face sad. "I really thought you had a dragon in you."
"I don't." Tressa held up her hands. "I wish I did. I wish I could free all of you right now." She looked around. The sun was slowly falling to the west. Her destination lay to the east and somewhere north. She wasn't sure where Jarrett and his men were heading. All she had was the map she'd seen in Jarrett's chambers in her head. Jarrett was somewhere out there, heading toward the Hills of Flame. That's where she would go, too.
"Goodbye, Tressa. Maybe we'll see you again someday." Margret said. Edmond had changed into a dragon, his brother, in human form, lying limp across his back.
"You will," Tressa said. "I swear it."
Margret changed into her dragon form and she and Edmond took flight.
Tressa turned back toward the east. She had nowhere to go but forward.
The tall grass slowly gave way to a shorter variety, the kind she was used to at home in Hutton's Bridge. Trees began to dot the landscape, along with the occasional stream. At least she was headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, night was quickly descending and she still hadn't found a suitable place to stop. She hefted the bag of food and water skin from Margret over her shoulder and trudged on.
Her calves ached, and her back screamed for respite, but she couldn't stop. Not until there was a place to hide from whatever lurked in the night. She hadn't forgotten the kilrothgi at Risos. Not their claws or their teeth, nor the way they could mock anyone's voice to lure their victims in. No, she had to keep moving until she found a suitable place to hide.
For days, she walked, even when she felt she had no strength to go on. One night when the full moon became the dominant light in the sky, she gave up. Climbing the nearest tree, Tressa found a high bough wide enough to hold her whole body. She relaxed, letting her shoulders fall. Tressa rubbed her legs until the tingling ceased. She took a long drink of water, nearly emptying it. The streams would provide all the drinking water she'd need tomorrow. For now, all she wanted was to close her eyes against the encroaching night.
Her head fell against the flaky bark of the tree, the leaves acting as a shield against anything below her. She was safe.
Just as she was drifting off to sleep, the sound of a branch breaking caught her attention.
Someone had followed her.
Chapter Forty-Seven
Tressa held her breath. Something was below her. And its abrupt cessation of movement told her it knew she was there too. She was so tired of things lurking in the shadows waiting to kill her. Life had been so simple in Hutton's Bridge. No one wanted to kill her there. Out here, everyone was out to get her. For a moment she wished for her old life behind the fog.
But, no, she'd seen too much to ever go back to a life like that. Whatever it was, she would face it, just as she had with every other challenge the Dragonlands had presented her.
Tressa reached down to her calf, pulling out a small dagger. She tossed it in the air, catching the blade in her palm, ready to throw at the first sign of danger. It was a beautifully proportioned dagger.
Another crack drew her attention up. It, whatever it was, was on the move again.
Tressa pushed her back into the tree trunk, her legs bracing against the limbs. Let it come, she thought. I'm ready.
In the space of a breath, a shadow leapt onto her branch. She hesitated, holding back from throwing the dagger, and was glad she did.
"Tressa?"
She smiled. Finally, something had gone her way. "Jarrett." She pulled his face to hers with her free hand, letting her lips explore his.
He kissed her. "What are you doing here? I left you back at Risos. You shouldn't have followed me."
Tressa placed a finger over his lips. "I didn't follow you. After you left, they cast me out. I'll tell you all about it when there's time."
"But, Tressa, you should be in bed. You shouldn't be up and about. Not after..."
"I'm healed." A warmth washed over her heart. She was healed inside. Something had happened out there in the water. It had changed her. Made her lighter. Stronger. Ready for anything. "Trust me."
"It doesn't mean I'll stop worrying about you." He stroked a thumb on her cheek.
"Will you two cut