“Something isn’t right,” Alanna frowns, holding a small slab of oak in her hand, “Desmond is requesting our group now, at the bottom rise. He has Holis and Mana with him.”
Cal shrugs at the news, “starting the travel earlier, then.”
Alanna pulls an oak pen out of her pocket and hastily etches a reply before standing up.
“Once more, sister, before you leave,” Marybeth stands with her, “as I don’t know how long your travels will take you away this time.”
Cal and I share a quick look and stand up, accepting the small drinks Marybeth hands our way.
“To a revealing andsafetravel to Woodlands,” she says.
The four of us clank the glasses together and down the drink, my gut tingling with a sense of foreboding that reaches deep within my bones.
“The Leviathans have requested an audience,” Desmond’s hard voice announces to our group outside the massive gates, “His Highness will remain in Gaumond and wait for Lord Daniel as he escorts their delegation through Fumagalli and the Black Forest. They will be riding a day behind us to meet with the King.”
I shift in my saddle and glance at the small traveling crew next to me. Holis is to my right with his brother and Cal next to him. Alanna is seated next to Barnes and Sutton, while Tripler is seated atop his horse next to Desmond.
I frown at the news.
The Leviathans wish to enter our lands? Only a few days after one of their Princes attempted to steal me into the night?
What in the Old World is going on? And why would King Zander accept?
Desmond catches my gaze and nods me forward.
“Ride with me, Lady Alexis.”
I sigh at the Master Informer and urge Millie to the front of the group. He nods in greeting before leading us down the Great Road, the look of cool collectiveness consuming his features.
“Lord Daniel will ride with the delegation through Fumagalli, no stop,” he states quietly.
I understand his comment.
The delegation from Livyatan will not spend a night in the village, meaning that they will not have the chance to assess the missing pieces that I put together in three days.
Desmond reaches over his horse, Raven, and hands me a bundle wrapped in cloth. I take it in curiosity and then smile at the weight, the bulk of it already feeling familiar in my hand.
“Your blades.”
I casually wrap Millie’s reins around the horn of her saddle and pull the cloth back. My larger dagger is waiting at the front with the smaller nestled just under it. I happily fashion both to the straps beneath my boots before I notice there’s something else in the bundle. The sight makes me still in my seat, my eyes quickly darting to Desmond as I grip the oak slab in hesitation.
“Desmond?”
The Master Informer gives me a curt nod, his eyes darting down to the thin oak pen I try to hide with my fingers.
“Both are for you.”
No.
Absolutely not.
Humans are not allowed.Iam not allowed.
“We don’t know if it will work,” he continues, “but my brother thinks it’s worth a try.”
“No,” I extend my hand to him with both pieces, “this isn’t right. Take it back.”
The Master Informer shakes his head with a small smirk, my words having no effect. I diligently retract my hand and hide the pieces from the group behind us, not knowing what to do with either.
