With a final sigh, he turned to the two horses. This was about so much more than his own happiness. It was about the fate of the entire continent. He had to get back to his father.
The skin on his arm tingled in discomfort as he imagined facing his father and convincing him that the evil Majis were not the villains. Especially after he’d heard his father’s whispered anger the night Aden was attacked.
Erich had no proof to back up his claims, only the word of a Majis. If his father could only meet Aizel, he would see how trustworthy she was. It would be so much easier if he could bring Aizel back with him.
He closed his eyes, wishing the wishful thinking away.
Since he was supposed to be dead, he slipped into his guard uniform so as not to draw attention to himself. The gray would make him blend in like any other guard.
Then he mounted his horse and began to make his way down the road, away from Chendas.
The forest was too dense to travel through with both horses, but it would clear up higher in the mountains. He would be able to travel more quickly and spend the majority of the trip in secrecy.
Or, he could have, if a small contingent of soldiers led by General Gautho himself hadn’t appeared on the road a few hours later.
Erich glanced around him, but it was too late. The general had seen him.
“Captain!” Gautho called out. “I’m glad to have caught you!”
Erich reined in his horse and waited for the general to approach. Perhaps this wasn’t such a bad thing. If the war against the Majis was fabricated, the general would need to know.
Gautho rode up to Erich. The general’s men trotted around him, stopping just past Erich.
“General,” Erich greeted him. “How are things going on the coast?”
“The attacks have increased again,” Gautho responded. “I came to speak with King Gareth in person to make a report and request additional aid.”
“That may not be wise,” Erich said, picking his words with care. “I have some news to discuss with you first.”
The general narrowed his eyes. “You are alone? I take it you have delivered the sorceress?”
“About that...” Erich glanced at the Chendas soldiers on either side of him. “Perhaps we could speak in private?”
“You took off that girl’s necklace.” Gautho’s lips curled into a sneer.
“What?” Erich’s voice came out with an uncontrollable squeak.
“Turio was right. You fell for her wiles and let her go free.”
The soldiers around him moved closer, hemming him in.
“No!” Erich cried. “You have to listen to me! We’ve got this war all wrong.”
“Oh, do we?” Gautho jerked his head toward one of his men.
“The Majis are not launching this attack,” Erich cried in a rush. “It’s someone else, and I think that someone is—”
Pain exploded in the back of his head.
Then everything went black.
Chapter 35
Aizel arrived at the gates of the marble palace during the middle of the day. Given the secrecy that King Gareth and Turio had enforced, she had a feeling it would irk them for her to show up in broad daylight.
To her delight, it did. She was quickly waved inside, shown to a small room, and instructed to wait until the king was ready to see her.
Of course, he wasn’t ready to see her until many hours after the sun had fallen—another nod to secrecy.
