Erondale

Chapter 19

Raleigh

I didn’t sleep. I don’t think that any of us did. So many people, so much blood, and no answers. No one saw the attacker. If I believed in such things, I would have thought that it was a vampire. They don’t exist though.

Nothing else makes sense. My thoughts drift to Chris. Does he know everything that is going on? Is he being informed about his dad’s health? I sigh. The pain in my heart reminding me that we were no longer friends.

I hear a knock at my door and I rush to answer it. I never heard my mom come home last night. I was a little worried but too scared to go and find out from Talon. Opening the door, Erin stood there.

Confused, I look her over. “Hello, Erin. Are you okay?”

“I was hoping that you could tell me if you know where Toby is?” She asked quietly, and a little more than worried.

I widen my eyes. “He’s not at home?”

She shakes her head. “He never came home last night.”

My heart starts beating hard and I rush to Talon. I pound on his door. He yanks it open, eyes wide with freight.

“Where’s Toby?” I ask quickly.

He sighs a breath of relief. I notice his eyes scrunch in irritation and confusion. “I don’t know. He’s not home?”

I shake my head and point to Erin.

“I came home to watch over you and Katy. Where’s Mama?”

My eyes widen. “I don’t know!”

My breath hitches and my heart rate spikes. My forehead starts to sweat and I rub my sweaty palms against my legs.

Talon grabs my shoulders. “Breathe, Rae.” He looks over at Erin. “Maybe they are together?”

I concentrate on my breathing. “Okay. It’s okay. Where would they be?” I ask myself.

Katy steps out of the bedroom. “They can be at the castle.” She suggests.

“Right, good idea.” I say.

I rush off to get dressed. It’s time to take a trip to the castle. Before I get to the stable, I notice Alrich sleeping against a tree.

“Alrich!” I nudge him with my foot. When he doesn’t budge, I kick him harder. “Alrich!”

He jumps up. “What?” He asks agitated.

“Do you know where Mama and Toby are?”

He rubs the sleep from his eyes. “No. I’ve been here the whole night. You’re mom didn’t come home?” He asks.

“No.” I leave him to run to my horse.

“Wait. I’ll come with you.” He catches up to me and pulls me close to him. “Where are you going?”

“To the castle.”

“Okay.” He says drawing it out.

He jumps on his horse and I rush to join him. Jumping on the back of his horse, I grab a hold of his waist. I give him a soft kiss on the cheek, thankful of his understanding.

“Go as fast as possible, please.”

I don’t know why I feel the urgent need to make sure Toby is safe but I don’t tell him that is why I am so urgent. Something tells me that he won’t like that.

“Rae, you need to control your breathing. I can feel it from here.” Alrich interrupts the silence.

I hadn’t realized that I was in a near panic attack. “Thank you, Alrich. You are a wonderful friend.” I tell him.

I feel him tense at my words but I don’t understand the reasoning. It makes me even more on edge. I pull back from my hold for a little bit and glance around.

That sick feeling of being watched is back. This time, I feel like someone is laughing at me. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

“Alrich.” I whisper.

“I feel it, sweetheart.” He says.

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.” He admits.

He pushes the horse harder and we arrive at the castle shortly after. I rush off the horse and run past the guards. Once inside, I scan the hallways and make my way to the throne room. Once I run inside, I see everyone there and sigh in relief.

I don’t know why but the first person that I rush to is Toby. Seeing him alive and well causes my heart to soar. A smile splits my face as I take off on a run up to him and grip him in a bone crushing hug. He hugs me back. Just as tightly.

“Thank God, you’re okay.” I whisper to him.

I feel a feather like kiss on the top of my head. At least, I think that I did. It may have just been my imagination.

“I’m so happy to see you safe, little one. I was worried about you.”

Once he releases me, I feel Mama grab a hold of me. I can tell that she is hiding back her tears. I grab her, afraid of letting go.

“Mama, I was so scared.” I whisper.

“Shh. It’s alright, baby girl.”

My hands are shaking and I attempt to control my rising anxiety. “You didn’t come home. And then, Erin came.”

I gasp and turn around to look at Toby. “Erin came this morning. She was hoping that you were with me.” I tell him realizing that it was an odd assumption.

He nods. Alrich had left to go speak to the King.

“I’m sorry, Baby girl. We got caught up here.” Mama says sadly. “You need to go see the King. He doesn’t have very long.”

Tears fill my eyes. Sadness grips a hold of my heart. “Mama. Does Chris know?”

“I don’t know, baby. I hope so.”

Toby clears his throat. “He does, little one.”

I look at him questioningly. He just shakes his head. Right at that moment, Erin flies by me and jumps on her brother, crying and hitting him in frustration. I turn my head and see Emma walking from an area I hadn’t even noticed. She walks up to Toby and grabs a hold of his arm.

Sharp pain. That’s the only thing that I can describe at that moment. Sharp pain explodes in my heart as jealousy surges to the forefront at an alarming rate that I gasp. I grab my chest for a minute hoping that it will ease the pain. It doesn’t. I rub my chest, not understanding what’s happening. I feel someone shift my face to theirs.

