The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

“That, I don’t know.” Casteel looked at Kieran. “We
never went farther than the mountains.”
“The mountains are tall but not particularly wide
through this area,” Hisa said, frowning. “We’re at the
foothills here, so I imagine it would be a half-day’s journey.
Farther north or south, it would probably take several days.”
“How far have you traveled into the mountains?”
Vonetta asked, and I thought it was probably a good idea
that we’d stuffed the bag strapped to Emil’s back with as
much food as possible. Each of us carried our own canteens.
It wasn’t a lot of water, but we would have to make it last.
“To where the mist mingles with the clouds in scouting
missions. I know we reached the mist faster here than in
other areas,” she answered. She glanced at the door. “If I
had any idea what waited in that mist…” She trailed off with
a shake of her head. “Please, be safe. All of you.” To Casteel
and me, she added, “The people want to get to know their
Queen and become reacquainted with their King.”
“And they will,” Casteel promised.
Hisa blew out a deep breath as she opened the door,
and a void of darkness beckoned. “We will wait for your
return.”
I watched the commander join the guards toward the
entrance of the crypts. “Thank you all for doing this with
us.”
Vonetta grinned. “It’s not like any of us would turn down
an offer to see Iliseeum.”
“Only because none of us have any common sense,”
Emil said.
“That, too.” Delano grinned.
“I, for one, am glad that I’m surrounded by those who
have more loyalty and thirst for adventure than common
sense,” Casteel remarked. “And now for the rules.”
“Yawn,” Vonetta tossed out.
I laughed. “Well, these rules will hopefully keep
everyone alive. Casteel and I talked some things over this