The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

In the darkness, I’d looked for Kieran, hoping he was
close enough to hear that I had been right about the mist
when we traveled through it the first time.
Because the mist didn’t slow us down, we were able to
continue through the night, making it farther than we’d
thought we would by the time gray light filtered through the
leaves.
The muscles in my legs ached as we cleared the Skotos,
following Vonetta as we traveled through the valley. I
couldn’t imagine how any of the wolven or Setti were still
able to keep going. I couldn’t even figure out how Casteel’s
hold on me hadn’t slackened even once during the trip. His
grip and the anxiety of knowing I would see my brother soon
were the only things keeping me sitting upright.
We reached Spessa’s End several hours before nightfall.
Riding through the heavily wooded area skirting the east
wall, we entered the town through a hidden gate, unknown
to anyone who may be camped outside the northern wall.
My stomach began to twist and roil with anxiety as the
sun followed us across the courtyard, where Coulton ambled
out of the stables, dragging a white handkerchief over his
bald head. The older wolven gave us a grimace of a smile as
he caught hold of Setti’s halter. “I wish I was seeing you two
under better circumstances.”
“As do I,” Casteel agreed, and I spotted several
Guardians garbed in black among others stationed on the
wall. Those who were attempting to make a home at
Spessa’s End were on the wall.
Shoving the handkerchief into his back pocket, Coulton
offered his hand in assistance. I took it, noting the slight
widening of the man’s nostrils. “Now I know why I felt that
zap,” he said, squinting up at me. “MeyaahLiessa.”
“How did you know?” I asked as he helped me down. It
wasn’t something we had gotten a chance to ask Vonetta.
“All of us felt something several days ago,” he explained
as Casteel dismounted. “Hard to explain, but it was like this