Page 102

“No. Absolutely not!”I shouted at deaf ears. Literally. “Kronk, dammit. Put her down. Yaga, you are not going.”

Kronk hefted Yaga’s aged bones up onto the cart’s bench.

She landed with a thud. “Careful, boy, or you’ll damage my posterior. I’ve been told it’s my best feature.”

While we prepared for the journey to Amberdale, a location Yaga had seen in a vision, a small crowd had gathered around us to watch the show. It was no wonder with the scene the hag was making.

For both Custodis and myself, two swaybacked horses waited. Not the queen’s finest steeds, by any means. No, those would draw too much attention. Behind our mangey nags was a coarse, wooden cart pulled by a slack-jawed bula. Drool dripped from the beast’s chin. And yet, that wasn’t the worst part.

In the back of the cart was a load of prime, grade-A, kiln-dried bula dung. We’d be traveling as merchants on our way to the market. Bula dung was used as fuel in many of the more destitute villages. Our disguise, though loathsome, was genius.While the product had worth, there would be few bandits eager to rob us of our wares.

“Drazen.” I turned to the only brother who may see reason. “Tell her. It’s too dangerous.”

“Already tried.” Drazen sighed, a puff of smoke rolling from his nostrils.

“And?”

His brow furrowed. “And she threatened to cast a spell guaranteed to grow fungus on my manhood.”

I screwed up my face at the nauseating image he’d created.

Again, I attempted to argue with the hag I loved with every piece of my shriveled heart. “Yaga. Please. I have a terrible feeling about this. Custodis and I can make this journey without you.”

“Yes.” Yaga settled her thick skirts around her bony ankles. “However, even if you somehow manage to find the guardian of the Empyrean, they will not speak to strangers, only trusted friends.”

“I could make them talk,” Custodis finally contributed while double-checking every buckle and strap on his mare. I suspect he did so in an attempt to avoid a confrontation he couldn’t win.

Yaga sputtered a laugh. “ThatI would like to see.”

“Yaga, it’s not safe,” I tried again, not ready to give up. “Idris has teams of soldiers hunting us. On top of that, the trek to Amberdale is a difficult one. The roads are full of thieves and murderers.” The well-known marketplace sat within Carcerem, along Copia’s border. People from both kingdoms traveled there to trade and do business with pockets full of coins and loaded carts. And the thieves knew it.

“Then I guess it’s fortunate that I’ll be riding with the best of them,” Yaga said with a wink.

My chest swelled, and I ignored the flare of warmth her words evoked. “I won’t be wooed by your compliments, Yaga. The road to Amberdale is no place for…”

The glint in Yaga’s eyes warned I should not complete this sentence. “Girlie, do I look like a fragile bag of bones to you?”

Drazen and Kronk coughed and sputtered. One gazed at the sky, the other at his very interesting shoe.

Yaga cast them a glare she’d used often in our youth. That single look knocked the smiles off both their faces.

She acknowledged their compliance with a nod. Then shifted her attention back to me. “Your concern is wasted on this old woman. I can handle myself. Been doing it since before you were born. I’m going with you. That’s final.”

Drazen interrupted before our argument could escalate. “Thorne asked me to send his regards and wish you a safe journey. He wanted to be here to send you off himself, but his dragon was being difficult and demanded his attention.”

“Far be it from me to distract him from his care of his dragon.” I shivered. “Though I would have liked to tell him goodbye and thank him for his aid in the pit. But no matter, I’m sure we’ll meet again.”

While Thorne had explained the deal he’d made with Queen Elowen, his connection to the dragon remained a mystery.

“I hear the beast is enjoying Copia’s plump sheep,” Drazen offered. “I’m sure it will recover in no time.”

Before I could comment, firm arms clamped around my torso from behind. My lungs squeezed, and my ribs threatened to snap. “Kronk,” I croaked.

“I will miss you,” my brother muttered, putting me back on my feet.

Spots danced before my eyes. Before I’d recovered, Drazen swept me up as well, searing me with his is excessive body heat then releasing me.

In lieu of hugs, both offered Custodis a dark scowl.