Page 51 of Cursed Crowns

“She might well outpace you,” said Rose, who was sitting in front of Shen, astride Storm. After the wildness of yesterday, it felt both familiar and comforting to be on a horse with him again. And she’d rather walk in her bare feet than ride with Kai again. “Elske caught up with us, after all. And even if she does fall behind, she’s an expert at tracking people.”

Kai rolled his eyes, as he nudged Victory into a canter. “Fine. As long as we get moving, I don’t care what wild creature comes with us.”

They rode in companiable silence, the morning sun beating down on them as they left Hollyfort behind, winding deeper into the southern plains of Eana. After several hours, Rose heard the sound of rushing water and spotted the Whitestone Bridge up ahead. “We’re almost there. According to Thea’s map, we take a left at the river and follow the water down into the Poisonweed Valley.”

“Ah yes, the valley ofpoison weeds,” said Kai. “That sounds like a great idea.”

“Never mind those tall tales,” said Rose as she folded up her map. “Thea would never send us into danger.”

Leafy trees peered over them as they strayed from the road, following the river down into fields where long grass brushed against their knees and tall-stalked flowers grew up to meet them, each one bigger and brighter than the last.

“Why was that innkeeper so skittish about this place?” Rose frownedas she looked around. “I know it has a funny name, but it doesn’t look very poisonous to me.”

“Looks can be deceiving,” warned Shen. “Stay on your guard.”

Rose kept her eyes trained on the distant treetops, searching for a tower among them, but there was nothing but the grass and the flowers and the wind whispering in her ear. She thought of her nightmare again, her thoughts drifting to Wren across the Sunless Sea. Rose hoped her sister was all right, and that her dream was simply an expression of her anxiety and nothing more. Sweat dripped down the back of her neck, and her legs began to ache.

“How much longer?” demanded Kai. “We’ve been down here for hours, and everything looks the same.” His voice vibrated with agitation, reminding Rose of an angry wasp. “Every step we take away from the desert is a step in the wrong direction.”

“Hush now. I’m sure we’re almost there.” Rose rubbed her eyes, trying to see straight, but the air was getting hazy. Or was that her vision? She blinked and her lids grew heavy.

“What was it the innkeeper said?” asked Shen, his voice slurring. “Something about the air in the Poisonweed Valley?”

Rose was struggling to remember. “Did he say anything at all?”

Shen’s head lolled against her shoulder. “My head hurts...”

Rose twisted to find Kai half slumped on his horse, too, muttering to himself. “One whiskey, two whiskey, three whiskey more...”

“Oh no,” she said as the world began to spin. She scrunched her eyes shut. “We’re being poisoned.”

But the men were both slipping from consciousness. In a panic, Rose grabbed Shen’s hands from where they rested on her waist. Shesqueezed them, tightly, sending a burst of healing magic into his bloodstream.

Shen stiffened, coming back to himself. “Whoa,” he said, blowing out a breath. “I felt like I was drunk.”

“Kai,” said Rose, catching the name before it escaped her. “We need to help Kai.”

Shen nudged Storm closer to Victory, until Rose was able to reach across the space between the horses and grab the warrior’s hand, which was hanging limply. She sent out another burst of healing magic, as her own body began to sway.

Kai sat up again, the color rushing back into his cheeks as he grinned at Rose. “I knew you wanted to hold my hand.”

Rose flopped back against Shen’s chest.

His arms tightened around her waist. “Rose?” he said, worry straining his voice. “Are you all right?”

“I just... need... a moment...” she said, gazing up at the bright blue sky. They rode on, the gentle clip-clop of hooves lulling her into a trance. She felt like she was floating in a lake, the wind tickling her ears and making her smile. “Ooh... look at all the pretty birds.”

“Sounds like she’s going loopy,” said Kai. “Shame she can’t heal herself.”

Rose began to laugh. “They’re so shiny,” she said, feebly reaching up to catch one of the birds in the sky.

Deep in the haze of her addled mind, Rose knew there was something special about these birds, but she couldn’t remember what it was. She closed her eyes, thinking,thinking.

And then it came to her—and she shouted it at the world.

“STARCRESTS!”

She sat bolt upright, trying to shake off the poisonweed. The fields had shed their flowers for spindly trees that grew to make a leafy wood, where silver-breasted birds were diving and swooping between the branches. “There’s a whole flock of them,” she said breathlessly. “Look!”

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