“Where do you think the Carpe Noctem might have taken Klyn?” sheasked.
“They would take him back to their town. There, they are on betterfooting.”
“And where is their town, River? Lochport? Stonebridge, perhaps?” she prodded. “Both of those are coastal and would be a good cover for fog,” shesuggested.
I shook my head and studied this picture more. Stonewald was completely missing from the picture, which did not surprise me. Stonewald was so far north that it was not traveled to by anyone who was not a member of the CarpeNoctem.
“Hmm, River?” she banged her hand against the iron bars. “Time may not be important to you; however, I am trying to saveKlyn.”
“My sincere apologies, my Queen,” Ireplied.
“So, are one of these their town: Lochport orStonebridge?”
“No—”
“Wester Lea?” she interrupted me andasked.
“No, my Queen, the Carpe Noctem are from Stonewald. It is not on yourpicture.”
I slowly reached through the bars and pointed to the top portion of the page that she was showingme.
“Stonewald is north of Wester Lea. It is the gateway, if you will, to Stonewald,” I explained. I pointed to a small mountainous area and then just above the area on the page. “Stonewald is past thisregion.”
“Great,” Octavia’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “How long would it take for us to get there?” sheasked.
“To Stonewald, a few days on foot. That is walking from sun up to sundown, and off the paths. You do not want to travel the paths. They are monitored,” Iwarned.
“Once I make it to Wester Lea, after I pass the mountains, will Stonewald be on the otherside?”
“You cannot navigate any of this without me, my Queen,” I saidfirmly.
“We will go with you,” Liam stood up on the stairs and calledout.
“Yes, you will have the four of us,” Michansaid.
All four of Queen Octavia’s gentlemen were standing to show her theirsupport.
“You most certainly will not!” she sternly grumbled. “I will not risk your lives. You are far too young, and none of you signed up for a rescue journey. You will stay at the castle until I return with Klyn,” Octaviaordered.
“You will not return, Octavia. It is too treacherous. You will not return, if you go alone. You need me to accompany you on this journey,” I spokeup.
“Fine. Guards!” she hollered. “Let River out of the cell,please.”
Octavia stood near the stairs as the guards removed the horizontal bar from the door. When they opened the door, I stepped out but remained near the celldoor.
“Be in the foyer before sun up, River. Get somesleep.”
The Queen turned and marched up the stairs with us following her. When we all arrived on the second floor between her quarters and ours, she spun on her heels and eyed each of herboys.
“Gentlemen, I would like a night alone, please. I hope that you understand,” shebegan.
“We understand, my Queen. You have a long journey ahead of you, and you need your sleep,” Liamsaid.
“Thank you, my sweets. Since I will be getting up very early tomorrow morning, I will not be waking you guys up.” Octavia said as she huggedLiam.
“Are you sure we cannot come with you, my Queen?” Michanasked.
Octavia side stepped Liam so she could wrap her arms around Michan. She pulled Michan into an embrace and rubbed her hands up and down hisback.
