Page 55 of A Curse of Breath and Blood

A stick cracked in the distance. The men’s heads snapped to the left. Caiden held up his hand, stopping us dead in our tracks. Tharan muttered something under his breath while we held ours. Perhaps the cold had made him go insane.

“Something is watching us,” Caiden said, scanning the ridge above for predators.

“Let’s keep going. We are almost at the border,” Tharan replied.

“Do you know what hunts us,Prince?” Caiden asked, snark dripping from every word.

“If we keep moving, it will leave us alone. This forest is old and likes the taste of blood. It’s best not to linger for too long.” Tharan kept limping along.

Hooking my arm around Tharan’s waist, I let him lean on me. He gave me an appreciative smile, showcasing his long sylph fangs.

“There is a town close to the edge of the forest. They are not kind to outsiders, but they will tolerate you if you’re with me. We can get a hot meal and a place to lay down,” Tharan said.

Darkness chased our footsteps, awakening the forest with it. Ididn’t dare look back. Tharan’s wound attracted the eyes of the forest.

From the edge of the forest, the roofs of a small town came into view. Sheep dug in the snow for grass on rolling hills. Elven lands were foreign to me. They did not take kindly to outsiders.

Opulence dripped from every nook and cranny of the elven town. Streets paved with iridescent cobblestones wound through meticulously manicured gardens where vibrant flowers and enchanted flora bloomed even in the dead of winter. Sculpted homes mirrored the surrounding forest—a testament to the elves’ craftsmanship.

Tharan stopped before a large marble building with two statues of Eris, the elven goddess of the Trinity, standing guard.

“This is the governor’s residence. I will ask for a safe harbor for the night.” He took a deep breath before climbing the marble stairs and disappearing behind two gold-plated doors. Caiden and I sat on the hard steps and waited for him to return.

“Thank you for what you did back there,” Caiden said, fiddling with his rings. “Did you plant the seed?”

“I did, and you’re welcome.” I wrapped Caiden’s cloak tighter around me. “Everyone will think Gideon is a hero now.” A bitter taste filled my mouth at the thought of Gideon being hailed a champion.

“He’s cunning, I’ll give him that,” Caiden said, gazing around the immaculate marbled town.

“What are we going to do now? He’ll be more emboldened than ever.”

Caiden rubbed eyes. “We’re going to continue with the plan as is. His arrogance will be his downfall.”

“Let’s hope it works,” I said, rising as Tharan bounded down the stairs.

“They said we could stay for the night. The portal to Ruska opens in the morning.” Tharan led us down the pristine street to asmall inn where he presented the innkeeper with a permit for outsiders to stay.

Dark wooden staircases and gold accents greeted us when we entered the inn. An elderly elf with long, bony fingers and soft creases around her eyes greeted us.

“Hello, Prince Tharan. The governor sent word ahead and said you would be arriving with…” She eyed Caiden and me with distaste. “Guests soon.”

Tharan laid a pouch of gold on the mahogany counter. “Yes, they are to be treated with the utmost respect.”

“As you wish,” she said with a hint of disdain, grabbing keys to three rooms.

Her hands slipped on the polished railing as she escorted us upstairs. Despite their immortality, time still took its toll on the elves.

21AELIA

I dreamed of my sister.

Baylis woke me in the middle of the night.

“What’s going on?”I asked, bolting upright.

A smile crossed her round face.

“Shh… follow me.”She held up a small lantern.

---