Chapter 93 Chapter 93

Chapter 93 Chapter 93
Mirelle’s POV

“That’s it, princess,” he said.

I had pulled on that white line consistently, and it felt good to finally have my powers back. I had gotten so used to them that not having them felt like I had lost a limb. When I finally got a good hold of them, I looked to Sailine.

“Thank you…”

“My pleasure, princess.”

Then I stared at him for a long time.

“I am glad you helped me… and glad you helped us escape when Eliath took over. But I can never forget what you did to my friend, and that will always be an issue between us,” I said.

His forehead creased up

“For what it is worth, princess, I am very sorry about your friend.”

He actually looked remorseful. I took a deep breath, nodded my head, and left him at the training ground. I would forgive him, but not today.

I went straight to Corlin’s room, and he was seated on a chair, his hands interlocked and placed under his chin as he watched her with soft eyes.

“You love her, don’t you?”

He turned to me, his eyes a bit skeptical about telling me or not. Then he turned back to face her.

“Yes.”

I moved closer to him and placed my hands on his shoulders.

“She is going to be okay… and the baby too.”

He simply grunted. I squeezed his shoulders and walked out. I needed to check on Makus.

When I walked into the room where he was kept, my desire was to see him healthy and being himself. But he was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers to everything. I hated seeing him like this. Was there really no way to snap him out of it?

“Makus… I don’t know if you can hear me, but we need you… I need you. I need you to wake up. You brought me into this world. Are you going to leave me hanging?”

He did not even move, did not act as though I was right there beside him speaking to him.

Then Eragon came in.

“Princess, I didn’t know you were here,” he said, moving closer, his steps loud in the quiet space.

“Eragon, will he really be like this forever? Is there nothing that can be done?” I said, squeezing the sheets of the bed Makus lay on.

“I have never heard of someone with his case ever recovering.”

“Damn it.” I said in frustration

The flap of the tent opened again.

“Eragon, the pigeons are here.”

I looked toward the tent opening and saw one of the rebels from Fiona’s team.

“Excuse me, princess.”

“Hold on, I will follow you. I need a distraction right now,” I said and kissed Makus on his forehead

“I will find a way” I whispered

Then followed Eragon out of the tent.

We got to the hidden entrance of the cave and walked out. There was a bird flying in a circular motion. Eragon raised his hands, and it landed on them. And I wondered why they called it a pigeon—it didn’t look anything like one apart from the size, maybe. The tips of its wings were rainbow-colored, and its beak resembled that of a small duck. Its neck was a bit longer than a normal bird.

“Eragon, that is not a pigeon.”

He stared at me like I did not know what I was saying.

“This is a pigeon, princess,” he said, and proceeded to extract the small note from the bird that was definitely not a pigeon.

I decided to keep quiet. A pigeon or not, it delivered messages.

“Oh no.”

His eyes widened.

“What?”

“The village we got the horses from…”

“What about it?” I said, now very anxious.

“They burnt it down.”

No.

I didn’t think twice. I ran toward the village Mirelle came from, hoping with all my heart that Isolde and Francine were alive. The little time I spent with the mother and daughter had shown me how sweet they were. They didn’t deserve something like this.

I felt hands pull me back.

“Let go, Eragon.”

“We can’t go rushing in there, princess. The Seelie soldiers could still be there.”

“Fine. I will check first,” I said, pulling my hands back. He hesitated.

“Will you follow me or not?”

“Princess…” he said.

I ignored him and started walking toward the village.

“Hold up, princess,” he said, following me.

I got to the treeline and saw smoke, and some of the houses were burnt black. I hoped there were survivors. I carefully looked around for goldies. I didn’t see any, so I moved out of the forest line, cautiously watching my surroundings. Eragon followed behind me, doing the same.

Then I heard cries and shouting.

I ran toward the sound.

They had destroyed everything. Everything.

I coughed hard because of the smoke. Burnt bodies scattered around, the stench was horrible. I ran to Isolde’s house and it was unrecognizable.

“Why did they do this?” I said loudly. “Isolde!”

I screamed. “Francine!”

Everywhere was pure chaos—families screaming for each other, blackened houses collapsing and sending ashes into the air.

Then I saw Isolde.

I ran to her.

“Isolde!”

Her face was covered in black ash, and so were her hands.

“Mirelle! I can’t find your sister. Where were you?” she said without pause. “I have been looking,” she repeated.

She was disoriented.

I held her hands, trying to calm her.

“Isolde, when was the last time you saw her?”

“Saw her…” she repeated.

“Isolde.”

Then she burst into tears.

“Mirelle… I left your sister in the house and not long after, the goldies came.”

I didn’t want to go near the house after what she said, but we had to confirm.

“Eragon…” I called, and we both walked toward the house.

I just hoped with everything in me that she got out. I hoped.

We moved through the burnt woods and ashes. We didn’t see anything for a while, and I was so relieved.

But that relief was short-lived when I saw a burnt, blackened hand.

I covered my mouth and took a step back.

Not sweet Francine.

What was I going to tell Isolde?

Not only had she lost Francine… but Mirelle was also gone.

How would she survive this?