Page 64 of Blackheart

Riven wiped the sweat from his neck. “They call them Rogue Drakers.”

I never imagined there would be Natureless people fighting for people like me. If loyalists were to catch them, they would all be branded traitors and burned.

“Will Queen Delaina truly start a war? Just to outlaw the Dark Natured in Castivian, too?” I asked.

There was already the threat of Sapphires, now probably worse than ever.

Riven straightened. “Yes.”

Clarke was the only thing standing in the way of a war between the three kingdoms. His time was running out, and so was mine.

Chapter 21

The Worst Bard in All of Castivian

“Word reaches us that His Majesty has not left his chambers in days. Bend the knee to Fate, and offer prayer for the King and his daughter. Sickness walks the palace halls.”

—The Lyonscliff Press

Lord Dronisand the Rogue Drakers stayed long enough to debrief then departed soon after. We weren’t far behind, as Riven decided we needed to travel east before the Sapphires could return.

It was possible Prince Payn would come back, but it didn’t seem likely. Not with the way he’d looked at me when he left, like he wanted nothing to do with me.

Mission accomplished.

Lord Dronis had given Riven an updated map with a path marked to a long-abandoned port. A ship sailing for Castivian would be docked there within a week, supposedly sent by Xavian Steele himself and welcoming any of the Dark Natured.

Riven had also been given two updates.

The good news was that while Lyonscliff had faced damages, Clarke and the Drakers stationed there were able to fend off the Sapphires.

The bad news was that the Northern Waywards had been attacked again, and groups of Dark Natured had escaped the gates, more afraid of being drained by Sapphires than punished by Drakers.

There wasn’t much that Lord Dronis and the Rogue Drakers could do for the escapees, except ensure a map landed in their hands. After that, it was up to them to survive. Hopefully, the rumors of a safe ship were true, and the information didn’t find its way into the wrong hands.

“Lord Xavian Steele will need every resource for the storm that’s coming,” Lord Dronis had said before leaving.

On the back of Kostini, we trekked through a dense, snow-packed trail that grew more treacherous as the day went on. A burst of cold air slapped my face, and I pulled my hood up, bracing against the brutal winds. Riven did not bother using a cloak, and never complained either. If anything, he leaned his torso to take the brunt of the gusts.

“We’ll have to stay somewhere tonight,” Riven murmured, unfolding the map.

I peered over his broad shoulder. We were close to the small town of Wellsburrow, only an hour or less of travel. We would get to sleep indoors, probably even in a bed. There might be warm food and Gods, I could go for an ale, but?—

“Payn stole my gold,” I reminded Riven.

He closed the map and passed it back to me. “I’ll pay for the room.”

I slowly nodded, snuggling my arms inside my cloak. Was I wearing the last piece of clothing the woodland tailor had made?

It wasn’t long before my feet were planted in the quaint hamlet of Wellsburrow. The frigid wind whipped at my hair, numbing my nose.

Riven set Kostini up in a stall while I waited against the wooden frame of the stable door. He refused to let me wait inside the inn for him, as a few minutes of warmth were not worth the potential consequences. Every time that he reminded me I was a liability, I complained. And each time, he did not care.

“If anyone asks,” he began as he laid a jacket over Kostini’s back. “You are my Natureless wife, and we are traveling to the coast to purchase new land. Simple enough?”

I scoffed. “Why can’t I be your sister?”

“Do you not have enough new brothers for one week?” He passed by me and out of the stall.