Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87731 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 439(@200wpm)___ 351(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
“Aye,” Kaelan said with a nod.
Her pulse quickened. “And you knew this was possible, but never thought to mention such a thing?”
His gaze remained steady upon her. “There was no time to mention it. and you would not have believed me.”
The irritating truth of that only deepened her frustration further.
“This is madness,” she whispered. “Forests do not simply decide who may leave.”
Kilham’s expression remained calm. “No one truly understands Driochmor’s reasons.”
“But someone must.”
A shadow crossed the elder’s face briefly. “Perhaps the council does.”
Bria frowned. “The council?”
“The ones who rule Driochmor.”
She had thought that magic ruled Driochmor, its inhabitants as wild and mysterious as the land itself. Or so she had heard.
She had heard wrong.
Bria shook her head, nothing making sense to her. “Then tell them I wish to leave.”
Kilham sighed. “If Driochmor is not ready to release you, not even the council may force its will.”
The certainty in his voice frightened Bria more than the words themselves. She struggled to steady the chaos twisting through her thoughts, though nothing about this place or the things she had learned since arriving allowed her peace.
Kaelan’s arm slipped around her waist and before he turned her toward him, she felt it, a calm that comforted her. And she allowed herself to sink into it and to lean against him as he drew her close.
“We need to talk.”
The low calmness in his voice left little room for argument.
Before Bria could respond, Kaelan turned slightly toward Kilham. “If shelter may be found here for the night, we would accept it.”
Kilham regarded them both knowingly, his weathered gaze lingering briefly on Bria before returning to Kaelan once more.
“A wise choice. Driochmor is best traveled with a clear mind, and neither of yours appears settled at the moment.”
Heat rose faintly in Bria’s cheeks, though whether from irritation or embarrassment for speaking up as she did, something she had never done, never had the need to do, she wasn’t sure.
Kilham slowly rose from the bench. “A cottage will be prepared for you and food provided. It will give you the privacy that you need since you both have much to think on before morning. In the meantime, there is a place you can bathe in if you’d like. Though sheltered in a cave, the water remains warm.”
Bria couldn’t hide her delight with the offer. “That would be wonderful.”
She looked at Kaelan. “You have yet to eat. I will bathe while you satisfy your hunger, then you can bathe.” She turned a smile on Kilham. “We will be at Winnie’s cottage where a meal waits for Kaelan.”
“Winnie will have Tibby show you the way,” Kilham said. “We will talk again.”
Bria followed Tibby along a narrow path winding between cottages and towering trees, grateful for the quiet after everything that had happened since entering Driochmor.
The little fellow trotted happily ahead of her, pausing now and then to glance back as though making certain she remained behind him. His long ears bounced with each eager step, bringing the first genuine smile to her face since leaving Winnie’s cottage.
“You seem pleased with yourself,” she said softly.
Tibby gave a proud little yap in response.
Bria laughed faintly beneath her breath, though the sound faded quickly as the cool autumn wind stirred around them. The day had grown steadily colder since morning, and now heavy gray clouds gathered overhead, thick enough to swallow what little sunlight remained. The scent of rain lingered heavily in the air.
She pulled her cloak tighter about herself.
“A warm bath sounds more wonderful than you could possibly understand,” she told Tibby.
The little fellow barked again as though agreeing entirely.
Bria’s smile softened, though her thoughts drifted once more toward Kaelan.
She found herself surprised he had allowed her to go alone.
Not that she expected him to accompany her into the cave itself. The very thought brought warmth instantly to her cheeks. Such a thing would hardly be proper.
Still… she had expected resistance.
A warning perhaps. Or that look he gave her whenever he thought danger might be near. Instead, he had simply agreed.
The realization unsettled her more than it should have.
Why?
Did he finally trust Driochmor enough not to fear for her safety? Or perhaps he trusted Tibby to guide her there and back unharmed.
Or perhaps… Bria frowned faintly. Perhaps he simply needed distance from her as much as she suddenly needed distance from him.
Not that she truly did. The ache that always managed to settle in her chest when she was not near Kaelan had settled there as soon as he was out of sight. She couldn’t possibly miss him, but she did. At least that was what she believed she felt, his absence.
Before she could dwell on it further, Tibby disappeared around a cluster of large stones ahead.
Bria followed quickly and slowed in surprise.
The entrance to the cave rested partially hidden behind a curtain of trailing vines and moss-covered rock, the opening wide enough for two people to walk through side by side. Warm mist drifted softly from within, curling into the chill autumn air.