- TWO WEEKS BEFORE -
"Your Grace." Magnolia jumped in surprise. The voice came from the shadows of the trees, it sounded quite close, but she could not see anyone.
Killian had warned her not to walk in these woods alone, but she really needed some time away from everyone. She had not been able to be alone since they had met with the Phoenix. Magnolia's flames ignited.
"Who goes there?"
"It's me, Magnolia." Laya walked from behind a tree into the beams of the afternoon sun that filtered through the branches.
"Laya? How did you find me?"
They had been using a blockage spell ever since they left Salicera. It was impossible for anyone to find them through magic.
"It took a lot of effort, so I'm glad you recognize that." Laya smirked.
"Did Daniel send you? I will not go back with you, so if that's why you're here, you have wasted your time." Magnolia folded her arms in front of her chest as if to confirm her statement.
Laya stared at her for a moment then smiled. "A lot of things have happened since you left, Magnolia," she told her. "Let's have a seat somewhere to talk."
"I need to go back. I have been gone for a while. Killian will worry." Magnolia started walking away. "Just go back, Laya."
"I know you are a stubborn woman, but this is not the time for that." She followed her steps. "It took me two weeks to find you, I will not let you slip through my fingers now that I did."
"Are you mad, you can't come with me to the Phoenix's hideout," Magnolia said. "For all I know, you are here to scout, and Daniel's men are close by, ready to attack."
"That's very hurtful to say to me, Magnolia, I thought we were friends."
Magnolia regretted her words immediately. Laya looked quite wounded.
"I am sorry, I did not–"
"Mag," Killian called. He had a few men with him. "What is the mage doing here?"
His words worked as an electric current that made everyone with him alert. They took position, ready to attack.
"She's a friend." Magnolia unconsciously stepped in front of Laya.
"How did your 'friend' find you? We made sure no one could."
"I'm just really good," Laya joked. "I came to speak, I don't mean any harm." She shrugged.
"If you have talked, then leave," Killian ordered.
"But we can't let her go," one of the men said. He stepped closer to Killian and whispered, "we are quite close to the caves, I'm sure they will be able to find them if they did a thorough search."
"I don't intend to leave anyway," Laya said. "Wherever Magnolia goes, I go."
"We have quite a bit of nobles in the Phoenix, all of us here are trained and can use magic." Killian grinned. "Do you think you can handle us all?"
"You don't seem to understand, Killian. I am not here to 'handle' anyone." Laya raised a brow. "I'm here for Magnolia, I don't give a damn about any of you."
"We can trust her, Lian, she has helped us before and you know that."
"She works for the King's Dog," he argued, earning him a glare from his sister.
"I told you not to call him that," Magnolia said. "Laya stays, we need information about the suspicious activities in the palace anyway, she can help with that, right Laya?"
"Of course." She smiled.
Killian and his men looked reluctant, but he agreed to let her come as long as they covered her head the whole way to their hideout. They escorted her to Magnolia's room as soon as they arrived.
"So, what information do you have for us?" Killian asked as he pulled off the cover.
Laya blinked a few times to adjust to the light. She looked around the small room before her eyes met Magnolia's.
"I know what I'm about to tell you will be shocking to you, but I need you to believe me." Magnolia frowned.
'How do you tell a mother that has buried her dead son that he is actually alive?' Laya swallowed.
"Out with it," Killian ordered.
"Geoffrey…he is alive."
Magnolia stared at her as if she spoke a language she did not know.
"What kind of sick joke is this?" Killian asked angrily.
His sister had finally started to eat normally. She still cried herself to sleep and had nightmares about Geoffrey every night.
"Do you think I would joke about something like this?" Laya matched his tone before her eyes traveled back to the duchess. "It was all planned by the king, he used Geoffrey to show Daniel that he could take everything he loved away from him in an instant. He is forcing him to pass that damn bill. He even used you to threaten him, he said he would charge you with treason if Daniel did not comply."
Magnolia did not move, she just stared at Laya with unblinking eyes.
"Geoffrey…" she uttered.
"Yes." Laya rushed to her and kneeled in front of her. "He's alive and healthy, he is in the castle. Daniel sent me to find you and tell you."
"He's alive?" Magnolia whispered, her mind was still trying to wrap itself around the information. Then, she smiled. "He's alive," she said with a louder voice, tears were racing down her cheeks. "He's not dead."
Laya nodded with a smile before she took her friend in her arms. "He is and he misses you. Daniel misses you too."
"Geoffrey." Her lip quivered.
Magnolia cried for a while. By the end of it, her body felt heavy and tired. She could barely keep her eyes open. Laya tucked her in bed, promising her to tell her more after she rested.
"I have a few questions, myself," Killian told her as they left Magnolia's room.
"Of course, I need to speak to the leader of the Phoenix as well."
"Do you, now?"
"Yes, let me tell you about the Winter Hunt." Laya grinned.