Her eyes widen. She takes the letter from me with trembling fingers. “Sebastian, what are you planning? Please tell me it isn’t something crazy.”
“No, of course not,” I say. “Anything can happen out there. I might be recaptured or worse. As you said, there is a bounty on my head, and I’m hated by my own people for abandoning them. I want to be safe rather than sorry.”
“I have a feeling that there’s something more to it.”
“There isn’t,” I tell her. “The deadlands are dangerous. That’s all there is to it.” I meet her gaze. “If something goes wrong, if I don’t survive, Belen needs to know. He needs to have that letter. Do you promise?”
Julienne clutches the letter to her chest, her face pale. “I promise. But please, Sebastian. Be careful. We can’t afford to lose you.”
“I’ll do my best.” I squeeze her shoulder. “Make sure that Isla takes the coin.” That way, I truly won’t owe her anything. My debt will be paid.
“She’ll be fine,” Julienne assures me. “I’ll make sure of it. She’s resourceful and strong. She’ll land on her feet.”
I nod.
I turn to Nox and swing myself up into the saddle. The horse shifts beneath me, eager to move. I take the reins in one hand.
“Goodbye, Julienne.”
“Goodbye, Sebastian. May Kakara’s light guide you.”
I urge Nox forward. We start down the path that leads away from the cabin.
After a few paces, I turn in the saddle and wave. Julienne waves back, standing alone in the clearing.
Then I face forward and give Nox a gentle kick. He breaks into a jog. The cabin quickly disappears behind us.
The forest closes in around us as we ride. I am sure to keep all of my wits about me.
I keep going, sometimes having to walk when it gets too dense. After a time, the forest begins to thin. The trees grow sparser, the undergrowth less dense.
I’m getting close to the edge of the Shadow Court now. Close to the boundary where the protective dome meets the deadlands beyond.
This is where it will become dangerous for me. I don’t want to get caught.
I ride along the edge of the forest until I spot what I’m looking for. Across a short expanse of field is a narrow gap between a whole horde of large boulders. Most people would ride right past it without noticing. But I know it’s there and where it leads.
I remove a waterskin, putting the cord over my shoulder. Then I take a small parcel of food out of the saddlebag before buckling it closed. Lastly, I remove my oilskin jacket from where it is tied behind the saddle.
I check across the open fields and see no movement. I concentrate on the deepest area of shadow, but see nothing. Istay very still, listening for hooves…for any giveaway that guards might be close.
There’s nothing.
“I’m sorry, boy,” I tell him, running my hand down his neck one last time. “But I need you to put them off my scent.”
I turn him toward the barrier and the deadlands beyond. Then I raise my hand and bring it down hard on his rump in a sharp crack.
Nox takes off like an arrow, galloping toward the barrier. He passes through it easily since the shields are designed to keep humans out, or in, whichever it may be. Fae and animals are free to pass through. Then he is racing across the muddy expanse of the deadlands.
I’m shocked at how the rot has taken over. It has been several sun-cycles since I came this close to the deadlands, and the years have certainly taken their toll.
Nox disappears in the distance. I pray that he’ll be fine. Horses are clever creatures.
I hope the guards pick up his tracks and follow him. They’ll assume I fled into the deadlands on horseback. They’ll chase him, wasting time and resources.
There are no shouts. No one gives chase, so I quickly cross the distance and slip between the rocks.
I used to come here after my parents died.
