Page 24 of A Shattered Kingdom of Steel

I cough, as if to clear my throat. “We’re near the Wynterliffean mine.”

Asheros doesn’t deny it. “We are.”

“How close?” I ask.

He goes quiet for a moment. When he speaks again, the huskiness in his voice is gone, replaced by his usual, cool, and even tone. “About half a day’s ride.”

Surprise lifts my brows. I didn’t think he’d answer that question. “You still haven’t told me where we’re headed.”

“I’m aware.” He straightens his posture, leaning away from me.

“It’s late,” I say.

“I’m aware of that, too.”

“Aren’t you going to make camp for the night?” I ask, loud enough for the others to hear. “You know the horses need to rest.”

Asheros grumbles. “Don’t tell me you’re making it a habit to inform me of things I already know, Bladesinger.”

“You clearly need reminding.”

“She does make a fair point,” Savell calls. “The horses need rest, and so do we.”

Behind me, Asheros sighs. “Very well. We’ll camp for the night. But come dawn, we leave.”

We veer off the road and into the woods. Darkness seems to swallow us, the dense canopy over our heads obstructing the light of the moon and stars that had been guiding our course. Rustling echoes somewhere in the distance. An owl coos above us.

Our steed hesitates, seemingly startled by something.

My body goes still.

“Are you second-guessing your demand to camp for the night, Bladesinger?” Asheros’s tone is light with humor. “Ah, I think I may have just seen a gnome.”

Frowning, I turn around and shove him. “Of course not.”

Despite my bravado, I can’t shake the feeling that something here is off, somehow. Every combat instinct I have is telling me to be on my guard.

With some encouragement from Asheros, the stallion advances. We travel deeper into the woods, farther from the road, and then dismount. Savell and Ronan secure the horses to a tree trunk, while Kheldryn and Gryska begin to unpack the tents.

“No fire tonight,” Asheros commands. Keeping his eyes on me, he reaches into the satchel that’s still strapped to his mount.

“No fire?” I ask.

“You and I both know you’re perfectly aware of the reason why,” Asheros says, giving me a look.

He’s right. I know exactly why he doesn’t want to light a fire. It would call attention to us. The smoke, more so than the light it would generate. We’ve already had one close encounter with guards today, and he doesn’t want a repeat.

Closing the distance between us, Asheros clasps my wrists, fingers brushing the troilite cuff.

“What are you—”

He wraps a piece of rope around both of my wrists and pulls it through a loop until it’s wound tight. I pull at it, and the more force I use, the more the rope bites into my skin.

“You prick!” I seethe. “The troilite already saps me of strength. The rope is completely unnecessary.”

“Do you really expect me to leave you unsecured in a forest this dark?” Asheros leans forward until our faces are merely inches apart, while tying the other end of the rope around his belt loop. “Come now, love. I can’t have you running away again, can I?”

“After tonight, you’re going to wish I had,” I snap.

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