37. Chapter 37
Chapter 37
Lea
“ W hat can you see?” Gray jumped off Obsidian, following Evangeline to where she now stood in front of the horses, facing toward Aynor. Her hands were out, her forehead scrunched as if closing her eyes. She took a step forward, then another, nearing the edge of a rock that jutted out from the top of the hill. Her head fell backward, a gasp of pain leaving her throat as she clenched her teeth.
She dropped to her knees, but Gray caught her before she could tumble off the rock and down the hill, holding her steady. It only took a moment. The vision passed just as quickly as it had started, Evangeline sucking in a sharp inhale and holding her head.
Lea started toward her, but Evangeline held up a hand. “I'm fine.” She brushed off Gray, who was still holding her upright, and settled down to sit sideways. “Alaric looks stronger. Much stronger. The magic he's taking… It seems to be healing him.”
Lea's heart pounded erratically, terror pulsing through her blood with every beat. They needed Alaric weakened, not stronger. The more magic she had to take… No. Don’t go there right now, her subconscious ordered. Lea forced away the thought. “What exactly did you see?” she asked Evangeline, needing more information.
“I saw Eudora and Alaric together. I don't think they brought their men this time. Their army must be somewhere else. It was just the two of them. And they stood right here. Right where I’m standing, staring down at the village as it burned.”
“Did they say anything?”
Evangeline shook her head. “They were silent. Completely silent, just staring at the smoke. Smiling. They're sick. It's—”
“How many people do you think lived here?” Erik interrupted, turning to Gray.
“No more than fifty.”
“And how many with magic?” Erik asked.
“Three, that I knew of. So you agree with what I’m thinking?”
Lea’s eyes bounced between Gray and Erik, her stomach sinking as she connected the dots along with them.
Erik's face was grim as he nodded. “Eight at the last village. Three here. If he looked as bad as everyone said, the magic of eleven people shouldn't be enough to make that much of a difference.”
“What are you saying?” Thomas asked, his voice hard and sharp.
“That we’re missing something,” Gray said, jumping up onto Obsidian. “We have to go.”
“But the bodies. Their souls want to be put to rest.” Emma’s voice was desperate, and Lea wished for a moment that they had time to spare. That they could give the departed the rest they craved. The rest they deserved.
But it would have to wait.
“We’ll come back,” Gray said. “I swear it. But we can’t risk the living for the sake of the dead.”