Page 148 of Reaper's Ruin
“What do you need?” Selyse asked.
“Make them mortal, like us.”
Her eyes bulged and so did mine.
“What?” she spit out.
Rhyker stepped forward. “They sacrificed everything for us and fought to get her safe. The Veil Lords won’t stop until they’ve been obliterated too. They’ll only be safe on this side of the veil while we try to figure out what to do.”
She bit her lip then gave him a nod. “Okay. Fine. But it takes a lot of energy to do this. I’ll try to pull them all through, but no promises.”
“Thank you,” he said quickly. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I owe it to them to try to return the favor and have their backs too.”
“Of course,” she said. “I’ll try to pull them through and then send them after you.”
“Where should we go?” I asked.
“Rhyker knows these lands better than I do,” she replied. “Is there somewhere you could hide, somewhere far from prying eyes?”
He was quiet for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. “There’s a place,” he said finally. “A cabin in the mountains between the Sylvan and Frost territories. It’s isolated, protected by natural barriers. Few know of its existence. I... I reaped a soul who lived there not long ago. Should be empty.”
“Good,” Selyse nodded. “You should leave now. Go there. If your friends arrive, I’ll send them there too.”
“Tell Taelon to look for the mountain that looks like a wolf’s head. The cabin is near the base.”
“I will,” she said.
I stared at her, beautiful, wonderful Selyse, and I stepped forward and pulled her into my arms. “Thank you, Selyse. Thank you so much.”
She squeezed me back, and I held her for a long moment before she whispered, “I knew I sensed something between you two. It’s a true connection. A love one rarely sees in any lifetime. Cherish it. Protect him. Help him find his peace.”
I looked over her shoulder at Rhyker, vowing to myself that someway, somehow, I would help him find his peace so I could find mine. And together, we could walk into the next life to spend an eternity in each other’s arms.
We broke apart and she gave me one last knowing look, then she turned and hurried into her cabin. When she emerged, she had fresh clothes for me, and she pressed a small pouch into my hands. “Healing herbs, some food, and a few coins,” she explained. “It’s not much, but it might help.”
“You’ve already done more than enough,” I said, gratitude welling up inside me. “How can we ever repay you?”
Her smile was tinged with sadness. “Live. Love each other. Find happiness in whatever time you have.” She hesitated, then added, “And if I think of anything—any way to help you find a more permanent solution—I’ll reach out. I’ve been working on my empathic abilities. With that cloaking spell, while they can’t find you, I can. I should be able to contact you, no matter where you are. You’ll hear my voice in your mind.”
“Amazing,” I said, still surprised I couldbesurprised by anything in this world anymore.
Selyse embraced me at the door, her slender form surprisingly strong. “Be careful,” she whispered. “And never lose hope. Even in the darkest times, there is always a way forward.”
Rhyker clasped her hand, his expression solemn. “Thank you. Someday, I’ll find a way to repay you.”
“Just take care of her, and both of you find your peace. That’s all I want. Now go, before someone finds you here.”
With one last wave at her and Pip, we slipped into the darkness, following a narrow path through the dense forest. Rhyker moved with confident purpose, his hand firmly clasping mine as he led me through the trees. My new body felt wonderfully solid and real, every sensation heightened after our time as spectral forms.
The farm Rhyker had mentioned was small but well-kept, its inhabitants presumably sleeping as we crept toward the stable. With practiced efficiency, Rhyker selected a sturdy bay mare for me, saddling her quietly while I kept watch.
“I’ll leave payment when we can,” he murmured, seeming to sense my discomfort about stealing a horse as he helped me mount. “But right now, survival takes precedence, and we need to cover some ground. Fast.”
He then took the reins of the storm grey gelding he’d chosen for himself, leading him up beside us. He swung up on his back, the horse dancing nervously, then we set off at a steady pace, staying off the main roads and following paths that seemed invisible to my eyes, but that Rhyker navigated with unerring certainty.
As we rode through the night, the landscape gradually changed around us. The lush forests of the Sylvan Court gave way to steeper terrain, the trees thinning as we climbed higher into the mountains. The air grew cooler, carrying the crisp scent of pine and stone.
Dawn was breaking when we finally reached our destination—a small stone cabin nestled against the mountainside,partially hidden by a stand of ancient trees. It was simple but solid, its thick walls promising shelter from both weather and prying eyes.
