Fully outfitted, and with no small effort, I mounted Luca and set off. While I couldn’t recall exactly where the Autumn Court was, its borders eventually crossed the Feighlan River, which was fed by the glaciers of the Nettorian Mountains—mymountains.
As Luca and I hastened away, a tiny fragment of ease clung to me with every stride that distanced us from where I knew Thaddeus would search, although I still continued looking over my shoulder. While the Autumn Court wouldn’t be an obvious destination, its connection to Wymond made it a very real possibility that Thaddeus would catch up with me one way or another.
I took Luca up-mountain to the lake I’d swam in with Eithan countless times and watered him before following the shoreline to the head of the Feighlan River.
We walked in the water as much as possible, making our route difficult to track. Luckily, it was the height of summer, and the water had receded enough to temper the current. Had it been flush with spring, I wouldn’t have risked it.
When I felt it would be nearly impossible to track us, and theland had leveled out, I steered Luca back onto solid ground, where he took advantage of the open terrain. The whipping winds of his gallop kept the heat of the pelting summer sun at bay. Stars, was it really just past high noon? I’d have to make sure Luca didn’t overheat.
We passed through thick forest and open fields of ripened wheat, then picked our way through tight passages that opened into flower-speckled valleys. We meandered through the aspen woods that bordered on a cliff, forcing us away from the anchoring river that offered a queasy hope of finding the Autumn Court, and the twins.
As we rode, I played and replayed every event that had happened since the day I’d hidden in the forest, spying on three strangers. Had I known then what I knew now, I’m not sure I would have stepped out of the tree line’s cover and approached the men who claimed to be good—if not innocuous—people.
Another valley yawned before us, and a weight lifted from me as if gravity himself had been pushing me down since we’d set off, finally deciding to relent.
We passed the last of the chattering aspen leaves, leaving behind their sweet, loamy scent for grasses and wildflowers that swayed carelessly in the wind, and finally, I could breathe.
After dismounting, I went to slip Luca’s saddlebag off and realized it was too heavy; I’d never get it back on. What in the gods’ names had Mrs. E put in there? Shucking off my rucksack, I rose to my tiptoes to see what was inside.
Food. There was enough food to feed me for weeks in those pouches. I smiled—it was just like her to make sure I was eating.
Grabbing an apple, I bit into it as I sat down in the shade and pulled my rucksack toward me—it was time to take inventory of what I had. As I took another bite, Luca swayed his head, pivoting his long body to nudge me.
“Give me a minute,” I said through the apple between my teeth, untying the sack. “You can have the core.”
He huffed with impatience but waited nonetheless.
As Luca munched on the core, I hesitated before looking into themystery bag, feeling anxious about what I would find. Steeling myself, I pulled the sides farther apart, giving me a better view.
Two sets of garments were neatly folded on top. Moving them revealed a hard cylindrical container and a full canteen, which would have been handy hours ago. I opened the cap and greedily drank. Tucked away at the bottom was a small muslin cloth bag containing soap, a toothbrush, and a comb. The heady scent of eucalyptus escaped the package, and I brought it to my nose, breathing it in. It was like a salve for my soul, and I silently thanked whatever powers had known the calming effect it would have on me.
Refocusing, I placed the clothes back in the bag, leaving the canteen out. Glancing up at the food Luca was carrying, I realized it was the greatest gift Mrs. E could’ve given me. While I could hunt if I needed to, the rations ensured that I wouldn’t have to for at least a couple of weeks, and now that we’d cleared the cool mountain air, there’d be no need for a fire at night—limiting the amount of trackable evidence.
Luca nudged me again.
“Stop,” I said through my laughter. “Go eat some flowers or something. Better yet, stick to the grass—you’re gunna get colic if you keep bugging for sweets.”
He chuffed, then reluctantly trotted away before grazing. I smiled, grateful beyond measure for his welcome presence. I wasn’t sure if I would’ve had the mental fortitude to continue without him, especially after saying goodbye to Mrs. E.
Freeing the cylindrical tube from the rucksack, I popped the top off and found papers neatly rolled inside. The sweet scent of the Summer Court wafted out as I carefully reached in and pulled on the delicate pages.
Maps. They were maps. The ancient one we’d stolen from the Summer Court, the one the cartographer had rendered, and the one that showed the six portal locations.
I was drawn to explore the ancient map. That first day, I’d been afraid to touch it for fear it would crumble like a dried autumnal leaf,and although it was thinner than tissue paper, out here, it felt sturdier somehow, less fragile. I breathed in the familiar scent once more—a visceral reminder of Caius, as if his court’s essence had been baked into the parchment itself.
Laying the map flat on the ground, I traced my fingertips along the markings, starting at the Autumn Court and trailing upward. At my touch, a dim, pulsing light, fainter than a dying ember, appeared on the blank edges of the map.
I blinked, still seeing it.
Repositioning myself, I knelt over the map and touched it again. The tiny light reappeared in the same place. Could it possibly be showing me something?
Spurred on by hope and curiosity, I rolled out the cartographer’s map atop the ancient one. I ran my hand across it, and when it was lying fully flat, the two maps blended into one. I had to squint, but yes, that tiny light had to represent me.
Both maps in hand, I stood, then walked in the direction we were heading, which I’d assumed was southeast. As I made for the middle of the valley, the faint dot on the top map moved with me. I halted, then made a sharp turn right, and the ember mirrored my movements. My heart raced with excitement. Stars, I might actually be able to find the Autumn Court. Reorienting myself, I stepped toward where the twins were being held.
“Itisthat way,” I said aloud, disbelief and triumph in my voice.
This confirmation re-energized me, and, elated, I wanted to make as much headway as possible today. Tucking the map safely back into the canister, I turned to face Luca. “Think you can give me a few more hours?”
