Page 80 of Realm of Crows (Wings of Ink #5)

I’d been cowering in my little shelter of branches and earth for the better part of half a day.

The near-suffocating heat of the day was slowly retreating with the declining sun, and the cool brine of the nearby sea swept through the leaves above, whipping loose soil into my face.

In no time, my sanctuary would be chilled to a temperature at which it would get difficult to last the night without extra layers of protection.

If they hadn’t spotted me in the dusky green of the scrubby forest by now, they might as well have left me to die.

The words of my father drove me all the way here, where the sand and palm trees faded into the lusher vegetation that hinted I was closer to Askarea.

Closer meaning I was still a week away from the end of the mountain range, and going any farther to the borderlands would have been suicide.

No one in their right mind would trek all the way up here.

That was the reason I’d chosen this route to begin with.

They’d followed me anyway.

Digging my sore fingers into the ground, I inched forward, the smell of moist earth assaulting my nose as I slithered toward what sounded like the sweet song of a stream. A twig cracked ahead, and my tongue flicked to my parched palate as I stopped and held my breath.

I lowered my cheek to the ground and counted to fifteen until I was certain I hadn’t missed a pair of feet sneaking up on me.

No sound followed.

Had my horse still been with me, I could have made quick work of the distance to the river and crossed at the next opportunity until I made it to a harbor, and no one would be the wiser.

But my horse was gone, and my father’s sentries had tracked me down.

So what choice did I have but to brave the dangers of the wilderness?

I’d have rather become some wild animal’s prey than be dragged back to the palace.

At least the predators of the woods didn’t pretend to be anything other than what they were.

With a glance beyond the branches, I scrambled out of my cover and headed for the edge of the forest where I could orient myself again.

My satchel dangled from my shoulder, bouncing against the sore muscles of my thighs.

I couldn’t hold in a groan as I set one slow foot in front of the other, cursing myself for not wearing a better pair of boots.

In the speed of my decision, I hadn’t thought of the true logistics of an escape—especially not when I’d been hoping to already be near my destination by now.

But when Father’s advisers pushed for the marriage, there hadn’t been time for me to do more than stuff a few days’ worth of bread and cheese into my satchel alongside a shirt and a bag of silver and make a run for it.

My breeches, torn in places, weren’t made for hiking through the wilderness, and my body, used to long walks through the palace terraces at the most, was near exhaustion by the time I made it to the water.

With a glance along the line cutting through the soil like a thread of quartz, I assessed my surroundings.

Even when my days used to consist of being laced into pretty dresses and paraded around court until Father settled on an offer, I knew how to survive.

It was a necessity as much as it was common sense for a princess of Cezux to learn how to ride and run and hold a knife for something other than slicing roast and fruit.

But that didn’t make me adept in any of those skills.

I wasn’t made to be on the run. Wasn’t made to be free.

I was made to carry on my family’s lineage—and with that the only prospect in my life, it didn’t surprise me that Father had sent a group of five sentries to scout after me.

They probably weren’t the only ones. I knew him well enough to understand that at least ten more groups, like the one that I’d dodged after lunch in a ramshackle inn at the last village, were hunting all over our lands in search of the missing princess.

I cupped the water in my hands and brought it to my lips, scenting for foul odor before I dared to take a sip.

The clean taste and cool texture brought instant relief after hours of hiding, of fearing that they’d found me.

I’d be able to continue running after I satisfied my thirst and had taken a deep breath.

Just a few more miles before the last light of day would vanish, and I’d be forced to seek shelter in a tree or in one of the small caves I’d noticed on the way into the forest. If I was lucky, I’d find one large enough to fit inside where I could get a few hours of rest before I continued southeast along the edge of the mountains separating Cezux from the kingdom of Askarea.

Fairylands.

There was a reason people avoided this region where the mountains flattened at the northern seam of the land, allowing for easy passage between the two kingdoms—not that anyone had seen a fairy in hundreds of years.

It was only the merchants brave enough to take that path I would avoid like the plague, who sometimes told stories when they returned with goods from Askarea.

Goods that they’d traded for Cezuxian rarities across the border.

Few of them ever returned.

I sat back on my haunches, sighing as I allowed my legs to relax for a moment before I tugged my satchel to the front and pulled out the remaining piece of cheese and a slice of stale bread alongside a small canteen in need of refilling.

My hands brushed the hard, cool bag of silver.

Since I couldn’t eat the coins, I’d need to find somewhere to restock my provisions.

I’d planned on doing so at the inn, but when Father’s men showed up, instinct had driven me to bolt.

The flutter of wings in the treetops above came first. Then their armed shapes appeared from the gaps between the tree trunks at the seam of the forest across the stream.

Three of them—a good distance from where I was crouching by the water.

My heart made a painful hold as it kicked into gear, my whole body on that sort of alert the past days on the road had taught me.

Measuring the distance, I reached for the hunting knife at my hip, a gift from my mother on her deathbed.

They were half-hidden in the twilight, and knowing them, they wouldn’t risk hitting me with an arrow.

But they would be prepared to use their knives or swords to keep me in check the moment they laid their hands on me.

Still, they were far away enough for me to try.

If I managed to disappear back into the forest, I might outrun them.

If I threw all my reserves into it, I might have a shot at freedom.

Ignoring the exhaustion in my legs, I sucked in a breath and pushed myself to my feet, already turning on my heels to run, run, run?—

And faced the other two of Father’s sentries, who’d snuck up from behind, their blades sharp at my throat as they forced me to a halt before I could even attempt to take my first step.

“If I didn’t know better, I might think you have a death wish,” one of the two said. The shorter one whose light leather armor did little to conceal the litheness of his body.

