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She thought about how he’d just lost his mother, and how he mustn’t be thinking straight.
Lead his army? Kiss him?
Thessa snatched one of the blankets and moved to the opposite corner of the tent. “Let’s just get some rest.”
Wrapping herself as tight as a caterpillar in a cocoon, she went to sleep—tried to.
34
LECTURE NOTES FROM REALM HISTORY:
Shortly after the creation of this realm, the Elemental heir established the Elemental regime. She announced her title as General of the Elemental Army, promising to always protect the land we live on.
Thessa awoke to the sounds of children playing. Rolling over, she saw no one tucked asleep in the other corner of her tent. There were only two pieces of bark and a note atop Soren’s folded blanket.
She pressed up to investigate.
For the pain.
What a lovely breakfast, she thought, while simultaneously cursing him. She chewed the bark, knowing whatever magic it offered, she needed.
Stepping outside to orient herself, she drew in a deep breath. The warm air held a combination of pine and burning wood. After scanning the trees for the sides with the most branches—the southern side—she began her pursuit.
Children swept past her, weaving through tents while shouting about imaginary shipwrecks. Their innocence shook a small smile from her.
Pacing twenty tents south, where Reginald had said Soren’s father would be, she heard hushed voices. Peeking through the tent flaps revealed three males and one female, seated around a table, mid-discussion. Soren and his father were there, as she’d expected.
Thessa needed to ask Soren if there was anything to eat around here besides tree flesh. She scurried to the front of the tent, which was opened just enough to reveal what they were all looking at.
Mygift.
She burst through the flaps without a second thought—but didn’t make it far. Instead, she was pushed back and thrown against the floor. Before there was a moment to recover, what felt like the weight of a horse smashed her into the ground.
Thessa thrashed, unable to breathe. A heartbeat later, the pressure from her chest eased and air filled her lungs, but what she beheld next, left her mouth agape.
Soren was holding her attacker by his throat, hoisting him in the air. His teeth were bared, revealing sharper than usual canines, which confirmed she hadn’t imagined things at the festival.
Soren hissed, “Touch her again and I’ll see to your death. Do I make myself clear, Brenneth?”
Dangling from Soren’s grasp, Brenneth began nodding.
Soren clicked his tongue, raising him higher as his serpents began their pursuit. “I can’t hear you.”
Sweat beaded down Brenneth’s brow. “Y-y-es, sir.”
Dropping him, without grace, Soren warned, “Good. Now go tell the others we have a new guest.Ifthere are anything but kind regards toThessa, please deliver them to me personally.”
There was a firm, “Yes, sir,” before he hustled out of the tent.
“You’ll not really kill him, right?” A soft, feminine voice asked from across the tent.
Soren ignored the question. He was in some trance with his fists clenched.
Thessa stood, attempting to fix her hair and tunic. “Sorry to have interrupted.” Shifting her focus to Soren she asked, “Is that how you’ll introduce me to everyone?”Are you always a raging fool, is what she wanted to say, but reminded herself the ill-tempered male had just lost his mother.
Soren ignored her too, slowly drawing in his magic.
Tension lingered in the tent, as thick as the air before a storm.