As they cautiously approached, Elysara felt a presence before she saw him. A shadow shifted just inside the darkness of the cave. Suddenly, a tall man stepped out, his sword already drawn. His dark green eyes flashed with anger, and his expression was set in a deep scowl.
"Turn back," he commanded sharply, his voice echoing off the stone walls. "You don't belong here."
Elysara instinctively stepped in front of Aureth, her hand tightening around her staff. "We're not here to fight," she said quickly, her voice steady. "We're looking for someone. Vanessa."
At the mention of the name, the man's expression darkened further. Without warning, he lunged at them, his blade slicing through the air.
"Don't you dare speak her name!" he roared.
Elysara barely managed to block the strike with a burst of magic, sending a barrier up between them. The force of his attack reverberated through her, making her knees buckle slightly.
"Stop this!" Aureth shouted, stepping forward and raising her hands. "We mean no harm!"
But the man wasn't listening. He swung his sword again, this time aiming for Elysara's side. She dodged, her heart racing. With a swift motion, she conjured a vine from the ground, wrapping it around his wrist and yanking the weapon from his hand.
"You've made a mistake," he growled, his voice low and menacing. He tried to move, but Aureth raised her staff and muttered a spell under her breath. Ropes of glowing light shot from the tip, binding his arms and legs in place. He struggled against the restraints, his muscles straining, but they held firm.
Elysara approached cautiously, her breath uneven. "We're not here to hurt you," she said firmly. "We're here because Vanessa is the Veil bearer. We need to find her."
The man stilled at her words, his chest heaving as he glared at her. "She's dead," he said bitterly. "You're too late."
Elysara's heart sank, but she didn't let the pain show. "How would you know? Who are you?" she asked.
He hesitated, his jaw tightening. "Alexander," he said finally. "Her brother."
Aureth exchanged a glance with Elysara, her expression grim. "We didn't know," Aureth said gently. "We thought she might still be alive. That she could help us stop the Hunger."
At the mention of the Hunger, Alexander's face twisted with anger and sorrow. "Vanessa gave everything to stop it," he said, his voice breaking slightly. "She sacrificed herself for this cursed land. And what did it get her? Nothing. She's gone, and the Hunger is worse than ever."
Elysara swallowed hard, her mind racing. "What happened to her?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alexander sighed, the fight draining out of him. "She kept going back to the Veilspire Willow, even when it was killing her. The assassins hunted down the Songbearers one by one, and she had to give more of herself to make up for their loss. It wore her down. And then they came for her. She didn't stand a chance."
Aureth lowered her staff, the bindings fading as Alexander sagged against the cave wall. He didn't move to attack again, just stared at the ground, his shoulders heavy with grief.
His posture was rigid, his fists clenched at his sides, but his face betrayed a battle of emotions. For a long moment, he said nothing. Then, as if a dam had broken, his shoulders began to shake, and a sob escaped his lips.
"She didn't deserve this," Alexander choked out, sinking to his knees. His hands covered his face as tears spilled freely, his grief raw and overwhelming. "She gave everything for this land, and they… they took her from me."
Elysara hesitated, unsure if she should approach, but Aureth moved forward, kneeling beside him. She placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"We are so sorry for your loss," Aureth said softly, her voice steady and warm. "Vanessa's sacrifice wasn't in vain. She kept the Hunger at bay for as long as she could. And now, we'll do everything in our power to continue her work."
Alexander took a shaky breath, his tears slowing but not stopping. He glanced at Elysara, his gaze searching her face. "You remind me of her," he said quietly. "Vanessa was stubborn, too. Always thinking she could fix everything, even when it was impossible."
Elysara's throat tightened, but she held his gaze. "Maybe it does seem impossible," she said gently. "But we don't have another choice."
After a moment, Alexander nodded, wiping his face roughly with his sleeve. "There's someone who might help you," he said, his voice hoarse. "A priestess Vanessa used to meet with regularly. Her name is Katherine. She knows things about the Veil, things Vanessa wouldn't tell me. If anyone can help you, it's her."
"Where can we find her?" Aureth asked.
"She lives near the border of this region, in a secluded sanctuary hidden in the cliffs," Alexander explained. "It's not an easy place to find, but I can take you there."
Elysara blinked in surprise. "You'd do that?"
Alexander rose to his feet, his movements slow and weary. "Vanessa gave her life for this land. The least I can do is make sure her sacrifice wasn't meaningless," he said. Then his expression hardened slightly. "But I'm only helping you get to Katherine. After that, you're on your own."
Elysara exchanged a glance with her grandmother, who nodded subtly. They didn't have much choice but to accept Alexander's help, though his pain and anger still simmered just beneath the surface.
"Thank you," Aureth said softly. "We'll leave at first light."
With that, he turned and disappeared deeper into the cave, leaving Elysara and Aureth alone once again.
Elysara exhaled deeply, tension still coiled in her chest. "Do you think we can trust him?"
Aureth sighed, sitting down on a nearby rock. "Grief can make people unpredictable. But I believe he wants to honor his sister's memory. We'll have to keep our wits about us, though."
Elysara nodded, her thoughts drifting to the diary in her bag. She retrieved it, flipping through the pages to reread her mother's words about Vanessa. The descriptions of their journey to this very cave and the bond they had formed felt sacred now, knowing how Vanessa had met her end.
"She was so brave," Elysara murmured, her fingers brushing the page where Lyanna had described Vanessa's unwavering determination.
Elysara bit her lip, closing the diary and clutching it to her chest. "I just hope we're not too late."
************************************************
The group set out at dawn, Alexander led the way, his grief seemed to weigh less heavily on his shoulders now.
They trekked through dense forests, crossed narrow ledges overlooking steep drops, and waded through icy streams. Elysara couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding.
"Stay close," Alexander warned as they approached a jagged ridge. "The winds are strong here, and the path is barely wide enough for one person."
Elysara's heart pounded as she followed him, her feet carefully finding purchase on the uneven ground. She glanced back to make sure Aureth was managing, relief washing over her when she saw her grandmother keeping steady with the help of her staff.
They reached a clearing where the sanctuary's entrance loomed in the distance, carved into the side of a towering cliff.
Alexander paused, turning to face them. "This is as far as I go," he said firmly. "Katherine will decide whether she'll help you or not. But I've done my part."
Elysara hesitated, then extended a hand toward him. "Thank you, Alexander. For everything."
He looked at her hand, then met her gaze with a nod before walking away without a word.