River Horse

Chapter Eighteen

I'm so, so, so incredibly sorry about how long it's been. I've been having quite a few problems in my personal life, as well as some major confidence issues. I was convinced that this story was garbage, that it was never going to really get anywhere. Then I looked back and saw that people actually wanted updates, and it helped me a lot. This book is connected to me on a personal level, and brings up a lot of very painful memories. But I'll pull through and finish this book for you guys <3

Also, I just realized that I started spelling Joslyn's name Jocelyn. I think I'll keep it like that, if you all don't mind. I also would like to say (since one of my friends asked this) how you pronounce Ultherorl and Nói. Ool-the-rorl and NO-ee. Sorry for having weird names :p

Anyway, thank you guys so much. I love you all!!

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ALICIA:

I stared at the mask, watching the light play across its surface. The look in Hans' eyes when I put it on... It was as though he was looking at a stranger. I set the mask down carefully on my bed, then began to strip off the battle clothes I had been given to change into a lightweight tunic and leggings.

As I pulled the tunic over my head, a knock on the door startled me. "Who is it?" I called.

Kye poked his head in. "We're all getting together in Beau, Boren and my room to meditate. They sent me to come get you."

I frowned. "Alright, but why didn't you just tell me over the mental link?"

He hesitated, then closed the door and crossed the room. After glancing around the room, he finally said, "Because somebody has been listening in."

My heart skipped a beat. "That's not possible."

He shook his head grimly. "Some of us have been noticing a... presence, when we're communicating mentally. We don't know where or what it is, but it's definitely not a kelpie. We have to be cautious about what we say from now on." He paused, then added, "And don't search outside of yourself during meditation. We don't know what might be nearby."

Unnerved, I nodded. "Let's go." There was no need to shift into my kelpie form; Hans had promised me that Gareth would be nowhere near the rooms where my fellow kelpies and I were staying.

As we walked, Kye updated me on our current situation. Though we normally used English to speak in our human forms, now we used our own tongue, just for caution's sake. "The elves have all of their warriors inside the barracks, ready to fight at a minute's notice. We haven't heard much about the dragons. They seem to be content to wait this out, though nobody knows for sure what they're planning."

"Are there any others who will fight, besides the elves and us?" I questioned.

He shrugged. "Apparently, a group of hunters will be coming as well, but we don't know when they'll get here."

"Alicia!" I turned to see Boren jogging over to us. "I'm guessing you've heard the news?" he asked, falling in step with us.

"Yeah, though I'm still having trouble understanding it," I admitted. "Only other kelpies would be able to hear our thoughts, and they would need to be granted access first..."

"So someone must have invited them in," Kye said, his eyes darkening.

Immediately, Boren shook his head. "No. There's no way any of us could be a traitor, or even doing anything suspicious. We'd catch at least a hint of their intentions through the link." Guilt bit at me. I was hardly innocent, making friends with hunters.

"How else could it happen?" Kye exclaimed. "There's no way we imagined it. Three times at least one of us has noticed something creeping around mental link!"