Page 102 of Ashborne Forged

One more spoke in this wheel that pointed straight at me, back through my life, to the darkest days of my existence.

It was far more malodorous than a pompous nobleman feeding his own pride.

And if my instincts were right—they always were, when they didn’t fail me—then God had put me here for a reason.

Because I was the only one who’d see all the pieces.

Shit.

Kham sent a rush of reassurance in the bond, but I felt his unease as well. The prickle of unspoken words he knew would upset me, that he was waiting for the right time to speak.

I swallowed hard, because I knew what he wanted to say. ‘Will we really get there first. Before… before we find Grace and Koa?’

‘At this point… Yes.’

My body went cold. And I wrestled.

I’d thrown the suggestion out to Gil half-flippantly. Scared that it would be necessary. But still hoping I’d find a way to avoid it.

Now, if we went much further without finding Koa, I had to accept that this was my only choice.

That I had a purpose. And that it required doing the one thing Kham had always encouraged me to do—and that I’d always flatly refused.

Even if I’d been willing to do it for Grace, I’d thought I wouldn’t have to do it alone. I thought I’d be buoyed by catching her, spiriting her away, then hiding her from that cuntcake until the danger had passed, or Gil found out the dirty truth about Breckon so I could justify flying her home.

I’d thought she’d be with me. That we’d face it together. And that had seemed bearable in the brief moments when the plan became clear.

‘You’re certain we’ll reach it before we reach Koa, and Grace?’

‘We must. I still can’t reach Koa’s mind. It seems likely that as soon as we stop, we’ll draw further behind.’

‘Keep trying,’ I sent stubbornly.

‘Voski, you must prepare yourself—’

‘Keep trying. Please.’

But there was no change. The anxiety twisted my guts and stole my appetite, but I knew Kham needed to rest. And I should try, though I’d never felt less like sleep in my life.

Yet, I continued to fight the growing conviction that I knew precisely where this all ended.

The only possible way they remained ahead of us after this many hours, was if they too were flying. And if they could fly, how long would they travel before they rested? How long would they stop? Would they be changing dragons, flying fresh at each leg? Was it only to get them out of Vosgaarde?

That seemed unlikely. But then, so did a Fyrehold noble with access to dragons in Vosgaarde.

‘Just breathe.’

‘How can you say that? They’re staying out of our reach! Anything could happen, and we won’t know!’

‘Voski, it wounds me also, that we aren’t reunited quickly. But, there is no despair. We will find them. Even if they fly ahead of us all the way to Fyrehold, finding them once they stop is inevitable. That is not the part that you fear.’

He was right, of course. He usually was. Yet, I recoiled. Every drop in my veins wanted to flee at the unspoken thought. But I could see no other course.

And so, I gave it to him.

‘I have to ask for help.’

Kham gave a high scream. ‘Are you certain?’