Furybound (The Witch Queen Saga Book 2) by Simon Shugar

Author:Simon Shugar [Shugar, Simon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16 - About Time

The journey upriver was slow, uneventful, and dragged under the weight of the rowing crew. The river’s steady flow fought back against the oars, turning what could’ve been a peaceful trip into a gruelling crawl. I watched the water rush past, the current swirling with every stroke. It felt strange to think that only months ago, Serah and I had nearly drowned in that same river, struggling for breath in the freezing depths. Now, we floated along, silent, waiting for our next move.

Banar had been quiet, too, for most of the trip. His eyes were distant, often scanning the banks as if something might leap out from the trees and stop us in our tracks. But there was nothing. Just the stillness of the forest, the occasional bird call, and the relentless sound of wood creaking under pressure. It seemed even the wilds were waiting.

"The currents get worse up ahead," Banar said one afternoon, breaking the silence. "We’ll stop before Brightridge. I thought we’d make a short detour to the manor. Elara will be waiting."

Serah looked up from her place on the deck, her hood pulled low against the wind. Her lips twisted into a smile.

A week back at the manor. A week to see her mother before we returned to the trials at The Forge. A short pause before we were thrown back into the chaos that awaited us.

"Home," Serah muttered, mostly to herself. "I suppose it’ll be good to have some peace before everything starts again."

"Peace," I repeated, my voice thick with doubt. I wasn’t sure if that was something we’d ever find again.

The barge shifted, fighting the pull of the river as the crew prepared to stop.

Elara stood waiting at the gates as we rode up, her soft eyes crinkling at the edges in a way that made them seem warmer than the sun overhead. Her brown hair was pinned back neatly, framing a face that radiated calm. She smiled as she saw us approach, that same welcoming serenity in her expression, like nothing in the world could shake her.

“Welcome home,” she called, her voice smooth and steady, like it hadn’t aged a day since I’d last heard it. Serah dismounted first, her movements quick, efficient—nothing like her mother’s soft grace.

I stayed on my horse a moment longer, watching them together. Elara, with her gentle presence, her warmth. Serah, with that piercing look, long hair brushing her shoulders, a cold edge that never left her—even when she cracked a joke. I couldn’t help but wonder what Serah’s father had looked like. Whoever he was, it wasn’t Banar. Banar had raised her, same as he’d raised me over the last few years, but neither of us had his blood.

Serah glanced over at me, catching my eye with a sharp smile. “You just gonna sit up there, or are you too scared to say hello?”

I swung down from Sköll, the leather of the saddle creaked under my weight. “Just taking in the view,” I said, matching her smirk, but there was something else in the air.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.