Chapter 28: Andromeda

Andromeda squinted at the sunlight as she tried to open her eyes, her body sore and sluggish.

Another day of waking up in pain, she thought bitterly.

She rubbed her weary eyes, the world a blur around her. Her arms and feet throbbed with every heartbeat, and her head pounded along with it. Bracing herself, she pushed her arms against the floor and began to sit up, letting out a low groan.

“Here, let me help you,” said a deep voice, hands wrapping around her arm and back. Her tangled hair shifted behind her as she felt the person brush it away.

At their touch, the memory of Branan’s grip immediately resurfaced, and Andromeda panicked, her breath quickening as she began to move away.

No. Not him. Not again!

“Woah! Hey, you’re fine. You’re not in any danger,” said the same voice, struggling to calm her down.

Andromeda shook her head, trying to clear her vision.

It’s all right. I’m not there anymore. I’m not with him.

With short breaths, she tried to relax her stiff body, the cool touch of the person disappearing as she fully sat up. Her mind raced, her thoughts entwined in a tangled mess.

What happened, what happened, what happened…

“Uh, Astrid and Eclipse aren’t back with the remedy yet. Would you like some water?”

Clutching her head, Andromeda willed her vision to finally focus. She was in…a forest? She registered the trees around her, before looking down at her body. Angry welts stood out on her arms, and her hair, caught in knots, hung down her chest. A thin blanket lay across the grass beneath her, her legs covered by another sheet. She was still in the wretched nightgown, a rip in the fabric at her shoulder. It appeared to be well into the afternoon, the leaves filtering the rays of the summer sun.

Looking over to her left, she flinched, met by a broad-shouldered young man sitting next to her on a log. He held a flask in his hands, tentatively stretched towards her. A cluster of arrows were sprawled at his side, a blade for sharpening next to them.

She stared at him, faintly registering his face. He had been with the two other girls, the ones who had saved her from Branan. The last thing she remembered was that they had been standing in the tavern hallway…before something had happened. There was another man, one who had appeared out of nowhere. And a loud shout. And—

“I promise, it’s only water, really,” the boy said quietly, interrupting her thoughts.

She swallowed, her throat painfully dry. Still staring at him uneasily, she slowly grabbed the flask from his hands, the top already unscrewed. Gripping it tightly, she took in small sips, relishing the sensation of the cold water.

The boy leaned back. He silently watched her drink, nervously running a hand through his hair, a curly mess of auburn locks. Slowly tightening the cap back on the flask, Andromeda gently set it down between them, letting out a small cough.

“Are you…” he started, before hesitating. “How are you feeling?”

She watched him warily, squinting at details of his face. He had close-set, dark brown eyes, framed with thick eyebrows. With a mostly round face and a strong jaw, he had fair skin that contrasted his bright curls.

“Awful,” she said with a crack in her voice.

He dropped his head in his hands, letting out a defeated laugh. “Sorry, that was a stupid question…”

Andromeda stayed quiet, observing him curiously. He looked to be near her age, maybe a little older. He wore a grey shirt of shorter sleeves, leaving his lean arms exposed. Black pants were tucked into a scuffed pair of leather boots. A sheath was strapped at his hip, and Andromeda took a breath at the sight of it. He didn’t seem too threatening…yet.

“Well, I guess it might be awhile before we get the Rebecin,” he said before standing up. He walked over to the log next to them, cloths and sacks thrown across it. As Andromeda glanced around, she saw more bags of supplies lined up by the large logs. Weapons and sealed food sat in piles, arrows and knives and swords in an array. A soft neigh sounded from behind her, and she turned to see a golden horse tied to a tree nearby, grazing along the soft grass.

She watched his back as the boy bent down, digging into one of the sacks.

Those…those were hanging against the horse I was on.

The pounding of hooves replayed in her mind, and the foggy image of a platinum-haired girl who had led her away appeared. Andromeda had ridden with her, that was right…

No matter how hard she searched her brain, she couldn’t dig out anything else.

“Do you think you could eat something?”

Andromeda snapped back to the boy, who was standing where he was rummaging before. Each of his hands clasped something wrapped with brown paper.

“Where…where are the other two? There were more of you, weren’t there?” she asked hesitantly.

The boy walked next to her, and she leaned back slightly as he sat down. Unwrapping the items in his hands, he placed a pile of dried fruit in front of Andromeda, keeping a bundle for himself to the side. He glanced up at her again, his dark brown eyes soft with sympathy.

“Like I said, they went to Aldebaran to get medicine for you. You have a severe fever, and the sores on your arms and legs need to be treated immediately.”

A shiver ran down her spine. Andromeda stared at the pile of fruit, contemplating if she should take some. She watched as the boy popped a piece in his mouth.

“What happened? Where are we?”

“After the…encounter we had in Secanth, we had to leave right away. You rode with Astrid, though I’m not sure if you remember. We’re in the forests of Ealis.”

“Ealis?” she asked.

“An hour’s ride from Aldebaran.”

She sighed. Still not any closer to home.

“Astrid…she is the one with the silver hair, right?”

