His mouth dry and jaw slack, Sebastian flicked his gaze from the ranger to Ciana. Her amber eyes reflected all the shock that coursed through him.
Sothatwas what Ydros’s gifts could do.
Sebastian slid from his horse, landing on shaky legs.
The bridge was at least six feet wide—more than enough for the cart and their horses to pass—and cleared the river by several feet. But there were no railings, nothing to keep them from tumbling into the roaring water below.
He gripped his horse’s reins, sharing a glance with Quentin, Delaynie, and then Ciana. They had all similarly dismounted, waiting for his lead.
Sebastian turned back to the rangers. “How will the Vathans know we have arrived?”
The second ranger snorted but fell silent from a glance from the first. “They will not,” the first said simply. “But there is an outpost a few miles from the river. Follow the path on the other side; it will take you there. Tell the guards your business and they will guide you to the capital.”
Sebastian nodded. “Thank you,” he said. “The generosity of your people will not go unanswered by our queen.”
The ranger said nothing. Only gestured again to the bridge.
All right, then. Time to leave Idrix behind.
With a final glance at Ciana, questions still burning in his chest, Sebastian straightened his shoulders and led them across the river.
Sebastian didn’t breathe againuntil their feet all touched the riverbank in Vatha.
The earthen bridge had been solid, but the narrow width and lack of rails had raised the hairs along his arms. They’d gone in a single file, their horses nervous and nickering but trusting. Water from the raging rapids misted their faces, the roar swallowing up any words they tried to shout.
The wheels of their small wagon finally rolled onto the bank. Sebastian and Quentin shared a look, then glanced back across the river.
The two rangers still waited there, once again lifting their hands. The ground again trembled. The bridge pulled from the riverbank with a great shudder, shrinking across the river. It sank back into the soil, the rangers’ magic heavy in the air.
The lead ranger gave them a short, final nod, then he and his companion vanished into the trees.
“All of that,” Quentin grumbled, “and we couldn’t see justoneEphalant?”
Delaynie groaned, the wagon creaking as she stepped back into the seat. “Not with the Ephalant’s again. This is almost as bad as the sphinxes.”
Quentin settled himself on the bench beside her. “I’m just saying. There’s no way they’re all extinct.”
Sebastian didn’t hear the rest of their conversation. He turned to his horse, resituating the reins over the gelding’s neck. Gripping the smooth leather, he pulled himself into the saddle.
“Sebastian?”
He turned, meeting a pair of wide amber eyes. Ciana had also mounted her horse, hands nervously twisting in the reins.
Always nervous. He hated that she felt that way still, even when it was just him.
He had to fix that. There had to be something he could do to make her more comfortable, to realize that he would always be a safe space for her?—
“Seb?”
He winced, realizing he never answered her. Her brow was lifted and she watched him curiously. “Yes, sorry,” he said. “What’s the matter?”
Ciana’s lips twitched, like she was holding back a grin. “Ride with me for a bit? I want to chat.” She clicked softly to her mare, and they started forward.
Sebastian’s skin prickled, but he followed.
They rode some distance behind the wagon, far enough that Quentin’s meaningless chatter could only barely be heard over their horses’ hooves and the wagon’s churning wheels. The road was smooth and well-maintained, the footing even and cleared of fallen debris. The trees on this side of the river—the Vathan side—were taller, denser, older than the ones they’d left behind in Idrix. The canopies arched high over them, weaving together to form a nearly impenetrable tangle of branches and leaves. Only speckles of sunlight shone through, dappling the road.
“So,” Sebastian said after a long moment. “What did you want to talk about?”
