Seeking Answers

With their path set, they need answers before moving forward.

The fog had lifted by morning, and with it, the last lingering whispers of the forgotten keep faded behind them. Darius and Elara stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing down at the cove where the Eagle Parrot rocked gently at anchor. The crystal, now dim and silent rested in Darius’s satchel, wrapped tightly in cloth.

They made the descent without a word. Rockford led the way, tail low and ears alert. By the time they reached the ship, Kale had already prepared the sails and Henry waited grim faced at the gangway.

“She’s awake,” Henry said. “Justina. Asking to speak to you.”

Darius nodded. “Bring her to the stern deck. I want her to see the sea when she talks.”

They found Justina seated on a bench with her wrists still bound, her face pale but defiant as always.

Elara crossed her arms. “You gave away our location. Lied about the skiff. Lied about Henry. Lied about everything. So let’s not play games.”

Justina looked at Darius. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Don’t lie to me.” His voice was calm, but it cut like a blade.

Justina’s jaw clenched. “They came to me in Daggerdeep. Said they knew who I really was. What I’d done. I thought if I helped them, I could finally get out. Start over.”

“Who is they?” Elara asked.

“Lyle,” Justina said after a long pause. “But not just him. Someone else too. A woman. She wore a ring like yours,” she added, nodding to the faint mark on Darius’s hand where his father’s seal had once rested.

Darius frowned. “House Vale?”

Justina nodded. “I didn’t know her name. But she called Lyle her ‘hound,’ and said your bounty was just the beginning.”