What's Left to Lose

A carriage was heading toward the front gate of Halcombe.

It was a transport carriage, the kind that carried goods and supplies between the towns. Luggage was piled high in the back, crates and sacks strapped down with rope. Between the luggage, a child was sitting there, her legs dangling over the edge, her hair catching the wind.

The driver of the carriage turned to speak. "So, why are you going to the capital, Della? What business do you have there?"

Della shifted her legs, pulling her small bag closer. "I'm going to meet Wren. It's been so long. Old Man Pryce said we'd go in mid-Sanguin, but I don't know where he is."

"Yes, I forgot to ask. It's been many days since I've seen Uncle Pryce. Where is he?" The driver guided the carriage through the entrance gate and into the capital.

Della got up to look around. She saw the beautiful buildings, the houses with their painted shutters, the fountains throwing water into the air.

"I don't know. A woman came to our house and said they were going for work. And there was shouting from their room. I don't know if they were fighting or something."

"So where have you been staying all these days?"

"I can take care of myself." She sat back down.

"So you've been alone all this time?"

She laughed. "I'm joking. I was staying at the neighbour's house." Della picked up her bag and, after a while, spoke up. "Do you know that place where Wholevoices live? Drop me there."

"Yes, yes. I know it." He paused, glancing back at her. "Yes, ma'am, your stop is near. Please get your bag and be ready."

The carriage came to a stop. Della got out. "Thank you, Uncle."

The man smiled. "Ask anyone around here. They'll tell you where to go."

The carriage rolled away. Della looked around, taking in the wide street and the grand buildings. She moved to the side of the road, her bag slung over her shoulder.

Two men were walking from the side. She collided with them and fell to the ground.

The men knelt to help her up. "I'm sorry."

Della got up, brushing herself off. "I'm sorry too." She paused, then asked, "Sir, can you tell me where the Wholevoices live?"

"That's behind the Hall of Vows building. What business do you have there?"

"I'm here to meet my sister." She picked up her bag.

Both men stood up. "Well, you can't go inside alone. Your sister has to be with you."

"Okay." She smiled and sat down on a bench in front of the building.

Both men continued walking. "By the way, Roshal, you went on that southern inspection, didn't you? To keep an eye on Rourke's party?"

Roshal faced forward as they walked. "Yes. And I found something. I'm on my way to report it."

"What did you find?"

Both men entered the Hall of Vows. Roshal quickened his pace. "Just wait. I'm going to the Vow-Marshal's office anyway."

They both approached the office and knocked on the door.

A sound came from inside. "Come in."

They both entered the office.

Coraline Bellweather was sitting at her desk, surrounded by reports. Papers were scattered across the surface in uneven piles, some marked with red ink, others still sealed. She didn't look up immediately. She finished reading the page in her hand, set it down, and only then raised her eyes to them.

"So. Are you sure?"

Roshal replied, "Yes, ma'am. I'm sure. I saw it with my own eyes. Wren Calder and Rowan Ashgrave came out of an underground entrance together." He paused, "Derek was with me, but he's feeling ill today. He couldn't come."

Coraline put the report down slowly. "Was Rourke with them?"

"No, ma'am. Rourke wasn't there. But there was a third person with them." Roshal hesitated. "I don't know who he was."

"Can you describe him?" She picked up a pen and began writing.

"I don't know. His eyes were closed the whole time. It was strange. And he had dark grey hair." Roshal thought hard, his brow furrowing. "And yes, I think he noticed us. I could feel him looking at us."

“Then something happened inside that stronghold that Rourke was not there to witness.”

She leaned back in her chair, her fingers resting together.

“Keep the report sealed for now. I want Rourke questioned when he returns. Until then, no assumptions. We deal in facts.”

Coraline stopped writing. For a long moment, she didn't move. Then she gestured toward the door. They both bowed their heads and turned to leave.

The door clicked shut behind them.

Coraline put the pen down. She stared at the paper in front of her, at the words she had written, and her jaw tightened.

"Miss Wren Calder." Her voice was low, cold. "What was she doing in a Hollow Choir stronghold, betraying the Crown?"

