Chapter 29 Non #2
“The Witches of Llyr, who make up the majority of the Western Coven, have made it clear they wish to separate themselves from us by choosing to congregate on their own outside the wards of Llwyn Onn. The Wielders of D?n have lost too many powerful individuals to the Orddu; we will not allow him to take any more from us. You are forbidden from aiding the West; those who do will be disobeying a direct order from Penn Arwr Aeron.” She stared at the flames in the distance, and I could have sworn I saw a tear slip down her cheek.
“May D?n watch over them,” she whispered.
Granny turned without another word and made her way inside with Ail Llew on her heels. When Jazz finally turned to face me, my mouth hung open.
“She can't be fucking serious,” I snarled and felt an odd twinge in my chest as I did.
Jazz's gaze bounced from mine to Addae and Alaw as if they were waiting for someone to say something.
I turned to look back at the flames, which had spread significantly in the few minutes we'd been watching Granny. “How long would it take us to run there?”
“Too long,“ Jazz said curtly.
“And your super-secret summoning circle isn't an option anymore,” Alaw added.
The four of us stood shoulder to shoulder as we watched the flames paint the dark sky with reds and oranges. I thought about hijacking one of Granny's cars, but the forest was too dense to get a car through.
Then I had a better idea, one that might actually work.
I grabbed Jazz's arm. “I've got an idea, but I'm going to need you to trust me.”
Jazz's throat bobbed as they looked between the burning tents in the distance and me before nodding. “Show me.”
We took off running; Addae and Alaw didn't have a chance to follow as we sprinted into the darkness. Having them with us would have been helpful, but I didn't have time to explain to Jazz what I had planned, let alone Alaw and Addae.
By the time we came to a stop outside the stables, Jazz had started to protest, but I was already pushing the barn door open and sprinting inside.
Having never ridden a horse, I had no idea how to distinguish a friendly horse from a not-so-friendly one. But seeing as we had little time to waste, I aimed for the first horse to the right of the stables.
It towered above me, at least three feet taller than any other horse in the stable. The sliver of moonlight peeking through the small window made its white coat shine like it was made of moonlight itself.
Thankfully, the horse had its bridle on and a set of reins hung on a hook next to its name plaque. This one was called Eira.
It translated to Snow.
“How appropriate,” Jazz grumbled, stepping up beside me.
“Okay, Eira, I'm just going to clip these reins to your bridle so me and my friend here can ride you.” Eira didn't seem bothered by my presence and allowed me to lead her out of the stable. She even whinnied when she saw Jazz waiting outside.
“We can't ride it without a saddle,” Jazz said as they patted Eira's neck.
“Do you have any idea how to get one on a horse without it falling off? Because I certainly don't.”
Jazz rolled their eyes and gestured for me to use their knee as a step to mount Eira. I was able to mount her with surprising ease, and I reached down to help Jazz up.
Once they'd settled behind me, I snapped at Eira's reins, but she didn't move an inch.
“What was that?” Jazz asked from behind me.
“That's how they get horses to go on television.”
“Try digging your heels in lightly to her sides.” Jazz placed their palms on my hips.
Digging my bare feet into the sides of Eira, I urged her forward at such a speed that Jazz almost toppled off the back of her.
I yanked at her reins, trying to turn her toward the Western encampment.
Being such a novice, I was a little heavy-handed, so she turned and almost rolled the two of us off her side as she bounded down the incline at the mouth of the forest.
The thirty seconds spent on the back of a horse hardly made me an expert, but Eira seemed like she knew exactly what she was doing. She wove between trees, side-stepping bushes without any guidance from me. She also didn't seem to mind that Jazz and I ungracefully bounced along on her back.
After what felt like an eternity on horseback, no thanks to the thin underwear between me and Eira's spine, we still hadn't arrived at the Western encampment. I was worried we'd managed to get lost, but then the acrid smell of smoke hit my nose, and I knew we were on the right path.
“When we get there, we need to find Dylan or Caerwyn. Try to convince them to lead as many people as they can into the forest so they can use the summoning circle back to Llwyn Onn,” I shouted back to Jazz over the pounding of Eira's hooves.
“They'll be dinner for the Cyhyraeth in seconds if they try to run for the forest!”
I shook my head. “That's where we come in.”
It was difficult to hear over the pounding of hooves, but I swore I heard Jazz let out a groan. “Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like this plan of yours?”
“Because it's reckless and will probably end up getting us killed, but at least we tried, right?”
An orange glow came into view, indicating we must have only been a few hundred feet from the encampment.
“Just promise me you'll follow my lead. This plan needs the both of us to work.”
Jazz's grip on my hips tightened. “See you on the other side, Non Meredith.”
With that, Eira broke through the treeline into the clearing where a portion of the Western encampment was ash. The intense heat of the fire smacked my face like a brick wall; within seconds, it already felt unbearable against my skin.
What was the saying brave people used? It was better to die trying than not try at all...right?