Broken, but Not Defeated

Chater 62 (Wesley)

     I watch as Juliana stares down Katrina, hatred spilling from her eyes. She looks so much like Caldina, the similarity is uncanny.

"Saddle your horses, we need to leave in ten minutes. Bring two of your most trustworthy guards," Caldina commands before she passes me.

The others melt into the shadows except for Rowan and Juliana who hug each other. Rowan whispers something into Juliana's ear which makes her smile and elbow him. She walks over to me, I raise an eyebrow.

"What?" she asks, feigning innocence.

"Nothing," I say, as we make our way to our makeshift stables.

I look around me, the horses are saddled and mounted and everyone wears grim faces, but I don't understand why until Sienna rides over to me.

"Sienna, why is everyone so serious?"

"Because we could be walking straight into Lunetta's army."

"What do you mean?" Juliana asks, worry furrowing her brow.

"There's a chance that King Malcolm was acting on Lunetta's orders," Sienna answers, before wheeling her horse around to ride next to Caldina at the front. Arietta's already up there. I only see one of Levindal's guards, and two other Doryukans besides the queen and her sister.

Caldina kicks her horse and we follow her.

Our horses pound through the forest, over hills, and across meadows. We pass startled deer and scared squirrels. The little sliver of moon barely reaches through the dense forest roof, our path is lightened only when Caldina sets her hand on fire to read a map. The first time seeing her use fire sends a wave of shock through the group who hasn't seen her do that before.

We stop by a small creek to give our horses a break, and Juliana dismounts. I follow behind her, while the others argue.

"Julia, where are you going?" I whisper, hoping and praying no one hears us.

"I thought that maybe I should check the map Nora gave me," she whispers back. I nod at her, and she reaches into the bag. She seems to be struggling to get it out, and that's when I realize she's shaking.

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask, leading her over to a rock, where I grab both her hands in mine.

"No," she says, putting her head on my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her. "What if I can't do this, what if I mess up?" she whispers so quietly I barely hear her. I grab her chin and lift her head up so I can look into her eyes.

"Listen to me, Juliana. Caldina wouldn't have picked you if she thought that couldn't do it. She believes in you, and so do I. I mean just a few days ago you created a water wall and it didn't tire you. If anyone can do it, you can," I affirm. Then, standing up I offer her my hand.

"Juliana! Wesley!" Arietta calls out.

"We're over here," I call back.

This time Juliana reaches into her bag with a firm hand. I peer over her shoulder and just like all the other times I see nothing.

"I know where we need to go!" she exclaims before running back to her horse. I sprint after her. We pass a very startled and confused Arietta. I grab Awiergan's reins and throw myself on his back. Juliana doesn't even stop to tell the others, she just grabs her reins and kicks her horse. I follow after her and hear the others struggling to follow us, but I've stopped caring. I guess Juliana isn't the only one who's been adopting Caldina's ways.

"Wesley, what's going on?" Caldina shouts from beside me.

"She knows where to go," I shout back and kick Awiergan harder, he picks up speed; the ground seems to blur beneath us.