Page 31 of The King's Weapon

She straightened as he situated himself behind her, leaving space in between them so he wasn't pressing up against her. He reached around her waist to grab the reins, then spread his arms out wide to avoid touching her as though she was infectious.

The action gave her an idea. Perhaps she could use this circumstance to her advantage. Her ability wasn't the only tool she had to manipulate men. If she threw Graeson off enough, she might be able to gain some information.

"Now who's the modest one?" Kallie retorted. Her voice was shakier than she wanted though due to her fear of horses still fresh in her mind.

Graeson clicked his heels against Calamity's side, and Kallie took a sharp intake of breath as the horse moved forward.

"At least I'm not afraid of a horse, little mouse."

Calamity snorted as if in agreement.

Kallie went to glare at Graeson, but instead, her gaze landed on Alyn and his small party heading in the other direction. Myra's head peered over the shoulder of the rider she rode with and locked eyes with Kallie. If Fynn was right, they would only be separated for a few weeks at most. While that was a short amount of time in the grand scheme of things, it would be the longest time Kallie and Myra had spent apart since Myra had become her handmaiden.

By forcing Myra and Kallie apart, her captors were reminding her that they had something over her. A bargaining chip to keep her in line, an unspoken threat: behave or else you will never see your friend again.

As Alyn led his party away, a fleeting feeling passed through Kallie. She should have fought harder—fought in general to keep her friend by her side. A small voice inside of her mind told her to shout, to use her gift again. Told her that she needed her friend at her side. But she squashed the voice and added this moment to the growing list of wrongs her enemy had committed that she kept hidden within the confinement of her mind.There was no point in worrying about what she should have done, for Kallie could only afford to think about what she needed to do.

Taking one last look at her friend, she prayed the gods would protect Myra. And Kallie knew deep within her heart they would be reunited—one way or another.

She turned back around, and as her eyes pressed into Fynn's back, she shoved the feelings further down. Kallie reminded herself of the mission ahead and inhaled.

This group was going to be her biggest mark yet. She was going to tear it apart for what they had done to her, to her family, and to her friends. They would feel the pain they had caused her. Twice-fold.

Kallie leaned back and Graeson straightened, his arms stiffening as she invaded his space. A devilish grin crept onto her face. If Graeson thought her a mouse, then Kallie would play the part and play it well. She would appear sweet, obedient.

But Graeson forgot one thing: Mice were known for finding the tiniest of openings and infesting homes before the owner was even aware of their presence.

Kallie would become an infestation. Bit by bit, she would tear through their walls. She would destroy their homes, their friendships. Their ability to distinguish between truth and make-believe.

And she would make them regret inviting her into their land.

Because at the end of the day, they would only have themselves to blame for the destruction that ensued.

Chapter10

The only ripplesof conversation that broke the silence as the group traveled were Fynn's brief commands.

Myra would have hated it.

If Myra had thought traveling by carriage was tedious, Kallie could only imagine how she was fairing with Alyn—or Armen or whoever he was—and the other half of Fynn's party.

Myra had barely said a word during their short time together, which felt wrong. The only time Myra was silent and not prying in Kallie's business was when her father was around. The king had a knack for making Myra, and many of the servants, on edge. However, this was the first time Kallie had seen true fear flush Myra's countenance. Kallie had never seen Myra so distraught, so broken. But thinking of Myra made Kallie's soul ache, and right now, she could not afford the distraction.

Then her stomach grumbled. When was the last time she had eaten? After being knocked out several times, she had lost track of the time. The last time she ate must have been before they had left the palace. At least a day ago now.

The last time she was this hungry was when her father was giving her a lesson on self-preservation. It had required Kallie to go without food for an extended period. The lesson was brutal and long, but Kallie endured it for she understood the necessity. In the king's youth, he had learned the lesson during a less-than-pleasant journey across Vaneria. And with the possibility of war coming once the king began the next phase of his plan, he wanted Kallie to be prepared for the worst. Though Kallie was sure he did not have the foresight to know she would have to experience the dull pain of hunger so soon.

One of Graeson's hands let go of the reins and disappeared out of sight. A ruffling sound followed as Calamity continued to trot through the Aldarian Mountains. A moment later, Graeson held out a piece of dried meat before her.

Kallie gingerly took it from his hands. Dried meat was not her preferred choice of sustenance. But when her stomach grumbled again, she took a small bite of the tough meat. The piece sat in her mouth and the salt tingled on her tongue. Salt was rare in Ardentol. The kitchen staff used it sparingly to preserve meat during the winter, but the villagers rarely ever got their hands on it, if at all.

Either way, it was good. Really good. Her mouth salivated at each bite.After the strip was gone, she licked the seasonings from her fingertips. When two more pieces appeared in front of her, Kallie snatched them from Graeson's hand and devoured them just as quickly as she did the first.

The group continued to ride beneath the hot sun for several hours. Although few clouds peppered the sky, the breeze in the air kept them cool as spring began to heat up.

When the sound of a stream grew louder sometime later, Fynn raised his fist in the air. Graeson immediately tightened the reins, signaling Calamity to stop. The others followed suit behind them and waited for Fynn's orders.

Fynn swung his foot over his horse and demounted in one fluid motion. He turned to the group. "Quick rest stop for the horses. There's a small river past these woods. Make sure to fill your canteens."

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