Chapter 19

Abigail

The next morning, we all gathered around a small cooking fire and discussed what had happened. Aryk wanted to give us a chance to talk about what happened. He went first.

“My worst nightmare was losing all of you and causing pain to the Queen. Sarah has put a good deal of trust in me to keep you all safe. My biggest fear is disappointing my old friend.” Cat looked at him with pity in her eyes. She reached over and gave him an awkward hug, made even more awkward by his pat on her head. He would not say any more, even though the whole thing was his idea.

Cat went next. “We had reached my father, but he had been corrupted already, and I couldn’t save him. I had to leave him behind. He left me to fight the monsters on my own.” Rose put her hand on Cat’s shoulder and Cat looked at her gratefully.

On his turn, Thomas said, “I was trapped in a coffin, buried alive. None of you could hear me screaming.” I reached over and patted his arm, and he smiled at the acknowledgment.

I