Author's Preface
The Wanderer lifted Zeek into a nearby wheelchair and began pushing him down the corridors.
"How did Bradford let his daughter rot in a cell?" the Wanderer asked, as they moved.
Zeek sighed. "My brother locked himself in his manor. He is refusing to see anyone since his wife's disappearance and Serenya's arrest."
"Serenya told me her mother left during the attack," the Wanderer said. "Is she still missing?"
Zeek replied, "Not only her. The entire Morning Star family vanished during the invasion. The whole kingdom is in far too much chaos right now for anyone to care about a missing noble house."
"They only care to punish their savior," the Wanderer said bitterly, "while letting the real traitors escape."
Zeek pointed his finger toward a heavily guarded stone structure ahead. "We are here."
They headed inside the dungeons. The guards at the entrance were initially reluctant to let them pass, but they couldn't resist Zeek for long. He was a war hero after all.
Once past the guard post, the Wanderer rushed down the dark hallway straight to the holding cell at the far end. "Why did you reveal yourself?!" he called out before even reaching the iron bars.
Serenya quickly stood up from her bench and hurried to the front of the cell. But the faint smile on her face completely faded as her gaze landed on the bandages wrapping the left side of the Wanderer’s face. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "You sacrificed so much for Valoria... and I pushed you to do it."
The Wanderer extended his single hand through the bars, grabbing her arm and shook it. "Why?! Why did you do it? I could have handled it! I could have destroyed that third bird!"
Serenya smiled faintly. "I told you before... I'd sacrifice myself to save even a single life."
"You didn’t have to! I would have-"
"You pushed yourself enough, dear Wanderer," Serenya interrupted softly, reaching through the bars to touch his facial bandages with gentle fingers.
The Wanderer stared at her bitterly for a moment before saying. "It doesn't matter now. You saved Valoria and its people." He pulled her closer against the iron bars. "Come on. Let's get you out of here. With your power, we can leave. No one will dare try to stop you... and I can help you."
Serenya gently placed a finger over his lips. "I won't leave."
The Wanderer pulled her hand away and shouted. "You must!"
Serenya looked at him. "If I run away now, every child born with magic tomorrow will run too. I'll face the king tomorrow at trial. I'll let the whole of Valoria know that their hatred is meaningless. That mages can be a part of our society."
The Wanderer slammed his palm against the bars. "Their first reaction to you protecting them was to try and kill you! If it wasn't for your uncle, you'd already be dead! You will be dead if you stay!"
Serenya turned her back to him, looking toward the small window of her cell. "That is a risk I am willing to take."
"I am not," the Wanderer growled.
He closed his eye, forcing his mana to surge against the suppression of the Nullstones. His energy flared, and the iron bars began to bend.
Serenya turned around and blasted him backward with a sudden wave of force. "No!"
The Wanderer flew back, slamming into a wall before falling to the ground.
Serenya phased through the iron bars and knelt at his side. "Please," she whispered. "I don't wish for the injustice in Valoria to continue."
The Wanderer gasped for air, his right eye filling with tears as he stared up at her. "They will kill you..."
She leaned down and pulled him into a tight embrace. "I have faith in my people," she whispered into his ear.
The Wanderer wrapped his arm around her, buried his face in her shoulder, and wept. "I can't lose any more people..."
Serenya pulled back gently, holding his face in her hands. "You won't. But you'll have to promise me something."
He looked at her, his vision blurred.
"Whatever happens... you won't harm Valoria," she said softly. "I know you carry your own burden. Don't add to it."
"Then let's leave Valoria behind," the Wanderer pleaded, gripping her wrist. "Everything in it. Let's just leave and start a new life."
Serenya held his hand tight. "Promise me."
The Wanderer said sobbing. "If you promise me... to not let them kill you."
Serenya smiled. "I promise I'll do my best."
He nodded, leaning in as she hugged him tightly one last time.
After a few quiet moments, they pulled apart. Serenya stepped back and phased through the iron bars, returning to her cell.
The Wanderer walked over, gripping the metal frame one last time. "Could you... at least reconsider my offer until tomorrow?"
She reached out, gently touching his hand over the bar. "Don't worry. Everything will be fine." She paused, lifting her gaze up. "Oh, by the way... the sword you gave me is in your room back at the manor. Could you check if my father is okay while you're there?"
The Wanderer nodded slowly. "I will. Please... be safe."
Wiping his tear-stained face with his sleeve, he turned and walked away up the stairs.
Zeek was waiting for him near the entrance. "Is she okay?"
"She is optimistic about the trial," the Wanderer said quietly.
Zeek stared down at the stone floor, silent.
The Wanderer looked at the captain. "Why didn't you go in and check on her yourself?"
Zeek slowly turned his wheelchair around, facing away from the dungeon corridor. "There is a lot to take care of right now. If you're done... please leave."
The Wanderer left Zeek to his sorrow and went to the Bradford manor.
The gates had no guards on them.
He entered the courtyard. There wasn't a sign of anyone there. He looked at the door of his quarters, then back at the main entrance, and decided to check on the duke first.
He pushed the main door. As it groaned open, Robert shouted, "I said I don't want to see anyone, leave!"
The Wanderer stepped inside to find Robert sitting on a chair with an empty wine glass in his hand and a couple of bottles of wine around him.
The Wanderer looked around, then at Robert. "Serenya wanted me to check if you are okay."
Robert smirked. "How generous of her." He chuckled. "Like mother, like daughter. Oh, you foolish Robert..."
"She is not her mother."
"She is a witch!"
"She is your daughter!"
Robert stood up, swaying. "A daughter that fooled her father and her whole kingdom!"
The Wanderer stepped closer. "She saved all of your lives."
Robert fumbled around to a nearby cupboard and grabbed a sealed wine bottle. "Do you think anyone cares?"
The Wanderer said, "You should."
Robert unscrewed the bottle. "She is a heretic." He fell to the ground and drank from the bottle. "...My heretic."
The Wanderer knelt beside him. "You can still help her."
Robert looked at him bitterly. "The rules are absolute." He drank the rest of the bottle. "I would have offered you some, but it's a special wine for the occasion."
The Wanderer looked at him in disgust and left for the courtyard.
He walked to his room and grabbed Defiance. He stared at the blade for a moment and tightened his grip on it.
In fury, he moved back to the main hall, shouting, "You are her father! You could at least try, even if it costs you your life!"
Robert was laying still on his side.
The Wanderer bent and shook him. "You are the duke of Valoria, there must be something you can do!"
Robert’s body felt cold.
The Wanderer leaned to listen to his heartbeat, but he didn't have one. He grabbed the bottle Robert had been drinking from and smelled it.
It had poison.
The Wanderer sat beside him, lowering his head. "You chose to run, Duke." He looked up at the ceiling. "And she chose to fight."
The Wanderer slowly stood up and headed to the door. "We are both cowards."