Kole glanced my way. “It’s not that bad, is it? We’ll find a place.”
“No, you’re right...but that’s not why I’m upset. I just realized the enchanted carpet I ordered in Inisville is going to be delivered east of here. I’ll have to backtrack to get it.”
He frowned slightly. “Why did you order another carpet? I told you that you could ride with me.”
“For the moment, yes, but what if your superiors order you to go elsewhere? I won’t be able to join you because I need to find the Stone.”
“My orders won’t take me elsewhere.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“Trust me. They won’t be changing. I’m to patrol this area of Stonewild. I can keep giving you a ride.”
“Truly? You’re sure?”
His gaze met mine, and in the growing moonlight, his sapphire irises glittered like gemstones. “I’m sure. I’ll stay with you until your hunt is done.”
A blast of relief hit me that was so strong, I nearly slumped back. “Thank you.” Yet, I nibbled my lip and wondered if he knew what he was promising. “But what if my hunt leads me into Silventine Wood?”
“I’ll stay with you, Prim, andif you’re going into Silventine Wood, I’m definitely staying at your side.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
After twenty minutes of flying and searching for an area to rest, we spotted a rocky alcove in the distance.
It looked to be only a short flight through the Wood, and it appeared promising enough that we agreed to veer the carpet off the road.
Leaves brushed against us during the short journey through the Wood, and above, the clouds cleared enough for stars to appear.
When we reached the alcove, the trees parted to reveal a plethora of stone. Jagged boulders rose from the soil, and tangy scents ofcrisilitefilled the air, the low-lying shrub growing in abundance around the rocks.
“This looks like it may work.” I hopped off the carpet, Kole doing the same.
We treaded through the area, and as Kole had suspected, we weren’t the first fae here. Footsteps littered the gravellyterrain. Thankfully, they were all siltenite tracks, not larpanoons.
“Prim, look at this.” Kole’s deep voice came to me from around a large rock, the sound of his timbre causing a shiver to dance down my spine.
I joined him, and he gestured to an outcropping of mismatched boulders that created a small opening between the rocks.
It wasn’t a cave, since several large boulders sat atop one another to make the enclosure, but inside the piled rocks was an area big enough to sleep in and stand fully. Even better, the hole to enter it was small enough that it would be a tight squeeze, especially for Kole. However, that small opening was exactly what we needed. Even a larpanoon, with all of its deadly magic and flesh-shredding ability, wouldn’t be able to enter it.
I grinned. “This is perfect!” I clapped in delight, and a twitch lifted Kole’s lips.
He quickly began to gather my supplies. Most of my boxes wouldn’t fit directly into the enclosure with us, but we found another area where we could wedge them in between the rocks. Following that, we each lifted several smaller boulders to safely cover everything inside. Even if scavengers prowled this area while we slept, my supplies and his carpet would remain unharmed.
“A ward would still be prudent,” I said to no one in particular, then wove my hands through the air, whispering a spellmy aunt had taught me seasons ago, until a shimmering veil of magic fell over everything. Now, even if thieves sought to steal our items during the night, they wouldn’t be able to get past my ward. Well, not without a lot of cursing and counterspells, that was. I figured by that point, they would be making enough of a racket that either Kole or I would wake up, and we could fight them off.
“If only I’d thought to do that back at the inn,” I added, realizing I was talking to myself, but not bothering to stop.
“What’s that?” Kole stood near the enclosure’s entrance. He was stuffing a few bedrolls and supplies through the opening.
I waved toward my warded boxes. “I was just wishing that I’d put a ward around my carpet last night, but I hadn’t considered it because the shed belonged to the inn, and I didn’t want to lock other fae out.”
Kole shrugged. “It turned out all right, didn’t it? Even if your carpet was stolen.” He took his sword off and threw it through the opening, then he began to wedge himself between the boulders, grunting a few times as he did so.
I crossed my arms to watch and muffled a laugh.
He arched an eyebrow at me. He was mostly through, but his broad shoulders remained on the outside, which he was trying to force through the narrow opening. “Is something funny?”
