Page 103 of Wings of Destruction

The snarky voice in my head pierces the fog of budding trepidation.

Tonight, there is nothing but the creeping moan of the wind, the hungry mist, and ahead, an accidental crack of a twig followed by a muffled curse.

Someone slips on a loose rock and sends gravel clanking together.

“Be careful,” someone grunts.

The boys are as nervous as I am. It’s a small comfort. Kieran and Astrid might be made of the same unfeeling stone as the mountain but the others, not so much. Which means they’re forcing themselves the same way I am.

I have to know where they’re going.

I dart across the space and crouch behind a rock, my eyes adjusting to the darkness. Lichens decorate the slope of the rough stone, and my fingers search for grooves like I need help to stay upright and diligent.

The group slips away into the gloom.

Heart still racing, I duck after them, stopping behind the strong trunk of a tree larger than the rest.

The path curves down and the forest grows thicker the further away from the castle we get. We travel the spine of the mountain behind the castle. On either side of us, the cliff goes steep and impassable for any but the stoutest mountain goat.

One small step and poof. You’re gone.

This is stupid, much stupider than sneaking into Kieran’s private gym at night. And look where my curiosity has gotten me so far? I’ve already got my ticket to the mines and I’m just waiting for one last infraction to get it punched. If they catch me out of bed again⁠—

I shudder. The possibilities are endless and awful.

But I can’t make myself turn around. Not when Kieran glances behind him again. His eyes narrow and he scans the forest like he actually does have the ability to see in the dark. Does he know he’s being followed?

Does he get the sense of eyes on his skin and the prickling tightness that always comes from being watched?

A few tense seconds later, he rejoins the others again, but my lungs stay collapsed. I roll my feet against the ground to keep from making noise, a trick my sister taught me when approaching a unicorn mare with a newborn.

And as long as I stay out of the wind, they won’t catch my scent.

Astrid picks up the pace. I hurry after them and a twinge of pain ripples up through my shoulder as I hit the tree, too close to see clearly.

The wind picks up and chills the sweat on my skin. The stray limbs catch the fabric of my nightdress as I follow the group. Slow and steady. One foot in front of the other. It’s been my motto since I got here, hasn’t it?

One day at a time, one step… it takes a person far.

And I used to spend hours outside watching the herd and wondering which mount would choose me out of the newborns.

The two figures with Kieran and Astrid wear dark clothes to disguise themselves. Smart. Much smarter than walking out with those silver braids almost like you want to be caught.

My stomach tightens when Kieran stops again. They’re maybe ten feet ahead of me and there is nothing else out here besides the rock I cower beside.

How easy will it be for him to bash my head against the rock and kill me if they catch me?

Fear takes root inside of me and my hand on the rock goes white-knuckled.

“I swear I hear something,” Kieran whispers.

The wind carries his words to me.

“There’s nothing. You’re jumping at shadows,” one of the dark cloaked boys says. His voice shakes.

“You’ll learn soon enough not to question him.” Astrid bites out the warning. “What do you hear, Kieran?”

He stops, his head craning to the side. “I’m not sure. I think⁠—”