Page 46 of Storms of Allegiance

“We’ll cross the river in the morning,” she said. “We’ve chosen to cross far enough north that we’ll be able to head directly east for the coast, skirting just above the northern tip of the forest. The crossing itself will take some effort, so I would normally say we should take our time and do the journey to Eldrida in three days. In the past I’ve even taken a week, veering south to pass through one of the hill villages. But given the situation, I think we’ll take the direct route, and push ourselves. We should be able to make it in two days.”

I nodded a quick agreement, glad to finally be moving with some urgency.

“Don’t expect to see me tomorrow night,” Nik said. “You won’t need my protection on the open land between the river and the city. The direct road is well traveled.”

I tried not to let my dismay show on my face. I had become accustomed to his constant presence—either seen or unseen. But while I might like knowing he was nearby, I didn’t actually need him. Amara and I had enough strength between us to keep ourselves safe.

“You’re planning to head straight for Eldrida, then?” Amara asked shrewdly. “You’ll travel through the night?”

Nik grunted confirmation.

“Careful,” she said lightly. “Traveling in the dark can be dangerous.”

“Not for a plants mage,” he said with a smirk. “And besides, I’m used to it.”

She fell silent, unable to argue the point. A plants mage didn’t need light to know the ground beneath his feet.

I slept fitfully after his words, though, and when he slipped out of bed in the morning, I woke as well, sitting upright in my bedroll. For a moment our eyes met, and we both stayed frozen in the early dawn light. Then he looked away and resumed his movement, gathering his things and slipping from the campsite.

I scrambled up and hurried after him, stopping him with a hand on his arm, just far enough away that we wouldn’t wake Amara or the animals.

“You’re really going ahead?” I asked.

He looked down at my hand, which was still resting on his arm, and nodded. “I want to get a feel for the state of things in Eldrida and see if I can find any word of Grey. Even when he’s not gathering more followers, he and his people sometimes travel there for supplies.”

I let my hand slip away, slowly nodding my understanding. I had no real reason to ask him to stay near us, and I wasn’t ready to confess that it was just because I appreciated his presence.

He didn’t immediately leave, however, instead stepping closer and erasing the small distance that lay between us.

“Amara is an experienced traveler and a strong mage,” he said. “She’ll keep you safe.”

“I know,” I said quickly. “It’s not—” I stopped, dangerously close to the confession I didn’t want to make.

Nik slung his pack over his shoulder and gripped my elbow, somehow maneuvering himself even closer.

“Delphine…” he breathed.

His eyes dropped to my lips, and I stiffened, my breath catching as I swallowed.

“I’ll miss you,” I said in a rush, and his grip tightened, his eyes darkening.

“Delphine, I—” He swayed toward me, his head tilting toward mine.

But a dark rush of movement through the air made us jerk back, springing apart to avoid Phoenix’s hunting flight.

“Traitor,” Nik muttered after the bird.

For a moment it looked like he was going to step toward me again, but a sleepy groan and the sound of movement back by the campfire made us both peer toward Amara.

“I’ll see you in Eldrida,” Nik murmured and was gone.

I wandered back toward the fire, feeling disgruntled and out of sorts. Amara greeted me with suspicious eyes, but she mercifully refrained from questioning my uncharacteristic early morning rising.

We packed up more quickly than usual, both driven by the previous night’s decision. At last we were free to move at speed, and I could sense us both transitioning from the forced meanderings of the previous weeks into the more natural urgency that now drove us.

“I’m coming, Miranda,” I whispered as we led Acorn the short way to the edge of the river.

Most westbound travelers and traders took the direct road from Eldrida to the river. There they either crossed it and took the river road southwest to the capital, or they boarded a boat and floated downriver to the capital. To aid those wishing to cross the river, a barge operated, run exclusively by those with an elements affinity.

---