“She’s recovering well,” I bluffed.
“Those trials.” He shook his head. “Too dangerous.”
“I completely agree. Which is, incidentally, why I’m here—I’m going to speak with the Impartial Ministers. See if these trials can’t be cut short.”
“Good. Do you need transport?”
“For two,” I replied as firmly as I could. “I am going to ask one of the Impartial Ministers to return with me—confront him with Queen Trina’s wounds.”
The guard nodded enthusiastically.
“I like your thinking! Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“Just the bull-horses,” I replied.
Soon I was walking two creatures out of the stables while the guard saluted me, pride in his eyes.
I waited till I was out of view, then had to circle back around to where Ruby and Julian were hiding by the trees.
“Was everything okay?” Ruby asked with a worried frown.
“Fine. We just need to be quick.”
I put Ruby on her own bull-horse, while Julian rode with me. He was so frail that the creature didn’t appear to notice there was a human on its back. As a result, it balked and whinnied until I jumped on, just at the moment that Julian looked like he was going to go flying off.
“Whoa there!” I calmed the creature, and then, with Ruby riding by my side, we headed off at a brisk trot in the direction of the main entrance.
“STOP!”
I glanced over my shoulder to see the guard who’d just provided me with the bull-horses. His face was now contorted with rage as he identified Ruby, and no doubt Julian as the human he’d probably had a hand in locking in the dungeon.
“Ride!” I called out to Ruby, and we both started to gallop.
Up ahead I could see more guards circling around the courtyard. Both groups would eventually meet in the middle, blocking the entrance.
Thinking quickly, I grabbed Ruby’s hand, leaning toward her as the bull-horse galloped at full speed. Not wanting to, but knowing that I didn’t have a choice, I syphoned off her swiftly. As the horses reached the courtyard entrance, I created a barrier on either side of us—just wide enough to allow the horses to pass through.
The guards hollered angrily, but we didn’t let up on our pace.
Soon the hooves of the bull-horses were kicking up dust on the open road back to Hellswan. Ruby was safe, and she was with me. I glanced over at her and she grinned.
I love you, shortie, I said to myself. And one day the whole world’s going to know it.
Hazel
I had tried to dissuade Tejus from coming with me to revisit the Viking graveyard, but he wouldn’t hear of it—and secretly I was glad that I wouldn’t have to face my brother alone. Rationally, I knew that Benedict couldn’t help what was happening to him and that during the day it was likely that Benedict would once again return to normal…but I couldn’t help the faint sense of unease that had been with me all morning, and the reluctance to face Benedict after last night—not one hundred percent sure about what I’d find.
It made me feel like a horrific sister, and deeply ashamed.
We had also brought along a group of five ministers. I hoped that they would be able to somehow unlock the door of the temple, but I wasn’t holding out much hope. The ministers’ ability to do anything other than whisper didn’t exactly fill me with confidence. Still, it was currently the only help we had available to us and I was willing to try anything.
We were flying to the graveyard with the vultures. I had chosen to sit behind Tejus, careful to avoid his chest wounds. They were healing at a rapid pace, but from the occasional wince, and his still-dull pallor, I could tell that Tejus hadn’t fully recovered. In the first few moments of the flight, I’d tried to cling on by tightening my thighs on the bird’s body. Tejus had turned around with a scowl on his face, and then proceeded to take my hands and wrap them around his waist, holding them there tightly with one hand.
There was so much I wanted to say to Tejus. I hadn’t forgotten the promise I’d made to myself last night; I wanted to tell him how I felt, and that I knew that whatever was holding him back, we could overcome it, move past it, whatever. And if he wasn’t convinced? Then at least I’d told him—I’d given it one last shot. Without that, I didn’t think I’d ever be able to move on or get over him. I figured Nevertide would haunt me enough without that hanging over me too.
I rested my head against his back. Now wasn’t the time to talk—it would have to be after we spoke with my brother. I was content just to be in this moment: my body pressed against his, neither of us in any immediate danger and miles above both Hellswan castle and our destination—free, just for the moment.