Page 61 of Curse of Thorns
Rev
The wind howls, blowingover my skin and tossing my hair wildly. Luckily, it’s just barely long enough to reach my eyes. I ignore the occasional sting and continue pressing into the roaring wind.
The air here is at least twenty degrees colder than the other side of the wall and much too dark to see.
If I’d thought this through, I’d have slept the night in that tame forest before entering the Schorchedlands. But I couldn’t think anything through before.
I still can’t think very clearly, if I’m honest. Rage still devours me from the inside out. Pain I couldn’t possibly explain presses down on me.
Her voice rings in my ears.
Caelynn telling me how she’s enjoyed murdering my brother. I shake my head. How had I ever let her get that close? How had I ever trusted her?
Bile rises in my throat. Never again.
Now that I’m here, I’ll never have to see her again.
Now, I’m here, and I simply have to deal with what’s ahead. I’ll focus on this mission and nothing more. She can’t hurt me again.
The world before me is so dark I can barely see where I’m stepping. How am I supposed to find a place to camp for the night if I can’t even see what’s around me?
There’s a faint clinking and the groan of pained spirits in the distance. They’re far off, though. Not a direct threat.
The ground here is soft and mushy, and as I march forward, it only gets worse. Soon my boots are sinking into the muck with each step. If it gets any worse, I’ll have to turn back, seeking firmer ground. I could easily get stuck in mud this thick. And that’s assuming this is simple mud I’m dealing with. I’m in the Schorchedlands, I remind myself, and the muck very well may be cursed or poisoned or alive. Many unpleasant options.
I blink, trying to will my eyes to focus in the darkness. No such luck. My fingers and lips are still numb, my brain a bit fuzzy. I won’t be entirely sober for a few hours still—all the more reason I should sleep.
Something pinches my shin, and I jerk back, only to wince at another sharp jab to the back of my thigh. I freeze and brush at my thigh. Something pinches my fingers, and I pull away a briar. Wonderful.
I groan and attempt a gentle reversal of my steps. I turn and retreat until I find my boots are on solid ground. Not entirely dry or firm but better.
The wind groans in my ear again; only this time, it sends a shiver down my spine. More groans fill the air.
That... is not the wind.
Phantoms. Wraiths. Cursed souls. That’s what populates this place. They’re not all fae but also animals and creatures whose souls couldn’t pass on to the beyond.
I pull out my iron blade. It’s dull, but it’s not the blade itself that will protect me. Iron can cut even through spirits. This small blade and my magic, those are my only real weapons against the inhabitants of this place.
While the spirits here don’t care one way or another if I retrieve the cure—they will kill anyone who gets too close, and they are especially annoyed with living beings impeding their eternal restless punishment. There are traps set every step of the way, looking to ensnare souls—living or non. They don’t care.
My heart beats louder, and I press closer to the edge of the thorn walls. Not exactly the ideal place to camp because if you roll too close, you may find a foot-long thorn slicing through your body easier than a sword. But I also know journeying through the Schorchedlands blind is a terrible idea. The closer to the center I get, the more dangerous it becomes. After walking the perimeter for a short while, I’m able to find a small copse of trees. I can’t tell what kind, but they’ll provide enough cover to act as a shelter for the next few hours.
The howl of a wolf, or something like it, calls in the distance, followed by several more groans and cries. I pull my thin blanket from my pack and throw it over my shoulders as lean my back against the tree, sliding to the ground.
I close my heavy eyes.
I’m here. I made it. The path ahead won’t be easy, but I can now focus on my quest.
I’m not a failure, I remind myself. Not yet.
In the morning, I’ll begin my long trek across these cursed lands and find a way to reach my destiny. For now, I’ve just got to survive until the morning.
