Page 39 of The Healing Dragon
CHAPTER TWELVE
JANELLE
While Matias walks, I observe him, attempting to piece together the events. Leaving in the middle of the night sounded like a good idea. We counted on the soldiers being sleepy and tired. With no preparation, we also fell under that description. The tiredness hits harder when the adrenaline drains from our bodies. I can see it in Matias’ slow steps and Jesse’s heavy breaths.
My brain is having a hard time making sense of all I witness. Matias brought people back from death. As if that isn’t crazy enough, he controlled them enough to have them fight for us. He can essentially create an army of immortal soldiers. My father’s biggest dream weapon was right under his nose, and he just watched it leave.
But how does any of it even work? The logical rules of magic don’t allow for something like that to exist. Matias possesses something odd to the magic world. His expression when he realized it left no doubt in my mind that he had no idea he could do that. It has to be because of the Red Book.
“So that is what you can do, huh?” Jesse asks. The casual tone rings comical at the intensity of the situation.
Jesse brushes away more vegetation as we walk. Matias doesn’t answer, but looks between us. We walk past Jesse. He waits for us to make it a distance in front of him before turning and mending the vegetation behind us. He does this every few minutes to conceal our path.
“I’ve never met someone who could do even close to what you did,” Jesse continues.
Matias keeps walking. Seems he’s not in a chatty mood. I turn to look at Jesse working. He is growing tired and I’m not sure how much of a difference hiding our route might do. There are only a handful of routes that can take you to Puerto Quinn from the hideout.
“They know where we are going.” I point out.
There is no other place for us to go, but I guess my father doesn’t know that. He is unaware of Matias’ connection to the crown. But he knows Jesse and if he puts two brain cells together, he will conclude we are running back to King Oscuro. Who else would have put us up to this?
“If we can beat them there, it will be enough. Your family might’ve been able to enter the castle freely once, but that is not the case today,” Jesse says with a sharp tone.
His tone reminds me he hasn’t forgotten who we are to each other. Despite that less than an hour ago he had chosen to die by my side fighting.
Jesse walks past us and begins chopping away on a path we can walk through.
There are only small patches of sunlight and blue sky peeking from the tall branches of the trees. Jesse makes it a few meters down before turning back to us. We walk the distance in a minute while he goes to the back and covers the path step by step.
“What did I miss while I was mentally checked out?” Matias asks.
“My father has the Red Book. The plan was to steal it back.”
“That didn’t go well.” Matias gives me an apologetic look.
“Nope,” I say.
“Regrets?”
I look over at Jesse. “None. And I am sure he doesn't regret it either.”
“Are you sure?” Matias looks over at Jesse with distrust.
“Yes. He is the King’s brother. A friend of Bianca’s. Loyalty cannot get stronger than the bonds Jesse creates with those he cares about.”
“Roman’s brother?” Matias' eyes brighten slightly.
“You met the oldest Oscuro?” I ask.
“Briefly.” He pauses. “You sound protective of him. Is he the reason you’re here and not with your father?” Matias gestures behind us. “The last time I saw you, you were cutting off a dress and running off into the human lands.”
For someone who had been inside his own head for the last few weeks he surely is observant.
“Things didn't go as planned.” I clear my throat. “I thought so. At first, at least. But I don’t think he is what is keeping me going now.”
The honesty feels freeing.
Matias’ eyes show something like contentment. He likes what he’s hearing. “Who does?”
