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“That’s Midnight. She’s a good, reliable horse, not easily spooked.”
The two of us approached the mare, and Mais reached out to brush her fingers along her snout. The horse nudged her, blinking slowly. For the briefest of seconds, I could have sworn the horse’s eyes were a deep, otherworldly purple, but it was gone in a flash, so quickly that I thought that I might have imagined it.
I was probably just tired and a little hungry, so I shook it off.
Mais put her boot into the stirrup and pushed herself up into the saddle. She offered me a hand, and I took it, sitting behind her and holding onto her waist.
“To Sorrenthiel, then?”
“To Sorrenthiel,” I confirmed. I took a deep breath as she flicked the reins, and the horse immediately responded. She started with a slow walk, and when Mais clicked her tongue, Midnight took off in a swift canter, straight towards the valley in the mountains.
* * *
Over the next few days, Mais and I traveled together towards the mountain pass. She had plenty of food and supplies stored in her saddlebags, so we made camp each night with a fire and a few pieces of jerky, fruit, and bread. Her company was enjoyable, but I found myself missing Roken more with each passing nightfall.
I missed his sweet and caring nature, especially when he saw to my needs without me having to say anything at all. I was still wearing one of the outfits he’d found within the treetop village, and I fingered the soft fabric, wishing it was his hands on my skin instead.
On the third day, we stopped just outside the entrance to the mountain pass to camp. We’d slept under the light of the stars and awakened with the vibrant glow of the rising sun.
“The way will get more dangerous from here on out,” Mais said quietly.
As we traveled, I noticed that the plains before the mountains were quiet and strangely devoid of life. I looked towards the two peaks Mais had pointed out and then down to the entryway of the pass. It was surrounded by a deep wooded forest, casting it in shadow even in the morning light. I glanced into the darkness, uneasy at the mystery of what lay beyond.
“Do you have any idea of what could be waiting for us?”
“Yes and no. I know the path, at least in theory. Not really though, because the spelled defenses are known to shift. One day, there might be acid rain, and another there could be a bridge that is there but not really there. Every step will matter,” she explained.
Wrapping my arms around my knees, I stared into the flickering flames of the fire. It was much smaller than the night before, but the dying embers were still glowing with heat.
“If everything goes according to plan, how much longer will it take to get to the keep?”
“Should we not get lost along the way, we will arrive in Sorrenthiel by nightfall.”
I took a deep breath and stood up, gathering my things and tucking them into the spare pack that Mais had given me. She followed suit and untied Midnight with a heavy sigh.
“From here on out, we travel on foot,” she murmured, and I nodded, watching as she removed the reins and the saddle from the faithful horse. When she was done, Midnight nickered, and Mais talked in soothing tones. Once she finished speaking, the mare reared up and stomped her feet on the ground before taking off across the plain to the west. I watched her for a long moment before turning back to my companion. She nodded once, indicating that she was ready.
“Shall we?” I asked, trying to remain brave even in the face of whatever unknown dangers lay ahead.
“Let’s go!” Mais exclaimed.
CHAPTER15
Roken
I’d done what I’d set out to do. Sophia would be in safe hands now, but still, something didn’t feel right. A very big part of me didn’t want to let her go. Icy cold surrounded my heart, and I tried to remain calm.
Sophia could stay here and live a life free of me. Eldoria had turned into a thriving metropolis since the fall of Taverna. It was ruled by elves, but a great many humans, dwarfs and all manner of creatures lived within its gates. Much of it was hidden in the woods, but that was a purposeful defense tactic that had worked well to keep the trickling forces of Helheim at bay for a long time.
Even though the city was strong, they were unprepared for what was coming. Helheim had sent an army through the rift, and it was hell bent on destroying the stronghold of the realm.
Queen Isolde was a smart woman. She’d realize that soon enough.
She had ruled in my steed ever since I’d stepped away from my position as king. She’d been there during the destruction of the old capital, leading my people to safety through a series of underground tunnels in the mountains. She was a good queen, a fair one, and she’d kept my people alive and far away from me. She’d protected them, and I was thankful to see it for myself. But this was close enough.
I needed to put distance between us once again.
The elves had escorted me a few miles away from the city. Not a single one had lowered their bow, keeping it nocked and steady on me the entire time. I didn’t blame them. I was Dragonborne, a powerful, magical creature that could render their city to the ground should I wish it.
