17. Chapter Seventeen
Chapter seventeen
It's mid-afternoon by the time we gather in the courtyard after a late lunch of beaten eggs, potatoes, and sausage.
I'm grateful to be clean again, enjoying the heat from the sun-warmed cobblestones seeping pleasantly through the soles of my boots, water steadily dripping from the icicles over the front door.
While we wait, I look around the group of Wielders we spent the day with.
Most wear the midnight-blue leathers of the Zel Shields or the emerald of the Endurers, except Felix and the woman who introduced herself as Djalira.
I've seen her around the Remedy quarters and know she's a very skilled healer, which explains her presence.
She and Felix are both in black protective gear—not exactly leathers, but still far more practical than my tunic and thick wool leggings. I already threw out the clothes I had on earlier, not even fit to be rags. Aven complained about the smell the whole way back to the inn.
I told Drea about Cayzenn's proposal over lunch. It wasn't lost on me that her eyes lit up at the thought of traveling with this squad of elite rangers, even if she still thinks we're insane for leaving in the first place.
I'm smart enough to know his plan isn't the worst. They clearly know a lot more about being out on the road, and nobody will look twice at us if we're in a group.
We also don't have to stay with them for the entirety of their mission.
I'll just have to figure out how to sneak away from my sharp-eyed sister.
Cayzenn strides up, setting down what appears to be an empty satchel before addressing the group.
"We're leaving tomorrow, before dawn. I've made it perfectly clear I think you three should go home.
" He narrows his eyes when Willa insists we won't be doing that.
"Given you're adamant not to." He frowns at me then looks to his siblings.
"And you refuse to leave without her. No matter how much I'd like to, I won't make you stay here and wait, so I'm giving you a choice. "
I let out the breath I've been holding, worried he would change his mind.
"You can either do the smart thing and head back to the city, escorted by Drea and some of the king's guard, or you can come with us.
But before you decide to tag along, you need to know what to expect, because this is not a straightforward ride.
We're not staying on the road. We're going up there. " He points to the towering mountains.
"The horses will only come to the foothills, then back here while we head up.
" He indicates a steep incline with the flat of his hand, shaking his head at his sister, as if anticipating her question.
"I can't tell you why or what we're doing, so don't ask.
From there, the terrain only gets rougher.
There are no lodges, no bathing chambers or soft mattresses. "
He looks pointedly at me, and I know he's doing everything he can to convince me to change my mind now, before it's too late. "If you're not down for climbing walls and crawling through mud, freezing conditions, treacherous river crossings, and hiking for days on end, you shouldn't come."
What the fuck? They're going up the mountains? That's going to take weeks. Depending where they finish up, we'll be cutting it close to make it to Orz in time. And will I even be able to handle it? It's not just dealing with long days in the saddle and sleeping in tents.
What if I can't keep up? It's not like I can just change my mind and turn around, not when they won't even be following the road. And slipping away in the night will definitely not be an option.
As if reading my thoughts, Cayzenn continues, "It's inevitable you'll slow us down, especially being unfit and untrained.
The question is only by how much." Jeska and the rest of his squad exchange annoyed glances, with the exception of Djalira, who's focused on bandaging a shallow cut on Xaavi's forearm, and Hendrix, who's grinning at us with something akin to glee.
Not sure if it's at the prospect of having Willa around or the entertainment of watching us fail.
Who am I kidding? I'll be the only one failing. Not to mention, spending all day every day in very close proximity to people who use a lot of magic and could very well notice when I don't. I stroke my thumb over the band of my ring, wondering how many more uses it has before the smoke runs out.
My eyes drift over to the huge black peaks looming in the distance, and nausea swirls in my stomach. This is so far beyond anything I ever could've imagined. I can't ignore the insistent feeling I have to go after Bri. It doesn't even feel like a choice.
"Isn't it impossible to get through the Impenetrable Mountains? Not to mention forbidden and insanely dangerous?" I mutter that last part, but not quietly enough that he doesn't hear me.
