Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119158 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 596(@200wpm)___ 477(@250wpm)___ 397(@300wpm)
With a couple of steps, I closed the distance between us and covered the fist still holding the paper with my hand. “Wherever you want to go, I’ll go with you. We’ll find the truth together.”
Nylian dropped his head forward to rest his forehead against mine and released a quiet sigh of relief. “Thank you. I don’t think I would have made it this far without you.”
“Yes, me and my brilliant collection of distractions and fuckups,” I teased. I wasn’t sure what good I was for Nylian. But so long as I wasn’t holding him back, that was all that mattered to me. I just wanted him to find his happiness again.
“While I’m sure his distractions are handy, I think you could also use my sword,” Adeline interjected.
Nylian lifted his head and tilted it to the side so he could look at the woman standing next to the fire. “You’re sure? If Uncle has something useful to tell, I have a feeling we’ll be going to Lockeheim next, and my funds are getting low.”
The grin that spread across her pale-pink lips was positively mercenary. “Funny that. I want something other than money this time.”
I snorted. “What? Land in Wolfrest? A title?”
She shook her head. “Nope. A proper teacher for Jasper. The human wizards have been useless so far, and Galinaes is too dangerous. I’ll help you get to Blackscar and then to where you need to go in Lockeheim, as long as you agree to find Jasper a teacher.”
“Adeline!” Jasper cried out as if he meant to argue, but she held up one hand, halting whatever he was going to say next.
“Done,” Nylian agreed without needing to hear anything else.
We had our next destination that could bring us one step closer to getting the answers Nylian sought, but this one sank like a boulder in the pit of my stomach. I didn’t trust this uncle, even if Nylian did. Until someone proved otherwise, I was sure they were all out to hurt him. If Nylian’s goal was to find his brother’s killer, my goal was to keep him alive.
I mentally crossed my fingers that this was going to be a long, slow trip to Wolfrest and Blackscar. That way, I’d have a chance to learn how to use a sword. Gone were the days of not knowing how I was going to keep him safe. No one was touching my elf.
Chapter 23
Unexpected News
Blackscar castle was not what I’d been expecting when I’d thought of an elf city. Maybe I should have been expecting something big, dark, scary, and battered by war, though, considering the fortress sat so close to the border with Galinaes. It looked as if gray stones comprised the walls surrounding the castle, but smoke and soot had blackened everything, giving the place an ominous appearance. The only thing missing were heavy storm clouds and a murder of crows perched on the nearby signposts.
And yet, it wasn’t an overly depressing sight. We passed by a small nearby village that was a bloom of colors as people had set up stalls for a market. There were carts full of fresh produce, booths draped with yards of colorful fabric, tables laden with hand-carved and painted children’s toys. People were out shopping and chatting. Children were darting among the adults, shouting and laughing. It was as if they didn’t notice that black shadow of a castle looming over them. Or they’d gotten accustomed to it.
“Don’t let the fortress scare you,” Nylian whispered into my ear, startling me.
“What?” I jerked my head around to find a weak half smile on his lips. We’d been on the road south to Blackscar for over two weeks. Every time we took a break, Nylian would teach me more about swordplay. I was still a far way off from being any good, but I at least was in less danger of stabbing myself. Yet, every day that we got closer to our destination, Nylian’s mood wilted more. He smiled a little less, laughed a little less, and held me tighter each night as we lay by the fire.
He said he trusted his uncle, but I wasn’t convinced. Yes, we had to come to Blackscar to get the information we needed, but my only goals were to protect Nylian and get him safely out of the city. I didn’t give a shit if this guy was Nylian’s uncle, brother to the king, or whatever. I wouldn’t let him harm a hair on my elf’s head.
“Blackscar isn’t a normal city for Wolfrest,” he stated. He bumped his shoulder into mine as we wove our way through the market to the castle. “Just in case you were comparing it to what you saw in Ulmenor. My people built Blackscar fortress as a stronghold to base our western army to repel attacks by Galinaes. We never intended it to be a town long term. It was my great-uncle’s creation. His thought was that one day Wolfrest would conquer Galinaes, and Blackscar wouldn’t be needed anymore. We would tear it down and use its bricks to build a proper, elegant town worthy of the people of Wolfrest.”