“We are in their land, without permission. If anyone is responsible for this, it’s us.”
Oda narrowed her eyes. “Agreed. This is your fault. And the magistrate will know it.”
“We don’t have time for this.” Inari took out the keys and unshackled Oda. “Go. We’re continuing.”
“You are under my charge, not hers.” Oda pointed to Aloisia.
“Then, by all means, enact it. Chain me and drag me back to Littlewatch. But, seeing as there is one of you and three of us, I do not think that will go well for you.”
Oda could not argue his point.
“If you wish to run back to Littlewatch, then do so. We will see this through. And we will resist should you try to change our minds.”
Oda shook her head. “I should have known it would go this way. The Modäiti is right to be fearful of you, shaman. They will know who was responsible for your release, who was responsible for the death of one of our guards. I will make sure of it.”
The guard turned back and fled.
“The trial tomorrow is certainly going to be interesting if all this is brought forth, too,” Kaja said.
Aloisia glanced to the sky, flaring in shades of orange and pink. “If we even make it back in time.”
THIRTY TWO
Withtheirmanaclesdiscarded,AloisiaandKajacontinuedtofollowInarithroughtheforest.Theymovedwithsilentfootstepsacrosstheundergrowth,glancingallwaysforanysightoftheShadowSisters.Theskyabovethecanopydarkenedtobloodred,matchingtheblanketofpoppiesbeneaththeirfeet.
“We’re going to lose the light soon,” Aloisia said.
“Are we even heading in the right direction?” Kaja asked.
A hawk called above them, answering her.
“It returned.” Aloisia peered between the leaves to see a hawk, the same one they had followed to the mountains, land on a branch. It cocked its head at them.
“I think,” Inari said, “it’s safe to say we are on the right track.”
“What did the map say to do next?”
Inari pulled out the page. “So, we are in the Vale of Poppies now… The final destination is called Bloodstone, I believe.”
Kaja and Aloisia exchanged blank stares.
“Can’t say I know of it,” Kaja said.
Aloisia glanced over her shoulder. “And I don’t imagine the Shadow Sisters would be likely to tell us.” She looked back at Inari. “Speaking of… What spell was Maili talking about? What did you do?”
Inari would not meet her gaze. “There is a magic here in the vale. I tampered with it, altered its course.”
Aloisia spotted a rune on his forehead, new and hastily drawn in a dark red substance.
“It won’t have any immediate effect, though they don’t know that. But, if not corrected, everything in this valley will rather rapidly die.”
“What? I thought you practiced small magic. Seems like a rather large spell.”
Inari breathed a laugh. “Just because it is ‘small’ magic does not mean it cannot have dire effects. Small magic is nature-based. I simply tugged on a few threads of what is already a dying valley.”
“Can it be reversed?”
“Yes. And I shall reverse it once we are out of here.” Inari folded the page and tucked it back in his pocket. “Let’s get moving.”
