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Elyria didn’t think he meant to send the words into her mind, but she heard them anyway. The realization of why Cedric was so confused came a half second later, replacing her frustration with incredulity. “Did you say Valandor?”
“I did,” Raefe said, his tone wary, the words loaded.
“The Forest of Valandor is halfway up the Midlands. Hundreds of miles from Elderglade. How—”
“Such is the power of the Veil,” murmured Elder Jung again as he shuffled past.
Sephone and Raefe both gave the elder a deferential nod. “There is a large tent in the middle that has been designated for the healers,” Sephone said. “Look for the orange flap.”
Elder Jung muttered a few low words of thanks, then turned and headed off into the woods. Elyria’s mouth gaped open when her eyes tracked past him, past the circle of surrounding trees, to the bustle of activity happening in the small clearing beyond.
Campfire smoke drifted up into the snow-covered canopy from between clusters of tents. Wide paths had already been trampled through the snow, crates stacked along the edges. Someone had even strung lantern lights between some of the trees.
This was not something that had been thrown together in the chaos of the last few hours. This was an entire campsite—prepared, preplanned.
“Jocelyn’s already in good hands, but we should get you all over there too and let the healers look you over,” said Sephone, snapping Elyria’s attention back.
“Someone had better explain what’s going on before I lose my fucking mind.”
Raefe held his hands up, palms out in supplication, as if to say, I’m not touching that one.
Sephone rolled her eyes, though her exasperation vanished as Kit stepped forward with her arms folded over her chest. “Hey there, Princess. We meet again.”
Kit rolled her mismatched eyes and jerked her head in Elyria’s direction. “You heard her. Explain. How are you here?”
Sephone shrugged. “We followed you.”
“Evidently. Why?”
“Master Tartanis did not trust you to uphold your end of the agreement.”
Kit scoffed. “Did your master forget that the only thing I promised him was that I’d pass along his message? Why would that need following up on? And not that it matters, but I most certainly did so. Ask Ellie.”
“She did,” Elyria agreed. “But she’s right, it doesn’t matter anyway. Because none of that explains how we are here right now, with an entire stars-damned campground ready and waiting for us. And in the Forest of fucking Valandor, no less?” Her voice cracked on the last few words, her shadows restless in her chest. Now that she was no longer within the boundaries of Elderglade, they were loud again. They rolled around in the cavity within her chest—anxious, waiting.
Elyria’s outburst finally seemed to stir Cedric from his dumbfounded reverie. “We were not traipsing through that passage for days. How did we cover so much ground?” he asked.
“Stars above, so many questions.” Sephone folded her arms over her chest. “Can’t you just enjoy the fact that you have our help at all?”
“No,” Kit and Elyria and Cedric all replied—simultaneously and instantaneously.
“If I may,” Shep interjected softly, and Elyria nearly jumped at the sound of his voice. Guilt prickled the back of her neck as she turned toward him—she’d forgotten he was even here. “I suggest we move this conversation inside.” He swept an arm in the general direction of the camp, and Elyria’s guilt intensified as she took in the way he shivered, rubbing at his arms. It was clear sylvans weren’t built for the cold.
“Fine,” she said, snagging Cedric’s hand and pulling him through the snow. Sid plodded along at their side for a few paces. Then, it was as if the shadowcat suddenly realized where they were, like the safety of their surroundings had finally set in. Elderglade’s protections were no longer dimming her power either, and evidently she just couldn’t wait to hop back into the shadows. So that’s exactly what she did, disappearing into the air with a final cursory glance at Elyria and a flick of her tail.
“Traitor,” Elyria muttered in her mind, and Cedric released a low chuckle behind her. Just thinking about the conversation that was about to occur, the explanations she was sure to hear, was already wearing Elyria out. But she had Cedric’s hand in hers, and her friends were here, and somehow, the peoples of Elderglade were safe.
It would have to do for now.
35
THE RULES OF THE GAME
KIT
“You’re telling me you had some secret sylvan way to fast-travel throughout Arcanis all this time?” Elyria threw her hands in the air, pacing the perimeter of the tent for the fourth—or was it fifth?—time.
“Alas, it does not work like that,” said Shep. “Manipulation of the Veil at this level is something only the most powerful among us can do. Creating this pathway required the magic of every elder in Elderglade and Verdentia combined.”
