“Nor should you,” Bran scoffed, glancing back at the man that rode beside me. “Make her cry again and it won’t bemeyou have to deal with.”
“I have no intention of doing so, but who—’
“My mother.” My cousin's smirk was smug at the paling of Roan's face. Even Kairen grinned as the group fell into peels of giggles.
“Goddess save the man who incites the wrath of a vengeful mother,” Rena prayed, laughter dancing in the blue of her eyes. “Careful Roan, wouldn’t want to get on the in-laws’ bad side at the very beginning.”
Whether his face flushed from the cold or embarrassment I couldn’t tell, but it was cathartic to see the man finally at a loss for words. His eyes beseechingly sought me out, but I merely shook my head, painting a wicked smile upon my lips. I would be of no help.
“You know I—”
“Quiet.”
Startled, I glanced at Roan, wondering if Bran’s teasing had truly bothered him so deeply for him to become harsh, but his face was tight with concentration, his eyes narrowed on the trail before us.
Had he heard something ahead?
Bran pulled gently on his reins, slowing his horse at the front of our group, the others following suit. My ears strained for any noise, but nothing came. Only the eerie quiet of a snow covered forest. No birds sang, nor did the bushes rustle with movements of little creatures. Only the huffing of our steeds could be heard until—
There.
The crunching of snow beneath feet—nothe sound was too deep to be made from a human foot. Hooves, perhaps?
“Easy.” Kairen murmured, hand stroking the neck of his shifting horse. He glanced towards Roan, his words so quiet I had strain to hear. “These roads should be empty, no? No one travels the north in the dead of winter.”
“Isn’t that exactly what we’re doing?” I replied.
He glanced back, his expression deadpan and I merely lifted a shoulder in response. Right, unhelpful comment then.
A group crested over the little hill before us, two men sat atop horses much like our own. However a sled filled with covered items was being pulled behind them, two women and a child sat upon it—bundled and shivering.
They slowed as they approached, gazes uneasy as they regarded us. Clicking my tongue, I lightly tugged my reins to the left, making room on the road for them to pass. Bran followed suit, but the other three…
They didn’t move.
My eyes narrowed as Kairen’s focus shifted from the men to the three upon the sled, that charming smile settling on his lips. What was he playing at?
“Hello there,” he called, waving a hand. “Where are you travelling from?”
They stayed silent for a moment before one of them, his voice gruff and worn, spoke. “We hail from Whithelm.”
My brows rose—a city in the northwest. Nearly a two week ride in the winter? Even longer if they had to take multiple rests, and judging from their appearance, they certainly did.
Kairen too seemed to find that odd, though his charm never faltered. “A far journey to travel in such cold weather.”
They remained silent once more, clearly waiting for the road to clear. One of the women coughed, a thick and reedy sound that immediately had my eyes finding her. Searching as if I could see the infection that traveled through her blood beneath the layers of wool she wore.
Her back was hunched as she clutched the child to her chest, her eyes desperately avoiding our group. A sickening feeling clawed through my gut.
“Bran,” I hissed, his gaze shooting to me, “cover your mouth and nose.”
He listened without question, lifting the collar of his shirt.
I slid from the horse, flipping open the potions bag tied to my saddle as I pulled vials free from their wrappings and took a few steps towards the group.
“Syra…” Kairen cautioned, his eyes fixing to the man who had spoken. I could feel the tension his senses were picking up, but still I took a few more steps.
“You must be cold and exhausted after such a long journey,” I called out, my eyes trailing over their features as I drew closer, unable to decipher if they were Luanthian or Solerian with their hair hidden beneath the hats and wool they wore.
