into the house. In my heart, I believe Jarret is wrong.

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A’zre

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The sun hangs low on the horizon in a blaze of crimson, ready to give way to the night’s demand. Even though it is early spring, the air suspends hot and humid around me, but the warmth would soon disappear with the sun. Sounds of bustling people and braying cattle from the city spread out before me rise up to the terrace I’m standing on.

My Lord. I see a servant bow low out of the corner of my eye. I say nothing.

He is here, My Lord, the servant announces in a shaky voice. I nod.

You may leave us, I tell him. He scampers away. I address the man who had been standing behind him,

I wasn’t expecting you so soon. He stands beside me.

Never underestimate me, Your Majesty. His voice is harder than steel and darker than a starless night. Some days it unnerves me . . . other days, like today, it prepares me for the inevitable.

I expect you are ready, he continues, turning to look at me with his black eyes and ashen skin that seemed to pull too tight against the bones of his face, making him look inhuman.

You said to be ready, so I am. My people are at your disposal, I say, my heart crawling with anticipation. I had been waiting for this for quite some time, and now that it is finally here, I can’t contain my excitement. At last, Casta will be mine. Their people will bow before me—

Don’t get ahead of yourself, Your Majesty, he grits through his teeth. My thoughts must have been too loud for him. Patience is still very important, he continues. You won’t become their king overnight.

I scoff.

You think I don’t know that? I glare down at the city below me. Twinkling lights start to appear among the buildings as the townspeople ready themselves for their nightlives. I move away from the terrace and walk back into my quarters that is decorated with ruby and gold mosaics in the shape of a lion. I have done all you asked. Now give me what you have promised.

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Rahuin

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I stare at his open palm.

Rahuin! His voice is far away. We must hurry! They’re coming! The voice fades, and the dream behind my eyelids falls to black. Who was coming? Who wanted me to go . . .?

Screams fill the night air, and the sound of hooves on the cobbles strikes terror into my heart. I try to run, but my feet don’t obey me. I am glued to the paved cobbles, and they are coming closer. I was going to die, and I couldn’t even scream . . .

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I wake with a start, perspiration outlining my face. This was the third time in two nights I had dreamed those dreams. My arms shake as I sit up. A candle glows on the nightstand beside my cot, casting shadows over the small space. I look toward the other side of the room, looking for the familiar shape of my brother, but his sleeping form isn’t lying there under the blanket. Grabbing the candle, I stand to my feet and follow the flickering light down the hall and toward the kitchen. I stop in my tracks at the sound of murmuring voices.

Putting my ear to the door, I try to make out what the voices are saying, but a rush of booted feet and a slamming door is all I hear. My heart starts to pound . . . something isn’t right. My dream comes to mind, but I shake the thought away—it couldn’t be. Jarret’s loud voice carries through the crack in the door.

They’re coming! We need to get out of here!

What’s coming? Father’s voice hides a hint of fear behind it.

The Horrors, they found her—we need to leave now! Jarret rushes. I hear someone shuffling items around in the kitchen.

Go fetch her. Do not let her know what is going on. Both of you get out of the city before the gates are blocked, Mother’s voice says through the door.

They found her? Block the city gates? Horrors?

Terror strikes my heart as a recollection of the dreams from the last two nights fill my mind, but I can’t shake them away this time. They are coming true . . . just as always. I open the door before Jarret can.

Rahuin—

What is going on? I demand him. Jarret takes my hand.

I’ll explain later, but for now, we have to go! I take my hand out of his and turn to my parents. Worry is written all over their faces. I take a step toward them.

Rahuin, you must go, Mother says, closing the distance between us and enveloping me in her arms.

Go! Father shouts. We’ll find you later. But something in his eyes tells me I will never see them again. Tears start down my cheeks as Jarret takes my hand and leads me through the back door into the courtyard. Our two horses wait there, prancing anxiously on the cobblestones. Their ears flicker back and forth, trying to understand the dangerous sounds equipped with the night. Jarret swings me up onto the saddle. The darkness is cool around me, matching the nightmare unfolding before my eyes, but I know I’m not dreaming anymore because the leather in my fingers is too real. The screams hanging in the air are too loud.

I have to find Wen, I tell Jarret and snap my horse’s reins, tearing down the alleyway before he had even mounted.

Rahuin! Jarret calls after me.

I will meet with you at the gate! I call back, pushing my horse faster. I race through the streets, heading toward the room Wen was renting.

Rahuin! a voice below me calls.

Wen! I turn my horse toward him. He grabs the edge of the reins, halting us in the middle of the alleyway. He wraps an arm around my waist and pulls me off the saddle.

