Page 31 of The Last Heir of Elsewhere

I had to admit he had a point. The forest was so large, and everything looked so similar, it was impossible to shadow walk in the correct direction since we didn’t know where we were going. Looking for a village had therefore become a chore, and I was growing exhausted. I’d assumed that it wouldn’t take us more than an hour or so to find a town.

I was wrong.

The sun rose, and started to dim again in the time we searched. The surrounding forest didn’t look all that different from the area near the palace. Or, for that matter, the woods surrounding the quarry that I’d walked through during the second hunt. I looked this way and that, trying to take in landmarks, but there was nothing but trees and mile after mile of winding pathways through the underbrush.

The longer time wore on, I was barely able to hide my growling stomach. I gathered that Bael and Scion were doing no better, though they did a better job hiding their displeasure than I did.

I did notice that the Underfae, which usually followed me when I ventured off the pathway or too far into the Wildes, steered mostly clear of us, only peeking out from between the branches to nod at me as we passed. Bael and Scion, who could of course see them as well as I could, made no comment. I supposed they were as used to the creatures as they were to birds and squirrels, so the little figures warranted no mention. Still, as I’d never been able to comment on being able to see them before, I had to bite my tongue to keep from crying out every time we came across one.

Finally, when the chittering sounds of the forest were beginning to sound more sinister than cheerful, and I was nearly ready to ask one of them to carry me, we finally spotted chimney smoke in the distance.

Excitement rising in me, I wanted to sprint toward it. Instead, however, I threw out an arm, and caught Bael across the chest. “Wai—ouch.”

At my yell, Scion jerked, as if my voice had startled him, and Bael gave me a sideways glance as I rubbed my arm where I’d hit him. His chest was like stone, and I might as well have punched a boulder.

“What is it, little monster?”

“Wait,” I repeated, reproachfully, shaking out my hand. “We have no idea if this village is sympathetic to the rebellion. We can’t just walk in there without a plan.”

Scion made a disgruntled noise in the back of his throat. “I don’t care what your plan is as long as it involves finding an inn. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in a fucking week.”

I wholeheartedly agreed, but I didn’t believe we could enter the village without drawing attention. I turned my gaze at Scion, and the glance alone confirmed my fears.

Scion had retrieved his armor from the wreckage of the barn, and it looked no worse for wear, as if the flames and crumbling beams had made no mark upon it. Quill sat proudly on his shoulder, above the Everlast family crest, banishing any shred of doubt about Scion’s identity.

On my other side, Bael suffered from the same problem, though it had little to do with his clothing. Even if I’d never seen him before, I would have instantly been suspicious of anyone as sickeningly handsome. Worse still, his eyes and razor-sharp teeth stood out, even if the village was made up entirely of Fae.

Both of them were far too recognizable, but I could not say the same of myself. My human face and ears were enough to blend in almost anywhere, and more, I now wore Bael’s long, dark traveling cloak over the shreds of my torn and bloody tunic. My own jacket and cloak were little more than ash, and I supposed I should merely be grateful to still have trousers.

That thought sent color to my cheeks, and I shook my head to clear it before addressing Scion. “I should go alone, while you wait here. Both of you are far too recognizable.”

“It doesn’t matter who sees us, little monster,” Bael said. “We’re not letting you enter that village alone.”

Scion growled in agreement, and I pushed my hair out of my face in exasperation. Fucking overprotective, unreasonable Fae males.

“You know I’m right, though,” I argued. “Even before we’d ever spoken, I recognized you both immediately.”

“In the forest?” Bael clarified.

“Yes, when I wasn’t supposed to see you, and—” I broke off, coming to a sudden realization. “Wait, could you not simply do that again?”

I looked to Bael for help, but he only shrugged. “Ask the illusionist.” He jerked his head at Scion. “He has all the useful powers, I can’t do anything unless you want to murder the entire village in one go…”

“I could do that as well,” Scion said, sounding almost bitter.

“Yes, but with as much flavor as me?” A wide grin stretched Bael’s face, and his yellow eyes flashed with mirth. He raised a hand, and a tree in front of us disintegrated. “I think not.”

“So, will you do it?” I asked Scion, before they could meander off on some tangent that would take the better part of an hour.

“I suppose,” Scion said slowly, his brow furrowing with annoyance. “But I’m still not sure I see the point. I doubt there’s anyone in a woodland settlement we need to worry over.”

“Try not to light us on fire by mistake,” Bael said, grinning.

Scion grimaced, as he raised a hand to cast the illusion. “Shut the fuck up.”

* * *

The scentof baking bread and roast meat met me as I stood at the edge of the village. I sucked in a deep breath, my empty stomach roiling. That smell had to be coming from an inn, and it was all I could do not to run toward the center of town.

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