Page 47

“The dragon will be in Newarden at Brunard’s place to get the stone in three days, maybe even less.”

Siegfried cleared his throat and rested his hand on the pommel of a dagger at his left hip. “I know of a way.”

Everyone turned to the one they called The Wraith, standing in the back of the group. “You do?” Thane asked.

“There is a stone portal on an island. It’s about a half day’s ride to the town where we’ll need to take a boat.”

Thane’s eyebrows raised, wrinkling his forehead. “You know about the portals?”

“I know about the portals,” he repeated with a smile. “No one uses it but given we have a mage.” He glanced at Layala then at Thane. “Or two.”

“You’re certain,” Thane said. “We cannot afford to lose time if it’s not.”

“It’s there,” he said.

“The Wraith always comes through in dire circumstances,” Gunner said, slapping his back. Layala noticed a fat lower lip with red bruising around the corner of his mouth. He must have gotten popped hard during that brawl with the men.

“In my opinion, as the group healer,” Aunt Evalyn started in a firm tone, “we should make camp and rest until morning. None of us have slept in two days. And I’m afraid even my special drinks for stamina won’t keep us going without sleep.”

Layala glanced at the map. She didn’t see an island depicted anywhere, but none of the portals’ locations were on this map.

Thane nodded. “We can do that as soon as we are clear of this town and know we’ve not been followed.”

Siegfried looked troubled when he said, “There is one problem I need to warn you about.”

Everyone’s attention was on him again.

Thane tapped his fingers on the map’s surface impatiently. “Well, go on.”

“Its waters are guarded by deadly creatures.”

* * *

Layala startledawake to birds happily chirping with the first signs of morning light. She rubbed her forehead and swiped away the damp sweat. She had that dream of the Black Mage again, taunting her, chasing her through dark woods. Heard the charismatic voice calling to her, asking her to come to him. She would swear on her parents’ graves it was real and she knew now it was not Thane calling to her, and she had a sick feeling it was never him. She couldn’t figure out why they spoke similarly, had the same cadence. Did her subconscious use a voice similar to Thane’s for the Black Mage’s to terrify her even more? Could he be truly reaching out to her somehow? She shuddered at the thought. She’d never given much thought to dreams but these… these were different.

Under the bright stars, some hours earlier, they’d gathered along the shoreline with a small fire in a hollowed-out dip in the sand. She blinked, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes, and tried to shake off the unease from her nightmare.

A small sense of ease soothed her when she noticed the warmth of Thane’s body against her back. She wasn’t trapped in the tower. He wasn’t gone. They were together again. She took a deep breath and wiggled even closer to him, thanking the Maker for this moment of peace. The water quietly lapped against the sand and tiny fireflies hung in the air around them with the last of the dark. The scent of roasting meat hit her senses and her mouth watered. A couple Ravens hunted down a few wild chickens, and the meal waited on skewers, half eaten over the dying flames. Layala moved a little and Thane’s arm slid around her waist, curling entirely around her body and hugged her even closer.

“Stay,” he said in a raspy morning voice.

She smiled. “I wasn’t going anywhere.”

He nuzzled his face against the nape of her neck. “I wish we could stay like this all day. Listening to the water, relaxing in the sand and sunshine. Just you and me.”

“And what else would we do?” she teased.

“Mmmm,” he growled and nipped her earlobe. “Don’t get me started on that or we might have to sneak away.”

“Sire,” Fennan called.

Thane groaned and pushed himself up, leaving the cool air to rush against Layala’s back “Yes?”

“A few of us are going to ride into town and see if we can secure a boat.”

He rubbed his scruffy chin and nodded. “Thank you. We’ll be right behind you.”

Layala sat up and dug her bare toes into the cool sand and wrapped her arms around her knees. Thane’s rough hand glided up her back then he bear-hugged her from behind. “Were you having a nightmare earlier?” He rested his chin on her shoulder and toyed with a lock of her midnight hair.