The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and..

material, though. Colder weather had arrived in much of
Solis.
“I’ll be back….” I leaned over, pressing my lips to her
warm forehead. “I’ll just be back. I promise.”
It took less than half a day to travel to the northernmost
point of Atlantia, to the wall which ran all the way to
the Pillars of Atlantia outside of Saion’s Cove. There, I was
reunited with Setti. I stroked his nose and scratched his ear.
I hoped he took it easy with me. My horsemanship was
seriously lacking, and he, well, there was a reason he was
named after the God of War’s warhorse.
“Incoming,” Kieran murmured.
Over my shoulder, I saw Casteel’s father approaching,
his chest and shoulders covered in gold and silver armor, a
helmet tucked under his arm. My stomach tightened. I had
only seen him once since I initially returned to Evaemon,
and that was brief, a passing in the halls. He’d immediately
returned to the northern part of the kingdom.
Wolven stirred from the grass, lifting their heads as he
neared. Valyn bowed, and they went back to napping or
daydreaming or whatever it was that they had been doing.
“You still plan to send your message?” Valyn asked, his
gaze flickering to where the crown rested on my head. I
didn’t know what made me decide to wear it, but it was
there and it felt right.
I nodded. “It is what Casteel would do.” And I knew that
was true.
Valyn made a sound of agreement, and several
moments of silence passed. I took a deep breath. “I’ll get
him back,” I promised. “We will get him back. I swear.”