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)
“Show-off,” Algar mumbles.
“Great,” Thane mutters sarcastically under his breath.
“What was that, my friend?” Kelrean flashes a cool smile as he turns his attention to Thane, who is tucking the last of his daggers away in the designated slots of his vest.
When his swords are sheathed on his back, he marches past Kelrean and says, “We need to get moving.”
Kelrean chuckles as Rynthea, Algar, and I follow suit.
“I agree,” says Kelrean. “We should get moving, but you’re headed in the wrong direction, I’m afraid.”
Thane pauses, fists clenching. With a reluctant turn, he grimaces at Kelrean, who is already walking past the left gate.
“Just remember if you kill a prince, you’ll be beheaded,” Rynthea teases as she passes Thane. Algar side-eyes him with a slight frown before walking faster. I think he’s still angry about last night.
I sigh, glad my headache is passing because dealing with men whose egos are as large as the mountain we’re about to climb is going to require a lot of patience and effort.
When we round the wall built around Bernwood, we start up a rocky path. We aren’t even five minutes in, and my thighs are burning. The interiors of my boots are rubbing against my pinky toes, and my heels ache.
Blisters are bound to come, but I stick close to the group and suck on a hard lemon-and-honey candy to distract myself.
Algar slows his pace to match mine, and we look down at Bernwood, which now seems like a blotch in the distance.
“Did you have fun last night?” I ask.
“Oh, too much fun,” Algar answers. “They were gambling in one of the tents. Let’s just say I may owe one of those beastials one hundred gold coins.”
“One hundred? That’s a lot of coin, Algar.” I laugh.
“Yeah. But I don’t plan on returning anytime soon so, in my mind, I’m debt free.”
An ache develops in my lower back. It would’ve been nice to ride up the mountain on horseback, but Kelrean warned us earlier that the mountain becomes very steep, plus to reach the other side, we have to cross a bridge that can’t bear the weight of a horse. So, to my disappointment, we left Pearl in Bernwood. I swear I’ll go back for her one day. I’ve already lost one pearl. I’m not about to lose another. Queen Jenia promised me that she would move Pearl into the royal stables so no one would steal her.
“What were you and Thane arguing about last night?” I ask Algar in a low voice. Thane is several paces ahead, closer to Rynthea, who is shaking her head at something Kelrean is chortling about.
Exhaling, Algar digs into his pocket and pulls out a strip of dried fruit. He offers it to Zephra, who eagerly takes it with both her little paws and nibbles on it.
“I asked him why the attack in Kamtaur happened and if he was involved with the sorcerer who got away. He said he wasn’t involved with him, so I pushed for more answers because I know he’s lying about something regarding those people. There wouldn’t have been so many of them coming to kill him if he hadn’t done something serious.”
I nod, remembering Thane’s mention of stealing one of Seferin’s crystals. I also remember him requesting that I keep our conversation about the tome, Seferin, and Maliek between us, but Algar already knows about the tome. I just need him to keep quiet about it now.
“I talked to him about that a little more last night, too,” I tell him in a lower voice. “He doesn’t want anyone else knowing about the tome. Apparently, I wasn’t even supposed to tell you.”
Algar frowns a bit. “Why not?”
“He thinks you’re a blabbermouth.”
Algar rolls his eyes. “Yeah, all right. As if I’m out here shouting everyone’s secrets to the gods.”
“Just promise to keep the tome thing between us, okay?” I plead. “It might be the safest thing to do—for all of us.”
“Fine.” Algar releases a deep sigh, concentrating on Thane’s back. “I suppose me being a blabbermouth annoyed him last night and that’s why he grabbed my shirt and told me to fuck off in spectacular Thane fashion.” He shrugs as if he doesn’t care, but I can tell he does—that Thane hurt his feelings. I lock on Thane, too, who is now looking over his shoulder at me and Algar. He turns away, but I notice him slowing his stride.
“Just remember what I said last night, yeah?” Algar steps over a rock. “About being careful with him. I wouldn’t lower my guard too much if I were you. Thane has never attached himself to anyone, and I doubt he’ll start now.” With a half-hearted smile, he walks faster to catch up with Rynthea.
Thane meets me at my side. I take a peek at him. It’s always so hard to decipher his expression with that mask covering half his face.