Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale ` 10 Summary
In Chapter 10 of “Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows,” Avery grapples with the unsettling notion that Prince Dashnell might be interested in Margaery, a noblewoman he views as self-absorbed and lacking warmth compared to Tessa. Despite his disbelief, Avery tries to reassure his friend Dominic, who is troubled by Margaery’s recent behavior. Dominic’s confidence in Margaery’s devotion begins to wane, and he expresses a deep-seated concern that something has influenced her feelings, prompting him to suggest they visit the Hall of Divinity for answers.
At the Hall, they encounter High Priest Simon Browning, who mocks their quest, further stoking their frustration. Despite the priest’s disdainful remarks, Avery and Dominic manage to acquire a walnut-wood sword, which they hope will aid them in their mission. Their spirits are dampened by the priest’s scorn, but they remain determined to seek a remedy for Tessa, who is suffering from an ailment that has left her pale and fragile. Tessa’s vulnerability deeply affects both men, particularly Dominic, who resolves to find a cure, even if it means confronting Margaery.
When they finally confront Margaery at Gracewind Garden, tensions escalate. Margaery, dismissive of their concerns, tries to assert her independence, which only infuriates Avery and Dominic. Avery’s attempt to protect her is met with Margaery’s defiance, as she questions their intentions and brushes off their worries about her health. The atmosphere is charged with unresolved emotions, as Margaery’s bitterness towards her situation comes to light, revealing her isolation and the lack of support from those around her.
As the confrontation unfolds, Margaery’s cold living conditions become a symbol of her struggles and the animosity between her and Tessa. Avery’s realization that Margaery has been left to suffer in a cold room without warmth highlights the neglect she has faced from her family and peers. The chapter closes with a sense of unresolved tension, as the characters are left grappling with their emotions and the complexities of their relationships, setting the stage for further conflict and revelations in their intertwined lives.
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**TITLE: Whispers Shape Distant Tomorrows by Aren Cole Vale**
**Chapter 10**
Avery was equally bewildered, his brow furrowing in thought. He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully, muttering under his breath, “Surely Prince Dashnell hasn’t taken a fancy to Margaery, has he?” The very idea struck him as utterly ludicrous.
In Avery’s eyes, Margaery epitomized everything wrong with the world of nobility—spoiled and self-absorbed, she had the charm of a wilted flower, lacking the grace and warmth that Tessa radiated effortlessly. How could a prince, a man of such stature and discernment, possibly be drawn to her? “No, we’re simply overthinking this,” he concluded, shaking his head in disbelief. “Prince Dashnell has been courted by every noble lady in the realm and has turned them all away. Why her? Of all people?”
Dominic, who had been listening intently, pondered this conundrum. “Perhaps the gemstone was just a fleeting whim,” Avery suggested, giving Dominic a reassuring clap on the shoulder. “To a prince, a mere trinket means nothing—forgotten by sunrise, likely.”
He offered a nod of encouragement, trying to dispel the growing tension. “Don’t dwell on it, my friend. You and Margaery have known each other since childhood. Her heart has always belonged to you.”
“It’s just a fleeting spat,” Avery continued, his voice laced with a mixture of hope and certainty. “Give it a day or two, and she’ll come back to you. She’s the one who struggles to let go.”
Dominic nodded, but a gnawing doubt crept into his mind. Once, he had been so sure of Margaery’s unwavering devotion. He had always believed he held the power to walk away if he chose to, not her. But now, that confidence began to crumble. Avery’s words offered some comfort, yet an unsettling feeling lingered, haunting him like a shadow that refused to fade away.
“Something feels wrong,” Dominic murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s go to the Hall of Divinity.” He couldn’t shake the feeling that some unseen force had influenced Margaery’s heart, twisting it away from him.
“I’m with you,” Avery said, his tone resolute, as they made their way through the swirling snow that blanketed the ground.