Stay off the horse, they will find you sooner on that animal. Follow me, I know a better way out of the village. The gates will be utter chaos.

But my brother, I told him I’d meet him at the gate, I say, turning my back on him, suddenly feeling very alone. The dark buildings loom over me, closing in. He grabs my hand and turns me around.

No time! We must leave now! He hurries as he pulls me through the streets, shoving anxious and scared people out of our way. Screams fill the night air, horse hooves pound on the cobbles, and anxious brays from the horses fill my ears. The ground starts shaking under my feet. Again, I stop and pull my hand out of Wen’s. His nervousness is starting to get to me. This isn’t like Wen. This isn’t right. When are you going to see that he is an enchanter, enticing your heart with his black magic? Jarret’s voice rings in my head. I am starting to believe him.

Rahuin! We have to hurry! They’re coming! he screams frantically and reaches for my hand again. I back away. What am I doing? Wen is going to get me to safety. But if I truly believed that, I know my hand would still be in his.

Rahuin! he screams again as the first shadowy horseman appears among the walls of the houses. His ink-black eyes look toward me, striking me paralyzed to the cobbles.

The girl. The creature’s raspy voice fills my mind.

No! I have two more days! I was promised more time. I will bear her to him! Wen’s voice follows. My heart sinks. He doesn’t look at me. Jarret was right. I am a fool. 

Your time has been given! The master’s patience has worn thin! the creature screeches, black magic starting to swirl in its palm. More riders surround us. Wen takes my hand once more, pulling me closer to him. Fear flows through my veins, as if it was my own blood, but it is accompanied by something stronger and even more priceless: magic.

Light erupts from my palms, sending the creatures shrieking and the horses whinnying. I race away from the creatures, away from Wen, and into the tight alleyways surrounding me, the sound of hooves falling on the cobbles causing me to run faster.

But I’m not going to get far . . .

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Thesa

I still feel her presence.

His gritty voices grate on my ears in a hiss. She hasn’t gotten out of the city. I should have gotten her out. Why did we entrust her to the boy? 

You would’ve only caused more chaos. Rahuin wouldn’t have trusted you.

Klash grunts, and the gray plates covering his maroon cordons shift and clack together. The dark alleyway shadows us from the attack happening.

He’s taking her. He’s taking her away from the gates. The Horrors have almost caught up. We should see them soon, he says, his voices overlapping through his mouths.

I look up at him. Fine, I’ll get her out of here. You secure Jarret.

He grunts. As you wish. I’ll meet you in the valley.

His heavy footsteps recede behind me as Rahuin comes into view. Wen is with her exactly as he had said. I watch them from my place in the shadows. She suddenly stops as if realizing she made a mistake. But what mistake? I can’t tell. The Horrors soon surround them, but I can’t intervene, not yet. Rahuin’s terrified face changes, and my heart speeds up when light erupts from her palms.

Perfect!

I morph right where I am standing in the darkness. I let the roar of fire rush through my veins. My face starts to lengthen as wings break through the skin of my back and branch to their full length. My body shifts as scales appear from my skin and start linking together, creating my shimmering armor. Hot fire passes through my throat and out of my jaw, igniting the Horrors and their mounts on fire. Rahuin is running away from the scene. I fly out and land in front of her, hindering her progress.

Hurry! We must leave! I bellow telepathically to her. The shape of my massive body reflects in her emerald eyes. She glances around, her thoughts contemplating whether or not she should trust me. The pounding hooves on cobblestones behind her cause her to look back before she races up my scales and settles onto the depression on my back. I launch into the sky and fly towards the mountains.

Where are you taking me? she asks me aloud.

Far from here, I answer.

But Jarret, my brother, he’s at the gate. He’s waiting for me! I can’t leave him there!

He will be fine. He will be where we are going, I continue, hoping Klash is already with him. Whether or not he is, there is no way I can go back down there. I can’t risk Rahuin’s safety . . . not anymore.

But—I—how? Who are you? Why are you helping me? she asks, distressed. I can understand. This night had just upended her entire life.

Um, you see. I was—am the seamstress who lived adjacent to you. I am a Garon, and I have been watching over you since you were just a little baby.

You’re . . . Thesa? Did I—can you still hear me? Her voice appears in my head as I feel her relax a tiny bit in between my scales. She figured out how to use her telepathic ability.

You did it, and yes, I arrived in Castlehaven eighteen years ago. I came to protect you from the Darkness.

The Darkness? Is that what those things were?

Not exactly—they are beings enslaved by the Darkness. They were sent by him to retrieve you. The rushing wind whispers along my scales, lacing along my wings.

But you got me away from there first?

