"You didn't really think Tew or Amon, for that matter, thought you would slump over and give up? Of course not! I overheard them, and you will have a tail while they are away. At least one will follow you around, making sure you don't follow them or, I quote, do something stupid or rash."
She arched a brow in my direction, and I've never felt so called out before! How dare they!
"Oh, don't act so hurt; that is just what you planned to do. You can't be mad; they know you so well. Instead, use your head."
Out of nowhere, she handed me a little brown leather backpack.With a slightly irritated scoff, I grabbed the bag.
"Fine! You don't have to be so smug about it!"
"Oh, don't be so petulant. I've packed everything you need to get going; I even got my hands on your knives."
Maya was way too amused; her smile now stretched from one ear to the other.
"Hmm..."
Despite it all, I had to admit she was well prepared. A quick look into the backpack revealed my knives, neatly wrapped in a thick, hairless piece of leather. Beneath them is also a still-dampened round bread and dried meat. Swallowing my irritation and pride, I had to admit she was right. Letting out a deep sigh, I started nodding slowly.
"Thank you. But are you sure about this? Can you still join me? Or, I could stay? If the kids are in danger, I want to be here!"
She waved her hand in front of her and rolled her eyes like I offered to stand in her way while she tried to work.
"They are not, well. Not right now, at least. I do, however, have a favor to ask."
"Spit it out then."
"Bring me a handful of black henbane."
I stopped in my tracks and spun around to meet her gaze. She avoided me and suddenly found the armrest on the little wooden chair incredibly interesting.
"The berserkers plant? What the hell, Maya? It is poisonous!"
"I know, but if used right, it is also helpful. Please do as I ask! I'm not going to poison the king, myself, or anything, but Valkyrie requests it."
"Tew made it forbidden..."
"What you are about to do is forbidden to!"
She spat right back, and I frowned before shaking my head.
"Fine, where do I find it?"
"There is a drawing of it in your backpack. Just remember, the petals resemble the skin of a dead walker- pale, almost white, riddled with dark lines and marks, like poisoned veins. The center of the flower is deep purple, almost black. Do not touch the flower directly; use a leather or fabric piece and wrap it in a little bag. I need at least seven flowers and pick them on fay land."
She never explained why the flower needed to be picked on the fay's side of the border. But then again, I didn't take the time to ask when it was so obvious, she wasn't about to share why. It only highlighted the fact that she would know if I didn't pick the flower on the right side of the land. Then, she redirected my planned route.
Instead of running around the mountain as planned, I ran straight across the open field. I followed the first group's tracks all the way to the dense forest behind the twin mountains. There, I crossed their path. Desperate to get as far ahead as possible, I made some poor decisions. I scraped my entire back on loose rocks down a sloppy hillside. Swam right across the green river. A little glacier bunkering up between the twin mountains created the ice-cold but magically clear green river. It is a beautiful sight all year round, especially now when the bright sun rays reflect the surface, but deadly.
The ice-cold water burned on my skin after seconds of touching it, and I already had trouble breathing when the water reached my hips. A stupid decision. Reckless. Despite my body struggling, I threw myself forward into the river. Every inch of my body hurt like thousands of needles pierced my skin over and over again until it all disappeared in a second. Slowly, the strangest sensation spread up my limbs. Inch by inch, devouring muscles, skin, veins, everything. Numbness. Heavy. Repeatedly, Drifta pulled me back in. Fought the exhaustion and hypothermia. That incredible, beautiful, clear green water was killing me.
When we finally reached the shore, I don't even remember crawling over the sand. With one final push, I felt Drifta send a wave of energy through me. Like a surge of power pulsating through my entire body, she was leaving a boost of warmth smoldering inside me. Then she pulled back with a raspy whisper echoing in my mind. She was drained; she overused and had to pull back. Not like before, when I can feel her curl up in a deep corner of my mind. No, out of reach. I felt her leave like I was missing something. A piece of my heart was gone; a corner of my soul was missing. A tiny piece of every muscle and skin was gone. She was a piece of me; even if I knew why she pulled back, it was a terrible feeling.
Emotional, empty, and exhausted. I cried until I dozed off. I woke up with a gasp and shot up like a broken arrow. Incredible stupid decision! One I cannot afford to do again. I needed to get ahead of them all; I needed to cross the border before the Fay king did. However, I needed to keep myself alive to do so. Drifta is still gone. I never thought I would feel so different. Every movement felt heavier. I was slower and untrained. But I kept on pushing and forced myself forward. I could do this; Drifta saved us. She saved me! She needs this break; at least I can take us further while she does! But my mind kept haunting me: What if he crossed before I did...? I shivered; I would be trapped there.
The king's banishment won't be snapped into place before he crosses the border. Like a burning curse, it manifests on their border crossings. If I walk over after him, it will burn me and mark me, trapping me there with a magical lock. There are no back roads or undergrounds, nothing with this mark. The mark will activate as soon as it touches the end of the land. Flashing me back, blocking my way with an invisible barricade. The only way to lift this lock would be for the king to bless the mark. This means he would have to let me leave of his own free will, and something tells me the fay king does not do anything just to be kind.
No, I need to cross first! But also alive.
I threw myself to the ground. So fast, I didn't even have time to catch myself.
I had to bite my tongue not to gasp for air and cry in pain as my chest crashed against the rough and cold ground. Eyes filled with tears of pain, I pressed my chin and body toward the dirt and watched two dark figures walk between the threes only meters away.
What the hell is that?