by Imogen Elvis
For a moment, Briar couldn’t think of what to say. Then, “You look regal. Very different. Very nice.” Oh goodness, was she blushing again?
“It’s just the clothes.” Kade shrugged. “I haven’t changed that much.”
“Can we go?” Ava asked. “Please, Briar?”
“Of course.” As if she was going to say no to spending a little more time with the two people who were most important to her. “Kade knows all the best places.”
Kade gave them a slight bow. “Shall we go?”
Briar took Ava’s hand and followed Kade as he led them, not down the steps and into the courtyard, but along the balcony and around the corner, away from all the people, and towards the green castle gardens beyond, in search of swans, and maybe a little time together in the peace and quiet.
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
The castle grounds were like nothing Briar had ever seen. Even the Order house gardens couldn’t quite compare. Lush, green grass, as soft as velvet, covered the ground. Wide, spreading trees shaded the path, while the sun creeping through the leaves dappled the ground. Hedges sectioned the huge garden into smaller, more intimate spaces, each with its own character. And everywhere Briar looked, she saw the touch of magic. Here and there, trees and bushes grew into fantastical shapes, twisted by the songs of skilled plant singers. Here, a low bush grew into the shape of a delicate rose, its petals just opening for the first time, while the branches of a nearby tree wove together to create the illusion of a bird lifting into flight.
Magic was evident in the flowers growing in their beds too. Briar had never seen so many blooms, their colours so brilliant they hardly seemed real. Bursts of yellow mingled with warm oranges and vivid blues, filling the flowerbeds to overflowing with every colour under the sun. Tiny purple blooms grew amid the blades of grass, creating a carpet of colour underfoot.
The gardens were peaceful, though Briar did see a scattering of people as she, Kade and Ava passed by. A gardener trimmed the edge of the lawn next to one of the flower beds, whistling to himself, completely unaware that the crown prince himself passed by. Across the lawn, Briar caught sight of a group of young noblewomen in long, pastel gowns. They wandered through a little garden of rose bushes, which grew along trellises and dropped pale petals in a thick carpet, their laughter echoing across the lawn.
Kade stiffened at the sight of the women, ducking down a side path. “This way.”
“Not interested in making friends?” Briar teased.
“I’m only interested in spending time with certain people today,” Kade said. “I may be required to be polite, but I don’t have to seek them out. We’re looking for swans anyway, not young, ambitious noblewomen.”
Briar laughed, but a little point of warmth burned inside her chest. Kade only wanted to spend time with them. The narrow path they followed ran along the straight line of a hedge, which screened them from curious gazes. Deep shadows covered the ground, and the air was pleasantly fresh. Somewhere beyond the hedge, she could hear the sound of running water, growing steadily louder, until finally, they stepped out onto the bank of the river.
The water was smooth and calm, without the fast-flowing current Briar had seen before. It whispered to itself, soft and soothing. Trees hung over the bank, creating deep pools of shade in which ducks paddled and bathed. Briar let out a soft sigh of contentment. This was simply beautiful.
“Do boats come through here?” Briar asked.
Kade shook his head. “This is an offshoot of the main river. The trade boats have to take the other route. Though we do have our own barges and sailboats out here sometimes. And sometimes, when there are picnics in the gardens, we have musicians out on the water to play for us.”
“Really? That sounds amazing.” A smile spread over Ava’s face suddenly, and she pointed. “Look, Briar. Swans.” She darted away, leaving Briar and Kade strolling after her.
Briar smiled, watching her sister approaching the flock of birds sunning themselves on the riverbank, her steps light, hands moving restlessly, obviously eager to test out Kade’s promise that she could pet the swans if she wanted to. The swans were fat and placid, foraging among the blades of grass, or preening themselves in the sun as Ava approached.
“Your sister really loves those swans.” Kade nodded to Ava, who was now knee-deep in the flock.
“Back when we lived in Osman, Ava used to listen to stories about Mizra and all the wonderful things here. She wanted to see the swans most of all. I’m glad she gets to see some of the things she dreamed about,” Briar said.
“Then I am happy I could help with that.”
“Thank you for letting her come here. It’s so good to see her happy again.” Briar smiled. “It feels like everything is finally going to be alright. She’s safe. Master Sachio is gone. And you’re home again. That must feel good.”
Kade shrugged. “In a way. But it also doesn’t quite feel like it fits me anymore. I am more grateful to be here than I can say. To be with my parents again, and for people to know the truth after all this time, it hardly feels real. But so much has happened. I think it will take time to feel like this is home again.” Now it was his turn to hesitate. “How about you? It must be nice to be back in an Order house.”