The boy nodded as he chewed. “Eclipse is the other one, with the black hair. She’s the one who got you out of the tavern. Though I warn you, she can be a little impulsive at times.”

“Thank the stars for that, or I would be in a very different state,” she said, her mind struggling not to think of what could have happened. Branan’s agonizing grip was still a fresh memory.

Andromeda glanced down. She surveyed her arms, the scratches from her dream swollen. The pounding in her head had reduced a little, but her body was tired and beaten. Grabbing a few pieces of the dried fruit, she bitterly bit a corner of a strawberry.

The boy finished his food and grabbed an arrow from the pile next to him. He took the small blade and began to sharpen them, keeping his eyes low.

A silence filled the clearing, the hiss of the blade amplified.

“Can I ask…where are you from?”

Andromeda froze, her mind racing to respond.

“Sorry if I seem intrusive,” he said sheepishly. “I’m just wondering how you got in that tavern in the first place.”

“Me too…” she muttered.

He titled his head in confusion, still not looking up. Andromeda’s eyes widened as she realized what she said.

“Sorry, that wasn’t helpful.” She let out a sigh, making up her mind. “I’m from the Aquae Court. You know, by the sea.”

The boy’s eyebrows raised. “The Aquae Court? Then what were you doing in Secanth?”

“That’s…a long story.”

He nodded, his eyes still focused on the arrowhead.

“Thank you. For rescuing me,” she whispered, the words slipping out from her mouth.

Glancing up in surprise, the boy stared at her before looking away nervously.

“You’re…welcome,” he replied. “Though, Eclipse is the one you should thank, once she gets here of course.”

Andromeda shifted, her legs brushing against the thin blanket. “Now can I ask, what were you doing in Secanth?” She had found them in an inn, so they couldn’t have lived nearby.

“We’re travelers,” he said plainly.

Andromeda frowned. “Why were you chased out then? I’m sure that doesn’t happen to simple travelers.”

The boy pursed his lips, pausing on his task. He stayed quiet for a few moments, before letting out a breath. His dark eyes looked up, meeting her own.

“Eclipse and I, we’re sort of…popular at the moment,” he said as he began to sharpen his arrow again. Looking back at Andromeda, he paused before continuing. “See, it’s a complicated situation, but to put it simply, I was accused of owning Silmorite.”

Her eyes widened, taking in a sharp breath.

“No, no, I don’t have any, I swear. They—the Terris Court Guards—somehow found a sample in my chambers and planned to arrest me. So I ran.”

“You ran? How did you run from guards?”

“My Gift is Speed,” he replied with a shrug. “And I was supposed to be a guard as well. I know how they operate, how to avoid them.”

Andromeda listened, her curiosity growing by the moment. “How did you end up with those girls then, Astrid and…Eclipse?”

“Well, Astrid helped me escape. We made a bargain, and her end is to help me clear my name.” The boy frowned as he grabbed another arrow. “I’m just not sure how yet, and she has other concerns at the moment. Eclipse joined us afterwards.”

“So you plan to return to the Terris Court once your name is cleared?”

A breath. “I…I think so.”

Andromeda adjusted her place, wincing as she moved her legs.

“Can you stand up?” he asked, his brow creasing.

Glancing at her feet, she shook her head. “Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh. All right.”

“Why…why are you hesitant to go back? You get to be a guard, isn’t that a great honor?”

“Because, well…” He dropped his arrow, leaning back on his hands with a frustrated sigh, his eyes gazing upward. “Stars, I haven’t talked to anyone about this.”

Andromeda gave him a half shrug. “I’m willing to listen.”

He looked back down to her, hesitation in his eyes. “As I said before, Astrid has…other concerns. I’m not sure how engaged you are in politics, but you must know of the tensions between the Courts? Well, Astrid thinks a civil war is about to arise from those tensions.”

“A war?” Andromeda said with a hitched breath. Everyone in Ophelia knew of the tensions in their government, but she had never thought they would spiral so far.

Then again, nobody expected a raid in the capital city either.

Antares nodded before continuing. “Astrid has plans, plans to stop this war from escalating further. You may not know this, but it has already begun. That raid in Aldebaran? It wasn’t a simple bandit raid…those warriors were equipped with Silmorite, and Astrid says that they were employed by a secret faction of the Ash Court. Eclipse joined her because she wanted to help stop them.”

Andromeda looked at him with confusion, unsure how all of this fit.

“Just…it’s just complicated. I wasn’t planning to stay this long or get this involved. My focus is shifting from getting home to…to I don’t know what. All I know is the life of a guard and well…” He trailed off, struggling with his words as he still stared up at the sky.

“Is there…something for you back home? Anything worth going back to?” Andromeda asked softly.

“No. Yes? Not exactly. My father…he’s the captain. Of the Terris Guard. I have older brothers too. And a mother.”

The boy went quiet after that, letting out another frustrated breath. He shook his head. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t be telling you about any of that when you’ve just woken up sick. I’m…not very good with words. Unless they’re on paper.”

“On paper?”

He nodded. “In writing. I find it…easier.”

