Chapter 4
Chapter 4: The Forest of Echoes
Anya flees into the forest, guided by the glowing pebble. She rests in a hollow and reads her grandmother's book, learning the true meaning of 'stone' and the queen Elara's flight to Kristiania. Hearing pursuit, she presses on and discovers an ancient well with four new pebbles matching the map. A woman named Ingrid, sent by her grandmother, appears and offers to guide her. Anya decides to trust her and follows, knowing the path ahead is still uncertain.
The forest swallowed me the moment I left the courtyard. Moonlight filtered through the canopy in silver threads, but the undergrowth was thick and the ground uneven. I stumbled over roots and rocks, my breath coming in ragged gasps. The pebble in my hand glowed with a steady, bluish light, casting just enough illumination to keep me from falling. I did not know where I was going. I only knew that I had to put distance between myself and the palace, between myself and Judge Thorne's relentless pursuit.
The trees closed around me like old sentinels. Their bark was rough and scarred, etched with patterns that reminded me of the symbols on the map. I clutched the grandmother's book against my chest, its leather cover warm from my body heat. Every few minutes I stopped to listen. The forest was alive with sounds—the rustle of leaves, the call of a night bird, the distant trickle of water. But there were no footsteps, no shouted commands. For now, I was alone.
I walked until my legs ached and my lungs burned. The pebble's glow never wavered, and when I paused to rest against a gnarled oak, I noticed the light pulsing in a slow, rhythmic pattern. It was a heartbeat, a pulse of stone. I pressed it to my ear and heard a faint hum, like a voice speaking in a language older than words. Dr. Azdra had said rocks have memories. This one remembered something important.
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