16. Chapter Sixteen
Chapter sixteen
Cayzenn wasn't joking when he said we'd be leaving early.
It's barely light before someone's banging on the door.
Not that anything can ruin my mood after two hot baths and a full eight hours of sleep, in an actual bed with pillows and everything.
Willa eats both our breakfast rolls, since I have no appetite, then braids my hair, knowing I'm hopeless at it.
We're down at the stables saddling up our horses minutes later, with no idea where we're going. While I'm not happy about wasting a day, we should be able to make it to Orz in under three weeks from here, so I guess we can afford it. Not that we've been given much of a choice.
After watching Willa mount Marley with a practiced ease, I wave her off, pretending I need to cinch Aven's girth again to save myself the embarrassment of a witness while I struggle to balance with one foot in the stirrup while pulling myself up.
Eventually, I give up and use an overturned bucket so the distance is more manageable.
Aven stays mercifully quiet through the whole mortifying ordeal, only huffing impatiently the second I'm on his back and heading out to where Willa and a stern-faced Cayzenn wait.
The rest of the squad, including Felix and Drea, are visible in the distance, cantering toward the base of the mountains.
The second we're on the road, the Commander turns to me.
"Now that you've had the night to sleep on it, do you want to tell me the truth about why you three are putting your entire futures and lives at risk?"
I stifle a groan. "It's too early for this, especially without a drop of caffeine in my bloodstream." The fragrant dark tea with breakfast was no substitute. "I already told you everything yesterday. Besides, I bet you'd do the same thing in my position."
He gives me an exasperated look. "It's hardly the same thing. You have no training, no experience, not to mention a horse you have no business riding."
"Yeah, that's what I thought," I shoot back, ignoring the part about Aven.
"I know it's a little reckless." Cayzenn scoffs derisively, and I glare up at him, my anger rising.
"But the damage is already done. I chose to leave, and I will face the consequences when we eventually get back to Raviaz.
I'm not going home now, and you can't make me.
I'm not a Shield or in your chain of command. "
I know it's a mistake when his eyes flare. "My sister absolutely is, even if you're not." He turns to where she's watching him with a defiance matching my own. "What about training? What about making Captain? Do you not care about that anymore? And Felix—this could ruin his shot at Scholars."
"Of course I care," she fires back. "This is more important to both of us. We're not leaving Aly to travel alone."
"Obviously that's not what I'm suggesting, and you know it," he retorts, sucking in an audible breath.
"When we leave, she can still go to the Grotto like she was supposed to.
I'll send guards to make sure she gets there safely.
You two can head home with Drea, and along the way, come up with a reason why you didn't go through the portal.
You'll get some shit, but a lot less than for this stunt. "
Willa crosses her arms, daring him to test her resolve. "No. Pull rank, write me up for insubordination that’s your prerogative. We're not leaving her, end of story." Even Marley gets in on it, swiveling her head in his direction, ears flattened in obvious challenge.
"Gods damn, Willa, this is serious. You can’t just go wandering the realms on whim, without a squad or a plan.
What will you do if a wolf or a snow lion stalks you through the mountain road?
Or you come across Malladaps near the Median where your magic won’t work?
There's a reason most people stay within the castle walls, and it's not because they happen to like the scenery. "
Brother and sister glare at each other in a silent standoff. I consider asking where we're going to break the building tension when Cayzenn growls in frustration, nudging his horse into a canter, ours doing the same.
It's incredible how little input they need from riders.
I haven't once told Aven where to go. I don't know if the others are giving instructions or the Amplifiers just trust Cayzenn's mare to know where we're going.
Grange has been the only exception. The journey horse has had more than a few battles with Felix when it comes to taking the bridle every morning.
It makes me grateful there's no need for reins with the Amp horses.
Plus, my hands get to stay warm, tucked inside my cloak.
The sun has completely risen, reigning over a beautiful, crisp winter morning by the time we turn off the road and head into the forest. Talking is impossible as we push the pace to make it to this dirt track, half hidden by trees.
When we come to a stop, I manage to swing one stiff leg over to sit side-saddle, refusing to drop.
