Trees flashed by faster than Angelique’s eyes could take them in. The wind whipped at her hair, and tears from the heart-stopping pace Pegasus had adopted blurred hervision.
She had no idea how the constellation was able to gallop so fast and avoid trees. Her heart pounded, and every moment, she expected to crash into the rough and unforgiving trunk of atree.
Still, as terrified as she was, Angelique felt it the moment they passed into Carabaslands.
The air was stagnant but heavy, and the trees and vegetation switched from smears of greens to dry and brittlebrowns.
Even as Pegasus extended his stride, galloping faster still when they left the woods for rolling hills of dying crops, Angelique could feel the earth itself cry out for relief, violated by the darkness coming from theeast.
This is the ogre’s doing. It’s a miracle it didn’t snuff out Roland with itsmagic.
Pegasus shot across a field. Angelique cringed, knowing he trampled planted crops beneath his hooves, but judging by the unhealthy colors, the crops had failed weeksago.
Perhaps Evariste really was in Carabas lands. If the lands themselves had been this inflicted, hiding a Lord Enchanter of Evariste’s power would beeasy.
The Mullberg mountains drew closer on the horizon, stretching towards the sky like the jagged teeth of adragon.
Almostthere.
Pegasus galloped up the first of the foothills clustered at the base of the mountains. From what little Angelique could make out through her tears and the light the equine shed, it looked like they had at least one more hill to cross before they were at the mountains and safely inMullburg.
Angelique’s legs burned with the exertion of clamping herself to the constellation’s back, and her fingers were numb from clinging tohim.
She glanced at the saddlebag that was smashed in her lap, which is why Pegasus’ shriek and abrupt buck came as asurprise.
Angelique flew through the air and landed on her side with an inelegant splat, knocking all air from her lungs and rattling even her teeth. She had curled around the saddlebag, hopefully cushioning Roland’s fall, but as a result, her entire side was going to be a massivebruise.
Angelique gasped as she tried to breathe again. Her ears rang, and everything hurt. But when Pegasus shrieked, Angelique was incredibly motivated to peel herself off the ground and stand, as there was more than a slight chance the constellation would run her down if he was feelingnasty.
It took a moment for Angelique’s vision to clear before she could make out hersurroundings.
They were on or near the border. Angelique could feel the taint of Carabas, but no one lived on this stretch of land. The hills were overgrown with scrubby bushes and weeds—the only thing that could grow in this rocky soil—and they were at the base of one of the impassable mountains. (Any Mullberg village would be located closer to one of the passes or at least the more gem- and ore-rich mines of theirmountains.)
Pegasus was positioned slightly in front of her, tossing his head and screaming achallenge.
Angelique, clutching Roland and his saddlebag to her chest, squinted in the light, trying to make out what had upset the starryequine.
Seemingly out of nowhere, an arrow shot through the air, passing by Angelique close enough to ruffle herdress.
Properly incentivized, Angelique finally made out the goblin pack that stood between her and the Mullbergmountains.
She had missed them previously because they crouched low to the ground, and their dappled-gray skin blended well with the bland color of the hills. But with their cover gone, the goblins stood, taller than her and railthin.
Mountain goblins. Just to complete this terrible experience, ofcourse.
Mountain goblins were sly creatures—they had to be in order to survive in the rocky mountains where game was more scarce than in lush valleys and forests. But mountain goblins rarely descended from their treacherous homes. It was rare that they came even halfway down their mountain, much less into the foothills at the base. Moreover, this seemed like an unusuallylargepack.
Angelique impatiently pushed her curiosity away as she started gathering up her magic, twisting it into a usable spell—one that wouldn’t involve her coremagic.
The goblins stood, no longer bothering to hide. Even from this distance, Angelique could smell the scent of rot they oozed. Several in the front grinned, displaying serrated teeth, and they licked their lips as those with crude bows took aim atAngelique.
We’re close to the border, if not on it. As long as I use regular magic here, I don’t think I’ll be noticed by the Conclave.Besides, I could probably claim ignorance if they did pick up on this and hauled mein.
And if they weren’tsatisfied…
Angelique clutched Roland closer.I’ll take the risk. I can’t fail Roland again. I only hope I can winthis.
Her mind made up, Angeliquestruck.
