Page 74 of Realm of Nightmares
“So, you’re keeping me here because I remind you of her?” An absurd notion, but she needed to know. She needed to understand why he refused to let her leave the Ether.
“I will admit, it’s been a pleasure having you here, reminding me of the one I loved.” The fondness evaporated and when his gaze flicked to hers, it was solemn, lacking all the passion from before. “But you must know, I’m only keeping you here until you wish to return.”
Oh, but he was cunning, twisting his words, crafting them so they held a veil of truth indiscernible by her. He’d already told her he was keeping her here for other reasons—because she reminded him of someone he lost. Yet heknewshe wanted to leave and did nothing. She suddenly felt as though she were walking through a cavernous maze of tunnels, a deceptive design intended to confuse and torment her.
Maeve fisted her hands on her hips, infuriated by everything he intentionally withheld from her. “But I don’t want to stay here forever.”
Aed flashed her a charming, knowing smile. “Then you know what must be done.”
She paled, a carving, sinking sensation taking hold in her gut.
A deal, those were his terms.
If she ever wanted to leave the Ether, Maeve would have to strike a bargain with the god of death.
* * *
The Kethwyn Woodswere unnaturally quiet.
Wind did not reach this forest trapped in an eternal winter. The thick evergreens with their dense branches and needle-like leaves buffered the outside world, filling it with an ominous stillness. Every so often, a limb would groan in protest, as though it could no longer withstand suffering alone in the deafening silence. Snow covered the ground in sheets, smooth enough to make any sort of tracks, including their own, visible in the feeble light.
The clamor of their boots crunching against the closely packed snow was harsh in Tiernan’s ears, and he cursed himself for it.
If the monsters prowling the forest didn’t catch his scent first, their loud entrance would be sure to draw their attention.
His every sense was heightened. Even though he was fairly certain they were alone, his heart pounded inside the tightened wall of his chest. Awareness spread through him like wildfire, sparking at every shift of light and shadow. Each step was taken with trepidation as his eyes darted between the teeming trunks of trees, searching for any sign of a threat.
The trek through the Kethwyn Woods was different this time.
Tiernan couldn’t pinpoint the exact reason. It was as though the trees had grown in size and number, becoming even more daunting since the last time he made this journey. Or perhaps the overgrowth clawing along the uppermost branches had condensed somehow, sprawling with the intent of sheltering the creatures who thrived within their dusky borders.
Either way, he started second-guessing himself.
Navigating the forest was more complicated than he remembered. Aran stopped, stole a glance at his compass, then pulled out his map.
His brow cut into a deep line while he skimmed the folded piece of parchment. “It looks like there’s a river up ahead.”
“A river?” Tiernan repeated. That was new. He knew for certain he didn’t pass around or through a river the last time he was here.
“Look.” Aran angled the map, tapping to where a red wavy line wound through the forest, splitting it in half. “Just here.”
Tiernan traced the length of it with his finger. It stretched endlessly, with no clear beginning or end. Nor was there any other way around. “We’ll have to cross it.”
“It appears that way.” Aran refolded the map and tucked it back under his leather armor protecting his chest. “There doesn’t seem to be an alternate route. If there is, it could take us days to find it.”
They didn’t have days. And even if they did, there was no way in hell Tiernan would want to stay in this forest any longer than necessary. He shifted, uneasy with the idea of crossing an unknown river. There was no telling how wide or how deep it ran. “How far out is the river?”
Aran pointed straight ahead. “Should be just through these trees.”
“Lead the way.”
They trudged through the compacted snow, ducking beneath low-lying boughs of pointy needles. The woods seemed to thicken around them, like the forest was trying to swallow them whole. Forced to draw their swords, they hacked away at the branches and leaves, cutting their own path through the cumbersome forest. Droppings of honey-colored sap clung to his leathers and stuck to his hair.
Just when Tiernan thought the map had intentionally veered them off course, they broke out of the damned woods only to discover a vast, snow-covered clearing divided by a wide, winding, rushing river.
Aran stumbled to a halt, his sword going limp in his hand.A moment later, Tiernan understood why.
On either side of the snowy banks was indeed a river, just as the map had indicated, except it was unlike anything he’d ever seen. It flowed east to west with no end in sight, gurgling and gushing, the sloshing current a deep shade of scarlet.
