Page 91 of In Rising Tides

“Would you hurry it up?” Dust complained. “I’m sure they’ve gotten the fires controlled by now.” By the lighter smoke, it appeared they had.

A horse whinnied nearby, and Maelys whispered something he couldn’t make out.

“We need to move,” she hissed. “The King knows you’re gone.”

There was a clicking sound and then a clatter as the shackles fell to the grass.

Wilder rubbed at his wrists. It was an instant relief when he could move his arms.

Ridge pressed a sword into his hand.

“Queen Aine stole this,” he chuckled. “Said you would probably need it.”

It was Wilder’s sword.

The heirloom blade passed down for centuries.

Dust and Oron shoved Wilder towards the nearest horse that Ridge waited beside.

“I got it,” Wilder grumbled as Ridge hesitated.

Wilder was a bit clumsy getting into the saddle, and he flexed his boots into the stirrup, adjusting to the oddity of his body.

“Double dose on the sedative,” Ridge chuckled as he slid into his saddle. “It’ll burn off soon.”

Wilder nodded as they set off through the brambles, with Maelys leading the way.

Dust and Oron brought up the lead, using their magic to blow their scent to the west as they worked south and then east.

The moon filtered through the canopy as they pushed deeper into the forest. It smelled of earth and decomposing leaves in this part of the wood, but almost imperceptible, he caught the scent of salt.

A stamping of hooves alarmed Wilder until he recognized the riders.

Cedric and Oak slid into position behind them. It was strange to see them out of their usual armor and wearing plain tunics and leather.

“No one followed,” Oak announced.

Maelys slowed their pace, and Wilder breathed a sigh of relief.

“We still need to keep a lookout,” Ridge said. “There have been attacks by the wulvers in this part of the Valewood.”

Wilder frowned. “Who are they attacking?”

“Anyone and anything that is not of their kind,” Maelys replied.

As they traveled beneath a beam of moonlight, her hair shone as if spun gold.

But it was the violent expression across her face that caught Wilder’s attention.

“Who’s leading them?”

“Maelor,” Ridge replied. “He became alpha of Igneous’ clan.”

Wilder nodded. That had been expected. Lyra had killed their alpha—for him.

It made his chest ache when he thought of that memory.

“What else?” Wilder asked.