Page 82 of Storm of Shadows
“Do you honestly not know?” I demand, my patience already thin.
He pauses for a moment. “It was long ago that I was last here.”
“Does that mean you don’t remember the way through to the other side of these woods?”
“I vaguely recall the way out. Maybe the route will come back to me. Or maybe it won’t.”
I sigh. If Natharius doesn’t know the way out of these woods, we could wander through the trees for weeks. And that’s if we don’t run into any more undead—ones which may prove deadlier than wisps.
“Can you try to remember?” The thought of wandering through these woods for eternity makes my words tremble. “Please?”
The demon blinks. I suppose he’s more used to me barking orders at him than making polite requests.
For a moment I think he might laugh at me for the weakness but he doesn’t, surprising me as much as the lack of snide remarks over Juron’s death.
“I can try,” Natharius says after a moment. There’s a softness to his crimson eyes, or at least I think there is. With how quickly it vanishes, I decide I must imagine it.
I give a small nod and dare to glance into the cave. Caya is on her knees, clawing at the floor. Taria hasn’t moved since we left. The priestess’s shoulders are stiff, and she clasps the sword as if it will slip through her fingers.
Swallowing, I turn to the trees ahead and reach up to stroke the soft scales on Zephyr’s head. I can only hope that their loss won’t be for nothing. And that Natharius will succeed in navigating us out of this wretched place.
twenty-six
I’mnotsurehowlong the three of us are outside the cave before Caya and Taria emerge. The priestess wears a stern expression which masks her grief. Caya’s grief, however, is clear. Her eyes are bloodshot and swollen.
“Come on then,” Caya murmurs, her posture as lethargic as her words. “He . . . he wouldn’t want us to rot in here for his sake.”
She doesn’t wait for our response before pressing on through the trees, clutching her brother’s sword as she steps over the protruding roots in her path.
We follow her, and Natharius soon takes the lead as we navigate through the endless maze of shadowy trees. After facing the wisps, it seems Zephyr has become a little braver since he neither curls around my shoulders nor huddles beneath my robes. Instead, he flutters behind me, though he’s careful to stay close.
Despite her initial resolve, Caya eventually trails far behind us. Taria’s pace is almost as slow, barely a few strides ahead of her. Natharius doesn’t wait for them, and I call for him to stop when they drift too far back.
Natharius’s route doesn’t return us to the main path, and my concern grows with every step we take. With no tracks and only identical trees around us, it’s impossible to tell whether we’re heading in the right direction or venturing farther into the forest.
“Do you remember the way?” I ask him after a dozen more strides.
The demon shrugs.
I wish I didn’t ask.
I draw in a deep breath and continue after him, praying he has at least some idea of where we’re going.
It may be hours or half a day that we walk before Natharius halts. He tilts back his head as he gazes up at the two tall trees towering above us. These look somewhat different to the ones behind us, but only because of their enormous height.
“What is it?” I ask, stopping beside him.
“I remember now.”
“The way out of these woods?”
“Indeed.”
“Thank aether for that,” I say with a sigh of relief. “How much longer before we reach the other side?”
“At least a day.”
How much time have we lost from searching for Juron? The words are on my tongue, yet I can’t bear to ask such an insensitive question. Not with Taria and Caya so close behind. Caya’s eyes are puffy and red. I suspect she’s been silently weeping while following us through the trees.