I jerk my eyes down trying to focus on my breath. One breath in. One breath out. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Thekhindlets out another shrill shriek and I wince at the high-pitched sounds, my eyes darting back to the creature who is staring right at me. It stops and tilts its head.
I want to look away, I want to stop staring into the soulless eyes staring back at me. It starts slowly descending and is now roughly sixty-five paces from us, on another ledge where pebblesscatter away from its large paws. Soldiers try hard to not move as the small rocks shower down on them. More creatures appear around the edges of the mountains and begin descending. The soldiers who have never traversed the pass begin to fidget pulling their swords and I hear more whispers of “stay calm” being issued. It's hard to look away when death is clearly staring at me.
The one that has its eyes on me jumps down and it is only fifty paces from us now. Ereon grabs his sword as do the rest of the men. This must be it. There is no longer any hope that staying quiet will save us. The fire on the tips of thekhind’sfur causes what few plants there are around us to catch fire, and smoke begins to fill the area.
Thylas’ hand touches my thigh and slightly squeezes. “When I tell you, you don't look back, you don't wait, you ride as fast as you can in any direction. Just get out of this pass.” He grabs the dagger in the strap on my thigh, and grabs my hand from the reins, wrapping my fingers around the handle. “You are the last, and only heir to Antalis, you have to be the one who survives this. The rest of us do not matter.”
I can't leave them. I can't leave any of them. I won't. I'll fight if I have to. I'll probably die, but I've lived long enough being a coward who hides behind the crown.
One step forward from the monstrous creature and the ground beneath us shakes. I can feel a scream wanting to burst from inside me.
Two steps and every man around me gets ready for battle, the pressure in my chest buildings.
Three steps and I let it go with everything I have in me.
The scream is something I can't control. The confusion of everything happens all at once: the pain and fear from being taken; the heartbreak that comes with the realization I have a drop I can never love; understanding I am just a pawn and willnever truly rule my kingdom; missing my mother and wondering what she would want me to do - how to best serve myself, and my people. Everything gets thrown into this scream. I watch as everyone's breath becomes visible and they breathe deeper as the air around us cools. Tears run down my face, turning to ice as the temperature gets colder. But I keep screaming, my throat turning raw. The sound of my despair, dread and worry reverberates all around us, and every creature stops and turns its head toward me. The largest one, in front of us, stops and tilts its head once more and I stop, closing my mouth and grip the dagger even tighter.
Thekhindlets out a howl that sounds of sadness as it takes a step back. Then another. The others follow suit retreating back up, into the caves. The leader remains, just staring at me until it decides to ascend the mountain as well. With a final flick of its tail, its huge body is swallowed up by the rockside surrounding us as the sun starts to peek through the clouds.
A collective sigh is heard coming from the entirety of the group as the air around us warms. A few “it's a miracle” can also be heard from the men, some praying and thanking the Goddess for her safety. But the eyes that stare at me aren't praying. Ereon, Thylas, Siphonie and Rhenor say nothing, they all saw the same thing I did.
My hands shake as I replace my dagger in its sheath. I have no answer to the questions those closest to me may have from what they saw or felt. I have no idea why thekhindstopped. Maybe they sensed the coming sun. Perhaps it was the Goddess intervening. Either way, I'm glad they are gone.
As if everything comes back to life, Ereon jumps down from his horse and bares his teeth toward Thylas. “You could have gotten her killed for disregarding my order.”
“They were coming this way anyway!” Thylas steps toward him, the vein in his neck popping.
Ereon breaches the distance between them before shoving him back. “They can't distinguish color! If you don't move they don't notice you as much! Even their smell isn't that great! They rely on sound from fools who panic.”
I slide from my saddle and start toward them when Rhenor grabs my elbow pulling me back and rushes between them instead. He puts his hands on Thylas' chest and leans in. I can't hear what he says but Thy huffs loudly in response before kicking a rock and walks in the other direction.
Rhenor bows. “I am sorry, Prince Ereon. Thylas is very protective. He did not mean anything against you.”
Ereon just sighs. “He knows, as should you,BêlRhenor, that I do not want anything to happen to her either.” He rubs his hands together. “I've been through these mountains, I know what I'm doing.” His eyes flick to me. “Or, I did.”
“Thank you for your understanding.” Rhenor turns and walks back to Siphonie. He doesn't know what all has happened, he's still worried Ereon will hurt Thylas. But I don't think so. Not now.
Returning his attention to me, he runs his hand down my shoulders. “Are you okay?”
“I'm … ” I shake a little to try to clear the nerves still pulsing. “I’ll be okay, but why did they stop. What was that?”
He shrugs his shoulders and runs his hand through his beard, trying to find the right words. We both know whatever happened wasn't normal. He strokes the mane of the white horse I ride as he speculates, “I don't know, Princess. But I think it had something to do with you, but most didn't seem to notice. Keep it that way. This is not the time to be running off, do you understand?” He lifts my chin with his finger. “I mean it. I will not allow anything to happen to you”
I nod my head as Ereon turns and faces his soldiers. Rhenor has made his way back to Siphonie, holding her as she's cryinginto his chest. He runs his hands through her soft-pink hair, holding her close. I turn and look for Thylas, but I don't see him. He's cooling off somewhere and I know he will be back soon.
“We'll take a break to regather our bearings, but not for long. This will give everyone the opportunity to change their pants,” Ereon calls out to the men and smirks, his princely mask back in place.
A chill sweeps across my spine and I can't help but look up again at the crevices holding the creatures. I know it saw me, each time it stared directly at me. I felt it. Ereon says they are color blind, but I know what I felt.
thirty-six
CARNAXA
The last couple hours have gone by slowly as we made our way through the pass. The creatures stayed inside their dwellings and we moved relatively quietly. Thylas came back, shortly after Ereon announced our brief respite, calmer now than when he left. He was quick to apologize and I forgave him easily because we were all scared. I know how he feels for me. I know he is my drop, and I figure I am his too. But he's never said as much before, in fact I know he has told people he can't haveone since he's not from the shores of Antalis. But if the Goddess granted me two, she must have blessed them as well.
Siphonie rode the rest of the way beside me, feeling better being in a circle of the soldiers, and I feel better with her here as well. She has run her hand back and forth across her stomach for a while now. She told me she knew right when the monsters showed up, she would have done anything to stay alive for her baby. Siph has never been a fighter, but I have no doubt she would have fought if the encounter had gone differently, just like I would have.
As we crest the last hill, the mountains stop and the sun is beginning to set in the distance. The orange sands shine like fire through the opening of the mountains and I breathe in deeply. Shaston. We are finally arriving on their sands. We are still in the shadows of the mountains, but according to Rhenor, we will stop to “dress adequately” for this new culture we are about to step into.
