Cut the bridge (Entry 90)

by Hayley Thomas

Dear diary,

The first day within the Lorewood passed in an uneasy quiet, as though the forest had decided to hold its breath and simply watch us. By early evening on the ninth of Edon, the trees thinned and Logvale came into view — the abandoned logger’s enclave standing empty for the winter season, just as we had hoped.

The place felt hollow without its usual bustle, but its emptiness was a blessing. There was enough shelter for our children and the elderly, and the rest of us set about raising tents in the snow-dusted clearing. The runes carved around the perimeter still pulsed faintly with old magic, their quiet hum a ward against fey intrusion. It made Logvale the safest place we could hope for on this cursed road. That alone sparked the inevitable discussion: whether we should linger.

In the end, practicality won out. We would rest here two days — recover, mend spirits and supplies — then depart on the eleventh.

Sometime during the first night, thick flakes began to drift silently from the sky, and the temperature dropped with sudden, uncanny precision. Snow in the heart of Lorewood at this time of year could mean only one thing.
Vivienne.

Liliana slipped away without a word — though “slipped” is too gentle; she simply moved with her usual quiet purpose while I was preoccupied helping families settle in. Only when she returned did I realize she’d gone to the tunnel, to that strange meeting place where Vivienne had first woven herself into our story.

When she stepped back into camp, she looked… different. Less alabaster. Less otherworldly. More like the girl she had been before the Court ever touched her life. Her connection to Vivienne had been severed, and the fey mantle she carried for so long had fallen away.

She told me Vivienne had been pleased — genuinely pleased — that she had refused to join King Ulther’s court. For once, Liliana’s defiance had earned her freedom. I saw the relief in her face, soft and unguarded, and I felt my own shoulders lighten.

You are free, my darling. Truly free.

For my part, I spent the evening moving quietly among our people — checking blankets, handing out food, offering a calm word here, a small comfort there. It was the first time since we fled the ashes of Wolf’s Rest that I saw them begin to truly relax. Fires glowed warmly in the dark, children huddled together under thick furs, and the air was filled not with fear, but with tired gratitude.

That must be why Luke — dear, hopeful Luke — suggested we simply remain here. Make Logvale our new home. The idea had its charm: a place already built, shelter at hand, runes to guard us. But charm is not enough.

The enclave is too small, its land too poor for farming, and its heart lies in the middle of the Lorewood — a place that tolerates visitors but keeps none safe for long. And come spring, the loggers would reclaim their camp. Logvale is a refuge, not a home. A resting breath, not a future.

Still, for one night at least, it was enough.

Luke asked me if I could help him bring Lumeria back. The request hit me like a stone dropped into still water — a single question rippling out into a dozen unwelcome thoughts. I’ll admit it plainly here, if nowhere else: I do not want her returned. Amarra’s timely banishment had felt like a blessing from the gods, a sudden and merciful silence after weeks of grating chaos.

And yes, I could reach the Feywild. I have the means, the knowledge, the pathways. But that realm twists time like threads around a loom; what feels like minutes there can devour days here. And even if we managed to cross over… there is no promise we would find Lumeria quickly, or at all. The Feywild hides what it loves and hoards what it covets.

Still, Luke asked with that earnest desperation so uniquely his, and I could not bring myself to crush him outright. So I told him I would think on it during the journey and give him my answer when we reached Hillfield.
But in truth?

My heart has already settled on no.

After breakfast on the tenth of Edon — the cold sharp enough to sting the lungs — Alistan sent a message to his mother, informing her that we were on the road to Hillfield. We all knew the response was a gamble. We just didn’t expect her to spit the dice back in our faces.

“You are criminals, exiles from Keralon. What makes you think you are welcome here? The gates of Hillfield will remain closed. I have no children.”

Cruel. Inhumanly so.
Yet somehow… not surprising.

I warned the DelaRoost twins years ago, when I first saw their mother sitting prim and polished in her silks, whispering court gossip as though it were gospel. Her eyes were always on the crown, never on her family. Prestige was her true bloodline, not the two children she bore.

I hate being right about things like this.

I hope they take this lesson to heart: loyalty tied to a throne is brittle. Family built on ambition alone will always choose the crown over the child.

Her refusal, sharp as broken glass, forced us into another round of weary discussion. With Hillfield closed to us, we had to choose a new destination.

Logvale was suggested again — and I dismissed it just as quickly. Too small. Too temporary. Too deep within the Lorewood’s grasp.
Other options surfaced: Rosebloom. Tarn. Perhaps settling somewhere entirely new.

