Silver: The Lost Royal ?

LUNCH was almost ready by the time they had gotten back, and Karyn couldn't have been more grateful for the food. The journey back, as short as it was, was a strange one indeed. The wooziness in Karyn's head had progressed to some sort of paranoia.

Salome and Jamie walked far ahead, deep in a conversation about Salome's distant cousins from Bascua. While she trailed behind, struggling with the stares from people in every direction. Some even came up to her and she could tell their smiles were warm and well-meaning, yet her mind kept toying with her. She couldn't shake the feeling that every move she made was being meticulously observed, analyzed, and judged.

As she walked on, she looked around frantically, unsure of what she was looking for.

She felt something creeping up on her, as if she walked in the shadow of a constant presence, an invisible force that seemed to follow her every move, delving deeper into her soul, peering into the darkest recesses of her being.

The closer she got to the house, the clearer the hum in her head became. Just as she neared the house, an image flashed before her mind's eye without warning. The image of Vesper lying there with a bloodied neck. The sound of his shrill screams echoed, mingling with the whispers of his throaty voice saying 'Daurus'.

She bumped into someone and muttered an apology before she rushed onward, her feet not stopping until she crossed the threshold of Loralai's house.

At the site of the familiar abode, the paranoia disappeared instantly, leaving her standing still as if she had just snapped out of a trance.

"Karyn? Are you feeling well? You look flushed."

Heloisa's words snapped her out of her daze, and she swallowed before letting out a breath. What was wrong with her?

"Yeah," she squeaked, then cleared her throat. "I mean the sun was just too hot."

Heloisa let out a soft chuckle. "Don't worry, you're not the only one confused by the weather recently. It gets so hot in the day then turns to an ice storage at night. I'll get you a glass of water."

"What of Kael?" Jamie asked and only then did she notice his presence.

"He's off to work at the mine," Heloisa replied as she poured water into a glass.

"And Loralai?" she asked as her words came back to haunt her.

What if someone else takes his place and continues where he left off?

"She's having a nap," Heloisa said, and Karyn must have made a face because the woman added, "Her cousin, Janai, is with her."

Karyn finally let herself relax as she reached for the glass of water, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. After downing the entire glass, she made her way to the bathroom, where she splashed refreshing, cool water on her face. Leaning over the sink, she pressed her cool, wet hands to her neck. It must be the stress, she thought to herself.

Once she felt steady, she went out and offered to help Heloisa set the table to keep herself from being alone with racing thoughts and restless tingling.

Lunch was a peaceful affair as two others joined them. Janai, who Karyn had recognized as the girl who saw them when they had arrived in town, and her mother, Hera, who was Heloisa's sister.

Once done, Karyn didn't need to be told to take a nap. Perhaps it was the hit in the head that she got from Vesper that was messing with her and if she rested enough, she would be her normal self again.

Except, even in her dreams, her mind hadn't settled as it had mumbled her memories into one big mush of scenes.

From the angry growls of the SiatJan to the dreary symbols. From the fire to the people on the street who stood frozen with their eyes fixed on her. And the cherry on top was The Faceless in a corner, with vivid red and smirking lips. Was her dream ever complete without it?