Page 41

Inside, the air smells of straw and hay. Not death. Not smoke. I stand in the center of the main section and turn around.

Whyis this building left standing?

I can sense a low level of enchantment in the air, and I’m guessing this building was left for a reason. Did Hecate do it? Is there something here that will tell me where she’s gone?

Fury is crisscrossing the stables, nose to the ground. I watch as he comes to a stop by one of the mangers and whines.

He turns to look at me, whines again, and I hurry over. I fall to my knees beside the manger and feel all around it. My fingers catch on a piece of thick parchment at the back, tucked between the wall and the manger. I pull it out. The light is dim, and I struggle to read the words on the paper.

We have gone to Zandar Aurion. Find us —Hecate

Well, at least I know she was alive when she wrote this. Which Ipresumewas after the battle. That’s got to be good news. A sense of relief loosens the tight hold on my muscles, and I almost sag.

I hadn’t quite believed it.

Zandar Aurion. We can do that. We’ve been there before; we came through the city on our way here. And at least now we know what to do next. I turn around to the others.

“It’s from Hecate,” I say. “She’s gone to Zandar Aurion. To Thanouq.”

There’s a low growl from Fury. He and Thanouq never got along. Thanouq is the heir to the crown of Valandria, and he’s been waging a war against the shadowguard for years, as well as against the slavers who oppress his people.

Ilikedhim, which I’m pretty sure is the main reason Khaosti didn’t.

I look around at my little gang.

“So, does anyone have anything to say? Shall we go to Zandar Aurion? Is there an alternative?”

Fury snaps his teeth together with a sharp clack.

I look at him. “Well, if you turn back into Khaosti, then maybe you could have your say, and we might listen to you. But we’re not going to listen to you just snapping. So think about it. Shift.”

His eyes narrow, and his lip curls. But then he sits on his haunches and looks away from me.

I sigh. “Anyone else?”

Zayne nods. “I have no objection. Thanouq was a good guy. And I don’t see that we have a lot of choices. You need to find Hecate. You have to finish your training.”

I nod. It’s true. “Winter?”

She just gives a little shrug. “Of course. We must find Hecate. And Thanouq said he might be able to help me find my brother. We should go.” Winter’s brother had been taken in an earlier slave raid. She didn’t know if he was alive or dead but hoped to find word of him.

I lower my eyes to where Josh is standing beside Zayne. “What about you, little man? You want to go see a big city and a very nice man?”

Behind me, Fury growls.

“Areallynice man,” I add, just to wind him up. I suspect I’m going to have to do that quite a lot. I can’t let him get complacent in his wolf form. He has towantto be a man. I know that much.

“Can I ride Stella again?” Josh asks.

“Of course you can.”

“Then yes, let’s go.”

“But,” I say, “I think that’s for tomorrow. For tonight, let’s get away from the village. There’s a bad vibe about this place. Let’s find somewhere to camp, and then tomorrow we’ll head to Zandar Aurion.”

As we leave the stable, my mind starts going over the logistics of the trip.

It’s going to take us at least four days.