But we hear the horses behind us and realize the wagon is about to come around the bend.
It isn’t fine. But now I may never learn what he meant to say afterif only.
Suddenly, I can’t bear the thought of Elianna staring at me with her eyes that see so much. Not yet. Not until after I take a moment for myself.
“I’ll be right back,” I say, grabbing up Cloud’s reins from where they trail on the ground and tossing them to the prince. Then I run off into the stand of trees, hoping they’ll think I’m tending to personal issues.
Not fighting back tears.
I ignore Kaelen’s voice calling after me and run a hundred paces into the forest that borders this stretch of road before slowing to catch my breath and calm down. Then I lean against the trunk of an enormous tree, close my eyes, and take deep breaths, in and out, in and out, in and out, until my heart stops racing.
But when I open my eyes, my hard-earned calm deserts me.
Because I’m not alone.
Six snarling wolves crouch in a half circle around me.
And they look hungry.
Beware the Barrows, men, maids, and children
Beware the draugrs, ye who wish to live
Let lie in peace the spirits of the restless dead
Beware the Barrows, unless your heart is pure
Beware the draugrs, unless your song is true
Let lie in peace the spirits of the restless dead
—Skandil Franst, Royal Bard of Khyrrus (usually accompanied by the lyra harp)
Musical Compendium of Western Altarra, Fifth Edition
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“Oh, sure, because why not wolves?” I say, too drained to be afraid. “Why don’t some mountain bears and snow leopards show up while we’re at it?”
The wolves cock their ears, almost as if they’re paying attention, but make no move toward me. There’s no snarling, either. A large, black wolf with a patch of white on its chest takes a step closer.
“I know you’re hungry,” I say conversationally, as if wolves can understand me. I realize that the recent events in my life may have shaken loose my grasp on reality.
But I don’t care. Itfeelsright to talk to them.
“I know you’re hungry,” I repeat. “And if you’re willing to not eat me, I promise to share some of our provisions with you.” We have half an antelope left from Kaelen and Andras’s hunt yesterday.
The lead wolf tilts her head, and the oddest thing happens, so unexpected I don’t understand at first.
The amulet, safely encased in the bespelled locket, pulses with heat against my skin.
I gasp and grab the chain, yank the locket out from beneath my shirt, and hold it out in front of me. It’s glowing with soft green light, but it doesn’t heat up.
“At least it’s not shooting flames,” I mutter to the wolves, who don’t answer me.
But then, in fact, they do.
Not that the wolves speak to me. That would be ridiculous. Animals can’t talk except in myth or the most far-fetched of children’s tales. No, they … they seem to pay attention to the amulet, which continues to glow. Still no heat. It’s not burning me.
