Page 106 of Degradation

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I didn’t stopat creating the road to the edge of the trees but continued it all the way to the dirt road that led to Towdown. Walking on the dirt road wasn’t as nice as the white cobble. Dust clung to the bottom of my skirt by the time we reached Towdown.

After one woman looked at us disdainfully, I removed all our travel dust with a simple thought. The woman’s eyes rounded, and she ran off.

Rose chuckled, and I cringed.

“It’s only been a few months, and I’ve already forgotten what it’s like here,” I said.

Rose took my hand and patted it. “Don’t change who you are, Kellen. Not for anyone. Only those with ill intent hide their true nature.”

I glanced at Rose. “Did you not approach our glade in disguise?”

Rose smiled. “Perhaps this is my disguise. Who’s to say?”

I could feel that Eadric found her funny. The others, however, including my father, did not.

We hadn’t even reached the market when guards surrounded us. One of them attempted to touch me, which Edmund and Garron did not take kindly to, and I did not take kindly to the fists the guards threw in return for their accosting by my kings.

“Cease,” I said.

All those fighting froze, even my men.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

“Trouble,”Edmund growled.

“Had I not frozen you too, you would have hit him when he was unable to defend himself, and that wouldn’t be fair. I want your word that you will not continue fighting when I release you.”

“You have my word,” Garron and Darian both said.

I glanced at Father and saw he, too, had jumped into the fray.

A sigh escaped me.

“Is this the way the kings of Turre wish to introduce themselves to the king of Drisdall?” I asked.

I felt the disbelief in the head guard, who I hadn’t needed to freeze.

“Yes. Kings. Please send word to King Afton that Turre is no longer fallen. The road between our kingdoms has been repaired, and the kings are here to speak of a new trade agreement. And I am here to speak to my sister, Eloise Cartwright.”

“Very well, come with me.” The head guard’s expression remained impassive as his disbelief continued. He meant to lead us toward the castle, but once there, he would ensure I was imprisoned for my open use of magic against the crown.

I snorted and released his guards.

“No more fighting, please,” I said.

One of the guards moved to grab Edmund’s arm, but his hand couldn’t touch him. He tried several times before glancing at me.

“Please do not attempt to touch what is mine.”

The guard looked to the head guard.

“At your leave, kind sir, I am ready to end this journey and see Eloise.”

My feet, sore from the distance we’d already walked, ached fiercely by the time we reached the castle. When the head guard started to veer toward a side gate, I continued forward, straight toward the open main gate.

“Halt,” the head guard cried.

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