It was only a deer.
Cethan grabbed my arm and we continued our trek, more careful not to leave a trace now that we were close to the ship. Flint followed behind, scattering needles and dirt over our path so that it wouldn't be quite so obvious which direction we had taken.
Finally, after forty more minutes of cautious hiking we located our ship. I handed Tamora over to Flint and he and Cethan loaded the small paddleboat with the two hostages and our supplies and then paddled out to our ship anchored deep in the waters a quarter mile beyond the shore. I stood guard at the beach, scanning the tree line beyond it for any sign of an enemy – or the others - approaching.
After the first half hour of waiting Cethan returned. Flint had chosen to remain on the ship with our prisoners but Cethan, like me, was concerned for the others. I knew he and Andy were close and had served many missions together, and while he didn't say it, I was pretty sure he cared for our harsh leader as well.
"You can search the woods, if you like," the man told me quietly after the first hour had passed. It was too dark to see anything past the rocky beach now. Both of us were growing anxious as the minutes wore on, and when I glanced up at the large man I detected fear in his gaze. Mira would have wanted us both to guard the ship but it was evident the man's thoughts mirrored my own. He cleared his throat, "I'll stay here in case anyone…"
A small glow of dim orange light cut its way along the shadows and I saw two dim figures limp slowly onto the open beach. Cethan and I watched warily, ready to cast at a moment's notice. My heart was choking my lungs, the pound of blood so heavy and frequent I couldn't hear anything over my racing pulse. Please, I begged, please be the others.
As the figures drew closer, Andy and Mira's faces materialized in the darkness.
Cethan let out a long, ragged breath. The big man ran forward to help Mira, while I went to Andy and half-carried her to the paddleboat Cethan had left in the sand. The green-eyed mage was barely holding on – her knees seemed to give out the moment I set her down. Her face was streaked with sweat and dried blood.
A moment later Cethan placed Mira down beside her. Then the two of us glanced back to the tree line. Where was Darren?
"Did the prince make it back before us?" Andy croaked.
My heartbeat froze and my hands dropped the oars I'd been about to hand to Cethan.
Andy swore as she realized my reaction.
"I'm going to find him."
Mira's stern gaze met my own defiant one. "We will wait for him, apprentice. You must remain on the beach. The prince knows where to find us and I need you here to serve as a look out, not a hero."
"What if Darren's lost?" I blurted out angrily. "What if he's injured and can't make it back on his own?"
The woman glowered. "Believe me when I say it would be a tragedy I'd take to heart. But it is unwise to-"
"He's a prince! I thought you served the Crown!"
"He's not the heir," Mira cut me off shortly, "therefore, Darren is expendable in certain situations. The mission we serve right now is one of those."
"But-" What kind of mission is more important than a prince's life?
"I am done arguing. We will wait for him here, for as long as we can." Mira had already turned her back, ordering Cethan to take them to the ship.
"I'll stand watch with Ryiah." Andy stepped off the boat, groaning.
Mira glared at the mage. "Don't for a second think that I don't-"
Andy put a firm hand on my shoulder trying not to wince. "I'll make sure Ryiah remains here, Mira, I know my duty."
The leader kept her eyes on the two of us for a moment longer and then indicated for Cethan to continue paddling.
As soon as they were out of hearing the mage spun me to face her. "Lightning," she said, "if you see it, whatever you are doing, get back to the beach. I will try to hold off the enemy as long as I can – but if it gets too much Mira will make us leave without you."
"What are you-"
"Go, Ryiah. Go find Darren."
My feet were already zipping across the sand before the words finally registered in my mind.
****
I tore across the dark forest. Long, black branches reached out like fingers to scrape across my skin. I cast out small balls of light, launching them in every which direction, trying to find any sign of the prince or where he had gone. The cold air whipped across my lungs like a knife. My frantic breathing was coming out in quick, sharp gasps.
Darren could be anywhere. The others had said they'd been forced to separate two hours ago. Andy wasn't sure if he had gone deeper into the woods, or east toward the beach. One thing was certain: he wouldn't have gone south unless he'd been captured.
I retraced my trail, following familiar landmarks and calling out as loudly as I dared.