A bird trills in the background catching my attention. I begin to turn away from him, but his whisper stops me.
“I know that kind of anger Alora, the one that bubbles from within,” he pauses before continuing, “the kind of anger that’s bred from fear and desperation. You’re as mad at me as you are yourself.”
My face begins to sting as if it’s been slapped.
All I can do is swallow before shifting back around to face Leeson and Caym.
I nudge Dahla and she walks on. The Devourer might be at my back, but I’m grateful I don’t have to look into his face and see the same judgement that lies heavy in my heart.
Using my sleeve to wipe my eyes and brow, I sniff away the emotion that causes my nose to burn.
Leeson and Caym turn their horses and continue down the trail as soon as we’re closer and within a safe distance.
I sit there, simmering in the energy that’s turned sour between The Devourer and me. It’s unfair that a stranger, a monster really, recognizes the same ugliness in himself as he does me. Maybe I’m not any better than him in the end.
I stretch my back and legs the best I can while in the saddle, fatigue settling in my joints. I’m so damned ready to be out of these woods and away from this extra baggage behind me.
Glancing towards the sky, the sun is nearly behind the mountains, casting the forest in blue shadow.
Irritation seeps from my voice, “Great. Nightfall and moons’ rise is almost upon us. Another blasted night spent on the unforgiving bedroll.”
I shift uncomfortably in the leather saddle again and I’m met with silence from my captive.
The landscape looks the same as we continue further. The tree canopy threatens to choke out the sky as it shows off, providing its purple and pink sunset as a backdrop to our travels..
I find my mind wandering among my thoughts as I watch two squirrels chase each other around another large trunk.
A nearby caw has me turning my head to watch Kina land on a bare treelimb.
“The Hidden must offer something to gain the loyalty of such creatures.” The Devourer’s observation breaks the silence.
I sigh, “Perhaps ravens are just a good judge of character.”
He’s quick to reply, “Well that’s uncontested, they always have been. But I’m curious as to why they would follow you away from their home.”
I don’t get a chance to answer, one of the horses in front of us lets out a squeal as its body collapses beneath its feet. The other horse, the one Leeson’s on, rears and tries to break from the confusion, almost overturning.
I’m frozen in place as my mind tries to catch up to what my eyes are seeing. Caym’s horse continues to scream and thrash, though Caym isn’t anywhere to be seen.
Chapter 17
Alora
It’s pandemonium, the whole scene unraveling before me.
Lees’ horse successfully unmounts her rider, sending Leeson flying off backwards towards the bramble that eats into the trail.
Watching her fall, time shifts in my brain and I’m witnessing her slowly land and bounce into the thorny briar.
Rough hands grab mine which are still gripping the reins, and with a hard flicking motion cause the leather straps to slap into Dahla’s hide.
“We have to move!” Kassiel shouts above the bedlam and screams.
His response is quicker than mine even though we’re still not close enough to witness what exactly is happening.
He slaps the reins again, my fingers trapped within his punishing grip. Dahla bolts past trees and slides to a stop next to Caym’s fallen horse.
He’s swift to dismount and runs to the frantic horse. I slide off Dahla and begin to make my way to Leeson where she lies amongst the wilted blooms and thorns.
