I tilted my head and grinned. “Snake.”
He didn’t blink.
“Scarlet and her guest will be here shortly with the items needed for this mission,” Father said. “Fitzroy, I’m sorry to inform you—River will not be accompanying you.” His voice was final.
I scoffed and stepped forward. “Why not? River outpaces any horse in this terrain.”
Father clasped his hands behind his back. “You won’t be traveling by horse or on foot. It’s time I introduced you to a set of ancient runes, known only to the leaders of Arya. These runes open portals to any location the caster has previously set foot in. You’ll cast them to the northernmost point of the Barrens you’ve reached. That will give you ample time to complete the mission.”
The Wylder brothers exchanged confused glances—mirroring my own.
“This chasm won’t allow animals through,” Father continued. “And the runes must be drawn with perfect precision. A single miscalculation could open a gateway to a dimension you’ll never return from.” He paused, then looked to the brothers. “From what I understand, the Wylders are fluent in rune magic.”
Of course they fucking were.
Then he turned to me. “As are you. I have no doubt you’ll master the sequence together.”
If he had no doubt in me, why was I only now learning that our leaders possessed ancient rune magic capable of opening portals across the continent?
“I already went over the formation with Shayde and Rhodes while we waited for you.”
“Yeah,” Shayde added. “You should be able to catch up.”
I wanted to scream. I wanted to unleash a tidal wave of thorned branches on all three of them. Father had been livid when I brought Shayde back to the Hollow after the battle with Cora. Now he was treating him like a trusted ally? Overnight?
And most of all—I had arrivedearly. I was always the first soldier to arrive for a mission.
The door opened and closed behind me, followed by my sister’s voice. “This should be everything you need, Fallon. Shayde has the masks.”
I frowned and turned. Masks?
“Thank you, General Fitzroy, for granting us credit with your merchants,” Cleo said, bowing slightly to our father. “I think Fallon and Shayde will blend in nicely.”
Father nodded once. “That’ll be it, then. Let’s go.”
The wind was brisk this high in the mountains, and the sun hid behind a cluster of clouds, making the shade feel sharper. Tendrils of my hair whipped in the breeze as I reached back, undid my braid, twisted it into a low bun, and secured it tight.
Father had gone over the rune pattern twice, and I’d committed it to memory. Shayde hadn’t spoken since we left the station hut. Now he stood off to the side, deep in conversation with Rhodes.
River paced restlessly, and I felt her worry. I leaned into her warmth and scratched behind her ear, right where she loved it. Her dark eyes fluttered closed, her muzzle tipping toward me.
I sensed Scarlet approaching from behind. “Take her saddle and everything off once we leave, okay? And have Cleo make sure she gets exercise, but rests. Don’t let her worry herself sick over me.”
“I can do that. She’ll be okay.”
I glanced over my shoulder and met my sister’s crimson eyes. Her expression was grim, lips pressed into a tight line.
“I will be okay,” I said quietly, just for her.
“Don’t do anything stupid. Don’t draw attention to yourselves. Don’t—”
“Yes, Mom,” I cut in.
Her face faltered—just a little—then hardened again. My chest tightened. I hadn’t meant to say it. It slipped.
What would life have looked like if our mother were still here? Would she have been like Arrow? She’d given her life trying to saveours. Elements, what I would have given just to speak with her once. Or for Scarlet to—she lost two mothers.
“Ready, Fitzroy?” Shayde’s flat voice cut through my thoughts.
