It had been more than a week since I sent the letters. Nine days, nine long restless nights as well. The silence from Triton pressed against me like a heavy weight. Every time a knock sounded on the doors of the packhouse, I prayed it was news of him, but nothing came.
Every morning, I rose with expectations. I lay awake each night, staring at the ceiling, wondering if he had read my words or tossed them aside.
On the tenth day, my patience turned into panic. I slipped out of the house, wrapped a cloak around my shoulders and walked to the messenger’s post. His little hut smelt of ink, wax and paper. He looked up as I entered, his eyebrows lifting in faint surprise.
"Lady Maria," He said, wiping his ink-stained fingers on his tunic. "I wasn’t expecting you."
"I sent a letter over a week ago, to Lycanthia, for Triton. Did it reach him?" My voice quivered despite my best effort to sound steady.
The man nodded. "Of course. I delivered it the next day. It reached his packhouse."
My mouth dropped slightly. "So he has it."
"I’m certain about that," The Man replied.
I forced a smile and muttered thanks, leaving before tears slipped out of my eyes.
The revelation cut deeper than I had expected. My knees felt weak and I held a tree outside to steady myself. Triton had truly received the letter and his silence was not an accident. He knew about the child growing inside me but had chosen not to answer.
By the time I reached Jada, my face was pale and my lips trembled, finding it hard to say the truth.
Jada rushed to my side. "What is it?"
I sighed. "He got the letter. The messenger swore he delivered it the next day. He knows it all these while, but he hasn’t answered. Not one word."
"Oh goddess. Maybe he hasn’t read it." Jada muttered and guided me to sit down.
I scoffed. "What if he read it and decided to abandon me? What if he doesn’t care? Or worse, he even hates me."
"You don’t know that," Jada said softly.
"The silence shows that he doesn’t care. My belly won’t remain silent forever. The baby bump will soon show. Jada, I can’t keep waiting in silence." I pressed my palm against my abdomen, it was still flat, but I knew it wouldn’t remain so. My body had already begun betraying me with waves of nausea and a strange ache in my bones. In weeks, the secret will be out.
My eyes burned with pain and tears. "I need answers. I can’t keep staying here. I have to go to the north and face him myself."
"Maria, that’s a rash decision. Your parents would never let you go there, and if you sneak out, they’d notice."
"I don’t care. I would give my parents a reason that they can’t refuse."
Jada raised a brow. "What reason could it possibly be?"
"The healer," I responded, my voice a bit steady now. "My parents want my wolf back. I would tell them I’ve been advised to seek a healer in Lycanthia. That I must go there to find help for my wolf."
Jada stared at me for a moment, then slowly nodded. "That might work."
That evening, I sat across from my parents on the long table, my hands folded tightly in my lap.
"The Shaman’s medicine is not working." I said, interrupting their discussion about matters of the house.
A sigh escaped from my mother’s lips.
I continued speaking before she could say anything. "I have heard that there’s a healer in Lycanthia who has cured wolfless people like me."
My father leaned forward. "How sure is this news?"
"I confirmed it from different people." I lied. "I believe the healer is my only option. If I do nothing, my wolf may never return."
The room fell into a tense silence.
"Travelling to Lycanthia is not simple. It is dangerous." Father said.
"Then let the guards accompany me. I will not go alone." I pressed further, hoping they would say yes. The most update n0vels are published on novel_fіre.net
"If this ruler can truly help you, then we cannot deny you the chance." Mother said.
Father rubbed a hand over his face then nodded. "You will go, but we will arrange a guarded journey. You will take the river route. It is swifter and safer than land."
Relief and guilt clashed inside me. I felt relieved that my request was granted, but still felt guilty that I lied to them.
When I returned, Jada was waiting anxiously. "Did it work?"
"Yes. I’d leave by the river in two days."
The day of departure came swiftly. The docks bustled with voices. The guards followed me.
As I boarded, I cast one last glance at the shore. I lifted my hands in farewell to my parents and Jada, and they lifted theirs back.
Then, the ropes were loosened and the boat slid into the river. At first, the journey was calm and quiet, but as dusk fell, the river grew restless. The wind blew hard, pushing my hair into my face. The water slapped hard against the sides of the boat.
The sky was filled with storm clouds. Lightning flickered in the sky and thunder rolled, almost deafening me.
"Hold on," The captain shouted. "The river is wild."
I clung to the railing. My heart raced with fear.
The river currents surged higher, with waves crashing against the boat. I screamed as thunder sounded once more, louder and more intense this time.
Guards scrambled to secure the boat. I screamed louder as the boat rumbled. The impact tossed me to the side and I hit my body hard against the wood, almost slipping into the river.
One of the men caught me just in time. My heart pounded so fiercely that I thought it would burst. Was this always how the waters were turbulent or was I just unlucky?
Water slapped harder against the sides of the boat, splashing on me. I leaned closer to the man and closed my eyes.
The boat tilted violently and I was thrown into the river. I screamed for help as the hand of the guard brushed against mine. The current pushed me further away from him, and I could feel water soaking my nostrils.