A Savior's Worth (Book #3)

Chapter Twelve

Henry had the opportunity to change his mind and stay. He hadn't left yet.

However, as he finished getting his things together that night, he felt a sudden rush of excitement, urging him to go through with this.

Perhaps this was it—what he'd been waiting for. A distraction. A way to shut off the taunting thoughts from his mind and focus on something much more meaningful. His only worry was how Elouise's reaction. She could already hear him asking about Ivy.

After attempting his best to eat earlier, he had left the dining hall alone and was dragged into a quieter corridor by Ivy.

He opened his mouth to ask her why she had left dinner so early when she held up a necklace. A brown string and a round marble pendant. As he examined the clear marble further, he saw the swirls of purple and blue inside.

Hesitantly, he took it from her. "What is this?"

"My good-luck necklace!" she chirped, clasping her hands together.

"You have a good-luck necklace?" Henry eyed her curiously. "Since when?"

"Since always! I found this marble in the forest behind my home. I don't wear it, but I always keep it near me, and I believe it's the reason you and I are still here in Aristol."

Henry started to smile as he put it on and then immediately frowned when he caught sight of her left hand. She hid it within the bunches of her thick skirts. A piece of cloth was wrapped around it, and he gently grabbed her wrist, bringing it forward.

"Did you hurt yourself?" he asked.

"Oh! Uh... yes! Well, Clawdia had a little too much fun playing with me a moment ago." She pulled her wrist free, giggling. "Alice cleaned it up for me, so it's fine now."

Henry furrowed his brows, trying to fathom how that little feline managed to do such damage. Although, he supposed there was a reason she was called Clawdia.

"Be careful with her," he warned Ivy.

"I will!" Ivy slowly frowned as she glanced down the hallway. She gestured toward it with her arm. "And you need to hurry. Eldon said to meet him right after dinner. You're not going to keep him waiting, are you?"

"Yes, I still need to fetch what I will be taking with me." Henry embraced her quickly and kissed the side of her head. "We will be back before you can miss us. I promise."

"Just come back unharmed, please."

"We shall do our best."

With that, he headed to his bedchamber to finish preparing. Henry swallowed hard and grabbed his bag, his bow, and quiver, knowing full well he wouldn't be turning back now. He met Eldon by the stables where he prepped Snow.

Noticing him, Eldon smiled. "You should get Angus ready, too."

Henry turned toward the Friesian stallion in question—a complete contrast to Snow.

"Are you certain?" Henry asked, letting his bag slide off his shoulder and fall onto the ground. "I know he is usually the horse I ride around here, but it doesn't feel right taking him."

"Yer fine, Henry. King Philip has basically given him to you."

Henry sighed and went ahead and led the dark horse out to saddle him. "Where's El?"

"She'll be waitin' out in the field." Ah, right. Teleportation. Henry shook his head. He still didn't understand how that was achieved. However, he wondered the same about every magical ability.

Henry ran his fingers through Angus' soft mane and thought about a question that'd been lingering in his mind. He glanced over at Eldon who was feeding an apple to Snow.

"Does she know I'm joining?" he blurted without further consideration.

Eldon sighed. "No. I didn't get a chance to talk to her 'bout that."

"So, I'm merely going to arrive and... surprise?"

"Yeah, you can get her back for that ball she threw for yer birthday."

Henry lifted his eyebrows and gaped at him.

Eldon led Snow closer to him and Angus. "Just don't worry. She'll be fine with this."

"I certainly hope so."

"She will. Now, c'mon. Let's go."

They made their way to the entrance where they lied about wanting to go for a ride in the fields before retiring for the night. Once they exited the town, they climbed aboard their horses and hurried to where Elouise sat against a tree, staring intently at the map laid out in front of her.

She spoke without looking up. "Eldon, I was thinking"—and she paused when she did look up and locked eyes with Henry.

Henry watched, with a steadily increasing pulse, as her normally soft features hardened.

"What, what are you doing here?" she questioned, leaping onto her feet.

Eldon dismounted from Snow and walked ahead. "I asked him to join us."

Elouise gawked at Eldon. "W-Why?"

"Ellie, it's Henry. He could help us with this."

"But..." Elouise frowned and turned away. "What about Ivy?"

"Ivy... knows 'bout this, too."

Elouise spun back around and widened her eyes. "You told her?"

Eldon put his hands on her shoulders. "No, she don't know where we're goin' or why, but she knows we're leavin' and that it's important." He then nodded his head toward Henry. "She convinced him to go with us."

Elouise's eyes flickered to Henry. Henry felt his muscles tense as uncertainty slowly furrowed her brows.

Henry tried his best to smile. "Of course, I do not have to go. I can return to the castle now and let you be on your way."

"No. No, that will not be necessary." Elouise kneeled and retrieved the map. "You already know where we are going."

"Yes. I'm assuming you're hoping you can find answers regarding your destiny there."

"Any information regarding Beatrice would be helpful, yes." She carefully rolled up the map and put it back into one of her satchels. The straps were hanging from her shoulders and across her body, keeping the bags in place at her sides. She lifted her skirt slightly as she walked over to Snow, and Henry noticed the boots she wore. In all the years he'd known her, he'd never seen her wear anything but slippers. When she noticed him staring, he glanced away and cleared his throat.

Eldon got back onto Snow and leaned down a bit, holding his hand out for Elouise. Henry watched as Elouise lifted her left foot and placed it into the stirrup before accepting Eldon's hand. With his help, she climbed aboard, swinging her right leg over and situating herself behind him. She then seemed hesitant as to where to hold on until he glanced back at her and whispered something that made her cheeks turn pink. She ducked her head and her lips twitched as she wrapped her arms securely around his waist.

Henry felt an abrupt twist in his chest like a painful longing. A longing for what exactly? He did not know. Perhaps it was to have someone hold him similarly. Even if Elouise only held Eldon like that for her own safety, Henry could see in her smile how much she enjoyed being this close to him.

Henry shook his head and hurried onto Angus, forcing away his pathetic desires. Eldon asked him if he was ready, and he responded with a nod. Eldon directed Snow toward the eastern region and began to lead the way. Henry glanced over at the castle looming over the town like a pointed, haunting shadow.

Then, with a newfound determination, Henry gently pressed his heel into Angus' side and followed his friends onto a path unknown to all of them.