Page 141 of Spar of Hearts

Lady Rowan shakily climbed onto the baluster, skirts billowing in the wind.

“I’ll catch you. I’m coming too!” Octavio jumped, then turned back to catch Lady Rowan. They tumbled to the ground together.

As the ship met the Gates of Hav, the kelpie released the seaweed ropes, braying and gnashing until the bronze gates slammed shut behind the Lupus Star and echoed through the fjord.

They walked in stoic silence for several minutes before Roderick said, “I hope no one’s having second thoughts.”

“Never,” Octavio said resolutely. “I’m with you, sir.” He gave Roderick a solid pat on the shoulder.

“Me too!” Lady Rowan nodded. “I’m not letting Anya marry some pompous prince.”

There was nothing but determination in their eyes. How could he have ever doubted their friendship? He wanted to hug them, thank them, but now wasn’t the time.

“We aren’t that far from Solenergi. The bed was cold when I woke up, so Anya must be there by now. And since Isen wasn’t back yet, we might be able to catch him.”

“How will he see us? He’ll be flying above all this fog.” Lady Rowan swatted the mist.

“No one will bat an eye at a little magic, will they?” Octavio twiddled his fingers, sending a silver ball of magic into the air. A mighty roar replied in the distance.

“Keep it up!” Roderick cheered. “He’s close!”

Roderick whistled the same call he had at the base of the mountain yesterday, eliciting another roar.

“Isen!” he called, waving his hands.

Octavio grunted with effort, and the ball of magic flared brighter.

“We’re down here!” Lady Rowan shouted, jumping up and down as if it would magnify her dainty voice.

The mist whipped around them, clearing momentarily before Isen touched down with a thump. His icy blue eyes immediately locked on Roderick.

“Roderick! Thank the skies, the Princess, she—”

Roderick set a hand on his snout. “I know. We’re going to get her back.”

Isen flattened himself on the ground, and they all climbed onto his back. “We have to hurry. She’s being married to the Prince before sunrise!”

Lady Rowan gasped. “So soon? How do you know?”

“The Prince came to greet her and enchant me to pass over the wall again. He said there was a lot to do before sunrise—before the binding ceremony.”

Roderick took a deep breath, focusing on the rush of air in his lungs. Isen was right. The ceremony was imminent. He swore he could feel Anya’s breath shaking with ragged sobs as if it were his own. A heartache-driven delusion? Perhaps. But he was ready to follow his heart straight to the pits of hell for Anya.

As they lofted over the mist, his face paled. The sun was already peeking over the horizon.

Hold on, love.

I’ll be there soon.

A deluge of rain and lightning forced them to land outside of Solenergi, deep in the pine forest scarfing the mountains. The storm darkened the sky, the horizon, and made the fog so dense Roderick couldn’t tell where the sun was. Everything was conspiring against him.

“I can keep going if we wait it out,” Isen said, breathing hard like a fireplace bellows.

“No. I’ll go on foot. You all stay here.” He slid down the dragon’s shoulder, then took off to the north. Or at least, he thought.

He heard Lady Rowan and Octavio’s fading shouts behind him, but he kept running. Rain pelted against his face, the rivulets slipping around his eyes into the corners to blur his vision. Through the wind, through the rain, he ignored every thorn that ripped his skin. Anya’s breaths had begun to even out, like she was putting on her diplomatic mask for the final show.

“I’m coming,” he pleaded. “Hold on, just hold on!”