Meanwhile,
The forest canopy filtered the sunlight into thin threads of gold and green, and the horse's hooves thudded softly over mossy ground. Thalia sat in front of Heappal on the saddle, her back pressed against his armored chest, his arms firm around her as he guided the reins.
It had been five days since they fled the castle. Two days since the pirates attacked, and chaos tore their group apart. Emma, Sarah, Jaefel, and Samion had been dragged aboard the pirates' ship. Thalia and Heappal had barely escaped into the woods through a side tunnel.
Now, they rode alone, no maps, no sure destination, just the fading hope that they could somehow find Prince Alaric and Lady Salviana before the bounty hunters did.
"How much farther?" Thalia asked, breaking the silence after endless hours of silence.
