Arrick had seemed peaceful enough. Even if he was lying about why he wanted to accompany us, I still didn’t believe he meant us physical harm.
So that must have been why my eyes closed so easily and my mind stopped spinning.
That must have been why sleep chased me so successfully and why I had absolutely no trouble drifting away.
All the while wondering if this was damnation.
Or if Arrick could be salvation.
9
“Tessana!”
I jolted awake, curling my fists into claws.
“It’s me!” Oliver rushed to assure me. “Just me.”
I struggled to catch my breath, panting as memories of the previous day infiltrated my sleepy fog.
My heart pounded, running a race it would never win.
Oliver’s face came into focus and I reached out to smooth the worried lines across his forehead. “I’m okay,” I told him.
His voice was raspy with sleep, “Can you remember anything?”
I shook my head and rubbed at bleary eyes. “Nothing. Nothing but birds and blood and…” There was something there, just at the cusp of my mind. I closed my eyes and tried to reach for it, hold onto it. It disappeared, like smoke sucked up a chimney. “Nothing. Birds and blood. That’s all.”
“Birds.” Oliver sat back on his heels. “That is one of your stranger fears, princess.”
I smiled before shushing him. “I never said I was afraid of birds! At least not while I’m awake.”
We were silent for a long moment, thinking on the odd nightmares that had followed me since the night I escaped Elysia. My mind drifted with memories of the past and present and the last lucid dream I had before I left the monastery for good.
Oliver and I realized that we had awoken before anyone else and that we were alone. No guards. No meddling Arrick. No one to stop us from leaving.
I jumped up and shoved my feet into my boots. I laced them with slow fingers, frustrated that my body hadn’t spurred awake like my mind.
Oliver crawled over to his bed kit and started shoving what little possessions he had back into his pack. My hair had come out of its braid, falling wildly around my shoulders, but I would fix that later. I deposited Shiksa into the pack I slung across my body against her whimper of protest. Choosing to ignore the irate kitling for now, I flung my cloak around my shoulders, clasping it with careless haste.
I shared one last glance with Oliver and we moved silently for the door. I pulled my hood over my tangled hair and hoped to blend in with the still thick darkness. I would have to leave my necklace behind. And I hated that. I determined to hunt it down once I had an army at my disposal. Maybe with the strength of the Elysian royal forces behind me, Arrick would be more reasonable.
At least I still had the Crown of Nine.
We left the warmth of our quiet loft behind us and stepped onto the balcony that looked out over the intricate community Arrick had built for his rebel army. Trees as broad as belfries held houses aloft, each wrapped with a balcony and rope bridges that connected on all four sides.
The darkness had lightened just a touch, turning the treetops orange with approaching sunlight. The forest remained as black as always, but there was no fog to hold us within the camp.
I took another step forward, intent on using the rope foothold that would swing me to the ground.
“I wouldn’t do that, m’lady.” I turned sharply to face a young rebel with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “The commander has demanded you stay within your accommodations.”
“Where did you come from?” He shrugged, trying to hide his victorious smile. I let out a sigh. “And if I decide not to listen?”
His expression tightened with determination. “Then I’ll be forced to make you listen.”
“Brave words,” I acknowledged. “But I just don’t feel them.” He was a kitten compared to the men we’d met yesterday.
The young soldier pulled his blade free. “I feel them. I will stop you, m’lady, if you try to leave. With force if I have to.”
