Page 67 of Oath of Rebellion

She was alone in the Feral Forest with spiders and crawly things and who knew what else that would try to kill her. That wasn't even mentioning the gloomy sky that seemed to open up like turning a faucet or the vines that were now silently stalking toward them.

And her only help was now passed out behind her. His control on the forest slipped away and the vines began to reach toward her.

She gritted her teeth and nudged the horse with her heels, reaching out to the birds nearby to find a path to the creek.

She pushed light magic around them, but the spiders seemed to only be afraid of the red glow stick. Still, she kept the light flowing to combat her fears of the dark forest.

She swallowed hard as the horse began to follow the path, praying to the gods that she was going in the right direction.

Chapter 24

WHEN KNOX WOKE UP, his entire head, shoulders, and neck felt like they were on fire. He blinked and looked around. Ryder drank from a stream, and he lay on his back in the soft grass.

Eirwyn cursed as she stabbed down into the earth with a bloody dagger. Birds of all kinds swarmed around her head, randomly diving to the ground. His heart raced and he jumped up, preparing to lunge at whatever she was fighting.

But she looked over, straightening onto her knees as a look of annoyance flashed on her delicate face. Blood stained her pants but blended into her red shirt.

Her hood was still drawn, and her gloves protected her hands. She didn't look to be in any more danger as she scowled at him. "You're finally awake I see. Just in the nick of time, too."

She stood, kicking at the dirt in anger before striding to the stream to wash her blade. Some birds followed her and some pecked at the ground.

He stood on wobbly legs as dizziness washed over him. He stumbled a few steps to where she'd been, and his eyes widened as he looked back to her.

"Gods, Eirwyn, that's a bloody adder," he said. "It must be six feet long."

She wiped the now clean blade on the hem of her cloak. "Well, it's dead now, no thanks to you."

He frowned and strode to her, gripping her arms in fear. "Did it bite you? Are you alright?"

She frowned up at him, her small hands with bloody gloves fisting on his chest. "No, but it almost got you. What would I have done if you'd gotten bit and died? You can't do this to me. I need you to–"

She gripped his shirt and shook, and he pulled her into his arms, hugging her tight. "Sh, it's alright. I'm alright. We're both alright."

She breathed heavily, then she slowly began to relax in his arms. His hands ran up and down her back.

"If you're sure," she said softly into his chest. He let his hands drop and stepped away, rubbing at his eyes. His head was still fuzzy from the spider bite.

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