She leaned back in her chair, her fingers drumming once against the desk. "If she wants to cry about her fate...... The Crown doesn't reward tears."

The sound of cries were coming from the rundown house.

Pryce was outside, standing near the broken gate, his cane planted in the dirt. Rowan approached from behind, his footsteps quick. "Where is she? It's been too long."

"She's inside."

The sound of cries reached their ears. Both of their eyes widened. Rowan was already moving, his boots pounding against the cracked stones. Pryce tried to follow, but Rowan's speed left him behind.

Rowan reached the door and pushed it open.

There, in front of him, Wren was sitting on the floor, crying. Rowan's heart raced upon seeing it.

He moved toward her slowly, his boots soft against the dust-covered floor. He didn't call out. He didn't rush. He approached the way you would a wounded animal, careful and deliberate, his hand already reaching out before he was close enough to touch her.

Her head was down, her shoulders shaking. He knelt in front of her, setting his sword aside on the floor. The metal clinked softly against the stone. He put a hand on her back, warm and steady, and lifted her head gently with his other hand.

"Look at me."

"Wren is a terrible person." Her voice cracked, barely audible. "She couldn't even remember her parents. She can't remember her sister."

Rowan leaned closer, his thumb brushing the tears from her cheek. "It wasn't your fault."

She pulled her head down again. Rowan lifted it once more, his fingers under her chin, gentle but firm. "Look at me."

"No, no. Go away. Leave Wren alone. She's useless. She'll forget you too, just like she forgot her family." New tears flowed from her eyes like a river breaking its banks.

"No." Rowan's voice was quiet, but there was steel in it. "I'm not going anywhere. I chose to be your protector. You said you trusted me. You said you wanted me to be your protector."

Wren's hands were visibly shaking. "No. Everyone who stays with Wren gets hurt." She backed away from him, her heels scraping against the floor. "First her family. Then Pryce, who endured so much for her. Even Della suffered because of... because of me."

"And look at her. She didn't even know she had a family. She... I can't even cry for them. I can't feel anything. Their sacrifice didn't mean anything." She backed up more until her back touched the cold wall.

Rowan moved closer, not letting her escape. "Their sacrifice meant everything. They sacrificed to protect you. And you're here, in front of me. Pryce protected you, and you're here. You're Della's lifeline. She loves you so much."

Rowan was reaching his limit too. Tears were building in his eyes, threatening to spill over.

Pryce came up behind him and put a hand on his shoulder. His voice was low, full of a tired kindness. "I'm sorry for putting this on you. But you can do this. Bring her back." Pryce nodded once and stepped back.

Rowan closed the distance between them. He caught up to her against the wall and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her close, her face against his chest, her tears soaking into his coat.

"Don't look back at what you've lost. Look forward. At the future. At what's left to lose." His voice was rough now, thick with his own grief. "And make sure to protect it at all costs. So please. Please don't blame yourself."

"It doesn't matter." Wren's voice was muffled against his chest. "It's been happening, and it will happen again. Wren will lose it all again. Ysolde. Tessa. The Crown. Even if she escapes Ysolde, the Crown will use her until there's nothing left."

"Then fight it." Rowan pulled back just enough to look at her, his hands still firm on her shoulders.

"I'll be there when you escape from Ysolde. I'll be there when we escape from the Crown. I'll be there, helping you with everything I've got." He paused, his voice softening. "So don't be harsh on yourself. Take a step forward. I... we will follow you."

Wren looked up at him through her tears. Her hands, still trembling, slowly came up to rest on his arms. She didn't push him away. She didn't pull back.

"I don't know how," she whispered. "Wren doesn't know how to move forward."

"Then I'll show you." Rowan's voice was barely a breath. "One step at a time. We'll figure it out together."

She closed her eyes. The tears were still falling, but her breathing was slowing. Her hands tightened on his sleeves, holding on like he was the only solid thing in the world.

"Together," she repeated, the word soft and broken.

Pryce watched from the doorway, his own eyes wet. A small, tired smile crossed his face.