Page 15 of The Throne's Undoing

Sylvia nodded, wiping their cheeks with the back of their hand and mounting their horse.

"What do you want to do with her?" Ellie asked, nodding in Kalisandre's direction.

Terin shifted his sister in his arms as he eyed Graeson wearily. "Kallie will remain in a coma for a while if I am not in contact with her, but it will drain me faster if we're separated for too long."

"There is no discussion to be had. She'll ride with you, Terin," Graeson said. "She is small enough."

"It doesn't matter if Terin's horse can handle her weight. Riding two to a horse will still slow us down," Ellie argued, folding her arms over her chest.

"We have no other choice," Graeson retorted, heading to Terin.

"He's right, Ellie," Medenia sighed, guiding her horse toward them by its reins. "We will have to make do."

Ellie's lips thinned, but she didn't argue further.

Graeson tipped his head to his friend. "I've got her, Ter," Graeson said, his hands outstretched.

"Thanks," Terin mumbled, passing Kalisandre to Graeson before getting atop his horse.

Graeson tenderly brushed a stray wisp of hair from Kalisandre's face. Her soft features were smeared with dirt and blood, and her brows were drawn slightly together. He hesitated, his grip tightening around her. When she didn't stir, though, Graeson carefully hoisted her onto Terin's horse.

Soon,he promised.

They rode hardand fast through the forest, only stopping for short periods to let the horses rest and to relieve themselves. Time passed slowly in the woods, every snap of a branch or rustle of leaves making them jump with paranoia.

Although they seemed safe, the entire Frenzian military would be after them soon enough. The destruction left in their wake would only keep the Frenzians distracted for a limited time.

Dani made frequent loops around the area, ensuring no one followed. When she returned from her latest lap, she said to Graeson, "Tell me what happened with Armen."

"What is there to tell?" Graeson asked, focusing on the woods ahead.

"Come on. You obviously feel some way about it," Dani said, peering down at Graeson's hands, where he gripped the reins so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

Graeson loosened his hold slightly and sighed, but the tension in his neck remained. He shrugged haphazardly. "Armen and I have never been the best of friends. The man is a prick who can't see over his ego. It was only a matter of time before he betrayed us."

"Is that what you think happened? That he betrayed us?" Dani pressed.

"Armen is many things," Terin said ahead of them, joining in the conversation, "but he has always been loyal to the Crown."

Graeson snorted. "Apparently not as loyal as we thought."

However, Graeson couldn't deny that he had trusted Armen enough to bring him along. Despite his personal feelings toward Armen, Graeson had believed he was loyal. Even though Armenhad spoken against Kalisandre, Graeson didn't think Armen would have been so selfish as to abandon them and their kingdom.

Graeson should have known better.

He should have listened to the god within. Because after all this time, when it came to mortals, the monster was right. More often than not, humans only cared about themselves.

"I just...I find it hard to believe," Terin finally mumbled, breaking the tense quiet.

"I do not know what to believe anymore," Graeson said, his voice growing cold. "But I do know this: whether Armen intentionally betrayed us or whether he simply ran to save his own life is only a matter of semantics. Either way, Moris is dead because of him."

Dani and Terin fell silent, the only sound accompanying them being the clatter of hooves as they continued their trek through the foreboding forest toward Tetria.

The sun slowly moved across the sky, casting rays of light pouring through the canopy of leaves above.

As they rode, Graeson struggled to keep his focus on their surroundings. His eyes kept drifting to Kalisandre, unable to resist stealing glances at her. His mind was consumed with too many questions and worries. How would they explain why they had taken her against her will a second time? Would they be able to undo whatever damage Myra had inflicted on Kalisandre's mind? Would Kalisandre be able to trust them? Would she ever be able to forgive them? The weight of the conversation weighed heavily on him as they traveled.

When the horses began to slow their pace, Ellie called out, "We need to rest. Night is coming soon. If we keep going, we will run the horses--"

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