AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The moment you’re certain the king’s in your direction, you halt, if you’re not with me. Wait for reinforcement, is that clear?” I demand. None of my companions like my order, but they nod. They know better than to engage Alev alone. “Rhea, you can stay in Lower Eastview.”
Vessorian is the first to send me a surprised, slightly disapproving glare.
“What?” she whispers with a mixture of shock and confusion. “I can keep up.”
Keep up? She has the best horse and rides with more ease than any of us. “No doubt. But I can’t protect you. Go. You’re following my directives.” I ignore the tremor inside me. I know she’ll disappear. She’s a prisoner given a shot at safety. “No harm will come to your friends. Just go.”
“No. No way. I want to see. Ideserveto follow this through.” She seems determined, and in truth, I don’t have time to convince her.
What I can do is test her resolve.
“Fine. Alrion’s in charge of your safety. We’ll head inland.” My horse is faster; taking the farthest option makes sense.
Silver and Vess and swerve east behind Lark. None of us are delighted with the turn of events, reducing our party to vulnerable trios.
We have to stop the monster destroying my kingdom—and his—sullying my name and using people like Rhea, and to my frustration, he’s one step ahead. We’re running out of time.
39
RHEA
I knew Doryn was slowing down for the sake of the others, but I didn't realize how much until he encourages his horse to race as fast as he could go. The mare is magnificent, flying at full speed through the endless fields. My own steed follows his sister, and the air crashes against my skin at their impossible swiftness. Shoal is delighted to finally be allowed to show off—he catches up with Folia, and soon overtakes her. We leave Alrion so far behind, I’m not sure he’ll catch up.
If we’d been with everyone else, we’d have needed to take a break or two, but these two horses are barely winded. My ass can’t say the same. I change position ten times, but after hours of keeping up, nothing’s helping. We’ve left the fields for the steep hills when I’m about to swallow my pride and beg for a break when the horses come to a sudden halt, at the peak of the mount.
Day’s given way to night again, either because we’re far enough north into Nyxar or because we’ve ridden until dusk—likely, both. At first, I don’t understand what I’m seeing, my eyes adapting to the darkness again, but I suddenly see much better than I would have a week ago, my night vision surprisingly clear.
We’re right on top of an encampment, rows upon rows of dark tents erected at the base of the hill. I don’t see a single soul anywhere. It’s completely deserted. The wind blows, and I see a dark flag billowing softly.
Both horses seem reluctant to continue, so Doryn dismounts, before handing me Folia’s reins. “Stay here.”
My stomach drops. I shake my head. He can’t go in there by himself. This place is giving me the creeps, though I’d be hard-pressed to pinpoint why.
“Alrion isn’t far behind; you’ll be safe,” he assures me.
“You don’t know what’s down there.”
“The camp is empty, and I gave no order to attack—they were provoked into moving with their horses. I need to see if they left any clue about their direction.”
That sounds reasonable, except… “It doesn’t feel right,” I murmur, unease still coating my skin. “If you think there’s no danger, we should go together.”
Doryn sighs. “I never said there was no danger.”
“I can take care of myself,” I insist. I don’t want him to leave me alone here, and I sure as hell don’t want him to venture into this ghost camp alone.
“Fine.” I sense he doesn’t want to take the time to argue, for all that he disagrees with me.
Doryn remains on foot, guiding both horses down the hill. I tense as we cross into the camp, but nothing jumps out of the shadow and mist. We make our way to the largest tent, the one bearing the flags. The interior is luxurious—a large wooden table covered with maps and tokens, a pitcher of wine, and ornate goblets. I ignore it all, zeroing in on the basin in one corner of the room, to wash up. I gasp in triumph, finding a bar of soap. I’ve had few chances to bathe in the last few days.
Doryn prioritizes the maps, mulling over it as I brush the lavender-scented cleanser on my armpits. “Nothing. They should be here, according to this.”
“Would they truly show their movements and leave their positions like that?”
He shakes his head. “No, whatever message would be coded—but this is the drake's foot company, and their token is exactly where we are.”
He looks so despondent.
I toss him the soap, if only to distract him. “Trust me, you need it.”