Instruments of death, I reminded myself. Trained to kill by my father’s general and ready at all times to do his bidding, to eliminate anyone who stepped into the king of Cezux’s path.

This time, it was me in his path.

The taller one took a step around me, the flat of his knife scraping over my collarbone as he circled to my back.

“Let me go,” I demanded even when I knew that there was nothing I could offer to make them listen. My hand tightened on the hunting knife, which I hadn’t even gotten to draw from my belt.

“Your presence is demanded at court.” The shorter one took a step back, hand casually near the curved blade at his hip, and scanned me with a quick gaze head to toe, assessing my ripped clothes, my dirt-smeared face, and I could have sworn something like compassion flickered in his eyes before he waved the men on the other side of the stream over.

“We take her back to the village. I’m sure a night in a proper bed will be of use to her condition before we head back to Jezuin. ”

No. I staggered away from the knife, ignoring the bite of the blade as it nicked me at the side of my neck. “I’m not going back.”

The taller sentry laughed as he grabbed me by the arm in that half brutal, half cautious way that came with their task of herding me back to Father’s palace, and the shorter one, who seemed to be their leader, hissed a curse as he examined the trickle of blood at the base of my throat.

“I fear you have no choice, Princess.” He turned and motioned for us to follow as he led the way out of the clearing. The grip on my arm tightened, and I could have sworn the sentry struggled to keep his fingers from smashing my bones.

Maybe, if I put up a fight, they might end me rather than let me escape. But was that a real option?

As if in answer to my thought, the sentries stored their weapons away and surrounded me in what felt like a walking cage, which told me enough about the fact that they wouldn’t risk hurting me.

Not when my life meant more power for my father.

They didn’t respond when I ordered them again to let me go, to take the silver from my satchel and leave.

A few coins wouldn’t be enough to change their loyalties.

In the kingdom of Cezux, those loyal to my father held more power and riches than lords in other lands—not that I knew anything about Askarea, or if the fairies even had lords.

I stumbled along, legs barking with every step now that there was no hope for escape and stomach leaden as it demanded food.

The last of my provisions now lay scattered by the water where I’d drunk only a few mouthfuls before they ambushed me, and if I managed to break through their formation, I wouldn’t get far in my condition.

Maybe letting them feed me and find a place to rest was the smarter option. At least I could rest and not worry about what monsters prowled the borderlands while I planned another escape.

Only when darkness enveloped us completely and my foot got caught on a root, making me tumble into the sentry with the curved blade in front of me, did we stop for a break.

“The village is another half-hour south.” The man pointed with one hand while he set me back on my feet with the other.

I gave him a look that should have been intimidating.

But he gave me a bland smile, reached for the waterskin on his belt, and handed it to me.

“Here. Drink. We’ll get you something to eat at the next inn. ”

Without question, I took it and gulped down the water.

The other sentries alternated between watching me and scanning our surroundings with hawk eyes as they waited for me to finish. As soon as I handed the waterskin back to the man, he continued walking, and the others ushered me forward, tensed and ready to grab me should I dare try to bolt.

By the time we made it past small houses and stables to the inn, I’d resorted to leaning on one of the sentries who’d offered his arm—the one with the curved blade that made me wish he’d never feel the need to use it on me.

And even though relying on my captors made me sick, beneath the dirt and sweat, I braved a smile while I waited for the leader to organize rooms and a meal.

“Your smile won’t do you much good here, Princess,” he said as he led me up the stairs to a room large enough to host one single bed and a small bathing room. “Wash up. Rest. Food will be brought up shortly.”

I didn’t slam one of the many retorts at him that I usually would, too busy hobbling to the edge of the bed where I gingerly removed my boots and rubbed my blistered feet.

“Don’t run again. I’d hate to have to drag you back to Jezuin draped over my shoulders.” He inclined his head, dark hair sliding into his grim face, and retreated from the room.

I snorted to myself the moment the doors snapped shut. I couldn’t run like this. Not even if I gorged myself on the stew that arrived a moment later and slept through the night. I wouldn’t get far.

Or maybe that was exactly why I needed to try the moment I was alone.

I made a point to complain about my sore feet, reminding the sentry of my limited capacity to move, before he closed the door with the hint that someone would be guarding it.

Of course they would. They only left me alone in my room because of my status—and maybe because they underestimated my desperation.

The stew smelled like it’d been sitting out for over a day, but I finished the entire chipped bowl before I carefully got to my feet, biting back a curse as one of the blisters broke open on the rough wood floor.

A glance out the window informed me that a jump onto the parapet wouldn’t break my neck, and if my eyes didn’t deceive me in the darkness, the roof would lead me right to the adjacent stables.

If I could grab a horse, I’d get a head start, and maybe … maybe I’d make it far enough to lose the sentries before they could tie me to a saddle and force me home.

Swallowing the pain the way I’d perfected at the palace, I made for the bathing room where I washed off the worst of the dirt and changed my shirt before I rolled up the dirty, torn one and stuffed it into my satchel alongside a slice of bread that had come with the stew.

I tugged on my boots, tears swimming in my eyes as the leather scraped against the blisters on my heels, and breathed.

Just breathed—until I was able to brave those two steps to the window where I stopped to listen for any sign of the sentries.

The crack under the door revealed a pair of boots quietly pacing back and forth as if to keep themselves from falling asleep after a long, exhausting day.

I sent a quick prayer to Eroth and pulled the lever.

The window sprang open with a creak that made me jerk around to see if the sentry would come to check on me.

He didn’t.

So I heaved my leaden body onto the windowsill where I crouched, measuring the drop I’d have to make, and decided it didn’t matter if I broke a bone or two.

What mattered was that I got out.

Without a glance back, I jumped.

End of sample.