Kai stuck close to Anna’s side as the party made their way into the forest, likely worried about her sanity. She’d kept him abreast of the things she’d seen, and fortunately he believed her, but his worry was evident.
Worry, she could deal with. She was just glad she had someone to confide in. Of course, how could he not support her after all they’d been through?
She flexed her palms, trying to banish her nerves. The trees seemed to be closing in around them, but she knew it was only in her head. Their broad leaves, shaped like large hands, cast eerie shadows in the dying light, but did not actually move.
Her remaining crewmen muttered behind her back about the ships they’d left behind. Fools. They hadn’t lost out. It was her ship they’d left. Though she knew the friend she’d procured it from hadn’t charged her full price, it was still a greater loss for her than anyone else. The men didn’t know how lucky they were now to be traveling with skilled fighters. She didn’t know much about the girl, Ealasaid, but knew Iseult, Kai, Maarav, and Sativola knew what they were doing with their blades. Their party was better protected than most traveling these now forsaken lands.
Now that they were concealed within the woods, Finn let Naoki down to roam around. The little dragon scented the ground and ran circles around everyone’s feet, but never strayed too far from her mother. Anna was surprised to notice Iseult smiling at the creature as she took the end of Finn’s cloak in her beak and tried to tug her along . . . or perhaps he was just smiling at Finn. Either way, Anna had previously thought him incapable of smiling at all.
Soon they reached an area Iseult deemed secluded enough, and Anna exhaled in relief. Her feet felt like icy bricks, weighing her down with every step.
There was enough of an opening in the trees for everyone to lay out their bedrolls, with a few fallen logs for seating. She knew they’d found enough supplies within Migris for a hearty supper, though they’d be wise to ration what they had, not knowing where the next batch of supplies might be found. Unfortunately, she had a sneaking suspicion it would be difficult to keep things fair, considering her crewmen already seemed to be arguing with Maarav’s as they set up their bedrolls.
“We need to get to Port Ainfean,” one of her crewmen said. “We can sail the river Cair, far away from any Reiver ships, then return to the sea when it’s safe.”
One of Maarav’s crewmen, Rae, Anna thought his name was, turned to the other man, Tavish, and muttered that they should head north.
“North?” Anna’s crewman blurted. “Why in the name of the Horned One would you want to head north? Nothin’ up that way but Reivers.”
Maarav’s two crewmen met each other’s eyes, but did not comment, and instead stood and walked off together, muttering quietly to each other. Soon Anna’s crewmen followed, demanding to know the reason for heading north.
Finding Maarav’s crewmen suspicious, but seeing little she could do about it in that moment, she turned her gaze to the remaining portion of the group. Ealasaid seemed to be upset about something, and Finn was fussing over her like a mother hen, while Kai and Iseult started stacking wood for a fire.
Ealasaid began to cry, and Maarav took Finn’s place, ushering the girl off into the woods to speak in privacy.
Anna shook her head and turned back to her bag of procured supplies. They would all need to be sorted and doled out properly, and she was obviously going to be the one to do it, since no one else was offering.
“I’ll get some more wood for the fire,” Sativola sighed, having finished tending to Maarav and Iseult’s horses.
“Thank you,” Anna muttered, pleased she wouldn’t have to do everything.
By the time she’d finished sorting the supplies, Kai and Iseult had a roaring fire going. While the fire might draw unwanted human attention, it would hopefully keep other creatures at bay. Plus, it was absolutely freezing in the forest, even though they were still well within the growing season by Anna’s estimation.
Leaving the bundled supplies behind, she moved toward the fire, holding her gloved palms outward to warm them. The sun had nearly set, casting odd, long shadows through the trees.
“Where is everyone?” Finn asked, walking toward the fire with Naoki bounding behind her.
“Are you truly so unobservant?” Anna snapped.
Finn frowned, reaching a hand out absentmindedly to pet her dragon friend.
Anna sighed. “Sativola went for more wood, and the other men clambered off arguing about where they want to go from here. Maarav went off with Ealasaid . . . ” she trailed off, glancing warily around them. That had been quite some time ago.
“Oh wonderful,” Kai grumbled, moving to stand next to Anna with his cloak wrapped tightly around him. “They’ve probably all wandered off to be eaten by errant Faie.”
“We should probably find them before that happens,” Anna sighed, lowering her hands to her sides.
Kai groaned. “Why do I have a feeling this is going to be like the Blood Forest all over again?”
Anna smirked. “Because you’re not an idiot.”
Iseult didn’t speak, but it was clear he was not pleased. He offered Finn a hand up from where she crouched near the fire with Naoki. Still holding her hand, he said, “Please, stay by my side at all times.”
Kai snorted. “Yes, please do. We all remember what happened last time we traveled into a forest filled with Faie.”
Anna smirked as Finn’s complexion deepened with a blush. Anna had been held prisoner whilst her companions traveled through the Blood Forest to find her, but Kai had filled her in on what she’d missed. Finn had become even more Faie struck than anyone else, taking off on horseback in search of her family. She and Kai had ended up lost all night, not finding their other companions until the next morning.
At the time, hearing the tale had been amusing. Now that Anna knew just who Finn’s family was, she was leaning more toward terrifying. Had the Cavari truly been in the Blood Forest that night, or was it simply an illusion? Hopefully Finn would not see them this night as well, because Anna feared she would have to abandon them all to run the other way.
Finn’s breath fogged the air in front of her face. Naoki had chosen to prowl around near her feet, leaving her without the extra warmth around her shoulders. Iseult stuck close to her side, his hand on the pommel of his sheathed sword as his eyes scanned the dark trees around them. Behind them walked Kai and Anna. Finn grudgingly admitted to herself that she was glad the pair was currently safe, but only to herself. She’d never say so out loud.
“I believe we’ve found our first missing party member,” Iseult grumbled, drawing Finn out of her thoughts.
She peered past Iseult’s pointing finger to see a glint of golden curls in the moonlight. “Sativola!” she gasped, prepared to run off toward the man, but Iseult caught her by the arm.
“We don’t know if he’s under a Faie spell,” he explained. “He may be dangerous.”
She nodded, then glanced back at Kai and Anna.
Kai sighed. “I suppose I’ll be going first then.” He walked around Finn, dodging a playful swat of Naoki’s talons to approach Sativola, who was happily dancing in the moonlight.
Finn, Iseult, and Anna followed after Kai silently, though Finn doubted Sativola would notice their presence even if they shouted at him. He seemed entirely enthralled with his twirling dance.
“Why is he shirtless?” Anna hissed near Finn’s shoulder.
Finn tried not to laugh. They were all in horrible danger, and she should not find the situation humorous, but she couldn’t help a small smile. Sativola had given Kai a constant ribbing over becoming charmed by the Sirens when they were out to sea. If they all survived, she imagined Kai would have his revenge teasing the large, masculine man about his half-naked twirling in the moonlight.
“Sativola?” Kai questioned, nearing his friend.