Page 117 of Kingdom of Chains

CHAPTER 38

The falling part felt eternal. Every time she thought she was going to hit the water, she fell a little farther. Actually hitting the water was even more terrifying. The cold, the lack of visibility, the roaring in her ears. The realisation that she was going to drown. She could not even tell which way was up, and she swallowed copious amounts of putrid water as she flailed about. Then an arm caught her waist, dragging her to the surface. She emerged with a gasp.

‘You’re all right,’ Blackmane whispered as he swam her to the edge.

Tolly was there, waiting for them. He grabbed hold of Isabel the second she was within reach, lifting her out of the water. ‘We need to go—now.’

Blackmane exited the moat and scooped her up, carrying her over to the waiting horses. They were galloping towards the trees a moment later.

Isabel was well aware that they were being pursued but could do nothing to help other than hang on. At one point, Tolly fell back and disappeared from sight. Just when she was starting to worry, he reappeared from the side, his horse falling into stride with theirs.

‘How are you doing?’ Blackmane asked over his shoulder.

The cold air whipping her wet body was unbearable. ‘Good.’ He had come for her and by some miracle gotten her out, so she did not dare complain.

Movement in her peripheral vision had Isabel turning her head. And there was Margery, flying alongside them. Isabel reached out a shaky hand, fingers stretching for her. The eagle glided closer until fingers met feathers.

‘Did you see me fly?’ Isabel asked the bird.

The eagle continued alongside them for another minute before lifting into the air again and disappearing amid the conifers.

The horses began to tire, so they were forced to slow down. Thankfully, they had lost the guards pursuing them.

Tolly removed his cloak and wrapped it around Isabel. She had not realised how cold she was until the wool enclosed her. Then the shivering began. Blackmane must have noticed, because he stopped the horse and moved her in front of him. It was surprising how much heat she got from those arms being around her. Defenders were also made of flesh and blood. If she was cold, there was a good chance he was too.

‘I can still taste the water,’ she said into his neck.

‘Try not to think about it.’

Her eyes closed. ‘I cannot believe what you just did for me.’

He did not reply.

‘I have missed you,’ she whispered.

Still no reply.

Tolly slowed his horse to ride alongside them. ‘Patrol point ahead. Once we’re through, we’re in the clear.’

It would be the first time in her adult life that everyone she cared about was safe at the same time. Safe andfree.

The wastelanders at the checkpoints were not standing in the middle of the road ready to ask questions. They came from thetrees on either side, bows loaded and aimed at the men. Both Tolly and Blackmane had expected them, but that did not stop the defender from tensing when they appeared.

A few questions later, they were on their way once more.

The temperature continued to drop, and Isabel continued to shiver. It was fine, though. She was safe. She was safe withhim.

By the time they reached Llanelieu, light was beginning to creep in, turning their surroundings an eerie grey. Isabel did not know what to expect when they arrived at Maddock House. Would he lower her to the ground and go on his way? Would he come inside? Maybe pretend he did not have to return to Chadora?

The separation was inevitable.

‘Will you rest your horse a while?’ she said against his stubbly skin.

He nodded. ‘Yes.’

She was not prepared for how she would feel laying eyes on Maddock House again. She definitely was not prepared for the sight of her mother, her brother, and Ita standing together out front. There were a few people missing from this picture, but it was still more than she could have hoped for after such a long famine and period of unrest. It was a lot more than most people had.

Everard ran out to help Isabel down from the horse. She hugged him tightly. He had grown taller in the months that they had been separated.