Page 95 of Vengeance Becomes Her

They got back under their covering and Rhiannon let them sleep through the rest of the night. She wouldn’t be shutting her eyes to the Volskruga or whatever else was lurking out there if she had any say about it.

As they continued their trek the next morning, her unease only heightened. The trees seemed to grow more twisted and bent as they traveled deeper into the mountainous region toward Wispombra. But it wasn’t only that, a mist was growing thicker every mile. So much so, that she was having difficulty keeping track of her companions. Everything around her was a vast expanse of white and grey despite the fact that the snowfall was much lighter.

“Stay close. It’ll be easy to get lost here,” Tristain called out a few feet ahead of her.

They formed a line, keeping their horses as close together as they moved forward.

As the day wore on, the mist rose along with the landscape. As they went up in elevation, it hovered thicker in the air. Clung closer to their bodies.

Rhiannon yearned to be able to disperse it. The moisture and heaviness was starting to make her feel trapped, as if the woods were closing in on her, growing possessive as they sunk deeper into their reach.

It didn’t help that she couldn’t shake the sense of being watched. But every time she whipped her head in the direction she thought it was coming from, there wasnothing to see.

Her senses had been so heightened all day that she could barely keep her eyes open by the time they made camp. As much as she wanted to stay awake, there was no fighting sleep tonight.

Everyone was equally miserable rising for another day of travel. Stiff and cold from the relentless chill and snow last night, they were slow getting started.

“Please tell me we’re almost there,” Samara grumbled from beneath her cloak that she’d pulled up around her face. Her brow was scrunched in discomfort.

“I think it’s just another day’s ride,”Kyra answered.

Tristain nodded. “We’ll be there tomorrow morning if the weather doesn’t worsen. We can’t travel through the night.”

Rhiannon sent a plea out to whoever was listening that would be the case. Every inch of her body was screaming for a bed and warmth. For better or worse, she allowed her mind to drift to thoughts of warm food and blankets. The luxuries she once took for granted in the milder climate of Oakhaven. Her fantasies carried her through most of the day. But even still, she couldn’t help but react to every suspicious noise that broke the eerie silence that hung in the air.

The only consistent sounds were their horses breathing heavily as they continued uphill and the occasional groaning or chattering teeth of her companions.

However, when they shared a meal around the fire that night, there was more energy in the air than there had been in days. They were all excited to be nearing the end of their journey, despite what waited for them once they got there. It’s interesting what discomfort and desperation can do to one’s priorities.

Rhiannon took first watch that night, not that she could see past their fire. The thick air crowded in around them, cloaking even the treetops.

She felt her eyes drooping but just before she could wake Tristain, she felt a shift in the air. She couldn’t see anything, but she could feel a presence. Something was out there. But nothing moved within the endless whiteness that surrounded her. She squinted, holding her breath. But nothing came then, or for the rest of the night.

They all made it through undisturbed. Still, she couldn’t shake the heavy feeling even as they started off on the final leg oftheir journey.

“Tristain,” she whispered, “why is the mistso heavy here?”

“Why are you whispering?” He asked in a concerned tone. “There’s usually fog hanging about this time of year, it’s just how the region has always been. Though I will admit, this is much thicker than it wasmy last visit.”

“But it’s not just that. The air feels heavy here. The fog, it’s not…” she grimaced as she said the words she knew would make her look silly. “Natural.”

He cocked a brow. One of his dimples peeking out as his crooked grin widened. “Are you scared of the woods, Rhi?”

“Don’t you dare laugh at me.” She glared, her mood lifting slightly with his teasing. The tension eased out of her shoulders a bit. But she couldn’t deny the fear shooting through her veins even with the distraction. “It feels alive. Sentient somehow. Don’t you feel it?” Her tone was serious again.

He slowed his horse until he was directly beside her. “What do you mean?”His smirk fell.

“I mean, it feels like it’s watching us. Like it can hear us. Like it cantouchus.”

Now Tristain’s eyes darted around warily. But then he inflected ease in his tone. “We’re all tired and being on the road can be disconcerting. It’s normal to be on edge and looking for danger in your surroundings.”

She pulled her horse’s reins, coming to a stop, and forcing the other two women to halt abruptly behind her. “I know what I’m feeling. Something isn’t right here.”

“Well, if you feel that way, why are wesitting here?”

The irritation that entered his voice made her suspicious, but she urged her horse in motion again. “What do you know aboutthe Volskruga?”

He didn’t answer right away, ruffling his hands through his curls. “It’s just a myth, Rhiannon, it’s nothing to worry about. It will only make you more afraid.”

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