Guyik cursed and hid himself low on the roof.
Chained mages, three of them, and one that had to be the Guildmaster himself. What in the name of all the—
For a moment Guyik was distracted by movement above. A window had opened in one of the towers. A woman stood there, staring down at the courtyard.
The guards were dismounting and blindfolding their horses up as the carriage holding Orval and his wife came into view. The carriage stopped and the horses pulling it were treated the same, for reasons Guyik couldn’t figure.
The Guildmaster called something out, the other mages gestured, and a huge white circle appeared, a swirling mass of movement, like curtains moving in a wind that could not be felt.
A portal. He’d never seen one before, but it had to be. His thought was confirmed when the first soldiers led their horses through. followed by the goods wagons, and finally the carriage, with Captain Ussin bringing up the rear.
They were gone in an instant, plunging into the white and vanishing.
The Guildmaster called out again and the swirling circle collapsed in on itself.
And the token at Guyik’s breast went silent.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Forever after, all Orval could remember of the start of that day was chaos.
Breakfast was water and bread, shoved into their hands first thing. They’d barely finished eating when they were hustled out of bed and told to dress; they could, the soldiers said to their protests, nurse on the road. Orval was fair certain none of these guards had children. Both Lara and Dalan were crying in their baskets before he and Amari had cleaned the babes and themselves and gotten dressed.
Carrying the babes in their baskets into the cold air, Orval had the impression that a crowd had gathered, but he was focused on getting down the damn steps without dropping Dalan. The cheering was startling but he had no chance to respond, for the guards kept them moving, almost lifting Orval and Dalan into the carriage. Amari and Lara followed and the door was shut firmly.
One bench was free, the other filled with boxes and crates below a mound of bundles and sacks, the whole surmounted by their noble robes piled on top.
Orval and Amari were still arranging themselves on the wooden bench, the babes between them, when he heard Winter arguing with Ussin just outside. The carriage door opened and Orval caught a glimpse of Winter’s tear-stained face as Ussin thrust in a basket before practically slamming the door.
With the new basket at his feet, Orval grabbed for Dalan as the carriage lurched forward. Amari had Lara in her arms, trying to comfort her.
“What in the name of the Lord and Lady is the rush?” Amari said as they rattled along.
“More to the point, why are we heading toward the Palace?” Orval tried to soothe Dalan as he looked out the small window in the door. “Another audience, maybe?”
Amari was trying to undo her dress, trying to juggle Lara. “I hope she can latch on,” she said.
“The horses can’t keep this fast a pace forever,” Orval said. “Here, let me take her, until you get settled.”
With both babes in his arms, Orval scrunched his nose and pursed his lips, making kissing noises at them. Dalan stopped crying, staring with wide eyes. Lara wasn’t fooled, her face scrunched up and fists flailing.
“Come, little one,” Amari reached out and took her back. “Let’s get some milk in that grumpy belly.”
Orval rocked Dalan, peering out the window as streets and people flashed by, noting the open palace gates as the carriage rumbled through and came to a halt. “Odd, what’s the Mage Guildmaster doing here at this hour?”
“There’s another carriage,” Amari was looking out her side as Lara nursed.
“And another mage,” Orval sucked in a breath as he saw the blindfolded horses. “Amari, I think—”
The carriage jerked forward and the world went white.
It lasted for seconds, the glare blazing inside his eyelids. Orval’s stomach flipped and his ears popped. The air he managed to take in was cold as ice.
“Orval,” Amari sounded shocked. Her eyes were wide, her brown skin ashen. “What was that?”
Both babes started screaming their heads off.
Orval cursed and placed Dalan in his basket. “Just a moment, little one,” he said as he got to his feet, careful to keep his balance as he reached up and pulled down the furred cloaks. He glimpsed the outside world as he moved and nearly collapsed at the sight. “Look out the window,” he said, almost gasping.
