Restart Again: Volume 2 by Adam Scott (hardest books to read txt) 📕

Attetsia’s strong walls, I am not surprised the rebels would look to them specifically.”

Lia pondered the situation for a moment. “So...what does all of that mean for us? What do we do when we reach the city?”

I glared as much animosity as I could muster into the back of Val’s head as she continued to drive the wagon. “I was just asking Val the same thing. What say you, heroic leader?”

My venom-drenched words seemed lost on her. “Our objective remains the same: To determine whether the situation in Attetsia is a direct threat to Kaldan. When we reach the city, we will find a way through the wall and make an initial assessment. It is vital we uncover the goals of this rebel faction and the Company, either through diplomacy or other means.”

She tapped the side of the shield on her back. “I believe I will still carry enough diplomatic importance to be allowed inside. We only need to stay long enough to decide if the new leadership is dangerous for our kingdom. Should we find them...less than hospitable, we can proceed to the determination of whether we dismantle their organization ourselves or return to the capitol to gather reinforcements.”

“You know the scouts we encountered last night were sent out to stop you, right? As in you, the King’s Shield, specifically? That sounds like the opposite of diplomatic.” I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. “This is why I wanted to work alone,” I muttered under my breath.

“We will see once we arrive,” Val said with finality.

I grunted in response and slouched down in my seat, annoyed. It’s never straightforward. I can’t just do the damn job; there’s always something, or someone, in the way. Lia slid up next to me and nudged me gently with her elbow to rouse me from my brooding. My displeasure must have been written plainly on my face, as she gave me a reassuring smile and extended her hand out to me. Doing my best to remove my scowl, I took her hand and leaned my head against hers.

The rest of the day’s travelling passed by uneventfully. Lia and I sat hand in hand, quietly enjoying each other’s company for the majority of the trip while Val drove the wagon. True to my word, I never brought up the topic of training; I wanted to give Lia a break from anything that would remind her of the previous night’s events, but I also couldn’t stand the thought of disturbing our comfortable existence for any reason. When I sat with her, my mind could push back the thoughts of what awaited us in Attetsia that loomed heavier every day.

As the last traces of sun disappeared over the horizon, Val drove the cart to a secluded spot a few minutes off of the main road. “No campfire tonight,” she warned us as she hopped down from the driver’s bench. “We are within a day’s ride of the city. They may have more scouts patrolling the area, so we will need to be cautious. No unnecessary light or noise.”

“Of course,” I nodded to her. “Lia, grab your things. We’re going to train.”

Val’s head snapped back into frame at the front of the wagon, and she stared at me with her usual inscrutable expression. “I understand that you may be unhappy with me, Lux, but this is not the appropriate way to handle it. You should not put us all in more danger just to spite me.”

I waved her off dismissively. “You said no unnecessary noise. This is important. Besides, we’ll be quiet, right?” I looked to Lia and raised my eyebrows.

She looked between Val and myself a few times before nodding. “Definitely! It’ll be okay Val, I promise.”

Val stared me down in an uncomfortable silence before walking off without another word. I strapped my sword to my back and hopped down from the end of the wagon and, together with Lia, headed off into the dimming evening light. “She’s right, you know. This probably isn’t the best time to be training,” she said when we were well out of earshot of camp.

“I know,” I replied, not slowing down.

She quickened her pace to walk even with me. “You told me we weren’t going to train today, too.”

“I know,” I repeated.

Lia groaned and shook her head, then hopped out in front of me to block my path. “Where are we going?”

I stopped short and looked around the clearing. The wagon had faded into the darkness behind us, and was currently blocked from sight by a small knoll. “Here is good.” I slid my scabbard from my back and sat down in the grass, placing the weapon next to me. “Sit with me, Lia. We need to talk.”

She lowered herself to the grass across from me, eyeing me cautiously. “About what?”

“A lot of things.” I took a breath to gather my thoughts. “I’m worried about what we’ll find when we reach Attetsia tomorrow. I know things sound relatively straightforward now, but my past lives are telling me that something more sinister is happening behind the scenes. I don’t know what it is yet, but I can feel it in my gut.”

“I understand,” she said with a somber nod. “We’ll find out what’s really going on in there, and we’ll stop it. Together.” Her hand reached out and patted my knee reassuringly.

The smile that spread across my face was a sad one. “I know. It will most likely be dangerous, but I promise I’ll keep you safe. And I know you’ll keep me safe, too.” I put my hand over hers. “When we fix things, there’s a good chance I’ll be...taken away again.”

Her face fell as she looked away. “You don’t know that.”

“Lia,” I reached out and turned her head gently by the chin. Her amber eyes rippled and shone in the starlight, searching my face for some trace of hope. “Anything’s possible. I hope that I’m wrong about it, but there’s a good chance that I’m not. If