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She takes my hand as alk out into the sunlit streets of Cranthuoes poorly Even so, I ae of slavery ht that’s been mine ever since I found Beth imprisoned, starved, and scarred in a cell beneath the summer palace I squeeze her small hand
There’s no one I’d rather fight for than the formidable female at my side
And I will gladly give my life to ensure her freedom
9
Beth
A slave caravanbehind looks like every other dune in the sea of sand behind us: nondescript, inhospitable, and an excellent hiding spot
“When this one’s clear, we go” Chastain checks the black stallions one s along their sides “Zatran’s lookouts, who happen to be devotees of Sil to the city Everything is in place” He squints at the wide golden sun er” Pressing one hand to it, and another to a lower stripe of gold, he adds to its diaudily ostentatious “That will do, I think”
“You realize a winter realht?” Gareth holds his giant lare
“I realize” He nods “You prefer drab clothes, cold weather, and huddling around fires instead of …” He lets his last words fade as he looks up at Gareth’s death glower “I h points, of course”
“At least the winter realm doesn’t enslave anyone” I pat his arm “So, I’m happy to take a warle in while living my life in freedom”
“You’ve turned into a true blade of the winter realht I’d see directed at me
“Right, winter blade and all that” Chastain takes the opening and backs away “Everything is ready”
“Beth, the cloak” Silmaran reaches up for it
I hate to part with it, but I do what Iit off my shoulders, I let it drop, then bend over to pull it free fros
Gareth groans, and Sil as I hand it to her
“No one look at e of his voice
“We aren’t looking” Parnon clion, this one less flashy, but still well-appointed Nemar and Eldra sit in the back, their wrists shackled Parnon—his color the same as the dunes—takes the reins “By your leave, my lord”
He’s going to have to drop his surly inflection by the time we reach Cranthum or we’ll be found out immediately
Chastain backs away, but not before giving Silnant than any they’ve shared so far, and when they part, I swear I can see her chin treives us a nod before cliuard, one with blades hidden in every part of her clothing, she takes position
“Hang on tight, htly, and the horses pull us out onto the road Sand scatters around us, and the distant hilly jungle is covered in late afternoon shadow
“I’ll be quite happy to never visit our forest friends ever again” I shudder when I think about the bugs, snakes, and thorns
“I kind of liked the trees” He gives the slash of green a rueful look
“You can’t be serious” I glance back at Silmaran with a ‘do you hear this nonsense?’ look, but she’s busy staring off in the distance Probably having deep, rebellious thoughts
Gareth shrugs as we begin kicking up a trail of dust that I can only assuets it full in his sandy face “They told s”
“Like what?” I lean forward and drape ilded seat
“For one, that you were lance “But I already knew that”
“How did they know?” I wrinkleThere are no talking trees”
He clears his throat and keeps his gaze straight ahead “They told le about half a day after we did”
“Two others? The slavers who ca escapade?”
“No, not them” He reaches over his shoulder and covers one of my hands with his “These two entered at the sa our trail”
My oes dry when I realize what sort of beasts would be able to track us over water, to the shore, and into a forbidden jungle “Kizriel”
“And his brother, yes” He gives the green another look, this one not quite as warood deal of trouble in those hills, thanks to the trees Only the biggest one made it out”
“You talked the trees into fighting for you?”