I startle when it's Hendrix who replies. "Oh, it's definitely dangerous," he agrees lightheartedly. "Forbidden too. As for impossible, we have a–"
The sentence cuts off abruptly when his Commander shoots him a glare.
"Like I said, what we're doing out there is none of your business.
You don't have clearance, which means there will be conversations you can't be part of and times when you have to stay in camp while we're...investigating.
That won't be up for debate. If you're coming, that's one of the conditions. "
Now, that steely glare is aimed straight at me.
"As it's been pointed out, you don't technically fall under my chain of command.
That changes now. If you want to be part of the squad, you have to act like it.
That means training with us, pitching in around camp, and, above all, following orders, whether you like them or not. "
It takes every drop of willpower not to roll my eyes. He already seems annoyed, and I don't want to push my luck right now, not when he could easily change his mind and make us stay here.
"This is my squad. Jeska is second-in-command, so whatever she says, goes.
Hendrix is third, so him too. If you still want in after hearing all that, and you think you can handle the conditions and terrain...
" Cayzenn's face makes it clear he seriously doubts we can. "We've agreed to let you come along."
The twins high-five in celebration, and Drea looks happier than I've seen since we left. I'm not celebrating, though. Even if it's the only option, this feels like a crazy way to go about getting to Bri, not to mention, it will take us twice as long. If only there was another choice.
"Fine. We accept your conditions." I look at Willa and Felix, who nod in confirmation. "We're going with you."
"You're going to follow orders no matter what?" Cayzenn lifts a brow, the corner of his lip turning up in a way that already has me regretting this decision.
"Of course, my lord. Can't wait." I grin smugly at the way his eyes darken for a flash of a second at my use of his formal title before he's smirking back.
"Great. Then let's go." He motions for me to head out the stone gate before he turns to the rest of the group and starts divvying out tasks.
Everything from restocking medical supplies, packing up the food stores and arranging for the horses to stay here for a few weeks until we get to the road and call them to join us.
"Wait, what? We can still talk to them mentally, even from so far away?"
"More or less, when we need to. Distance makes it harder but not impossible, at least for some of us. Now come on, Thief. We've got somewhere to be."
Cursed stars, please don't let that stick. "We do?"
"I'm not taking you into the mountains looking like that."
"Excuse me?" I demand indignantly, hurrying to keep up with his long, purposeful strides as he turns down a side street.
"What does my appearance have to do with anything?
Does the mountain have a dress code? Maybe the trees would prefer women to wear formal gowns?
No, I've got it: the forest creatures don't like black?
" Fuck this. I keep thinking I'm getting a read on him, and then he goes and says something shitty again.
The man is entirely unimpressed. "Are you done? Because we're here." We duck under a trellis archway covered in honeysuckle that has to be the work of Remedy magic, because it should be too cold for it to be blooming.
We follow a snow-dusted pathway to a bright yellow door. Stepping inside a warm room that smells of freshly baked bread, we leave our boots on the mat as a tiny woman with a wispy white bun and cherry-red cardigan rushes over to greet us.
"I was starting to think you'd forgotten about me, young man." She beams at Cayzenn, and he grins back at her.
"Not possible, Marlia. Sorry to keep you waiting. This is Alyxia."
She turns to me, a smile lighting her age-worn face as her assessing gaze runs over me. "Looks like you were just about spot on. Good eye, Commander." She winks at him then waves me over. Good eye for what?
He shrugs and moves to lean against a tall stool. "Lucky guess."
"Come on, dear. Let's start trying things, just behind the screen here. I think we'll be pretty close, but the tops might need adjusting." She looks pointedly at my chest then gestures for me to step behind a white divider blocking the corner of the room from view.
My heart sinks as I look around at the bolts of fabric lining the far wall and the piles of patterns and textile offcuts littering the long work table.
She's a clothier. There is nothing I loathe more than having to get new clothes, or, more specifically, going through the torture of being fitted for them.
Before I can protest, Marlia nudges me behind the screen with surprising strength, shoving a pile of fabric into my arms.