Chapter 17
Sebastian
I do up the cinch on the saddle, making sure it is secure. Nox shifts beneath my touch. He’s a fine horse. I feel bad taking him on this quest, but there’s nothing I can do about it.
Then I hoist the saddlebags into place, adjusting them so the weight sits evenly. They’re only half full, with a couple of basics, since I won’t need much.
“Good boy,” I murmur, patting Nox’s neck. His coat is soft and warm beneath my palm. The familiar smell of horse fills my nose, warming me. I missed this, even if I didn’t realize it. I think of all the hours I spent in the stables as a boy.
How many years did I spend believing I was human? Believing I’d never ridden a horse, never trained with a sword, never commanded an army?
Too many.
It’s time to change that.
Nox turns his head, his dark eyes regarding me. I scratch behind his ear, and he snorts, pawing at the ground.
I grab his reins and lead him out of the barn. The sun is setting. It won’t be long before night will be upon us.
Isla and Julienne are waiting near the cabin door.
Isla looks lovely in that dress. That shade of green suits her. Her hair is pulled back in a braid.
I stop a few paces away, Nox’s reins still in my hand. For a moment, none of us speak.
“Well,” I say finally. “I suppose this is goodbye.”
Julienne steps forward first, her eyes warm but sad. “Travel safely, Your Majesty. And please, be careful out there. The realm needs you.”
“Thank you for everything. I wouldn’t have made it this far without your help.”
She smiles. “Nonsense. You would have found a way.” Her eyes glisten. “May Kakara watch over you.”
I turn to Isla. She’s standing with her arms folded, her jaw tight. Those beautiful eyes of hers are guarded.
“I guess this is it.” I pause, searching for the right words. “I’m sorry I can’t take you with me. I hope you understand.”
“I do.” She nods.
She could have outed us at any moment…got me captured several times over, but she didn’t. Does that mean that she is trying to get me to trust her so that I lead her to the others? Or is she innocent like she proclaims?
I may never get the answer.
“Thank you for everything,” I tell her.
I take a step toward her. Then another. Finally, she steps toward me too, and I put my arms around her. Her body is stiff in my arms. Her heartbeat is quick and angry against my chest.
After only a moment, she pulls away.
“Take care of yourself,” she tells me.
“You too.” The words feel inadequate.
“This is it, then,” Julienne says.
“Actually, I’d like a word with you alone,” I tell Julienne.
Isla nods once. “Goodbye, Sebastian. Try not to die.”
I smile. I can’t help it. “You too.”
She turns and starts walking.
“Goodbye, Isla of the Air,” I tell her.
She doesn’t turn. She walks stiff-backed into the cabin and closes the door.
I stare at the closed door for a moment.
Then I turn back to the older woman as I reach into the inner pocket of my tunic and pull out a folded piece of parchment.
“I need you to promise me something,” I tell Julienne, keeping my voice low. “If anything happens to me, I need you to give this to General Belen.”
Her eyes widen. She takes the letter from me with trembling fingers. “Sebastian, what are you planning? Please tell me it isn’t something crazy.”
“No, of course not,” I say. “Anything can happen out there. I might be recaptured or worse. As you said, there is a bounty on my head, and I’m hated by my own people for abandoning them. I want to be safe rather than sorry.”
“I have a feeling that there’s something more to it.”
“There isn’t,” I tell her. “The deadlands are dangerous. That’s all there is to it.” I meet her gaze. “If something goes wrong, if I don’t survive, Belen needs to know. He needs to have that letter. Do you promise?”
Julienne clutches the letter to her chest, her face pale. “I promise. But please, Sebastian. Be careful. We can’t afford to lose you.”
“I’ll do my best.” I squeeze her shoulder. “Make sure that Isla takes the coin.” That way, I truly won’t owe her anything. My debt will be paid.
“She’ll be fine,” Julienne assures me. “I’ll make sure of it. She’s resourceful and strong. She’ll land on her feet.”
I nod.
I turn to Nox and swing myself up into the saddle. The horse shifts beneath me, eager to move. I take the reins in one hand.
“Goodbye, Julienne.”
“Goodbye, Sebastian. May Kakara’s light guide you.”
I urge Nox forward. We start down the path that leads away from the cabin.
After a few paces, I turn in the saddle and wave. Julienne waves back, standing alone in the clearing.
Then I face forward and give Nox a gentle kick. He breaks into a jog. The cabin quickly disappears behind us.
The forest closes in around us as we ride. I am sure to keep all of my wits about me.
I keep going, sometimes having to walk when it gets too dense. After a time, the forest begins to thin. The trees grow sparser, the undergrowth less dense.
I’m getting close to the edge of the Shadow Court now. Close to the boundary where the protective dome meets the deadlands beyond.
This is where it will become dangerous for me. I don’t want to get caught.
I ride along the edge of the forest until I spot what I’m looking for. Across a short expanse of field is a narrow gap between a whole horde of large boulders. Most people would ride right past it without noticing. But I know it’s there and where it leads.
I remove a waterskin, putting the cord over my shoulder. Then I take a small parcel of food out of the saddlebag before buckling it closed. Lastly, I remove my oilskin jacket from where it is tied behind the saddle.
I check across the open fields and see no movement. I concentrate on the deepest area of shadow, but see nothing. I stay very still, listening for hooves…for any giveaway that guards might be close.
There’s nothing.
“I’m sorry, boy,” I tell him, running my hand down his neck one last time. “But I need you to put them off my scent.”
I turn him toward the barrier and the deadlands beyond. Then I raise my hand and bring it down hard on his rump in a sharp crack.
Nox takes off like an arrow, galloping toward the barrier. He passes through it easily since the shields are designed to keep humans out, or in, whichever it may be. Fae and animals are free to pass through. Then he is racing across the muddy expanse of the deadlands.
I’m shocked at how the rot has taken over. It has been several sun-cycles since I came this close to the deadlands, and the years have certainly taken their toll.
Nox disappears in the distance. I pray that he’ll be fine. Horses are clever creatures.
I hope the guards pick up his tracks and follow him. They’ll assume I fled into the deadlands on horseback. They’ll chase him, wasting time and resources.
There are no shouts. No one gives chase, so I quickly cross the distance and slip between the rocks.
I used to come here after my parents died.
It was my secret place. A hidden hollow where I could escape from the pressures of being a prince. Where I could just be…me.
I make my way back to the hollow. I settle down on the hard ground, my back against the cool rock. I put my supplies within reach.
I pull out the waterskin and take a long drink. I cap it and set it aside, then settle in to wait.