“The king’s focus is still on Dreamsong.”
She’s not answering. I’m on the cusp of all of my suspicions about her being justified. I can feel it. “Has he given any orders for others to pursue us?”
“I don’t know everything he says or does.”
“Does he have reason to suspect us?” I set down the bucket.
“I don’t know the inner workings of his mind, either.” Her hands ball into fists and then relax, as if she’s forcing herself to remain calm.
“Will we be attacked when we leave these borders?”
“The world is a dangerous place.”
“Why won’t you answer me directly?” I demand, voice raising slightly. I don’t give her a chance to reply. I go right for the proverbial throat with my questioning. “Yes or no—will the king send people to attack us once we leave the safety of the borders of the Acolytes of the Wild Wood?”
“I don’t owe you any answers.” Allor has gone quiet, her voice a deadly hush.
“No, you don’t. But even if you did, you couldn’t give them to me…because you can’t lie and you won’t tell the truth.”
She smiles, her lips splitting to show her teeth. They’re like Giles’s—a little too sharp. “You don’t trust me, do you, little human?”
“I don’t think I have many good reasons to trust you. I don’t think anyone should trust you.”
“Careful about making threats you can’t back up.” Her eyes flash. Power seems to shimmer off of her shoulders, collecting around the shadowy cowl she wears.
This is the moment I would back off. If Allor was Joyce, I would cower. I would give up here and now because I had no power, no strength. Instead, I boldly take a step forward.
“I have the power of the kings of Aviness in me.” I take another step. “I have power Boltov would—has killed thousands for.” Another step, and another. Soon enough we’re mere inches apart and my blood is boiling. There’s a swell rolling. A tide that’s about to crash down on both of us. “You wouldn’t be the first fae who tried to end me. You might not be the last I kill for it, either.”
“Do you think you can kill me?” Allor straightens slightly to look down at me. I gather my height as well. She tilts her head back and points at the vein bulging in her neck. “If you do, I’d recommend you strike here. Go right for the throat. Don’t give me a chance to fight back. Because if you do…that’ll be your last mistake.”
“How dare—” I’m cut off by Davien emerging.
“Allor? What’re you doing here?”
“I came to wish you luck on your passage today.” Allor eases away from me with a smile. “All other messages I’ve left with Katria. I really should be going now.” She jumps back into one of the long shadows cast by the trees and vanishes like smoke on the breeze.
“What was that about?” I didn’t even hear Davien approach, but he’s at my side. His hand is suddenly on the small of my back. I jump at the touch. “Katria? What’s wrong?”
A lot. But I focus on the most important. “We should go back to Dreamsong.”
A scowl crosses his lips. “You know we can’t.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.” I grab Davien’s shirt, ignoring how natural it feels to reach for him. My voice falls to a whisper. Allor could be anywhere. For all I know, she could have magic that allows her to listen to us from afar. Nowhere but Dreamsong feels safe and she can get to us even there. “We need to go back, circle the wagons, and stand together against Boltov. I’m certain that we can figure out a ritual there with a little more time.” A ritual that Allor has no hand in.
“We have to keep going.” He grabs my hands. “The sooner the magic is transferred from you to me, the sooner I’ll be able to effectively use it to protect everyone.”
“Don’t you see? She’s sending us away, beyond the wards, dividing us from the pack. I don’t trust her.” My grip tightens. “She’s playing a game with us and she’s going to win if we don’t stay one step ahead.”
“That’s just the way Allor is. She has that air about her.”
“Then she’s ‘just’ someone we shouldn’t be working with.”
“We don’t have a choice in that.” He frowns. “I know you haven’t liked her from the start but—”
“I think we’re going to be attacked,” I blurt.
“Why do you say that?” His eyes search mine, as if he’s looking for a reason to believe me, as though he wants to…but wanting doesn’t seem like it’s enough and I feel my ribs crumble in on my heart at the realization.
