Chapter 12: Tracks in the Woods

Michael stood in the master bedroom, the silence pressing heavily on him. Tracy’s lifeless body lay at his feet, her final words echoing in his mind: She left, Michael. She left you. His hands trembled as he tried to steady his breathing, his heart pounding with fury and despair. Ember was gone, and now Tracy’s betrayal had left him with more questions than answers. He had to act quickly—there was no time to waste.

For years, he had carefully guarded the truth, carrying the weight of Ember’s existence like a chain wrapped tightly around his chest. But Tracy’s deception and death had shattered the delicate balance he had maintained. The secrets he had spent years hiding were unraveling, and with Ember missing, everything was at risk.

He turned on his heel, striding toward his study with a sense of purpose. The dimly lit hallways felt suffocating, each step heavy with the consequences of what had transpired. His thoughts raced as he pushed forward. Tracy’s hateful words clung to him like thorns, cutting deeper with each replay: She left. She hates you. You couldn’t protect her. Michael gritted his teeth, forcing himself to focus. If Ember was out there, vulnerable and afraid, he had to find her.

Entering the study, he moved directly to the desk and pulled open a hidden compartment beneath it. Inside lay a map and a stack of letters—old correspondence from the king and queen. He hesitated for a moment, his fingers brushing against the parchment. Each letter carried the weight of decisions made long ago, decisions that had shaped the fragile peace of the kingdom—and his own life.

Michael unfolded the map and spread it across the desk, his sharp eyes scanning the marked locations. Ember had always been resourceful, even as a child. If she had fled, she would have avoided the main roads. She wasn’t reckless, but she was emotional, and her powers were unpredictable at best. He traced his finger along a path leading toward the forest’s edge. “You’d head somewhere secluded,” he muttered to himself. “Somewhere you think no one can find you.”

The forest was vast and filled with dangers, both natural and manmade. Predators roamed its depths, and bandits often lurked along its hidden trails. But it was the potential for misunderstandings that worried him most—people who might see Ember’s fire as a threat rather than a gift. Michael clenched his fists, his mind racing through every scenario, every risk. She was alone, scared, and unprepared for the world beyond their estate. He had to reach her before anyone else did.

A loud knock at the door broke his concentration. Michael tensed, his hand instinctively reaching for the blade strapped to his side. “Come in,” he called, his voice calm but firm.

The door creaked open, and one of the estate guards stepped inside, his expression grim. “Advisor Michael,” the guard began, bowing slightly. “We’ve found tracks leading toward the eastern woods. They match the description of Lady Ember.”

Michael’s eyes sharpened, his heart skipping a beat. “The eastern woods,” he repeated, his mind racing. That area was treacherous—wild animals, treacherous terrain, and unsavory individuals lurked within its boundaries. His chest tightened as he imagined Ember wandering into such a place, her fire flickering faintly as she struggled to stay safe.

“Gather a search party,” he ordered, his voice brooking no argument. “We move immediately. No one harms her—do you understand? If anyone so much as frightens her, they’ll answer to me.”

The guard saluted crisply and hurried off to assemble the search party. Michael exhaled heavily, his jaw tightening as he prepared himself. Donning his coat, he strapped his blade securely to his side and slung a quiver of arrows over his shoulder. He couldn’t risk the unknown dangers of the woods—not with Ember at stake.

Stepping into the cool night air, he found the search party already gathering near the gate. Horses were being saddled, and torches flickered in the darkness, their flames casting long shadows across the cobblestone. Michael mounted his horse, the tension in his shoulders evident as he addressed the group.

“We’re heading to the eastern woods,” he said, his voice commanding. “Ember is not to be harmed. She’s scared, and her powers are unstable. Approach her with caution but show no hostility. Is that clear?”

The guards nodded in unison, their expressions serious and determined. Michael tugged on the reins, spurring his horse forward as the group set out into the night. The forest loomed in the distance, its shadows deep and foreboding, but Michael’s resolve was unwavering. He would find Ember, no matter what it took.

The ride was tense and silent, the rhythmic pounding of hooves the only sound breaking the stillness. Michael’s thoughts spiraled as they neared the forest’s edge. His mind cycled through every lesson he had taught Ember—how to protect herself, how to harness her fire, how to survive. She was strong, but she was young, and he feared her strength might falter under the weight of fear.

As they approached the woods, Michael slowed his horse, his sharp gaze scanning the darkness ahead. He dismounted, landing lightly on his feet, and gestured for the group to fan out. “Search for signs of her passage,” he ordered. “Tracks, disturbed foliage—anything.”

Torches flickered as the guards spread out, their lights casting eerie shadows across the uneven terrain. Michael ventured deeper into the forest, his blade at the ready. The air was thick with silence, save for the crunch of leaves beneath his boots. The trees towered above him, their branches swaying faintly in the night wind. The stillness was unsettling, heavy with the weight of the unknown.

“Ember,” Michael called softly, his voice carrying through the stillness. “It’s me. It’s your father. Please, if you can hear me—let me help you.”

There was no response—only the distant rustling of leaves. Michael’s chest tightened, but he refused to let despair take hold. He had taught Ember to be strong, to survive—if anyone could endure the dangers of the forest, it was her. Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that time was running out.

The group pressed deeper into the woods, their torches flickering as the shadows seemed to close in around them. Michael scanned the ground for tracks, his sharp eyes searching for even the faintest sign of Ember’s passage. A broken branch, a footprint, a trail of ash—anything to guide him.

Suddenly, one of the guards shouted from the distance, his voice carrying through the trees. “Advisor Michael! We found something!”

Michael’s heart leapt as he hurried toward the sound, his boots crunching over the forest floor. As he reached the guard, he saw the faint outline of footprints leading deeper into the woods. His hands clenched tightly at his sides, determination burning within him.

“She’s close,” Michael muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible. “Hold your torches steady—she may not want to be found, but we need to show her it’s safe.”

He took a deep breath, steadying the storm of emotions brewing within him. Ember was out there—frightened, exposed, and unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadows. His heart ached at the thought of her alone in the dark woods, her fire flickering like a fragile beacon. Yet Michael’s resolve burned brighter. He wouldn’t stop until he found her, no matter the cost.

Even if it meant confessing to the king.