In the end, the decision settled like dust on old memories.
Tarn.

Our home before all the wars and courts and curses.

We will pass Rosebloom first, so the option stays open — but for the first time in six long years, the road ahead seems to point backward. Toward the place we once called home.

And perhaps, if fate is kind, toward the place we may call it again.

Continue reading...

Entry one: The trials

Entry two: The bramble

Entry 3: Rosebloom

Entry 4: Hearts and Dreams

Entry 5: of ghosts and wolves

Entry 6: Hillfield and Deals with Fae

Entry 7: mysteries and pastries

Entry 8: The scarecrow ruse
6th of Lug, 121 Year of the Tree

Entry 9: A betrayal of satyrs
7th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 10: The fate of twins
8th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 11: Cursed twins
10th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 12: Loss and despair
11th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Hayley's rules to being a Witch

Entry 13: the price of safety
12th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 14: A golden cage and fiery tower
13th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 15: A trial by fire
14th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Entry 16: Keralon
15th of Lug, 121 year of the Tree

Letter to Luke 1

Letter to Luke 2

Letter to Luke 3

Letter to Luke 4

Letter to Luke 5

Letter to Luke 6

Entry 17: I shall wear midnight
1st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 18: peace in our time
2nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 19: Caern Fussil falls
3rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 20: I see fire
4th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 21: Cultists twarted
10th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 22: Ravensfield
14th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 23: The Hollow Hill Horror
15th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 24: Burn your village
16th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 25: Ravensfield burns
17th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 26: There will be blood!
21st of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 27: A happy reunion
22nd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 28: The embassy ball
23rd of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 29: The fate of Robert Talespinner
24th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 30: A royal summons
28th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 31: of Dogville and Geese
29th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 32: A boggle named Pim
30th of Nuan, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 33: A deal broken
1st of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 34: The cost of doing what is right
2nd of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 35: A dish best served cold
9th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

entry 36: Cornu returns?
10th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 37: A letter from Amarra
11th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 38: The case of the (not) missing villagers
14th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 39: A curse broken
15th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 40: Into the Lorewood
18th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 41: Cabin in the Woods
19th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 42: Myrdin and Anaya
20th of Aran, 126 Era of the Tree

Entry 43: Into the Immerglade
21st of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 44: A tale as old as time
22nd of Aran, 127 Era of the Tree

Entry 45: The truth
23rd of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 46: Luke's Ordeal
24th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 47: The festival
26th of Aran, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 48: Trouble at the Cathedral
2nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 49: Quinn's court
4th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 50: onwards to Latebra Velora
5th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 51: Where is my cow?
6th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 52: Here be dragons
7th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 53: Dragon hoard with a side of scarabs
8th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 54: Leave the basilisks alone
9th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 55: Return to Ravensfield
10th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 56: The needs of the many...
11th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 57: Dreams of Sister Willow
12th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 58: wetlands be wet
13th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 59: Baron Perenolde
14th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 60: Talebra Velora and the lady Morenthene
15th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 61: Cypria
16th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 62: Dragon takes Knight
17th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 63: Return to Talebra Velora
18th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 64: Your presence is “requested”
19th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 65: I stand alone
20th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 66: A day of normalcy
21th of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 67: Into the Neverhold
22nd of Brigan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 68: The Warg King

Entry 69: Chased by birds

Entry 70: Whitewail

Entry 71: Nimmerhold

Entry 72: The menagerie
29th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 73: To the library!
30th of Gobu, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 74: The people's tournament
First of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 75: Nimmerhold party
First of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 76, The return home
Second of Mannan, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 77: A week of peace
10th of Mannan

Entry 78: The tomb of the First King
11th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 79: I had a dream
12th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 80: The ritual for Sister Willow
14th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 81: Trouble at the Briar Ring
15th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Entry 82: My day as a crocodile
21st of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

The return of the twins (Entry 83)
22nd of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Earth and Sky (Entry 84)
26th of Mannon, 128 Era of the Tree

Wolf's Rest betrayed (entry 85)
30th of Mannon

The end of a chapter (entry 86)
first of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

On the road (Entry 87)
second of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

The Red Knight (Entry 88)
7th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Dear uncle… (Entry 89)
8th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Cut the bridge (Entry 90)
10th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Home (Entry 91)
13th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

A tale of two shadows (Entry 92)
16th of Edon, 128 Era of the Tree

Cut the bridge (Entry 90)

Continue reading...

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