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Chapter 53
Tunnel Vision
After a stop by a bakery at the edge of town, Tes and Ber started along the well-worn path running beside the road. The dirt was packed hard beneath their feet from the countless people who’d trod this way before, and the cobblestones beside them had been worn smooth over time. Yet today, few carts passed by them, and they had the trail to themselves. Fear had already pervaded the countryside.
“It’ll be short-lived,” Ber observed. “I imagine that tomorrow, the roads will be full of refugees.”
Tes took an absent bite of bread. “It doesn’t make sense, though. Why wait? The fear in the village was palpable, and they have only Toren’s word that refugees will be the only thing going through the portal. I would’ve expected them to flee immediately.”
But as soon as she said the words, she knew the truth.Of coursethey worried more about being in Centoi than they did the possibility of Toren breaking his word. The Llyalian king had the trust of many, and not only amongst his own people. King Ryenil, however, didn’t even have the full trust of his military officers.
“Maybe they’re hoping Toren will sweep through and save them,” Tes muttered. “What is the king thinking, failing to provide adequate payment to a high-ranking member of the army?Anymember of the army?”
Ber scowled. “Though I knew about the unfortunate village the captain mentioned, I was not aware that the king had been shorting the army of funds. That is madness.”
She didn’t want to think about how many other things her father had neglected, but soon, she wouldn’t have a choice about considering such problems. It would take her decades—if not centuries—to repair the damage his greed had wrought. How had her people borne it? And to think she’d once been worried about Ria. Hah. She and Ber should have told everyone in that line to the portal to stay in Llyalia.
“It saddens me that so many had to come back here,” Tes said softly. “And that’s a devastating thought. I should be thrilled that our people have safely returned in advance of war, but it’s the opposite. They won’t be guarded as they should be.”
“Captain Eledae seemed a decent sort,” Ber said.
Tes released a long sigh. “You know there are many who aren’t.”
“I do.” Her husband’s gaze flicked her way before his attention returned to the trail. “I absolutely do. But our people are resilient, and the good outnumber the bad. I would have urged you to flee already if it weren’t otherwise.”
Our people.She’d never heard him lay claim to the people of Centoi in such a clear way before. “We’ll save them.”
His fingers twined with hers. “Yes, we will.”
They walked on in relative silence, only the rustle of the swaying trees and the gentle chirping of birds accompanying them for the most part. But as the day wore closer to evening, a few more carts drove by, and a couple of them held small groups of refugees. Tes did her best to shrug off the odd stares cast theirway. If they suspected her and Ber, she wouldn’t give them a reason to continue by acting worried.
The light grew dim and the sparse trees began to thicken as they finally approached the forest. Tes’s feet and back both ached, and exhaustion weighed her down with each step. Unfortunately, she would just have to build her endurance because there was no telling how much she would have to do in the coming days. She couldn’t overthrow the king from the comfort of some estate—or even a tent.
She had to be there.
“It’s taking longer than I expected,” Ber said, loudly enough that their fellow travelers could have heard—if there’d been any. “We’ve just now reached the Wenalk Forest. Perhaps we should seek a nice clearing to spend the night.”
Tes lifted a brow. “With no tent?”
There was, of course, a utilitarian canvas tent folded and stowed in Ber’s bag, but if there was any chance of being observed, it was better to play the helpless traveler. Her husband must have agreed, for he tugged her closer with a grin. “I’ll keep you warm, love.”
“Hah.” She nudged him playfully with her elbow. “That’s well and good, but what about wild animals?”
“There’s as much possibility of encountering those on the trail at night,” he pointed out. “Come, dearest. I know you’re tired after such a difficult day. You need to rest yourself beside a nice warm fire so you’ll have the energy tomorrow to reach our destination.”
She let her shoulders slump. “Fine. I’ll give it a try.”
As soon as they saw a thin trail of a path, they ducked into the forest. The thick branches overhead blotted out most of the remaining light, forcing Tes to pause so her eyes could adjust. Soon enough, though, they plunged forward into the murky darkness. The already narrow path thinned further, making itimpossible to walk side-by-side, and Ber slipped in front of her before she could protest.
Not that she’d had any intention of doing so. Her husband loved to protect, and this was a small enough way for him to do so. Besides, her muscles felt heavy and clumsy with exhaustion. She might have been accustomed to an hour or two of training, but she hadn’t exactly spent half a day walking across the countryside. While pregnant, no less.
In retrospect, they should have considered renting horses, even if it had meant searching longer for a path in. The forest was too dense for villages on this side, but surely, there was a small road through. The southern end of the Wenalk did have a couple of towns near the edge. But then again, they didn’t have to worry about caring for livestock, either.
They walked for what could have been hours or minutes, the darkness deepening. Ber drew the small light marble she’d given him from his pocket, and Tes had to squint against even that tiny glow. But it helped her to see more details in the forest surrounding the overgrown trail. The trees here grew fairly close, and thick brush filled the gap between them, making the path feel more like a corridor than anything.
She settled her hand on the hilt of her knife as her husband continued forward again. It was simply too eerie, the quiet stretch of wall-like forest. It felt too much like a trap. She didn’t think it likely that the Aony soldiers would allow bandits to remain in the area, either, so if there was trouble, it would come from a greater force.
Like Duchess Aony, if betrayal played a role.
