A brilliant sun rose over Pinewood. Shafts of sunlight pierced through chilled clouds of mist that clung to the air. Birds sang in the treetops of the nearby forest, and beads of dew settled on the yellow-green grass. Seth put up his hand to shield his eyes from the bright rays as he and Elias stepped out of Killian’s house and onto the soggy path that led into the village.

  Seth adjusted the heavy bag on his back and smiled. Killian and his wife filled their bags with more than enough to make the trip to Westfjord. He’d tried to give some of it back, but they shook their heads.

  “It would be wrong to let you leave empty-handed.” Killian insisted. “Now go, you don’t want to keep Miss Gloria waiting any longer than she needs to.”

  Seth looked over his shoulder at Elias who trudged along behind him. The boy looked up and met his eyes for a moment, before glowering at him and looking away. Seth’s chest tightened as the boy’s glare cut deep—not much had changed since their argument last night.

  Seth slowed his pace and walked alongside Elias. He looked up at the blue sky and smiled at a few fluffy clouds. “Nice day to travel.”

  Elias didn’t answer. He jerked the hood of his habit over his head and picked up his pace.

  Seth grimaced and kept pace with Elias. The chirping birds filled the silence between the two. He snuck a glance at Elias. “Gloria’s worried about you.”

  From under the hood, Seth saw Elias’s lips thin, but the boy said nothing.

  “Are you going to be like this the whole way back?”

  Elias tightened his grip on the straps of his bag and marched away from Seth.

  Seth sighed. Well, I guess that answers that question.

  Pinewood was already busy with the day’s work when Seth and Elias reached Mrs. Angie’s doorstep. Children scurried underfoot, laughing as they ran errands around the village. Young men whistled tunes while they carried water pails and seed out to the fields. Young women chattered amongst themselves as they threw open windows to let in the fresh spring air and cared for the babes while their mothers scrubbed laundry clean and hung it to dry. In the distance, Seth could see men mending more fences, plowing, and sowing seed in the fields.

  “Elias!”

  Seth looked up just in time to see Gloria burst out of Mrs. Angie’s house and engulf Elias in an embrace, knocking back his hood. The boy tensed in surprise as Gloria held him tight.

  “I’ve been so worried about you,” she said, holding him tight.

  Seth smiled a little as Elias tried to blink back a few tears.

  “Me too.” The boy’s voice was muffled by her shoulder.

  Gloria pulled back and held his face. “Don’t worry, we’re going to get you help.”

  Elias grimaced and pulled his face away before jerking his hood back up. “Thank you, Gloria,” he muttered. Seth shuffled his feet; he could tell the words were salt in an open wound.

  Gloria glanced between the two. Her brows knit in confusion, and she looked Seth for an explanation, but he shook his head and mouthed. Later.

  Mrs. Angie stepped outside and closed the door behind her. She sighed and looked up at the three of them. “Good luck and safe travels,” she said. “I hope you’re able to get Elias the help he needs.” She glanced at Gloria. “Try not to overexert yourself, you just got back on your feet.”

  Gloria nodded. “I’ll try.”

  Mrs. Angie turned to Elias and held out a small clay jar. “Put some on tonight and tomorrow morning. Hopefully it’ll help until you reach Westfjord.” Elias took the jar and stashed it in his pocket, mumbling his thanks.

  Finally, Mrs. Angie smiled at Seth and pulled him in for a hug. “Take good care of them, you hear?”

  Seth nodded. “Yes ma’am.”

  “Especially Gloria,” Mrs. Angie murmured into his ear. “She will need some extra care.”

  Seth nodded. “I’ll try not to push her too hard.”

  Mrs. Angie peeked at Gloria. “Good. She needs time, but I think she’ll come around.”

  Seth’s heart skipped a beat—Mrs. Angie meant more than just walking.

  “She’s a good girl,” Mrs. Angie continued. “Don’t let her slip away.”

  Seth glanced up at Gloria who was taking in the scene around her. She brushed back a few curls before noticing his gaze. She smiled a little and Seth’s stomach flipped. He smiled back at her.

  “I won’t.”

  Elias let out an exasperated sigh. “Are we ready to go?” He was already facing south, his hands tight around his bag straps. He looked over his shoulder and met Seth’s face for a moment, before dropping his gaze to the ground. “No sense in wasting daylight.”

  “Elias!” Gloria chastised.

  Seth shook his head. “No, no, he’s right. We should get moving.” But he turned back to Mrs. Angie and smiled bashfully. “Though I do apologize for Elias’s bluntness.”