Although her thoughts were spinning furiously, Andromeda cracked a small smile. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”

He looked at her with surprise, his eyes wide. He sat straight again, removing his hands from the floor.

“It’s…Andromeda, right?” he asked.

She nodded. “And you?”

“Antares.”

“Antares,” she repeated. “It’s nice to meet you.”

A small smile grew on his face. “Likewise.”

He picked his arrow and blade back up, his hands looking for something to do. She watched him slide the blade quickly against the head, inspecting its sharpness.

“I washed up on the shores of Secanth. That’s how I got there,” she said quietly, still staring at the arrowhead.

Antares paused, regarding her curiously.

“I’m a Breather. I went for a swim one night, like I normally do, except this time, I was at sea for almost two days. That’s how I drifted so far from the Aquae Court. I woke up sick, hurt, and dazed. I needed a place to stay, so I went to the inn. And then suddenly, I was in the clutches of that man. I remember him grabbing my arm and the sour smell of his breath.” She spoke gently, the weight in her chest heavy. She rubbed her birthmark at her wrist.

“How is that possible?”

“I’ve been constantly asking myself that question. Like I said, I was out swimming and then I…I blacked out.”

“Did something attack you?”

She shook her head, her eyes still pinned to the arrow in his hands. “Only my mind did.”

Andromeda took a deep breath. She hadn’t told anyone of her plight, and she still didn’t know who she could trust. Yet something about Antares was…alluring. Comforting. He had trusted her with his own conflicting thoughts, even if they were…unclear, so perhaps she could do the same with him.

“I have these…dreams,” she explained with a sigh. “Really strange ones. And not the kind you normally have when you sleep. I could drop half dead at any moment to…experience one. Sometimes I can move around in them, explore. Sometimes I can only sit and watch. But every single time, it’s impossible to wake myself up until it lets me, and I know next to nothing about why I have these dreams in the first place. What they’re trying to tell me. My mother is the only one I’ve told, and she’s tried and tried, but no matter which Healer or doctor she talks to, no one has found a way to stop them.”

Finally, she forced herself to look up at him. She expected disbelief, amusement, maybe even laughter. Instead, Antares’ eyes held a hint of sympathy.

“That sounds terrifying,” he said.

Andromeda blinked, caught off guard.

“It…it honestly is. And it’s so much more difficult, not knowing who to trust with this secret. How they would react. What they would do to me if they found out.”

“But you trust me?” he asked with a hint of uncertainty.

“I do,” she said with a small smile.

They sat quietly in the serene forest, Andromeda’s thoughts filling her head. A cool breeze came through the trees, rustling the leaves. She shivered again, wrapping her arms tighter around herself.

It’s still so cold.

Antares caught her shaking, and immediately sprang up from his spot, striding over to his belongings. Swiping a folded bundle of cloth, he brought it over and sat down again, unraveling it before her.

“Here, that fever seems to be a bad one.”

Andromeda stared at the cloak in his hands, her jaw dropping in alarm.

No. It can’t be. It’s impossible.

The dark, grey and silver wool, the heavy collar. It was no mistake.

It’s the same one I wrapped myself with in my dream.

Antares tentatively unlatched the neck piece, throwing it over her head and behind her. He wrapped it around her shoulders before sitting back, noticing her stunned look.

“Oh, um, it’s mine, don’t worry.”

Andromeda slightly shook her head, willing her face to mold back into a neutral one. “Right. Thank you.”

It even feels the same.

Antares nodded, focusing on the new arrow he had picked up. As he worked, Andromeda gently pulled the cloak tighter around her, her heart racing underneath.

They stayed that way, Antares working and Andromeda watching, the cloak a familiar yet foreign presence around her.

✦✦✦

Andromeda shifted on the rough log, careful to hold her hot bowl of soup at a safe distance.

The fire of the camp danced in the night, and she felt its warmth melt into her chilled body. Her fever had improved after taking the Rebecin a few hours ago, but there were still traces of her sickness lingering. At least her headache had mostly subdued. She took a sip of her stew, letting the hot, comforting liquid run down her throat.

Her arms were wrapped with tight bandages, the stinging pain of the disinfectant nagging in her memories. The bottom of her feet were treated as well, covered by worn leather shoes. She was finally out of that horrid nightgown, and was changed into a bundle of simple clothes. A plain, cotton shirt, and thin, baggy pants, all covered by Antares’ cloak. She shivered underneath the warm wool, yet she was grateful for the clean garments, no matter how plain they were.

As the burning sensation lingered on her tongue, Andromeda looked out towards the people that surrounded her, the people who had taken her in. Finally able to think clearly, she studied each of them with curious eyes.

The white-haired one, who seemed to be the leader of the group, was attending to the fire, the pot of soup boiling over it. Astrid, Antares said her name was. Andromeda’s eyes drifted over to her new friend, if she could call him that, who sat across the fire from her. His gaze was stuck on the bright flames, his mind clearly elsewhere.

