Page 58 of Destiny of a King

Hollis stood beside his mount, his hands restless on the reins. Whatever courage had prompted him to speak of Ernach seemed to have abandoned him now that he was expected to lead the king into Driochmor.

The winter wind bit Adira’s face, though she was glad the heavy wool cloak the king had surprised her with keep the cold at bay.

Once they reached his stallion, Dravic’s hands gripped her waist more firmly than usual and lifted her with practiced ease onto his horse. Then he swung up behind her, settled her across the saddle and comfortably against him, then wrapped his cloak around them both, keeping her in a cocoon of warmth.

For a while, Adira simply rested there.

The steady rhythm of the horse beneath them, the warmth surrounding her, and the quiet strength of the king resting against her brought a peace she had not expected. His arm remained secure around her as he guided the stallion through the snow-covered landscape, his body shielding hers from the sharp winter wind.

She watched the world pass around them.

Snow-laden trees stretched endlessly along the path, their branches heavy beneath their white covering. The farther they traveled, the fewer signs of people they encountered. No homes. No smoke rising from chimneys. No voices of villagers going about their day.

Only the forest.

Adira had missed it more than she realized. She had spent so much time within the castle walls since coming to Caerith that she had almost forgotten what it felt like to be surrounded by trees, to see the way sunlight touched the branches, to watch small creatures move unseen among the roots.

Her fingers tightened slightly around the edge of the king’s cloak.

Then something changed.

She turned her head. For a moment, she thought she felt the wind differently. Not simply against her face, but around her.

Her eyes narrowed as she watched the trees sway, then she went still.

She heard something. Impossible. She couldn’t have.

There it was again. Faint. But it was there.

Her heart quickened as she heard the cold wind whisper through the trees and the horses’ hooves strike the frozen ground.

The world was suddenly filled with sounds she had only ever imagined.

She closed her eyes. Nay. It could not be.

She opened them again and looked at the king. He was speaking. She could see his lips moving, his voice carrying no meaning to her as it always had. Yet she heard something.

A tremor passed through her.

Dravic immediately noticed. His arm tightened around her waist. He leaned closer, his mouth moving as he spoke.

She saw the concern in his eyes, but she could not hear him.

Not him. Only the whisper of the world around them.

Dravic studied her face, his concern deepening. “Adira?”

His voice was gentle, though she did not hear it.

He shifted his arm around her, pulling the cloak tighter around them. His eyes searched her face for any sign of what troubled her.

“Are you cold?”

Adira stared at him. She saw the question in his eyes, the slight furrow of his brow, the way his arm rested protectively around her. She saw and felt his concern.

But behind him… the wind whispered again.

Her gaze drifted past him toward the trees.