Narrowly. If we had been any later, you would be in the Darkness’ arms now.

We?

Well, I wasn’t the only one who helped get you out. There are more of us. You’ll meet everyone soon enough, I finish as I start descending into the valley below us.

Chapter 2

Will You Fight

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Rahuin

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The mountains become larger and start to loom over us as Thesa lands in a meadow between two peaks. I nearly get thrown off her back by the force of her claws connecting against the green earth.

Are you all right? she asks. I’m not used to a rider yet.

I—I am fine, I answer shakily, as I now realize how bad my head hurts. My stomach doesn’t feel all that well either. Is this what happens to humans when they fly?

Are you coming down? she asks, her voice lingering in my head. It feels so strange to hear someone else’s voice in my head. Perhaps it is contributing to my headache as well. I slowly arch my leg over to one of her sides and look down. The ground seems so far away from up here. My stomach flips as I slide down to the earth. I don’t exactly land right and somehow find myself with my face in the grass.

Oh dear. I hear Thesa behind me as a small, delicate pair of hands grab my arm and help me up. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about you being a bit airsick, Thesa says, albeit a little too cheerfully. Her long black hair flies around her face in the light breeze and her jade-green eyes seek mine out. Two seconds ago, she was a giant dragon, now, she is a human. How did she change so fast? She continues to say something else, but my sick stomach suddenly wants to make a statement, and I don’t hear what she says.

I stoop over my knees and throw out the contents of my stomach, which isn’t very much. Thesa hands me a handkerchief to wipe my face. I take it with a shaky hand and find that my entire body is shaking. I don’t like this feeling.

Let’s get you inside, she advises, draping my arm across her shoulders and starting toward the entrance of the cave.

Goodness, Thesa! She looks like death itself! I look up to see a beautiful young woman with short white hair and bright turquoise eyes hurrying towards us. I’ll get her some tea! she exclaims before disappearing again. A dwarf and two other humans approach us. These people must be the others Thesa had been talking about.

Zenz, they’re not here yet? she asks the group.

No, but we’re still on the lookout. Klash can’t fly like you can, you know, one of the humans says, or at least I think he is human. His face reflected wolf-like features—a sharp chin, high cheekbones, narrow black eyes, and teeth that were a bit too sharp to be human. Long white hair with a matching short beard and wrinkles line his face revealing his age, but he certainly doesn’t move as if he is an old man. He smiles as he embraces Thesa.

I am glad you both got out all right, though. His voice betrays his old age, echoing like a commander taking charge of his army.

Beautiful gems in a multitude of colors cast minimal light against the stone and illuminate the cavern, allowing me to see the small cots that line the wall to my left and the large wooden table that stands to my right. Tunnels branch out from the area in which we stand, and a stone door with beautiful, patterned swirls carved into it stands adjacent to the cave’s entrance.

Zenz turns from Thesa and looks at me.

You must be Rahuin? Zenz asks, taking me away from my observations. His wrinkled hand extends towards me, and I take it into my own as I nod slowly. I am surprised to find that my hand is still shaking, even though it is pressing firmly against his.

My name is Zenz. I am a shapeshifter, and you could definitely call me the eldest of the group. He smiles, showing off his sharp teeth. Despite his features, I could tell I would become quite fond of Zenz.

Pleased to meet you, I say softly.

And allow me to introduce my children. He stops and gestures to the handsome man on his right. He seemed to be about Jarret’s age, but where my brother is tall, lean, and has dark hair and olive skin, this man is the exact opposite. He is shorter, muscular, and has fiery orange hair and pale pink skin. A mangled scar covers the left side of his face from his ear down into the collar of his shirt, This is Frobin, who is like a son to me, and Glena . . . He trails off as his eyes wander the space. Well, wherever she went, is my daughter.

And I’m Grimall! the dwarf exclaims, pushing Zenz out of the way. He takes my hand into his rough, thick one and grazes it with a kiss. I’m the dwarf of this mine! Pleased to make your acquaintance! His accent is thick, but his pronunciation is quite polished.

Grimall has dark umber skin, long black hair, and a bushy beard that is braided in certain areas. A long scar runs from the top of his left brow down across his nose, and dark black markings curl around his right eye and down to where they disappear underneath his thick beard.

You must have a lot of questions, but we will answer them once Klash and Jarret get here, Zenz explains as his daughter scurries back into the room with a hot cup of tea in her hands. She hands me the steaming cup, rainbow lights blinking behind her.

I’m sorry if it’s too hot. I didn’t know how you take your tea. She smiles warmly. Also, my name is Glena.

It’s nice to meet you, Glena, and thank you for the tea.