“Rae, are you okay?” Emma asks.

“Yeah. I don’t know why but I just had a sudden sharp pain in my chest.”

My eyes are becoming blurry with emotions. I don’t want to admit the rest. Instead on concentrate on my breathing.

Mama, Erin, Emma, and Toby all look at me a little worried.

“Are you sure that you’re okay, baby?” Mama asks.

Taking a deep breath, I assess myself. “Yes. I think so”

I excuse myself to talk to the King. The pain is still lurking along with the jealousy. I need to leave the area. My heart suddenly turns to sorrow as I reach his side and he offers me a weak smile. I bow low with tears streaming down my face.

“Your Majesty.”

“Raleigh, dear, didn’t I ask you to call me Clay?”

I give him a small, teary, smile. “Yes, you did, Clay. How are you feeling?”

He chuckles. “Oh, you know. I’ve definitely been better.”

“Mama says that you don’t have long left.”

“I don’t, honey. It’s okay, though.” He grabs a hold of my hands. His eyes are sad. “I know that Christopher will take good care of you and the Kingdom.”

“Is he coming back?” I ask a little hopeful.

“No. He needs to finish his training, especially with the threats going on.” He squeezes my hand, raises it to his lips, and kisses the back. “You are like a daughter to me. I never saw you as just a peasant. I am sorry that he broke your heart, dear.”

“I know you are but it’s not your fault.” I assure him.

“It may have been.” He sighs. “When he comes back, think about forgiving him.” He pleads.

I tense up a bit but I can’t dishonor a dying King’s wish so I nod my head.

“Good. Now, I can die knowing that I did what I could for my best friend’s children.”

I widen my eyes. “No, Clay, you can’t leave us now. Who will take care of us until Chris comes back?”

“Ouch! That hurts my feelings a little bit.” He teases. I would have thought he was serious if he didn’t chuckle a little bit.

“The regent will, dear. I know that I don’t have long left, maybe a week or two. I don’t have any regrets.” He pauses for a few moments. “Well, except not being able to protect my constituents.”

I notice that he’s growing tired so I grab his hand and give a kiss to the back of his hand, reciprocating his action earlier.

“I love you, Clay.” I tell him with tears streaming down my face.

“I love you, too, little pup.” He answers, using my old nickname. A nickname that he and my dad called me but never explained. “I want you to live every day as if nothing is going wrong. Don’t let fear guide you.”

I nod before I turn and walk to my Mama. It’s time to clean up the mess. It’s time to wake up every day unafraid. It’s time to figure out what’s going on while living every day without fear. I don’t know how I am going to do it. But, I am going to do it.

I reach Mama and tell her about the conversation with Clay. She cries with me. We will be losing a great man, and a great King, soon. I don’t think that any of us are ready for it. Before I can leave, I see Alrich storm out of the castle. I look over to my mom and raise my brows. She just shrugs.

“Come on, Raleigh. Let’s go home.” Toby murmurs.

“Yes, let’s go.” Emma says.

She grabs his hand and pain shoots through my chest again. What is going on with me? My eyes go back and forth between the two before I decide I should ignore it. Emma looks completely happy to be having the attention of Toby. I’m not going to stop her from being happy. I notice that we are getting a few looks from some of Alrich’s men. I can’t tell why they are looking at us like they are but I choose to ignore it.

Walking outside of the door, I realize that Alrich brought me here and I have no way of getting home. I nearly cry as I look around. So much stuff is going on, I have no idea how to process any of it. Is Alrich going to come back and get me? Did he forget that he was the one that brought me here? Noticing my hesitance, Erin turns to me.

She touches my face, bringing my attention back to her. “Are you okay, Rae?”

“Yeah. I just came here with Alrich.” I pause when I hear a small growl. I look towards Toby but his face is unreadable.

Emma glances between us. “Um, I came here with Alrich so I don’t have a way home but walking. Do you want to walk with me?” I ask Erin.

“Oh, sure, I would love too. I think I need some air anyway.” She offers me a small smile, just a little lift of her mouth.

“Okay. Great.” I grab onto her arm, grateful that I have a friend to count on.

“I’m assuming that you are taking Emma home?” I ask Toby.

“Yes. I promised her mother that I would get her to safety.” He answers.

I nod. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you at school?”

“You’re going to school?” Em asks.

I smile at her. “I promised the King that I would live life like nothing is happening. I intend to keep my promise.”

“Do you want to come with me?” I ask her hopefully.

“Absolutely! I miss you, Rae.” She answers excitedly.

I smile. “Good. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“I’ll have the eggs and bacon ready. That is, if you get to the house early enough, Emma.” Mama pipes in.

“Yes!” Em answers pumping her fist in the air.

“I’ll see you in the morning, Em.” I tell her, again.

Grabbing Erin’s hand, we make our way back to my house.

“You know, you can come for breakfast too.” I tell her.

She looks at me and smiles widely. “I would love too!” She answers.

Good. Maybe, just maybe, I can keep my promise.