Elyria’s gaze met his for a single second before she threw her eyes to the ground.
When she finally lifted them, Kit had a knowing look on her face, the eyebrow above her green eye arched, her lips pursed to one side. But when she opened her mouth, all she said was, “What timing you have, knightling. All of you are setting off on your various adventures at the same time. King’s Keep is about to feel so much emptier.”
“And, celestials willing, quieter too,” muttered Nox, still standing in the same place, a horned tower of black leaning against the wall, observing the chaotic courtyard with mild disinterest.
Kit grinned at the nocterrian.
Cedric gave her a quick, polite nod. “Coincidental timing indeed, my lady.”
“Or perhaps it’s less a coincidence, and more that the time has finally come for us all to move on,” Elyria added, and at first she didn’t understand the look that flashed across Cedric’s face. Didn’t understand why he looked like she had just slapped him clear across the cheek. Not until she recounted the exact words she’d spoken, realized how they sounded in light of what happened between them.
Stars above, her mind was moving slowly this morning.
She started to reach toward Cedric but stopped herself. “I didn’t mean?—”
“It’s fine.” He set his jaw, his fist flexing around the reins in his hand.
Kit glanced back and forth between Elyria and Cedric, silver brows drawing together. “Did something?—”
“Oy! What are we waiting for? My arse is getting chapped up here,” interrupted Thraigg, urging his steed toward the gate.
Ollie trotted up beside him. “You’re in for a long few days of travel if that’s the case, my friend.”
“Aren’t we all,” muttered Jocelyn, and a round of laughter rang through the group.
“And to answer your question,” said Ollie, “we’re just waiting for Dentarius to arrive with Sephone and?—”
As if summoned by the words, the palace doors swung open. Out strode Dentarius, Sephone, and Raefe, the latter two sporting the same thick cloaks and traveling leathers that the rest of them wore.
Elyria did her best not to react. Tried not to seize up, to flex her hand over her thigh—over the scars there. Tried to contain the rage she could still feel churning in her gut. Tried not to stare as they approached.
She had not done a very good job, it would seem, from the sudden jab of Kit’s elbow in her side. From the shallow tremor that rolled through the ground beneath her feet, the wisps of shadow curling up her arms. And from the gaze she suddenly felt burning right into her—Cedric’s gaze.
She dared a glance at him. Saw the way his heated stare moved from her face, following the exact path of her own line of sight. Felt the sudden tension rolling off him.
She tried to relax her face as the trio neared the group, casually avoiding looking anywhere near Raefe.
“Finally,” grumbled Thraigg. “Didn’t think ye the type to run late, Dentarius.”
Dentarius steepled his fingers in front of his chin. “Just making sure everyone has what they need. This is a rather large traveling party, if you hadn’t noticed.”
Elyria bristled. “Weare,” she said, restraining herself from reminding everyone present that she’d have been perfectly happy to go off on her own. That between the human escorts and Sephone and Raefe, more than half of her group was decidedly unwanted company. “But Sir Thorne’s party is small. How many supplies could two men and a sylvan need?”
Lord Church clucked his tongue as he and Tenny swept past the group, heading back in the direction of the palace. “As you’ll be traveling together for the first leg of your journeys, there is little point in differentiating, is there?” he called. “Best of luck, everyone.”
Elyria whipped her head to the lord, but he and his daughter didn’t break their stride. “What did he mean by that?” she asked Dentarius.
Dentarius smoothed a palm against his green-black hair. “Just what he said. You’ll all ride together to Dawnspire. It is directly on the way to the Chasm bridge. After you reach the village, Sir Thorne, Sir Hale, and Young Shep will continue on to the Midlands.”
Something pulsed in Elyria’s chest, and she resisted the urge to look at Cedric.
“I feel compelled to point out that while it is generally on the way, Dawnspire does notdirectlylie in the path between Kingshelm and the Chasm,” offered Nox. “And even if it did, you all stand to make much quicker progress by traveling in smaller groups.”
“They’re right,” Kit agreed. “Why are we?—”
“The lord paramount was quite insistent,” Sephone grumbled, as though she, too, was rather irritated at the prospect of being forced to slow their progress.
Dentarius sighed. “With cultist activity on the rise, your traveling speed is the least of my worries.” He pursed his lips before letting his gaze fall on Elyria. “Youwillbe careful, won’t you?”
