Page 156 of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

“There’s nothing we can do. The last time Nevilier showed up, a third of our army burned into ash the second Garrik returned. Because Magnelis poisoned his powers, Garrikcouldn’t do anything to stop it. It took himmonthsto get over that summons, all because Garrik spared a youngling.” Thalon’s hands turned into tight-knuckled fists. “A babe whose mother was a Mystic.”

The words were unspoken, but she understood them just the same; a cruel punishment for an act that was deemed a weakness.

Jade let out a furious screech as she threw her sword into the dirt, perfectly impaling it to stand upright. “What are our orders?” Her eyes almost turned as fiery as her hair as she panted in Thalon’s direction.

“As long as Garrik’s shield remains, we’re to do the same as always.”To train and press forward.

Thalon sighed before adding, “I’m informed of towns and Mystics along the way until Dellisaerin. We continue on.”

Alora knew he didn’t only mean on the road.

He meant without Garrik, too.

One day. Two days. Three … Garrik still hadn’t returned as his Dragons moved forward. Each passing day, the distance between where he was last seen stretched further and further until he was nothing but a memory.

Had the High King uncovered their plans?

Was he northbound at that very moment to kill them all?

They wouldn’t allow themselves to think of it. Until that time came, until they knew their beloved High Prince was dead and the battle for Elysian was waged at their frontlines, they wouldn’t allow any delay.

Yet, when she wasn’t training or hunting, even riding north, Alora couldn’t help but stare at Garrik’s unlit tent—set up every day just like Aiden’s—and waiting for his return. Picturing his silhouette cast across the canvas, breathing in his scent … wishing he’d burst from the tent entrance and sit in the dirt by the fire.

Missing me, clever girl?She imagined him saying it in that voice she would crawl for. But it wasn’t him. It was never him. No matter how many times she called out to him, pleading for him to be listening.

It was never him.

Where are you? Are you okay? Jade, Thalon, and Eldacar, they … we are very worried about you.

But he never answered.

One thing kept them hopeful—Garrik’s shield remained strong.

He was still alive, at least breathing. But how painful were those breaths?

For three days, only gut-wrenching silence surrounded by an awful, unsettling feeling that something was horribly—horriblywrong, wracked through her bones. And in the silence of his voice, she hallucinated strangled screams among wicked snickering. The slithering voice poisoned with venom scratched like talons across her mind and shred gashes into her heart until she could no longer sit in the torment and had to dosomething.

“Hunting this evening?” Thalon questioned in the silence, turning to where Alora burst from her tent, geared up for a distraction, bow in hand, a quiver of arrows on her back.

But it was Jade who answered, “As soon as Alora gets off her ass, we’ll set out.” Green eyes turned unamused as she glanced at Alora sheathing her obsidian dagger, glowering at Jade who was the one ‘sitting on her ass.’ “Hurry up, I actually want to get back at a decent time tonight.”

Alora gritted her teeth, declining to snap back, knowing—with Jade—it was utterly pointless. “Ready if you are.”

“Pay attention!”Jade quietly snarled as Alora bumped into the back of her.

Beside a bush, Jade crouched low and examined broken twigs. A few steps ahead, a large animal print—likely a wolf of great size—sunk deep into fresh, slimy mud caused by an early afternoon downpour.

They continued trudging through, deeper and deeper into the forest outside camp’s borders, guided by near-perfect tracks. Ferns scraped against their legs, soaking the rain drops deep into their pants as they weaved around towering spruce and oak trees. Somewhere in the distance, a heavy smell of pine rustled between the canopy of leaves, carrying the earthy scent of moss and dirt on a gentle breeze.

“Jade,” Alora whispered, scanning the tracks ahead of them.

“Quiet,” Jade snapped, her eyes narrowed on a sweetberry bush to their right.

Alora crunched her eyebrows, tilting her head to listen. “There are no bugs.”

Jade didn’t so much as twitch.

“There are no other sounds other than the wind.” And their footfalls. But she followed as Jade kept on. Following until the tracks disappeared at a mountainous granite wall.

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