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“My father’s group probably stopped to eat, is anyone hungry?” Emiel asked. “The berry selection in Gravenport was horrendous.”
Thessa agreed. “The horses should rest anyway.”
Emiel knocked on the front paneled wall and shouted, “Wayland, pull off.”
When the door popped open, Thessa was relieved for fresh air. The thought of Soren being alone in a carriage for three days made her heart sag a little more.
After crossing over the tall grass that flanked their journey south, the four made their way into the woods.
When scarlet uniforms flashed in the distance, she knew they’d not stumbled into a friendly campsite.
Ducking behind a row of dense trees, Thessa counted eight Elemental soldiers. Their uniforms were torn, and their faces were etched with anger—and grime.
“Hades,” Emiel whispered, peering through the leaves.
Leora’s mouth was fixed in that “O” shape.
Wayland mumbled, “Let’s get out of here.”
Emiel eyed him. “That doesn’t smell like food.”
“No,” Thessa said. It smelled … familiar. She couldn’t see much. There were too many bushes and fallen trees blocking her view.
A voice snuck up from behind her. “Shh. If I can hear you, they’re bound to hear you.”
“Quinnley,” Leora gasped.
Quinnley pressed a finger to her lips. “Shh.”
“Why are you here? What’s going on over there?” Thessaquestioned quietly.
“They crossed intomycampsite late last night.” Quinnley used her thumb to gesture over to the upturned tree trunk and small cavern within. “It goes beyond what you see, which is why they haven’t found me. That poor thing they have with them. I have to help it. I’ve been preparing a sleeping agent. Burning it will keep them asleep. I just have to figure out how to?—"
Thessa interrupted, “Quinnley. Do you understand there’s been a war?”
“Oh my, well, that explains why they look so disheveled. But it definitely doesn’t explain why they trapped an unusually large serpent. I’ve never seen one so big, or this far from the sea.”
Thessa swallowed.
“Spies.” Wayland mumbled.
Thessa shot him a knowing look. “I let him go, so they could track him.Idid this.”
He said nothing.
“The sleeping agent is almost ready,” Quinnley pressed.
Thessa said, “I have a better idea. Everyone, stay back,” before storming through the trees.
53
LECTURE NOTES FROM HERBOLOGY 101:
The Blood Sacrifice of the fallen Botanical Supreme was crucial for the formation of this realm. All that is green and colorful, started with her.
It was worse than a nightmare. Soren wasthere, encased in fire-cuffs. They’d not spared any part of his body, which sizzled with every breath he dared to take. They weren’t just killing him, they were torturing him.
“Release him, or you’ll die.” The voice that had escaped her was not her own, but that of the monster within her.