The Tales of the Wanderer Volume One: A Book of Underrealm (The Underrealm Volumes 4) by Garrett Robinson (elon musk reading list TXT) 📕

swept clean—I had done it myself when we found the campsite, to ensure no one would follow us here. But now there was a fresh set of tracks. It set out from our camp, walking away north between the trunks of the trees.

“Dark-taken sow!” I roared. “How dare she? She … she—” I bit my own words off, unable to find words for my rage.

Yue had come to stand beside me, and though she was no better a tracker than Mag, even she could not miss the set of bootprints leading north through the mud.

“We have to go after her,” she said.

I bit my tongue nearly hard enough to sever it. “We cannot,” I growled at last. “Not both of us. Yue, I am so sorry. I do not deserve to ask anything of you. But please, someone must stay here with Dryleaf. I need you to keep him safe while I rescue Mag.”

“Rescue her?” said Yue. “How do you mean to do that?”

“I think she has gone to Kun’s camp,” I said. “To turn herself in and face punishment for everything that has happened. I can … I should be able to …”

Yue’s face had gone stony. “Be able to what, Albern?”

I shook my head slowly. “I do not know,” I said. “Mayhap I can sneak in and … help her escape somehow.”

“And what if she is guarded?” said Yue. “What will you do to any soldiers watching over her?”

I looked at her, aghast. “Yue. I would never harm them. If there is no way to get her out …” I swallowed hard. “Well. If I cannot get her out, then I will get caught trying. I promised her, Yue, that I would stay by her side until the end of the road. I cannot break my word. Not to Mag.”

Yue studied me for a long moment. At last she said, quietly, “All right, then. If you promise you will not harm a servant of the King’s law, then I will stay and watch Dryleaf.”

“I promise.”

Dryleaf was trying to rise to his feet. “Albern,” he said, groaning the word. “You have to …”

The effort was too much for him, and he subsided, sinking back into the bed we had made for him. I ran to his side. “I am here, Dryleaf.”

“You have to save her,” said Dryleaf. “I have told you before. She needs you, far more than either of you think.”

“I do not know if I believe that,” I said. “But I will—”

“You must believe it,” insisted Dryleaf. “You are not her lackey, Albern. Stop acting as if you are—for both your sakes.”

I studied him. His expression was so focused that I felt he was staring right back at me. At last, I nodded.

“All right,” I said quietly. “I will remember it. And I will save her.”

One should never make a promise like that. I felt as if I were lying to his face. But I refused to leave him without hope.

I stood and turned to Yue. “Stay safe until I return.”

“Just see to it that you do return,” she growled.

For a moment, I hesitated. Then I nodded, turning to go.

“Oh, come here, you fool.”

She seized me and pulled me in. It was not the most affectionate kiss we had shared, and certainly not the most passionate. But it was something, at least. I had feared that whatever had grown between us had died, after what had happened with Kun, and I would have understood.

“I will see you again,” I said.

“You had better,” she said.

I turned and ran north, following Mag’s trail. Oku padded beside me, silent and true.

Tagata and Kaita were curled around each other in a bedroll, in a tent, a league to the west. Their boots, cloaks, and other clothes were scattered all around, as were three skins that had once contained wine. Parts of the bedroll were torn and ripped, letting in the cold air. But Kaita only had to press herself closer to Tagata’s massive, bare form to banish the chill from her skin, and so she slept content.

Until Tagata stirred, pushed herself up on one elbow, and gently shook her shoulder.

“Hmm?” said Kaita. She looked up, blinking hard at Tagata’s face. The shadeborn’s hair stuck wildly out in all directions, much like Kaita’s own. “Oh, again?”

She pulled Tagata down for a kiss. Tagata smiled and gave in for a moment, but then she pressed a hand to Kaita’s cheek to stop her.

“No, dear one. I have received word from the Lord. Come. We must leave.”

Kaita groaned. The wine had not quite worn off, but it was starting to, and it threatened a noticeable headache. “Now?” she complained. “Well, tell the troops to get ready and then come back to me. We can take a short while to ourselves, while they prepare to march.”

“Not our kindred,” said Tagata, chuckling. “Just us. You and me.”

“Why?” murmured Kaita, pressing against Tagata’s chest again. “What do the two of us—”

Her eyes shot wide. She jerked up, gawking at Tagata in the darkness.

“You cannot mean …”

Tagata smiled. “Get ready,” she said, reaching for her vest. “And make sure you bring the magestones.”

Soon they were dressed, and they emerged into the frigid cold together. Kaita followed Tagata to the east. And every few steps, her fingers stole into her cloak to probe the brown cloth packet.

I came sprinting out of the Greenfrost, Oku beside me. I could still see Mag’s trail. It stood out fresh on top of the many other tracks from recent days. She was not making even the barest attempt to hide her passing. She had to know I would be able to follow her. Did she think I would not go into Kun’s encampment? Did she believe me faithless, that I would abandon her to her fate, and not try to stop her, or to save her?

A chill struck me.

Did she think Kun would be so quick to execute her that I would not even have the chance? That when