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“You’re welcome,” River announced, appearing beside me.
“Hey, did you need that personal item?” I asked her, ignoring the intrusion, afraid it was something I needed to get used to. “I meant to ask you last night, but you were asleep pretty early. Do we still have time?”
River reached into her pocket and retrieved a silver chain. “Ash gave this to me when I woke up. Said it should be personal enough.”
I stared through watery eyes at Father’s Denalian ID Tag. All soldiers wore one. I reached for it in awe, carefully cradling it against my chest. I figured they’d destroyed it when they executed him and that it was lost forever.
“How did you get this?” My voice cracked as I rubbed my thumb over the engraving of Father’s name. The Denalian symbol, top center, was raised. The rest of the words were the reverse. Father's name was pushed into the metal.
River rolled her eyes. “I told you. Ash gave it to me this morning.” She pushed me towards the fire, where Griffin appeared to be making breakfast. “Go get some coffee. You need to wake up.”
I did need some coffee, and I did need to wake up, so I didn’t fight her pushing. I asked over my shoulder, “How’d he get it?”
“How in the Goddess’ name would I know that?” River asked, then chuckled. “Yes, I know you hate me worse in the mornings. Everyone does.”
“That’s not true.” E.Z. grinned at her as he approached. He’d been packing the bedrolls onto the horses. “I hate you equally all the time.”
I smacked his stomach as I walked by. “Be nice,” I commanded.
He oomphed, not expecting the hit, but turned instantly, slinging his arm over my shoulder. “So, you wake up feisty. I like that in a woman.”
“Get off,” I laughed, elbowing him in the side and giving him a light shove. “We’ve talked about this. I am not a morning person.”
“Griffin,” E.Z. yelled right next to my ear. “Please tell me the coffee is ready.”
“It’s ready,” Griffin replied as we reached him.
E.Z. turned his grin on me, his arm still slung over my shoulder. His grin deepened before he turned back to Griffin.
“Please give my Kaia Claimette—” he grunted when I elbowed him again, “—some coffee. She has a long ride ahead of her, and she gets violent—” He was cut off by another elbow before finishing his sentence with a chuckle, “— when she hasn’t had coffee.”
Griffin looked at me, then back to E.Z. before shaking his head and rummaging around at his feet. He stood with a cup, filling it from a canister beside the fire.
I eagerly reached for the cup with a grateful smile and took a sip immediately.
I secured Father’s ID around my neck and slid it under my tunic for safekeeping. Immediately, my magic cut off. I felt hollow and empty. Despite that, having the cool metal over my heart was a treasure. Reaching up, I grabbed it through my clothes, just like I used to do with Mother’s necklace. Having a part of Father with me felt right.
“You’re not using your magic.” Griffin continued his perusal. “It worked. I don’t see a trace of it.”
“I feel the loss.” I considered how to explain the feeling. “It’s weird. I have never felt like this before, even without magic. But now, I can feel that something is missing.” I shrugged. “So, what’s the plan? When do we leave?” I asked, my nose buried in the mug. The steam rose and warmed my cheeks. I’d always loved the smell.
“We will pack up camp and leave. The sooner we leave, the longer E.Z. will have to scope out the place,” Griffin responded.
“Where are we going exactly?” They discussed that all last night, but I was out of it during that conversation. Too busy freaking out.
“Garberon is the capital of Earth,” Aiden explained as he approached, nodding to Griffin as he accepted a cup of his own. “We will cross the border to Earth in about fifteen miles and then have another ten more to go. It should be a reasonably easy journey. We can take major roads. River will add an extra layer of protection while we travel. Anyone looking for us will be on the lookout for a female and four males. Not two males and two females. Ash and Griff will have to take side roads and cut-throughs to avoid detection, but they can meet us after.”
“I have family this way. We will touch base with them and other trusted contacts,” Griffin expanded. “Some travel to the capital often. They should be able to tell us if any information has filtered down to the villages, give us an idea of what’s happening at the capital and what to expect.”
“You will ride with me.” E.Z. grinned down at me. “It’ll be so nice. You’re all cuddly. You keep me warm when you ride me.” His grin only grew as my eyebrow rose. It made my cheeks pull back into a smile. He was so fantastically annoying.
“I don’t need to ride you, E.Z..” I leaned into him, purposefully also leaving out the word ‘with.’ “I have my own horse now.”
E.Z. released me and stepped back, glaring. “Oh no, we can’t have you alone at a time like this. What if we need a quick getaway?” He shook his head, appalled. “No. Having you with me is safest. I’m the best rider among us.”
“No, you're not,” Griffin grumbled.
“And you heard Ash, stick to your side. Never leave you.” I hadn’t heard that, but since I blocked out most of their conversation the night before, that made sense. “He’ll kill me if you fall off your horse or get lost in the escape. Plus, I’m your Keeper. Let me keep you.”