My pl—

"Ahk! Thek gak nar!! These blasted cave tunnels! someone shouts as the door bursts open on the other side of the room, and a creature I had never seen before slouches through the door. Grimall, you should have given me a map!"

Ya couldn’t have read it anyways! Grimall screams at the creature. He stands easily over ten feet tall with gray scale-like armor covering his arms and legs. He has two sets of jaws on his face, one upper and one lower, and no eyes that I can see—just a large bulbous forehead that extends almost to the roof. He is terrifying to look at, but even more terrifying to me than his countenance is the person he is carrying over his shoulder . . . Jarret.

A beaten and bloody Jarret.

Jarret! I scream and race towards the creature, who sets him on one of the small cots I had seen earlier. Dark blood oozes from in between the tears in his clothing. Jarret’s dark eyes look up at me.

I was too bitter. They chewed me up and spit me back out, he jokes, his voice raspy and weak. Tears spring to my eyes as I call upon healing magic to take away his pain. Jarret dozes off as my magic enters his veins and starts to patch up the broken skin.

They got to him first, Klash rasps, his voices overlapping and creating a chilling feeling across my skin. I fought them off and brought him here before they carried him away. I’m sorry he’s hurt.

I look up at the creature towering over me and find he isn’t as terrifying as I had originally thought he was.

Klash’ta’kuk’na’a’ish’tik, at your service, but you can call me Klash, he continues.

Thank you, Klash, I whisper. At least he’s safe now.

I take Jarret’s hand. This is all my fault. If only I had just listened to Jarret in the first place, maybe none of this would have happened. Why had I trusted Wen? Why had I trusted him over my own family? And my parents . . . I swallow as I choke on the thought. How did this happen? Is it all my fault because I had ignored the signs? But what does that even mean? I don’t know what to do. I don’t know how to make this right, or—how can I make this right? They’re gone and it is all my fau—

Stop! Thesa yells, kneeling beside me. I jump, forgetting that she can hear my thoughts. Stop feeling guilty. It’s true you trusted the wrong person but being angry at yourself and the past is not going to fix any of this.

How can I fix this? I don’t even understand what’s happened! I don’t understand any of this! You said it was because of the Darkness, but what does that even mean? I demand as tears start to stream down my cheeks, rainbow lights blurring in my vision. Thesa takes my hands into her own.

I know that none of what’s happened makes any sense to you right now, but to put it simply . . . Rahuin, you are strong. So strong that both the Darkness and the Light want your power.

What do you mean? How do you know it’s me they want?

There are prophecies written about you. Written hundreds of years before you were ever born. Prophecies about you choosing the Light and bringing peace to the land.

And also, prophecies about you choosing the Darkness and destroying what is left of the land, Zenz adds behind Thesa.

We brought you here to give you a choice. If we had done nothing, then you would have easily gone with Wen and you would have never known about the light, but we intervened with the hope that we could protect your heart, Thesa continues.

Was Wen there to bring the Darkness out in me? I ask, even though I already have an idea of what the answer is.

"Yes, unfortunately, Wen is an amazing sorcerer. He mastered the power of magic quickly, but he had one fault—power. He yearned for it. So when he learned that dark magic is even more powerful than light magic, he wanted to take it, and it changed him.

Instead of becoming more powerful, he forgot everything he stood for. It destroyed him and captured him. Now, you are even more powerful than he is, and the Darkness wants your power. The Darkness sent Wen after you in high confidence that he could bring you to the Darkness’ side, but when Wen realized why the Darkness wanted you, he stalled. He didn’t want you to become more powerful than him because he was afraid the Darkness wouldn’t need him anymore. It gave us the perfect opportunity to come up with a plan to get you out of there, Zenz explains.

I nod as my mind wanders away. I have lost Wen. I had trusted and believed he was a good man all because of what? Because I thought I loved him? But he had been nothing but a lie, and I put my entire family in danger because of my naivety.

I find my way out of my thoughts and study the faces in front of me.

Were my parents part of all of this? Were they supposed to come too?

Thesa looks away. Yes, originally, we had planned to get them out, but because the Horrors attacked so suddenly . . . everyone wasn’t ready. Klash and I were the only ones in Castlehaven when they attacked. Your parents urged us to get you and Jarret out before it was too late, while they stayed behind to fend off the Horrors and hopefully save some of the villagers. I’m sorry.

Everything stops.

They’re gone.

Gone.

Tears roll down my cheeks again as I think of them. Somehow, I knew they weren’t going to come but—but now I know they are truly gone, and hearing those words . . . I look at Jarret lying on the cot before me, and it hits me: he is all I have left. How can I protect him now?

