“Thanks.” I smile, giving him one last hug before turning for the horses.
“He’s so desperate,” Thane mutters as he offers me a hand to help me mount our horse. Queen Xiaodera gave us two horses, each equipped with a double-seated saddle. Rynthea and Algar share one horse, even though Rynthea isn’t fully comfortable on horseback.
“I already told you before, Thane,” I say, sighing. “Jealousy doesn’t suit you.”
“Take care of her, my friend!” Kelrean calls to Thane as our horse clomps ahead and follows several of the elementalists.
I look over my shoulder just in time to see Thane wave at the prince with his middle finger.
I shake my head and roll my eyes before giving Kelrean a friendlier farewell wave.
The departure passage is located just beyond a grove of bamboo. After we pass a clearing, a wide stone path made of glittering alvanite appears. There is hardly a crack in it. It’s so smooth, it almost looks like new.
“Journey well!” Jehon calls out behind us.
I look back at the tribe and wave.
Queen Xiaodera waves back, but I don’t miss the way her smile slips or how her head shakes with dismay before she turns away.
I can tell she doubts we’ll survive. Honestly, I have my doubts as well, but we’re in the thick of it.
Too late to turn back now.
Chapter 36
After several hours and two breaks, I see a towering gold gate with torches flickering ahead. The sky has long changed from the yellow-orange hue it was when we left and is now a velvety dark blue splattered with twinkling stars.
“We’re finally here,” Rynthea says after a deep sigh. Both she and Algar dismount their horse.
“Did anyone consider that they might not let us in?” Algar throws out there.
“They will.” Rynthea wraps their horse’s reins tighter around her hand and closes them in a fist. “We’ll just tell their council where we came from and who these horses belong to. But first…” She pauses, giving Thane a critical once-over. “You need to put your weapons away. Gadonia is all about peace, and if they sense any sort of threat, they won’t let us in.”
“Says the minotaur carrying a scythesword,” Thane retorts.
“My scythesword will be out of my hands and strapped to the horse. I’m not stupid enough to approach a kingdom’s gates with weapons in hand as an outsider. It’s not a good look. But I suppose you could care less about that.”
“Youdoknow that I’ve saved your lifetwicenow.” Thane tugs on the reins to slow our horse down. “Yet you still treat me like scum.”
Rynthea rolls her eyes. “Now I see why Kelrean gets so pissy when I remind him that I saved his life.”
Algar snorts.
When our horse stops, Thane slides off the saddle, and I follow, stretching with relief. My tailbone is aching and my spine feels stiff, but riding was better than walking.
“Stuff everything into your rucksack.” Rynthea watches as Thane unties his vest and tucks it into his bag. In exchange for the vest, he pulls out his hooded cowl and slides it over his head.
“You justlovebeing ominous, don’t you?” Algar quips.
Thane ignores him as he removes the dagger from under his shirtsleeve. He wipes imaginary dust and lint off his clothes, then spins around slowly, showing off his new look. “Better?”
“Much,” Rynthea says. “Let’s go.”
As we trail behind, I gawk at the arched gates made of pure, shining gold. Pearls adorn the edge of the gates, and two guards stand before them in sea-green uniforms. Their clothing is made of an iridescent material that shifts colors in the moonlight with every movement.
As we near them, they stand taller, square their shoulders, and place their hands on the hilts of their swords.
“Where are you traveling from?” the shorter of the two guards asks.
