Wayfarer by R. Dawn Hutchinson

Author:R. Dawn Hutchinson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: R. Dawn Hutchinson
Published: 2020-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

∙ Chapter Twenty-Three ∙

Frankie knew something was wrong the second he stepped through the portal. After the portal closed, Elise’s bedroom was barely lit by moonlight streaming through the window panes. Everything seemed normal though, and he couldn’t put his finger on the cause of his unease.

“I didn’t leave my door open,” Elise whispered to him so softly he almost didn’t hear. Her door was open about a foot, letting in a shaft of candlelight from the hallway. They crept to the door to close it, but without warning, it sprang open and slammed into the wall.

Their father was there and still dressed at who knew what hour in the morning. His face was twisted in fury.

“There you are!” he bellowed.

One male and one female guard trotted up to stand at attention behind him. “I don’t know how you two keep leaving the castle, but it ends now. I trust that now you’ve seen your plans turn to ashes that you’ll no longer be tempted to sneak out. In either case, your time of freedom and luxury has come to an end. You will no longer be allowed to socialize together, and you will be under constant guard. These two will watch you eat, sleep, wash, study,” he said, pointing to the guards. “You will no longer associate with Sigurd. In fact, the only visitors you will receive will be your mother and your tutors.”

Frankie and Elise stood speechless, digesting their father’s decree.

The king motioned to the guards. “Take him now!” The male guard reached for Frankie’s shoulder, but Frankie stepped back and grabbed Elise’s wrist.

“Actually, we both have someplace else to be right now!” Frankie said, then barreled through the three adults, hauling Elise with him. The sheer boldness of their actions left the three of them in shock, and Frankie could hear the king shouting at the twins from down the hall. Their father was paranoid and crazy. Frankie wouldn’t let him treat them like prisoners.

He glanced back at Elise as he pulled her along. “I think it’s the right time to go find Onora, don’t you?”

“Uh-huh!” Elise nodded awkwardly as she ran.

The sound of boots on floorboards echoed in his ears as he tried desperately to open a portal to somewhere, anywhere away from here. But the portal wouldn’t come. There were no tingles. The only sensations he could feel were the pounding of his heart and his lungs working rapidly.

Frankie jogged left down the next hall and right down the one after. He tried again to open a portal, but again it didn’t work. It was really hard to be curious while on the run from a king and his royal guards. His legs burned as he led Elise down the servants’ stairwell. He stopped on the next landing, needing to catch his breath and to think.

“I don’t know where we’re going, but can’t you just portal us there instead?” Elise said, gasping for breath.

“I’ve been trying!” Frankie whispered, exasperated. And he tried again. The well of energy in his abdomen seemed to be drowned out by his frantic heartbeat.

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