He smiled, not a pleasant smile. “Try and stop me.” A quick kiss stole what she was about to say and gave him time to continue. “But it matters not. Once you are done with the council, I am taking you home.”
Her brow wrinkled. “To Willowmere?”
“Willowmere is no longer your home. Your home is with me in the Northland at my tribe.”
She shook her head. “I cannot leave Scotara when war threatens its shores and I could possibly be of some help.”
“You are going home with me and that is final,” he said.
“Excuse me, you two,” Fiora said, flitting close to them. “The argument can wait, we need to keep moving.”
Bria bit back the argument she wished to continue and fell into step beside her husband once again.
The silence between them returned. Not as sharp as before, but still there.
The forest gradually thickened around them. Sunlight filtered through the canopy overhead, painting the ground in patches of gold and shadow. Fallen leaves crunched beneath their boots and a cool breeze carried the scent of pine and damp earth.
Fiora remained unusually quiet as she darted ahead through the trees.
Kaelan suddenly stopped so abruptly that Bria nearly walked into him.
His head tilted slightly, listening and every muscle in his body tightened.
“What is it?” Bria asked softly.
He lifted his hand for silence.
For several moments she heard nothing, then it came. Faint and rhythmic. The sound of horses, several of them.
Kaelan’s gaze swept the trees. “Four.”
Bria looked at him in surprise then recalled what he had once told her, how the beast heightened some of his senses.
The sound grew steadily louder.
Fiora groaned dramatically. “Oh, this day simply refuses to cooperate.”
The fairy vanished from sight just as four mounted riders, garbed in black emerged from between the trees.
Bria knew who they were… the king’s Hunters.
Bria saw the unease on their faces as they brought their horses to a halt and glanced around the forest. Even here, surrounded by sunlight and autumn color, Driochmor unsettled them.
One of the Hunters rested a hand on the hilt of his sword, cautiously.
His gaze swept over them both, but he directed his question to Kaelan. “What are you doing in Driochmor?”
Kaelan appeared entirely unconcerned. “I could ask the same of you since Hunters have no power here.”
The Hunter glanced at his companions as though uncertain what to make of that answer.
The older Hunter studied them carefully. “Not many willingly travel here.”
“Which makes me wonder what brings Hunters to Driochmor,” Kaelan said, shifting his glance on each one of them.
Bria wondered what he was doing, questioning them, but then they were in Driochmor out of their region and amongst magic.
The older Hunter’s expression remained cautious. “We seek someone.”