To the right of him sat the familiar, dark-haired girl, who was re-braiding her hair. Although her memory of the night before was nothing but a blur, Andromeda could clearly remember the girl’s face. The way she had dragged her away from Branan at the tavern, her consoling voice as she tried to comfort her, her cool hand pressing to her cheek.

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Antares said her name was…Eclipse?

Andromeda watched as the girl talked with the scrawny boy at her side. Another girl sat beside him, her dark, silky hair contrasting her pale skin and framing her gold eyes that seemed to glow by the flames. Although she couldn’t remember much, she suspected the pair was new. She didn’t remember seeing them the night before, and they seemed to be just as confused as she was with their surroundings.

Andromeda took another sip of her soup, drinking its thin waters. Her stomach had calmed down, and she hoped to finish the bowl without getting nauseous again. It wasn’t as flavorful as the soups her mother would make, but she was still grateful for it. She needed her strength if she was going to get back home, back to her mum.

Her eyes were drawn to the sky above her, a sea of dark clouds masking the starry night sky. The shadows of branches gently swayed as the silhouette of a small bird flew by overhead.

“Did the Rebecin work?” the familiar girl, Eclipse, asked. She appeared before Andromeda, a bowl of soup in her hand. Andromeda snapped out of her trance and lowered her head to meet Eclipse’s eyes.

“Yes, I feel slightly better now. Just need some more rest.”

Eclipse sat down next to her, planting the bowl in her lap. “I don’t think I’ve introduced myself. My name is Eclipse.”

Andromeda shuffled to make room for her. “I know. Antares told me about you.”

Eclipse took a sip of her soup, an eyebrow raising over the rim. “What did he say?”

“That you had black hair. And that you could be impulsive.”

She glanced at him. “Well, he’s not wrong.”

Andromeda smiled at the comment, before Eclipse began to speak again. “Might I ask, where are you from? You seemed so lost in Secanth, and not just from your fever.”

“I live in the Aquae Court, the northern end. And I need to get back there soon, I’ve left my mother all alone to worry.”

“The Aquae Court?” Eclipse asked with surprise. “How did you get all the way to Secanth? You must have gotten incredibly lost.”

“Something like that…” Andromeda said, trailing off. She held her tongue, still unwilling to reveal why she had gotten there in the first place. Eclipse was still a stranger after all.

Eclipse suddenly set down her bowl. “Turn around.”

“What? Why?”

She clicked her tongue, giving Andromeda a smile. “Your hair is a mess. Let me comb it for you.”

“Oh. All right.” She hadn’t even thought about her hair. Eclipse dug through her pockets, pulling out a small wooden comb.

“Do you always have a comb in your pocket?” Andromeda asked humorously.

Eclipse laughed. “Of course not. I was just fixing my hair a moment ago. Although now that you mention it, that doesn’t seem like a bad idea. You never know when you might need one.”

Turning in her seat, she felt the comb begin to run through her long hair, tugging at its knotted strands.

“So, how did you become part of…all this?” Andromeda asked, trying to keep the conversation away from her. Antares had told her Eclipse had joined them, but not much else.

“Well, it was actually only a few days ago. The solstice. That’s when I met Astrid and Antares. It’s very complicated, but they basically broke into my house on a mission. You see, I’m the daughter of Councilman Soleil and—”

“Wait, Councilman Soleil? Of the Ash Court?”

“Yes, yes. Unimportant. Anyway, they told me of their mission to stop a brewing civil war between the Courts, and I jumped in at the chance to join. I knew something was going on, I mean, how could I not? It was my own Court. I know, it doesn’t sound like the smartest decision, them being strangers and all, but I came prepared. Persuasion is a rather useful method of defense. Just threaten them once and they won’t lay a finger on you.”

She brushed one section of hair to the side, working on another set.

Andromeda blinked, staring at the forest to the side of her. “So you ran away from home? Just like that?”

Eclipse pulled hard on a knot, letting out a breath. “Yes, actually. I’m surprised you haven’t seen a poster of me yet. Though, even if you did, I wouldn’t blame you for not recognizing my face,” she said, Andromeda slightly uncertain of what she meant.

“What about your parents? Don’t you think they’re worried?”

“Oh, believe me, they always have something more important to worry about. I’d think my mother is trying to fix her reputation at the moment. Did I mention I completely exposed them before I left? Them and the entirety of their stupid Court.” Eclipse let out a short laugh. “You should have seen their faces.” Her fingers brushed against Andromeda’s scalp, running down to the ends.

“Anyhow, you must think I’m talking nonsense. The point being, I’m here now because I’d prefer to spend my life taking down those who wish to divide us instead of sitting on my ass at home in a corrupt Court with parents who are slaves to it.”

“That sounds…” Andromeda started, before realizing she was at a loss for words. They did seem to have a noble cause, but she couldn’t wrap her mind around the idea of leaving home, and everything she knew, for some dangerous missions.

“It sounds a little mad, I know.” Eclipse gathered her hair and hung it down her back. “There, done. It looks beautiful.”

“Thank you,” murmured Andromeda, moving back into her seat. She brushed a hand over it, surprised at how well Eclipse had worked at it.

