Page 24 of Crown of Betrayal and Blood

Now that I think about it, it looks more like a dry moat than anything else. Or maybe a channel to protect against flooding from the river.

“Right here is as good as anywhere else.” Blair’s gaze sweeps over the silent city. “Bastian, why don’t you and Leesa collect some wood for a fire? The rest of us will set up camp.”

“We don’t need wood.” Again, I call fire to my hands, glad to be of service. “I can heat water pretty fast.”

“Look at my sister, being useful for once.” Leesa grins as she unties and spreads out her bedroll. “That means you’re in charge of cooking.”

“I said I could heat water.” I wiggle my fire at her as the sun finishes settling below the line of trees. “I never said I could cook.”

Working together, we’re able to prepare a passable meal from dried noodles and slivers cut from our dehydrated meat strips. Though the closest I’ve ever come to cooking is brewing tea, this meal is simple. I keep the heat while the others add noodles and meat and stir the concoction.

A little later, with a belly full of warm food and a cup of tea in my hands, I start to doze off. Blair was right when he pointed out that I had never flown long distances with a heavy pack. My muscles are sore, and I’m exhausted.

But as soon as sleep starts to pull at me, I jerk awake. “Does anyone hear anything?”

Leesa swivels her head back and forth. “I don’t hear anything. Do you?”

“No. That’s the problem.” I scan the empty streets and sky above us. “It’s too quiet. There’s not a single frog croaking or insect buzzing. Even birds don’t fly over us.”

Is the eerie silence due to whatever magic keeps us on the ground? Or could there be a more ominous cause…like the drachen? A similar phenomenon occurred with the pikas, moments before they were attacked.

Leesa pulls her bedroll up and wraps it around herself like a cloak. “That’s creepier than anything else that’s happened since we landed.”

“You’ve never had wings that won’t allow you to fly.” Agnar gestures at his useless wings.

“True.” Leesa’s gaze darts from one dark space beyond our camp to the next. No doubt she’s feeling vulnerable without access to eyril, since Aclarian magic is weak without the tincture. “Since I won’t be sleeping any time soon, I’ll take first watch.”

I sit up, setting the cup of tea aside. “You sure?”

She waves me off. “Of course. Get some sleep. Out of all of us, I’ve done the least work today. You all had to fly here, and I got to ride on Kaida. Though, to be fair, my thighs are on fire.”

Not needing to be told twice, but still feeling a little guilty, I put my wings away and tuck myself into my own bedroll. The ground beneath me is as unyielding as the silence that envelops our camp.

Using my pack as a pillow, I lie down and close my eyes. I blink a few times.

Bastian is also curling up in his bedroll.

Agnar and Blair are talking with their heads close together.

Leesa seems to be staring at the shadows as if waiting for them to speak or attack.

She’s on edge.

Regret tugs at me, but I’m so tired I close my eyes again. In rest, time loses meaning until a sound slices through the stillness to jolt me awake.

Groggy, I prop myself on my elbows, squinting at the sky as dawn’s gray light eases the worst of the darkness.

Why did no one wake me for a turn at watch?

Twisting my head, I search for whoever is up, ready to let them know I’ll take over for the rest of the night.

Leesa’s silhouette hovers over one of our companions, her hands cupped around an object that she lifts to her mouth. She lowers it and shakes her head like she’s disagreeing with someone. I strain to listen.

No one else is talking.

Is she just now going to bed? How did she stay up all night? And why? Who is she standing over?

“Leesa?”

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