Page 93 of Echoes of the Raven
“No,” I say. Just one word, irrefutable.
“I understand,” Kadewyn replies. “But I hope you will also understand that I’ll still be heading west. I’ll give you a head start.” He pauses and points at Calierin on the ground. “I’ll try to make sure she doesn’t interfere, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
“Thank you.” Rífíor bows, then joins me.
He saddles Calierin’s gelding with practiced ease. When he’s done, I reach for the reins, mount the beast, and settle gingerly in the saddle. One of Rífíor’s dark eyebrows arches up. I stare at him blankly. He sighs in resignation and—in one fluid motion, more agile than any human could ever manage—leaps onto the horse and takes his place behind me.
I need to forge my own destiny and that requires I stop letting others take the reins.
36
RÍFÍOR
“Niamhara, why have you stopped listening to our prayers?”
Vivan Aster - Fae Outcast - 21 AV
We ride nonstop, Valeria holding the reins and keeping the horse at a considerable trot. The first few hours she is relentless, but after some time, exhaustion gets to her, and we slow down. I know Kadewyn is fair and will remain behind for some time before he finally follows us. Valeria does not have to worry about him.
Moreover, there is a different route that can lead us to the veil—one neither Kadewyn nor Calierin are likely to follow if we carefully cover our tracks. I will tell Valeria about it, just not yet. She is in shock and needs to feel in control again.
The moon shines overhead, and a light breeze blows from the west, pushing Valeria’s scent in my direction. Her sweet combination of lemon and lavender is fainter after days of travel, but it is still there. She is so close, I long to bury my nose in her hair and take her scent fully, but I resist, keeping my hands on my thighs as the gelding’s movements rock us back and forth.
Damn Calierin!
I feared she might try something, so I made her promise to behave. I thought her word as a Tuathacath warrior might be worth something, but I was wrong. Still, despite my need for rest, I tried to keep an eye on her, only halfway sleeping. I was nearly too late, which is unforgivable.
Valeria’s hands fall limp at her sides, and the horse slows. I’m about to say something when she slides off the saddle, I catch her just in time, my hands circling her waist.
I shake her lightly. “Valeria, wake up.”
There is no answer. I shake her again, still nothing.
Something warm and wet slicks my right hand. I stare at my fingers and find them stained with sticky blood.
“Drocháin!”
I jump off the horse and help an unconscious Valeria lean forward until her torso lies along the horse’s neck. Blood blooms over her tunic, looking as black as the night.
“Valeria, wake up!” I slap her cheek, but her eyes remain closed.
Grabbing the reins, I guide us to the side of the road, ease her off the animal, and lay her gently on the ground. Her face is ghostly pale from the loss of blood. Lifting her tunic, I examine the wound. She didn’t escape Calierin unharmed. The dagger pierced Valeria’s side. Yet, she said nothing, more concerned with getting as far as possible from those she can only regard as her cruel enemies.
This is my fault.
“Valeria, please wake up!”
I shake my head, puzzled as to why I didn’t notice the scent of blood earlier. I should have detected it. Now, she has been bleeding for hours, steadily losing her life force. It makes no sense. Frowning, I peer at the chain around her neck. There’s only one explanation. The Eldrystone hid her injury from me, but why? Never before it acted with a mind of its own, but now it seems to have some sort of plan.
I press my fingers to her neck. Her heartbeat is weak.
Pulling on the amulet’s chain, I snake it out and stare at the jewel.
“Heal her!” I command it, the way I have done a thousand times.
I peer at the wound, expecting it to knit itself, but nothing happens. The amulet does not obey me. Instead, she seems to grow paler, her lips turning a terrifying shade of blue.
“Heal her,dammit! Why won’t you listen to me?!”
