Chapter 19
Before we get back to the house, Kaldar stops me with a hand on my arm. “I really have to return. I've been gone too long.”
“I’m ready and packed.”
“I’m sorry it has to be rushed, but I’ll try to get you back here soon.”
“I’m pretty sure Harper is planning on coming with. Is that okay? For real?”
“Do you want her to come?” he asks in return, studying my face.
“I mean it would be nice to have a friend with me,” I admit.
“Then she can come.”
“She might cause a scene wherever she goes and challenge you on absolutely everything.”
He chuckles. “Thanks for the heads-up.”
When we step inside, I watch the warmth leave his face. He strides into the dining area, and I follow him. “It’s time to get back.” None of his warriors are surprised.
I glance around the room at the people who have become like family to me.
Lox, Hector, Jamik, Rysden, and Farrah. I make my way around the room hugging each and every one of them.
When I get to Rysden, I take a moment to thank him.
“Thank you for taking us in—two banished. I know you didn’t have to. ”
“Yes, he did,” Farrah interrupts.
I smile and blink back tears. “Well, it means more than you will probably ever know.” Then I turn to my newest friend.
She shakes her head. “Don’t you dare start with me; I’m going to cry.”
I smile, and a tear drips down my cheek. “I love you, Farrah. Thank you for taking on the King for the banished community. We owe you, and thanks for being my friend.”
“Stop,” she says dramatically, but I notice she wipes both eyes before hugging me so tightly I can barely breathe. “I’m going to miss you,” she whispers in my ear. “But don’t you worry; I’ll make Rysden bring me to visit you.”
I smile through my tears. “Be sure that you do.”
Then, before I can get any sadder, I turn away.
I only take a step or two before I turn back to Farrah.
“Please say goodbye to your mom and brother for me.” Rysden brought them here to live after the trials.
I haven’t seen them since I got back as they’ve moved into their own home, but I still want to pass on my love.
I turn around, and Kaldar catches my eye.
“Ready?”
I nod, not trusting my voice to work. I glance over my shoulder to make sure Harper is coming before I follow Kaldar and his men outside and down the front steps where I stop and nearly groan.
I take in the horses. I hadn’t thought about the fact that we’d have to ride, but I push my fear of horses and falling off far away.
I have a feeling I won’t be helping my case any if I reveal that particular fear to these warriors.
So when Kaldar shows me which horse I can ride, I try to act as confident as possible.
Kaldar gives me a boost, and I throw my leg over the side of the horse and hold on to the pommel for dear life so I don’t fall off.
Kaldar frowns up at me, and I quickly turn away.
I don’t want him to notice how uncomfortable I am.
Harper mounts the horse next to me. I wonder at the extra horses but figure Kaldar probably worked something out with Rysden.
Kaldar is the last to mount up. He finishes talking with Rysden, claps him on the back and then easily mounts his horse.
The five warriors surround us on all sides, while I look around quickly for Veyra and Jespar.
They’re just outside our ring of horses.
When I glance back, I take in the people who have become my family.
My throat tightens, and I can’t do anything more than wave.
Farrah looks sad, and Rysden pulls her close.
We start forward, and I can’t help but feel a sense of foreboding.
I have no idea what’s coming. “How long is this trip?” Harper asks from beside me.
I glance over at Kaldar, wondering the same thing.
“It’s a little over an hour’s ride to get to the portal. On the other side of the portal, it’s about a two-hour ride to where we live,” he explains easily, obviously not catching our shocked expressions.
“I’m sorry. Did you just say portal?” Harper asks.
Kaldar looks over then at both of us. “You don’t know about the portal?”
“Wouldn’t be asking if I did,” Harper responds in typical Harper snark. I glance over at Kaldar to see if he’s offended or annoyed, but he seems to be neither.
“The Wolf Kingdom and the Jaguar Kingdom are separated by quite a distance.”
“How far?” Harper asks, interrupting him.
“I’m not exactly sure how long it would take without the portal—a few weeks at least. The portal connects our kingdoms at a certain point. When you go through the portal, it spits you out close to either kingdom, depending on which side of the portal you’re on.”
“So, this portal is about an hour from here?” Harper asks. At Kaldar’s nod, she continues. “How long does it take to get through the portal?”
“It’s instantaneous.” Kaldar’s replies are all kind and gracious.
“So, you just step through? And then it’s a two-hour ride after that?”
“Are you going to repeat everything he says?” Reika, the one who held a knife to my throat, asks in obvious annoyance.
“Are you going to be a—?”
“Harper.” I cut off whatever she was going to say.
She doesn't look happy that I did, but I am really trying to get along with Kaldar’s people.
So far, we’re not off to a great start. Harper smirks at me but doesn’t say anything else to Reika.
I release a breath. I have a feeling those two are not going to get along.
Ever. I take in the sights and sounds of the Wolf Kingdom as we ride towards the city gates and wonder absently when I’ll be back.
I can’t help but smile at all the spirit wolves visible.
I’m confident that Kaldar will bring me back like he said.
I’ll miss this place. I haven’t lived inside the city walls for long, but it’s been a good experience.
