Read Online The Shadow Of What Was Lost by James Islington - Free Book Online Page B

life. I can’t let you give that up.”
    “I know exactly what I’m giving
up, and it’s my decision to make.” Wirr voice was calm, his words measured.
“You’re my friend, Dav, and this thing that you’ve been asked to do – it sounds
dangerous. Fates, if the Boundary is really about to collapse, it is dangerous. I’d regret it forever if I let you go without someone there to watch
out for you.” Gone was the customary lightness to Wirr’s tone.
    “You can’t come,” Davian said,
lacing the sentence with as much authoritative finality as he could muster.
    “Then I’ll have to go and wake
Elder Olin,” responded Wirr.
    Davian ran his hands through his
hair in frustration. Wirr had the upper hand, and both of them knew it.
“There’s no time. You don’t even have any clothing.”
    “I have about as many things as
you do, Dav. It will take me all of two minutes.” Wirr stood, heading towards
the door. Davian instinctively stepped into his path, but Wirr just raised an
eyebrow in amusement at him, looming over his much smaller friend. “Really?”
    Davian flushed, then stepped
aside. “I’m not happy about this, Wirr.”
    “Strangely enough, I’m fine with
that.” Wirr paused as he opened the door. “I’ll meet you in the courtyard. And
Dav - ” he held up a finger in warning – “ if you leave without me, I’ll raise
the entire school to come after you.”
    Davian rolled his eyes but nodded
a grudging acknowledgement, releasing a breath he hadn’t realised he was
holding as Wirr vanished down the hallway. Beneath his reluctance, he felt a
flood of relief. Davian truly hadn’t wanted his friend to make such a sacrifice
for him... but he hadn’t wanted to do this alone, either.
    He waited for a few more minutes,
each seeming an eternity in the silence of the evening. Eventually he snatched
up his bag, slipping outside as quietly as possible. There was little chance of
running into anyone at this hour, but he nonetheless kept to the shadows where
he could, heart pounding. The night was cloudy, with only a few stars providing
any natural light. That was good – it meant that once they were outside, there
was little chance of being spotted on the road.
    Wirr was already waiting when he
reached the courtyard, clutching a bag similar to Davian’s. “No sign of Jarras
and the others,” he whispered as Davian approached. “Your Elder seems to have
kept his word.”
    Davian nodded, a jolt of anxiety
running through him. This was it, then. “We shouldn’t waste any time,” he
whispered.
    Without speaking further they
crept towards the gate. Every muscle in Davian’s body was taut, and he expected
someone to shout out a warning at any moment. Nothing stirred, though. Within
seconds they were beneath the portcullis, and then past the edges of the
torchlight and into the night.
    They jogged silently along the
road until they were at the tree line, then stopped as if at some unspoken
signal, turning and looking back at the school. There were no cries of
discovery; the looming structure was quiet. Peaceful.
    “So. This is the last time we’ll
be here,” Wirr said softly.
    Davian nodded; he felt it too.
Regardless of how their journey went, he did not expect to see the school
again.
    “It’s not too late for you to
turn back,” he observed.
    The corners of Wirr’s mouth
curled upward. “You won’t get rid of me that easily.”
    Davian just inclined his head in
response. Tearing their gazes from the familiar lines of the castle, they
continued along the derelict road and into the shadowy forest.
    Neither looked back.

- Chapter 5 -
     
     
    Asha stared dully at the ceiling.
    She’d been doing that for the
past few minutes now, ever since she’d woken and remembered what was happening
today. She knew she should be leaping from her bed and finding Davian before
the Trials began, even if it was only to spend just a few extra seconds with
him. Her body, though, refused to move. Today would