Chapter 211 The Silver Allergy Flares Pt 1

Chapter 211: Chapter 211 The Silver Allergy Flares Pt 1

Kaelen’s POV

The afternoon sun streamed through the windows of the war room, casting long shadows across the table where the map of the Ashen Lands lay spread out before me.

I had been staring at it for hours, tracing the routes with my finger, and memorizing every twist and turn.

Cain stood across from me, with his arms crossed, and his face unreadable. Jax and Silas were beside him, with their eyes fixed on the same map.

"The eastern pass is the most direct route," Cain said, pointing to a narrow line that cut through the mountains. "But it is also the most dangerous. The terrain is unstable, and there are few places to hide."

I nodded. "What about the western route?"

"It is longer," Silas said. "But safer. We would have to travel through open plains for two days before we reach the cover of the forest."

Jax leaned forward, with his finger tracing a different path. "What about this one? Through the old trade road. It is overgrown, but it would keep us hidden."

I studied the map, weighing the options. "We take the trade road. It is slower, but we cannot afford to be seen."

Cain nodded. "I will inform the warriors."

I looked at Jax and Silas. "Make sure everyone is ready. We leave at dawn the day after tomorrow."

They nodded and filed out of the room, leaving me alone with the map.

I stood there for a long moment, staring at the dark region marked with strange symbols. It was the Ashen Lands, where Talia’s mother was being held, and where Malachai was waiting.

I folded the map and tucked it into my pocket, and I walked back to the room.

When I entered, Talia was sitting on the edge of the bed, with her eyes red and her cheeks a bit wet. She looked up when she heard me, and she tried to smile.

"How was your day? And why are you crying?" I asked.

She took a breath. "It was fine. I... I just talked to Piper, that is all."

I walked to her and sat beside her. "What happened?"

She told me about the letter, about Piper finding it, about the argument, and the tears, and the hugs. She told me about how Piper refused to stay behind, and how she had finally agreed to let her come.

I listened without interrupting, and I reached over and took her hand. "You did the right thing."

She looked at me. "Do you think so?"

I nodded. "Piper is your best friend, and she belongs by your side. I would not have it any other way."

She smiled, and I saw the relief in her eyes.

I kissed her forehead. "Now, let us eat. You need your strength."

We ate dinner together, and we talked about the journey ahead. We talked about the warriors, the supplies, and the horses. Then, we talked about the Ashen Lands, and the dangers that waited for us.

When we finished, we showered together, and we climbed into bed.

She fell asleep quickly, as her breathing became slow and even. But I lay awake, staring at the ceiling, and I felt the familiar ache in my chest.

The silver allergy had been worse lately, and I had been hiding it from everyone. But I could not hide it from myself. ℴℴ𝘮

The whole night had been restless, and sleep had come in fragments, broken by the weight of everything that lay ahead. I had lain awake for hours, watching the shadows dance on the ceiling, and listening to Talia’s soft breathing beside me.

She had finally found peace after the argument with Piper, after the letter, and after everything. And I was grateful for that, because she deserved to rest.

But I could not rest.

The familiar ache in my chest had been growing worse lately, and it was spreading like a slow poison through my veins. I had hidden it from her, and from everyone, because I could not afford to be weak. Not now, and not when we were about to leave for the Ashen Lands.

I turned my head and looked at her one last time, at the way her hair fanned out across the pillow, and at the soft rise and fall of her chest. She looked so peaceful, and so beautiful. And I knew that I would do whatever it took to protect her.

Even if it meant hiding my own pain.

The morning light was still pale when I opened my eyes, and I lay still for a moment, watching Talia sleep beside me.

The soft rise and fall of her chest was the only thing that grounded me, and the only thing that reminded me why I had to keep going. She was my anchor, my reason, and my everything.

Her breathing was slow and even, and her face was peaceful. She looked so beautiful in the quiet of the morning.

I reached out and gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, and my fingers lingered on her skin for just a moment longer than necessary. I wanted to remember the warmth of her, the softness of her, and the way she looked when she was at peace.

And I wanted to memorize this moment, and to hold onto it for as long as I could.

But the familiar ache in my chest pulled me back to reality, with the same constant pain that came and grew daily, as the silver allergy grew worse.

It was like a fire that never quite went out, always smoldering beneath the surface, and waiting for the right moment to flare up and remind me of my weakness. I had learned to live with it, and to push through it, but it was getting harder.