Page 97 of Flight of Fate

The guard doesn’t seem convinced.

“If shedoescause issues of any sort, one hand off. She won’t need both to fulfill her purpose.”

Again, that wave of ice slides through my veins, and I can barely move at the amount of malice gathered in that one Crow.

“Safe travels, General.” The guard salutes again, watching Ephegos march up to the horse and hoist himself into the saddle. With a kick of his heels, he spurs the beast into a trot, and I can’t help sighing a breath of relief as they are swallowed up by night.

Hands shaking around the corners of my blanket, I settle back onto the bench and count to two hundred. I don’t know how good Ephegos’s hearing is, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he returned at the slightest hint of commotion.

Only when I’m sure there is no chance he can make out the noises of potential battle do I risk another peek out the window. The guards are back on their rounds, walking the outer edge of the camp probably a hundred feet away from the carriage, while the rest of the camp is defined by the sounds of snoring and the occasional owl hooting in the nearby trees.

They’ll be checking on me in a minute or two, which leaves me with the decision to ready myself for a surprise attack or duck back onto the bench and pretend to be sleeping.

My heart races in my chest as I wait a few more beats, weighing my options. If I attack and they have the magic-nullifying potion at their disposal, I won’t stand a chance. The moment they spray me, I’ll be fighting a battle against my fading strength as much as the two soldiers. The noise we’d make would surely wake the rest of the camp, and I’ll be losing a hand if the guard follows Ephegos’ orders word by word.

Dammit. I mouth my curses into the night, curling up on the bench once more and closing my eyes as the footsteps draw near enough to count down to the moment the door will open.

Some deity in this universe must have mercy on me because they don’t bother to do more than look inside the window to convince themselves I’m still there and sleeping. Their shadows block out the pale light of the star-flecked firmament for three long breaths before they turn around and disappear, murmuring something to each other and chuckling.

How my hands itch to take hold of their throats and twist their necks—but that would be just what I was discussing with Shaelak not even three hours ago. That I’m no better than the monster that is Ephegos. I smother a shudder, reaching forthe edge of the door handle with an unsteady hand, and wait until the guards’ footsteps disappear on the farthest end of the parameter.

It’s now or never.

This carriage doesn’t host any weapons, so I take with me the only piece that might allow me to block drug-coated blades on my way out: the brass handle.

It creaks as I carefully crack the door open then pull it from the wood, the vibrations in my skin and bones proof of the sound, but the small shield I threw around my hand is strong enough to block it out entirely, even to my own ears. A small smile spreads on my lips as I peek through the tiny gap, assessing the quiet camp.

The guards are somewhere near the horses, so stealing one of the beasts is out of the question.

Pulling up a full-body shield close enough to my skin not to shimmer like a silver beacon in the night, I glide from the carriage and quietly shut the door, ducking under the cabin. There, I listen for any sign I’ve attracted attention.

Everything remains quiet. One of the horses stomps a hoof and huffs into the cold night.

With a glance in all directions, I convince myself the air is clear.

Then I bolt for the nearby bushes.

My feet don’t respond the way I’m used to after being trapped for such a long time while recovering from the effects of the drug, but my fae body handles it well. I stumble over the uneven ground, catching myself with my hands and biting back a wince as the brass door handle leaves an imprint in my palm when my full weight lands on the hand holding it. I freeze, glancing toward the sleeping soldiers then to where I expect the two guards.

Nothing stirs, so I continue my mad dash toward the cover of branches.

A few more steps.

Five.

Three.

I’m there.

My lungs burn from tension and the insane speed of my sprint, but I hold in my loud pants, willing my blood to slow and my muscles to relax. The guards must still be somewhere near the horses. I can’t make any mistakes. Right now, I simply choose a direction and run. I run like the wind, like the storms blowing over the oceans that used to be my home.

I leap over a fallen tree, duck under low-hanging branches, and I’m out of the small forest that gave me cover. I don’t stop as my shield starts to falter from exhaustion or when I enter the open fields that must be the edge of the Plithian Plains. Not when I get to a narrow stream or when exhaustion finally takes over.

I keep running without looking left or right. It doesn’t matter where I go as long as it’s far, far away from Ephegos and that camp.

The world is a blur as I race for my life, for my freedom, repeating the names of my loved ones in my head.

Myron. Kaira. Royad. Clio. Tori. Silas. Sanja. Rogue. Andraya. Pouly. Herinor.Even Herinor, who has been running from Ephegos for much longer than I have. Who has been maneuvering around the bargain he made with Ephegos successfully despite the clear orders not to help me. He has managed not to hurt me either.

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