Go without me.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
“Soli! We have to get moving.”
So, go. Leave me.
“We need to find our friends.”
Friends? Yes. Not just companions. Friends.
Then,two voices in unison:
“Storms pass.
“Pain ends.
“We will never quit.
“Soli! We willnever quit.”
I open my eyes.
Thefinest swords in Altarra are those crafted from metal forged in the depths of the Panterran Mountains. In the early days of the kingdom, only Valourian royal family members were permitted to wield such blades. During the reign of Queen Jesselle, this edict was expanded to include warriors of exceptional skill and service to the crown. To this day, the bearer of a Valourian sword is respected and feared by other warriors.
—A History of Valourian Royalty, author Terrance Larkspur, Chief Scribe
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
“How long,” I croak, more a demand than a question. Relief floods Kaelen’s face. “You’re back.”
I brace myself for recrimination, but he sweeps me up off the ground and into his arms, then holds me so tightly I start to cough.
“Here. Take some water.” He lets me go and scoops up a chunk of wood from the ground near the fire. It has a rough bowl whittled into it, filled with water, and I drink.
So thirsty. Parched.
“How long?” I try to make it a question. “The Zhagarn?”
“No sign of them or the Fell. Or our company, unfortunately.” A shadow crosses behind his eyes. “We landed here two mornings ago. So, we’ve been here for two full days and nights. It’s the third dawn. We need to go find out what happened to our people.”
“Sorry,” I manage, my throat and mouth so dry. My voice sounds rusty. This must have been bad enough that I didn’t talk.
Couldn’t talk.
“I tried.” I look down at my feet. “I couldn’t.”
“The Gray Mind. I know. Soli, I know.”
Bern, who’s been shuffling his feet next to us, nudges Kaelen aside and hugs me. “I’m so glad you’re back,” he says fervently. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
I nod but step away. “Didn’t do much. Sorry.”
“You saved my life,” he says seriously, and I flinch away from thenaked gratitude in his eyes. “You saved both of us.”
“No. Kaelen did that. I just … blocked the rain.”
Kaelen puts his hands on my shoulders. “You did far more than that. If you hadn’t warmed us up, we might have frozen. And you bandaged our wounds, so we didn’t bleed to death.”
