Dawn was almost upon them.They had to leave, soon, before the village woke. Terena stalked down an alley behind the tavern and out onto the street dead-ending at the stables. She stopped and looked for the house with the green awning.
“Do not do anything reckless,” Rydon hissed over her shoulder. She hadn’t paid him any mind, feeling the heat of his anger on her back while they’d walked. Instead, she focused on the man who had stolen into the night and almost gotten them all killed.
“Get our horses ready,” she replied. She spotted the house to the left of the stables, the green awning washed out in the pre-dawn gloom, but it was the only one in the area with any awning at all. “I hadn’t thought you so squeamish, mercenary,” she added before striding across to the house.
Rydon grabbed her arm and swung her around. Quick as a snake, Terena lashed out, grasping his throat, squeezing her fingers enough his chin popped up.
“You have strange ethics, lord. Do not stand in the way of my justice.”
“You will make the emperor’s claims true if you continue down this path,” Rydon snarled at her.
“Terena, please,” Gabriol pleaded, coming up to Rydon’s side. “We came to your aid at significant risk. Do not let it be in vain. We must leave. Now.”
Terena continued to scowl at Rydon before dropping her hand. He took a step back, and she caught the look of disappointment in his eyes before he turned, his hand to his throat, and headed for the stables. Sonah stood there, anxiously watching them.
Terena cursed, but decided against going after the man who’d brought the emperor’s men. Against her better judgement, she followed Rydon. Gabriol brought up the rear reluctantly.
The shadows were fading, so they made fast work of saddling the horses. Terena hitched her food bag to the saddle, then tugged on the reins, walking Nyx out into the street. The others followed close behind.
As they neared the back gate, a man emerged from the house withthe awning. Terena and the man locked eyes, and she cursed when she saw recognition.
“Alarm!”
At the man’s shrieking, they rode away. Terena swore, pinching her lips in frustration. She knew she should’ve taken care of that weasel.
Damn Rydon!
She rode hard down the path leading out of the village, then turned sharply left when they came out onto the Greek road heading south.
A small copse of trees came into view on the horizon and Terena dug her heels in, urging her mount faster. They tore across the valley as the sun rose ever higher. She leaned low, whispering words of encouragement to Nyx, praising the mare when they finally reached the woods. She slowed, waiting for the others to catch up.
“You ride like Artemis,” said Gabriol, his words labored as he panted. She turned as they pulled up beside her, Gabriol wearing a grin that almost made him handsome. Rydon still scowled.
“I let him live because of you and now we need to work much harder to disappear!”
“Oh, this ismyfault,” Rydon scoffed. He jumped off his horse and spat. “You’ve been reckless since the moment we rescued you! And what thanks did we get, huh? You’ve been surly and ungrateful ever since we found you!”
“I am being hunted like an animal for a crime I did not commit andyou’rethe wounded party?” Terena, too, dismounted and strode to stand toe to toe with Rydon. “My lo—my prince was murdered, and I blamed for it, but of course, let me stop and thank you properly.” With that, she hauled back and punched him.
Sonah gasped and stepped back, bumping into Gabriol. Terena had a moment’s satisfaction as Rydon’s head snapped back, his eyes wide with shock. Blood flooded his cheeks as he roared and came at her, Gabriol’s solid form stepping between them, stopping him.
“You will both get us killed,” yelled Gabriol. His face, too, was beet red, his blue eyes narrowed, and shot them both a disgusted look. “Youare children scrapping andweare fugitives on the run! So we mustbeon the run! Now!”
He shoved them both, hard, and left them panting behind him. He mounted his horse and turned it as he looked down at them. “Get your shit together, both of you. Kill each other when we reach the north. Until then, we need each other.”
Terena smothered a curse before striding off toward her horse. She mounted and rode away. She heard the others behind her as she leaned low over Nyx, urging her faster.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Ahawk soared above. Terena followed it with her eyes, up and up. Just then, clouds separated to reveal a building, a temple perhaps, columns gleaming so bright in the sunlight it hurt to look at.
Terena squinted, hoping for another glimpse of the temple. Her breath caught tight in her chest as another cloud passed, blocking the sun’s rays before obscuring the view of the building and the surrounding lush greenery. She held her hand to her forehead, shading her eyes. Her mouth dropped open as she realized there was no way to get to the top.
She looked around. There was no path to be found.
“How do I get up there?”
“Do not think on that now,” a voice at her shoulder said.
