Page 29 of The King's Weapon

"How much rope do you have in those pockets?" Kallie asked.

Graeson's fingers continued to work as he raised a brow. “Why? Care to find out?"

Kallie snorted, then looked over her shoulder at Myra. Her friend gave her a soft, tired smile.

Graeson shoved her forward, and Kallie bit back the snarl in her throat as she stumbled. She quickly regained her footing before they left the tent.

Stepping outside, Kallie found the group sitting atop their horses. Her stomach jolted. She looked away only to find Alyn holding onto the reins of a gray horse as he stood talking to Fynn. But Fynn was only half-focused on the conversation while he tracked Kallie's movements. Alyn turned and locked gazes with Kallie first, then Myra. Alyn's face remained stoic and revealed no emotion. He flicked his eyes back to Fynn and nodded to whatever he had said.

Fury bubbled inside of her again. But before she could act on it, a soft, delicate hand touched her arm. Kallie looked down at Myra gripping her wrist.

"Not worth it," Myra whispered.

Kallie sighed, but nodded and allowed her friend's touch to cool her anger.

Dani then hopped onto a vacant horse with the grace of a dancer. She flicked her curls over her shoulder and leaned over the horse, patting its side. But Kallie stood there, immobile, palms sweating profusely with a growing ache in her neck.

Her former guard approached Myra. Her face turned pale, her gaze locked on the ground. Without hesitating, Kallie eliminated the distance separating her from Myra and turned her body into a shield. Reaching for the strands of her gift in the pit of her stomach, Kallie found it lying there. Heavy and asleep. She stroked it, trying to awaken it, but it didn't move. She had overextended herself the past few days. She was useless.

She had lost her father, her home, and she was about to lose Myra too.

Kallie cursed the gods, cursed Sabina herself. Why bother blessing her with a gift, if it failed her when she needed it the most? If she couldn't even keep her friend from being separated from her, how was she supposed to save and unite a divided people?

Now more than ever she needed to find a way to strengthen her gift.

Kallie squeezed Myra's shaking hands, then touched her forehead to her friend's. When Kallie spoke, she lowered her voice so only Myra could hear, "I'm sorry, Myra. I'm sorry I failed you."

“You haven't failed me. This is not your fault."

"But Mys—"

"Don't." Myra's voice was steady.

"But Alyn—"

Myra squeezed Kallie's hand. “Kals, do not worry about me. I might not be as physically fit as you, but there is more to strength than muscles. I can deal with Alyn. I've dealt with far worse." The corners of her mouth twitched in an attempt to smile, but something dark lurked deep within Myra's gaze. However, there was no time to ask. Alyn had closed the distance.

"They'll pay for this.Allof them."

"Be careful, Kallie."Myra placed a gentle peck on Kallie's forehead before she pulled away.

Kallie faced the man she once trusted and her hatred of him was plain across her face. She took a step forward. "If you touch her or hurt her any more than you already have, I will kill you when we meet again—and wewillmeet again. It doesn't matter what name you go by. I will find you."

Alyn straightened. "I no longer follow your orders,Princess,"he hissed her title. "But make no mistake, I am not the monster here and I hope I can witness the moment you learn the truth." With his hand, he ushered a Pontian woman with pin-straight black hair forward.

Myra peered over the woman's shoulders. "I'll see you soon, Kals" Myra's voice held all of the sadness that Kallie was trying to bury inside of herself.

Kallie swallowed. “Promise."

The woman led Myra by the elbow to a nearby horse. Closing her eyes, Kallie prayed to the gods for her friend’s safety.

Her eyes flung open when she felt another tug at her shoulders. She turned to face Graeson who directed her over to his horse that was nibbling grass. These horses were more beautiful than any of the horses Kallie had seen in Ardentol. Their coats glistened in the light and looked as smooth as silk. Several horses had manes and tails that were intricately braided. If the horse's hair wasn't braided, it was clear that someone had taken the time to brush out any knots. And on top of each horse, sat a saddle with elegant embroidery in different colors.

Yet, despite their beauty, Kallie's breathing became labored. She admired the horses for their strength, but her admiration stopped there. Some people were squeamish of rats or snakes, but horses seemed far more dangerous to Kallie. In Ardentol, she rarely needed to ride a horse. Whenever she had ventured into the city for one of her father's tasks, she was escorted by carriage. And while horses pulled the carriage, she didn't have to interact with them.

Having let go of Kallie's shoulders, Graeson approached the large horse with a midnight black coat. He stroked the horse's nose and a glimmer of a smile appeared on his face, his eyes crinkling in the corners.

Kallie twisted the dainty ring around her finger as she reluctantly approached the horse. She stopped a few feet away, leaving more room than necessary between her and the massive animal before her. Her chest heavy.

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