Chapter 7 #3
She darted out into the yard where Ruven stood talking with Danae. What did he mean? Back to the lives they were supposed to have?
The soldiers filed out of the hall and lined up in the yard. She’d never seen so many men gathered in one place. Some had horses, but most of them were on foot. It took them a while to get organised, but she stood silently watching, mesmerised.
Casyl walked out of the hall with Tharos following.
He strode past the assembled soldiers and headed towards the front, mounting a huge black horse, whose mane was braided to one side.
All eyes were on him.
His attention swept across the yard and settled briefly on Amelia before moving to Ruven and Danae. He nodded once and then turned, urging his horse forward as the gate opened with the clang of metal.
She watched as they streamed out of the fortress gates, disappearing into the horizon, and wished she could see where they were going.
She told herself that she was relieved to see him go. Yet as the army disappeared into the distance, the fortress suddenly felt emptier.
“Right, let’s begin,” Ruven said.
*
When she returned to her room that night, she found the broken figure from Casyl’s room resting on her windowsill. She closed her hand around it and wondered where he was.
*
Her pillow was soaked with sweat. It was still dark. The fortress had been quiet these past few days with the lack of soldiers, and any noise in the night would jolt her awake.
She’d been having vivid dreams—or nightmares—of battle. Every night it was as if she were looking out through someone else’s eyes. The reek of blood, sweat, and wet leather made it feel real.
Men were fighting other men in the pouring rain. The clang of metal hitting metal rang in her ears as giant creatures devoured men whole.
She got up and left her room, heading towards the Viewpoint, searching for the emptiness a glass of wine would bring.
As she walked through the corridors, rapid footsteps approached.
“Amelia, there you are. You need to come with us, quickly,” Danae said. Ruven stood beside her, and both wore armour.
“What’s wrong?”
“No time to explain. Just put something warm on and hurry.”
She returned to her room to dress, putting on her cloak and boots, and followed them out to the stables. Three saddled horses laden with packs waited for them.
“We’re needed at the war camp,” Ruven explained as they mounted the horses.
“How far is it?” she asked. Danae and Ruven might be needed, but why was she going? Perhaps they were under orders not to leave her.
“Three to four hours if we go directly, which we’re not, as that would get us killed. The roads are being watched. Five to six if we go along the beach and skirt the forest.”
“The forest?” she asked, thinking of those creatures. She’d spent more than enough time in there. “I can barely ride!” She gestured wildly at the horse beneath her.
“It’s the quickest way. We’ll only have to go through the forest briefly, and if we shared a mount, we wouldn’t be able to go as fast. Just hold on tightly. I’ll keep hold of your reins beside you,” he said.
The three of them galloped out of the fortress onto the beach and followed it.
They travelled under the stars with the moon lighting their way.
The night was still. The only sounds were the pounding of the horses’ hooves and the waves that splashed gently against the sandy beach.
Salt lingered on her lips as a gentle breeze stirred sea spray.
The forest was to their right. Amelia kept her attention on the beach ahead, though pinpricks of reflected light moved between the trees beside them.
They’d been travelling for hours. Danae led the way, whilst she and Ruven rode a little behind. Amelia’s thighs ached and her backside had started to go numb. The sun had risen, lightening the sky.
They came to a halt.
“This is where we’ll cut through the forest.” Danae lowered her voice. “Stay close and try not to make any noise.”
They went single file, with Danae leading and Ruven following Amelia. Even though it was getting lighter, the forest remained a melancholy place.
She tried to relax, but her body remained stiff in the saddle. The last time she’d been in this forest, she’d escaped from the fortress only to have to be rescued by those she was running from. Now she was willingly travelling with them through it.
Every creaking branch made Amelia turn in the saddle.
Ruven rode alert behind her, tracking the movement between the trees.
The pinpricks of light kept pace. Up ahead, daylight filtered through the thinning trees where the forest ended.
They emerged into open land, and she exhaled as if she’d been holding her breath the entire time.
Far in the distance, waves of tiny grey triangles littered the fields of rolling green. It was only when they got closer that she saw they were tents.
They’d reached the camp.
They dismounted and rushed through the maze of tents towards the largest, which stood at the centre of the camp.
The tent flap opened, and Casyl stood there, his face pale, eyes ringed with shadows. “They’ve got Tharos.”