Looking back to the group, she noticed the new pair talking quietly between themselves. She blinked and leaned slightly over to Eclipse.

“Can I ask who they are? I don’t remember them from last night.”

Eclipse let out a huff. “Well…that's Arcturus. He insisted on coming along when we went to buy your Rebecin. He also insisted on bringing his friend.”

Andromeda tilted her head at Eclipse's tone. “Did you want them to come along?”

“Not exactly…” she responded, trailing off. Her face was stuck in thought as she studied the pair.

“Uh…hello,” the boy said after a moment, giving a small wave to Andromeda. She timidly waved back.

“This is Andromeda,” Eclipse crisply stated, sitting up straighter. “We found her lost in Secanth with a fever, that’s why we needed the Rebecin. She should be going home soon. Back to…to the Aquae Court, was it?”

“Yes,” she answered, the thoughts of the familiar beaches and seaside markets flooding back to her.

“Eclipse!” Astrid’s voice echoed from behind the camp. “Where did you put the rest of the bowls?”

“In that bag. Right by your foot,” she called back.

“Well, it’s not in here!”

Eclipse rolled her eyes, pushing herself up to her feet with a sigh. Andromeda watched as she walked towards Astrid, leaving her behind on the log.

“So you live by the sea? That sounds nice,” Arcturus said, sparking a conversation. “Cassiopeia and I live in Aldebaran. Well, we used to, I guess. Though, I’m not sure where we live now.” He gazed around the forest.

Cassiopeia? So that’s her name…

“Did you work there as well?” she asked.

Cassiopeia nodded. “I’m a tailor, Arcturus is an apothecary.”

Andromeda rubbed at an itch under her bandages, a question on her lips.

“Can I ask…why did you join the others?”

“Well, I actually worked at the apothecary that Astrid and Eclipse visited. They came in requesting some items, and I happened to recognize Eclipse. I knew her from before, you see, and it was…surprising to see her just strolling through the shop, considering the kingdom thinks she was abducted.”

“You knew her from before?” Cassiopeia interrupted, turning her head sharply to him. “How?”

“Uh…she is—was—a regular customer. And…and she might have seen me cause an explosion of Esreveet leaves.” He said the second part in a mumble.

“What?”

“Not important,” he rushed, his cheeks turning pink. “Anyway, she explained to me why she had run away, and why she had joined Astrid. That’s when I knew I had to help, in some way.” He took a glance at Eclipse, who was still with Astrid. “Although it took some…convincing. And Cassiopeia is my best friend, I couldn’t leave her behind, not when I was certain she’d want to come along. So I asked her to join me, and here we are.”

“Mmm, slightly inaccurate,” Cassiopeia cut in. “I came along so that Arcturus here doesn’t get himself killed. In case you haven’t noticed, he’s a little too naive to survive on his own.” Arcturus glared at her as she snickered.

“Can I ask what your Gifts are, then?” asked Antares, who had been quietly observing.

“Levitation,” replied Acturus. “And she can Read.”

“Forgive me if I seem intrusive,” Andromeda started, bringing the attention of the group back to her. “But how could you just run away like that? Leaving behind your family, your responsibilities. From what I’ve seen of the world, it's a dangerous, frightening place, and I’ve only been out on my own for one day. I’m sorry, but I just can’t wrap my head around it.”

Arcturus let out a quiet breath, exchanging a glance with Cassiopeia. “Well, you see…we had a friend, and…” He stopped, unable to string his words together. The clearing was quiet, until Cassiopeia placed a hand on his back, opening her mouth to speak instead.

“Our friend was murdered by one of those raiders. The raiders who had Silmorite with them. The ones trying to incite this war.”

Oh stars.

Arcturus nodded, his face dull even by the light of the fire. “And now we have a chance to avenge him, as well as protect anyone else we love from these killers. How could we not take it?”

Andromeda’s eyes dropped. “I’m…so sorry. I had no idea.”

An uncomfortable silence befell them, Andromeda looking down into the bowl at her lap, unsure of what else to say.

From the corner of her eye, Astrid appeared with her own bowl in her hands, Eclipse following.

“What’s going on here? Telling origin stories?” Astrid asked.

“Apparently, yes,” Arcturus replied, traces of his sorrow masked under his bright voice.

“I’m sure everyone here knows my story,” Eclipse said as she dropped down next to Andromeda, leaning back on her arms.

“How could we not? You’ve only narrated it about twenty times today,” Astrid muttered, sitting down next to Antares after filling her bowl from the pot.

“I’m just making sure we’re all acquainted. What’s so bad about that?” Eclipse shrugged. “Come to think of it, I don’t seem to know much about your own past, Astrid. How about you have a turn?”

Astrid stared at her with cold, blue eyes. “Antares can go first. I’m sure his story is much more interesting than mine.”

“We all know about Antares. He’s a fugitive, yet he insists he’s innocent—”

Arcturus balked. “You’re the wanted guard?”

Antares let out a long exhale. “Yes, but I am innocent.”

Astrid looked away, her lips pursed. Her eyes landed on Andromeda, her eyebrows slightly raising.

