Chapter 66: Riftan Ghost

Early morning sunrays filtered through the narrow slits of the prison gate as Reika, upon entering inside the desolate cell, looked in every nook. Her fingers quivered slightly. Not the security breach, chaos finally showed up-which was a breakout in the name of Riftan. "How could this happen?" she asked, her voice cold as frost. Before her, guards stood with their heads bowed in silence; their silence drawn out, sharp as an accusation. "We do not know, Your Majesty," said Captain Harren finally. "The cell was secure last night, and the patrol saw nothing out of the ordinary." "Nothing out of the ordinary?" Reika said, her gaze keen as any armor-piercing arrow. "You're telling me that my brother just vanished into thin air?" One guard shuddered. "We … suspect magic, my queen. There were faint markings on the stone. Like runes." Reika whirled on them. "Magic? From who? I want answers, and I want them now." Harren bowed stiffly. "My men are sweeping the area. Riftan couldn't have gone far- "And yet, he's already out of your grasp!" Reika cut him off. "You have failed me. All of you." The men bowed further low, shame coating their features. Daisy was several paces behind her and moved to lay a soothing hand upon Reika's shoulder. "Screaming at them won't change what has happened. We need to figure out what comes next." Reika sharply exhaled, shaking Daisy's hand off her arm, spun on her heel, and stormed out of the prison. Her mind churned like a storm, and no thought came without a vision of Riftan hauntingly in her head. --- Council Room Several hours later, Reika stood before the council: the room full of lords and advisors, murmurs of concern running wild through the air. Ileus was at the head of the table, studying her intently. "This escape is an indirect threat to the kingdom," Reika informed them, her voice carrying across the hall. "Whoever freed Riftan has got to be in with the Dawns. We find him before he strikes again." Are we sure this has anything to do with the Dawns at all?" one of the elder members huffed, disbelieving. "Riftan is aligned with no one." "Riftan will always be a criminal," Reika returned cold, an edge in her voice. "He'll ally with anyone who can give him freedom. I don't underestimate him. Finally, it was the turn of Ileus, who spoke in his level, even tone: "We should be wary. In all this rush, we'll end up harming ourselves. It's some trick- his escape, probably contrived to make us veer away from other dangers, or greater threats, perhaps." Reika whirled to him frustration churning below the surface. "And what would you suggest, my king, sit upon our thumbs while he runs free?" "I think we ought to concentrate our efforts along the borders," Ileus returned. "If the Dawns are responsible for this, then they will attack where we would least suspect it. Riftan is but a single man." "One man who once killed me, nonetheless," shot Reika, her tone venomous. For a heartbeat, the room was hushed. Now, all the blood left Ileus' eyes as the jaws clenched. "This isn't a time to get your minds cloudy regarding personal vendetta." Thus, Reika gave into his cold, mute gaze. She felt the pressure of the whole council suspicious against her-their suspicions were as heavy as smoke in silence. Later that night, the moon high in the sky, Reika sat in her chambers. The fireplace crackled softly, yet its warmth did little to take the chill from her heart. A knock echoed against the door. "Who is it? 'It's me," Daisy called softly. 'Come in." Daisy entered with a tray of tea, her expression guarded. 'You've barely eaten all day. At least drink this." Reika stared into the flames. 'I don't have time for tea, Daisy." 'You don't have time to collapse from exhaustion either," Daisy replied firmly, setting the tray on the table. 'You're no good to the kingdom if you're dead on your feet." Reika looked up, meeting Daisy's concerned gaze. For a moment, the weight on her chest felt a little lighter. "Thank you," she murmured. Daisy smiled weakly. "Besides, you will be needing it. We know Riftan is not going to keep in the background for much longer." Reika's face went to stone. "No, he won't." Before Daisy could utter another word, light footsteps, soft and feathery, sounded down the hall. The two stilled. Reika bounded up, snatching up the dagger at her hip. The door groaned open. A shadow swept through—a man cloaked in black. "Who is it?" Reika asked, her tone cold, icy, razor-sharp as thin ice. It raised it's head slowly and said "Do you want to know where your brother is?" Reika's heart skipped , "You know where Riftan is?" He nodded his head, "But information does not come cheap." Daisy frowned, stepping protectively beside Reika. "Why would we trust you?" The man smiled wryly. "Because I'm your only lead. Riftan is already making moves, and by sunrise, he won't be far." Reika studied him closely, her fingers tightening on the dagger. "What do you want?" "Gold. Enough to disappear forever," the man replied. Reika hesitated. She didn't believe him-but she couldn't let the opportunity slide by either. "If you're lying- "I'm not," he cut in. "Meet me at the old hunting grounds at dawn. Come alone. Before Reika could utter a word, the man disappeared into the darkness and was gone as quick as he had come. Turning to Reika, Daisy had gone white. "This is beginning to smell of a trap." "Perhaps," Reika whispered with a glance out at the door left opened. "Yet I do not have options. Lying awake, Reika sat by the window, her gaze out to the dark forest beyond the castle walls as her mind seemed consumed by Riftan-smug in his grin, his cruelty, the blood hed spilt. "You'll never be free from me, sister," his voice whispered in her mind, that ghost of times past. Her fingers closed a fraction tighter on the dagger that lay across her lap. This time I will stop you, she silently vowed to herself. Daisy's voice cut through her reverie. "You're not seriously going in alone tomorrow, are you?" Reika turned to her. "I must." "It's too dangerous," Daisy insisted. "What if it's a trap? What if they kill you?" "Then so be it," Reika replied in a quiet tone. "If that is what it takes to end this nightmare, I'll risk it." Daisy shook her head, and the beginnings of tears gathered in her eyes. "Don't say that, Reika. You don't have to face this alone. Reika turned back to the forest, her face impassive. "I won't let Riftan destroy everything I've built. Not again." As morning finally did come, Reika rode into the mist-shrouded woods toward the old hunting grounds, alone and as bidden, her cloak billowing behind her like a shadow. Save the crunch of her horse's hooves, no sound spoke for the forest. She yanked the reins tight as her heart bucked in her chest. A figure stepped onto the path before her. It was the man in the cloak from the night before. "You're late," he said in a low voice. "I'm here," Reika returned crisply. "Now, where is Riftan?" The man sneered, "He's closer than you think. The clatter of hooves exploded behind her before Reika could do anything. Whirling to her left, she beheld a group of riders burst from the trees-around her. Her heart turned cold. "Welcome to the game, sister," a voice painfully too well known called out. Reika's blood ran cold as Riftan appeared from the dark. It's a trap.