Iza laughs, rolling her eyes and smiling. I’m winning her over; I can feel it.
Iza and I walk arm in arm, slightly inebriated, laughing as we crash into the dining hall, to meet grave faces. Our laughter simmers down, taking in the sombre atmosphere.
“What’s happened?” Iza asks, instantly sobering up. I head over to Arel and Kaleb, trying hard not to fall over. Ronan tosses me some bread.
Caelan clears his throat, addressing everyone, “Now that we’re all here,” side-eyes me and Iza, “patrols have noted multiple guards in the mountain areas. We haven’t seen this many in a long time, and certainly not in winter. We don’t knowwhat they’re looking for, but let’s make sure they don’t find it.” The crowd quietly murmurs.
“Patrols are out tonight watching their movements, so far, they’ve not ventured near our door, but it won’t be long before they get too close for comfort. Tomorrow, Ronan will be taking a group out.” Caelan gestures for Ronan to take the lead.
Ronan swirls his glass. “Like Caelan said, a few of us will head out tomorrow to scout and deal with any problems we find along the way.” I try to hide my smile. I’ve been waiting to hunt some Zury guards. “Iza, Arel, Kaleb, Aron, Izaac…” He lists a few more names, and I wait impatiently for him to call mine, “Wyatt.” I almost punch the air when he calls my name. I pretend to be uninterested, but with the amount of alcohol in my system, I don’t know if that look is being portrayed.
“Aryan and Ruaridh will keep look out in the trees or high in the mountains if we have to go that far, they will stay far away from any fighting. Lookouts only.” He nods to two young boys, the same ones who opened the doors when I first arrived. I haven’t seen them since, but this is the biggest group I have seen around this table.
Caelan must have called for a village meeting rather than a warrior's one in his hut. A woman sits beside the boys, her stern face looks between the boys and Ronan, either she is telling them to listen to him, or she’s pissed they’re involved.
“At sunup, I want you all armed and ready to head out. No more drinking.” Ronan’s eyes dart between Iza and me. He doesn’t have to tell me twice.
Caelan stomps out the room, indicating for me to follow. The cool night air slaps my face, sobering me up for whatever conversation we’re about to have. “I wanted to catch you before you head out. I know you’re worried about your family. I wanted you to know that we found them. In Zury.” He gripsmy shoulder. “They’re alive, and as far as we’ve heard, not ill-treated. Adrian must be holding them for a reason.”
“For Andi. His guards have been hunting her for weeks. But why?”
“I wish I could tell you. In the meantime, we need to remove the threat of the soldiers in the mountains, otherwise, we won’t be able to help them or anyone, for that matter. Can you do that?”
All I can do is nod. They’re alive, and as safe as they can be, for the moment.
Absentmindedly, I slump down at the table with the stragglers, their stories and jokes a faint mumble in my ears. Kaleb and Arel mocked me for a painfully long time about Iza being my cousin. I’m happy. Other than Nik, she’s the first real family I’ve known.
After being ushered out of the hut, we walk through the village. It didn’t take long for Nu’cov to feel like home. Folk smile at me as they pass by, rather than glare at the newcomer, it feels like I have found somewhere I belong. In amongst the other riffraff and outsiders.
The clanging of metal at the training field catches our attention. Sneaking behind some bushes at the edge of the field, we watch Caelan and Ronan train together. This is the first time I have seen Caelan in the field, other than to give orders. He is swift in his movements, slower than Ronan, but most folk are. Parrying and dodging Ronan’s advances, he preys on his target, waiting for the right moment to strike. Ronan is fast, nipping under Caelan, swiping his two Katanas around the air in a dance.
“What’s his deal?” I ask, not taking my eyes off the fighting.
“Can’t tell you,” Kaleb says swigging his flask. Ronan told us not to drink anything more, but Kaleb decided that rule only applied to Iza and me, since we stumbled in drunk for the ‘meeting.’
“How is he so good at fighting, then? Can you tell me that?”
Arel and Kaleb look at each other, deciding what I might be allowed to know.
Arel clears his throat. “All we know is he was an assassin in Eilia. He likes to keep to himself.”
Somehow, Ronan being an assassin makes perfect sense.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Andi
Sneaking past the guards was much easier than I thought. They were so intoxicated they wouldn’t have heard us if we were creeping right beside them. Their merry songs could be heard for miles after we left.
If by chance they found Lura’s house in the morning, at least the heavy snowfall during the night would have covered the tracks we left behind, skirting around the woods towards the Elyneas mountains.
The sheer size of this mountain range is unspeakable, mountain upon mountain, cradled together, hiding winding paths, caves, and tunnels.Luckily for us, Lura knows how to navigate through them, which tunnels to take, and which caves we can rest or hide in.The snowy weather hasn’t let up, falling thick and fast, soaking through whatever winter clothes we had. Unfortunately, they’re no match for the elements.
“I’m sorry to say it, but we’re running seriously low on food,” Lura says as she breaks apart the little meat we have left into rations. “I doubt you’ll find any game here, especially not with this weather.Hope you’re all good with plants.” She gives an apologetic smile.
We have been rationing food for the past few days, but it wasn’t much to begin with. Huddling around the fire in our small cave, tiredness and hunger is getting to us all. Myles and I seem to be the only ones struggling with the cold, though theirelven blood must have something to do with it. Wyatt would know. He and his fascination with the Elven folk.
“How m-much further?” I ask, pulling the hood of my cloak over my head.
