One of the cadets shook his head.“The patrol left early this morning and hasn’t returned yet.We’re the only ones here.”He glanced at Taio, and I could see the boy thinking that perhaps he shouldn’t have divulged this.I was glad he had.It was good to know a patrol was out there.I felt safer.
“We can spare water,” one of the boys called.“I’ll lower a pail.”
“Thank you,” Gaz said.
While we waited for the pail to be lowered, we all finished the water in our flasks.My throat felt better than it had since the fight in the arena.The outside was still tender and, if Gaz’s dark expression every time he looked at my neck were any indication, I was still bruised.But the swelling on the inside had gone down, and I could speak and swallow without pain.
“Which way next?”Gaz asked Nize.“I don’t like the look of those trees.”
“We could try going around,” Nize said.“See if it’s possible.”
“Before you plan the entire journey,” I interrupted.“We should probably consult the people who have already made it.”
Gaz and Nize looked at Taio.He had been staring off into the distance, but I was certain he’d also been listening.Now he looked at me.“We go through the forest.”
I opened my mouth to ask him to reconsider.I knew this had been the plan back at Highcastle, but now that I saw the forest, I didn’t like it.Gaz spoke before me.“The forest is too dangerous.We can’t see Hollows moving among dense trees, and if we run into a monster, it’s easier to fight in the open.”
Taio pointed to the forest.“That is the way to Zulen.”
Gaz started to speak again, but Finnrey put a hand on his arm.I gave her a look of gratitude.“What if we went around?”I asked Taio.“It might take longer, but it would be safer.”
“There is no go around,” Omira said, moving to her brother’s side.“The trees go on...”She gestured with her arm to show a great distance.
“You really came through the trees?”Finnrey asked.
Omira nodded.“Yes.Not here.We did not see this outpost.But not far from here.”She pointed slightly south.“That is where your patrol found us.”
“Should we retrace your route?Go south and then cut through the forest?”I asked.
Taio shrugged.“It matters not.Fewer Twilight Men to the south, but we won’t be safe until we reach Lake Igo.”
I glanced at Finnrey.I had never heard of Lake Igo.I realized I didn’t know anything about what we’d find in Zulen.Were there villages other than Zleyval?Outerlands?Castles?
“You turn around now,” Taio said to Gaz.“Back to Highcastle.”
“We’re not at the border yet,” Nize said.“We’ll keep going.”
Taio shrugged and moved to the edge of the outpost wall to lower the pail the rest of the way.He motioned for all of us to dip our flasks in the water and then filled his last.We took turns splashing water on our faces with what was left.
We called up thanks to the guards and asked which way the patrol had gone.They motioned to the south and east.“Do they ever go into the forest?”Nize asked.
“They patrol the perimeter,” one of the boys said.“But we don’t go in there unless necessary to gather supplies or kill a Hollow.”
“When was the last time you had to kill a Hollow coming out of the forest?”Finnrey asked.
“Two days ago,” one of the boys said.
I closed my eyes and blew out a breath.Two days was nothing.There could be swarms of them in the tree line.
“One Hollow or a group?”Nize asked.
“Just one,” the guard said as the other boy pulled the empty pail back up.That did nothing to reassure me.Hollows tended to travel in packs.One might have stumbled out, but there could be ten more inside.Taio translated for the other Zulenii who muttered together.
We formed a circle.“It will take us an hour or two to reach the tree line,” Gaz said as Taio translated.“I know it is early, but I say we camp on the edge and go in tomorrow.”
“Waste of time,” Taio said.“We can camp in the trees tonight.Moving faster is better.”
Taio had a point about moving fast, but none of us were familiar with the forest.Perhaps we could make it through if we traveled fast tomorrow.“I agree with Gaz,” I said.“We camp on the outskirts tonight.”
