Page 164 of A Vow of Wrath and Ruin

I shut my mouth. If something attacked us, they could deal with it.

We walked through the black night until the faint light of a cabin came into view. A single candle burned in the dust-covered window. Where were we?

Smoke billowed from the chimney of the log cabin, dissipating into the night. I tried to see in the window as we approached, but the grime made that impossible.

Baylis knocked three times, paused, then knocked two more times.

We waited, silent as the grave. The forest moved around us. Hungry eyes raked over our bodies. Whatever was out there was preparing to strike. My pulse quickened. I didn’t know which to fear more: whatever was in the cabin or the monsters lurking in the woods.

Baylis knocked again.

A rustling in the brush.

Alwin set me down on the damp ground before pulling his sword. “Try the knob, Baylis.”

She jiggled the handle.

“It’s locked.”

Alwin gazed out at the forest, where dozens of glowing red eyes came into view.

“Break the window. We need to get in there now,” he whispered out of the side of his mouth.

Baylis pounded frantically at the door.

“Hello, hello! Let us in!”

My eyes flitted between my sister and the eyes in the forest.

A latch scraped against its base, and the door opened.

“Quickly,” the voice of my nightmares said.

A clicking echoed through the forest, and dread pooled in my stomach.

Alwin scooped me up and brought me inside as the sound bore into my brain.

Baylis shut the door, and the clicking stopped.

Inside, the cabin was shabby and old. The smell of mahogany lingered on its beams, but it had been ages since someone had inhabited it.

Erissa pulled back her white hood. The flame danced across her burned face. I grimaced at the sight of her mangled skin.

A coy smile pulled at the corners of her lips.

“Nice to see you, Aelia. You’re looking… well, you’ve looked better.” She turned to Baylis and Alwin, her brow knitted. “I thought I said she wasn’t to be harmed.”

Baylis shrugged.

“She ran. What was I supposed to do?”

“Not shoot her in the back.” Erissa scolded. “Lay her down here. I’ll fix her up.”

Alwin set me down on a rickety cot. My blood boiled in my veins at the sight of the ancient mage.

Erissa sighed, resting her hands on her hips.

“Aelia, Aelia, Aelia. Always getting into trouble.”

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