Page 24 of The Shadow Path
“You’re no help.” Carys walked toward the wardrobe where she knew she’d probably find a bunch of Seren’s old clothes. “No help at all.”
“I know,” Laura said. “I am the worst.”
CHAPTER SIX
Dressed in woolen clothing to keep away the evening chill, Carys, Duncan, Laura, and Cadell went riding through Hyde Forest on horses borrowed from Dafydd’s stables.
“So” —Carys nudged her mount toward Laura’s— “what do you think so far?”
“Of this place?” Laura looked around as the fog drifted between the trees, wafting in long feathers that curled and wrapped around them before moving on. “The fog is familiar but not much else.”
“The magic feels different than back at home, right?”
Laura glanced at her, a heavy wool cloak masking much of her face. “I’ve spent a lot of my life going between the two worlds. I have to say, this place? It feels… unsettled.”
“What does that mean?”
“I mean the magic here” —Laura dropped her voice— “there’s somethingrestlessabout it. It feels off to me, but maybe that’s just because it’s not what I’m used to. But it makes me uneasy. I feel like everything is on edge.”
“Do you think it’s the coronation? Because the human government is changing?”
“Maybe.” Laura shrugged. “Like I said, I don’t know this place well enough to say, but if I were feeling this back in the Pauwau Aki that I know, I would think there was conflict brewing.” She glanced over her shoulder at Cadell. “Not among humans but among the magical creatures. It’s not the people who are restless; it’s the magic.”
Carys fell silent and nodded.
“Like I said, I don’t know this place well, so I could be wrong.” Laura glanced back at the dragon behind them. “I hope I’m wrong.”
Laura let her horse fall back to ride beside Cadell, and Carys continued forward.
“Are we headed back to the troll market?” Carys asked. “I thought that wasn’t a good idea at night.”
“We’re not.” Duncan rode a little ahead as the horses walked through Hyde Forest. “We’re going to a spot a little downriver from the Night Bridge. I want you to see the Tamis at night.”
“Ah,” Cadell spoke from behind them. “I know what the blacksmith is thinking. A pleasant outing then.”
“What is it?” Laura asked. “Don’t keep us in suspense.”
Cadell said, “But suspense will heighten your pleasure.”
Carys barely managed to muffle her snort.
Laura cleared her throat. “Want to try that again?”
“Prolonged suspense will heighten the pleasure of what you are about to experience.”
“Right.” Laura was hard to embarrass, but Carys heard it in her voice. “So you’re saying you enjoy anticipation.”
Cadell said, “I believeyouwill enjoy anticipation. It’s a common trait in humans.”
Laura kept her voice deliberately mild. “Not in dragons?”
Duncan fell back to walk his horse beside Carys and lowered his voice. “Are they always like this?”
“Yes.”
Duncan glanced over his shoulder. “Poor dragon.” He kept his voice low. “Does he have any idea how transparent he’s being?”
Carys shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
