“I made Théo do it,” she admitted in a grumbling tone. “I know why you want Safiya to accompany us. I understand the danger, and that there are very few people we can trust with our lives. But I cannot,willnot, trust her with my heart again. This is a business transaction and nothing more. I want to hear nothing else on the matter.”
I raised my hands placatingly. “As you wish.”
A noise at the door drew our attention. Safiya stepped through the frame hesitantly, her eyes finding Ayla at once. I wondered how much she had heard. All of it, I gathered, from the sadness underscoring Safiya’s grim countenance.
“Ayla?” Safiya stepped closer. Her hand reached out then dropped back to her side. “Might you and I talk before we leave?”
“No.” Ayla’s answer was quick, decisive, but the flicker of her carefully painted expression betrayed her. She wanted to say yes. Was it for her sake or Safiya’s?
Safiya nodded, crestfallen.
“Now that we are all here, let us go over the plan.” Théo unrolled a series of the same map, one for each of us.
I took mine, noting the marked path through the upper reaches of the Váracis Erva.
“We will follow this route north through the forest. Just about here,” Théo pointed to a starred section of the map, “We will enter the mountains of the Sárkhona Draum. This is, by far, the most dangerous stretch in both landscape and potential for aggressive creatures. We will have to mind ourselves and each other carefully.”
“I know we are journeying to the Sárkhona Draum, but what exactly is the final destination?” I inquired, to which Harkin nodded his agreement.
“There is a shrine to the Drakány in the heart of the Sárkhona Draum. My parents told me stories of it when I was a boy. They came across it when they immigrated from Daikés. According to the research I have done, the shrine is a large statue in which the bulk of the remaining dragon mágik has been preserved. If we find the shrine, we will find your connection to the Goddesses.” Théo had a way of explaining things that made me feel at ease. I knew that the days ahead would be far from easy, but his presence calmed me.
We had not informed the council of this plan. They would never have approved—if they even believed us. We planned to leave in broad daylight, to slip out as if we were simply off to the market for an afternoon of shopping. Sneaking out in the night would have been far more suspicious, we decided.
We exited the palace without a hitch, stealing away to the stables.
I moved toward Bear, but Harkin caught my hand, pulling me to Equinox with him. I pushed back the smile which threatened to break across my face.
Ayla claimed her mare, a distinguished paint, while Théo mounted Bear. Safiya chose a small horse, dappled gray.
Harkin took the pack from my shoulders, strapping it to Quin’s competent flank. He held out a hand to help me mount before swinging on behind me. His right hand twisted around the reins while his left settled in the dip of my waist. I leaned back so that I was flush with Harkin’s chest. His heavy exhales ghosted against my temple, rustling my hair.
I could not help but think of the night before, and I heated at the thought.
“Alright, lovebirds, if you’re going to share one horse, please spare us the show,” Ayla teased. She wrinkled her nose as if displeased, but I knew better.
Harkin flushed, his hand pulling back. I caught it with my own, placing it back on my hip. He squeezed gently in response.
The forest grew thicker as we ventured farther from the kingdom.
“Thank you for helping us, Théo. I know it cannot be easy to go against the council's wishes, despite your desire to help Ayla.” I nodded to him in appreciation.
“Once, it would have been difficult. I spent many years following orders I knew were wrong.” I recalled the dreams I’d had. Praying to the goddesses. His arrest. “Enough was enough. If I can do something to aid my friends—my peopleandthe Ordelésans—I will do so.”
“After many years of only looking out for myself, I have come to the same conclusion,” I said with a bittersweet smile.
Théo returned it, and I knew he understood.
I told him that my dream mágik had allowed me to witness his confrontation with the king and his subsequent dismissal to the dungeon. “I did not know who you were then, but I admired you all the same. Maybe the decision comes easy to you now, but it is still a loss to let go of the person you once were and all the time that went by while you hoped to make a better choice.”
He considered that, lips pressed firmly together as his eyes shone. “I know my actions now will not change the past, but I can only keep trying to do better. Iwilldo better. It is nice to discuss this with someone who understands.”
I returned his grin. “Yes, it is.”
“And how do you move forward when you have done something unforgivable?” Safiya asked, her horse nudging closer to us as the trees grew tighter. “I fear there is no atoning for what I have done. Ayla will never forgive me.”
I mulled the words, stroking my thumb over Harkin’s hand. I knew forgiveness better than anyone—I had become its close friend these past months.
“She might not forgive you, that is true enough, but anything is possible. Is it not worth trying?” I prompted, turning to look at her.
