Tainted

Chapter Forty-Three

I slow as we enter the forest. A mixture of fear and awe twists deep in my stomach as we ride between trees taller than Haven is long. They create dappled shadows on the loamy floor. A myriad of birds call out our passing, and even the rustling of the leaves sounds like a symphony.

I lean over Happy's side and run my hand through a thatch of vibrant, purple blooms. They coat my fingers in fine, violet dust. This place is like magic. Even the smells are different. They're crisp and earthy, with a faint hint of roses.

Technicolor flowers sprout between shrubbery of emerald and ruby, while streams of water bluer than the Laplands' coast trickle past underfoot. This looks so different now that I'm not running for my life through these trees.

I try to peer through the trees, but their boughs are too thick to see through. I know the nobles' village is just outside forest, and beyond that, is the prison. My ears buzz and every part of me is on edge. My hand keeps straying to the knife at my belt.

Surma holds up a hand, and we all come to a stop. She slips silently from her horse in one fluid motion.

"We'll camp here," she says, tying her horse's reins to a nearby tree branch. She goes to work on the saddle bindings, freeing them from her horse. Her horse's chest inflates and deflates with a relaxing breath. Surma tosses a saddle bag over her shoulder and pulls her flame-colored scarf from her neck, twisting it between the gloved fingers of her free hand as she walks off into the trees.

Rogue walks up beside me. He's already off his horse and on the ground.

"Lean over," he says, "I'll catch you."

My stomach flutters. I let go of Happy's reins, and lean. I fall right into Rogue's arms. He looks down at me, smiling, and I don't ever want to forget this moment.

"Hey," he says.

"Hey," I say.

Rogue presses a feathery kiss to my forehead, before setting me down on my feet. He unbuckles Happy's bindings and lets the saddle bags drop. He picks them up one by one, and I gently pull Happy up to the tree, tying up his reins next to Surma's horse.

Happy nuzzles the side of my head. I give him a quick hug, then let him go.

I lean side to side on each leg, stretching my thighs. Thanks to Rogue's salve and the strips of silk, my legs haven't chafed anymore against Happy's side. They're still red, but at least they're no longer raw.

The moon is high in the sky, the Goddess watching over us. She casts enough light to see by, and I take the tent materials from the saddle bags, lying them out in preparation.

"We won't have a fire tonight," Rogue says. "We're too close to the prison. I wouldn't want anyone to spot the smoke and come running."

"Then what will we eat," Sani moans.

"There's dried meat and some cheese," Rogue offers.

"An' berries!" Sailor adds. He's already picked a handful. They sit fat and purple against his palm.

"What is the plan for tomorrow?" Dem asks. He buries a tent pole deep in the ground.

"Well Mira here said she knows where the keys are." Rogue slings an arm over my shoulders. I tuck into his side.

"She's Mira now?" Sani scoffs and rolls her eyes. She picks up a tent pole and buries it into the dirt as well.

I have trouble keeping the massive grin from my face. The good thing is that Sailor's beaming for me.

I calm myself down and sober up. "Only the Key Master and the warden have a set of keys for the dungeons," I say. "We know where Alani will be tomorrow—the warden's box during the Moon Day duel. We can disguise ourselves as nobles and sneak into the arena and get close enough to Alani to take the keys from her."