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A disgruntled grumble followed.
"Domitius will pay for this. I promise," Gray added. The mention of her father's name had Kallie digging her nails into her palms that were tied behind her back.
She was not their true goal but rather a means to an end. They wanted her father. And every fiber of her being begged her to strike the man who threatened her father's life while simultaneously making her own life seem irrelevant. But she fought the growing urge. She had no weapon, no remaining strength in her gift, and no energy. If Fynn and his comrades were the same people who had attacked Kallie's carriage, the same people who had disarmed her most talented guards, the same people who had ruthlessly slaughtered sweet Polin with no remorse. If they were the same people, she knew she could not engage them. Not when she was tied, unarmed, and weak (although she hated to admit it). She needed her strength to return before she could act.
So, she decided to bide her time and wait to strike until the gods were undeniably on her side. And based on the men’s desire to use her as a bargaining chip, her life was safe for the time being. Therefore, Kallie would not run back to her father—no, she would handle this herself. Like she was trained to do. If she could infiltrate their homeland, learn their secrets, and bring them to their knees, she would prove to her father that she was worthy.
Then when she returned, she and the king would attack and set their precious land ablaze. And Kallie and her father would learn who would truly stand by the oath they swore in the welcoming hall.
"You're right. We will stick to the plan. And then in due time, Domitius will pay for what he has done. Are Moris and his squad ready?"Fynn asked.
"They will be," Gray answered.
"Hopefully they do not run into any trouble on their way to the pier in Frenzia. That's the quickest route, so they'll be expecting us to take the princess that way."
"Yes, but we talked about this. Dani believed it was the best strategy."
Fynn sighed in response. "I suppose. The other one will be a good diversion considering they have similar builds."
Gray scoffed. "Similar enough, I suppose." His voice was tinged with hesitation and disgust. "I still think we should have gotten rid of the handmaiden."
Kallie clenched her jaw. They wouldnothurt Myra.
"She's no threat to us, Graeson. She's innocent in all of this. You know that."
Graeson grunted in response as Kallie’s muscles relaxed slightly. If Myra were to masquerade as Kallie, she would be safe. It seemed silly though. Myra's hair was blonde, her complexion paler. But Kallie supposed from the back, with the proper attire and a hood, one might mistake Myra for Kallie. They were the same height and had similar builds. It would work for a moment.
Fynn made a noise of agreement. "Unfortunately, it will take us longer to return home."
"Yes, but soon we will all be in Pontia once again and all will be well."
She restrained the smirk attempting to nudge its way onto her face. With the location confirmed, the plan formed in her head.
Recalling the maps she had spent years memorizing, they would most likely travel along the border of Kadia and Borgania. If she was correct, this would mean they would either have to go around the Alderian Mountains or traverse through them.And while she hated that Myra would be taken from her, there was no other way.
Boots clapped against the ground, twigs snapping beneath them. The stirred-up air brushed across her face. Clothes rustled as the men maneuvered around her vicinity.
Fynn whispered, "Has she woken yet, Dani?"
"No," a woman said, her closeness startling Kallie.
One of the men huffed.
"Shouldn't be much longer," said Fynn.
Kallie pretended to stir from sleep. She wrestled with the bindings since her captors would expect her to be surprised by her current predicament. Thankfully, she was a good actress. She grumbled in annoyance when the rope didn't give and found the three individuals staring at her from the other side of the fire. Fynn, Gray, and Dani—the woman whom Kallie had fought—each sat on tree stumps.
Fynn looked down his nose at her as he sat with his legs spread and his head propped on his hand, appearing bored. Flames flickered in his brown eyes and highlighted the shades of gold within his irises.
Kallie coughed. "You all look terrible."
They didn’t respond, only stared at her. Unmoving.
The fire crackled and popped. An ember flew out and, for a moment, it danced in the air. As the ember danced its final performance, its bright orange color faded into the air. In its path, a white flake remained, its momentum long gone without the support of the heat beneath it. Her gaze followed its movements as it swayed, side to side. It floated down, then disintegrated onto the dirt by Kallie's outstretched feet.
She looked back at Fynn, raising her eyebrow. "If you're going to tie my hands, you could at least make it interesting."
Fynn rolled his eyes, and Dani snorted beside him as Gray poked the fire with a stick. The air became taught as tensions grew between the four of them.
