Page 8 of Her Ivory Flame

With one last glance behind her at the home she had made, she tightened her grip on the reins and gently glided the mare into a walk down the path.

“Let's go,” she said, her voice hollow.

“It will be ok Alyra,” Silas said softly behind her but she didn't look back and continued on the road ahead knowing there was no going back now.

Chapter 4

Each day seemed like an eternity as her anxiety grew with every step.

She was on edge, and she knew Silas could feel it as they traveled through the lush lands towards the north. They would have small conversations throughout the day, but she knew he was trying to distract her with most of the random topics.

Their first night under the stars, they made camp in the hillside a few yards off the main road. Luckily they were tucked out of view from any travelers and made a fire to fight the chill spring night.

The ground was hard making it difficult for her to fall asleep even wrapped in Silas’s arms for warmth. It wasn’t long after she fell asleep that one of her nightmares plagued her mind and she found herself shooting upright in panic.

The blades, the chains, and the stone slab where she had been carved up engulfed her mind worse than normal for the second night in a row. In her nightmare Mavros’s onyx black eyes watched over her as he carved patches of flesh off her using iron and special potions to null her power or slow her natural healing, repeating the process daily.

Silas slid his arm back around her waist and pulled her back down onto him. Resting her head against his chest, she focused on his heartbeat to steady her. They had this routine down all too well, which was one of the many reasons she trusted Silas enough to return with him to go back to Ambros.

They had been making good time getting through the Cheshire Valley and made it past the Hydra river before rain hit the following day. Heavy rain always made the roads flood making it too dangerous to cross for at least a few days after.

Lush fields and mountains could be seen most of the way north, an occasional patch of forest giving them a break from the spring weather patterns. Other than their initial travel to her forest cottage, she had never really seen Ambros other than the capital.

She was surprised it was so calm along the main route to Elnora; no bandits or broken bridges in sight. Nothing would ever compare to her home, or at least what it used to look like, but she enjoyed the view as they traveled.

They had gone through a few villages, and were approaching their first big city closest to the capital. Keeping her hood up andhair tucked, they made it quickly though the small main streets drawing little attention to themselves. Silas left her with the horses to gather supplies a few times but most folks just glanced at them and retreated.

Having the horses in Royal garments helped.

Now they were entering the city of Ketras, one of the few majorly moderated cities in Ambros. The large stone wall casted shadows as they approached, the sky above darkened.

Every traveler from villages to the south would have to come through this city if they wanted to get to the capital. She and Silas were no different.

Keeping a low profile was going to be difficult.

“I already have arrangements made at one of the inns just inside the city,” Silas spoke softly next to her, watching her scan the city walls as they approached with the sun dropping behind the horizon. “No sleeping in the woods tonight.” he chuckled.

A nice soft bed would be a change from the hard ground they had been sleeping on the last few nights. If it all worked out, they would be in the capital by evening tomorrow and anxiety sparked in her again.

“I know the horses could use a good rest out of the weather as well,” she replied back, her eyes too anxious to meet him.

He didn’t say another word as they walked through the large wooden gate that was carved into a great stone wall. The guards seemed to recognize Silas and didn’t move to stop them for thenormal entrance check, just nodded as they passed. She had never been to this city before, but it was more modern than she was used to.

Fae lights lined the cobblestone streets and the buildings were built of clean stone set a few feet apart. Each one had well maintained wood roofing, and every window was made of perfect glass. Doors had no large chips out of them, and everyone walking around was dressed in clean clothes. It was a refreshing site compared to what she had become accustomed to.

Her head was dipped down to let her hood shadow her face, her horse keeping pace behind Silas’s. She kept close as they weaved through the stone streets until they stopped just outside a stable on the east side of the city.

“We are here.” Silas’s voice drawing her out of her trance.

She dismounted her horse, grabbing her bag before giving the mare a few pats on the neck and handing her to the stable hand. She watched the horse disappear into the barn before turning to see Silas waiting for her.

He kept quiet as they entered the inn that also doubled as a tavern. The tables were full of patrons and the noise was almost deafening as soon as the doors opened. She winced from the smell of spoiled beer and sweaty bodies that nearly overwhelmed her senses. Scanning the interior of the packed room, a dozen tables were full of drinking townsfolk that carried on with loud conversations and unsavory games.

They caught the eye of a few patrons, Silas’s royal patch drawing some attention to them but no one said a word in their direction. Keeping her hood pulled down, she tilted her face forward as they approached the bar.

“Hey Jema.” Silas nodded to the bartender. “Our room ready?”

“Of course, up the stairs to the right.” The short, black haired stubby female handed him a key and they headed to the staircase. Alyra adjusted her pack, peaking over her shoulder casually. Anyone who had glanced in their direction quickly returned to their own conversations. Up the stairs they went, the noise from the tavern fading behind with every creak of the wood as they climbed. When Silas opened the door, she raised her eyebrow to him and smirked.