Before long, we’ve left the Wolf Kingdom behind us.
We ride faster now, and I hold on with both hands and will myself not to fall off.
I feel like I’m doing a pretty good job of faking the fact that I can’t ride until Kaldar pulls his horse close to mine.
“Kinsley, would you be more comfortable on my horse with me?” He asks in a low voice so nobody can hear him, but I still feel my face heat.
“I’m good. Thanks.” I may be a terrible rider, but it’s a better option than sitting that close to Kaldar.
Being that close to him with his arms wrapped around me to hang on would be much, much worse.
So, I endure the bumpy ride and will it to pass quickly.
My arm aches after a while, and I keep myself occupied by spinning ideas and thoughts and imaginations of what the Jaguar Kingdom will be like.
I also check in with Veyra. But after about the third time, she basically tells me to leave her alone. She’s strong and all that.
We stop sooner than I thought we would. I take in the area but don’t notice anything that looks like a portal, not that I have a clue what a portal looks like.
Jorren, the big guy with the ax, turns his horse to face all of us.
“We go through in groups of two. Once you’re through, move quickly out of the way for the others coming behind you.
Keep your weapons ready and stay alert.”
“Well, that doesn’t sound ominous or anything,” Harper quips next to me. Reika glares at us, but we both ignore her.
“How much interaction have you had with a guivre?” Kaldar asks us.
“Some,” I say at the same time Harper answers, “Not much.”
“But you know what they are?” he asks.
We both nod. Guivre are terrifying creatures that used to be dragons but were cursed and are now stuck in their animal form, half serpent-half dragon.
They’re basically flying nightmares that are blind and use their sense of hearing to attack.
They can breathe fire, rip you apart with their claws, or poison you with their tail.
Oh, and their saliva can burn you. Real pleasant creatures.
I shudder when I think of the one that tried to take us out during the Spirit Trials while we were trying to escape the fire it set.
“We’re familiar with them,” I finally manage to answer Kaldar’s question.
“Well, they are much more prevalent on our side of the portal,” he explains. “We need to travel quietly.” His eyes drift to Harper.
“Why are you looking at me? I can be quiet.”
I hide my smile, even as my nerves ratchet up.
Guivres were terrifying. As of yet, I hadn’t had to face one up close.
We’d had a few scares over the years, but for the most part, they didn’t come close to the Wolf Kingdom.
Which means they never really came close to the banished community.
I, of course, grew up hearing about the terrifying creatures.
“Why are they so prevalent on your side?” I ask.
Kaldar shakes his head. “We’re not sure. They’ve been growing in numbers over the last couple of years, and the stretch between the portal and where our people live is the worst stretch.”
“If you’re done with your questions, we should probably keep moving.” Jorren’s words lack heat, but I still feel his admonition.
“Sorry.”
“You have no need to apologize, Kinsley,” Kaldar says, leveling a look at Jorren.
“Of course not, My Lady,” Jorren says with a respectful head bow.
“Oh, I’m not...you don’t need to do that.”
“He does,” Kaldar says quietly but with authority from beside me. His gaze meets mine, and I see the seriousness reflected there.
I swallow down my protests and settle for a nod, even as every fear and insecurity I’ve battled over the years threaten to overwhelm me.
I’m not sure that I’m queen material; in fact, I’m quite sure I’m not.
But I don’t really have a choice. I lift my head and fake a confidence I don’t have. “Okay.”
Jorren walks towards us, his axe out and ready. “The portal is open.” I glance behind him and don’t see anything. “Taren will take the other female, and Arielle will take your mate.”
“The other female has a name, Big Dude,” Harper says from beside me. I give her a look, hoping she’ll rein it in. But she just shakes her head in exasperation.
Jorren stares at her. “Big Dude?”
She shrugs. “If you can’t bother to learn my name, why should I bother to learn yours?”
Jorren glances back at Kaldar, seemingly bewildered. Kaldar shrugs. “She has a point.”
Jorren scowls as he faces Harper. “What is your name again?”
Harper’s smile is saccharine sweet. “It’s Harper, thanks for asking, Jorren.”
He scowls. “You do know my name.”
“Yep.” She pops the p. “I make it a habit of trying to be respectful and actually call people by their name.” Her words have the intended impact. Jorren inclines his head slightly, acknowledging her words.
“Harper, Taren will see you through to the other side. Do you have a weapon on you?” She holds up her knife. “Do you know how to use it?”
“Would you like a demonstration?” she asks, way too sweetly for any of us to be fooled.
“No. Stay beside Taren and keep your weapon ready. And be absolutely quiet.” He gives her a tiny smirk.
“If that’s possible.” Harper scowls at him, and I hide my smile because I don’t want her to use that knife on me.
It kind of cracks me up because usually I’m the talkative one, but this whole situation I guess has made me quiet.
Taren guides his horse next to hers. “Ready?”
Harper turns to me, exasperation in her eyes. “Guess I'll see you on the other side. Don’t die.”
Taren meets my gaze. “I’ll keep her safe.”
They disappear, and then I watch as Jespar and Veyra walk through the portal and disappear as well.