Page 62 of Realm of Nightmares
“Healing ointments,” she confirmed, her burgundy curls falling in front of her face as she ducked her head. “Just in case.”
She stepped back, her mouth set in a firm line. Merrick stepped up next to her.
Tiernan’s gaze swept across the courtyard. There was still no sign of Ceridwen. An uncomfortable feeling pitched low in his stomach, clenching his gut.
Aran pulled a rolled piece of parchment from his gilded armor, unfurling it before all of them. “I’ve never been to Maghmell, but I’ve heard stories.”
“They’re true,” Tiernan confirmed. Nightmarish and terrible, but true.
The land of eternal paradise was fairly easy to find, so long as the one looking for it was already dead, and assuming their souls were deemed worthy enough to enter by Danua. For those among the living who sought it, however, the trek was fraught with danger. The Ice Straits alone were a death sentence. The only way to traverse the hazardous islands ensconced in the trenches of winter was across stretches of ice. But the water below was unpredictable and had been known to break apart the frozen pathways, swallowing unlucky souls into its murderous depths.
Unfortunately for them, that wasn’t even the worst of it.
Merrick eyed the map, his finger following the direction of their expedition. Images of mountains and frozen rivers shifted and moved, giving the Ice Straits their namesake. “You’llfadeto the northern point of Ashdara. Queen Ciara has been made aware of your arrival in her borders. From there, you’ll cross the Ice Straits that cover the expanse of the Cloudborn Sea on foot, and then you’ll enter the Kethwyn Woods.”
He swallowed audibly. The Kethwyn Woods was where Tiernan almost died.
“Once you make it out of there,” Merrick continued, tracing the route, “you’ll find yourselves at the base of the Golden Plains.”
The Golden Plains—thousands of gilded steps that led straight to the entrance of Maghmell.
Tiernan blew out a breath and glanced over at Aran. “Are you ready?”
He slung his fur cape over his shoulders. “As ever.”
“Very well.” Tiernan grabbed his satchel and slung it across his chest. “Let’s go.”
“Tiernan, wait!” A feminine voice carried across the courtyard.
Ceridwen ran toward him. She leapt over the near-empty stream, her unbound hair flying back behind her like streamers of gold.
“Wait!” she called again.
Her eyes were swollen and puffy, the whites of them colored red from too many tears. She clutched at the skirts of her dress, trying to keep the hem off the ground so she didn’t stumble as she hurtled herself into his arms. He caught her in an embrace, hating the way her shoulders trembled in his hold.
“I didn’t think you were going to come see us off.”Tiernan spoke the words gently into her mind.
She looked up at him, the twilight blue of her eyes harboring all her pain. Tears slid down her cheeks freely, staining them, as she stepped out of his hold. “I thought if I didn’t say goodbye then, it wouldn’t be real.”
He gave her a soft smile and pressed a light kiss to the top of her head. “You know that’s not how this works. We can’t ignore things only to pretend they don’t exist.”
“I know.” She sniffed, her bottom lip quivering as Brynn wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Be careful isn’t enough. Nothing I can say will be enough.”
Tiernan wasn’t ready to admit it, not to himself, not to anyone. But he knew the likelihood of their survival was slim at best. The threat of death skulked in the back of his mind, prowling like a predator on the hunt. Maghmell was a risk, and there was no reading of the stars, no promise of fate, compelling enough to guarantee their safe return.
“Come back to us,” Ceridwen pleaded, her watery gaze sliding to Aran. “Both of you.”
The High Prince bowed. “Count on it, my lady.”
She reached out, grabbed Tiernan’s hand, and squeezed it. In her face, he saw every last hope, every raw wish made upon a star. If they failed, it would be the end of them all.
“To the end of the world,” she whispered, releasing his hand.
“And back again.”
The phrase was something their parents would tell them any time they had to leave Niahvess, any time they traveled any distance, no matter how great or small.
“And back again.”
