Marcus’s eyebrows rose, and he shot a sympathetic look at Raven before continuing after the others.
Sage’s eyes blazed with anger as she glared at Raven.
Raven lifted her chin and crossed her arms. “If you have something to say, say it.”
“You said it wouldn’t take long,” Sage growled. She poked her finger at the door. “The Sterlings have the directions! They can’t beat us to the end. They can’t win. Do you understand that?”
“Is that what this is about? Winning?”
“It’s about getting therefirst. Finding the end before they do. You said we wouldn’t be long.” She took a frustrated step closer with her fists curled into balls. “You promised, Raven.”
“We’ll be on the trail by nightfall.”
“Nightfall? What if that’s too late? What if they’re ahead of us? This is a race now. We don’t have the luxury of helping some monk in the middle of nowhere.”
Raven’s eyebrows knitted together as her jaw dropped in disbelief. “We always have time to aid someone. We’re the Hawkes. It’s what we do. It’s what Father would have done.”
“He’s not here. And even Father would have understood the importance of beating the Sterlings. Whatever is at the end of this must be important if so many are after it.” Sage scowled, tapping her foot in frustration.
Raven inhaled and let out a breath. “They’re not as smart as you are, Sage,” she said gently. “Look at all the directions you had to figure out. Do you think they can do that?”
“Are we going to risk it?” Sage shook her head, disgusted.
“We need supplies, Sage. We won’t be able to follow those directions if we’re starving.”
“But we don’t have to help this monk. It’s a waste of our time.”
Raven frowned in disapproval. “Listen to what you’re saying. We’ve always assisted people.” She shook her head. “Those directions have changed you.”
Sage bowed her head, her blazing brown eyes dulling as the storm inside her dissipated. “Brother Nicolas died for the book I translated. I wanted to honor his life and memory by finishing this quest.”
Raven was stunned. She was taken aback by her sister’s revelation and felt a wave of sympathy. “I’m sorry, Sage. I didn’t know it meant that much to you.”
Sage’s mouth twisted into a half-scowl as if it had taken great effort to reveal the entire story.
“We’ll help Brother Henry and get the supplies. We won’t stay for the evening meal,” Raven compromised.
Sage hung her head in acceptance and started to walk away, dragging her feet on the stone floor. She stopped before she reached the door and turned back to Raven. “Don’t tell anyone else.”
“I won’t if you don’t want me to.”
Sage stood for a moment with her lips pressed together in a thin line. “It makes me look…sensitive.” She stepped outside, her shoulders slumped, and her head bowed, with a touch of self-consciousness around her movements.
Raven watched with affection as Sage disappeared around the corner. Sensitive and human, Raven thought to herself, sentiments she would usually associate with Willow, but it was good to see Sage embrace them, too.
Landyn heaved the supply sacks onto his steed, his muscles flexing with each lift. He narrowed his gaze at the horizon, seeing the lone figure perched atop his horse, intently watching. Demory. Landyn felt a wave of hatred surge within him, and he gritted his teeth hard enough to make them ache. He had to find a way to lose him, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that others might be stealthily following their every move.
“And you won’t stay for the evening meal?” Brother Henry asked.
Raven shook her head. “We can’t. I’m sorry. But thank you for all your help.”
“Thank you!” Brother Henry replied enthusiastically. “It would have taken me months to move those stones alone. I am forever thankful.”
Everyone mounted their steeds, preparing for the journey, except for Sage.
Raven glanced at her and asked, “Sage, are you ready?”
Sage scowled and bit her lip, her gaze fixed on the small cemetery near the church. Headstones of various shapes and sizes were scattered among several grave markers. “This is the cemetery, correct?”
