Page 130 of Cursed Dreams
Cellen, stretched back in his chair “Well, I suppose I can’t let you lot stumble into danger without a strong male to protect you.” His tone was teasing, but his eyes were serious when they met hers. “I’m with you. Until the end.”
Even now, standing under the warm afternoon sun, the memory brought a sharp sting to her eyes. She hadn’t even had to ask them. Not once from the moment she told them what was going on had they doubted her. They’d seen the look in her eyes and believed in her when no one else would’ve dared. Her heart swelled.
She inhaled slowly, pressing a hand to the small pendant at her neck. It warmed against her skin, as if in answer.We’re coming, Caelum,she thought.Just hold on.
The weight of her thoughts hit her like a rush of wind. She had come so far. She was no longer the quiet female in the village who buried herself in her studies while others danced at festivals. She had lived, she had found her friends, danced, celebrated, loved, gone toe to toe with a dragon. And now, now she was embarking on a mission that could change the worldas everyone knew it. It was a terrifying but liberating thought. Still a pang of guilt twisted in her chest as she pulled out the folded letter she’d written to her parents and slipped it into the outgoing post box. She’d written carefully, delicately, spinning the lie that she was being sent to the smaller temple for additional training. She told them not to worry. That she’d write soon. That she loved them. Her hand lingered on the edge of the post box slot before letting go. What would her mother say if she knew the truth? That her daughter was chasing legends and forgotten gods? That she was risking everything for a prince from her dreams. She clenched her jaw and turned back to her friends. No. She reassured herself. This was the right path. Whatever her mother might have said, Thalia knew with her whole soul that rescuing Caelum, freeing him from the prison the dragons had buried him in, was worth every lie.
“Ready?” Nyla asked, stepping up beside her.
Thalia nodded. “Let’s go”
Chapter 32
The last spires of the city disappeared behind them, swallowed by the forest’s edge, the buzz of morning market sounds had long faded into birdsong and the rhythmic crunch of their boots against gravel. The path ahead was narrow and winding, bordered by wildflowers and thick trees with golden leaves rustling in the early autumn breeze.
Thalia pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders, the cool air biting in contrast to the warm sun overhead. Every step away from the temple sent a shiver of nervous anticipation down her spine. She was truly doing this. Leaving behind the safety of Vertrose.“I miss the carriage,” Cellen muttered from behind her, adjusting the strap of his bag for the third time in the last hour. “I mean, was it too much to ask for a horse? Or five?”
Thalia bit back a laugh, turning over her shoulder to raise a brow at him. “We’re only an hour out and you’re already grumbling?”
“Grumbling? I’m simply stating facts. These legs were made for tavern dancing, not endless trekking.” He waved a hand at the long stretch of road ahead." This is exercise, and I object!”
Nyla snorted, tugging the hood of her cloak up against the breeze. “We weren’tgivena carriage, Cellen, because we’renotsupposed to draw attention. Vaelith’s eyes are likely still on the temple.”
“Oh yes,” he said with a sigh. “Cause four healers wandering the road is really inconspicuous, at least with a carriage we would be hidden!”
Thalia’s breath hitched slightly at the name, her eyes flicking toward the trees as if expecting to see molten gold burning between the branches. There was only sunlight and shadow, dancing in quiet harmony.
“Yes, but” Marand added gently, falling into step beside Thalia. “Horses would have needed stabling, food, attention. Walking keeps us light and unnoticed.”
“Don’t shoot down me down, with your ridiculous, but probably accurate, logic woman” Cellen groaned. “I much prefer my argument.”
Thalia smiled at their banter, the warmth of her friends settling the nerves that had twisted in her belly since they stepped beyond the city gates. She let the conversation flow around her, giving her steady comfort as they made their way north.
The road dipped into valleys where soft mist clung to the trees, then rose again toward rolling hills dotted with the remains of an old human outposts with stone mile markers, long worn down by time. Birds swooped overhead, and in the distance, she caught sight of deer flickering between trees like ghostly apparitions. The human lands really were beautiful she marvelled at the thought. Still every now and then, Thalia found herself glancing at the path behind them, expecting to see a figure in a dark cloak charging after them on horseback, all shadow and fury, like a nightmare given form. But thankfully, there was no sign of Vaelith.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, hiding behind a veil of clouds, it cast a muted light over the path, causing a chill to settle in the air. The gravel crunched softly beneath their boots, the earlier energy fading into silence and slow, steady footsteps that moved forward more from habit than drive
Thalia’s shoulders ached beneath her pack. Her feet throbbed in her boots. Even her braid had begun to unravel, the strands clinging to her neck with sweat. This was not the romantic journey of brave purpose she’d imagined as a child reading stories in her father’s armchair. This was sore legs and blistered toes and Cellen loudly declaring every twenty minutes that he was dying.
“We’re going in circles,” Cellen grumbled, pulling his hood further over his face
“We are not,” Nyla snapped back. “It’s a straight road.”
“Then why does it feel like we’ve been walking in place for three days?”
“Because your sense of time is as terrible as your sense of humour.”
Thalia sighed. “Guys…”
“Oh, that’s rich coming fromyou, Mrs. ‘Is it time to eat yet, Marand pass me something, oh it must be time for a snack, got to keep our energy up!’” Cellen mimicked in a high-pitched haughty voice
“I don’t sound like that!”
Marand gave Thalia a sideways glance, lips twitching. “You kind of do.”
“Traitor,” Nyla muttered.
“Peace,” Thalia said, raising a hand, half-smiling despite herself. “We haven’t even managed a full day and you two are already on the cusp of murdering eat other.”
