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)
“We’ll lose time, Thane.” I catch him by the arm before he can get away. “The sooner we can get through Ruvain, the better. I don’t want to linger around this kingdom any more than I have to, and I definitely don’t want to be near the forests. Plus, we’re already here.” I point a thumb over my shoulder. “I agree with Algar. We should just do this—take our chances with your whispershade spell, and when you need breaks, just tell us.” I pull my hand away.
He breathes hard through his nose, jaw ticking as he looks through the bush again. The guards are now drifting away, heading toward the heart of the city.
“Fuck. Fine.” Thane pulls his mask up, then grabs Pearl’s reins. “But we need to do it now, while those guards are gone.”
I follow him and Algar, pushing through branches and thick bundles of leaves until we reach an opening. Thane steps out first, making sure the area is clear.
“Aren’t you going to use your magic so we can’t be seen?” I ask from the shadows of the branches.
“Not yet. Not until it’s absolutely necessary.” When it’s clear, he gestures for me to follow before he runs the short distance to hide behind the first building, Pearl in tow. I jog after him.
“Great,” I breathe, pressing my back against the stone wall. “Only, like, a hundred more to go.” Somewhere in the distance, men’s voices rise and fall in conversation. I fight the urge to peek around the edge of the building.
“Keep still.” Thane’s amber irises flash and become liquid gold. A blanket of heat wraps around me, making my skin prickle as the whispershade takes effect. “Stay close.”
Thane looks a little blurry, like he’s surrounded by a heat mirage, but I can still see him. I know the whispershade makes it impossible for those outside the spell to see us—including Algar, who nods in our direction before vanishing and reappearing behind the next building.
Thane moves ahead with Pearl while I stay close behind as instructed. We pass three more buildings before I feel the heavy heat around us ebbing.
“Whispershade is wearing out.” Thane huffs, gluing his back to a wall.
“It’s okay,” I assure him. “Just take a moment to restore some of your strength.”
His eyes connect with mine, the skin around them softening. I smile at him before shifting my attention to Pearl. Too much eye contact with him stirs something up inside me, and I don’t quite know how to embrace it.
I feel him look away, too.
When I steal a glance at him moments later, though, his fiery eyes are on me again. If I’m not mistaken, he’s admiring my body. Realizing I’ve noticed his staring, he clears his throat and snatches his gaze away.
I suppress another smile. I’m not sure whether to be annoyed that he was looking or flattered that he has even an inkling of interest in me.
I believe ten minutes or so pass before Thane stands taller and the whispershade wraps around us again. This time he moves faster, passing by four more buildings. I spot the black pillars wrapped in ivy a short distance away. If we can reach those, we’ll be closer to the tunnels.
Algar was right. This is fast.
Hope blossoms in my chest, and my heart races a bit quicker…until the whispershade fades again.
“Hold on,” Thane calls, pressing his back to the nearest building.
“Damn it, Thane!” Algar hisses, immediately rushing over to stand next to him.
“Hullo,” a small voice says seconds later.
I gasp, and Thane yanks out his sword, spinning to find the source of the voice.
A man emerges—no, a boy. He can’t be any older than his fourteenth or fifteenth year. He’s wearing a ratty linen tunic that touches his knees and a faded blue scarf on his head.
“Who are you?” Thane angles his sword at him.
The boy studies Thane’s sword before blinking at me and Algar. When he sees Pearl and Zephra, his eyes sparkle. “Is that a maobi?” he marvels.
Thane drops his sword a notch. “You need to go.”
“I have never seen one in real life.” The boy ignores Thane as he takes a step closer. “I’ve only ever read about them—in the library usually. One of the sorceress teachers used to create images of them with her magic.”
I look between him and Thane, who is gripping the hilt of his sword hard enough to make his knuckles protrude while surveilling the area. He seems unsure whether to treat this boy as a threat or deem him innocent.
“Would you like to pet her?” Algar asks, stepping in front of Thane. He’s also noticed how uneasy Thane is with this whole situation.
“Algar, we don’t have time for this,” Thane hisses.
“It’ll only be a second. You have to restore your energy anyway.” Algar shrugs him off, and the boy lights up even more as he brings Zephra closer. She clicks her teeth when the boy sticks out a hand.