“How about Andromeda takes a turn? I’d like to know how the hell she ended up in Secanth.”

Andromeda froze.

“She got lost,” Eclipse said, impatience lacing her voice.

“Mhmm. And how did that happen? I’m genuinely curious.” Tilting her bowl back, she swallowed her soup as she waited.

Everyone’s eyes were on Andromeda, her stomach dropping. How was she going to tell them she blacked out without leading to the question of how? What’s to say this group of strangers would treat her normally if she told them? Stars knew the amount of backlash she and her mother received for telling medics, how would this be any different?

Andromeda took a deep breath, pulling the cloak together around her, and told them her story. About being knocked unconscious in the sea, about being washed up on the shore, about wandering around the town, looking for any source of help.

And just as she had predicted, there came the questions.

“How did you black out in the sea?” Arcturus asked, everyone else nodding in agreement.

Everyone except…

She glanced at Antares, his eyes filled with a knowing look. She sat there in silence, unable to respond to the question. The fire crackled as she stared at it, trying to find a way to avoid answering. Yet when she looked back up, Antares sent her a look of reassurance across the fire.

It’ll be fine. You can trust them, he seemed to say.

Andromeda knew she would have to tell them sooner or later. She was vulnerable to collapse at any moment. The dreams were becoming more and more frequent, and it would be impossible for them not to witness it at some point.

She told them the truth. The same truth she dreaded to explain. The same truth she experienced so many times, yet still knew nothing of. The same truth that she had suffered through for weeks now. She refused to leave her own house, in fear of what would happen if the world knew.

As she spoke, she hesitantly watched their faces change. They looked at her with confusion, maybe even some disbelief. Yet she forced herself to finish, swallowing hard as the clearing became quiet again.

“So these dreams you’re talking about, they just happen? No warning, nothing to trigger it?” asked Cassiopeia skeptically.

Staying silent, Andromeda nodded.

“I’ve never heard anything like this before,” murmured Arcturus, his face stuck in thought.

Glancing around, she noticed Astrid staring at her, her face unreadable before looking away. Her heart skipped a beat, unsure of what to make of it.

Eclipse finished the last of her stew, dropping the bowl on the ground.

“Well, that makes my story sound so much more boring now.”

Antares cocked his head to the side. “You made yours boring when you kept repeating it.”

Eclipse let out a huff, Antares chuckling. She turned to Andromeda. “Thank you for telling us. That honestly sounds awful, and it's terrifying to not have any idea why it happens. But I hope you find your answers one day.”

Andromeda opened her mouth, astonishment flooding through her. She definitely hadn’t expected that. Yet with the surprise came relief, sweet relief at her response. She looked back at the group, who nodded slightly with Eclipse’s statement. Andromeda smiled, glancing back at Antares with gratitude.

Thank you, she tried to convey.

“Your turn, Astrid,” Eclipse said with a ringing voice. “Now spill.”

Astrid let out a defeated sigh. “All right,” she started, looking out at the group. “What do you want to know?”

“Well for one thing, what sign are you? You haven’t even used your Gift in front of us yet,” demanded Eclipse.

Astrid stared at her impassively, before her eyes dropped to the ground. “I… well, technically…I was born under the Lion.”

“So you have Persuasion? That’s pretty useful,” Antares said beside her.

“Yes…and no,” she replied, Andromeda’s eyes narrowing in confusion. The rest of them gazed at Astrid as well, perplexed.

“I should have Persuasion, being born under the Lion and all…but I don’t. See, my Gift isn’t strong…at all.”

“So you’re a Vacant?” Cassiopeia asked hesitantly.

“I hate that word,” muttered Astrid, before cracking half a smile. “But yes, I am. I know, it isn’t something most people would be proud of, but I’ve learned to accept it. And it’s why you haven’t seen me use my Gift, Eclipse.”

“What about your family?” Eclipse interjected, her voice loud. “You’re a runaway like us, didn’t you have to leave them behind? And where are you even from?”

“Wow. So many questions.”

“Sorry, but I know almost nothing about you. If I’m going to stay and help, might as well know who I’m working with,” she said with a shrug.

Astrid shifted, letting out a sigh. “I was raised in Persephin, in the very south.”

“Persephin…” Andromeda mused. “Like the Persephin Wall?”

She nodded. “It was lonely and quiet down at the border of Bathaar. Many children were curious as to what lay beyond the walls, but our elders always told us never to worry about it. That all we would find is war-ravaged desolation.”

Andromeda blinked. The Persephin Wall had undergone construction all throughout Andie's life—she wasn't even certain if they had finished it yet. Everyone in Ophelia knew about the wall and the budget conflicts and controversies that had emerged from its existence. Though she had never visited the southern border of her kingdom, she was interested in what she would find there.

Astrid continued. “My mother died when I was very young, I don’t have a single memory of her. And my father…well, he mourned her often. But he was also a skilled warrior.”

“A guard?” Antares asked.

