“Are you angry with me, then? Mad that you were forced to accompany me?”
He shifted deeper into the cradle of the wide branch, resting his head against the ebony surface. “I’m afraid if I say no, I’ll be shaken from this tree and made the next meal of that thing down there. Ask me again in the morning. When I’m not so concerned with smashed brains.”
I couldn’t help but smile. It wasn’t quite the answer I was looking for. But it wasn’t the answer I wasn’t looking for either.
* * *
As terrified as Oliver was,he fell right to sleep. Soon, his head lolled to the side and soft snores rattled in his chest. I leaned into his warmth and tried to ignore the chill sinking through my muddied cloak.
I decided to let Oliver sleep while I kept watch. There weren’t just dangerous creatures on the ground to look out for; the trees could be treacherous, too.
While we traveled through Heprin, we’d been able to camp by the roadside or find refuge with a friendly family willing to house travelers for the night.
We would have none of that now. No warm fires. No hot breakfasts before we went on our way. There would be no more comfort or care until we crossed the border into Elysia.
I calculated how long that would take. If we were still on the right track… if we could find our way out of the woods in the morning... if we survived until morning…
Weeks.
We had weeks, maybe months, of travel ahead of us.
Even then we would have to figure out how to get through the Marble Wall and survive the Diamond Mountains. And all the while, we would have to keep the crown a secret. We would have to go unnoticed until we reached the only place the crown would ever be safe. Even if I wasn’t.
The journey ahead of us seemed impossible.
A chill slipped over my spine as I peered into the darkness. Much like at the tavern we’d just fled, I felt eyes on me again. Some instinct warned to be extra careful, warned that this journey was not quite the secret I hoped it would be.
But it was useless. For all my paranoia and fear, I couldn’t see beyond my feet. The darkness of the forest was too oppressive. I blinked at the surrounding branches, but nothing made itself known. If something watched us, I hoped it was as blind as I.
Eventually even the wildebeest gave up. The tree stopped shaking from its relentless charges and it wandered away.
Quiet descended on the Blood Woods, broken only by Oliver’s gentle snores. I tipped my head back and stared at the obscurity overhead. It took several minutes before I was comfortable but eventually, I managed to relax.
Whatever dangers awaited us would have to come tomorrow. My eyes grew heavy and I closed them without meaning to. I promised myself that I would rest for just a minute…
Screeching ripped through the air. I blinked awake, confused and disoriented. A raven sat at the end of the branch we had slept on. Black wings stretched and took flight as soon as my gaze landed on it. It disappeared into the weave of red leaves and clustered branches with a single caw.
More screaming pulled my attention back to the forest floor. Someone was in trouble. Someone little. A baby. Hazy light trickled through the canopy. I had slept through the night. The baby screamed again.
Panic curled in my gut and spurred me into action. My elbow found Oliver’s ribs. “Wake up!” I demanded.
He muttered something in his sleep and when I leaned forward to retie my boots, he slid behind me, banging his head against the trunk.
Still, he did not wake.
I shook his leg. “Wake up, Oliver!” I dug my fingernails into his thigh. “Wake up!”
He opened one eye. “What is it, your royal highness? Do you need your chamber pot emptied?”
“First of all, you would make a terrible servant. You should never go into the business of changing chamber pots.” His second eyelid lifted, and he gave me a sleepily sardonic smile. “Second of all, our services are needed. So move your skinny arse!”
“Our services?” He came more fully awake.
The screaming rent the air once again and I twirled my finger, indicating the sound.
“Oh.” He scurried to his feet, trying to step in either direction without success. “Oh.” I handed him his pack so he could secure it to his body. “What is that?” he asked again after listening for a minute.
“I think it’s a baby. Or a small child. Either way, it sounds as if it’s in a great deal of pain.”
