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“That leaves us without a mage for traveling,” Hugh said, his voice polite concern while his body was tightening with frustration. Joseph slid his hand into Hugh’s, pressing up against him, his eyes still flicking between all the mages. “Through the more dangerous pass and travel path.”

“We will have to travel with the prince,” Elise said. “I do not want to risk splitting the group if there will only be us and the small retinue of guards typical to the Grand Rite. That pass is the less common route from the Rite and so Senona might not have it cleared in the same way the one over the Malyr Pass will likely be.”

Her eyes flashed to Tabitha who gave her a small smile in understanding.

Joseph cleared his throat. “The northern mountains are difficult travel,” he said, his eyes trained on Hugh. Of course he would have intimate knowledge of the bit of land being discussed as his people lived butted up against those very mountains. “It is not something we trust to a small traveling party during the winter when the snow is so heavily packed. The delay in getting to Embercrest is a small price to pay for a safer route.”

Hugh pursed his lips. “The Zimerus Forest can pose just as much risk as the Ailus Pass.”

“It is something we travel through often, though.” Phillip spoke up. As the most senior member of the guard, it was to him I would defer my own decision. “We know how to navigate it safely and timely. The Ailus Pass is known for its unstable snowpack and avalanches. Without a mage to bolster your own latent magics, I worry for your ability to navigate it safely.”

Hugh’s nostrils flared, his scent pulsing out from him in warning, the acrid edge to the lilac and blueberry denoting his frustration more thoroughly than any body language. Joseph tucked tighter against him, his throat moving with a heavy swallow.

“It’s not a strike against your character,” Phillip said, holding his hands up in deference. “Just the reality we now face with the mages needing to leave. It is an additional week, but that is a much smaller price to pay than an avalanche trapping the entire group.”

Hugh grunted, and the acrid edge to his scent grew more potent. Joseph whined, low in his throat, and Hugh’s entire being shifted, readying to pounce. The earth magic swirled around my feet in sudden agitation, responding to Hugh’s own magic. I carefully took another step closer, intervening before someone got hurt.

“We will travel together,” I said, leaving no room for argument. “It is not worth the risk of your lives to split the group at this point. If something were to happen to you because we opted for speed rather than safety? It is not something I want to navigate.” Hugh’s shoulders dropped in defeat. The earth’s tendrils settled back around my ankles, not entirely content. “I know it adds an additional week to your travels. If you would rather complete the rites in Starguard before continuing to the capital, as Arden and I have chosen, I will be happy to help navigate those logistics and offset any costs.”

Elise murmured her gratitude, and Hugh nodded once. Amaria darted away from the group, and I followed her path, my stomach lurching as I saw a flash of blue-black hair. I twisted to Phillip, who had become the central point in the conversation now evolving into new logistics and decisions. His eyes caught mine, and then he nodded.

“I’ll have everything ready for you,” he said in simple explanation.

It was enough for now.

I left the group, Vincent joining me before I’d managed a handful of steps. Once we were far enough away from the group to not be overheard, I pulled the messaging stone from my pocket. I was tempted to dig out the shielding coin from where I’d stashed it in my smallest saddlebag the day before, but I resisted the urge. No one here would overstep my clear desire for privacy. With a quick flick of my wrist, I flipped the stone over and lifted it between the two of us so that we would both be able to hear the message. It glowed a bright, pale blue, and then my father’s warm, crackling voice filled the cold forest around us.

“Congratulations, Callum. I’m pleased to hear that you selected an omega this cycle. As you must know, I’ve sent Sutton to you. I trust that he has explained the need for Mallory’s immediate return and that he is not authorized to explain the reasoning.” There was a brief break, and I knew he must have been composing his thoughts while the spell was still active. He often did that when he was particularly troubled. “A trading ship of Senona’s was attacked and sunk in the passage, on its way back from Tousir. It’s not clear the responsible party. You are free to continue your intended route of validating in Starguard. I expect to have you and your new omega in Embercrest no later than the solstice.”

His voice cut off, and the sending stone returned to an uninteresting gray.

Worry tightened my stomach, twisting it into a mess. The earth’s magic plagued my feet, still on edge from Hugh’s frustrations. The tendrils reached up toward me in response to my own unease.

“A trade ship?” Vincent echoed the information in a voice that was equal parts disbelieving and concerned. He flicked a hand at his knee, and the tendrils retreated a few inches. “There hasn’t been an attack on a strictly civilian vessel since the Great War.”

“I know.”

It was part of what had made the Grand Rite such a successful divine intervention, a blessing of all the gods that had crafted the tradition. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, trying to will the worry away. It wouldn’t do me any favors to be so concerned over the diplomatic ramifications of the sinking of Senona’s ship while I was trying to travel across the continent with a skittish omega.

Amaria ducked out of my tent, her eyes casting across the group. Her shoulders dropped as she settled on Shelby, waving her over. I frowned. What was wrong with Amethyst that required both of her attendants? It was not like we were dressing for a court event. We weren’t even dressing in the royal fashion today, all of us opting for sturdy travel pants and thick cloaks as we neared the base of the formidable Staslid Mountains. Shelby lowered her head so that Amaria could whisper something to her and then she nodded. She quickly crossed the camp, avoiding the servants who were already breaking down the temporary tents and arranging the equipment on the pack horses. A new tendril of worry wove around my chest as she pulled a small, clear vial of fluid from a small saddlebag draped across her horse’s back, just behind her saddle.

Before I could find Reuben to have him check on Amethyst, Simeon and Phoebe approached, their travel bags draped across their chests, Sutton and Mallory just behind them. Sutton’s entire body sagged with exhaustion, and sympathy welled in me. To have to transport back-to-back such a long distance was an incredible drain on the body. My father must be especially worried over this news from Senona to ask it of the mage.

“Is there anything you need from us?” Simeon asked.

I focused on Phoebe. “I meant to ask you yesterday if you had any of the balm you use to keep your hands from cracking during the dry months.”

She nodded and pulled a small jar full of the opaque substance from her travel bag. As I took it, she said, “We will join you in Starguard. I’ll have a pendant fashioned for her by the time you arrive.”

To block Amethyst’s scent. Of course. How had I forgotten that it would be in everyone’s best interest to keep Amethyst’s scent from being something that might be perceived in public places? I mentally shook myself, pulling my mind from my father’s worrisome news.

“Thank you,” I murmured. “May Dolan be with you all.”

The God of Travel wasn’t one I often offered direct prayer, but it would do no harm to offer one now. The four of them nodded. Then Simeon hooked his arm with Sutton while Mallory and Phoebe mirrored the move between the two of them. A heartbeat later, two loud pops echoed through the forest, and the four of them were gone.

“Best to get eating and on our way,” Vincent murmured. “Hugh will be even more anxious to move quickly now that he must travel through Starguard.”

“Does your head hurt?”