Upon reaching the Hall of Divinity, they managed to secure a walnut-wood sword, but not without enduring the scornful gaze of High Priest Simon Browning.
“A living soul possessed by a specter? Is she raving? Senseless?” the priest mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. “I expected better from the Wallen family than a fool with a head full of mist!”
“No saving you,” he sneered, his words cutting like a knife.
Avery’s anger flared, but he held his tongue, recognizing the precarious balance of power at play. The Wallen family held sway over the court, but the high priest answered to the divine. One wrong word could ignite whispers of treason against the stars themselves.
Swallowing their pride, they accepted the sword and turned back, their mission accomplished but their spirits stung.
They headed straight to Tessa’s chamber.
“Avery, Dominic,” Tessa whispered, curled up on a cushioned bench, her voice as fragile as a dying breeze. “Why brave such bitter cold?”
“Because we care for you,” Avery replied, rushing to her side, his concern palpable. “You’re pale as frost. Is your stomach troubling you again?”
“Don’t fret,” Tessa said softly, though her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. “Father sent for medicine. I’ve taken it.”
Her tear-streaked face, delicate and fragile like a wilting blossom, tugged at Dominic’s heartstrings.
“How long must you endure this pain?” he asked, urgency creeping into his voice. “We can’t go on like this. We need a cure—now.”
He sat beside her, gently taking her trembling hand in his. Her fingers felt cold and delicate, quivering like a newborn fawn.
“If Margaery wished, she might know a remedy,” Tessa murmured, her gaze dropping to the floor. “But she’s never cared for me. I’d rather not vex her.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek, and Dominic’s heart twisted painfully. “Don’t cry, Tessa,” he said firmly, determination hardening his voice. “You’ll hurt your eyes. Whatever it takes, we’ll get that remedy tonight.”
His words held a fierce resolve, as if he would storm a castle to retrieve it.
Tessa’s heart fluttered with hope, knowing that a single tear could draw Dominic closer, like a star returning to its sky.
Yet, she maintained her facade. “Is that… wise?” she asked, her voice soft as she tugged at his sleeve, fanning the flames of her own heart. “What if Margaery takes offense?”
“Leave it to us,” Dominic vowed, his eyes blazing with determination.
Even Avery felt his blood boil against Margaery. “She’s gone too far!” he snapped, his frustration spilling over. “She knows Tessa has suffered for years, wracked with pain, yet she hoards the cure!”
“Does she even care to be a sister?” he fumed, the more he thought about it, the more he blamed Margaery for Tessa’s plight.
“Tessa, rest now,” Avery said, his voice softer now. “We’ll find Margaery and demand that remedy.”
With that, they gathered the walnut-wood sword and a spirit-warding bell, their purpose ignited like a flame, and strode toward Gracewind Garden, determination alight in their hearts.
*****
In the drafty, dilapidated chamber of Gracewind Garden, Margaery swallowed the last of her bitter tonic, grimacing at the taste, and reached for the bowl of dregs to toss outside.
As she approached the door, a sword suddenly flashed through the gap, its point menacingly aimed at her heart.
She gasped, stumbling back and crashing to the floor, a sharp pain flaring through her spine. There stood Avery, her brother, and his shadow, Dominic, looming ominously in the doorway.
“Avery’s sword wavered as he glared at her. “Speak! Who are you? Where’s Margaery? Leave her body, or I’ll show no mercy!”
Dominic shook a brass bell, its sharp chime slicing through the chilly air, a sound meant to ward off spirits. Margaery couldn’t help but stifle a bitter laugh. “If you want me dead, Avery, just say it. No need for ghost stories.” With a wince, she hoisted herself up, brushed past them, and emptied the dregs in the courtyard, her movements defiant.
Dominic, still jangling his bell, frowned in confusion. “A spirit would be thrashing by now. She seems… herself.”
Margaery shot him a glare, setting the bowl aside with a dismissive flick of her wrist. “Lord Dominic, go fuss over my sister and let me rest.”
