Page 63 of Ruling the Green

Once we were clear, though, Vishen broke into a run ahead of us. Serin and I did the same. And Nira followed behind.

It’d been a long time since I went for a run. Muscles tensed, then loosened. My lungs burned, then remembered how to breathe properly.

Beside me, Serin kept a pretty good pace with her long legs and lungs, likely strengthened from swimming all day, every day of her life.

By the time the sun was creeping through the woods, its golden beams threading between the trees, we stopped beside a stream, three of us drinking as Serin sipped her water before reaching into the stream to press the water to her face.

“What is it?” I asked when she gasped.

“I can hear it.”

“Hear what?”

“My lake. I can hear it.”

She lowered down onto her belly on the bank, holding her ear just above the flowing water.

“We must be close.” She turned her head, gulping in some of the water and letting out a little moan.

“We are,” Nira confirmed.

I could read the desire on her face, felt the tug of need. It wasn’t just her home. It was a part of her. And she, a part of it. If it faded, so did she. If she faded, so did it.

“We’re in a safer area,” Nira said, choosing her words carefully so she didn’t get Serin’s hopes up if I said no.

“How much further do you think?” I asked Vishen.

“Assuming she has been traveling toward us, we should be coming across her within twenty minutes or so.”

“Alright,” I said to Nira. “But be sharp. And stay put. Vishen can lead me there.”

“Lead you where?” Serin asked, getting to her feet.

“Your lake.”

“You’re letting me visit my lake?”

Letting her.

That particular phrasing made me feel like she was my prisoner. I guess, in a sick way, she was.

“Just while I speak to my sister. It’s too dangerous for you to go back to your lake permanently.” Was it, though? “Grimwood has a vested interest in you not being able to speak of what he did ever again.”

“I know. I would just like to see it.”

I wish I could see her in it too.

But stopping Celestine before she did something incredibly stupid was more important than my desires.

“Sure. Then go spend some time, revitalize; you are going to need your strength for the way back.”

We both looked at each other like we wanted to say something, but in the end, I just nodded at her and started off with Vishen. I broke into a run, not trusting myself not to turn back if I didn’t get as far as fast as I could.

It was only maybe another fifteen minutes before I heard the wheels of a carriage dragging across the ground, snapping twigs and crunching old, dry leaves.

Then there were the draca.

And the flags.