“No—just well trained.” She looked down, her voice heavy. “He was the one who trained me. Taught me everything I know. I never thought I was actually going to need my training, I mean, how dangerous could the world be? But then my father discovered something, something he shouldn’t have.”

She paused for a moment, everyone dead silent.

“Apparently, my mother…she was killed by the early members of the Ember Legion.”

“Woah, hang on! ‘Early members?’” Eclipse interrupted.

Astrid glared at her. “They aren’t new, Princess. They’ve been around for a while now. The only reason you, a rich court lady, know about them now is because they’ve started to gain considerable strength.”

“Right…” Eclipse said, her voice lowered as she thought. “So your mother was killed by those bastards…why?”

“I…I actually don’t know. My father never told me—I’m not even sure if he knew himself. All he knew was that it was the Legion that did it. And that information was enough for them to come after him.”

“And…did they?” Arcturus hesitantly asked.

Astrid looked to him. “They did. I was able to escape, but I have no idea what has become of my father. To this day, I still don’t know what they had against my parents. Why they would want them at all. I’ve tried and tried, spying and infiltrating possible sites for their plans, but I found nothing. Nothing to suggest any of their motives against my mother and father. You could say this led to a spark in my goals. A mission of my own.”

“To stop the war?” Antares guessed.

Astrid nodded. “When they came for my father, I was trapped in the house with him. I remember the shattering of our windows, the yells of those beasts. They attacked, too many for my father to handle. Somehow, we managed to run to the end of the house, slamming the door behind us. There was a window I could escape from, but my father was too weak. He told me to leave him, that I had no choice.” Astrid paused and swallowed. “He whispered something to me before I ran. Only one wish: to destroy them, if it was the last thing I did.”

Her voice fell, leaving the heavy atmosphere silent. Andromeda was at a loss for words, despite having only known Astrid for a day.

“I’m…sorry, Astrid,” Eclipse finally said. “I wouldn’t have pressured you if I had known how painful it was.”

Astrid managed to let out a small chuckle. “Well, that’s enough storytelling for tonight, don’t you think? We should get some rest now…you three are in for an intense day of training tomorrow.”

“Training?” Cassiopeia questioned.

“You think I’m going to let you go on a mission with no knowledge of how to wield a sword? That would be both immoral and completely stupid of me.” Astrid got up from her seat, striding towards one of the bulging sacks stuffed with blankets. “Now, who’s on guard duty?”

“I nominate Antares for first shift!” Eclipse suddenly announced.

“Hey! You know I hate first shift.”

She snickered. “Precisely.”

“I’ll do it then, you morons,” Astrid sneered with a roll of her eyes, before turning to Andromeda, her voice softening. “And you, Andromeda. Do you feel well enough to travel tomorrow?”

She nodded. “I’ll need to rest for tonight, but I’m sure I’ll feel fine by the morning. That Rebecin really is effective.”

Astrid smiled as she dug through the sack, pulling out bundles of cloths and cloaks. She handed a few of them to Arcturus and Cassiopeia, Eclipse getting up and working to put out the campfire.

“But I was wondering,” Andromeda started, “how am I going to get back? I have no money, no transport, nothing.”

“Don’t worry about that,” said Astrid, taking a sip of water from a canteen. “The Aquae Court isn’t that far. One of us can take you on horseback.”

“I can do it.” Antares casually offered as he rolled his blanket onto the ground.

“Ooh. Look at that…” Eclipse said with a smirk. “Antares being a gentleman,” She nudged Antares’ shoulder as she walked by. Andromeda’s face began to warm.

“I was only offering to help? I don’t see you doing that.” He threw a rolled blanket at Eclipse, who shot him a snarky look in response as she caught it.

“I was going to volunteer our Princess over here myself, but then I realized that wouldn’t be the smartest decision,” Astrid said.

“Quit calling me that!” Eclipse shot from a good distance away.

Astrid crouched down next to Andromeda, ignoring Eclipse behind her. “Besides their obvious stupidity, these two both have a fine price on their heads, and would only slow you down if they came along. It seems I would be the best choice to take you home.”

“Fine by me,” Andromeda said with a smile.

Astrid stood up off her knees, handing Andromeda a blanket.

“Now get some sleep. We’ve got quite a journey ahead of us.”

✦✦✦

The night was peaceful and silent, the dreams not bothering to plague her as she slept.

“Hey. Andromeda. Come on, wake up. Andromeda!”

Andromeda’s eyes flew open and she bolted upright, letting out a sharp hiss at her wrapped arms.

“Shh, stay quiet, it’s only me.”

It was pitch black, the sky dotted with stars disappearing and reappearing through the moving leaves. The clouds from earlier must have floated away, making room for the stars to shine. Her eyes adjusted to the dark to see Astrid sitting before her, her silver hair almost glowing in the moonlight. Behind her was everyone else, spread out around the dead fire. Small snores and shuffles came from the group.

“Astrid? What is it?” she whispered, rubbing her eyes.

“You mentioned your dreams earlier, right?”

Andromeda stilled, her mind already beginning to race, the stress breaking through the sleepiness.

Bad idea. It was a bad idea to tell them.

