"Whoever brings the Wings Of Occular to me will be lavishly rewarded." Maddox takes us all in.

"The Invisible King's?" I ask again to be sure. I cross my arms.

"Excuse me, but that king has never seen anyone, has he?" 

"That's why he's called the Invisible King, Mister Gillian."

Felix unobtrusively slaps Gillian on the head.

Vixra rolls her eyes and taps her long, sharp nails on her stone throne. Drahzan continues to give her other hand small kisses. Sometimes he goes up her arm to her shoulders and then back down again.

"So I don't want to see you show up here without those Wings. You do the following: you make sure you enter the castle in Adarlyn and get an audition with the Sapientia. In exchange for the Wings, tell him I'm giving Vale to Adarlyn." A cruel grin spreads on his face.

We all nod obediently and a spark of happiness settles in my stomach. If Vale became part of Adarlyn, things would be better here. We would finally get a chance to be happy. The ground might fill again with green grass and white daisies. The trees would then be able to breathe again and animals would be sniffing around again. We could eat something other than raw potato and carrots again.

My mouth naturally waters at the thoughts of flesh. A piece that is well seasoned and still has blood flowing when you cut it.

Gillian taps my shoulder. "We'll meet on the east side of the forest."

I shrug my shoulders and swallow the saliva. "Sure, see you later." I turn and wave over my shoulder and walk out of the room. Maddox's gaze drills into my back until I'm out of sight. And even then I feel his piercing gaze on my neck. 

My strides get bigger until I start running. My breath pumps through my body and my legs go faster and faster. Until I stand in front of my door and I rest my forehead on the cool wood. The realization hits like a bomb, taking what little breath I have left. We can be free.

Jameelah appears on my doorstep a few hours later. I'm just shoving a book in my bag. "Can I help?"

I smile over my shoulder and nod to my closet. "I need a few more shirts." 

I frown when I see the black cloth over her eyes, but keep my mouth shut. After the clothes are in it together with a water bag and an apple, I buckle the bag with the two leather straps. 

Outside I buckle leather bands around my wrists. I take Fides from her and hang the sword between my shoulder blades. With my cloak on and my travel bag over my shoulder I step outside.

I will meet my friends at the edge of the forest from where we depart. I arrive earlier than agreed, so I explore the neighborhood.

I stop in a place where plants have been trampled. With a quick glance behind me, I let my powers flow through me. It fills me with a warm feeling and the soft throb of the earth beneath me. Slowly my hand floats above the shamrocks that begin to stretch. Their gray color turns bright green.

I pause for a moment. Such a beautiful and precious thing that is also afraid of this country.Just a little while, then you don't have to be afraid anymore.I don't know if I was talking to the plant or to myself.

Mumbling comes my way. I quickly trample the only green in all the land and straighten my back. I look at the position of the sun. Eleven o'clock. They're late. So I let them know.

"Gillian couldn't find his favorite pants." 

"That thing brings good luck!"

"I assume any of you know your way around?"

It remains silent. Then Felix murmurs to himself. I vaguely catch something like; "incredible" and "yet my death". Then he disappears into the bushes.

"Are we there yet?"

We both ignore Gillian, who has been at it for half an hour.

"Felix, my feet hurt. We've been walking for hours now. Besides, I'm bored. You're not really social today. Actually never. Certainly not you brother. Maybe you should talk about why you don't want to –"

"Gillian, if you don't stop now, I swear you'll lose that tongue of yours," I interrupt.

His eyes flare up. "If you try. I'll lift you up with my little finger." He wiggles his finger.

"Oh yes, because you are so strong."

"You always underestimate me too." He tenses his muscles. Gillian is not weak. He can do more than Felix or me, but that's it.

"I'm not underestimating you, you just overestimate yourself."

"Have a peaceful journey," Felix interrupts our bickering. 

"I ask no more. Is a quiet journey so difficult?" His eyes are turned to the sky as if asking the Higher Powers for help.

"He started." I point accusingly at Gillian. 

"I didn't start at all!"

"Oh yes, you've been acting like a little kid all along," I snap at him. 

"I? You're starting to irritably-" his lips finish the sentence, but no sound comes out. We look at each other with wide eyes. Then I start laughing.

"That comes off as – " Now my voice is gone too. I'll try again. Not a word or sound escapes me and at the same time we run to Felix. I pat my throat wildly. Gillian's lips move and all seem to form curse words. Felix ignores us and walks on. Then he stops. "Do you hear that?" Felix raises his hand and I prick up my ears. Not a sound is heard except the rustling of the leaves in the wind.

"Silence. Really, absolute, silence. Amazing."

He walks back on without returning our voice.

After a while I give up. I just curse Felix and Gillian further in my head.

Arid ground disappears and my shoes sink deeper into the green grass. The first sign that we have arrived at the border. We look out over a landscape covered with tall trees and downy grass. Vale's end.

I swallow. It was beautiful.

AlthoughAdarlyn is the main realm, the Invisible King does not rule his neighboringforests. These are free territory where creatures that don't belong in anyrealm roam.