The Beauty of Darkness (The Remnant Chronicles 3)

Tavish nodded, and they rode off.

I loosened the strap on my sheath and gripped my hilt just as Lia limped back from a brief trip behind some brambles. She saw them riding away, and an annoyed crease furrowed her brow. “Now, where are they going?”

I shrugged. “I spotted a flock of geese, and they’re all craving a juicy goose for dinner tonight.”

“I don’t understand. I thought we were in a hurry to get to the valley floor.”

“We’re making good time, and we do need to eat tonight.”

Her eyes narrowed. “All of them needed to go?”

I turned away, using the premise of searching for something in my saddlebag. “Why not?” I said. “Orrin’s not the only one who likes to hunt.”

I felt the silence at my back, and I pictured her with her hands on her hips. I didn’t think she’d buy it again.

When I turned, her head was angled with accusation.

“I spotted something through the trees when I was out,” I explained. “It was a long way off. I’m certain it was only a herd of deer, but they’re going to go check just to be sure.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

I knew it wasn’t deer.

Fifteen minutes passed.

Then an hour.

“Should we go look for them?” I asked.

“No,” Rafe insisted, but I saw him circling. Positioning the horses. His hand returning to his hilt again and again.

Finally we heard the ruffled nicker of a horse through the trees, and we both spun toward the sound.

Tavish emerged from the forest, leading two horses behind him. “Well, well, well,” he crowed. “You were right. Look what we found.”

The others followed behind him, and when Sven and his horse moved aside, I gasped.

By the gods. It couldn’t be.

I hobbled forward, but Rafe stretched his hand out to stop me.

Orrin and Jeb had their bows drawn, arrows aimed with razor-sharp concentration at Kaden’s and Griz’s hearts as they walked them into our camp. It was as if they didn’t trust a sword to bring down Griz and a safe distance was their best strategy. Sven had already relieved them of their weapons.

Rafe approached them, eyeing Kaden. Kaden returned his frigid stare. My breath froze in my chest. Nothing had changed between them. Their gazes were heavy with threat, though Kaden was in no position to threaten anyone.

“So we meet again, Prince Jaxon.”

“So we do,” Rafe replied, his voice as brittle as the air. “But it looks as if you’ve traveled a long way for nothing. Stupid sot.”

Kaden’s nostrils flared. He hadn’t missed the irony of his own long-ago words being thrown back into his face.

“What should we do with them?” Tavish asked.

Rafe stared at Kaden for what seemed an eternity, then shrugged as if it was of little matter. “Kill them,” he said.

I jumped forward grabbing his arm. “Rafe! You can’t kill them!”

“What am I supposed to do, Lia? Take them prisoner? Look at the size of that one!” he said, pointing at Griz. “I don’t even have enough rope to go around him.”