His face darkened. "I wouldn't--"
"I'm not taking that chance. Now move."
Eleven
The sun still hadn't risen. If anything, the forest had grown darker and the air colder. Moria's breath puffed as she walked.
Shadow stalkers.
Did she truly believe that's what she'd seen? She wasn't sure. As much as she loved chilling tales, they were simply delicious paths for the imagination to wander.
And yet . . .
She peered into the forest and gripped her dagger tighter. She was still scouring the woods when one of the lanterns flickered. The light wavered again . . . and went out.
Oswald called for the procession to halt while he relit it. Moria gazed out into the surrounding grayness. The swirling shadows were gone. They had been since they'd begun the return trek. While the forest beyond wasn't a pleasant sight--gnarled trees, hanging moss--it was empty.
"It won't ignite," Oswald said.
"Here," Jonas said.
As he tried to light Oswald's lantern, his own went out.
"That happened to us earlier," Ashyn whispered to Moria.
Moria nodded. "If you can relight them while you walk, then do so. Otherwise, keep moving and--"
Jonas pitched forward, the lantern sailing from his hands and crashing to the ground. Then the guard disappeared, flat on his stomach, arms flailing as something dragged him into the undergrowth.
Moria and Daigo charged after him.
Moria raced through the forest as she clawed vines aside.
I shouldn't have left Ashyn. I know it's my duty to protect everyone, and Ashyn can keep the spirits at bay. But I shouldn't have left her.
Her foot caught on a vine. She didn't have time to even break her fall before she went down hard, chin hitting the ground, blade flying from her hand. She leaped up, but the vine held her fast. Daigo fell on it, snarling, pulling it so hard she fell again, tears springing to her eyes.
Tears? Truly?
She pushed Daigo away and managed to sit up, swiping at her eyes and cursing.
When she heard a noise, she looked up to see Gavril hacking his way through the vines.
"Here!" she called.
As she struggled to cut herself free, Daigo hovered anxiously and Gavril had to shove him out of the way. The wildcat snarled but backed off.
Gavril dropped to his knees and slashed the vine so angrily she expected the blade to go right into her leg. When she was free, she leaped to her feet, looking in every direction, straining to listen.
The forest was silent. Jonas had been taken. She'd been his only hope and she'd lost him. Because she'd tripped. Over a vine.
She bent to Daigo. "Where is he?"
The wildcat looked back the way they'd come.
"No. Where is Jonas?"
Daigo butted her legs, again in Ashyn's direction. When Moria ignored him, he caught her breeches and tugged, growling.