Page 94 of Slaying the Shadow Prince
Talemir, however, looked at the food left over from the night before, his stomach growling. Adrienne was right; he was ravenous.
23
Drue
Once more, Drue found herself astride her mare, riding out across the dying plains of Naarva, leaving the former raiders’ base behind. Terrence soared overhead, his usually calming presence offering her little comfort.
For the first time in a long while, the travel and movement did not soothe her restlessness, but inflamed it. The lair of the shadow wraiths had always eluded her, but now, Talemir Starling rode at their sides.
With him, what happened next could change Naarva, change her, forever.
Drue glanced across at him, riding a few feet away. He looked fearsome atop his stallion in his Warsword armour, his expression hard and determined, such a far cry from the man who’d coaxed laughter and cries of pleasure from her lips the night before.
She couldn’t fault his stoicism now. They were both invested in this journey, in what it meant for the future of the midrealms, and had been since the very beginning… But what came after? What happened when it was all said and done?
Drue shook her head, chastising herself. They still had to locate the lair and deal with whatever they found… There was noafteruntil then.Aftercould wait.
‘You look like you’re a million leagues away from here,’ Adrienne commented quietly, nudging her horse up alongside Drue’s.
Drue started, her friend’s voice wrenching her from her reverie. ‘I suppose I was.’
‘Worried for Gus?’ Adrienne asked.
Drue’s shoulders sagged. ‘Worried for everything.’
Her friend nodded. ‘I know the feeling.’
‘Do you think we’re doing the right thing, Adri? Coming this way? Seeking them out?’ Drue hadn’t realised that was a concern of hers until it left her tongue.
‘It’s been a long time coming… Those monsters have concealed themselves for too long, cloaking themselves in their shadows. Now,’ she said, with a glance at Talemir, ‘we might actually have a chance against them.’
‘I hope you’re right.’
‘Drue, I wouldn’t have brought our forces here if I didn’t think there was hope. You know that.’
Drue swallowed the lump in her throat. She did know that. Steeling herself against that which she could not control, she forced a grin. ‘Heard you dealt Coltan some Naarvian justice…?’
Adrienne’s answering smirk was wicked. ‘I couldn’t have him talking shit about my right-hand woman.’
‘Finally.’
‘He’s gone,’ Adrienne told her. ‘I packed him off with some of the poor sods who’d been captured. Told him if he had a shred of decency left in him, he’d escort them safely to where they needed to go.’
‘Good.’
Adrienne gave her a mock bow from her saddle. ‘At your service, Lady Emmerson. So, is now the time when you tell me all the gory details about last night?’
Drue snorted. ‘How long have you been waiting to ask?’
‘Since the crack of dawn.’
‘I…’
‘Don’t deny it. Wilder and I heard you.’
‘You what?’
Adrienne laughed. ‘Don’t worry, it was just us. We sought some privacy of our own, only to find the rooftop well and truly occupied. Like the good friend I am, I got the fuck out of there and made sure your father was far from earshot, too.’
