Page 67 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals
“Lilthus Ridge,” he explains, hefting the bag over his shoulder. “The Furies apparently make nests in the sunny, rocky cliffs, poaching from the skies to snatch unsuspecting travelers. They don’t take anyone in the shadows.”
My mouth parts, sliding from the saddle. “Truly, Furies?” Furies are winged beasts, with beautiful female faces but the bodies of hawks, with vibrant red and orange feathers.
It’s said they only snatch evil men, using them to mate with before devouring them whole.
But it’s just a myth. “Where did you hear that?”
Since our conversation by the fire nights ago, we’ve had an unspoken agreement. He’ll avoid talks of my magic and I won’t use it in front of him.
It’s easier that way.
Tay gestures to the men. “News travels fast among them. The rumors of Furies are told to little boys before bed as a warning to treat women right.”
Glaring at a few men who turn a leery eye onto me, I mutter, “Seems the Furies have been lax in their job duties.”
He nods, though he doesn’t respond. He knows how Humans behave, how these men in particular do, but he’s not ready to condemn them yet.
I love his naivety, but he can’t believe some of these men wouldn’t meet the fate of a Fury. Right?
Carefully, Tay takes out his copper summoning bowl, following me to the small pond next to the campsite. I throw my tent down as he dips the bowl in, adding a few drops from a vial in his pocket.
The water in the Blackwoods Coven can be used as communication but only within itself. By combining somewater with the water of this pond, Tay’s hoping to speak to his sister. It’s faster than hawks.
“Have you spoken to her?” I ask, voice soft.
Tay looks down, guilt twisting his face. “Not since the night of the welcome ball. I sent her a message when we agreed to the treaty but it’s been silent on her end.” His silver eyes look up at me, frowning. “How mad do you think she is?”
“On a scale of one to when you broke her favorite doll?” I wince in sympathy. “Probably higher considering you gave the Dark Fae water and are in the middle of the Eternal Night Forest with a bunch of Humans.”
Nafre will be mad at the terms Tay set out, but she’ll be worried about where we find ourselves. Tay is second and his magic is needed.
She doesn’t need me.
“Are you sure?—”
“We stay,” he cuts off, setting up his tent. “I made an agreement and I’ll honor it.”
“And if Nafre demands you home?”
He doesn’t answer, choosing to finish his accommodations and grabs the copper bowl, staring down.
Finally he looks at me, shoulders heavy with worry. “Then I’ll honor my Matriarch’s command. But until then, I’ll honor my word. We stay.”
Sighing, I watch his flap close and my stomach growls. We’ve not had more than dried fruit and nuts since being on the long journey and the smell of gamey fowl and hearty root vegetables wafts into the air.
Following my nose, I stop at the communal fire, a few men dishing out portions. It’s nothing more than stew, but I’m too hungry to care. Grabbing two bowls, I turn from the group to find a place to rest, only for a man dressed in dusty blue leathers to block my exit, arms crossed. His thick blond mustache covers most of his upper lip, and his dirty hair is soaked to his skull.
By the set of his mouth, he’s not happy to see me.
I stare, hidden by the folds of my cloak. Can I pull my daggers with both hands full?
“That food’s for volunteers,” he tells me, voice gruff. “For those who help. Who pull their weight. What makes you think you can have at it?”
Remaining quiet, I stand still. Taylay has been the one to gather us food and as the only one with helpful magic, they must have been fine with him partaking.
But me, a woman? Not so much.
“Are you dumb, girl?” He steps closer and I feel my magic swirl in my gut, hissing like an angry cat. It knows this man’s intentions and it doesn’t like him.
