Ileave the horse stealing to Zadyn. He directs me to wait behind the stables before his little white body disappears inside. There is the brief sound of a scuffle, and a moment later, he emerges triumphant on one of those staggeringly large black steeds, wearing the stolen clothes of a stable boy and a sheathed dagger at his hip. He waves me over, then slides gracefully down, taking the heavy packs of supplies he managed to procure off my shoulder and lifting me with little effort into the saddle. He re-mounts in one smooth motion and shifts closer to me, his chest pressed against my back.
“Are you comfortable?” he asks. I nod.
“Comfortable as I can be.”
“It’s not too late to change your mind,” he points out.
It’s a Hail Mary, but I’m standing firm.
“I’m not changing my mind.”
He sighs, tossing his head back to the heavens. “Gods, be with us.” He steers the horse in the direction of the massive gates up ahead.
“This isn’t the way I came in.” I glance around at the unfamiliar courtyard.
“They took you round the back,” he explains. I take in the line of armored guards stationed on either side of the gate.
“Will they give us a hard time?” I whisper.
“Just don’t say anything, okay? And don’t move.”
My heart locks in my throat as we approach. We slow to stop before them.
“I have business in Iaspus,” Zadyn says smoothly.
“What business?” the guard asks gruffly.
“The king requires a new Stygian horse, a gift for the princess. I’m to meet with a foreign breeder there.”
“Very well.” He nods, and the gate slowly opens. I remain deathly still, but the guard doesn’t seem to notice me at all.
“Good day.” Zadyn kicks the steed, and we take off in a gallop that sends my hair flying back from my face.
“Can I talk now?” I ask once we’ve cleared the front gates and are halfway down the mile-long stretch of tree-lined road.
“Yes,” he says in my ear. “I had to throw a glamour over you so he would let us go. As far as he could tell, I was alone.”
We head toward a thick forest of brilliant green.
“We’ll ride until dark. I won’t risk going anywhere near the Bone Forest after dusk.”
“How do we reach Hyrax?”
“The safest route will take an extra two days.”
“And the other way is?”
“We cut through the Bone Forest and head north, past Skull Valley.”
“And how do we find the portal? Do you have any idea where it might be?”
“I have a good guess.” He doesn’t offer to elaborate.
“We’ll take the shortcut. Through the Bone Forest,” I tellhim, expecting him to protest. I can almost hear him weighing the pros and cons in his head. But he says nothing.
We ride on in comfortable silence, his arms wrapped around me to keep hold of the reins. My lower back begins to stiffen a few hours into the ride, and I wonder how the hell we’re going to keep this up for another two full days. I lean into him for support, his body a blanket of warmth behind the harsh winds.
We reach the top of a large hill, and I dare a glance back.