I’m not convinced my legs won’t give out the second I land, leaving me a humiliated mess in the dirt.
Before I can think of another delay tactic, hoping to at least have some privacy if I do end up on my ass, strong hands wrap around my waist, lifting me from Aven’s back like I weigh nothing, holding me steady when my feet meet the ground. I gasp, looking up into a pair of intensely blue eyes.
"Just making sure you don't get any bright ideas about taking your stolen horse and bolting while we're busy here.
" Cayzenn's full lips twist into a sardonic smile, hands still locked on my waist. A wave of his enticing smoky-sweet scent curls around me.
I try to make my brain form words to reply, as if it's not short-circuiting from the charge radiating in all the places he's touching me.
Someone clears their throat, and he lets go abruptly, causing me to stumble back into Aven, who chuffs, "You're looking a little flushed, Alyxia. Perhaps you'd like to join us at the river and take a little dip in the icy run-off to cool down."
I'm about to tell him exactly what he can do with his suggestion when Willa follows her brother's request, leading the horses toward the sound of rushing water, Aven's amused chortle bouncing around my head the entire way.
Cayzenn steps closer. "Before we head in, let me make one thing perfectly clear, Alyxia.
In my chain of command or not, believe me when I tell you I will find a way to keep you here or send you back if I deem it necessary.
" I open my mouth to reply, but he holds up a hand.
"Don't bother. You're not heading into the wilderness on your own.
If you can handle today, I might consider an alternative. "
The true impact of crossing paths with him sinks in. He's not going to let us leave, which means my only chance to get to Bri now rests on whatever this other option might be. Either that, or we leave in the dead of night, which would likely end in him catching us again.
Cayzenn doesn’t wait for acknowledgement; he only reaches into the leather satchel slung over his shoulder and pulls out a sealed silver canteen, handing it to me. "Sounds like you need this more than I do."
I take it with a confused look, and he walks over to join Jeska at the edge of a large, tree-ringed clearing, where she's locked in conversation with a handful of men from the king's guard, judging by their gold uniforms. They barely glance my way before returning to whatever they're discussing, so they can't be here for us.
A delicious, rich scent escapes when I unscrew the lid of the canteen and take a tentative sip.
Hot, dark, and slightly bitter, just the way I like it.
Wait, he gave me his coffee? Damn, if that doesn't make me forgive at least some of the swaggering arrogance.
Even if the man is currently fucking with all my plans.
Willa returns, and we wander over in time to hear Jeska say, "It's definitely the same strange texture and color as the others, only twice the size.
" She gives us a faint smile that barely reaches her eyes before approaching a huge oak tree with curling dead leaves, Felix and Drea crouch near its base.
"Xaavi's already sketching the damage for the records.
Lira's collecting medicinal river plants, so, naturally, Nav's there too.
Hendrix stayed back to meet with…you know.
" Jeska stumbles over her final sentence, and Cayzenn gives her a pointed look before sinking to his knees.
That's when I notice the strange earth at the base of the tree, so white, it looks like freshly fallen snow.
Except there isn't a trace of snow in this entire clearing, and even from here, I can tell the texture is all wrong.
The section is six or seven feet wide, the white even creeping up the base of the towering tree.
"What is that?" I ask, moving forward to get a better look. Cayzenn looks up at me, startled, like he's already forgotten we're here, throwing an arm out in front of me.
"Do not take another step unless you want those boots melted straight off and your feet to follow," he snaps, and I shoot him an incredulous look.
"Well, that was delightfully graphic. What's wrong with it?" Up close, the luminescent threads are beautiful, like liquid fire.
Sighing, he takes out his waterskin and flicks a stream of water. It sizzles and hisses as soon as it hits the pale earth, evaporating into steam.
Felix lets out a whistle, leaning in to get a better look.
"Damn. The heat radiating off that is intense.
" He grabs a long stick, using it to scrape away the top layer of part of the soil, revealing threads of glowing orange, like liquid glass just out of a furnace.
The ribbons of violent light cracking through the stark soil seem familiar somehow.
This has to be what Bri went to the Grotto to study.