The next morning, Kade had already left before they woke up.
Even Ashyn, an extremely light sleeper, hadn't known he'd gone until she'd spotted his missing horse.
The rest of the group grudgingly accepted it. Nala was still angry, Ender was understanding, Conan seemed happier if anything, and sweet Sariem wanted what was best for him. Ashyn was irritated beyond belief.
They packed up as usual, and saddled the horses in silence. Ashyn voiced for the third time that they should just leave without paying for the room but was promptly shot down by everyone—apart from Nala who was never one to turn down making money.
They set off, leaving the deadened town of Wimsley behind them under a struggling pale sun, with the hoof tracks of five horses in the dirt their only sign of leaving.
With Kade gone, she rode without feeling his silence tug at her. She was sure the others must feel it too, the emptiness his absence left but they didn't speak of it.
The wind whistled in her ears and her mind wandered to days ahead. They still had a while until they reached the north, and she didn't know if there was a plan for how to contact the appropriate officials once they were there.
She breathed in a long stream of fresh air. It was getting colder.
As they rode, the sound of a sixth set of hooves beating against the ground joined them.
She caught a glimpse of black hair and a tattoo and snorted quietly.
The others didn't say a word, though they knew very much who had joined them, and continued in silence, the gentle wicker of the horses breathing steam into the air, and the morning chorus, Kade's welcome back.
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Heart of Ash (The Dark Arcane Series: Book 1)
FantasiAshyn was not in the least concerned with the serial killer haunting the city; she was focused on revenge. She had bargained her traitorous services to the witch rebels in return for having a hand in killing the emperor. But as catastrophic plans a...
