30. Messenger
Messenger
Kaiden
He watched Aradia hurry to her tent. Questions bounced through his mind at her quick retreat.
“Was it somethin’ I said, do ya think?” Rhydar asked quietly.
“Rather fragile,” Jasper taunted, making Kaiden grind his teeth in annoyance.
“Leave her alone, Jasper,” Cahira warned. “There’s still much we don’t know about her or what she's been through.”
Kaiden could have smiled at Cahira if it didn’t give away any strong emotion to wherever Aradia was concerned.
“We should turn in early. The next few days will be long until we reach the borders of Randale,” Kaiden said.
“If you insist on continuing down this suicide path, at least tell us what awaits us in the gods-forsaken city.” Jasper’s voice barely contained his disdain. The furrowed brows and hard set of his jaw had an unusual twitch in the upper right corner.
Kaiden turned, freezing Jasper under his scrutinizing gaze.
Jasper stared back. He showed no emotion other than annoyance, which was forever etched into his face.
“For someone who enjoys not speaking, you’ve been awfully vocal since Aradia has joined us,” Fintan said. “Care to tell us the reason why?”
Jasper’s lips practically disappeared with the frown deepening his face. “Bad things follow her around.”
There was silence between them all. When Jasper spoke in an ominous way it was as if the dark magic swirling around him spoke for him. When it spoke, they listened.
Cahira found her voice first. “Meaning?”
Jasper’s eyes remained distant as if focusing on something the eye could not see.
“We’ll all have to give something of ourselves.
One of us won’t make it to see the new age, one will lose everything, another will find answers which will seal their fate, and one will betray the inner circle.
” He blinked and shook his head slightly, glancing around at them.
No one said a word, no one dared to look at each other. Even the fire seemed to stop crackling.
“I think,” Cahira whispered, her face stricken, “I shall turn in for the night.”
Rydar grumbled something under his breath but stood as well with a small nod.
Fintan helped Jasper up, and retreated into his tent, leaving Kaiden sitting by the fire lost in his own thoughts.
Nothing about what Jasper said made sense and yet he already was contemplating who would be who.
Most importantly, who would betray the inner circle.
His thoughts turned with the sharp wind whistling throughout the camp.
The city of Randale would have its own challenges he wasn’t sure he was ready to face.
It had been years since he had stepped foot into the city ruled only by the council.
The last time, his father had threatened to burn it to the ground brick by brick.
The council had joined their side of the war three days later.
Randale held no small amount of animosity toward the Valencias.
To be back in the city unannounced could be a hassle.
Especially if they were traveling with Aradia.
Movement fluttered above him, catching his attention. A raven stared down at him. To the normal eye it seemed like another creature of the woods, but to Kaiden he knew ravens were not native this far north.
He stood, bracing himself.
A small red tie was fitted against the right of the raven’s leg. A messenger.
He lifted his arm and whistled sharply.
The raven landed swiftly on his outstretched arm. His heart quickened as he unfurled the tiny paper attached to the leg and took a deep breath. His father’s carefully scribed handwriting greeted him.
Bold move. Welcome to the real war, finally.
Kaiden cursed under his breath and crumbled the message, incinerating it within his fist. The king knew and no doubt already made his next play in whatever grand scheme he had. He dragged his hand down his face in frustration. Every move, every decision would be harder from here out.
The raven gave a small croak as if agreeing before flying away into the darkness.