Page 33 of The Awakening of Essensia

Lord Jurah snorted then shot Eli an apologetic look. Eli scowled at his Commander, then the expression vanished, his face smoothing instantly as he side-eyed Vaelira.

She gave them both a tight smile and turned to her plate, deciding not to get in the middle of whatever was going on between them. The meat was tough, the vegetables boiled too soft, but it was warm enough. She picked at the food, the silver coins weighing heavily on her conscience.

“Lord Jurah” she said, when neither man offered conversation, “how much longer until we reach the capital?”

“Two more days,” Jurah replied. “We ride to Allen tomorrow and the day after that, we arrive in the Caerthalyn.”

“I presume that means another silver tomorrow night?” She glanced at Eli and took a bite of food. She couldn’t taste it.

“You don’t owe me anything.” Eli said a little sharper than she’d expected. “It’s covered by the Crown.”

She nodded her head, chewing slowly, then swallowed. “Good to know I won’t be starting my time on the Guard indebted to anyone.”

The men exchanged a glance.

“You won’t be starting your duty,” Eli said. “There’s a great deal to learn before you wear the crest.”

“I’ve been training for four years. I’ll be fine.” She had to be. She needed access to the Royal Library and the answers she would find there. Her chances of getting inside the place were considerably better if she was part of the Royal Guard. If she had to waste more time training… Not an option.

“I thought you couldn’t start until sixteen?” Eli looked to Jurah. The older man nodded.

“I trained by myself first,” she said, waving a hand. “It doesn’t matter.” But it did. She had trained to protect others, and it had taken her all of one day to fail.

“Training by yourself is not the same as training with instruction.”

“I never said I didn’t have instruction.”

Eli raised an eyebrow.

Vaelira sighed. “I used to spy on the guard training and practice the moves myself. Okay?”

“Is that allowed?” Eli turned to Jurah again.

Jurah shrugged.

Eli let out an exasperated sound then turned back to his plate.

Vaelira studied him, watching as his brow furrowed, his jaw and throat working as he swallowed his food.

She would be damned to the Abyss before letting this overbearing guard stand between her and the answers she needed. Even if she didn’t know what she would do when she found them.

The sun stood high when the three set out the next morning. Vaelira watched the lake as they rode, admiring the blurred reflection of two birds soaring overhead, dark shapes gliding across a pale blue sky.

The mountains loomed closer now, though still faint behind the towering pines. Stumps lined the road and riverbank as they approached the forest's edge and Vaelira eyed the trees warily. Their tall limbs swayed in the wind, their sharp needles already blanketing the road and muffling the clack of hooves beneath them.

“We’ll be out before dark,” Jurah said from behind her. “The forest is thin here. Amrien will keep the beasts at bay.” A patch of cloud drifted aside, sunlight spilling over the path ahead and turning it gold, as if the Sun Goddess herself had heard him.

They rode in silence for a while, the forest swallowing sound as though the world were holding its breath. The air was cool and damp beneath the trees. Shadows lined the road, bright sunlight no longer warming her skin.

After some time, Eli raised a hand and slowed his horse. Millie tossed her head and Vaelira pulled at her reins, coming to a stop. “Stone in the hoof,” Eli muttered as he dismounted.

Vaelira turned to find Jurah watching the trees, a hand already on the pommel of his sword. She mimicked the action, finding where her blade was strapped to the saddle and letting her thumb brush over the ruby on the pommel.

They waited as Eli crouched, muttering under his breath and lifting a hoof. Time slipped by with agonizing slowness, each minute cutting into the precious daylight. Finally, he lowered the horse’s leg and swung back into the saddle. They rode on, faster than before.

The trees thickened, pine trunks rising like pillars on either side of the narrow path. The road began to curve back towards the river, and they crossed a narrow, moss-covered bridge, the water roaring beneath them. As they reached the other side, Vaelira spotted something.

A figure lay prone across the path. A woman.