Nick walked ahead with the stone creature and Dante. Though I possessed no magic, the power I did wield came from my position in the kingdom. For days, I walked side by side with the people I cared about, getting to know the others and how their magic worked. How anyone could create a place for hate to nest within themselves toward people with an equal amount of humanity was beyond me.
I’d be lying if I said my snarling glares toward Windguard’s high-ranking officers had been hidden well. I palmed the hilt of the dagger strapped to my hip when I thought about what Imight say to the King of Windguard when we were to inevitably meet. That slimy bastard had refused to contribute his forces to march on The Order in the north. Refused to let ours cross into his territory. Claimed we couldn’t be trusted not to enact war upon his people since we might hold resentment for his “reasonable” attack against the “criminals” of Rahana.
My grip tightened, the ridges of the metal melding perfectly with my skin. I let go, allowing my hand to fall to my side and sway with my strides when I realized my first course of action was to reach for it.
“I would give you warning if you were crossing a line you couldn’t return from.” Evenita stepped beside me.
“Are you sure you don’t read minds?” I craned my neck to assess her, a cheeky smile tugging at my lips.
“Nowthatis not a power I possess,” she retorted with a soft smile.
I had been so stunned I couldn’t form words when Evenita appeared at Highcrest, demanding that she join the army marching to Windguard. Alaina jogged to catch up to us, falling into place beside the old seer.
“Decided you want to share anything else with me yet?” she asked the seer, the perfect picture of a warrior. Her many braids sat atop her head in a knot, save for a few that fell. Her dark skin glistened in the summer sun, her toned arms exposed by her leather vest that hosted a couple throwing knives.
Evenita hummed, as if wrestling with a great decision. Then she simply replied, “No.”
Alaina released a frustrated huff. “You know, it would be helpful to understand this damned prophecy before we meet face-to-face with those wielding dark magic.”
Marco and Alaina had returned with half of Marco’s army, no less, bringing with them ancient records from before ArgoraVale fell. Alaina had been pestering Evenita about it since they reunited.
When Argora Vale was overtaken by the curse one hundred years ago, Evenita had been there. She didn’t reveal much about what happened back then, explaining that fail-safes had been created for when the day came that the Black Pool awakened again.
A single sparrow flew overhead, the only living creature besides our army that I’d seen in days. Every so often, I’d catch Evenita flashing a smile in its direction, like she greeted an old friend. It reminded me of the elderly women who would toss scraps to the seagulls along South Harbor’s beach.
“Regretting this yet?” Marco snuck up behind me, intentionally blaring the question in my ear.
I jumped, my heart pounding in my chest. “Look what could have happened to you!” I directed his attention to the raised dagger in my hand that I’d withdrawn out of instinct.
“Good thing I’m a healer.” His smile boasted his pride.
“You’re impetuous.” I rolled my eyes, sheathing my weapon—though a small part of me wanted to test how fast he could recover. “And no, not yet. Can’t imagine it’ll be long now.”
We’d almost crossed the entirety of Windguard. I glanced over my shoulder. Melody rode atop a horse, Tio on another beside her. If I believed in praying, I would have requested they spare her any trauma that might arise from facing these assholes again. This same group was responsible for almost taking her away from me. Twice.
Every fiber of my being vowed they would suffer, and she would not be lost to them a third time. Had Taja not been forced into compliance with our mission, he would have felt the first of that wrath.
Marco’s army had been the leverage we needed. Windguard’s army was greater than Highcrest’s, but once Highcrestcombined with half of Duski’s, we called the shots. Especially since his people were equally experienced fighting with magic as with a sword.
Morale among the few dozen Highcrest wielders boosted seeing the soldiers from Rahana and Duski. Over the days, our people had been practicing together. It’d been amazing to see what could be accomplished when we joined forces. This would serve as the model for the new Highcrest, the one we would create once we returned, having vanquished our foes and the threat to the kingdoms.
Or this broken world would die from the unleashed curse.
“We’re about to have a visitor,” Evenita said, cheery as ever. “I’d command your guards to put away their weapons now.”
“Never not cryptic, are you Nita?” Marco chuckled.
I projected my voice loudly. “An ally approaches. Lower your weapons.” Backs straightened, gazes keen on the still silent woods around us.
A few moments passed before rustling sounds came from ahead. Nicholas had been several paces in front of me, but returned and wrapped his arm around my back. A black shadow barreled toward us, and bile rose in my throat thinking the curse had surged.
Instead, a massive mangy beast burst forth. We remained frozen in place, except for Tio, who charged on his horse toward the creature, no weapons raised.
“Ro!” he shouted. That was when I noticed the riders atop the demonic feline. Ro slid from the beast she rode at the same time Tio dismounted before his horse had even pulled to a stop. They ran toward each other and embraced.
“Let’s go,” I said to Nick and set my hand over his, leading us to reunite with our friend.
If we’d been in danger, Evenita would have warned us, not disarmed us. I repeated that in my head over and over as finerdetails of the atrocious creature came into focus. Nick switched sides, placing himself between me and the beast. It didn’t act normal. Its bones constantly shifted beneath its onyx fur, like something roiled inside it, like it couldn’t sit still.
