Page 25 of The Throne's Undoing

She couldn't save Mynhos's hand, just like she couldn't save her parents all those years ago. Myra had barely even saved herself.

But saving herself had come with a price, one she was still paying.

Chapter 7

GRAESON

As the grouprode north the next morning, Graeson's focus constantly strayed from the path ahead, lingering on Barinthian and the consequences that awaited him once they arrived in Tetria. Finding Kalisandre and stopping the wedding, he realized, was the easy part. The hardest part was yet to come.

"We should stop here," Ellie said after a while of riding. "The horses need a break, and we need to refill our canteens while we can."

Graeson peered through the towering oak trees that littered the landscape. The leaves rustled softly, disturbed only by a few birds bouncing between the branches, their delicate melodies light in the air.

"I'll scan the area," Dani said, grabbing the reins. "We should be quick about it."

As Dani and her horse disappeared within the brush, everyone else dismounted.

When Emmett's boots hit the ground, he groaned in discomfort as he kicked out his legs. "Have I mentioned how no one bothered to tell me how much horseback riding would be needed on this little escapade?"

"It's better than walking," Sylvia countered with a shrug. They brushed their hands through their auburn hair, plucking a leaf from it. "On a mission to Kadia a couple of years ago, we had to walk most of the way once the river ran dry."

"And the knowledge of this factoid is supposed to help me how?" Emmett asked in response, rubbing his thighs in discomfort.

Graeson rolled his eyes and made his way toward the trickling stream, leaving the two to prattle back and forth. When he reached the water's edge, he dropped to his knees and scooped up a handful of water. Splashing it onto his face, he washed away the dust and weariness and took a calming breath.

"We'll have to boil this," Ellie said, having joined him at the stream.

"We don't have the time," Graeson sighed, running his damp fingers through his jet-black hair.

"How much water do you have in your canteen?" Ellie asked, brow arched.

Graeson unbuckled his canteen from his belt and shook it near his ear. Water sloshed against the sides of the container. He pursed his lips. By the sound, he was nearing empty.

"That's what I thought."

"Fine," he said, giving in. "If Dani gives us the all-clear, we'll start a fire."

Ellie nodded. "We should cook some fish while we're at it. While Medenia may be happy living off berries, I know the rest of us are not."

"I do not live off berries," Medenia called back, having heard them further down the stream as she plucked red mulberries from a thin branch.

"Sorry, I stand corrected," Ellie said with a playful jest. "Let's not forget your endless supply of nuts."

Licking the juice from her fingers, Medenia said, "Don't forget mushrooms, eggs, and--"

"Yes, yes," Ellie said with a wave, chuckling softly.

Soon, they were all resting along the riverbend. Ellie and Medenia were rolling their eyes at something Emmett said. Terin sat against a tree while Sylvia stood by, watching over him and Kalisandre.

Graeson remained by the river. Although he wanted to go to Kalisandre, he felt pulled to stay where he was. As he stared at the water sloshing by the shore, his thoughts twisted and turned.

Fighting this only makes it worse.

Graeson gritted his teeth. And yet, the god's words only made memories Graeson wished would disappear rise to the surface.

His kneesand palms pressed into the wet concrete as the sound of the waterfall flooded his senses. Then, all at once, there was nothing.

A cold breeze brushed Graeson's neck, sending a chill creeping across his skin.

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