“Ahem,” came the impatient voice from only a few feet away. Jade sat high on her white horse with fire burning in her eyes, no doubt sick of all the interruptions. “I can already see I can’t talk you out of bringing your friend. And I must say, I’m relieved he brought you a horse. That’s one less problem to deal with. But all the catching up will have to wait.” The fire in her eyes settled, and for a moment she looked very weary. “There is an inn about fifteen miles up the road. Trust me when I say we all have a lot to talk about, but this is not the time or place. We have to keep moving.”
Jacob waltzed over to Jade as she leaned back with her head high, suddenly appearing more like a queen than an assassin. “And who is this lovely creature?” he asked as he bowed so deeply it appeared he was mocking her. “My name is Jacob.” He started to take her hand to give his customary inappropriate kiss but never got that far.
She seized his collar with lightning speed and began turning it like she was wringing water from a towel. “Well, Jacob,” she hissed as the fire returned to her eyes once more, “I think you’ve cost us enough time already! If I were you, I’d mount up and not say another word until we got to the inn.” She released his collar with a not-so-gentle push before he turned blue. Then, in the softest, sweetest voice, she said, “But I’m not you, am I? So you can do whatever you wish. That includes going back the way you came.” She flashed a dark smile as she reared her horse around and trotted off, not waiting for anyone.
Jacob continued to rub his neck as he ambled past Eric. “Where did you find that one?” he spat as he mounted his horse. “And where is Aena!? Is she OK?”
“It’s a long story; I’ll tell you everything when we get to the inn, and I expect you to return the favor!” he said with a surprising edge to his voice. Jacob just nodded as they turned the horses around and tried to catch up.
The forest seemed to become less congested the farther they rode. In a strange way, the more thinned-out the trees became, the more it put their minds at ease. Thinking there is something hiding behind every tree and bush can quickly test a person’s sanity. Now that the path was opening up a bit, all three could ride side by side if they chose to, but instead they each decided to fall into their own space as they rode in a line.
The sun was no longer breaking through the treetops here and there when it got a chance; it was constantly shining brightly through the sparse leaves although long past its noon peak. Even when they were still surrounded by thick forest, very few sounds could be heard. Animals knew better than to give away their locations. Even though the terrain was slowly becoming field and shrubs with far fewer trees, it seemed there was more sound in a graveyard! The surrounding silence made the clopping sound of the horses’ hooves seem alarmingly loud, as if every living thing for miles would hear them coming.
Eric could hardly wait to get to the inn, and not just because of the weariness sinking into his bones, although that certainly was a factor. He had so many questions for Jacob, and Jade too for that matter. But the first thing he needed to know was what had happened after he left, who was still alive. Was his dad—Henry—still alive? He was so full of questions he thought he would burst.
Jade lifted her hand without ever turning back to look at them as she pointed off to the left. A good many feet off the path grew an absolutely enormous tree. It seemed odd, given there were hardly any trees in this area at all. There were several horses tied to a thick wooden rail at the base of the tree, but there didn’t seem to be any inn. That is, not until they got closer, anyway. On the other side of the tree was a retractable set of steps leading up into the thick leaves, and sure enough, the inn was more or less a giant tree house.
They pulled up to the rail and gingerly slid off their horses, relieved to have finally stopped. Jade seemed to be struggling as she attempted to dismount. Eric rushed over to help her off, assuming she would just shoe him away and refuse the help, but he was wrong. She braced herself heavily on his shoulder as he helped her down, continuing to lean against him for a moment before proving she could stand on her own.
A sudden feeling of guilt flooded through him. She had several wounds, he knew, but her brave face had fooled him this whole time. Just because she didn’t complain every two seconds didn’t mean she wasn’t hurt badly. He had practically forgotten. Being shaken around while riding a horse on the long trip surely didn’t help.