Kestrel took note of the wary but brave faces around her. She wished she could reassure them. Tell them that her vision had suggested no harm would befall anyone. But the Thundersworn Brigade hadn’t been in the vision. And telling them that much would only demoralize them more.
The queen announced that they were ready to embark on their mission, and the masses began to march forward.
“Stay within the middle of the ranks,” Queen Signe said down to Kestrel. “Do not fall behind. Do not leave yourself vulnerable to an attack. Understood?”
Kestrel nodded, feeling more afraid than she anticipated.
Her vision had been peaceful. Victorious. But beingsurrounded by so many armed guardsmen made her feel as if they were marching into battle.
All Kestrel could do was trust in her vision’s accuracy. Believe no harm would come to them.
As the queen began her march, the three brothers finally caught up to them. Efrem immediately branched off, blending in with the other knights, but Micah and Leighton joined the two princesses.
“What in the Hollows are you two doing here?” Elora asked.
Micah slanted her a grin. “What? You thought we’d leave all the fun to you ladies?”
“It’s not meant to be fun,” snapped the princess.
Micah merely shrugged. “Better than being couped up all day.”
“And you?” she asked Leighton next, but the bite in her tone had already lessened. Kestrel wondered if that was simply because she knew it was futile, or if it had anything to do with their betrothal.
Leighton smoothed his golden locks back and out of his eyes. “What would the people say if they saw my bride marching into battle and their future king nowhere in sight?”
The terse yet intimate conversation made Kestrel’s stomach queasy again, so she turned from the three of them and focused her attention forward. On the path that stretched ahead of them. On the Hollows, and whatever magic lay inside. Elora’s fate was to marry a prince, but Kestrel’s fate still laid ahead, somewhere in the unknown.
Chapter 35
Into the Hollows
KESTREL
Marching through the town of Irongate, Kestrel should’ve known they’d draw the attention of onlookers. Everyone stared. Whispers followed. And the townspeople crowded around them, as curious and judgmental as they were the day Kestrel first arrived.
“You alright, little bird?” asked Micah from behind her.
As much as she wanted to tell him no, to insist he hold onto her to keep her from spinning out of control again, she wanted to master this feeling more…whatever it was. Something akin to fear, but different. Being around so many people made her heart quicken. It shortened her breaths. It made her feel as if she were trapped in the Fortress of Thirst again with no way out and no one to save her.
Which was preposterous, because these were just curious onlookers. Not deranged beasts.
Not that her insides would listen, nor her ears that seemed so keen to attune to every single malicious remark spewed at them like venom.
“There were already too many Skogarans in Irongate, if you ask me.”
“The whole crown’s gone to the Maw these days.”
“If we’re lucky, maybe they’ll all die, wherever it is they’re headed.”
Elora was right beside her, the perfect image of stoic grace. “Ignore them. Their beliefs about you are uninformed and inaccurate.”
Kestrel summoned a grateful smile. “How do you do it? Ignore them and not let all their anger bother you?”
“It gets easier the longer it goes on. Easier still when you’re surrounded by those who understand and believe in you.” It was Elora’s turn to flash Kestrel a smile now, and oh, if it didn’t flood her traitorous body with warmth. “Of course, there will always be good and bad days. But today, you can feel proud knowing what you’re doing is right by them. You aim to save them. To undo a curse that no one else has been able to combat. That can help.”
Elora was right. Kestrel hadn’t even thought of it that way yet.
“You’d think they’d be a little more grateful for what we’re about to do then,” Kestrel grumbled, making sure that only Elora could hear her. The last thing any of them needed was to insult a grumpy mob and turn them into an aggressive one. “Don’t they want the curse to end?”
