Page 70 of Cursed Crowns

Rose nodded at the seers. “Thank you again.”

They bowed in unison. “Safe travels, Queen Rose.”

They picked their way back through the Poisonweed Valley, Fathom’s special herbal tea keeping them safe from its mind-addling effects. It was almost noon by the time they reached the Whitestone Bridge. Rose removed Thea’s map, while Shen’s fingers flew to his waistband, checking—as he had done every ten minutes since they set off—that his own map was still there.

Rose frowned, trying to trace a route to the Ganyeve Desert, which lay at the heart of Eana, coiled up like a snake. She didn’t want to returnto Bridge End, but the southern tip of Eana was so narrow she could see no way around it.

“We could ride wild,” said Shen, leaning forward to look over her shoulder. “Let’s break from the road and go through the hills. We have food to last us.”

“And horses to race,” Kai piped up. “I want a do-over.”

“Very well,” said Rose, carefully folding up her map. “But wait until I’m—SHEN!”

The horses bolted across the bridge and off the road, galloping across the grassy plains at such a breakneck pace, Rose had to gasp for breath. The land unfurled around them, untamed and wild-flowered, and they went with it, their laughter mingling with the wind as they rode north, toward the desert.

After hours of riding, when the sun was surrendering to the evening sky, they reached the trading town of Thornhaven, which marked the crossroads between east and west Eana, and the valleys to the south. A hundred miles or so beyond it, the Ganyeve Desert began its golden sprawl.

Once inside the walls of Thornhaven, they slowed to a trot, wary of drawing too much attention to themselves. Elske had long since fallen behind, but Rose knew she’d turn up soon, a little dusty and travel-worn from the journey.

She was just about to suggest they stop in Thornhaven to rest and wait for her when she caught sight of something that made her heart lurch. An arrow painted on the tavern door. And then another on the blacksmith’s. And the wheeler’s. On and on they went, all the way down the cobbled street.

There were arrows on almost every single door.

Shen tensed behind her. “Thornhaven is an Arrow stronghold. I wasn’t expecting another one so soon.”

“Or in a place so central,” said Rose uneasily. She felt the prick of every single arrow as if they were piercing her own skin. Each one represented someone, or perhaps an entire family, who hated her and her sister, and what they stood for. Edgar Barron was gaining ground. His followers were enticing others to his cause, which made every step away from Anadawn Palace feel greater than the one before.

Hold fast, Thea. I’ll be home soon.

“Should we kick their doors in?” suggested Kai.

Rose glared at him. “Keep your head down and don’t draw any attention to yourself,” she said, pulling up her hood. Something had hardened in her heart at the sight of all those arrows. All that hatred. “And when we get back to Anadawn, with our new army of desert witches, we will remember the name of every single town that chose to rise up against us.”

“Vengeance suits you, Queenie,” said Kai approvingly. “I knew you had some fire in you.”

Shen tightened his grip around her waist as they journeyed through the streets of Thornhaven. Even when they were back on the road, with night yawning over them in dusty strands of gray and blue, he didn’t let go.

They rode until long after midnight, when they stopped to rest at the edge of a forest, far from the glare of the Arrows—and anyone else for that matter. They fed and watered the horses, before sharing the bread and cheese Pog had packed for them.

“We’ll rise at dawn,” said Shen, checking his map in a shard of moonlight. The Sunkissed Kingdom was moving again. He traced thered orb with his finger. “It’s drifting south. If all goes well, we should find it by noon tomorrow.”

Rose lowered herself to the ground and curled up on a mound of moss, trying to get comfortable. The accommodation was far too rural for her taste, but she didn’t see the sense in complaining about it. She used her satchel as a pillow, which offered some improvement, but the night air had grown chilly and she couldn’t keep her teeth from chattering. It was times like this that reminded her of just how far she had strayed from her home at Anadawn and her duty on its throne. She hoped with all her heart it would be worth it.

“I’m sorry,” said Shen, dropping to a crouch beside her. “I should have let you take that stole.”

“Is this when you offer to sleep next to her to keep her warm?” called Kai, who was doing pull-ups on a nearby tree branch.

Shen stiffened.

“Don’t,” said Rose, bracing a hand on his arm. “It’s not worth it.”

Shen swallowed his anger. His gaze slid to hers, his voice turning husky. “He does have a point. If you want, I can sleep—”

He was interrupted by a triumphant howl, as Elske bounded into the clearing and came straight for Rose. The wolf licked her face in greeting, then curled up next to her, nudging Shen out of the way.

“How wonderful!” said Rose through a giggle. “My blanket has arrived. I think I’ll sleep rather soundly after all.”

Kai chuckled as he dropped from the tree branch. “How does it feel to lose out to a wolf, cousin?”

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