Page 18 of Degradation

He nodded once and retreated into the Dark Forest once more.

“How long will your spell hold?” Garron asked.

“Until Eloise is freed,” I said.

Eadric set his chest down and wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

“Our time here will not be idle, Sparrow.”

I patted his side. “Aren’t we idle now? Pick up your kingly ransom.” He chuckled, and as he picked up his chest of gems, I glanced at Brandle. “Where do we go now?”

It took another hour through the thinning trees to reach a boulder-strewn field and a barely discernible path that Brandle said would lead to Adele. When he glanced back at me, the sight of my skeptical gaze brought a smile to his lips.

“Appearing on a more well-traveled route would have drawn attention.”

“Right now, she’s questioning if you know the difference between a road and a cattle path,” Liam said with a smirk that I couldn’t help but match.

Brandle’s eyes crinkled at the corners as he nodded his agreement.

“It is indeed little more than a cattle path. But rest assured, we’ll find what we need along the way.”

“Good. I’m ready to put this in a wagon. My hands are numb,” Daemon said.

“Do you see any wagons?” Edmund asked.

Daemon groaned and gave me a pleading look.

“Aren’t your legs tired, Lamb?”

“Are you offering to carry me?”

He instantly perked up. “Yes. All the way to Adele.”

I snorted and followed Garron and Brandle along the path. Edmund kept pace beside me. I glanced at the chest he carried and the pack strapped to his back.

“Is it wise for you to carry that in the open? Why not in your pack like the coins Brandle placed in my sling?”

“Coins?” Eadric asked from behind me. “What coins?”

I could feel his humor along with the others and knew he was jesting. They were all aware of the coins I carried.

“My meager possessions do not weigh enough to tug at my shoulder like this. Did you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Each of them immediately offered to carry my bag for me. I waved away their concern.

“I want an explanation for openly displaying one source of wealth while hiding another.”

“We’re unlikely to encounter anyone until we reach our first destination,” Edmund said. “It’s easier to carry them than leave other supplies behind to make room in our packs.”

“And the coin? Why am I carrying that?”

“So you can purchase whatever you wish whenever you wish it, Princess,” Darian said from behind me.

“Shall I purchase that stone? Or perhaps this blade of grass?”

They laughed as I’d intended, and we continued along the rocky path that slowly meandered up the hill. At the top, I had a view of the rocky hills dotted with very little growth that surrounded us. Our current path led to another steeper hill occupied by a small flock of sheep. A very faint curl of smoke rose behind that hill.

“Is that where we’re headed?” I asked.

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