  The old woman smiled. “Don’t worry about me. I am not easy to offend.”

  Seth bowed slightly and followed after Elias and Gloria.

  As they left town, a few villagers paused their work and waved to them. “Farewell!” they called “Safe travels!”

  Seth waved back but kept his eyes on the hunched habit ahead of him. He grimaced. This is going to be a long trip back to Westfjord.

  The sky was streaked golden orange when they stopped to make camp. Master Seth left to hunt. Gloria set up the bedrolls, leaving Elias to start the fire. He crouched by a pile of firewood and stared out at the rolling hills. The grass was becoming more vibrant, and the roads were becoming more dirt than mud under the sun. The land felt familiar, and Elias wondered if they’d passed through here before, but without the snow it was hard to tell.

  He peered up at the mountains and shuddered. Just as long as we’re far away from Giantstoe.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  Elias looked back to the logs and tried to focus on drawing a sigil with his left hand. The lines were sloppy, and the magical tendrils were difficult to grasp. He gritted his teeth and tried to focus. Come on! He finished the sigil and muttered the casting word, “Pars Dolo.”

  The sigil shuddered and the glow faded. The fragile net of magical energy dispersed and left nothing more than a puff of smoke in the sticks. Elias glared at the wood and growled—this was the third time.

  He plopped onto the ground and dropped his head in his hands. “I can’t do it!”

  “Would you like some help?” Gloria held out the flint and steel.

  Elias shook his head. “No. I’ve cast the spell before; I should be able to again.” He raised his hand and hastily drew the sigil again. His lines were sloppier, and Elias jerked the magic towards him, trying to stuff it into the spell. The sigil quivered for a moment, then burst into glowing shards, snapping back on him like a taut tree branch. Elias fell flat on his back, his face stinging.

  He stared up at the clouds and clenched his hands into fists. He winced before letting out a frustrated scream.

  “Why can’t I do it?” he cried. “I did it when I was about to be eaten by a spider; how come I can’t cast the stupid spell now?” He threw his left arm over his face and tried not to cry.

  Gloria sighed and Elias heard her strike the flint and steel together. “Endurance is a funny thing,” she said softly, and the smell of smoke wafted to Elias’s nose. “When faced with impossible odds, sometimes we can tap into a strength we didn’t know we had and do incredible things.”

  There was a snap and crackle, and Elias lifted his arm and opened his eyes; a small fire was licking away at the logs and Gloria gave him a small smile. “Keep practicing—you’ll get it one day.”

  He sat up and poked at the dirt with his finger. “Master Seth makes it look so easy,” he said with a pout. “He must be so special.”

  Gloria poked his arm hard with a scolding look on her face. “No, Seth earned his mastery through hard work and discipline. The same thing he’s teaching you.” Her expression softened and she sighed. “He struggled just as much as you are; he knows how hard it is.”

  Elias folded his arms and looked away, still pouting. Of course she’d take his side.

  From the corner of his eye, Gloria grimaced and tried to catch his eye. “Did something happen between you two? You’ve been in a mood ever since this morning and the two of you have hardly spoken since we left Pinewood.”

  Elias curled up and refused to look at her.

  She sighed again and stirred the fire. A burst of embers rose into the air like glowing fireflies. “It’ll help to talk about it.”

  Elias narrowed his eyes and tried to curl up further.

  Gloria looked up at the reddening sky. “Where’s the ointment Mrs. Angie gave you?”

  “In my pocket,” Elias muttered.

  Gloria put down her stick and brushed off her skirt. “Come here then. I’ll help you put it on while we wait for Seth.”

  Elias opened his mouth to argue, but a sharp tingle went up his arm. He groaned and inched over to her. “Fine,” he mumbled and pulled out the small clay jar.

  Gloria gently took his arm and began unwrapping it. She paused, her fingers hesitating when the first sight of blight came into view. His entire hand now was shriveling, and the climbing tendrils entwined his bicep. She murmured a soft prayer, then continued unraveling the wrap.

  She gave Elias a soft smile then took the jar from him. She opened it, scooped up a dollop of cream, and began rubbing it into his fingers. It stung at first but soon the ointment and Gloria’s gentle hands began to soothe his arm. Elias exhaled and stared into the fire.

  “Are you ready to go home?”

  Elias flinched at the question and looked back at Gloria who watched him carefully. He dropped his eyes and slowly shook his head. “No…”

  “You two had an argument about it, didn’t you?”

