For the first time since she began revealing her snake-like treachery, she held a hint of composure. Her blue eyes bore into me with resolve. “It wasn’t worth the risk.”
She may as well have slapped me across the face. While grappling with the reality of my situation, I fought off the creeping insecurities that shadowed my heart. Maybe I served no greater purpose than being a lamb herded by a monstrous shepherd, despite trying to do something worth a damn.
“Ro, I didn’t have a choice.” That pathetic quiver returned to her voice, one that painted a pretty picture that she actually felt remorse.
Blazing anger shone from my eyes. “Actually, you did.” Not able to spend another moment looking at her, I pivoted into the trees, storming off and breaking twigs beneath my furious pace.
“I’m sorry!” she called out, but I only continued forward, slashing at claws formed by branches until I knew I was far enough away. When my lungs were on the brink of bursting, and my spinning thoughts came to a head, I crumbled to my knees. Burying my face in my cut up hands, feeling constricted by a sick twist of fate, I sobbed.
23
Ro
Ibarely slept. How had everything become such an astronomical mess in such a short amount of time? I’d been lied to, deceived, made to believe our camp fell under the threat of attack, all to serve me on a golden platter to the morally degenerate King of Windguard.
Any relief over being removed from Taja’s sickening presence for this task fizzled into smoke because now I traveled with the person who’d set me up in the first place. She’d babbled in a hysterical fit last night, apologizing and cursing herself for ever believing the wicked king.
Should I feel guilty for the little part of me that reveled in her immediate karma of winding up right alongside me? It was the least she should pay for her penance.
After thoroughly ignoring her pleas and cries, she’d eventually stopped and retreated to her sleeping area. No comfortable grassy plains for us, but at least the concealed pocket was off the main road. While I figured chances of running into someone wayup here were slim, I knew whoever we found would most likely not be friendly.
The sun began its rise, and I already dreaded the day ahead. My body ached from days of relentless travel in the warming summer heat, then the sleep on this uneven ground. I’d been surprised to find a thin sheet for both of us in the provision pack. It did nothing for comfort, but marginally aided against the night's plummeting temperature. The night would have been easier to get through if Alba and I utilized body heat, but I wanted her nowhere near me. Instead, I’d let my rage be my warmth.
It didn’t work very well.
I groaned as I sat up, my muscles protesting along with me. Braxius untucked from my side and stretched his little dragon limbs. While fighting to manage a somewhat tolerable position last night overtop the uneven patch of grass, he at least brought me a tiny bit of comfort. I ran my hand over his head and down his scaly back. He arched like a cat under my touch and I chuckled softly.
The stark quiet we found ourselves in screamed its reminder of our mission. Hardly any creatures remained, but even in the quiet, it was like a blanket of unease settled over the land. I buried my snarl at the king, that he’d sent us in nearly blind to a situation clearly out of the ordinary. While wriggling out of my bedroll, I noticed a tiny gathering of berries on a leaf at my side, and beside that, a nearly ripe miraja.
Alba must have found a bushel nearby. I may have been furious, but I scarfed down the offering, humming as the delicious juices hit my tongue. Maybe not perfectly ripe, but still fresher than the ones the soldiers had provided. Not an acceptance of her apology, not by a long shot, but it was best to save our protein rations if we could find food along the way to tide us over. I had a sinking feeling that the deeper we traveledinto this strained forest, the harsher the conditions would become.
Braxius looked so cute with one full berry between his tiny clawed hands as he chomped with all the ferociousness of a marshmallow. Once I finished, my fingertips slightly stained purple, the ground littered with miraja leaves, I packed my supplies and slipped away to relieve myself. Upon my return, Alba stood ready and waiting. That delightful gleam in her eye over seeing the berries gone had me clenching my fist. It took more restraint than I was proud of to stop it from kissing her jaw.
“Grab your shit. Let’s go.” I hauled our pack over my back and marched past her. She irritatingly stayed right on my heels as we emerged onto the main road. Her very presence made my blood boil. Thankfully, she’d been struck by wisdom and said nothing as we continued our trek.
I kept my bow in hand on the off chance we ran into someone, or something, threatening. Even Braxius remained on alert, occasionally slipping worried thoughts into my mind. I could feel the little dragon’s tension as he continually rotated between perching on my shoulder or scoping the road ahead. He was anxious. It made the thought of sending him away even more uncertain, so I decided I’d rather he stayed until things felt more clear.
Recycling anger fueled every step as I fell into thoughtless, rhythmic strides, letting the aches and pains melt away with every thud against the ground. Only when I started feeling lightheaded did I stop to hydrate from the dwindling canteen.
That was quickly becoming our biggest problem. A lack of water.
Alba leaned forward, hands resting on her knees to keep herself upright. If I had to guess, I’d say we’d been walking for nearly three hours, judging by the position of the sun. Mybillowing green shirt clung to me from the excessive moisture and sweat dripping down my back as the day’s heat steadily increased. Luckily, the tree cover provided distinct relief when the shadows passed over us.
Alba wobbled, on the brink of heaving if I read her body language correctly. My first reaction was ‘good, let her suffer.’ Then a stupid wave of compassion crashed over me, remembering that her body was not primed for this. Her light skin was heated and pink, and the gray’s muddling her hair flew in all directions from the humidity. Her burgundy shirt with applique designs around the v-neck darkened in splotchy patches, and I assessed her need for water was soon going to be dire. “Let’s take a break,” I said, dropping our pack and sitting on the side of the road.
I heard her body crumble to the ground, but didn’t glance in her direction.
“Can you see if there’s a water source nearby?” I asked Braxius.
“You got it.” He zipped off into the forest. After about fifteen minutes, he came back, letting me know there was a quarry up the road, not far from where we currently rested. In a rush of relief, my body turned liquid and splayed over the ground. I laughed into the eerily silent woods as Braxius flew circles over me in shared excitement.
Finally, a stroke of good luck. I was due.
My lightened mood immediately soured when we stared at the vast expanse of the obstacle before us. It appeared someone had leveraged the quarry as a water source, because they’d barricaded anyone south from reaching it. Felled trees blockedthe path, meaning the only route to the quarry, and north, was cut off.
Had there been one or two downed trees, we could have skirted them easily, but this was no small task. Whoever did this wanted to ensure access was restricted, or at the very least that their message was clear: ‘this is our territory, stay away’.
“You didn’t think to tell me about that?” I pointedly asked Braxius.
