Page 68 of The Queen

Chapter Forty-Five

Saphyra

“How are you holding up, princess?” Ghost nudged his horse closer on the rocky path as we threaded between the trunks of massive trees.

Lex led the group down the trail, with Grey clinging to his saddle just ahead of me. Somewhere behind Ghost, Shadow covered our backs.

The rising suns broke over distant mountain tops, beating the fog back to reveal golden plains stretched out below us. The planet seemed to stretch and groan under the increasing warmth. I was also groaning and stretching my stiff muscles as best I could manage. Concern over the fast approaching ships made me hesitate to answer while I considered my words.

“I’m okay.” I decided that was as close to the truth as I was willing to announce.

Was I okay? More or less.

My butt was sore from riding straight through yesterday. It didn’t help that the trail was steep and rocky as we descended into the valley. The horses were careful, picking their way through the treacherous terrain, but every shuffled hoofbeat sent aches shooting through my body.

I glanced over my shoulder. Ghost was grinning, looking unconvinced. They’d offered me another more comfortable route, but I’d declined. He was probably wondering if I regretted that decision now.

The other option would have taken us miles in the wrong direction along an old, abandoned road used for carts and carriages. This shortcut was steeper but more direct, and that’s what I wanted. I’d have to suffer a little, but it’d be worth it to reach our destination more quickly.

Through breaks in the trees, I caught glimpses of the old capital city in the distance, lifting my spirits and reminding me of home. We were so close, yet still so far. The sight of the castle reaffirmed that the faster route was the better option.

The blue of the sky teased between clouds as the last remaining fingers of fog peeled back, revealing a pale canopy streaked with rainbow lights. Every day, the field grew stronger, giving me hope that our plan would work. We might find the answers we sought, but they would do us no good without the protection of the shield. That had to be the priority for now.

The rocky path tapered off as we entered an abandoned village that hugged the base of the mountains. The thud of our horses’ hooves echoed off the crumbling plaster-walled buildings, their rotten thatched roofs rustling in the wind.

My alphas were watchful and tense in their saddles as they moved to circle me. This place felt empty, but there were too many dark corners to hide in to let down our guard. The horses could feel our unease and pricked their ears, shying at any stray noise. Grey sat white knuckled and awkward on his saddle, and I tried not to laugh. He was no horseman, but doing better than I’d have expected for someone who’d never seen a horse in person before yesterday.

I was hesitant to break their concentration, but the world seemed placid and calm, despite the eerie shadows. “How much further is it from here?”

Lex’s attention jumped to me. “Only about another hour if we pick up our pace. Once we’re on the road, we’ll be exposed and need to hurry. Grey, don’t fall off.”

Grey laughed uneasily. His hand dropped to the pommel of his saddle and he nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

His uncertainty was vivid through the bond, but there was a steady determination under it, too. The emotional connection that developed once our bond was sealed was surprising and overwhelming at first, but it was starting to settle. It almost felt like something that had always been there, a hidden part of me I’d never noticed. I wondered if it would still offer that same comfort when the rest of my mates joined.

Because it was a matter of when, not if. My mother told me everything I needed was on that gold tablet. I knew the answers I was looking for were there. I just had to get it.

I nudged my horse up next to Grey’s now that the path had widened. “When we pick up the pace, it’ll be even more important to remember to keep your heels down and your eyes looking at where you’re going. You’ll be fine.”

I didn’t know if that would help, but I remembered my childhood riding instructor yelling that same advice at me, so it couldn’t hurt. Lex tried to hide a grin, turning his head forward. But I could see the edge of his lips quirk up. He’d been there. He knew exactly what I was thinking about.

The trees thinned, and the buildings grew sparse. A wide, flat road reached out in front of us through rolling hills and down to a sparkling bay. I hadn’t been to this place in more than ten years, but I remembered the view. My eyes stung with emotion, and a flood of memories came rushing in.

The golden grasses swayed like ocean waves and copses of trees dotted the land like islands. My whole body felt warm and full to bursting with untapped feelings. A cold wind stung the tears tracking down my cheeks as Lex led us out of the settlement. The horses broke into gallops, their strides devouring the ground, sending my hair whipping behind me. Every hill we crested brought sights of the creamy stone towers of the capital far in the distance.

The smell of sun warmed earth and the taste of salt on the wind were familiar. The sound of the breeze through high grass and oak leaves was as soothing as the memory of lullabies buried deep in my past.

It reminded me of my childhood and of the feeling of coming home.

I knew this place. I knew this road. This was home.

The ancient walls of the castle loomed as we approached, casting jagged shadows over bare ground. They were still the soft, pale peach stone I remembered, but gone were the elegant archways and strong bastions. In their place were jumbles of blush-colored rubble mixed with scorched wood. Rotting trees laid in piles like dead soldiers around the perimeter of the ruined outer wall. The destruction was obvious, if incomplete. It seemed as if the attackers grew bored and stopped halfway through. Or maybe they’d taken everything they wanted and left before completing their defilement.

Our horses picked their path carefully through the debris as we made our way past the crumbling gatehouse into the bailey. The portcullis had been blasted loose and laid haphazardly on a pile of charred stone next to a hole in the inner curtain wall. The main keep appeared intact from the outside, spared from explosions, but the black smudges above the windows didn’t leave me with much hope for what was inside.

Everything was deadly still and quiet.

Nervous goosebumps skittered across my skin as I looked around the once familiar courtyard. At one time, it was brimming with life, but now felt dead.

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