I’m grateful for the balmy breeze that blows by.
“I bet you’re thankful to not have a freezing backside this time, Lees!” I shout over my shoulder.
She replies quickly, “Alora, you have no idea. None. I think I’m still chilled from those damn woods.”
Gods knows I am too.
Jessamine turns in her saddle and faces us. “You could not pay me to trek those woods, ask Naaveen, that’s why we dropped down to Lake Zuria and then rode up the mountain range.”
“They are definitely not for the faint of heart,” Kassiel says. I’m glad to hear him finding his place among us. I had worried he would have felt out of place with such a large group of friends, but so far he hadn’t seemed like it bothered him.
Merinda pulls up the lead, her watchful eye determined to keep us out of the view of passerbys.
She had volunteered to come with us when the rest of the council had revealed that more attacks from the Heliante led by The Nightmare pillaged through a nearby village.
Kassiel was right in that he had been sought after by the Siorai Ban, especially when he had another attack that left him unconscious for a few clock hours.
The others had watched in horror as Lees and I simply just held his large form while he fought with the damned eternal tie.
Distant light that flickers and dances with crashing waves is the first to greet us from The Depths of Zuria.
We made quick time to reach here after riding for a day once we left River's End. Thank the goddess the trail was clear and all downhill so we could make up for lost time.
“There’s the lake!” a shout from behind caused by the wonderment of the black sand beach that is licked by flames ofthe waters edge. It’s one of the purest scenes to unfold in all of Noxia.
Naaveen and Jessamine pull up their horses, waiting for the rest of our party to join.
He looks at me, eyeing me curiously. “Are you sure you think it smart to split up? After everything?”
I nod, it was all part of the plan we’ve rehearsed. Kassiel and I were to arrive separately to the capital after he had sent Oak to deliver a note to Rune. We were going to gauge the situation with whatever information Rune had gathered.
As far as we knew, it was safe for Kassiel to return, at least alone. Which left me unattended as I entered the capital city of Ezmelir. It was enough of a worry that Kassiel insisted that Rune be the one to help me into the castle grounds. I didn’t argue either.
“I appreciate everything you’ve done so far, I need you now more than ever to go prepare for what’s to come. You know the network best there in Ezmelir. We’ll take care of business on our end and then meet you there in three moons’ rises.”
He nods. I can see the worry etched in his face but he doesn’t voice his concerns which I’m grateful for.
Jessamine moves her horse to stand next to Dahla.
Quietly, she urges, “If you need anything, just send Oak. We can be here fairly quickly if anything should?—”
I cut her off.
“We’ll be okay, I trust the goddess on this one. It feels right, like the winds are changing course with us.”
“Goddess help us then. Cause I’d like to take a break for longer than a few days next time.”
I chuckle, I could have said it myself.
The rest of the group meets up and we split like we had discussed days prior.
Caym had threatened Kassiel more than once with what would happen if I was harmed or taken while in Kassiel’s care.
Finally they had made a pact under the moons' light. Their word was weighed by the goddess herself and found worthy of such a promise.
The group begins to split off and Leeson blows a kiss in my direction while winking.
I shake my head with laughter as she yells to Kassiel, “Remember, she has to actually show up for the plan to work! So don’t steal her away, Devourer!”
