The Ritual by Rebecca Royce

Author:Rebecca Royce [Royce, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rebecca Royce
Published: 2024-03-25T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Imust have dozed off on Truett, because I woke up eventually to the sound of a rooster greeting the day in the distance. I lifted my head and Truett squeezed me against him, drawing the blanket tighter over me.

“You don’t have to be up yet. You could sleep until we get to the house we use in Hawkseye. We’ve got another half an hour or so ride left.”

I rubbed my eyes. He’d proven a ridiculously comfortable bed for being on a horse. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.”

“You had a long day yesterday.” He didn’t seem the least bit tired, not like he’d been awake all night. “The visions take a lot out of the gifted women. You’ll be okay today. Actually, you did remarkably well, Sloane. Plus, you don’t snore, so it’s completely okay to sleep on me.”

I laughed, which must have been what he wanted, because he laughed, too. Charles turned around and shot us a smile and then shook his head.

I nodded in his direction. “Is he okay?”

“He won’t tell us if he’s not. It was one thing when he was near death, but not one of us will complain about pain when we’re not. I’ll only interfere if it puts him or the group in danger because he’s not telling us.” He squeezed my waist. “All right. If you’re up, then I need to win.”

I must have missed something. “Win?”

“Yes. We’re no longer out in the open. We don’t have to maintain our positions in formation. And I want to be first into Hawkseye. I always do. Hold on.”

Truett took off fast, and I might have sworn his horse grinned.

“Are you insane?” Oliver yelled at him, but we didn’t stop. I couldn’t hold back my smile. I did love riding fast. I loved how the wind felt, how it was always just a little bit more dangerous than what I should be doing. The risk of it all.

We arrived at Hawkeye with thundering hooves, coming to a fast stop that left me giggling with delight. Truett pulled me tight against him. “You loved that.”

“I did. Thank you for the ride.”

He nuzzled against my shoulder. “Anytime, Sloane. I am…”

We had gotten quite a lot of attention with the way we entered, and people were staring at us. Maybe he noticed it, too, but because whatever he was going to say, he didn’t. Instead, at a much more reasonable pace, he brought us around several corners to the house that I’d fled the last time I was there. Did Warriors have assigned houses where they always stayed, or was it first come first serve? Or seniority?

The sun was brightening in the sky. Would it rain today? Hawkseye was really much nicer to look at in the sunlight, but even then, the old buildings always seemed like they were going to fall over on us. At least I thought that the last time I visited. Or maybe I hadn’t thought it? There were birds chirping. It was sort of a pleasant sound.

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