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“I see,” he says, bouncing his finger between the two of us. “Haven’t worked with you in a while.”
“I thought you might enjoy my company,” I tease.
We start our route, heading east along the invisible line we’ve mapped out. Other than the mushrooms, there are no markers to let anyone know where the path is.
We walk for only a few minutes before Garben grows uneasy.
“The forest is quiet today,” he mutters, observing the trees with suspicion.
I tilt my head, listening for sound, but there is nothing. No animals mewling. No bugs buzzing. No birds chirping.
“Do you feel anything?” I inquire, pushing my senses beyond us into the forest. I can’t project my power as far as Connak can, so I draw back and focus on what’s closest to us.
“Just unease.” Garben replies.
He stops walking mid-step and turns toward the west. I follow his line of sight, squinting into the forest.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I’m not sure,” he mumbles. “Where are the hunting parties today?”
“Far east,” I answer. “Closer to the Dwellers’ territory.”
Garben casts a quick glance in my direction. “And Connak?”
“Connak isn’t out today,” I tell him. “Do you think it’s a beast?”
“No. Someone is coming,” Garben whispers, leaning forward. “Can’t you hear them?”
I strain to hear even the faintest snap of twigs or crunch of decaying leaves... But I can’t hear what Garben hears. I don’t share his abilities.
“Should we double back?” I inquire, resting my hand on his shoulder. “You feel something. I don’t want to dismiss that.”
“Yeah,” Garben responds, his brows creasing with concern. “Just a little ways up. Not far.”
We move down the path, not twenty paces from where we started our shift, when I hear the first sound. It isn’t something usual for the forest around our territory. A slight whooshing sound carries toward us. It reminds me of the way Ada’s skirts sound when she’s briskly walking.
A long moment of silence passes between us before Garben straightens his shoulders, tension tightening his muscles.
Out of the thick underbrush, a woman glides our way. Her short, dark blonde hair flows around her face, illuminating vivid green eyes. There’s something about her that is familiar, though I can’t immediately place where I’ve seen her.
She stops abruptly, glancing from Garben to me several times. It appears as if she wasn’t expecting to meet anyone on her journey, like… seeing us in the middle of the forest is possibly a problem for her.
It takes her mere seconds to recover, but I’m keenly aware that the smile plastered on her face is an illusion.
“I seek passage to speak with Queen Isolde,” she states, her tone regal.
I study her behavior, from her flaring nostrils to the hard set of her eyes, and I don’t like what I see.
I twist my head toward Garben without letting her slip from my sight. “Go get Prince Ecaeris.”
Garben nods, and without another word, he bolts through the forest, weaving his way between the trees until I can no longer hear the direction in which he’s running.
The woman narrows her eyes, glaring at me. “I asked to speak with the queen.”
“He will escort her out here,” I reply.
“You won’t take me to meet my dear friend?” she purrs, her left cheek lifting in a smirk.
