Luminescent (Inheritance Cycle and Beyond)

Chapter Thirty-Eight: Radiant

Once I had the laces pulled tightly and tied in neat bows, I stood up and grabbed the beige cloak and swung it around my shoulders, taking care to pin the fabric together with my matching ruby dragon pins.

Murtagh thought it was funny when he had given me the dragon pins in the likeness of Thorn. Scratch that, he thought it was hilarious. Thorn was not as amused. I had rolled my eyes before tucking them away for safekeeping.

Tugging at the cloak one last time, I picked up my bag and slung it over my shoulder before turning and placing my sapphire necklace smack dab in the center of my white comforter.

I turned back to my door and grabbed my sword and short dagger, placing them on my hip. I was set, now I just had to pull off the performance that would get me out of this city.

Opening the door to my room, I strode out, putting a 'pissed off princess' look on my face as I headed for the area where the portal was set up. Both servants and guards scrambled out of my way as I came stalking past them.

I finally found the hall where the portal was. The mages standing around gave me wary looks.

"Is there something you need, your highness?" One of them asked hesitantly. My eyes snapped to the one who had spoken and narrowed.

"That much should be obvious, open it, now." He jumped, and seconds later, he was chanting a spell to open the portal. I smirked at them before walking through the portal.

Hot Surdan sun instantly hit my face. I yanked up the hood to my cloak to protect my face from the suns rays as several Empire soldier's walked up to me.

"Your highness! What are you doing here!?!"

"Do you think I need to explain myself to you?" I snapped at the one who had spoken. "Get me a horse! I'm going out for a ride!"

They scrambled about as the mage's approached me.

"Your highness, may I inquire on where you plan on going?" I turned around to look at the mage who had spoken.

"Know thy enemy," I responded with a dark smirk; the mage had a taken aback look before understanding dawned on his face. He nodded as a pitch-black horse was brought over to me. It had a black saddle, reigns, and breastplate to match. "I don't know when I'll be back, don't come after me. Someone might decide to be an imbecile and ruin my plans."

The soldiers paled and nodded back at me. With one last smirk, I spun the horse around and went into a canter immediately. I headed in the general direction of the Varden's camp, keeping a good pace.

I dodged groups of soldiers, not wanting to have to explain my reasons for being out near a battlefield. The closer I got to the battlefield, the stronger the stench of death became, and the more my horse shifted about and threw her head. She was nervous.

No longer confined to simple elf form, I entered her mind and sent calming thoughts to her. Her nervous movements ceased, and the head she had been throwing about stilled. I patted her on the neck as I cooed to her.

Once I finally made it to the corridor of passages that wound through the plateau nearby, I slowed down to a trot. No doubt, with the Varden camp being so close, there were ambush regimens on the lookout.

Opening my mind, I could feel those of the Varden lookouts. They were close. I let the horse trot halfway through the massive gorge before I pulled her to a stop and waited. It wasn't long until a small group of soldiers came riding out from behind the bend.