“What does that mean?”
“How did they get that message through the wards?”
“What’s not safe?”
Elyria could barely keep who was speaking straight. She supposed it didn’t really matter.
“Could it be a trap? How do we know Nox is even the one who sent it?”
At that, Elyria straightened. “It’s written in Kit’s handwriting. I don’tthink it’s a trap. I do think we need to go. Now.” She raked a hand down her face, panic lancing her chest, her thoughts a frenzied mess.
The crown. They have the crown. They couldn’t have meant the locket. Nobody knew about that. So, if they foundthecrown, did that mean they had found Malchior?
“Fuck, how long will it take to ride back? Four days?” Elyria asked.
“If we left immediately? With no stops? Maybe. But if you don’t want to kill the horses, longer than that,” Jocelyn answered.
Shep nervously raised his hand. “And we should at least let the elders know we’ll be leaving.”
Elyria shook her head. “We should fly then.”
Cedric stiffened noticeably at her side.
“I’d love to, lass,” said Thraigg, “but not all of us are, er, equipped to do that.”
Jocelyn nodded sadly, and Elyria felt a jab of guilt. Still, it was clear that something was very, very wrong. She needed to get back.
“I’ll go ahead then,” she said, already turning to leave, “and you all follow after.”
“The fuck you will,”Cedric said in her head, his hand shooting out to snag her wrist.
She whirled on him. “Between flying and shadowstepping, I can get there fastest.” Down the bond, she added,“I don’t know exactly how fast. I’ve never tried it like that. But I can’t just stay here.”
“Then I’m going with you.”
“You’re fucking terrified of flying,”she replied, before adding aloud, “And I don’t even know how to shadowstep with someone else. I’ve never triedthateither.”
“You think we’re ever going to get used to this?” Ollie said.
“Doubtful,” answered Jocelyn.
“Maybe?” offered Shep.
Thraigg only grunted in response.
“You’re not going without me,” Cedric said, and even if she hadn’t felt his resolve flickering down their bond, the set of his jaw and fire in his eyes would’ve told her there was no changing his mind.
Elyria rolled her shoulders. “Fine. But there’d better be less screaming this time.”
They wereready to go in minutes. With Elyria’s staff slung over her back, Ashrender buckled at Cedric’s waist, and a small bag of supplies slung over his shoulder, the rest of the group followed the two of them back to the Elderglade entrance.
She turned to the group just before they reached the archway, her eyes raking over Ollie, Shep, Jocelyn, and Thraigg. “Be quick, but be safe,” she said, fighting the tightness in her chest. “And don’t let anything happen to my fucking horse.”
They let out a collective chuckle, though there was something far more serious underneath. Like every single one of them understood that this was some sort of crossroads, that something was happening that could not be undone.
Elyria looked at Cedric, extending her hand. “Ready?”
He eyed it dubiously before linking his fingers with hers. “Me? Of course. Who wouldn’t be ready to go soaring into the dark?”
