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Revel was out front with the cart and donkeys, lifting in the basket of food Raina had prepared for the trip. It was dawn, but the sky already looked menacing with heavy clouds, so Raina lent me her thickest hooded cloak.

“Oh, I almost forgot,” I said out loud but wished I’d kept it to myself.

“What did you forget?” Raina asked.

“Uh, just want to grab an extra scarf for warmth.” I raced back to the bedroom and pulled the parchment out of the top drawer. I folded it and put it safely in my pocket. Apparently, Revel had the same power as Madigan, where he could wipe away a few minutes of time and let them restart so that anyone we passed or talked to would completely forget our existence. I had no doubt I would get in big trouble if anyone found out I was mailing off a letter to Paxton explaining everything that had happened. It seemed the only way I could get the information to him without it being wiped away by Revel’s power. It tore me up to think my dear friend was in distress about my sudden disappearance. I wanted to reassure him I was fine.

“Where’s the scarf?” Raina asked. I’d never been a good liar.

“Oh, I decided I didn’t need it.”

Revel climbed up on the box while I said goodbye to Raina. Both donkeys glanced back with wide eyes as their driver climbed aboard.

Raina laughed. “Those two don’t look pleased at the prospect of dragging the mighty Revel Greyhart through the Ironfall Wilds.”

“Good thing the terrain is flat,” I added. I turned to Raina. Her amused expression faded and was instantly replaced with profound worry. I hugged her. “We’ll be fine, Raina, and when we return, we are going to bring those lazy dragons out of retirement.”

Raina placed her palm on the side of my face. “I always knew you were amazing, Rafi. You’re proving that every day.”

We hugged again and I circled around to my side of the wagon. A big hand reached out to help me up. I placed my hand in his, and with the tiniest bit of effort, he had me up and into the wagon. He held my hand longer than necessary.

I sat down too fast on the hard bench seat. “Ouch, not exactly first class.”

“Ya ready, Whisper?” Revel hadn’t turned to look at me. Even giving me a hand up he’d kept his eyes averted. A sort of cold neutrality came off him in waves. I was absurdly glad he was still using the nickname. It felt like a connection was still there, despite his detached attitude. The man was a puzzle in so many ways, I’d given up trying to solve him.

We rode in silence for the first mile. Revel glanced up at the gray sky more than once. I decided the topic of weather was always a good neutral icebreaker in a tense silence.

“Do you think it will rain?” There had been three rainstorms since my arrival in Norvale, and all three times the sky seemed to close in on the town before breaking apart with dramatic lightning strikes, leaving the village nearly flooded with torrents of cold rain. I dreaded the idea of sitting on top of an open wagon in the middle of a deluge.

“I’d say we have a good chance of it,” he answered curtly. Silence followed.

We reached the gate. Jodon, the guard, nodded as we passed. “You heading into the Wilds?” he called as we rolled past.

“Yeah, should be back tomorrow morning.” Revel tugged lightly on the reins, and the donkeys stopped. Revel looked back over his shoulder. “Any trouble lately?”

“Nope. All quiet on the front,” Jodon said back. “You watch yourselves out there.”

Revel shook the reins and clucked his tongue. The donkeys reluctantly moved forward. The takeoff was the hardest part, but once the wagon was rolling, the donkeys had no problem pulling us along.

We crossed the river bridge in complete silence. I nervously drummed the box seat with my fingers as we entered the dark canopy of the Wilds. “So, those creepy old boneweavers, they’re busy with a coronation ball?” I asked.

“Hope so.”

I looked over at him. Even his profile, straight nose and chiseled jaw, was something to behold. “There’s a chance we could⁠—”

“Have the flesh ripped from our bones?” He finally looked over at me. His eyes were a stormy gray under the dense treetops. “I’ll try not to let that happen.”

“Try?” I asked.

He shrugged. “I’m not the one with the rare bones.” Amusement creased his cheek.

I elbowed him. “Very funny man I’ve invited along on my road trip.”

“I think an invite implies that the receiver can say no. I don’t think I was given an option.”

I turned slightly on the hard box seat to face him. “Maybe you have no interest in bringing the dragons back to health.”

“Relax, Whisper, I’m teasing. And I want nothing more than to climb on Kya’s back and soar along the Avions and over the Blackforge Sea. I guess I’m just skeptical about your sunflowers being lion’s bane.”