“Look, I think I can help you with that,” she whispered.

“What?”

Astrid stuck her hand in her pocket and pulled out a glass vial, Andromeda barely making out the light, cloudy mixture within it.

“The dreams you’ve mentioned, they ‘take you away’ at random, so to speak, right?”

Andromeda nodded. Where is this going?

“This remedy should help. It should suppress those dreams until you actually fall asleep. You won’t stop seeing them completely, but at least it will give you some sort of control so you don’t black out unexpectedly.”

Her eyes widened, staring at the small vial in Astrid’s hand. “How…how do you know?”

“When you told us about them, I didn’t think much of it at first. But then these memories started to come back to me. I’ve…heard about your condition before. If I remember correctly, a spoonful of this a day should be enough to stop them.” She placed the vial between them, pulling out two more bottles from her pocket.

Andromeda looked back up at Astrid, shocked. Even the best medics and Healers in the Aquae Court couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her. How could Astrid have possibly known of a cure?

“Where exactly did you hear of this?” she asked.

“Um…an old book I remember reading. One on mysterious magical occurrences. Your condition sounded familiar, and I happened to have this remedy in my possession.”

“Magical occurrences? You think this could actually be magic?” Her mother had taken her to that mad witch doctor, yet he seemed to be of no help. Could it be possible that his methods were actually effective?

Astrid nodded. “If I remember correctly, the book told of dreams that came without warning, even when one was awake. Except, they weren’t dreams. No, they spoke of visions. Visions with important meaning.”

I knew it. I knew they were trying to tell me something!

“What else do you know of this?” Andromeda asked.

“I’m sorry, that’s all I can remember. It’s been a long time since I’ve read it, I’m not even sure what the book was called.”

She still held the remedy, offering it to Andromeda.

“What is that? What’s it called?” she asked, still skeptical.

“It’s Addesone, a common painkiller meant for aching and other little problems. But it’s made with Ivory Mint, and that is what’s important. The book said that Ivory Mint was the best way to deal with magical nuisances in the body. Although it can’t get rid of it forever, it will help significantly.”

Andromeda reached for the vial, clasping it as she studied the mysterious liquid.

“Take it in the morning, only a small spoonful. You shouldn’t have any unwanted side effects. That painkiller is probably the only remedy with Ivory Mint that you can take without a prior illness. Of course, if you stumble upon raw Ivory Mint, I think it would be better to take that instead.”

“Thank you,” Andromeda finally said. If this worked, she would no longer have to worry about exposing herself. She would no longer be vulnerable. Stars, she’d be able to finally leave her house. She would finally have control on the very thing ruling over her life.

But as her mind began to celebrate, another part of her began to think. She still didn’t know much about her visions. Why she had them, how to decipher them. How could she truly be free, trapped in a web of unknowns?

“Astrid,” Andromeda said before she got up. “I’m grateful for this, truly, I am. But there’s still something missing.” She breathed in before continuing, Astrid watching her curiously. “I want to find out more about my dreams. I want to be able to understand them. I’ve always known they happened for a reason, and all I want is to find out what that reason is. But I won’t be able to find my answers back home, no matter how much I long to go back. My mum…well, she wants me to be cured of this ‘disease,’ and then forget about it forever. ”

Astrid thought for a minute, before speaking. “Tell you what, I will help you find your answers.”

Andromeda perked up. “Really?”

“Yes. Your dreams, visions, whatever you’d like to call them, they interest me. A lot. It’s not every day you meet someone with mysterious visions.”

Andromeda nodded, the realization dawning on her as Astrid continued to speak.

“The only thing is, you would have to stay with me—that is, until we find out what this is all about. Then you can go back to your mother, with all your questions answered.”

Contemplating her options, her thoughts began to race. Didn’t she long to go home the moment she woke up in that infirmary? This entire time, wasn’t her only goal to get back as soon as possible, back to her mum? And what of the world she had experienced, alone without any way to defend herself? She had already been threatened too many times in one day, how could she possibly expect to live as a runaway any longer? She was lucky enough to have found these people who were willing to help.

But if she didn’t stay, then she would never learn the truth. Any hope she had of uncovering the secrets of her mind would be lost.

Forever.

“So what do you say?” Astrid asked, Andromeda still struggling to decide. She seemed to notice her uneasy expression, and spoke softly.

“That’s all right, you don’t have to make up your mind now. I’ll let you sleep. You can figure it out later.”

“No, wait!” Andromeda said, stopping her, lowering her voice to a whisper again. “I’ve made up my mind.”

She took a deep breath, Astrid waiting.

“I want to stay.”

Astrid smirked. “Then welcome to the club, Andie.”

Andromeda flinched at the sound of the name, her eyes widening.

“Oh, I’m sorry…I like to give people nicknames,” Astrid said, taking note of her discomfort. “If you don’t like it, then that’s completely fine—”

“No! I like it, it’s just…” she said softly, “that’s what my parents call me. Back home.”

“Oh…”

“But you can use it too, if you want.”

Astrid nodded with a small smile, getting up off the ground.

“Sleep well, Andie.”