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“I’m sure. I don’t want to put you at risk.”

She blinks back tears. “But you’re putting yourself at risk. I couldn’t stand it if we lost you.”

“I’ll have Balthorne to protect me.”

My words don’t help, and she covers her mouth and lets out a sob. Could it be that she’s more worried about something happening to Balthorne than she is me?

I put my arms out to her, and she steps into them, and we embrace. I squeeze her and kiss the side of her head.

“I need you here to keep everyone in line,” I tell her as I release her. “Make sure Ruarok doesn’t get up to any mischief.”

“I think Ruarok does what Ruarok wants,” she replies.

I give a small laugh. “That’s what worries me.”

“You will be careful, though, won’t you? I’ll be worried about you the entire time.”

I don’t say what I’m thinking, which is that we’re not safe anywhere anymore. Only a couple of nights ago, the king and queen lost their lives while sleeping in their own bed.

I sit at the dressing table, and Skylar brushes my hair then puts it into a long braid which hangs down the middle of my back.

Though my stomach is in knots, I force a hot breakfast of porridge down me. I need both the warmth and the sustenance. I assume Balthorne will have arranged that we take a small stove or what we need to make a fire, but there is the possibility this will be my last warm meal in some time.

From my research, it’s said the Mage lives in a secluded cave in a hillside, north from the boundary of Askos, approximately a day and a half ride away. Assuming our journey isn’t interrupted, and the Mage willingly gives me the answers I need, we should be back within three days.

The sun has finally lifted above the horizon, lightening the sky and spreading its rays across the city.

It is time to leave.

I go down to the courtyard, where my men are already waiting. It smells of horses, straw, and steaming horse shit. For some reason, I find this comforting. My horse—a gray mare called Arsher—has already been saddled, and I go to her and stroke her nose, murmuring a few words of reassurance. I’m aware I’m asking her to go on this journey with me, and tell her not to be afraid.

Despite myself, I look around for Ruarok. I’m sure he’s still sulking about my refusal to allow him to join us, butI’d still hoped he would have come to see us off and offer us his best wishes.

I question why I should want him here, when all we ever seem to do is fight…or feel like we’re about to fuck. I should be glad he’s listened to my instructions for once and isn’t still trying to press me to join us.

He needs to stay in the city. If something were to happen to me, he’d need to be here to help the kingdom navigate its way into whatever came next. He wouldn’t be my first pick for that role—so far, the only thing Ruarok seems to care about is himself—but he’ll be the only one left.

“Are you ready, Princess Taelyn?” Balthorne asks.

I nod. “As I’ll ever be.”

I’m grateful he doesn’t try to convince me to change my mind. He respects my decision as final. Cirrus wasn’t happy about not coming on the journey either, but I need him here to keep Ruarok in hand, if such a thing is possible.

If our party doesn’t return, at least I know the kingdom will have people at its helm.

I mount my horse and settle in the saddle. Several of the guards will be leading the way, Balthorne riding beside me, while several more will bring up the rear.

The castle gates are opened, men shouting to one another. The clatter of hooves on the cobblestones fills the air.

The first part of our journey will take us through the city, beyond the city walls, and across the remaining kingdom and countryside of Askos. We will then reach the borders of Askos, where we will pass over into the wildlands.

Even as we leave the security of the castle, I find myself looking over my shoulder, wondering if I’ll spot Ruarok watching us leave, but he’s nowhere to be seen.

I let out a sigh and focus on the journey ahead.

It’smid-afternoon by the time we reach the borders of Askos. We haven’t seen either a person or house for some time now. All that surrounds us are fields and woodland. But, ahead, the landscape changes. The trees vanish, and the grass becomes rocky ground and peat bogs.

The border is magic, designed to keep the creatures that live in the wildlands out of Askos. We don’t need a tall wall or gates. My stomach churns with nerves. I can still give the word, and we can all turn back, but I can’t do that.