“We’ll figure it out when we get there,” I argue and rip my hand free of his as I walk toward the sound of rushing water.
Eventually, I hear Alexander following me. With the sword in his hands it leaves me completely defenseless and as much as he may want to turn back he knows he can’t let me walk into face Paylon with no weapons. After a while longer of walking, the sound of water has grown to a roar and we’ve come through the edge of the forest into a clearing. The cool mist being blown off the rushing water settles on my face, and I’m reminded how extremely hot it’s been these past days.
“There,” I say to Alexander and point just a bit north of where we are to where the bridge is crossing over the water.
“Looks safe,” Alexander mutters as he walks around me toward the bridge. I roll my eyes and continue after him.
“What do you think?” I ask when we make it to the bridge. On the tops of the two side posts is the Dather emblem. The tree of freedom that is on my gold coin sits deep in the wood. It’s a reminder that this is all forbidden land to anyone besides the King and his men. No one is ever supposed to be out of the city limits, but I also wasn’t supposed to leave my cell. Clearly, I don’t care where I am or am not supposed to go. I look to Alexander when he doesn’t respond and nudge him with my arm. Alexander still doesn’t say anything but instead just starts to walk across the bridge and I follow him, knowing he’s just mad that my crazy on a whim plan is working.
While my knowledge on Alexander is limited I believe Alexander and I have been through a lot of the same stuff, but sometimes we couldn't be any more different. Alexander is a planner, and he needs to know exactly what he’s getting himself into. I'm different. I just jump into whatever I want and work my way through it. Sometimes I think it's because I had everything ripped away from me at such a young age. I don't feel like there's anything to lose. I mean for the past seven years I didn't even feel like I had a life left.
Once we are on the other side of the bridge Alexander suddenly stops and points to something above the trees. I follow his finger and realize it’s a trail of smoke from what can only be coming from Paylon’s camp.
I try to steady my breathing as I feel the fear creep inside of me. Slowly, Alexander and I make our way back into the forest, closing in on where the smoke is coming from. I can barely make out what looks like a fire up ahead through the trees. Slowly we inch forward until the entire clearing comes into view.
I feel my heart drop as my plan crumbles away. Codian and Chadian are here, and now Alexander and I are in trouble. Not only have the two marksmen returned to Paylon’s aid, but one white horse has also found his way back to his owner which means they’ve gotten some weapons back. Paylon is sitting down holding my mother’s journal in his hands. The sight of him with a piece of her makes my stomach turn upside down. He is facing me and I can see the glowing green rock around his neck, making him invincible against my gift. The twins are sitting with their backs to me and I watch as one twin sits sharpening the end of his sword by striking it with a stone while the other is carefully using a small pocket knife to cut away at a piece of wood. All three are wide awake, clearly keeping watch over the camp together.
Zavy and Toby are both sitting in a similar cage to mine and Alexander’s. Toby is lying on his side, probably fast asleep, with his head in Zavy’s lap. She is stroking his hair while she sits wide-awake, staring off into the woods and scanning around the clearing. When her eyes land on mine, they widen. I put a finger to my lips to keep her quiet.
My eyes scan the rest of the clearing and I see the Hounds are chained together at the edge of the area. All of them are as spread out as they can be, trying to sleep. I hold my breath at the thought that they could surely smell that Alexander and I are near, but I don’t see any realization stir in the group.
Alexander presses his lips against my ear and whispers almost inaudibly, “Now what?”
“I’ll just freeze them, right? I don’t remember Codian and Chadian having the necklaces with them, and maybe they don’t have them on right now,” I pause and think back to the two clearings we were kept prisoners at, but can’t recall clearly if they had the rock necklaces or not. I swallow and continue making my plan. “And then we’ll just have to move fast from there because Paylon will notice them frozen and know it’s us. I’ll get their swords and you’ll take care of Paylon while I get this necklace to Zavy and Toby.”
Alexander nods his head and we both look back out to the clearing. “Wait,” I start to say.
“What is it?” Alexander cuts me off, his nerves showing.
“Look. On the other side of the clearing. In the woods.” We both stare across the clearing. Slowly the form of a person's face
