The Keep (The Secret of Spellshadow Manor #4)(91)

“Are you certain?” Natalie asked, glancing between the two friends.

Aamir nodded.

A tense silence grew, all eyes on Jari and Aamir. The older boy wouldn’t look at the younger, his gaze set sincerely forward. There would be time afterwards for them to talk it out, Alex knew, and he hoped they would do so before they had to part ways. He couldn’t bear the thought of the two friends separating on bad terms. Fortunately, the tension was broken a moment later by Demeter’s clear voice.

“I’ll go to Stillwater and Spellshadow, as previously agreed. My skills can be better used in the battles yet to come. And, as they say—” the others braced for his latest botched proverb “—the mind is mightier than the sword.”

“Not one I’m familiar with, old boy, but an excellent sentiment! The mind is a powerful tool indeed, and one I’m going to use right now,” Lintz said. “I’m going to be coming with you too, Alex, considering you’ll be in need of my, albeit limited, knowledge of Falleaf’s terrain. I can also assist in the construction of a portal to Spellshadow Manor—if we decide to go that way and join in—or back here and around the long way.”

“Thanks, Professor. The end goal is definitely to join the fight by meeting at Spellshadow,” Alex said, trying to restrain the anxiety he felt about the fact that Ellabell still hadn’t spoken. “Maybe both parties could send word to Vincent and Caius, through the portal, when havens have been taken and books have been retrieved.”

“Ellabell, what are you going to do?” Natalie asked, and Alex’s heart leapt into his throat. At first Ellabell had suggested they all go with him, but what would she choose now that the group was splitting up?

She sighed heavily. “I am going to come to Falleaf House, in the hopes I can stop you getting yourself killed on this… this mission of yours,” she said finally, leaving a gap where Alex was certain she had wanted to say “foolish,” or something worse. Clearly, she still wasn’t convinced he wasn’t going to get the book and just do the spell himself. Given the time, he vowed to tell her that he was halfway toward a full-fledged alternative.

Some of the tension had broken among the group, and everyone appeared to be in agreement—but realization was also dawning that this was going to be an even tougher goodbye than they’d thought. This was the group actually breaking apart, physically, for the first time in a long time. Even through arguments, curses, and secrets, they had never been far from one another, and this was different: this was a farewell with a tentative hope of reunion. There were no assurances, not anymore.

Alex’s eyes rested on Ellabell. She was looking directly back.

He wasn’t sure he could have said goodbye to her; there was so much still unspoken.





Chapter 30





Demeter departed to inform Vincent of the renewed plan, and to relieve him of his Stillwater portal guard duty. He promised to find Caius too, on the way there, to let him know there had been a slight alteration in proceedings.

“I’ll see you off before you go. Remember, absence makes the heart grow bigger,” Demeter had said before disappearing from the tower.

An awkward silence stretched between those who remained, and Alex understood why. Nobody wanted to be the first to say what had to be said.

“So, this means… we’re all set then?” said Aamir, passing a nervous glance around the room.

“Looks like it,” Jari agreed.

Seeing Ellabell sitting by herself, Alex seized the opportunity. It wouldn’t be long before things got hectic, and though he knew he wasn’t going to have to say goodbye to her, like Natalie and Jari, he wanted to take a calm moment with her before they left for Falleaf.

“Ellabell—will you come for a walk with me?” he asked quietly.

“Haven’t you had enough of walking?” she teased.

“Not with you,” he replied, hoping he sounded smooth.

She smiled. “Okay, let’s walk.”

With that, they made their way as inconspicuously as possible toward the door of the tower room, though it was clear all eyes were on them as they slipped out into the hall beyond.

Alex took her hand in his and pulled her toward the turret where she had stood sentinel while he went on his adventure to the gatehouse and back. Gazing back at her, he was pleased to see that she was smiling as he led her up to the top of the turret.

He was nervous in a way he had never known before. Above them, the bronze fog was ever-shifting, though Alex wished there were a sliver of sunshine. He looked into her eyes, which were the same pale blue as the sky he imagined lay beyond the fog, and he found himself suddenly tongue-tied. In the pale light, she looked perfect, her cheeks rosy, her freckles dotting her nose, her lips curved into a smile.

“I wanted to tell you something,” he began, clearing his throat a little. “Though I’m sure you already know.”

“I won’t know unless you tell me,” she murmured, brushing her thumb across his hand.

He rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath, letting the words flow out as he exhaled. “The thing is, with everything that’s coming up and everything we’ve been through, I… I just wanted you to know how… I feel about you, while I have the chance.” He paused, hardly daring to look at her. “There was a moment, back at Stillwater, when I thought none of us were going to make it, and I realized I might die having never said a word to you about… how I felt. And I’m not going to make the same mistake this time.”