Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
“Nothing,” he replied, urging Setti forward. “As long as we don’t allow it to.”
Quiet.
Casteel and Kieran didn’t speak. The thick moss along the path cushioned the horses’ steps. There were no sounds of birds or any animal life, nor the echo of any wind rustling the golden canopy of leaves above us. With every passing hour, the temperature seemed to drop another couple of degrees as we climbed the mountain. The heavy cloak I’d all but forgotten while in Spessa’s End was donned. Soon, a tingling numbness invaded my cheeks. It wasn’t long after that when Casteel tugged the hood of the cloak up over my head and pulled the halves of his around me, too. We continued on in eerie silence and the unnatural beauty of the mountain. Gold leaves above glimmered, and along the ground, flecks of gold spotted the moss and glistened from the bark, reminding me of the Blood Forest.
All too soon, the beams of sunlight filtering through the leaves faded, and the streaks of mist thickened, blanketing the moss as we continued climbing. The fog grew, swirling around our legs and then our waists. The last of the sun reached us, and we forged on. Several hours into the evening, we stopped when the mist stretched above us.
Casteel guided Setti to a halt as he glanced around. I had no idea what he was looking for as I could see nothing but streams of white mist. “This appears to be as good a place as any,” he said, his breath forming misty clouds as he turned to Kieran. “What do you think?”
The wolven was a faint shape behind the mist. “We’ve definitely reached the peak, so this should be fine.”
Should be? “How can you tell we’ve reached the peak?”
“If we hadn’t, we wouldn’t be able to see more than a few inches in front of us,” Kieran answer as he dismounted, stirring the mist.
I frowned. They could see more than a few inches?
Casteel shifted the reins to my hands. “Hold onto these. I’m going to get down and walk you two over to the tree.”
Taking the reins, I wondered exactly what tree he was talking about. He swung off Setti’s back, and for a moment, the gloom spun around him, seeming to swallow him. My heart kicked against my ribs. His face cleared the mist as he walked to Setti’s front, curling his fingers around the horse’s halter. He walked us through the chilled, churning air and then stopped, taking the reins from me as he spoke to Setti, crooning softly to the horse. I picked up something about carrots and orchard grass before he came back to my side.
Casteel lifted his hands to my hips, and I gripped his forearms as I leaned back, pulling a leg over the saddle. He helped me down, taking my hand as he unloaded one of the larger bags and the rolled blankets.
“Will it be like this?” I asked as he guided me forward, hating that I had to go blindly. “All night?”
“It will, but you’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.”
“How about here?” Kieran’s voice came from somewhere. “The ground is pretty level.”
“Perfect.” Casteel seemed to know exactly where Kieran was because after a few moments, he appeared from within the mist.
Casteel let go of my hand, and I almost reached for it as I looked back, unable to see anything. “Do you think Setti will be okay?”
“He’ll be fine,” Casteel told me as he knelt. A flame sparked to life as he lit an oil lamp, chasing a way a bit of the mist. “I’m going to give him some feed and then a blanket. He’ll probably be asleep before us.”
I had no idea how I would sleep tonight. The surroundings made the Blood Forest feel like a luxurious respite.
Another lantern came alive, held by Kieran. “I’m going to grab some branches.”
Casteel glanced up. “Don’t go too far.”
“Yes, sir,” Kieran answered with far too much enthusiasm.
I watched the yellow glow of his lantern until it disappeared. “Why aren’t there any animals in these mountains?”
“They sense the magic and stay away.” Casteel unrolled a thick canvas, one designed to keep the cold and damp from the ground from soaking through. As he spread out one of the blankets, the mist scattered a bit.
“Here.” He took my gloved hand when I didn’t move, drawing me down so I was seated in front of him. “I’m going to take care of Setti. I’ll be right back, okay?”
I nodded. When he rose, I noticed he left the only source of light behind. “You don’t need the lantern?”
“No.” He started to turn and then stopped. “Don’t let your curiosity get the best of you. Stay here. Please.”
“You do not need to worry about me wandering off.” I wasn’t going to move more than a foot, and I didn’t after he went back to feed Setti and make sure he was comfortable.