Ravenous (28 page)

Before long Ren appears, carrying a bag—provisions from the smell of it. I smile. I can always count on Ren to think of the food.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asks.

I nod. Then together we head into the fountain passage and leave the palace grounds.

By midnight we've made camp deep in the woods. I've never been this far from home in my life. I wonder how long until my parents realize I'm gone.

The forest should hide us well. The trees are old and wide, with thick branches reaching high into the clouds. It was pretty as we fled, but now that the night thickens around us, I grow uneasy. Before I could see down the paths through the moss and foliage, but now the darkness is a wall obscuring everything beyond our fire.

What if the wizard is out there tonight, hunting for me? I shiver and shove the thought down. If he did find me, maybe he would leave my city alone. But what would that do to Mama? Her tale is still fresh in my mind.

The firelight teases Ren's hair. I hope he doesn't get into too much trouble for helping me. I swallow the lump of guilt lodged in my throat. It's for the good of Bryre. Surely that can be excused. If we succeed.

Ren hands me the bread he's toasted on the fire. It tastes delicious—but different from the usual palace fare.

I lie back and watch the moon shimmering through the trees from above, feeling a freedom that has eluded me my entire life in spite of the things that may hide in the darkness.

“I think I love the forest,” I say. “I wish we were here for happier reasons.”

Ren stares at the fire. “You know, you don't have to go back. We could run away. Get as far from Bryre and the wizard as possible.”

I let myself consider that life for one precious, fleeting moment. Then I sink back into reality. “I can't. Bryre has suffered enough for me already.”

Ren tosses a leaf into the fire. “It isn't fair that you have to pay for your parents' mistakes.”

I shrug. Even if I agree, it doesn't change a thing. Mama's words haunt me. I'm a princess; Ren is a servant. Running away with him, even when this is over, is impossible.

“They're my family. Bryre is my kingdom, my home. I can't leave everything I love behind.”

The sudden shock of hurt in Ren's eyes startles me, but I don't correct him. I didn't mean it like that, but perhaps it's for the best if he thinks so. Ren nods, then pulls up his bedroll and turns over so he no longer faces me. My heart sinks. I did hurt his feelings.

I curl up in my own bedroll and drift off into sleep.

In the middle of the night, I find myself suddenly awake, unsure of what pulled me from slumber. All I know is that my heart races, and shadows cling to every tree in sight.

I hold my breath, glancing over at Ren. He remains undisturbed.

That's when I hear it again.

Hoo, hoo, hoooooo.

A shiver dances up my spine.

Something rustles between the trees, but I can't make out what it is. Then the cry comes again from the other side of our grove. It sounds like an owl, but they're solitary creatures and no flapping of wings betrayed its movement. More rustling. Fear wraps its icy fingers around my chest.

Hoo, hoo, hooooooo.

This time it comes from the trees directly behind me, and I'm certain it is from the ground, not up in the trees like it ought to be. I huddle under my bedroll, hoping whatever it is will move along and find some other travelers to harass. Yet I can't help peeking when the moon comes out from behind a cloud.

Between the trees, not ten paces away, sits a creature. Its owl head tilts as it settles back on its haunches. A furry tail, striped like a raccoon's, curls around its body.

I blink several times. I must be dreaming. This is all a nightmare.

I rub my eyes, and this time when I open them, it has vanished.

WHEN DAWN WAKES US, WE HEAD OUT AFTER A QUICK BREAKFAST OF
dried fruit and cheese. We have no time to waste; my parents will have sent a search party after us by now.

A vague memory of the night before haunts me. What I think I saw is impossible. It must have been a dream. No trace of either owl or raccoon remained when we left the camp.

It takes us most of the day to reach the mountain range. I'm worn out and my feet are peppered with blisters. I refuse to complain. This may not be what I'm accustomed to, but it was my decision to come here, and I don't want to be a burden. Besides, I made a point of packing several stalks of aloe from my garden, which should soothe those blisters in no time once we make camp.

According to the map I brought from the library, the volcano is to our south, right along the border to our neighboring kingdom, Mabori. Hopefully it's inactive, as the map and Old Mae suggest. If not, this may be a shorter trip than we anticipated. Returning home to Mama's wrath without a solution is unthinkable.

Ren has spoken only a few words to me since our conversation last night. I suffer his silence. As Mama said when she scolded me, someday we must accept that we're worlds apart. But he is my best friend. I cannot give him
up yet.

