Read Online Wilde's Meadow (Darkness Falls #3) by Krystal Wade - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Krystal Wade
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requested a promise to keep people safe.” He situates on the saddle, making the leather squeak under him.
Perth rides next to me. “Stay with me, Katriona.” He turns around and approaches our group of soldiers. “When we enter the caves, remember anything you see or hear will be in your head and not real. Do not speak, do not use magic, and whatever you do, do not give in.”
“Don’t use magic?” I whisper.
“The spells seek out magic. You will be in more danger than anyone else. I will remain in front of you, while Arland remains at the back with your sister.”
“If I’m in the most danger, why does my Coimeádaí have to stay away from me?” I look to Arland for an explanation, but he shrugs and points at Perth.
“You share deeper connections with your sister and Arland, ones which could create magic without your calling for it. Do you wish to keep your army safe?” The Ground Dweller holds his head high and squares his shoulders.
Where did this man come from? This is who I know Perth can be, but he’s never displayed such an incredible urge to lead or take charge while on any of our expeditions. I hope this side of him stays around forever.
Muffled disputes grow louder behind us. We need to stop talking and get through these caves; otherwise, we won’t have anyone left to keep safe.
“Okay, Perth. I’ll follow you.”
“Thank you.” He kicks his heels into his horse’s side, and they ride off toward the caves.
“Kate?” Arland asks, hesitation in his tone.
I glance at him, my mouth still hanging open from interacting with the new and improved Perth.
“Whatever you see in there, whatever intrusion the spells cast upon your thoughts, do not for one minute let it change who you are. You are strong, kind, and you are everything Encardia needs.”
“I promise not to jump, Arland.”
He purses his lips into a thin, white line, a look I’ve never seen him wear before. “Remember what you love.”
Perth stops at the base of the stone path and turns his horse around. “Are you coming?”
“See you on the other side.” I sigh and dig my heels into Mirain.
“Brit, stay here,” Arland says. “Everyone follow Katriona and Perth. Stay in line, and remember, no speaking, and no magic!”
We reach Perth, and I fall in line behind him, look back, then wait for the others to join. Once everyone arrives, Arland holds up his hand and motions for us to proceed.
“Thirty,” Perth mutters, wrapping the reins around his palm.
“What?”
“I am responsible for thirty lives … if my father could see me now.”
“Maybe one day he will.”
He laughs and starts his horse up the steep incline, and I follow.
A thick, black sky hangs low. Clopping hooves echo in the night, surely betraying our position to anyone or anything nearby. We’re in the open, exposed to bats, or daemons lurking in the forest. I’m still trying to figure out how this is the safest way into The Meadows.
My breath clouds in front of me, mixing with the spent air from the animals. I shudder. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt cold, but the closer we draw to the two-story opening in the side of the cliff, the chillier the air becomes.
Perth keeps his focus ahead of us. Part of me wants to look back, check on our line, count the heads, but I’m afraid I’ll see Arland or Brit and somehow make a connection to them. Perth told me how Ground Dweller magic makes weapons, but he never told me about Nefarious spells or how they creep into people’s thoughts. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe these spells were cast so long ago, no one—not even his father—knows how to release the darkness.
We reach the opening, and I turn up my face, soaking in the sheer size of this rock wall. It stretches as far as my eyes can see without light. Thousands of tons worth of stone could collapse on us inside this cave, trapping us forever. Thousands of daemonic bats could be living inside, waiting for us to enter.
I grip
Perth rides next to me. “Stay with me, Katriona.” He turns around and approaches our group of soldiers. “When we enter the caves, remember anything you see or hear will be in your head and not real. Do not speak, do not use magic, and whatever you do, do not give in.”
“Don’t use magic?” I whisper.
“The spells seek out magic. You will be in more danger than anyone else. I will remain in front of you, while Arland remains at the back with your sister.”
“If I’m in the most danger, why does my Coimeádaí have to stay away from me?” I look to Arland for an explanation, but he shrugs and points at Perth.
“You share deeper connections with your sister and Arland, ones which could create magic without your calling for it. Do you wish to keep your army safe?” The Ground Dweller holds his head high and squares his shoulders.
Where did this man come from? This is who I know Perth can be, but he’s never displayed such an incredible urge to lead or take charge while on any of our expeditions. I hope this side of him stays around forever.
Muffled disputes grow louder behind us. We need to stop talking and get through these caves; otherwise, we won’t have anyone left to keep safe.
“Okay, Perth. I’ll follow you.”
“Thank you.” He kicks his heels into his horse’s side, and they ride off toward the caves.
“Kate?” Arland asks, hesitation in his tone.
I glance at him, my mouth still hanging open from interacting with the new and improved Perth.
“Whatever you see in there, whatever intrusion the spells cast upon your thoughts, do not for one minute let it change who you are. You are strong, kind, and you are everything Encardia needs.”
“I promise not to jump, Arland.”
He purses his lips into a thin, white line, a look I’ve never seen him wear before. “Remember what you love.”
Perth stops at the base of the stone path and turns his horse around. “Are you coming?”
“See you on the other side.” I sigh and dig my heels into Mirain.
“Brit, stay here,” Arland says. “Everyone follow Katriona and Perth. Stay in line, and remember, no speaking, and no magic!”
We reach Perth, and I fall in line behind him, look back, then wait for the others to join. Once everyone arrives, Arland holds up his hand and motions for us to proceed.
“Thirty,” Perth mutters, wrapping the reins around his palm.
“What?”
“I am responsible for thirty lives … if my father could see me now.”
“Maybe one day he will.”
He laughs and starts his horse up the steep incline, and I follow.
A thick, black sky hangs low. Clopping hooves echo in the night, surely betraying our position to anyone or anything nearby. We’re in the open, exposed to bats, or daemons lurking in the forest. I’m still trying to figure out how this is the safest way into The Meadows.
My breath clouds in front of me, mixing with the spent air from the animals. I shudder. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt cold, but the closer we draw to the two-story opening in the side of the cliff, the chillier the air becomes.
Perth keeps his focus ahead of us. Part of me wants to look back, check on our line, count the heads, but I’m afraid I’ll see Arland or Brit and somehow make a connection to them. Perth told me how Ground Dweller magic makes weapons, but he never told me about Nefarious spells or how they creep into people’s thoughts. Maybe he doesn’t know. Maybe these spells were cast so long ago, no one—not even his father—knows how to release the darkness.
We reach the opening, and I turn up my face, soaking in the sheer size of this rock wall. It stretches as far as my eyes can see without light. Thousands of tons worth of stone could collapse on us inside this cave, trapping us forever. Thousands of daemonic bats could be living inside, waiting for us to enter.
I grip
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