Total pages in book: 163
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 152616 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 763(@200wpm)___ 610(@250wpm)___ 509(@300wpm)
With that, he dug his heels into the steed’s sides, and the horse launched into movement. Refusing to use any part of the monster behind me as support, I held on to the pommel. The pace quickly picked up and we were rushing through the dark streets, forcing me to clamp my thighs against the saddle to stay upright. My heart sank as soon as we reached the end of the street.
An orange glow rose above the hill, and the scent of burnt wood grew. Smoke poured into the night, blanketing the roads. I tried to see what kind of damage had been done, but the horse charged on, turning the streets of the unnamed village into a blur.
As we approached the open, unguarded gates of the village, the clouds began to break apart. Silvery moonlight flowed over the road, washing over lumps scattered at the edges. Shapes that were—
My stomach cramped. Dead city guards lay scattered about. Dozens of them as we left the village, the horse’s pace never slowing.
Good gods, how many had died tonight? I shuddered. And all these deaths . . . Was their blood on my hands? Like the blood the Prince of Vytrus carried on his?
No. That one word burned through me, forging my spine into steel. I’d done nothing to cause this. Nor had any of those who’d suffered tonight. This was on the Hyhborn. Grady was right. I wasn’t responsible for Archwood either. The only thing I’d done was be born, but I wasn’t completely free from guilt.
I cared about others, but I obviously hadn’t cared enough. Because I never paid attention to Court politics whenever other barons visited with news and gossip. Whatever I gleaned from them for Claude I quickly forgot about. I didn’t pay all that much attention when news of the Westlands unrest first broke. I used my abilities when asked, when it served me, or simply by accident. I could’ve worked harder at cracking that shield that surrounded Claude and Hymel, and I would’ve been able to, since I’d done it with Commander Rhaziel without touching him. I could’ve learned what Hymel was up to, but I’d been too afraid— not just for Grady but for myself. I hadn’t wanted to jeopardize my life and all the privileges I’d obtained, whether warranted or not. I’d been looking out for him and myself. I was too wrapped up in my own life and my own fears. I could’ve done more. There were so many choices I could’ve made that would’ve changed and maybe even prevented what had become of Archwood.
What had happened here.
So how was I any better than the King at the end of the day? Just because I cared didn’t make me different, because I hadn’t cared enough. And the gods knew I wasn’t the only lowborn who stuck her head in the sand, but I had been in a position of privilege, of protection, where I could’ve done more, and I hadn’t. I thought of how I’d warned Grady to not get involved with the Iron Knights. I had done the exact opposite of more. Because I didn’t want to risk ending up on the streets again. How did that make me any better?
It really didn’t.
The fact that it had taken this for me to realize that sickened me, because now I had to live with those choices.
And who knew how many others would have to because of them.
We stayed on the road for a short period of time before Lord Arion guided the steed into moonlight-drenched meadows with a brutal urging of his knees.
Tall thistle weeds lashed at my legs, stinging my skin, but it was nothing compared to the throbbing in my chest and across my jaw, nor could it compare to the mounting dread of what was to come. The meadow seemed endless, my thoughts staggering over one another as I tried to piece together what I knew to figure out what was coming. How I could somehow make better . . . better choices but still protect Grady— still get him out of this situation.
Icy water jerked me from my thoughts, soaking my feet and the edges of my clothing as we crossed a narrow stream. The shivering ratcheted up as the steed climbed the steep bank and carried us into the . . . the Wychwoods.
Dear gods, there were things in these woods possibly even more frightening than the Hyhborn lord behind me.
When I glanced down at the packed earth, a silly yet slightly terrifying thought occurred to me. Were there still Deminyens in these woods, being created deep underground? Gods, thinking about that didn’t help anything.
I didn’t know how much time had passed. All I could focus on was staying atop the horse and not falling beneath his hooves as he raced at neck-breaking speeds through the maze of trees. I held on, even as every part of my body protested— as my hands and thighs ached. Only when the trees became too crowded together did Lord Arion slow the horse enough that I didn’t feel as if I would fall at any given second.