Heir of Stardust and Secrets (Mythic Spark #1)

52. Outpacing Phantoms

Chapter 52

Outpacing Phantoms

A strange comfort fell over me when I touched the basket of weapons, as if an irrational fragment of my mind had covertly prepared me for its absence. I wondered if subconsciously assuming disappointment was a new coping mechanism that’d bloomed from the wreckage of my life, like the tiny weeds that’d poked through the cabin’s ashes.

Every part of me yearned to stay here and rest, to grieve, to say a final goodbye to the place that had become sacred to me. But I couldn’t afford to. I was already dangerously close to the throwing ring. Along with the cabin, they were the two places I knew for certain Thaddeus was aware of. While he didn’t know about the cave, I wouldn’t risk it. Mrs. E was right; I’d lingered too long, possibly forfeiting any time advantage I’d gained.

Hopefully, it would take them a while to note my absence, and even longer to realize I had no intention of returning. The only ace I held was knowledge—Thaddeus couldn’t possibly know that magic had healed my ignorance.

Unless the groomsmen had made a concerted effort to inform someone I’d taken Luca, everyone would assume I was resting safely in my suite. It wouldn’t be long now before Ava would check in on me, if she hadn’t already.

The one thought that kept nagging at me while I sorted through the weapons was Thaddeus’ ability to track me. While he hadn’t been able to find me when Caius and I had disappeared, it was possible the void had obscured me from his spell, and that I wouldn’t be afforded the same shroud in the human realm.

I heaved a deep, satisfied sigh as the comforting weight of my bandolier rested across my body—its presence chasing away the disconcerting thoughts plaguing me. As I thumbed one of the blades, feeling the smooth coolness between my fingers, a part of me slipped back into place, like I’d salvaged something before the raging fire could claim it from me, as it’d claimed everything else.

Bandolier. Daggers in each boot. Eithan’s blade tucked in the waistband at the small of my back. Loaded thigh holster. Bow. Arrows.

Fully outfitted, and with no small effort, I mounted Luca and set off. While I couldn’t recall exactly where the Autumn Court was, its borders eventually crossed the Feighlan River, which was fed by the glaciers of the Nettorian Mountains— my mountains.

As Luca and I hastened away, a tiny fragment of ease clung to me with every stride that distanced us from where I knew Thaddeus would search, although I still continued looking over my shoulder. While the Autumn Court wouldn’t be an obvious destination, its connection to Wymond made it a very real possibility that Thaddeus would catch up with me one way or another.

I took Luca up-mountain to the lake I’d swam in with Eithan countless times and watered him before following the shoreline to the head of the Feighlan River.

We walked in the water as much as possible, making our route difficult to track. Luckily, it was the height of summer, and the water had receded enough to temper the current. Had it been flush with spring, I wouldn’t have risked it.

When I felt it would be nearly impossible to track us, and the land had leveled out, I steered Luca back onto solid ground, where he took advantage of the open terrain. The whipping winds of his gallop kept the heat of the pelting summer sun at bay. Stars, was it really just past high noon? I’d have to make sure Luca didn’t overheat.

We passed through thick forest and open fields of ripened wheat, then picked our way through tight passages that opened into flower-speckled valleys. We meandered through the aspen woods that bordered on a cliff, forcing us away from the anchoring river that offered a queasy hope of finding the Autumn Court, and the twins.

As we rode, I played and replayed every event that had happened since the day I’d hidden in the forest, spying on three strangers. Had I known then what I knew now, I’m not sure I would have stepped out of the tree line’s cover and approached the men who claimed to be good—if not innocuous—people.

Another valley yawned before us, and a weight lifted from me as if gravity himself had been pushing me down since we’d set off, finally deciding to relent.

We passed the last of the chattering aspen leaves, leaving behind their sweet, loamy scent for grasses and wildflowers that swayed carelessly in the wind, and finally, I could breathe.

After dismounting, I went to slip Luca’s saddlebag off and realized it was too heavy; I’d never get it back on. What in the gods’ names had Mrs. E put in there? Shucking off my rucksack, I rose to my tiptoes to see what was inside.

Food. There was enough food to feed me for weeks in those pouches. I smiled—it was just like her to make sure I was eating.

Grabbing an apple, I bit into it as I sat down in the shade and pulled my rucksack toward me—it was time to take inventory of what I had. As I took another bite, Luca swayed his head, pivoting his long body to nudge me.

“Give me a minute,” I said through the apple between my teeth, untying the sack. “You can have the core.”

He huffed with impatience but waited nonetheless.

As Luca munched on the core, I hesitated before looking into the mystery bag, feeling anxious about what I would find. Steeling myself, I pulled the sides farther apart, giving me a better view.

Two sets of garments were neatly folded on top. Moving them revealed a hard cylindrical container and a full canteen, which would have been handy hours ago. I opened the cap and greedily drank. Tucked away at the bottom was a small muslin cloth bag containing soap, a toothbrush, and a comb. The heady scent of eucalyptus escaped the package, and I brought it to my nose, breathing it in. It was like a salve for my soul, and I silently thanked whatever powers had known the calming effect it would have on me.

Refocusing, I placed the clothes back in the bag, leaving the canteen out. Glancing up at the food Luca was carrying, I realized it was the greatest gift Mrs. E could’ve given me. While I could hunt if I needed to, the rations ensured that I wouldn’t have to for at least a couple of weeks, and now that we’d cleared the cool mountain air, there’d be no need for a fire at night—limiting the amount of trackable evidence.

Luca nudged me again.

“Stop,” I said through my laughter. “Go eat some flowers or something. Better yet, stick to the grass—you’re gunna get colic if you keep bugging for sweets.”

