Page 31 of Memory of Ashes

“No time to explain. Just put something warm on and hurry.”

She returned to her room to dress, putting on her cloak and boots, and followed them out to the stables. Three saddled horses laden with packs waited for them.

“We’re needed at the war camp,” Ruven explained as they mounted the horses.

“How far is it?” she asked. Danae and Ruven might be needed, but why was she going? Perhaps they were under orders not to leave her.

“Three to four hours if we go directly, which we’re not, as that would get us killed. The roads are being watched. Five to six if we go along the beach and skirt the forest.”

“The forest?” she asked, thinking of those creatures. She’d spent more than enough time in there. “I can barely ride!” She gestured wildly at the horse beneath her.

“It’s the quickest way. We’ll only have to go through the forest briefly, and if we shared a mount, we wouldn’t be able to go as fast. Just hold on tightly. I’ll keep hold of your reins beside you,” he said.

The three of them galloped out of the fortress onto the beach and followed it. They travelled under the stars with the moon lighting their way. The night was still. The only sounds were the pounding of the horses’ hooves and the waves that splashed gently against the sandy beach. Salt lingered on her lips as a gentle breeze stirred sea spray.

The forest was to their right. Amelia kept her attention on the beach ahead, though pinpricks of reflected light moved between the trees beside them.

They’d been travelling for hours. Danae led the way, whilst she and Ruven rode a little behind. Amelia’s thighs ached and her backside had started to go numb. The sun had risen, lightening the sky.

They came to a halt.

“This is where we’ll cut through the forest.” Danae lowered her voice. “Stay close and try not to make any noise.”

They went single file, with Danae leading and Ruven following Amelia. Even though it was getting lighter, the forest remained a melancholy place.

She tried to relax, but her body remained stiff in the saddle. The last time she’d been in this forest, she’d escaped from the fortress only to have to be rescued by those she was running from. Now she was willingly travelling with them through it.

Every creaking branch made Amelia turn in the saddle. Ruven rode alert behind her, tracking the movement between the trees. The pinpricks of light kept pace. Up ahead, daylight filtered through the thinning trees where the forest ended. They emerged into open land, and she exhaled as if she’d been holding her breath the entire time.

Far in the distance, waves of tiny grey triangles littered the fields of rolling green. It was only when they got closer that she saw they were tents.

They’d reached the camp.

They dismounted and rushed through the maze of tents towards the largest, which stood at the centre of the camp.

The tent flap opened, and Casyl stood there, his face pale, eyes ringed with shadows. “They’ve got Tharos.”

Chapter 8

“How did they manage that?” Ruven asked in disbelief. They stood staring at Casyl. He looked like a man who hadn’t slept in days.

The tent was organised chaos, with armour and weapons cluttering every corner. A large map was spread across the table. Amelia studied the little pieces depicting people and creatures.

“They’ve got a Mind Warper,” Casyl replied.

Danae gasped. That must have been bad.

“I guess that makes me your temporary second,” Ruven said.

Casyl whipped his head towards Ruven, his gaze sharp.

“Hey.” Ruven put his hands up. “I said temporary. We’re going to get him back.”

“How?” Danae asked.

“That’s why we’ve brought the girl, right?” Ruven glanced between Amelia and Casyl.

She flinched as though struck. What did they imagine she could do?