She turned to Avery, arms crossed against the cold. “I’m taking medicine for a chill. Is that a crime? If you don’t trust me, test the dregs yourself. Stop skulking around like I’m a wraith.”
With a swift motion, she pushed him toward the door. “Shut it. This room’s freezing enough.”
Avery faltered, his walnut-wood sword drooping in his grasp. Before he could respond, Margaery snatched it from him and flung it into the frost-dusted courtyard with a loud clatter.
He stared, stunned, shifting his gaze from the blade to her face. “Are you… really Margaery?”
“It’s cold, Avery!” she snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. “Can’t you see there’s no fire here? Or do you want me to freeze all night?”
Avery’s expression darkened as he scanned the stark, icy room. “No coals?” he murmured, almost to himself, the realization hitting him hard.
Margaery’s glare was answer enough. Winter had gripped Gracewind Garden weeks ago. Even the servants’ quarters glowed with warm coal fires, yet no one had spared her a single ember.
Tessa had crowed about it, vowing that as long as she ruled the Chancellor’s house, Margaery would shiver in her crumbling corner.
The memory stung her heart, a bitter reminder of her pride swallowed in desperation. She had handed Avery the tonic recipe from Craig, pleading for him to charm a few coals from the steward.
He had taken it and done nothing.
And now, he dared to ask why her room was so cold.
Conclusion
As the echoes of their confrontation faded, the air thick with unspoken tensions, Avery and Dominic stood before Margaery, their hearts heavy with the weight of their shared history. Avery’s initial anger began to dissolve, replaced by a deep sense of sorrow for the girl who had once been his sister, now seeming a mere shadow of herself. Margaery’s defiance was a fragile mask for the vulnerability that lay beneath, a testament to the isolation she had endured in her cold, unwelcoming chamber. In that moment, Avery realized that the animosity he felt toward her was not just for her perceived cruelty, but also for the pain that had led her to this place of bitterness. He understood that the whispers of the past shaped their present, and perhaps, healing could be found not just in the remedy they sought for Tessa, but in the reconciliation of their own fractured bonds.
Dominic, standing beside Avery, felt the tide of uncertainty shift within him as he observed the raw emotions playing out before him. The warmth of his determination to protect Tessa clashed with the dawning realization that Margaery, too, was a victim of the cruel games played by the nobility. He saw in her a reflection of Tessa’s own struggles, and with that understanding came a fierce resolve to bridge the chasm that had formed between them. As they stood united, holding onto the walnut-wood sword and the spirit-warding bell, Dominic knew that the path forward would require more than just the pursuit of a cure; it would demand empathy, forgiveness, and a willingness to confront the shadows of their pasts. Together, they could reshape their destinies, finding strength in their shared struggles and the whispers that would guide them toward brighter tomorrows.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in Next Chapter?**
In the upcoming chapter, tensions will escalate as Avery and Dominic confront Margaery, determined to unravel the mystery surrounding her sudden coldness and the strange hold it seems to have on both her and Tessa. With the stakes raised, the confrontation promises to reveal not only the depths of their relationships but also the secrets that linger just beneath the surface of their noble facade. Will Margaery’s defiance hide a deeper vulnerability, or is there a darker force at play, manipulating the hearts of those involved? As the brothers push her for answers, the fragile balance of loyalty and betrayal will be tested, leading to unexpected alliances and revelations.
Moreover, the Hall of Divinity’s ominous presence will loom large, hinting at the supernatural elements that may be influencing their fates. Dominic’s lingering doubts and Avery’s fierce determination will clash with Margaery’s pride, igniting a fierce battle of wills. As they delve deeper into the enigma of the gemstone and its possible connection to the shifting loyalties in their circle, the chapter will weave a tapestry of intrigue that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. Will they uncover the truth in time to save Tessa, or will the whispers of fate lead them down a path of irreversible consequences? The answer lies just beyond the horizon, waiting to unfold.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
