A Quest of Sea and Soil by S. Usher Evans

Author:S. Usher Evans
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sun's Golden Ray Publishing

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

Ayla

"Well, this is ridiculous."

I sat with my arms crossed over my chest as Rutley and three other soldiers played cards by a small fire. The last of the troops had just disappeared over the nearby hill, leaving the five of us in quiet solitude. Ward and the fastest riders had been gone at least an hour—though it was hard to tell time with the sun gone.

I'd already chewed my nails to the quick, paced the grass until it was flat, and argued until I was blue in the face with Rutley about whether I should go. He and I usually got along well, but I was starting to resent him a little.

"Just relax, Your Majesty," he said, throwing another card down. "There's nothing you can do down there anyway."

"But what if there is?" I said. "What if Ramira is there, and the two of us can negotiate a ceasefire?"

"Then I'm sure the good captain will send someone to fetch you," he said, not looking up. "Why don't you get some rest?"

"I'm not tired." How could I be? My city was under attack, and I was sitting here like a bump on a log. I checked the red box again for a letter from Riona (where is she?) and huffed angrily. Perhaps I should've asked her to leave a little blood.

Something echoed in the distance again—could've been thunder, could've been cannon fire. Had the royal guard arrived yet to help? Was Ward fighting an army of Konevellian soldiers by himself?

"Hah!" Rutley cried. "You lose. I win."

I scowled at him. There was a distinct lack of concern from them. But I supposed they had it easy. Safe with the queen, who was supposed to keep her distance like a good little girl.

Too bad I never liked that title.

They were engrossed in their game, and neither noticed me slipping away into the darkness. I walked through the empty camp until I found my carriage, and my horse by herself in a makeshift pen. I climbed over the fence and landed in the soft grass, my heart racing in my chest as I approached her.

She neighed but quieted when I shushed her. "It's me. Just me."

It had been a while since I'd ridden bareback, but I could do it. I hoisted myself up and hung onto her mane.

"We need to help Ward," I said.

She let out a breath and pawed the ground. I kicked her in the barrel and she seemed to know exactly what to do, jumping the fence and heading straight toward Orapus.

⤖⤖⤖⤖

The city rose from the road, a line of buildings welcoming me inside. They were, at least, intact. Perhaps the fighting was closer in.

Fighting. And me without a weapon. Perhaps running headfirst into the city under siege was the wrong thing to do.

But I kept going, the scent of smoke and the bright light in the sky drawing me down this street and that one, until we finally came to it. A building engulfed in flames, surrounded by a crowd.

I jumped off my horse and waded through the people.

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