Page 47 of Prince of the Northwest Forest
“How did the sorcerer get there, then, if they left from the Northwest Forest?”
“The fae have their own means of transport. They don’t need portals to return to their own realm.”
“Ah. And you know how to get there?”
“I do. Are you sure you want to accompany me?” he asks. “It’s not too late for you to turn back.”
I huff. “I do what I say I’m going to do.”
Kalle gives me an appreciative look. “That is honorable.” He studies me intently. “Still, do not feel like you must go on this quest with me.”
“I do,” I whisper.
Again, he gives me a long look. “If you change your mind, you are free to depart.”
“I’m not going to change my mind, but thanks.” I finger the shoulder strap of my backpack. “What if she’s not in the Fae Realm?”
“Then we’ll go wherever we need to.” The determined look on Kalle’s face makes my heart soar. He really doesn’t think of himself—he’s thinking of his subjects and of his bride-to-be.
“Hope I brought warm enough clothes. At least it’s summer. Let’s go.”
We set off at a quick pace, going beyond Tassiya Meadows toward Icedonia. Our hike is quieter than they usually are. Kalle isn’t stopping to talk to animals, because he can’t, and I’m having trouble coming up with a topic of conversation that won’t be painful for him. So I just do my best to keep up with his loping stride. The summer days are long, but we didn’t start until lateafternoon. It’s sweet that his security stays with him, even if they aren’t communicating with words.
After hiking for a while, we get to a fork in the trail. “Where to from here?” I ask Kalle. “Are we going to see your castle?” I try not to sound too hopeful. I’d love to see Wakerobin Village, too.
He shakes his head. “Our route will bypass it. We don’t need to stop until almost nightfall.” He pauses, studying my face. “If you are okay with that.”
“I am.” I hitch up my backpack shoulder strap. “Let’s go.”
We continue hiking for another few hours, until the sun is low in the sky. We pause in a densely wooded area to sip from our water bottles.
“Do you want to stop soon?” I ask. “I didn’t bring anything fancy to eat. Just granola bars and sandwiches and fruit. I figured we didn’t want to be cooking. But you told me not to worry about food. Does that mean we’re going to be eating nuts and berries?”
“We can dine with the wood nymphs if we need to,” he says. “But I think what you brought is sufficient for tonight.”
“Is it safe for me to eat their food?” I ask. “I know that sometimes in stories it’s not okay for humans to ingest things from other magical creatures.”
“It’s fine. They would not harm you, nor could they bind you. Especially not when you’re with me.”
“Something to look forward to, then.”
I’m so curious about those wood nymphs, and my feet are a little tired, but we trudge on. Finally, at dusk, we get to a rock outcropping overlooking a valley.
Kalle stops and looks around. Thankfully, it’s a relatively warm night, although the woods get chilly at this altitude. The air smells sweet, and it’s silent except for the sound of the wind going through the trees. It doesn’t whistle or howl. More like … movement. The sound of movement.
“Should we set up camp?” I ask, noticing that his security is doing a perimeter search.
“I think this is as good a place as any.”
“I like it up here,” I say. “If it’s not cloudy, we’ll be able to see the stars. Plus, the wind on the ridge keeps away mosquitoes. Although there aren’t that many out this time of year. Do mosquitoes bug you?”
Kalle shakes his head, amused. “No.” He takes his pack off. It’s so small. I have no idea how he manages with so little. I thoughtIwas the minimalist.
I heave off my backpack and rub my shoulders. They’re sweaty where the straps were. But I’ve packed lightly, too—at least by my standards—with a tiny tent, my lightweight sleeping bag, a water bottle and filter, the minimum amount of clothes and food, and very little else.
I watch Kalle as he walks around the site we’re using to camp, inspecting it. He seems so at home in the woods. No joke, of course he’s at home. But Kalle has a Zen-like quality where he seems to take everything in stride. He is at one with nature.
I set up my two-person tent, then pull out the boxed lunch packed by the hotel kitchen. “Want to share?” I ask, holding out a cheese sandwich.
