Page 113 of The Dark Mage
Everyone erupted into laughter at Fael’s fake gasp.They enjoyed a hearty supper, curling up afterward to share stories of their lives before joining Esrin’s group.
When it came time to settle for the night, Fael threw his bedroll down directly beside Ren’wyn’s, wrapping her in his arms under his blanket.No one commented, and Ren’wyn melted into his touch, delighting in his warmth and the quiet intimacy they shared beneath the stars.
“Tell us how you met,” Leta prompted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she looked between Fael and Ren’wyn.
“You or me?”Fael asked, a grin tugging at his lips as he glanced at Ren’wyn.
“I want to hear you tell it,” she replied, her voice warm with amusement.
Fael chuckled, propping himself up on an elbow to look at the group.“All right.I was taking a lovely stroll along the banks of the Farro River when a blonde minx tumbled over the bank and landed at my feet,” he started, only to receive a sharp elbow to the stomach from Ren’wyn.He groaned dramatically, clutching his side, and the group broke into laughter.
“All right, all right,” he relented, still grinning as he straightened up.“Let me tell the real story.”
As Fael spoke, Ren’wyn found herself spellbound.He painted the scene vividly, sprinkling in extra details as he recounted carrying her to the cave, checking her injuries, and the strange yet undeniable pull of their magic recognizing each other.His voice softened as he described her strength and courage, and warmth bloomed through Ren’wyn, filling her from head totoe.
“It took her about a week to walk normally again,” Fael continued.“But she taught me which herbs to use for swelling and pain and helped keep us fed.Of course, the best part was the distracting—and, might I add, dangerous—tears in her gown from running through the forest.”
The raw heat in his voice caused her heart to stutter.Ren’wyn’s mind raced.Had he wanted her from the start, or was it love flooding backward into those memories?
“The rest of our journey would take too long for one night,” Fael concluded, his voice full of good humor, “and I’m afraid it might scald all your tenderears.”
A quiet contentment settled over the group as their shared laughter faded.Miguel took first watch, and they drifted off, bracing themselves for the days ahead.
The next two days of travel to the cliffs passed uneventfully.
Ren’wyn rode beside Irik, but her attention kept wandering to Fael.She loved the view of his strong back and thighs, the steady rhythm he kept with his horse.When they stopped for lunch, she leaned close and whispered her admiration into his ear.His grip on her hip tightened in response, his lips brushing her cheek with a smile.
Irik hadn’t attended Spyre, but he was familiar with the grounds and the buildings.Riding beside him sparked an interesting conversation about the Masters they had known during their respective times there.
By the third day, the rocky cliffs came into view.After lunch, Ren’wyn found a place along the slopes where she would wait for the regiment to pass.Snuggling into Fael’s side, she let his warmth and courage seep into her bones.
Shortly before sunset, Fael pressed a firm but tender kiss to her lips, readying himself to ride off with the others.“Be careful, my heart,” he whispered against her forehead.
She gripped his shoulders, returning his gaze with equal fervor.“And you too,” she murmured.
Fael rode off, and Ren’wyn prepared herself for the long, silent wait in the growing darkness.
The chill wind picked up as the sun dipped below the horizon, howling between the rocks.She was grateful for her cloak, though her hands grew stiff in thecold.
Soon, the creaking and clattering of wagon wheels reached her ears, accompanied by the muffled sound of hoofbeats on the rocky road.Murmured voices and the occasional cough echoed faintly in the gloom.Shadows cast by the lanterns hanging on the carts danced eerily against the rocky terrain.
Her heart seized as she felt the hum of auras within the group—a faint, weak pulse of blue and red.An empath and a berserker.
Shit, shit, shit,she thought, her pulse quickening.Fael is standing guard.He won’t feel anything until it’s toolate.
Her mind raced as frustration boiled up inside her.How could she alert the others?Should she stay hidden as planned or follow and raise the alarm?Fael would surely notice eventually, but by then it might be toolate.
Pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes, she fought to steady herself.The wind roared louder, drowning out all other sounds.All Ren’wyn could feel was the cold and the faint, injured auras tugging at her awareness.
The Void stirred restlessly, echoing the call of the two faint lights in her mind.Goosebumps prickled along her arms.The undeniable pull to help them grew stronger.
Her resolve hardened.She couldn’t stay hidden—not with lives hanging in the balance.Standing slowly, she made her way down the slope, her steps careful to avoid dislodging loose stones.
The last of the horses was rounding the bend, heading toward a clearing perfect for the ambush.Ren’wyn knew she was supposed to stay hidden longer in case the scouting group checked farther afield, but the call of the two auras was overwhelming.
The Void pulsed insistently, raising the hairs on her neck.She could feel its silent plea, an aching pull toward the injured.Tightening her grip on her resolve, she continued down the hill, shadows gathering faintly at her heels.
For an hour, Ren’wyn remained hidden in the shrubs of the stunted, brushy woodland south of the campsite, unsure where the rest of the group had stationed themselves.She wanted desperately to find them, but wandering aimlessly through the trees would only make noise and risk detection.Instead, she focused on weaving shadows into a broad net, anchoring it beside her.Once the time came, she would stretch it across the camp like afog.
