Page 91 of The Thief
Chapter Nineteen
Three days later, Alastair and Owyn stood on the deck ofThe Comte, readying themselves to make port.
Alastair looked at Owyn and said, “I’d like to go directly to find the mineral if you don’t mind. We have little antidote left, not even a full dose. I know that we chased Rhys out of the castle, but there is no way to be certain where he went.”
Owyn nodded. “Absolutely. I have a carriage waiting for us so I will have them take us to the mines. We should be able to find it without any issues.”
“Thank you,” Alastair whispered.
Owyn rested his hand on his shoulder. “Don’t worry; we will save the woman you love.”
Alastair looked at Owyn and was about to argue but when he saw the understanding on his face, he just sighed.
“Does it get easier? This worrying constantly?” he asked, looking back out at the pier as it got closer to welcoming them.
Owyn laughed and said, “It never really does. I have only been in love for about a week now, but I have already had many things to worry about.” He thought about it for a moment. “I, however, had not had to worry about what has happened to Scarlett. Elsa is not the one that they are trying get rid of. We will protect her no matter what though.”
Both men looked up when the captain called for them to ready themselves to dock. Alastair looked at Owyn once more before heading below decks to get Scarlett ready to get off the boat. Twenty minutes later, they were docked and ready to depart, Owyn and Elsa heading off the boat first. Alastair and Scarlett followed close behind, taking their time due to Scarlett being so weak.
The boat ride had been hard on her as she was already sick, the motion of the boat just adding to it. Melody, Ronald, and Ragan had accompanied them on the journey; Melody to assist in Scarlett’s care, and Ronald and Ragan to assist in her protection.
They walked down to the carriage with them but had to wait to take another carriage; there would be no room after Elsa and Owyn got in.
“I will ride up with the driver,” Melody argued, trying to stay with Scarlett.
“The soldiers need to sit up there, Melody. Don’t worry, she will be all right. We will protect her,” Alastair said, resting his hand reassuringly on her shoulder.
She did not look convinced. “Why is she even going with you? She should be going to the castle, not on a jaunt through the countryside to a mine.”
“Melody?” Scarlett croaked from inside the carriage.
She walked over to the window and stuck her head inside to look at her friend.
“I will be all right. I am still alive, aren’t I? Have Ragan come with us to ease your mind.”
“Scarlett, I am just very worried,” Melody whispered, looking at her very pale, bundled up friend.
“Ragan will protect me for you,” Scarlett said, a weak smile coming to her face.
“Be careful. Promise?” she asked, wiping away a few tears.
“I promise,” she said, resting back against the cushions as Melody backed out of the carriage.
“The queen had demanded that Ragan go with you,” Melody stated, making Scarlett chuckle weakly from the carriage.
“All right, Ragan. Go ahead and get up there,” Alastair said, shaking his head at the dramatic demand.
Before Ragan climbed up, he hugged Melody and whispered something in her ear. Softly, he kissed her, lingering briefly before breaking the kiss and jumping up to the top of the carriage. Alastair, Owyn, and Elsa climbed into the carriage and shut the door, Owyn reached out of the window and called out for Ronald.
Owyn handed Ronald a letter and told him to take it to Oryn, his twin brother at the castle; the letter gave him information on where they went and why they hadn’t arrived at the castle just yet. Ronald nodded and told him he would make sure it got to him. Owyn knocked on the roof of the carriage and then took off at a brisk pace, making their way to the mines.
“What mineral are we searching for?” Elsa asked, watching as the rocky terrain went by.
“Jaspenite,” Alastair said, looking over at Elsa. “It helps to negate the effects of the poison by breaking the Tapoxon down so it cannot be absorbed by the body.”
“I thought if something was broken down it was easier to be absorbed?”
“It usually is, but Jaspenite breaks down the Tapoxon completely so it is not able to be absorbed because it is no longer in the body.”
