I blinked at him, my feet still unsteady. “I-I don’t know,” I whispered.
He stared at me for a long moment before Daegal spoke. “Whatever it was, we have to go. Can you ride with your shoulder like that, Xan?”
Xander pressed a hand to his shoulder, wincing. “I’ll manage. Sunshine, you’ll ride with me.”
I turned and glared at him. “What? No question? Maybe something like, ‘if it pleases you, Aileana, would you like to ride with me?’”
He crossed his arms, scowling. The bloody bandage on his shoulder didn’t exactly help his air of aloofness as he loomed over me. “Are you being serious right now? Do you want to pick a fight about this? There are only two horses.”
“Seriously,” I replied. “Stop being so bossy and ask me what I want.”
Huffing, he shifted on his feet. “Fine. If it pleases you, Aileana, Protectress of the Woods, Last Earth Elf, and Most Infuriating Female I have ever met, will you do me thehonorof riding with me?”
My mouth tilted up into a smile, and I raised a brow, curtsying in jest. “Thank you. I will.”
Despite my attitude, I was thankful Xander was willing to ride with me. At least I didn’t have to explain to him I didn’t, in fact, know how to ride a horse.
That would lead to far too many uncomfortable questions than I wanted to answer. Even though I was feeling more comfortable around Xander than before, I still didn’t want to explain how I had been raised in a tower, away from everyone and everything.
Daegal cleared his throat. “If you two are just about done with whatever this is, it would be great if we were able to get going.”
They exchanged a look, communicating silently.
“The Pines?” Xander asked.
The Fortune Elf nodded. His eyes took on the silver gleam that I was slowly getting used to. A full minute went by before the glow cleared and he spoke. “Yes. Of all the possible courses of action, it’s our best bet. Let’s hope Teroth has forgiven you.”
A grim chuckle escaped Xander’s lips. “I hope so too. How much of a grudge can the male hold?”
Daegal blinked at Xander. “Youburned downa cottage.”
“It was an accident!”
My gaze flew back and forth between them. “Was anyone hurt?”
Daegal shook his head. “Thankfully not, but your husband here got himself kicked out of The Pines and had to promise not to return.”
“A promise that I will now be breaking,” Xander pointed out helpfully.
“I see,” I said. “And you think this is our best bet?”
They both nodded.
“It is,” Daegal said. A moment passed before he added sadly, “Jo would have known exactly what to say to Teroth.”
“Yes, she would have.” Xander agreed, sighing. “We’ll head over there and regroup. Make a plan.” He fingered the cord around his neck. “Now that we have the second piece of the map, it’s time to keep going. Look for the third.”
I cleared my throat. “I want to come too.”
Both males stared at me, but it was Xander who spoke.
“Aileana,” he said my name slowly, “do you honestly believe we will leave you alone in the middle of the woods? After what just happened?”
I shook my head. “No, I mean, after. I want to help. Find the map.” I gestured to Xander’s chest. “Do whatever it takes to fight back against the king. I couldn’t help Jo, but whatever it is you’re doing, maybe… maybe I can help you?”
I was realizing that helplessness was almost as bad as being trapped in a tower. Freedom meant nothing if I kept to myself. Actions, doing things, working with others… those things were important. More important than anything else. More important than just trying to save myself from my fate.
High King Edgar was… horrible. A sadist. A murderer. Over the length of his reign, he’d killed countless people.