“I don’t really think I belong there anymore,” Briar said honestly. “The magicians are kind, and I know they wouldn’t cast me out onto the streets. But without something to offer them, I wouldn’t be comfortable staying there for long.”
“You won’t leave Mizra, will you?”
Briar shook her head. “Ava wants to train as a magician, and I want to be close to her if I can.”
“She’s joining the Order?”
“Yes. She wants to know how to control her gift.” Briar’s eyes followed Ava as she walked among the swans, her fingers ruffling through their white feathers. “We’ve both seen the effects of stubborn pride where training is concerned, and neither of us wants to experience that again.”
“I’m glad that you’ll be staying,” Kade said after a moment. “It’s hard enough knowing that Lara is leaving to go home. I would hate to lose you too.”
“Thank you.” Briar smiled shyly.
Side by side, Briar and Kade strolled along the riverbank. Nothing to rush for. Nothing to worry about. Briar could take her time, enjoying Kade’s company, Ava’s laughter as one of the swans tugged at the edge of her dress, the gentle murmur of the river, and the warmth of the sun. Out of the corner of her eye, Briar caught Kade watching her with a soft, thoughtful expression, and a curiously gentle smile, and a flush rose in her cheeks.
“I never thanked you for saving my life,” Kade said.
“You would have done the same for me.” Briar bit her lip. “You were on the execution block and I just...I couldn’t…” She shook her head and pressed her lips together. That image would haunt her for a long, long time. “I couldn’t stand to lose you,” she finished, in a low voice.
Kade stopped and took Briar’s hands, turning her so that she looked into his face. “I always had faith that you were going to find a way. Even when I stepped onto that platform, I believed in you.”
Briar swallowed hard. That was a lot of faith to have pinned on her, especially when everything came so close to failure. Her grip on his hands tightened. “You almost died, Kade. If we hadn’t stopped Master Sachio, you would be dead.”
“But I didn’t, because you’re a fighter.” Kade smiled softly. “It’s one of the things I love about you.”
“And you’re stubborn,” Briar said. “Too stubborn to let anyone else have a turn at trying to protect us all. But I suppose that’s one of the things I love about you too.” She was pretty sure she was scarlet now, but it didn’t seem to matter. “You know what’s going to be the most difficult? Remembering to call you Levi.”
Kade laughed. “You can always call me Kade.”
“Levi sounds a bit too princely. I feel like I can know a Kade.” Briar smiled shyly. I suppose we can thank Master Sac
hio for one thing. If it weren’t for him, I would never have known you.”
“I suppose that is true. Though I look forward to our future being a little less about running in fear.” Kade said.
“True. You do tend to bring trouble with you,” Briar teased him, smiling. She would never wish for a scenario where she had never met Kade. Not now. Not ever. “It’s strange to think that we have a future.”
“I hope I’m in yours,” Kade said seriously.
Briar met his eyes. “I would like that.”
Kade put his arm around her shoulders, and she slipped hers around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. Master Sachio was gone. Kerr was safe. Ava was alive, and with her again. And she had Kade too. This had been the longest, hardest journey of her life. There had been such pain as she hoped never to endure again, and sacrifices she could never have imagined. But right here, right now, she looked forward to a future with the people she loved the most. And she was ready to face it.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book would never have come into being without the help of many, many amazing people, who poured their time and energy into helping me bring it to life.
Thanks go first to my mum, who read The Crystal Tree and demanded to know what happened next. Thank you for being a cheerleader, for keeping me on track when I procrastinated, for being my second set of eyes, and for believing in me. This book wouldn’t be the same without you.
Of course, I can’t forget to thank my sisters Charlotte, Sophie, and Gemma-Rose, who read the early drafts, brainstormed plot fixes, supplied me with tea and chocolate, and stayed excited over the months it took to write and edit this book. Thank you especially to Charlotte, who designed the cover for both The Shattering Song, and the previous book The Crystal Tree. You are so talented, and you blow me away every time with these covers.
Next, I have to thank my beta readers, Addison, Grace and Casey. Your insights into the story helped me make The Shattering Song the best it could possibly be. Thank you for all the time you put into this book. I hope I made you proud.
Special thanks to all my writing friends, especially Tori, Liz, Kath, and all the amazing people of SydNaNo. You were there for the whole process, cheering me along, and encouraging me when the going got tough. I couldn’t ask for better friends.
And finally, thanks to you, the reader. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading Briar’s adventure as much as I loved writing it.
Imogen Elvis is a nine times NaNoWriMo winner who writes best under the pressure of an incredibly tight deadline. She is also a classical singer/pianist, and a YouTube cover artist. Imogen hordes blank notebooks, keeps her phone firmly on silent, and hides out in a small village tucked away in a corner of the Australian bush. Find her online at: www.imogenelvis.com