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“I am on your side, and I want to help us win.”
The woman frowned. “Do you truly know what side you are on? Or even what side I am on?”
I stepped closer. “What does that mean?”
She pursed her lips together.
“I need your help.”
“I cannot help you.”
“I think you can.”
“Why?”
“Because. . .Ressi told me to come here and speak to a person wearing red around a lot of white cats.”
She smirked. “Have you been smoking Zumayan mushrooms?”
“I need your help.”
She chuckled.
“I will not leave you alone.”
She stopped laughing.
“Please. . .”
She let out a long sigh. “It’s dangerous to speak about this here. The wrong person could hear us.”
What is going on?
“Okay.” I bobbed my head. “I understand. Is there somewhere we can go to talk?”
She tapped her foot over and over, telling me that she must have been nervous. “There’s a place not too far from here. It’s safe. We would need to go through the forest.”
“You lead the way, and I will follow several feet behind you.”
“Okay, but please do me a favor.” The woman slowly pulled out a black scarf from her pocket, placed the scarf behind her, and dropped it on the ground. “Use this to cover your hair.”
I picked up the black scarf and wrapped it around my head, hiding my red hair as much as possible. “How about this?”
The woman nodded and headed away from the cages.
Waiting, I kept my gaze on her and made sure several feet was between us before I followed.
Please, let this help me.
Chapter 28
The Heart Mage
Camille
Keeping a good distance away from the woman, I followed her through the Mystic Market.
All around male fire mages performed for crowds. The heat from the fire mages’ displays warmed my skin. Flames snapped and crackled as they leapt through the air and came to life around their wrists and arms, spitting and clawing at their flesh.
The darkening sky lit up with bright orange explosions, and trails of thick white smoke billowed in their aftermath. Their shows were both captivating and terrifying.
Fire will be helpful in the war.
Far in the back of the market, the woman began to lead me away from the festive atmosphere.
We’re leaving the market.
My nerves flared, but I continued forward. I must find the answers to my questions. I checked the darkening sky, aware that if my kings had not woken up yet, they would be awake soon.
Everything will be fine.
We stepped away from the market, and the flavors and sounds that had drawn me in earlier were starting to disappear from my senses.
The once vibrant scents of spices and fragrant sweets gave way to the earthy aroma of damp soil and the fresh scent of leaves.
The musical laughter and lively chatter faded, replaced by the soft whispers of the wind rustling through the trees and the distant hoot of an owl.
Soon, the bright colors and dazzling lights were gone too, transformed by the muted shades of a darkening forest.
My heart raced.
Is this some sort of trap?
Doubts swirled in my mind, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that this might be a trap. I placed my hand in the pocket of my robe and gripped my dagger, its familiar weight offering a small comfort.
The trees around us seemed to reach for the sky. Their gnarled branches twisted and tangled like ancient guardians. Shadows danced on the ground, and the forest floor was carpeted in a soft layer of moss and fallen leaves, which muffled our footsteps as we ventured deeper into the woods.
A subtle glow emanated from luminescent plants and insects, casting an eerie, otherworldly light on our surroundings.
The air was cool and damp.
Every breath I took tasted of the rich, loamy earth.
The further we walked, the more I realized that this forest was not only dark but steeped in magic, its secrets waiting to be discovered.
“Where are we going?” I asked hesitantly, my voice barely audible. The sudden change in scenery made me uneasy, and my nerves began to get the better of me.
The further we went into the woods, the more serene and tranquil it became.
There is no one here. Why hasn’t she stopped to talk?
Up ahead, she continued, never glancing over her shoulder.
I found myself teetering on the edge of terror and excitement. With every step we took deeper into the unknown, I knew that the stakes were rising.
Ambi. Ressi. Did I pick the wrong person?
I tried to calm my racing thoughts, reminding myself that I had come this far and could not turn back now. But still, fear gnawed at me, and I wondered if I would come to regret following this mysterious woman into the heart of the dark forest.
Then suddenly, I lost sight of the woman in the dim light and shadows.
No.
I stopped and pulled my dagger out, readying myself to fight if necessary.
Where did she go?
