Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Ahead, heavy iron doors shuddered and then groaned, inching open. Torches jutted out from the deep and wide walls of the Rise, casting light around the perimeter. The courtyard was mostly left to the shadows, but farther along, light flickered like a staggered sea of low-hanging stars.
“Was this not destroyed? Or was it rebuilt?” I asked as we rode through the Rise.
“The Rise suffered some damage but remained mostly intact. We’ve been able to repair those sections. See the lights? That’s Stygian Fortress. It belonged to the caretakers of the Bay and was reinforced during the War of Two Kings,” Casteel explained. “The fortress was largely unscathed, even after the war. I suppose the Ascended were afraid to incur the wrath of Rhain by destroying the dwelling, so they left it standing.”
“And the caretakers?” I was half afraid to ask.
“They are buried beyond, in stone graves with the rest of the original people of Spessa’s End,” he answered.
Sick—I truly felt sick. Two entire towns destroyed. And for what? All because the Ascended feared the truth and didn’t want to rule so far east? This was a kind of evil, senseless and inconceivable, and I knew that Spessa’s End and Pompay probably weren’t the only ones. New Haven would most likely face the same fate, and the only small blessing was that Elijah was moving the people out before they too ended up with only a pile of stones as a marker of the lives they led.
“But we’ve reclaimed Spessa’s End, built back as much as we were able to,” Casteel said. “And the Ascended have no idea.”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ll see.” Casteel’s thumb made a sweep along my hip. “I’ve found a temporary answer to our land issues.”
Before I could question further, a form took shape on the road, halting any answers to my questions. Setti slowed as I tensed, my hand slipping to the dagger on my thigh out of instinct.
Casteel’s hand folded over mine. “He’s a friendly.”
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“Don’t be,” he said in a low voice. “I’d rather you be prepared than be too trusting.”
A torch flamed to life, casting a reddish glow over the face of a young man. He wasn’t alone. A wolven stood beside him, a smaller one with fur the color of the Bay. Without warning, the wolven bounded toward us, jumping and prancing about like a…an excited puppy that recognized visitors.
“Someone is happy to see you,” Kieran remarked.
Casteel chuckled as he tightened Setti’s reins. “Careful, Beckett. You don’t want to get too close to the horse.”
The young wolven danced back as his tail wagged frantically before he wiggled his way toward Delano.
“Your Highness,” the young man who held the torch said with a voice pitched with awe. He dropped to one knee, bowing his head, and I was half afraid he’d lose his grip on the torch.
“There’s no need for that,” Casteel said, drawing us closer to the young man. He shifted behind me. “Is that you, Quentyn?”
The man’s head bobbed. “Yes, Your Highness—I mean, my Prince. It is I.”
“Gods, you’ve grown at least a foot or two since I last saw you.” The smile was evident in Casteel’s tone, and I almost turned to see it. “Did Alastir drag you out here?”
“I wanted to go with him,” Quentyn answered. “So did Beckett.”
“Maybe you can tell him to rise.” Kieran rode past the young boy. “The longer he continues to kneel, the larger your ego will grow.”
“Don’t know if that’s possible,” Naill said under his breath.
I raised a brow.
Casteel laughed. “You can rise, Quentyn. And call me Casteel, like everyone else.”
Quentyn rose so fast that I had no idea how he didn’t light his head on fire in the process. Admiration filled the boyish face. It was too dark for me to make out his eyes as he glanced curiously in my direction. “We’ve been waiting for you, hopeful that you’d make it here tonight.”
“Where’s Alastir?” Casteel asked as the wolven trotted between Delano and us.
“He’s retired for the evening.”
Casteel snorted. “More like he passed out. He was talking about some whiskey he’d gotten his hands on when I last saw him.”
“I…uh, do believe that the whiskey may have aided in his inability to stay awake,” Quentyn answered sheepishly.
I grinned, unable to help myself.
“But we made sure fires were lit in the rooms since it does get chilly here at night,” Quentyn continued, glancing up at me curiously.
“Allow me to introduce my fiancée.” Casteel took note of his questioning looks. “This is Penellaphe.”
Fiancée.
My grip on the saddle loosened, and I wondered if the dizziness was just my imagination. I didn’t think I’d ever get used to hearing him say that.
“Alastir said you were bringing a lady with you—your fiancée.” The torch bobbed along with him. “I mean, congratulations! To you both. You hear that, Beckett? This is our Prince’s fiancée.”