His dark eyes were fixed solely on our joined hands. “I’m going to twist us as far as I can, but we’ll have to go by foot some of the way.”

“What were you fighting about?” I asked, gripping his arm with my free hand.

“Something that’s in the past now.”

He pulled the black cloak over us, and the mountains of Arcadia disappeared from sight.

CHAPTER EIGHT

For the first time, our landing was actually painful. We hit the ground too fast and at a strange angle, coming to rest in a tangled heap. I was still weak and sore from the illness, and North’s weight knocked all the air from my lungs.

“If you’re done getting comfortable,” I wheezed, “now would be a great time to let me breathe.”

In a single, fluid movement, North rolled off me and was on his feet.

“Sorry,” he mumbled as he helped me up. He didn’t look back toward the mountains. “I thought I could go farther.”

I pulled the map from my bag and let North hover over my shoulder as I considered our options.

“We can pick up a wagon in Middleton,” I said, showing him on the map. “It’s a short distance by foot from here. If we can cut through the mountains near Sapienshire, we should be in Provincia in no time.”

North tugged on one of my loose curls, though his smile was somehow sad. “What would I do without you?”

“Are you worried about Dorwan following us?” I asked.

“He’d follow us to the seven hells if he knew it would prevent us from getting to Provincia,” North said.

“Is he still working with the hedges?” I pressed.

“Even they couldn’t stand him.” North made a slicing motion with his fingers. “Who do you think took his eye and ear?”

I shuddered.

“The Wizard Guard needs to do something about him,” I said.

“He’s unranked,” North said. “There was never a trace spell put on him because the Guard refused to admit him.”

“Because he didn’t have the proper schooling?” I asked.

“Because he had dangerous schooling,” North corrected me. “I think he once really did want to prove himself everyone’s equal, but now I think he wants Auster to destroy the wizards.”

“What will he do?” I asked. “Won’t he be destroyed along with the rest?”

North took my hand in his own and helped me navigate the rocky path. “Let’s not find out, shall we?”

We heard the groan of the wagon’s wheels long before we saw the two boys come around the bend in the mountain path. They were wearing plain clothing and their faces were surprisingly young. North held out an arm and drew me closer to him as the wagon slowed. The horses still had snow in their manes, but it was the word carved into the side of the wagon itself that caught my attention: ARCADIA.

North brought a hand up to his eyes, squinting against the setting sun’s light. “Well, if it isn’t little James and little Peter, all grown up and making the deliveries!”

The young man with blond hair waved, a huge smile on his face. “Mr. North! Didn’t realize you’d left!”

“Just an hour or so ago,” he said. “Where are you headed?”

“Mariton,” the other boy said. “If you’re going our way, we’d be happy to take you.”

North looked at me, and I looked at our map. “Are you taking this path down to Mariton Pass, by any chance?”

We would be able to pick up Prima Road from there, and then it would be about a week until Provincia came into sight. North must have been thinking the same thing, because he favored me with a smile.

“We sure are,” James said. “Hop in back. You might need to do some rearranging.”

I saw what he meant. The wagon was filled with burlap sacks of apples and bundles of newly sheared wool. North pulled himself up first, piling the bags of fruit onto one another until there was enough room for both of us to sit. The wagon trembled to life, and while it felt good to be off my feet, I doubted we were moving any faster than before.

In front of us, the two boys chatted amiably, looking back every once in a while when they thought North or I might not notice. They quieted down as night came and the chill settled in, but I could still hear them whispering about us. I almost wished we were walking, both to get away from them and to warm my stiff, cold limbs.

“I was thinking,” North whispered. I blinked my eyes open, rubbing them tiredly. He was looking at the half-eaten apple in his hand. “That once we got to Provincia, I would find you a nice place to stay while I take care of things.”

“You don’t have to do that for me,” I said, sitting back up. “I want to be with you. This is really important to me.”

“I can tell you’re unhappy, you know,” he said. “Please, I just want to do something nice for you.”

“You did something very nice for me the other night, remember?” I said pointedly. The two boys chuckled.

“Oh, grow up!” I said. They simply waved me off, not even bothering to turn around.

North snorted with laughter, letting his heavy arm fall around my shoulders.

“You should rest,” he said, his fingers threading through my hair. “We have a very long day tomorrow.”

“I’m not tired,” I said stubbornly, trying to shake off his arm.

“Well, I am!” North said, removing his arm. Before I could say a word, he had his head resting in my lap and his eyes squeezed shut. I wondered if he was waiting for me to hit him.