Chapter 17 - Intuition

But the next day, I didn't find Twyla. She had to travel, and I needed to dedicate myself even more to my potion with Ycarus. Now that I know him better, Ycarus is fun and intelligent, as well as kind and attentive.

Rowen and Yvonne's conversation still bothers me, so I wait for Twyla every night that week, but in vain. Then I remember someone else I can talk to about this: Draven. How did I not think of this before?

The next day, I take a carriage and leave the castle early, heading to Draven and Lucy's house. He doesn't live in the castle but on a beautiful farm outside the city. I arrive at his house as the first orange rays of the sun are appearing on the horizon. Only then do I realize it's definitely too early for a visit. I spent the whole week worrying about this, and I barely slept last night. Being here is all I need, and I didn't think it through.

Draven and Lucy's house is large, with plants and flowers in some areas. It looks like a very happy home. There's a swing on a big tree in the yard, and I sit on it to wait for the day to settle.

Some women walk by, probably working on the property. But no one approaches, and I feel a bit anxious. Draven is a warrior, shouldn't he be up before dawn?

"You know, you're becoming more like Twyla every day," I hear Draven's voice behind me. He is still adjusting his black clothes, which I recognize as council attire. "She tends to show up during the night and hang around the property like a bat or something."

I adjust my shawl, indignant.

"I'm not a bat or anything like that. I needed to talk to you, but I didn't think a king's warrior would get up so late."

"Well, I am a warrior. But I'm also a prince. It's important to know how to balance," he smiled charmingly. Just as handsome as Soren.

He led me inside to the bountiful breakfast table. I tried to refuse, eager to talk about what brought me there, but Lucy and Draven insisted that I eat first.

Lucy is a charming young woman with olive skin and light brown eyes, and they make an attractive couple. She is as cheerful and playful as Draven, and I imagine they are very happy together.

When Draven finally invites me to the library, I follow him quickly.

As I recount what I heard, I fear I'm being childish. Maybe it's not important, and I might be bothering Draven with nonsense.

But he seems interested. He asks me many questions, and I try to answer them. The conversation between Rowan and Yvonne lasted only a few seconds, but Draven extracts every detail of what I saw and heard.

"This is excellent, Thalassa. Thank you."

"Really?" I feel a bit confused; I told him everything, but he didn't share his impressions with me. "What do you think is going on, Draven?"

He sighs and looks at the ceiling.

"I can't tell you much, but I think great things are coming. And Thalassa," he looked me straight in the eyes, "don't tell anyone about this."

I agreed, feeling strange.

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The night to meet Ycarus for dinner arrived. I hadn't thought much about it in the previous days, but today I'm slightly anxious. It's my first date, and he's a nice guy. The truth is that part of me wanted to tell Soren about it. But he's practically committed to someone else. Seeing other possibilities is good for me.

I leave in the late afternoon, driving the carriage alone with two beautiful winged horses. The approaching autumn makes the sunset sky red. Ycarus lives in one of the most charming regions of Eldoria. His house is on a hill, with a beautiful view of the forest. There are candles floating in glass domes throughout the garden, the house has no walls, and the yard merges with the woods. It's not a big house, but it gives me a feeling of comfort, everything a home should be. I approach and see a fire pit lit, with chairs around it. A table is set in the garden, probably where we will have dinner.

But there is a strange silence. I can't perceive any movement in the house. I wait a bit, but I feel a strange chill. Ycarus is cheerful and noisy, always laughing and moving around. The kitchen door is open, and I peek inside, feeling my stomach sink. There is food scattered on the floor and walls, broken glass, and things thrown around.

I run away. I need help but don't have the courage to call the neighbors. I return to the carriage and drive back quickly, needing Twyla, Draven, or anyone I trust.

I'm already far away when it occurs to me that Ycarus might be home, might have had an accident while cooking. Maybe he's injured, and instead of helping him, I ran to the castle. But the feeling I had there was so bad, as if something terrible had happened.

I see Twyla from afar; she is wearing a dusty travel cloak.

"Twyla!" I shout from a distance. She turns to me. "I need help! I think Ycarus needs help!" I realize from my voice that I'm almost crying.

"You think? Why do you think that?" She extends her arms and looks me over for injuries.

I tell her what I saw, and she asks for details. I feel much better when I realize she is taking me seriously. I try to explain the sense of danger I had at Ycarus' house.

"Never distrust your intuition." She takes me back to the carriage, and soon Einar joins us. I have no idea how Twyla summoned him. On the way, I repeat everything to him.

Hours later, Ycarus' house has been searched, and no sign of him was found. Aria and Phyrus are here, as well as Draven, and they all seem worried, even though some didn't even know Ycarus.

"There are clear signs of a struggle; someone invaded the house, and Ycarus resisted," Phyrus concludes.

They are gathered in a circle in the yard, and I just sit nearby. It hurts to imagine what might have happened to him.

"We need to know if he had enemies or something like that," Draven suggests.

"I don't think so. Ycarus has no family, and as far as we know, he can get along with anyone," Aria states, and Phyrus nods in agreement.

"We will find out what happened," Twyla assures me. "We will do everything to bring your friend back."

I feel even worse because something tells me that what happened to Ycarus is related to me.