Page 154 of Journey to the Elderoak
“And we’ll rescue your daughter while we’re at it,” Ava reassured him.
“You aren’t coming,” said her brother.
“Of course I am. I have to help.”
“As your king, I’m ordering you. You cannot come. If they get a hold of you, you’re dead. We’re all dead.”
“He’s right, Ava,” said Jorrar.
“I’m sorry, but I agree with Thorne,” Thalia added. “It’s too risky to bring the one they seek most into the depths of their camp.”
“When will you all be going on this suicide mission?” she asked, worried they would risk their lives and not even let her do the same.
“As soon as possible,” said Thorne. “Once we’re back, we need to ensure Quinn and Raine are recovered. Then we’ll leave. Hopefully a couple of weeks at most.”
Though she understood the reasoning, Ava’s stomachchurned at the notion of her friends going into that camp. Didn’t want to even imagine the possibility of them suffering the way she had.
Picking at a loose thread on her pants, Ava tried to ignore the dread as she listened to the plans being made.
45
“Excellent,” coached Raine as Ava pulled the vines back in.
They’d been practicing all afternoon while Casimir was stuck in meetings. A team would depart tomorrow on a small reconnaissance mission. Once they got as much information as possible, Casimir would send word through Aro when it was time for a larger team to meet them at a predetermined location near the daemon camp.
They’d retrieve the book, the healer, and return to Mosshaven.
Ava loathed this plan, terrified of something going wrong. But both Thorne and Casimir had assured her this was only a mission to gather information.
She still didn’t like it.
“Let’s call it a day,” Raine said as he sat on the stone wall.
She plopped down beside him. “How are you feeling?”
“Back to my merry self.”
It had been about a week since they returned from Oakshire and Raine bounced back quickly. She laid her head on his shoulder, savoring the breeze as it cooled her off.
“Don’t ever do that again,” she said, replaying how his body had slumped to the ground.
“What? Try to protect you?” he replied. “Don’t count on that. You would have done the same for me.”
She sighed. “You’re right.”
They sat in silence as a group of soldiers from Igneothenia emerged from the barracks, ready to do their own training.
Raine perked up. “Let’s go watch,” he said. “It’ll be good for you to see other kingdoms’ techniques.”
They made their way to the field as soldiers lined up in formation. Sitting under a large tree, they watched the volcanic kingdom’s warmup routine.
A woman with crimson skin covered in neon yellow veins, which moved and writhed as she walked, paced in front of the company with her hands behind her back. Black flames were tattooed on her neck, and her pointed ears were adorned with countless piercings. The sides of her head were shaved, the rest of her black curls sitting in a mohawk-like style.
Her short, muscular frame was dressed in black pants and a matching tunic, tied with a bright red belt signaling her rank. The rest of the soldiers wore gray outfits with yellow belts. Twin golden swords were sheathed on her back, glinting in the sun as she strode along the field. Authority radiated from her, barking orders at the soldiers in a subtly accented voice.
Raine tensed. “Who is that?”
“You haven’t met her yet? That’s Maeryn. She’s the general of Igneothenia’s armies. She’s kind of scary.”
