The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) Garrett Robinson (poetry books to read TXT) 📖

That was a darker thought than I wished to contemplate, and certainly a darker one than I wanted to imagine in Mag’s mind.

I put on a fresh burst of speed, hardly even glancing at her trail anymore. It went straight north. That required no skill to follow. I knew where she was going, and I would go with her until the end, even if it were only to find her already—

I stopped.

Mag’s tracks turned. They were no longer heading for Kun’s camp, but had swung west.

My gaze followed, and I frowned, wondering what Mag could be looking for in that direction.

And then I saw another massive furrow in the muddy ground. One like the trail of Kun’s army, but smaller, and heading west through the hills.

The tracks of the Shades. They had left it when they retreated, after destroying the supply train.

My eyes shot wide.

No.

Mag marched west.

She had known what she was looking for when she left the Greenfrost. She had known the Shades were to the west. And so she skirted the edge of Kun’s encampment until she saw the signs of their retreat. She was no tracker, and she never had been. But she could read the signs of an army marching across the land.

She was following those signs still. There was determination in her step, but no speed. She was resolute, but she was not eager. This path was inevitable. It was always going to come to this, in the end. She had once deluded herself into thinking there was another way, but she knew now that that had been an impossible dream.

Like her life with Sten.

She swallowed past a sudden lump in her throat and rolled her shoulders. And she trudged on. She would not stop, not now. Not until she reached the end of the long road.

Alone.

She wondered, briefly, if I would ever forgive her.

Above her, a raven called in the darkening sky. Mag ignored it at first. If the bird sought carrion, it would soon have its fill.

Then she stopped.

It was late for ravens to be out.

The bird landed in the mud in front of her a span away. Magelight flashed in its eyes, and Kaita resumed her human form.

And then behind her, over the low hill west of their battleground, came another figure, this one lumbering. More than two heads taller than Kaita, and with a massive greatsword slung across her back. The brute woman.

Mag heaved a mighty breath, letting it out through her mouth to wreathe into mist around her.

She hefted her spear and swung her shield onto her arm.

Kaita could not believe it. Here was Mag, at last. Alone, isolated from her friends. Kaita had kept her promise to Rogan, who received his instructions directly from the Lord himself.

The Lord had known. He had always known, all this time, how it would end. His foresight was perfect. And what was more, he really did love Kaita. Despite all her doubts, all her questioning, he saw her value, and he had granted her the boon she most desired. She would never doubt him again.

A savage grin spread across her face.

“The end of our road,” she called out to Mag across the muddy field.

“And not soon enough,” said Mag, her tone casual. “Are you going to turn into the cat, or the bear? Or have you grown tired of tricks? I will kill you like this if you want.”

Behind Kaita, Tagata snarled at Mag’s threats. But Kaita laughed and turned to her. “Dear one, there is no need to worry. Look at her. Alone, without anyone to rescue her.”

“I am not the one who will need rescuing,” called Mag.

Kaita ignored her, keeping her gaze on Tagata. “Stay here. You know I have our father’s strength now.”

“But I came here for you,” said Tagata, scowling past her at Mag.

“And you are here for me,” said Kaita. “That is what is important. You can be my witness. But let me do this on my own and help me celebrate when it is over.”

Tagata’s nostrils flared as she heaved a sigh. But then she nodded and took a step back. “Very well.”

Kaita bowed her head towards Tagata. Then she turned back to Mag. Her hand stole beneath her cloak again, as it had done often on the journey here. But this time when it came out, a single magestone was clutched between her fingers.

Mag went very still. And Kaita saw it. This was not the indifference of the battle-trance, the certainty and neutrality that came with her fearless war mask. This was hesitation. Uncertainty. Kaita had never seen it in Mag’s demeanor before, and it thrilled her beyond reckoning. For once, for the first time, she was the one in control, and Mag was not confident of the outcome of the fight.

A small, quiet pitter-patter of rain began to fall on them, strengthening by the moment.

Kaita stood straighter, spreading her hand at her side to catch as much of the setting sun’s light as possible, even as clouds moved across the sky to obscure its dying glow. It warmed her skin, reminding her of Tagata as they pressed against each other in the tent.

Kaita smiled. And she slid the magestone between her lips.

It crunched between her teeth so sweetly, so gently. There was the slightest resistance, like a carrot that had been steamed to perfection. And then the black crystal melted on her tongue, sliding down her throat like sweet honey. It vanished there, in her center, her core, only to come surging back a moment later. Kaita could feel it coursing through her veins, filling her flesh and her skin and every part of her with pure, raw power.

Power. She thought she had known it before. She thought she knew strength in the burly frame of the bear. She thought she knew killing swiftness