The closer we get to the volcano, the warmer the air becomes. The plant life becomes more green and viney than the usual forest trees. The strange new colors and shapes fascinate me. Perhaps we will find what we seek after all. Legend says that the fire dragons hoarded the Wizard's Bane . . . until the wizards drove them to extinction. What would it be like to meet one of those majestic creatures in person? Would it gobble us up in a single bite, or would it be the wise creature I imagine? It was said they sprang from the volcano itself, obsidian scales with real flames smoldering beneath and lava flowing in their veins.

Surely they were a sight to behold.

Another thing the wizards ruined.

Soon the forest thins to rocky terrain, and Ren and I cautiously pick our way over it toward the volcanic mountain. It smokes lightly in the distance, and I expect we'll reach it by dusk. Then it is just a matter of finding the dragon's hoard and figuring out which is the Wizard's Bane.

Easy, yes?

“Do you think it's still dormant?” I ask.

Ren looks a little queasy. “The closer we get, the less certain I become. I didn't expect an inactive volcano to smoke like that.”

I shiver despite the heat. “That's what I was afraid of.”

“We'll have something to cook on without going to the trouble of building a fire,” Ren says with a lopsided grin. I can't help but laugh.

“That is one way of looking at it.”

The afternoon goes on and so do we. My mind drifts back to Bryre. My family must be tearing their hair out with worry after finding the note I left them. And no doubt combing the forest for any sign of me and Ren by now. Delia wouldn't be able to guess where we're headed from our adventure in the library, but she could tell our parents what we seek.

“How do you think we'll use the Wizard's Bane when we find it?” Ren asks.

“I have an inkling or two.”

Ren raises an eyebrow.

I laugh. “I brought a couple more books with me from the secret library,” I say.

“That's why your pack is so heavy.” Ren snorts.

“I took
The Art of Casting
,
The Origin of Wizards
, and
Arcane Defenses
. They looked the most promising.”

“We'll have to read them tonight.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

We grin at each other and I hope he has forgiven me, at least a little bit.

When we stop to camp at night, the heat is overwhelming and will likely rule out sleep entirely. But rest we must.

We lay our bedrolls out on the new, strange terrain. The landscape is mostly devoid of trees now, which makes me feel exposed. The ground is no longer soft earth, but has changed to what looks like a black stone river. Pieces of basalt shift underfoot in other sections, but this one was the most solid. And not far away lies the volcano. The top is a beacon in the night sky that fills me with both hope and dread.

“Not much I can do about foraging tonight,” Ren says. He riffles through his pack. “We have a few pieces of bread, and one hunk of cheese left.”

“No more of that jerky?” I ask.

“I finished that off last night,” he says. “I didn't realize it would be so uninhabitable here.” We glance around.

“We do have water, still, yes?” I ask.

Ren nods and relief fills me. “I filled the canteens at every river and stream we've passed.”

“Good thinking.”

Ren beams.

After we tire of reading the old books on magic, we attempt to sleep, but the heat keeps me tossing and turning for hours. I rest only in fits and starts, and the few dreams I have are plagued by glowing red eyes and huge black beasts.

My imagination gets the best of me, leaving me wide
awake and shivering in the darkness. Ren's form shifts next to me, and only then do I realize my shaking disturbs the rocky basalt beneath us.

“Rose?” he whispers. “Is that you?”

“Sorry,” I squeak. “This place gives me nightmares.” In the distance, the red beacon of the volcano glows steadily.

“Maybe there's magic here. Something about this whole region is otherworldly.” He inches his bedroll closer and places his hand over mine.

I turn on my side to face him but don't relinquish his hand. His warm eyes drown out the memory of the nightmarish beasts rampaging through my head.

“I'm only a page boy. I can't promise that I can truly protect you from the wizard,” he says. “But I can promise I'll do everything in my power to help keep you safe. I'll always be here.”

A small smile creeps over my face. “I feel better already.”

He smiles back, and warmth floods through me. Why did the wizard have to claim my life? Why can't I be a simple girl sharing a moment with her truest friend?

But my responsibilities as princess will not leave me be. They will bring me back to Bryre every time. Duty is the name of the burden I bear.

Ren tucks a wayward lock of hair back behind my ear, fingers straying over my cheek. “I'll keep watch until you fall asleep.”

I close my eyes, hand still entwined with his, and hold on until sleep carries me away.

By the time the sun lazily runs its finger across the sky, brushing the darkness aside, I'm restless with the need to move. I slept for only a few hours, but somehow Ren managed to keep the bad dreams at bay. I pack up my bedroll and nibble on a piece of bread while I wait for Ren to wake too.

Despite the desolate landscape, it's oddly peaceful here. The growing light refracts off the lava field, shimmering in pinks and blues and greens. It seems a little less foreboding in the dawn.

I almost choke on my bread. I'll never see this again. When I return home from this journey, I'll be grounded until I become queen.

