Page 148 of I Ran Away to Evil 3
“That’s so sweet—” Henrietta paused when the lights dimmed overhead. The show was about to start.
Minstrel Brownie came out on stage, and we enjoyed an evening of good food, music, and friends.
CHAPTER 80
Wisdom Isn’t an Attribute
Julian
Four Weeks into the North
August was almost over.
“Are you sure you don’t want to head in?” Julian asked. They were alone, lying on the Ice Fields under the full moon.
“Five more minutes.” Gerda snuggled closer to him, running her hands up his chest and playing with the string of his tunic. They were on top of a pile of enchanted blankets. The bottom layer had a cooling feature that prevented the heated upper layer from melting the icy ground below. “It was hard today—there were fourteen assassins clogging up the roads, and I’m starting to get complaints.”
She showed him a letter with the most politely worded chastisement.
To Miss Gerda Jones,
Due to an increase in traffic disruption on your controlled bridges, the Dark Horde is experiencing delays in all areas of transportation. We would like to inform you that all complaints will henceforth be liable to affect your unit domain registration.
Please deal with any future disturbances in a timelier manner.
Signed,
Keith Monfort of Nilheim, King of the Dark Enchanted Forest
Julian wondered if she wouldn’t let the entire party face Alice head-on for her … and why she hadn’t asked yet.
She breathed slowly, the tension leaving her shoulders. “I love it out here. It’s beautiful.”
“It is.” Julian covered her hand on his chest.
They would start climbing the mountain range tomorrow, but tonight was a date under the northern lights. And while many of the stars weren’t visible through the aurora, one comet shone clear and bright.
“I wonder if Master Thomas is ready yet?” Gerda mused, though she didn’t sound concerned.
Julian grumbled a soft, “He’d better be.”
Five Weeks into the North
They reached a bridge of ice that connected one mountain to the next.
“Once we cross here, weshouldbe clear through the mountain pass,” he told Gerda as he pointed to a peak further south along the mountain range. “That was the path we took last time, and it showed this bridge leading to a staircase that will take us straight down.”
They rarely took the same path twice while searching the mountains because they were always searching new areas for the hidden dungeon, and this trip was no exception.
So far, Julian had barely had the opportunity to search the grounds on the northern tip of the Ice Fields. Aside from searching the fields, canyons, and the hundreds of caves throughout the mountain range itself, they’d also had to return to deal with monster surges and his mother’s seasonal balls. There was a five-month stretch between the Winter Feast and the Spring Ball because the winter solstice ushered in larger and more aggressive monster surges than the rest of the year.
The entirety of North Sumbria’s military came out in full force to guard the border. As such, the vassal families and North Sumbria’s elite weren’t free until late spring, so that was when the Spring Ball heralded in the matchmaking season.
“The bridge is secure.” John came back from his inspection and added, “But there are some weak spots. Just don’t—” The sound of cracking split the air. They all turned around to see Sir Tully, one foot lifting from a spot of splintered ice. “—step on the white lines,” the rogue finished, his teeth clenched. “Tully!”
“In my defense,” the paladin said, watching the cracks creep forward along the bridge until the entire structure began to crumble and fall. “I didn’t use the war hammer this time.”
“Do you think he has a curse?” Gerda asked. “We should have Chloe check him, just in case.”
