She wasn’t going to let Casimir make the example out of her he so clearly wanted to.
Her fate was in her hands now.
No one else’s.
Chapter 20
That night, the seven of them made camp without much conversation. Akadian kept his head down and remained on the edge of camp, hiding himself away in his tent when it was firmly in place.
Coward,Ambrose scowled.
Podara and Ambrose worked on setting up the rest of the bedding and tents, enough for two to each of them with Akadian alone in one. Felius gathered wood for a fire and with a wave of his hand had one crackling before the rest of them had finished setting up camp. Danthan and Oryon seemed to have more of an aptitude for goofing off, but still worked as diligently as everyone else, occasionally laughing and shoving each other. Eurus walked the perimeter of camp, watching the surrounding forest as the rest of them finished.
They pulled out the rations they packed for dinner, only enough for a week before they’d have to find more supplies or hunt for their food. Though it had been a good harvest season, they were left to more than their magickal capabilities out there. It seemed Casimir wanted to test her in more ways than one.
Why had he taken such an interest in her? No matter how much she went over it in her head, his obsession with her made no sense.
One by one, everyone ate their meals and bade each other a good night. Danthan and Felius shared a tent, the twins to another which meant Ambrose was bunking with Podara. She seemed to have worse fates lately and thought it might be nice not to sleep alone. She still wasn’t used to it.Maybe it would feel like sharing a dorm with Ernaline again. Her old life felt so far away now. Only a few months ago she was an entirely different person.
Ambrose was the last to excuse herself. Danthan and Felius opted for first watch and stayed up in animated discussion. It only took moments after her head hit the pillow for her to be taken by sleep.
* * *
They walked tirelessly every day as far as their feet would carry them before they’d set up camp, all to do it again at first light. Traveling for over a week and a half before they hit the first village to resupply in. Their food ran out days before and had only managed to hunt small animals with nothing left over for the next day. Getting more food was becoming vital.
The village was so small it didn’t even have a name or a Mayor. A tiny community with only a dozen or two families that built their homes and tilled their land. The people were bright and happy as they greeted them, welcoming them warmly into their village. Though their community was small, they didn’t hesitate to gift what extra rations and supplies they could to the travelers.
Some whispered and pointed when they saw Ambrose, their attention on the mark on her neck. Likely confused, they didn’t dare ask why hers was different to other servants. They hushed their children who stared for too long and minded their own, treating her no different than the rest of the party. She understood why, but she wished they’d stop staring. She wondered if the story of her trial had reached this far into the kingdom but by the way they treated her, she doubted it.
Good. It would make escaping that much easier if people outside the Capital didn’t know who she was.
The villagers sent them off with full bellies and packs. Freshly baked breads, jams, honey, dried meat, and herbs now sat on the backs of each member of their party. Enough to feast for a while. They thanked thevillagers for their kindness as they sent them on their way.
Ambrose had always wondered what the villages around the kingdom were like. The people were far kinder than she expected and the children laughed and played as though they were all siblings. Everyone reached out a hand to those who needed it. She told herself she would come back and visit the village with no name again one day.
* * *
The skies changed as the days progressed. With the harvest months not so far behind them, the day’s cool sun hung over their heads and when night came, so did the worst storms on this side of The Great Divide. Every night they huddle from the thunderstorms that rained down on them as Ambrose fought the anxiety that came with them, wind and memories whipping her.
Another week passed before the ridge line of the Fae Forest could be seen. With less than one more day of travel, they’d finally be at the village at the edge of the forest where they could sleep in a real bed and get some much-needed rest. Cidaer was one of the largest towns in the kingdom, home to over ten thousand citizens. With the cover of forest so close, Ambrose wanted to push on to the town but with the dark clouds that rolled above their heads, they’d be in a downpour within the hour and had to stop and make camp for the night.
The clouds swirled and condensed until the sky was as black as ink—not a single star able to peek through. The wind picked up, twisting into a roaring howl as they rushed to make camp.
“Secure those ropes! We can’t afford another tent flying off!” Felius barked at the twins as they hammered stakes into the ground.
“That wasn’t our fault!” Oryon yelled over the wind. “That storm came out of nowhere, we’re going as fast as we can!”
“See it doesn’t happen again!” Felius shouted, though the wind muffledmost of his words.
Rain poured from the sky, drenching them within seconds and they knew they had minutes to get their tents secured before they were trapped. Oryon and Eurus wrestled one tent while Danthan and Felius struggled with another one.
Wind threw her hair around Ambrose’s face, pulse racing, her breathing came in struggled gasps.
Wind came from everywhere.
Every direction.
Suffocating her.