He chuffed, then reluctantly trotted away before grazing. I smiled, grateful beyond measure for his welcome presence. I wasn’t sure if I would’ve had the mental fortitude to continue without him, especially after saying goodbye to Mrs. E.

Freeing the cylindrical tube from the rucksack, I popped the top off and found papers neatly rolled inside. The sweet scent of the Summer Court wafted out as I carefully reached in and pulled on the delicate pages.

Maps. They were maps. The ancient one we’d stolen from the Summer Court, the one the cartographer had rendered, and the one that showed the six portal locations.

I was drawn to explore the ancient map. That first day, I’d been afraid to touch it for fear it would crumble like a dried autumnal leaf, and although it was thinner than tissue paper, out here, it felt sturdier somehow, less fragile. I breathed in the familiar scent once more—a visceral reminder of Caius, as if his court’s essence had been baked into the parchment itself.

Laying the map flat on the ground, I traced my fingertips along the markings, starting at the Autumn Court and trailing upward. At my touch, a dim, pulsing light, fainter than a dying ember, appeared on the blank edges of the map.

I blinked, still seeing it.

Repositioning myself, I knelt over the map and touched it again. The tiny light reappeared in the same place. Could it possibly be showing me something?

Spurred on by hope and curiosity, I rolled out the cartographer’s map atop the ancient one. I ran my hand across it, and when it was lying fully flat, the two maps blended into one. I had to squint, but yes, that tiny light had to represent me.

Both maps in hand, I stood, then walked in the direction we were heading, which I’d assumed was southeast. As I made for the middle of the valley, the faint dot on the top map moved with me. I halted, then made a sharp turn right, and the ember mirrored my movements. My heart raced with excitement. Stars, I might actually be able to find the Autumn Court. Reorienting myself, I stepped toward where the twins were being held.

“It is that way,” I said aloud, disbelief and triumph in my voice.

This confirmation re-energized me, and, elated, I wanted to make as much headway as possible today. Tucking the map safely back into the canister, I turned to face Luca. “Think you can give me a few more hours?”

He huffed and turned his head toward the saddlebag. “Fine.” I chuckled, and retrieved another apple.

We stopped just west of the fae realm in line with the north-south border between the Winter and Autumn Courts—if the map was to be trusted.

While I didn’t like being this close to the Winter Court, there was nothing for it—I was exhausted and couldn’t risk Luca becoming lame. We’d traveled much farther than I had any right to ask from him. Besides, even if something from the Winter Court made its way to where we camped for the night, we were well into the human realm, so it wouldn’t have any powers—or, at least, I hoped that detail from the vision was accurate.

Dusk was still well off, and I’d have to accept that this was as far as we’d go today, despite wanting to use every bit of sunlight to our advantage.

Sweat poured from me at the effort of untacking Luca, who seemed grateful for it. I’d decided to make camp by a stream, and I walked Luca over. He drank in long and deep, then proceeded to walk into the stream, pulling me, and I released the reins before toppling in. Making his way to the middle, he heaved a deep sigh and laid down, just like that, in the center of the flowing water. I couldn’t even be mad—it was a great idea.

Shaking my head and chuckling, I retrieved my toiletries and canteen, then joined him.

I undressed and waded in just upstream of Luca, taking advantage of the water pooling against his large mass before it flowed over him and continued downstream. The river was pleasantly warm, and I took in a deep, releasing sigh as I lowered my body into the crystalline water. Resting my side against Luca’s back, I closed my eyes and floated there, taking a moment to breathe.

Luca stirred, startling me. Stars, I must have fallen asleep. I pulled myself away from him and knelt, grabbing the soap from the muslin bag strapped to my wrist. Lathering the bar between my hands, I washed my face, then arms, then torso.

I halted.

Nothing—there wasn’t a single mark on me.

Almost dropping the soap, I stood up, twisting to look myself over. My body no longer showed any evidence of what Thaddeus had done to me, or the journey back from the lake. Using Luca to balance, I lifted a foot from the water. It was completely healed. Surely, I should have a scar, even if it had healed.

With everything that’d happened since the vision, I’d completely forgotten I was injured. Was I healed because the tonic had knocked me out for too long, as it had the last time? No, it should have taken weeks to heal this well. Maybe it was whatever had whispered to me that day, shown me the truth of things, and provided me with supplies.

Whatever had healed me, I was speechless and profoundly grateful for the tender mercy.

It took some convincing to get Luca out of the water—a carrot, to be exact, turning his nose up the apple I’d tried to use as a bribe.

With both of us dried, fed, and watered, I turned in, dusk imminent as I nestled into my makeshift bed and gave in to exhaustion.

My shivering body shook me awake. Tugging Luca’s blanket in a little tighter, I peeked out to find my breaths transformed into billowing white mist.

Every part of me went taut—it had no right to be this cold.

I glanced toward Luca. He was calm, but his flickering tail told me he was agitated. Something wasn’t right.

My hands were met with a thick, cool layer of frost as I pulled Luca’s wrap off me. Everything glistened with hoarfrost, its tangible fresh scent holding whispers of leaves and soil blanketed beneath its crystalline structures—as if winter herself had blown lightly across the land.

I stood up slowly, armed with a blade in each hand. My bow and quiver were resting against a tree. They were only a pace away, but I didn’t dare reach for them.

Mindful of staying silent, I cross-stepped through the dense fog toward the menacing presence that rose the hair on the back of my neck.

I steadied my breath as I moved forward, blowing the mist to the side softly to keep it out of my vision. The tiny frozen spikes of moisture made a muffled crunching sound as the grass gave way to my feet.

A branch snapped to my right, and I pivoted, throwing a blade into the mist without hesitating, instantly pulling another from my bandolier. One heartbeat, there was nothing; the next, a black mass lunged toward me, its dark mist folding back into the hole where my blade had struck true.

It hissed in displeasure as it plunged forward.