Twice before, I’d been with Kestra inside that forest. The first time, her presence created a palpable tension among the half-lives. The second time, they had tried to kill her.
I shook my head. “It can’t be. With or without Loelle, those spirits would never let Kestra stay.”
“Maybe not the Kestra that you knew.” Harlyn licked her lips. “But would it change anything if the spirits were aware of her magic … if they needed it?”
I groaned, frustrated at having failed to think of something so obvious. Kestra surely did not have the strength to heal all the half-lives, but if she became convinced that there was a reason to try, such as with Darrow, her father, I knew she would.
“She’s there, Harlyn. I’m sure you’re right.”
Which left me with an awful decision to make. From here in Irathea, we’d have to change course to get to All Spirits Forest. If we proceeded on to Highwyn for Basil’s rescue, we’d miss the forest entirely.
Harlyn seemed to sense my frustration. She waited as I looked from one direction to the other, as if simply staring would make the decision easier.
“If you wish to go after her, I’ll come too. Or I’ll stay the course with you for Basil’s rescue. Whichever you prefer.”
I pushed my fingers through my hair, my mind at war with itself. What was the point of rescuing Basil if Kestra was lost? The reverse was true too. Only Basil could lead us to the Olden Blade. Only Kestra could use it.
Nor was it only my thoughts that were stirring. I loved Kestra, or I had loved her, not so long ago. But if I found her again, she would be different now.
And then there was Harlyn, who should be a perfect match for me, who would solidify my claim to the Halderian throne, who was in every way the logical choice.
The hostler who had been caring for our horses walked them over to us. After a quick inspection of his work, Harlyn said, “We’ll ride to the forest, and—”
“All Spirits Forest?” The hostler cleared his throat, then added, “I don’t know what business the two of you might have anywhere near that place, but you don’t want to go there now.”
“Why not?” I asked.
He stepped closer and lowered his voice to speak. “Earlier today, I changed horses for some travelers who passed near the forest last night, planning to camp near Limsriver, as many travelers do.”
“And?”
“They ended up riding through the night and told me they were lucky to escape with their lives.” He looked around before continuing. “They believe the curse is lifting in the woods. Many of the trees have come alive again, birds were flying in and out, and it was snowing. That hasn’t happened in a generation.”
Harlyn looked at me with wide and curious eyes. That was a confirmation of where we could find Kestra, though I couldn’t understand why she would help Loelle … unless Loelle was somehow helping Kestra. Was that possible?
“We have to go there,” I said, and Harlyn nodded her agreement.
“Didn’t you hear me before?” the hostler said. “Those travelers barely got away. Dominion soldiers have surrounded the woods. People around these parts believe that when the curse fades, the barrier will fade too. If that’s true, then you can bet they’ll go in and destroy the place for good. Get anywhere near the forest, and someone will find you.”
My heart sank, something Harlyn acknowledged with a comforting hand on my arm.
“Did the travelers see any way into the forest?” she asked.
The man snorted. “In? You’d be insane to ever cross into the forest, but certainly not while it’s returning to what it was. And no, from what they said, I’d guess the bulk of our good king’s army is positioned there. Even if I were the king’s closest friend, I still wouldn’t trust my life to getting near that place.”
We thanked the man, then rode off to the nearest bend to privately discuss our decision.
My eyes drifted westward, but this time Harlyn said, “If I thought there were any chance of us getting past those soldiers …”
Her voice trailed off, and I turned to her, keeping a thin hold on my patience. “Then what? What would you do if you thought we could get past the soldiers—”
“I’d suggest that we go.”
“Why? To protect Kestra, because she’s the Infidante? Or to protect me from Kestra?”
Harlyn glanced down, lightly combing her fingers through her horse’s mane. “I’ve seen Kestra in battle. If those soldiers confront her, we both know she’s entirely capable of taking care of herself.” Now she looked up at me. “I know that you used to love her. I know that when she left Nessel a month ago, she either broke your heart or carried it away with her. But I also know, and you do too, that the magic inside her is a poison, and sooner or later, she will use it against you, and probably against all of our people. Yes, Simon, if you go after Kestra, then I am coming with you, to protect you and all Halderians from her.”
She waited for me to reply, but I had nothing to say. Much as I wished otherwise, everything she said was true. I gripped the reins of my horse and turned it northward. I nodded at Harlyn, and together, we set out for the capital, to rescue Basil. If we succeeded, he would give us the location of a dagger that Captain Tenger would refuse to hand over to a corrupted Infidante. I knew that too.