Page 45 of Earthbound

Alder cocked his head at him.

‘You’re bound to someone watching, aren’t you?’

Rayan felt as though his flesh were being flayed as Alder scrutinised Ajax.

It’s like he sees me too.

Ajax heard them before Alder, and he looked up.

Lettle’s travel companions were coming down the stairs. The pregnant elf, Mia, descended first, shivering and wet. She slipped on the last step and fell on her bottom. She was quickly joined by her partner whose landing was even less graceful. Only the elder Nomad Mortah seemed to keep her balance as she crossed from water to air.

‘I knew I’d get the word eventually,’ Mia said with triumph.

‘Are you OK, did you hurt the babies?’ Dart cradled her stomach.

‘I’m fine. How is Lettle?’ she asked.

To Rayan’s relief Mortah was already treating Lettle, dabbing at the graze on her forehead. He paused before entering the Royal Woodland, watching to make sure Lettle was safe.

‘She’s unconscious and might have a concussion. I have some herbs that will help bring her round,’ Mortah said.

‘Alder? Why do you look so strange?’ Mia asked. It was true he looked odd. His expression was one of fascination, his lips stretched into a roguish smile.

‘Are you all here for me? ‘Alder said, but the elves didn’t understand him. ‘Ah, you speak the common tongue only?’ he said, changing language.

‘Have your memories come back to you?’ Mia said with sudden excitement.

‘I have returned to who I am, if that’s what you mean?’

‘Alder—’

‘Why do you keep calling me Alder?’

‘That’s your name.’

Alder laughed and it was like listening to a melody you knew being played in a different key. ‘No, it most certainly isn’t.’

Rayan moved between the trees of the woodland now but it was hard to keep track of both realities while looking for Yeeran and Furi.

A scream split the air, stopping him in his tracks. His first instinct was to check on Lettle. But to his relief, Mortah’s medicine was working and she was coming round.

The scream had come from deeper within the Royal Woodland and it was quickly followed by heaving sobs.

Dread crept along his skin, leaving the hairs raised. The cries reminded him once more of his nightmares. It was the sound of fathomless grief.

It was the sound of a lover losing their love.

Chapter Ten

Yeeran

Yeeran dressed as she ran. She’d picked up Furi’s cloak knowing she wouldn’t have even considered clothing before she’d followed the scream.

It was easy to trace the queen’s steps–she had pulled a horde of star gliders to her and they illuminated a path through the woodland to where she had stopped ahead.

Furi’s head bowed low as she spoke quietly to someone. Yeeran picked up the tail end of the conversation as she drew near.

‘…she just died in his arms,’ Anyah said. Furi’s second-in-command had arrived before them. She had shaved her hair since Yeeran had last seen her and it sharpened her petite features which would have otherwise been deemed cute.