Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 526(@200wpm)___ 421(@250wpm)___ 350(@300wpm)
So now they both suffered in silence, though it warmed her heart that she did not suffer alone. The king shared in her discomfort.
Seger rode toward them, reining his horse to ride beside Dravic.
“My king, forgive me, but I cannot help but question Ernach’s loyalty when talk spreads of his disloyalty to King Halric. How can we be sure he does not lead us into danger?”
“We are in Driochmor. That is dangerous enough,” Dravic said. “And your task is to make sure we remain safe, not question your king.”
“He’s right about that,” Fiora said as she suddenly flitted between the two men. “Touch the wrong plant, say something to the wrong creature and the next thing you know… you’re a fly-eating toad or the fly.”
Seger’s mouth dropped open as if he was about to speak but he just stared at Fiora.
Fiora laughed. “That’s good. Practice catching flies in your mouth so you don’t starve when you become a toad.”
“Enough, Fiora!” Dravic snapped. “No one is being turned into a toad.”
Fiora planted her hands on her tiny hips. “Oh yeah, then tell that to all those toads the evil witches collected.”
“Evil witches?” Seger asked, then shut his mouth tight.
“Then there are the trolls,” Fiora said. “There are small ones and enormous ones, but all ugly and dumb though mighty strong.”
“Enough, Fiora!” Dravic warned again.
“Just preparing you,” Fiora said with feigned innocence. “Oh, I forgot the plants, the trees, the flowers. Touch the wrong ones and…” She shook her small head. “You’re a goner.”
Adira watched the exchange and knew from the twinkle in the fairy’s eyes and her playful smile that she had to be teasing them.
A burst of cold air swept past her, stinging her cheek. She thought nothing of it, not at first. Not until the cold settled more heavily around her as if it almost hugged her.
Then she heard it. She remained still, unsure if she had imagined it.
She glanced at the forest surrounding them. The same strange whispers she had yet to understand seemed to linger at the edge of her awareness, but this was different.
This had not been a whisper.
The wind had carried a sound to her. A sound meant to be heard. But she could not hear. So, how was it that she heard this sound?
Her eyes moved toward the fairy. She was laughing as she continued to tease, her tiny face bright with amusement. Could it be her laughter? But how did she know what laughter sounded like if she never heard it?
Her gaze shifted toward Seger. She easily distinguished sighs, from light to heavy ones, having watched people for years. She had seen him sigh heavily at Fiora. Had that been what she heard?
She cast a quick glance at the trees, perhaps it was the flutter of bird wings. But no birds flew overhead or moved among the branches.
Adira lowered her gaze. What was happening to her? She heard the sound. No one could tell her otherwise. It was as if someone shut a door against the sound before she could fully grasp it.
She knew silence. It was her companion since she’d been born.
Hadn’t it?
Or was silence all she could remember?
Adira did not have time to question the thought further.
The change in the king came first. His body tightened behind her, his arm drawing more firmly around her waist—not enough to hurt, but enough that she felt the shift from concern to alertness.
She hurried to look at the others. The others had changed as well.
Seger was no longer watching the path ahead. His attention moved slowly from one side of the forest to the other, his hand resting near his sword. The warriors around them had become still, their relaxed posture gone.
Even Fiora was quiet.
That alone caught Adira’s attention. The tiny fairy hovered near them, her usual amusement gone as she looked toward the trees.
“What is it?” Dravic asked, hearing an odd sound rumbling through the forest.
Fiora did not answer immediately. Her gaze remained fixed where all attention was fixed, on the forest.
“Wolfin territory.”
Seger’s head turned sharply. “Wolfin?”
Adira looked between them, watching the reaction on their faces… fear.
Fiora slowly nodded. “Aye, and it is not a place anyone enters willingly. The witches even avoid it.”
“Explain,” Dravic commanded.
The fairy looked at him, then back toward the trees. “The Wolfin are not ordinary creatures. They have their own land, their own rules, and they do not tolerate those who trespass.”
Seger’s expression hardened. “And you failed to mention this before?”
Fiora gave him an offended look. “Ernach planned the route.”
“And I was careful,” Ernach said, joining them to ride alongside Seger. “We are not on their territory.”
Fiora turned wide eyes on him. “They are off land? Why?”
“How bad are these creatures?” Seger asked.
“They can tear a man apart with only two bites,” Fiora said.
Seger stared at her. “They can?”