I look up at them again. What if I decide not to fight? What if I decide that I want to take my brother far away from all of this. What if I don’t choose at a—

It’s impossible, Glena interrupts. Because of what is written about you in the prophecy, you will eventually be pulled into the war, even if you decide to run away. Whether you fight for the Light or the Darkness, you will accomplish great things. It’s your destiny. You can’t run from it.

No running. I can’t save Jarret if I run, and there is no guarantee that I can keep him safe if I choose to fight either. I take his hand into mine again. I feel his blood pumping through his veins, strong, steady, alive . . . for now.

You don’t have to make a decision right away, Zenz says from behind me. You should probably get some rest, though—give your mind a second to comprehend what is going on. If you need more information or help understanding something, please don’t hesitate to ask us.

Thank you, I say before lying beside Jarret. My eyes linger on his face, and before I know it . . .

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Jarret

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Please . . . I—I . . . Jarret . . . Rahuin mumbles beside me, waking me from my half-sleep.

Yes? I answer, but she doesn’t say anything more. She must have been in a dream. I shiver as I sit up and take in my surroundings. Colorful gems bounce light off of the stone walls surrounding them, illuminating the once dark cave in a collage of colors and whimsical patterns. My throat is burning, and it’s all I can think about as I lift myself from the cot. I can’t believe how tired my body is. Maybe it’s because I can’t quite recall what had happened for Rahuin and me to get here. Somehow, we had gotten out of Castlehaven—

You’re awake? A voice stirs me out of my thoughts. I look toward where I hear the sound. Thesa walks toward me, and my eyes fix on the cup in her hands. She smiles warmly as she hands it to me.

I’m sorry. You must be thirsty, she says as I slurp the water out of her cup in greedy gulps. Slow down, she chuckles. I can always get you some more water. I hand the cup back to her.

Thank you, I rasp, realizing how sore my throat is. Thesa places her hand on my forehead.

Lay back down—you’re burning up. I sit down as she fetches some more water.

What happened? I don’t quite recall . . . I ask before I drink some more.

Horrors attacked Castlehaven. So, we set the plan in motion earlier than we had intended, she explains, sitting beside me. You got Rahuin and tried to get out by the gate, but Rahuin left you there to go get Wen. I helped Rahuin while Klash went to find you. He said the Horrors had almost gotten you before he was able to fend them off. He brought you all the way here, and Rahuin healed your wounds. You’ve been asleep since. Everything comes rushing back at her words, filling my head with the memories I had tried to forget. The Horrors attacking. Warning my parents. Rahuin running away from me. The gate . . . 

Oh, and she . . . I look at Rahuin. She’s alright?

Yes, she wasn’t hurt or anything, but Wen almost passed her off to them.

I sigh. I had tried so hard to get Rahuin to see sense, but I had held my tongue the last three months. Zenz had made me promise that I wouldn’t tell Rahuin who Wen was because he didn’t want to pull her away before she truly realized who he was. He had made me promise to leave her to make her own choice. I kept that promise, but I hated watching my sister fall in love with a liar. I hated myself for not doing more to protect her. It must have all been for naught, though, because in the end I had gotten hurt. I had been the one left at the gate.

You did what you had to do.

Did I though? I should have gotten her out of Castlehaven the moment he came . . . I should have gotten them all out. I can still see my parents’ faces when I had warned them about the Horrors.

Your parents asked to stay behind, Jarret. Thesa’s voice urges me out of my thoughts.

But . . .

I think they realized that they couldn’t run. They couldn’t leave everyone in Castlehaven to fend for themselves. It’s not your fault for not getting them out in time. It was their choice.

I nod. I already assumed they would stay behind. My parents had always been good people. They always had a soft spot for the poor . . . for children . . . Rahuin is living proof of that. My parents had taken her in when she was just a baby. I was about three when they found her on the doorstep. I hadn’t realized she wasn’t my biological sister until I accidentally found the silver basket she had come in when I was eight. My mother then explained that it was their duty, our duty, to protect Rahuin. She explained that Rahuin is very special, and evil forces would eventually try to take her from us.

For thirteen years, I kept my guard up when it came to Rahuin. I had protected her when she had almost been kidnapped by a peddler when she was five. Again, when she was nine, then eleven, thirteen, sixteen, now eighteen—all separate incidents where she had almost been taken from us. Now, she would have to learn how to fight for herself, because today was proof enough that we wouldn’t always be around to protect her. Father and I had taught her how to use a bow once she was old enough to pull the string back, but I knew it wasn’t enough; not when she would eventually have to fight for her life.

I reach out and tuck a strand of her