Annie Hayden's Arc

Chapter 20 of 27

Kaelen ran until the trees thinned and the hill rose ahead. His father's house crowned it, all green tile and pale stone, its tall windows dark this early. He did not slow. In his fist he carried the proof of his failure: Annie's wand, snapped into jagged pieces, the amethyst crown shattered. He had found it in the snow where Vael took her. He threw open the door. The fox slipped past his boots and darted inside, tail flame low and dim. It had refused to leave his side since the clearing. Now it paced the cold hall, searching for a girl who was not there. "Father!" High Mage Frostwyn came from the far room, staff in hand, its crystal glowing faint violet. Kaelen had spent months trying to teach this man mercy through Annie. That plan was over. "You left with the girl," Frostwyn said. "You return without her, shouting, with her broken toy in hand. "She’s been taken" Kaelen held out the wand. "The scout. He wanted Annie, not the fox. I wasn’t quick enough." He said, more and more desperation in each new breath than the last. Frostwyn's face did not change. "Then she is caged. This is what comes of feeding warmth into a cold world." He turned back toward his room. Kaelen stepped in front of him. "You will help me find her." "I hunt beasts. Not other men's prisoners." "You killed a human once," Kaelen said. His voice shook. "I found the record. I brought Annie here to prove you could do the other thing. Save one. Just one." Something flickered behind the old man's eyes. He looked away. "That was long ago." The fox pressed against Frostwyn's leg. It looked up at him, ears flat, and let out a thin, broken sound. Its flame guttered like a candle in wind. Frostwyn stared down at it. His grip on the staff tightened. "The beast grieves," he said quietly. "It shares her soul," Kaelen said. "It knows she's still alive. So do I." For a long moment the hall held only the fox's small cries. Then Frostwyn knelt, slow, and laid one hand on the creature's back. The flame steadied under his palm. When he stood, his eyes were fixed and cold in a new way. "You are for this girl more than you let on boy, do you know of the dangers we may face if we go?” “I do, and those are risks I am willing to take father, please, im begging you. You must help us find her” Kaelen pleaded Frostwyn sighed in defeat “A hunter can track a bonded soul through its other half," he said. "The fox will lead us to her." He crossed to a chest and lifted out a slim silver wand, its crystal whole and blue. "She will need this. Hers is beyond saving." Kaelen took it. "You'll come." "I will hunt the hunter," Frostwyn said. "Wake at dark. We leave tonight." The fox ran to the door and waited, tail burning bright again.