77. Killian
KILLIAN
After nearly twelve hours of traveling, they finally made it to Theradonia.
Killian glanced toward the sky, taking it all in. The snow-caked treetops outlined a wide enough gap to see a cluster of pinhole lights, sparkling above. His breath caught. The stars appeared even closer here.
“Riggs would have loved this,” Esemeray said, her teeth chattering.
Killian’s heart hollowed.
She was right.
Riggs would have loved it. Would have loved the thick layer of untouched powder stretching for miles and glistening beneath the moonlight.
Would have loved the feeling of the cold, yet a gentle touch of snowflakes falling against his palms. Would have loved the crisp air filling his lungs.
Killian’s chest tightened, his nose stinging.
It’s a shame Riggs will never experience this.
A tear slipped down Killian’s face and froze to his cheek.
Plucking off the frozen drop and flicking it into the thick snow-covered ground.
Killian inhaled the crisp air full of pine deep into his chest, his lungs expanding as he held his breath.
Seconds passed. He finally exhaled, his breath fogging in front of him.
Esemeray exhaled, her breath dissipating in the air, dancing with his. “He’s closer to the stars now.”
“Yeah,” Killian whispered. “Yeah, he is.”
Killian had set up camp and started a fire, hoping Esemeray would finally sleep. The first thing she had done after they unmounted Storm was fist handfuls of ice into her mouth. He had almost laughed, but he had been just as bad.
Now, she was sound asleep. Killian’s features softened, surveying the fire swaying along her delicate face.
Safe. She’s safe.
Killian leaned back against a trunk of a tree, staring at the fire without seeing. It crackled and popped, red embers dissipating into the air. Distant howls echoed through the trees in a soothing rhythm. Wherever the beasts were, they were far away.
Killian hummed, the heat coursing along his skin mixed with the chill of freezing temperatures was an odd, yet soothing sensation, grounding him after the chaos that seemed to follow him.
He sighed, reaching into his pocket and pulling out his map to find a nearby tavern or village where they could rest and purchase supplies for Esemeray’s wounds.
He had checked her for any sign of infection—so far, none, thanks to Riggs' salve.
Ords Pass was the closest stop.
“What an odd name for a village,” Killian chimed as he reached for Brodie’s letter, sliding his knife out of his boot to remove the wax seal.
Killian,
I hope this letter finds you before the Dagon guards do.
That old man Eddie told the guards he saw Riggs speaking with a woman with the same description of Princess Esemeray.
I pray to all five gods this letter makes it to you in time.
You and Riggs need to run. Now!
-Brodie
Killian’s heart thundered as he crumbled the letter and threw it into the fire. His breaths slowed. The gods had finally been on his side, and he didn’t listen. If he had just opened the letter sooner…
It’s all my fault.