Chapter 29 Parting Blows #2
With a chuckle of her own, Tenny threw a quick wave to Tristan and looped her arm over her father’s. “Good luck, Ric,” she said. “Do try to return to us in one piece, won’t you?” And then she was pulling her father over toward the gate.
Cedric was left standing next to his horse, staring somewhat dumbfoundedly at Elyria and Kit.
“Sir Thorne,” said Elyria.
He blinked at her. “Where is Sid?” he asked, the words rushing out, like he didn’t really mean for them to escape.
Elyria shrugged, pressing her lips together to hide the smirk that wanted to slip out at his obvious nervousness. “Damned if I know. Flitting in and out of the shadows as she does, I just have to assume she’ll keep up if she wants to. The insane little thing does as she pleases.”
“I wonder where she gets that from.”
Elyria’s gaze met his for a single second before she threw her eyes to the ground.
When she finally lifted them, Kit had a knowing look on her face, the eyebrow above her green eye arched, her lips pursed to one side.
But when she opened her mouth, all she said was, “What timing you have, knightling. All of you are setting off on your various adventures at the same time. King’s Keep is about to feel so much emptier. ”
“And, celestials willing, quieter too,” muttered Nox, still standing in the same place, a horned tower of black leaning against the wall, observing the chaotic courtyard with mild disinterest.
Kit grinned at the nocterrian.
Cedric gave her a quick, polite nod. “Coincidental timing indeed, my lady.”
“Or perhaps it’s less a coincidence, and more that the time has finally come for us all to move on,” Elyria added, and at first she didn’t understand the look that flashed across Cedric’s face.
Didn’t understand why he looked like she had just slapped him clear across the cheek.
Not until she recounted the exact words she’d spoken, realized how they sounded in light of what happened between them.
Stars above, her mind was moving slowly this morning.
She started to reach toward Cedric but stopped herself. “I didn’t mean—”
“It’s fine.” He set his jaw, his fist flexing around the reins in his hand.
Kit glanced back and forth between Elyria and Cedric, silver brows drawing together. “Did something—”
“Oy! What are we waiting for? My arse is getting chapped up here,” interrupted Thraigg, urging his steed toward the gate.
Ollie trotted up beside him. “You’re in for a long few days of travel if that’s the case, my friend.”
“Aren’t we all,” muttered Jocelyn, and a round of laughter rang through the group.
“And to answer your question,” said Ollie, “we’re just waiting for Dentarius to arrive with Sephone and—”
As if summoned by the words, the palace doors swung open. Out strode Dentarius, Sephone, and Raefe, the latter two sporting the same thick cloaks and traveling leathers that the rest of them wore.
Elyria did her best not to react. Tried not to seize up, to flex her hand over her thigh—over the scars there. Tried to contain the rage she could still feel churning in her gut. Tried not to stare as they approached.
She had not done a very good job, it would seem, from the sudden jab of Kit’s elbow in her side. From the shallow tremor that rolled through the ground beneath her feet, the wisps of shadow curling up her arms. And from the gaze she suddenly felt burning right into her—Cedric’s gaze.
She dared a glance at him. Saw the way his heated stare moved from her face, following the exact path of her own line of sight. Felt the sudden tension rolling off him.
She tried to relax her face as the trio neared the group, casually avoiding looking anywhere near Raefe.
“Finally,” grumbled Thraigg. “Didn’t think ye the type to run late, Dentarius.”
Dentarius steepled his fingers in front of his chin. “Just making sure everyone has what they need. This is a rather large traveling party, if you hadn’t noticed.”
Elyria bristled. “We are,” she said, restraining herself from reminding everyone present that she’d have been perfectly happy to go off on her own.
That between the human escorts and Sephone and Raefe, more than half of her group was decidedly unwanted company.
“But Sir Thorne’s party is small. How many supplies could two men and a sylvan need? ”
Lord Church clucked his tongue as he and Tenny swept past the group, heading back in the direction of the palace. “As you’ll be traveling together for the first leg of your journeys, there is little point in differentiating, is there?” he called. “Best of luck, everyone.”
Elyria whipped her head to the lord, but he and his daughter didn’t break their stride. “What did he mean by that?” she asked Dentarius.
Dentarius smoothed a palm against his green-black hair. “Just what he said. You’ll all ride together to Dawnspire. It is directly on the way to the Chasm bridge. After you reach the village, Sir Thorne, Sir Hale, and Young Shep will continue on to the Midlands.”
Something pulsed in Elyria’s chest, and she resisted the urge to look at Cedric.
“I feel compelled to point out that while it is generally on the way, Dawnspire does not directly lie in the path between Kingshelm and the Chasm,” offered Nox. “And even if it did, you all stand to make much quicker progress by traveling in smaller groups.”
“They’re right,” Kit agreed. “Why are we—”
“The lord paramount was quite insistent,” Sephone grumbled, as though she, too, was rather irritated at the prospect of being forced to slow their progress.
Dentarius sighed. “With cultist activity on the rise, your traveling speed is the least of my worries.” He pursed his lips before letting his gaze fall on Elyria. “You will be careful, won’t you?”
The remark wasn’t scolding, wasn’t exasperated. In fact, it sounded uncharacteristically sincere, and Elyria was momentarily taken aback. Did he actually . . . care?
“Indeed,” said Raefe, interrupting her thoughts, and whatever warmth she might have detected in Dentarius’ typically impassive demeanor was lost to the blood suddenly pumping in Elyria’s ears. “The victors’ safety is of the utmost importance to everyone involved here.”
There was no holding back Elyria’s scoff. “Safety. I’m sure. You’d know a lot about that, would you?”
Raefe pressed his lips into a hard line.
“Ellie,” Kit said softly.
“You know, I’ve been trying to figure out what it is that’s different about you since we saw each other last,” Elyria continued, ignoring Kit.
“Something’s missing. I just can’t seem to put my finger on it.
” She made a show of looking him up and down.
“Ah well, I’ll keep my ear to the ground. I’m sure I’ll think of it.”
Sephone shifted forward, like she was getting ready to jump between Elyria and Raefe. “My lady—”
“I didn’t know,” Raefe burst out, hands raised in supplication. “Didn’t realize who you were to him. If I had—”
“Who I was to him? That’s your defense? That I was a person at all should have been enough, Raefe.” Elyria spun on her heel before she did something regrettable. Shadows misted along her skin, tucking her into a comforting embrace. She couldn’t do this. How was she supposed to travel with him?
She had barely gone three paces when she felt the pang in her chest, the tether pulling taut. Then came the muffled yelp, the crunch of bone, the curses renting the air.
What the f—
Elyria whirled just in time to see Cedric’s fist fly into Raefe’s bloodied face, sending him sprawling to the cobblestone. The knight’s chest swelled with heavy breaths as he stood over the fae’s crumpled form, his hand shaking like he was holding back from delivering yet another blow.
“Stars above,” Dentarius muttered into his hands, pinching the bridge of his nose.
Hooves clip-clopped on stone as Tristan trotted over, not bothering to hide his grin. “Well. That’s one way to start a journey.”