Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 153795 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 769(@200wpm)___ 615(@250wpm)___ 513(@300wpm)
Thane sighs. After a few seconds, he says, “You’ll get yourself killed, Algar.”
“Let me worry about that.”
Thane shakes his head. “If you die, I refuse to live with the guilt of your blood on my hands.”
Algar gives him an almost devious smile. “Of course not, old friend. My blood, my fate. So, what do you say? May I join you on this quest of death?”
Thane grips Pearl’s reins and guides her farther away. “It’s your life.”
“Hold on. Where are you going?” Algar calls.
“Around the perimeter of Ruvain. She doesn’t have papers to pass, and a woman can’t just waltz through.”
“Hmm. Good point. Those Ruvain bastards.” Algar scratches his chin.
“Hey, what do you mean?” I’m annoyed I don’t understand what they’re talking about.
“They get a whiff of a new woman’s scent, and they’re like hounds,” Algar clarifies. “They’ll sniff you out, tie you up, and have their way with you. They’re ruthless bastards.”
My throat thickens with dread.
“Regardless, going around the perimeter will take far too long,” Algar goes on, marching toward Thane. “I assume you’re trying to reach Gadonia, and lucky for you, I know a quicker route.”
Thane comes to a stop. “Is it a safe route?”
Another one of those mischievous smiles sweeps across his face. “Define safe.”
Zephra makes that laughing noise again. Only this time it sounds like an evil little cackle.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Chapter 13
“You’re a fool, Algar.” Thane grimaces as he peers through a gap in a thick wall of bushes.
I look, too, taking note of the dark stone streets and thousands of shacks and houses. At the far end of the street nearest to the wall is the king of Ruvain’s castle, made of black marble with a cracked gray sundial attached. The tips of the castle stretch high, like thick spears ready to murder anything flying past.
While Meriva has light and hope, Ruvain is bathed in gloom and misery.
“How is this route any safer?” Thane demands, whipping around to face Algar, who is on the other side of me.
“Trust me, it is,” Algar returns with a confident tone. “All we have to do is go behind that long row of buildings there, past the pillars, and make it to the tunnels. It’s a little gross down there, and it may take a while, but it’ll lead us to the other side of Ruvain’s perimeter, and we’ll be in Gadonia in no time. That way, no one is checking for passes, and pretty women aren’t getting kidnapped, raped, and killed.”
I groan. “Can you please stop saying stuff like that?”
“Sorry—but it’s true.”
Oh my Orvena.
“And what about the guards, wiseass?” Thane gestures to the numerous men patrolling the streets in onyx armor and helmets.
They’re built like giants, and none of them look kind enough to let outsiders simply pass through their kingdom.
I know it for a fact when a feathery beastial runs through the street and one of the guards stops him with a solid hand to his chest. The guard sticks out a palm and shouts something in his face. The beastial tries backing away as he pleads his case, but this clearly doesn’t satisfy the guard.
Another guard emerges and uses magic to lift the beastial into the air. Then he slams him against the nearest wall. He rams him once more, making the beastial bleed as the other guard bellows with laughter. The magical grip holding the beastial midair vanishes, dropping the being to the ground with a loud thump. When the beastial remains flat on the ground, the one wielding magic jerks his hand and twists the beastial’s neck so hard it separates from his body.
I cover my mouth to fight a gasp.
My gods. He killed him. Just like that.
A growl escapes Thane’s lips.
“Just conceal yourselves,” Algar murmurs, waving his fingers, as if we all didn’t just witness an unnecessary murder. “Thane, do your sorcery shit to keep yourselves covered and I’ll teleport in between. As soon as we make it to the tunnels, you won’t need to conceal anymore. No one walks through them except people without homes, and they won’t mess with you. Trust me. Most are too hungry or strung out on kopa to do so anyway.”
“That would require the whispershade spell, and that’s not how it works,” Thane grumbles through gritted teeth. “I can conceal myself for a lengthy period of time, but two people and a horse will drain me of energy very quickly.”
“So take breaks.” Algar shrugs like it’s no big deal.
I have a feeling it’s a major deal, considering Thane’s frustration.
“We’ll find places to hide for a few minutes, and when you’re revived or whatever, we’ll move again.”
“No.” Thane straightens to his full height. “This is a foolish plan. We’ll just walk the perimeter. It’ll take a little longer, but at least we’ll have a careful eye on our surroundings.”