Page 20 of The Freedom You Seek

Exhaling deeply, I let go of the power I’d been holding, and the darkness faded away. Hopefully, the chaos and terror would keep the authorities busy for a while longer.

Perhaps I should have waited to stop wielding my magic, even if it might have cost me. My power was far from depleted, but I had to avoid too much drainage. Only the gods knew what would happen in the upcoming hours. I might need to use more later.

Down the road, I spotted Thain and Ireas waiting on their horses, holding the reins of the other three, and I’d never been more relieved to see their faces.

It took me precious seconds to mount my horse while I carried the tiny female in my arms, but in the end, I was astride and held her somewhat securely in my grip. She was still shackled, but I didn’t dare to take the time to free her from her restraints. We had to escape from here as fast as possible.

“Ireas, come with me.” It wasn’t my place to give him orders, but I didn’t care. In a matter of life or death, the chain of command could go fuck itself.

“Thain, you’ll wait for the others and then follow us north-eastward. If we don’t find each other before then, we’ll meet up tomorrow at the caves where we’ve camped near Henalah.”

It was a full day’s ride from here to the small but very hidden cave system where we’d stayed for one night before arriving in Credenta. Although it was doubtful we’d make it there before dark and for sure would be forced to spend the upcoming night in the forest, I wasn’t too worried. I was more than capable of keeping us safe and hidden.

Having said everything that had to be said, I turned my horse and rode off. I hadn’t even waited for confirmation from the others.

“Damn it, Dion. If you don’t slow down, our horses will keel over. And has it ever crossed your stubborn and broody mind that the woman could be half dead and might need medical treatment, or at the very least, some comfort? It’s been an hour!”

I growled at Ireas even though he made sense. The woman in question hadn’t made a single sound apart from faint but labored breaths.

“She’s alive. I checked.” I was constantly doing so.

“Good, but I still want to stop and examine her so she stays that way.”

“Soon, Ireas.” I was able to feel his disapproval radiating in waves, but I ignored it.

Once we discovered a suitable spot, I’d pause and allow Ireas to tend to her wounds or whatever he had to do. Luckily, I spotted no signs of a pursuit so far.

When the immediate danger had passed, the tension inside me gradually faded away. Not hiding my growing irritation, I glared down at the bundled female in front of me. I was finally able to think clearly again and wanted to kick myself for what I’d done in the town square. Fig would be furious and demand an explanation as to whyI’d broken his number one rule—no magic. And well, I couldn’t give him a satisfying one. Some things were better left unsaid.

Ten minutes later, I slowed my horse down and steered the animal off the path behind the treeline. The woman’s eyes were still closed, but her breath had steadied. “I think whatever they gave her is slowly leaving her system.”

“My best guess is that they used Hirla.”

“Never heard of that. What does it do?”

“It’s a very rare herb that only grows deep inside the Lannear Wildwood and kicks in when breathed in deeply. It traps your mind in your body for a few hours and makes you pliable and calm. In a way, you could compare it with Laiga, only that you don’t have to drink Hirla, and Laiga juice traps you in euphoria instead of apathy—hmm, maybe they aren’t that much comparable after all, apart from both being nasty, forbidden, and behavior-altering drugs. But well, Hirla has at least no long-term effects, only mild hangover-like symptoms for a few hours.”

I nodded. Ireas knew a lot about medicine and herbal remedies, which was why I’d picked him to accompany us instead of Thain. Well, and because I’d prefer Ireas over Thain any day.

Scanning the area, I led my horse deeper into the green canopy of the dense forest. We’d find a clearing, and then it would be time to deal with the woman I’d saved.

Once more, I observed her face and frowned at the angry red teeth marks visible on her pale skin. Someone must have bitten her cheek at some point. What kind of sick bastard did such a thing? At least it seemed as if it washealing without a sign of infection, but Ireas would better put a balm on this wound as well.

I shook my head and suppressed my anger. Something about her was making me uneasy. Even though she had something to do with our reason for being here, my gut feeling told me she was some sort of poison. I had to keep my distance from her as much as possible. There was no way I’d get involved with this woman more than necessary from this point on.

The first sensation I noticed when my consciousness stirred was the fresh, clean air filling my lungs and a soft, damp something running over my face.

“I think she’s waking up, Ireas. And it’s about time. We need to be back on the road.”

Someone near me was speaking, and the male voice sounded deep, low, and rumbling.

I frowned, still half unconscious, as the memories trickled back in. The gallows!Was I dead?My eyes flung open as terror crept into my mind, and a sudden wave of pain raced through my body as I failed miserably to sit up.

“Easy there.” The dark voice carried an unfriendly and harsh undertone.

I wanted to answer, but my mind blanked as my eyes focused and spotted the owner of the deep voice. He was probably a few winters older than me and scowled in my direction as if I was a nasty insect he had found under his shoe. A few strands of shining, deep black hair fell into his face. The rest of it was bound together with a simple strap of leather in a long, low ponytail.

With a subtle tan and an almost symmetrical face, he’d stand out wherever he went, although his full lips were marred by a sneer that lifted one corner of his mouth higher than the other. Without a trace of stubble, he was clean-shaven, as if he’d recently groomed himself. Every woman would’ve been envious of his dark eyebrows and thick lashes. And his eyes—they were mesmerizing. I’d never seen eyes of such a light gray before. His irises appeared as if being drained of their color, leaving behind only the background. The shade reminded me of ashes or of the slate roses I’d seen once in my life at a festival market a few winters ago.