Page 114 of The Blood Traitor

Kiva held out her hand, all three of them still in her palm.

Ashlyn touched her finger to the emerald, infusing her earth magic into it, the green jewel flaring bright before fading again.

“Now you just need the last one,” Ashlyn said as Kiva placed them all in their pouch and returned them to Jaren.

“Ash, we can’t just leave Vallenia to —”

“I saidyouneed to get the final ring,” Ashlyn cut Jaren off. “I didn’t say we all needed to go. Not this time.”

Jaren’s eyes narrowed. “What are you thinking?”

“Eidran, Tor, and I will head straight back to Vallenia while the rest of you go to Arden,” Ashlyn said. “They’re getting ready right now — Issa has already agreed to give us extra horses so we can ride hard, without stopping. And while I can’t windfunnel as far as Galdric, I’m stronger than him, and my energy replenishes faster, so I can make smaller jumps, more often, and still have enough magic to spare for when we arrive. I’m hoping it’ll be enough for us to make it back by tomorrow night.”

“Why you three?” Jaren said. “Why can’t I —”

“Because Queen Lorah adores you,” Ashlyn stated. “So far, every ring has been a challenge, and we don’t have time to waste. If having the favor of Nerine’s ruler helps, even in the slightest way, you need to take advantage of that.”

Kiva didn’t think now was the time to mention that Issa adored Jaren, too, and yet here they were, having lost nearly a whole day climbing a deadly mountain.

“And as for why us three,” Ashlyn went on, “I gave orders to have some of my soldiers sent to Vallenia before we left for Jiirva — not enough, I wish I’d sent more, but I never imaginedthis...” She scowled, then shook it off and continued, “They need to see me with them, leading them against whatever we’ll be facing. Eidran will be doing the same with the Royal Guard — though I think we can also assume Captain Veris will already be preparing them to defend the city, with or without Zuleeka’s permission. And Tor” — Ashlyn’s eyes cut to Kiva — “is going to try and rally the rebels. He was their general; he’s hoping they’ll still be willing to fight with him. It’s a long shot, but...”

“A common enemy,” Jaren murmured.

“Exactly,” Ashlyn said.

Kiva clenched her hands, the thought of what her friends and her brother might be heading into making her feel queasy.

“Galdric will windfunnel the rest of you directly from Lyras to Arden,” Ashlyn shared. “After you have the ring, meet us in Vallenia as soon as you can. He won’t be able to windfunnel you again straightaway, but —”

“We’ll figure something out,” Jaren interrupted with a terse nod.

Kiva could tell he wasn’t pleased with the plan, his desperation to hurry back and help his city — and his family — conflicting with his knowledge that the final ring would allow them to even the odds. Not just in creating their own anomaly soldiers, but also in Jaren himself being able to battle magic with magic.

“I know it’s hard,” Ashlyn said, seeing Jaren’s inner turmoil. “But try to remember that, even without magic, our soldiers are well trained and unafraid. They’ll be able to handle themselves. And Veris will keep the Royal Guard strong. You’ve got time — just not much.”

“That time will become considerably shorter once Navok arrives,” Jaren said tightly. “I doubt he’ll wait long before ordering his anomalies to attack.”

“So get there before him,” Ashlyn said pointedly.

“Maybe he doesn’t plan for them to attack,” Kiva said. “Maybe they’re just there to look intimidating and make usthinkthey’re going to attack.”

The incredulous looks both Jaren and Ashlyn sent her made her blush.

“You never know,” she mumbled.

Despite her embarrassment, she was relieved to see Jaren’s lips twitch, just slightly. If nothing else, she’d managed to ease his tension, even if only for a moment.

“We need to get off this mountain,” Ashlyn said, beckoning them out of the cave. “I couldn’t windfunnel up here earlier because the weather was so bad, but we at least managed to have someone collect your horses, and they’re already back at the palace. Everyone is waiting, ready to leave as soon as we get down there.”

While Kiva felt physically ill at the thought of Vallenia being under threat of attack, she was grateful Ashlyn’s arrival meant they wouldn’t have to negotiate the steep descent. Her expression must have said as much, since Jaren’s lips gave another twitch. His features remained tense — and Kiva doubted that would change anytime soon — but it was clear he was choosing to focus on what they could control, rather than spiraling into his own dread.

Seeing that, Kiva gave his hand a reassuring squeeze as they followed Ashlyn out into the open, silently telling him she was with him, and they would get through whatever was coming together.

His face gentled in response, and he drew their joined hands up to press a quick, grateful kiss to her knuckles — right as Ashlyn stopped walking and turned back toward them.

The princess’s eyebrows shot upward, but all she said was, “It’s about time,” before summoning her magic and windfunneling them away.

The distance between Mount Nebu and Lyras was so short that itonly took a few seconds of windy disorientation before they landed in front of the crystalline palace, where they found all their horses saddled and ready to go, Zephyr and Nightshade included. Tor and Eidran were talking with a pair of grooms who were handing over the reins to the spare mounts Issa had offered, but aside from them, Cresta was the only member of their traveling party in sight.

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