Page 6 of Ruins of Magic
Garron snorted trying to hide a laugh as Valaria glared at him.
“The horses have already been prepared. We leave at once. The faster we get this over with, the better,” she added under her breath.
“What’s her problem?” Arion whispered to Garron as the small group proceeded at the princess’s orders.
Garron shrugged. “Beats me. She’s been like this all morning.”
They gathered the horses adding Arion’s bag to one and Taneth slowly led them all away from the stables.
“Where is the rest of the travel party?” Arion again whispered so only Garron would hear.
“There is no rest. This is it: me, you, Ailsa, and the two knights.”
“Oh. I thought there would be a much larger group tending to the princess.”
“Nope, she insisted on keeping it small and only those she most trusted.”
As they passed by the village, their friends, Jeffrid and Kyler, were waiting to see them off.
Jeffrid frowned. “Don’t be gone too long,” he said.
“Yeah, or he’ll miss your ugly faces,” Kyler chided.
Garron and Arion gave them a little wave.
“What’s his deal?” Garron asked in a low voice.
Arion shrugged. “Got me.”
The first part of the journey was uneventful and mostly boring. Valaria rode her horse sandwiched between Taneth and Leeric, while Ailsa hovered just behind her. Garron and Arion brought up the rear. No one talked much.
It was going to be a long four-day ride to reach Chellgar.
The first stop they made was at the base of the mountain range. It protected the village of Gavalon to the south and separated them from much of the kingdom.
“We’ll stop here for lunch,” Taneth said.
“Will we make it over the mountain before sunset?” Arion asked.
“No, so I hope your packed warm clothes and an extra blanket. The night will be cold on the mountain,” Taneth told him.
“It looks like rain,” Garron complained.
“There are many caves through this section of the mountain. We’ll take shelter in one when we stop for the night. It will shield us from the cold winds as well,” Leeric explained.
Ailsa set about unpacking a basket of fresh chicken, rolls, and carrots.
“At least we’re eating well!” Garron said with much enthusiasm as he moved to assist Ailsa.
Arion wasn’t feeling all that hungry. After dismounting his horse, he strolled around checking out the area as it turned from rolling hills into the looming forested mountain ahead of him. Wandering into the woods he had the strangest feeling he was being watched. Chills pricked his skin as he looked around trying to identify the problem.
He had once felt a similar feeling when he had touched the dark magic plaguing the unicorns. This was similar, but different. It didn’t fill him with the same sense of evil as before, and yet he recognized it as magic.
Taneth approached him from behind, but Arion’s senses were so keen in that moment that he knew who was approaching without even turning around.
“What is it?” Taneth asked.
“Magic,” Arion whispered.