To distract myself, I pull out one of the books I brought with me. We need to figure out what to do with the Wizard's Bane once we find it.

Or rather, if we find it.

I tried one book last night that seemed promising, but I couldn't keep my eyes open. It was a spell book that mentioned Wizard's Bane and warding spells. Now I pore over the pages—binding spells using centaur bones, warding spells using mermaid scales, and many others.

By the time dawn is fully broken, my patience is rewarded. On the last page of the chapter on defensive magic, I find a mention of the Wizard's Bane:

One may use the Wizard's Bane, ancient stones that absorb magic powers if invoked with the right spell, as a last resort against a wizard. They are very rare, and must be used only with the greatest of care.

Below, it lists the spell along with a handful of odd ingredients.

Ren yawns and rolls over. “You're up early,” he says.

“Couldn't sleep.”

He sits up. “You're packed already?”

I nod. “Look at this.” I shove the book under his nose. “Finally, something on how to use the Wizard's Bane.”

Ren looks it over briefly, then hands it back. “Now we just have to find the actual stone.” He stretches. “We better get moving. The sooner we find the Wizard's Bane, the sooner we can go home.”

Home. I already miss my parents and Delia. Eventually they'll forgive me.

We sling our packs over our shoulders and head out onto the lava field toward the volcano. It's slow going and slippery, and the sun reflects off the surface, occasionally blinding us. But we inch closer. When we reach the base of the mountain, the sun is high and morning is almost over. Vents in the earth puff smoke and steam at regular intervals.

“I hope this place isn't about to erupt on our heads,” Ren says, eyeing one of the vents suspiciously.

I shake my head. “I doubt it. An active volcano produces a thick cloud of smoke above before it erupts. There are warning signs.”

His face scrunches up. “Then why is it so hot? And why is the ground smoking?”

“Lava flow. The magma lies below the surface even when the volcano isn't about to erupt. We still must be careful.”

“And hope the Wizard's Bane isn't too deep inside that mountain.”

“If we can even find a way inside.”

We pause to eat a meager lunch, then carefully wrap up the leftovers. The cheese is soft due to the heat. It won't keep much longer.

What we need most is a way into the mountain and to find the ancient fire dragon's lair.

Tripping over basalt and other rocks, we have several false starts. Fissures in the mountainside that, at first glance, appear to be possible entrances. But when we follow them through, we hit only dead ends.

By midafternoon, we're frustrated and worn out, and stop to rest. The sun burns down. My skin, which is turning a deep pink, will soon blister. This place is so hot, nothing alive could flourish here.

Then we hear the noises.

Familiar ones, of boots marching down a path. Tree branches snapping. Rocks slipping under booted feet. Ren and I exchange a look, then scramble to peek over the rock concealing us from the forest in the south. Guards. From Bryre, judging by their colors and uniforms. My heart sinks. They tracked us so quickly! We haven't even gotten into the mountain yet. We're too close.

“We have to hurry,” I say.

“Let's keep going around the mountain,” Ren says. “We should be able to stay out of sight a little while longer.” He sneaks another glance back. The guards have a hard time walking on the lava field. “That slippery stuff should keep
them occupied for a while, I think.”

We duck our heads and hustle around the mountain, keeping as much distance between us and them as possible. Grumbles and cur
ses echo over the low plains of the lava field, spurring panic to simmer in my chest.

“We need to try every nook and crevice to get inside.” I swallow the trembling in my voice.

“Agreed,” he says. “Look, here's another.” A possible entrance edges into the mountain and we squeeze inside, but are promptly thwarted about five feet into it. I kick the rock in frustration and immediately regret it as pain shoots up my leg. I bite my tongue to keep from squealing out loud.

“Breaking your foot is probably not the best idea right now,” Ren says with a smirk. I give him a withering look.

“Come on, let's keep looking,” I whisper.

We find several more false leads. Frustration pools in my gut until I'm ready to scream aloud. But the reminder of the guards from Bryre hunting us keeps my tongue in check.

When we reach the far side, I notice something odd about a shadowed section of the mountainside. The sun doesn't hit it because of an overhanging ledge, making it appear at first glance to be just another section of rock.

But I think it might be something else.

“Wait, Ren,” I say, grabbing his arm. “Look.”

I pull him underneath the ledge. His eyes widen. “I almost missed this.”

“Me too. It's the perfect place for a discreet entrance.”

“After you,” he says, as he lights our lone torch.

I step into the darkness, feeling my way forward, but soon our eyes adjust to the torchlight. The opening continues forward and widens, then turns again.

When it begins to slant down, I take Ren's hand, and together we walk into the belly of the volcano.