  He bowed his head and nodded. “Yes…”

  Gloria sighed and massaged the palm of his hand. “I had a feeling.”

  Elias stared into the swirling fire again and let the glow consume his vision. “I just… he doesn’t...” Elias trailed off, the words tangling behind his lips, then he clenched his jaw. “I can’t go back to Father Verdas—I won’t.”

  Gloria glanced at him but said nothing. She scooped up more ointment and rubbed it into his wrist before starting to work her way up his arm.

  “He doesn’t understand…” Elias murmured, slowly finding the words. “Master Seth says he wants me to go home, but food and a bed doesn’t make a place home.”

  “And Westfjord isn’t home?”

  He tore his eyes from the fire and glared at her. “How can it be? All that’s waiting for me is a life where I have no say, and an old man that could find fault in Crim himself!”

  Gloria opened her mouth, then bit her lip and shook her head.

  “Surely you understand!” Elias cried, frustration boiling over. “Can you honestly tell me that after everything your father and stepmother put you through you still consider that place home?” Gloria’s grip on his arm tightened and he sucked in his breath. “Ow!”

  Elias looked up at Gloria; her face was a blend of fear and anger. “How do you know about my father?” Her voice was low, and her eyes seemed to quiver in the firelight.

  Elias gulped. “I— uh— M-master Seth told me. In the lean-to. After she…” Guilt twisted in his stomach when Gloria shuddered. “You were asleep. Master Seth was distraught about what happened…and it… it all came spilling out.”

  Gloria stared into the fire, her eyes glazing over for a moment. Then she blinked and turned back to Elias, loosening her grip. “I see…” she murmured and scooped up another dollop of ointment.

  Her brows knit together as she massaged Elias’s upper arm. “Yes and no,” she finally answered.

  Elias tried to read her expression. Her face was smoothed out, but her eyes held a deep sorrow. “When I think of home, nowhere else comes to mind. But you’re right… I’m not sure a place like that can ever truly be a home.”

  She slowed her massage and gazed into the fire. “It was dreadful, but at least I had my brothers and sisters.”

  A sad smile formed on her face and Elias felt horrible. “I… forgot you had siblings,” he muttered.

  Gloria turned her sad smile on him and Elias felt as though his heart would break. “So he told you about them too?”

  “Not much,” he stammered. “Just that you did…”

  “I see…” she said again and spread ointment on his shoulder.

  “Do you miss them?”

  Gloria halted and Elias could see a few tears brimming in her eyes. She blinked them back and focused on his arm. “More than you could ever know.”

  Silence fell, and Gloria picked up the cloth bandage and wrapped Elias’s arm. A log snapped and Elias’s stomach growled. He glanced around the horizon looking for Master Seth. He wasn’t too eager to speak to him, but he was getting hungry.

  “I know you’re upset,” Gloria said, cutting the silence. “But Seth has his reasons for taking you home. He's trying to do what he feels will be best for you.”

  Irritation flared in his chest and Elias looked back to Gloria who smiled at him, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “He cares about you very much. We both do.”

  Elias swallowed hard and held Gloria’s gaze. “So you agree with him?” he asked, bitterly.

  Gloria furrowed her brows, conflicted. “I don’t know.” She tucked in the end of the wrap and sat back before staring up at an indigo cloud. “I don’t think it’s as simple as picking sides. I understand why you don’t want to go back. But I also understand why Seth doesn’t want you to come.”

  Elias straightened. “Then talk to him! Maybe he’ll change his mind!”

  Gloria glanced back at him. “You don’t even know where he’s going,” she said, gently. “You’d be leaving behind everything you know and love. Do you really want to make a decision like that blind?”

  Elias shook with frustration. “Then tell me where you’re going so I can make that choice!”

  Gloria sadly shook her head. “It’s not my secret to tell.”

  Elias growled and threw his hands into the air. “Then you are picking sides!” His voice cracked and his eyes stung with hurt tears. He folded his arms together and turned his back to her.

  Gloria let out a soft heavy sigh behind him. “Elias—”

  “I’m back!”

  Elias shot a look over his shoulder and saw Master Seth approaching the campfire holding two small rabbits. He halted and glanced between Gloria and Elias. “Is… everything okay?”

  “Elias is just—” Gloria began.

  “Tired!” Elias interrupted and stormed off to his bedroll. “I’m going to bed.” He tucked himself into his roll. “Good night!” he spat over his shoulder. Then he turned away from the fire and tried to will himself to sleep, hoping to drown out the hunger and the growing ache in his heart.