VINCENT

Two hours had passed agonizingly slow by the time the door creaked open, revealing the young man who had unknowingly rescued me. He wore a displeased frown that only deepened when his eyes fell upon me. Such a look left me feeling inadequate, and I barely kept myself from attempting to wander to a dark corner and hide.

He dropped the bag he carried onto the floor and turned to Monty, crossing his arms. "Before you ask, no, I was not followed."

"Never had a doubt," Monty said as he approached Tristan. "Slippery eel like you can get outta anything."

"Are we good to go?"

"Should be." Monty turned to me and nodded to the door. "You gonna put up a fight, Pretty Boy?"

"If I didn't fight you whilst you butchered my hair, then I highly doubt I'd fight you now," I said. Monty had the nerve to grin at me. Mallou, why was I letting him get under my skin? I breathed in slowly, calming myself.

"Besides, offensive magic is hardly my strong suit." I hated to admit such a weakness, but I needed to be able to sense if another mage was nearby. I was so close to freedom.

Monty raised a brow at me and scoffed. "Yeah, I ain't taking those things off ya' just yet."

"They keep others from detecting your magic," Tristan said as he moved around the mill, examining the walls and corners with distaste. He moved to the center of the room, eyeing the ceiling as if someone were hiding in the rafters. "I would think you'd want them to stay on until we're at least out of the area."

He had a very good point. I was blind to the world around me, but my father was blind to my whereabouts as well. "Very well."

He turned to face Olwen and Monty. "We should head to the Bellis Crypt. It's close enough and should be safe."

Interest rose within me. I had never visited any of the Lady's Crypts. Father never deemed it necessary to search them as magic users with any power avoided the lingering Cores of those who had passed. I was always curious as to how it felt. I hoped they would remove the dampeners by then.

Olwen nodded in agreement. "We'll travel overnight and make it to the Crypt by early afternoon."

I had never had such an uncomfortable and unrestful night of sleep in my life. Being stuck to the inner confines of the carriage with minimal breaks was truly awful. How the others could take turns napping through the constant bouncing movement was beyond me.

It may have been large enough to easily allow three of us the ability to stretch our legs across the cabin and onto the facing seat, but there was little comfort to be found on the stiff seats. And it was somehow cold and stuffy. I had been given a woolen blanket, and it did little to serve as both a pillow and warmth.

Near as I could tell, Tristan was not fond of our mode of travel either. If I had a chance of getting my dampeners removed, it would most likely be by bribing him with a smoother ride. I hadn't the slightest idea how I could accomplish something like that, but I could figure it out. I would figure it out. If only for the sake of my stiff body.

There was also a cricket that no one else was concerned with. If and when I was given the chance, I would track down the Mallou damned creature and… Perhaps not destroy it. But I would certainly throw it out into the wilderness to fend for itself.

I bit back a groan as I attempted to stretch. I caught Tristan's frown and looked away. I hadn't thought I disturbed him, but it seemed my mere presence irritated him.

At least the view outside gave me a reprieve. The early dawn lent a beautiful golden glow to the countryside. The trees were slowly turning colors, marking the end of summer. Morbidly, I thought of how it potentially marked the end of my life.

Behind the trees was a small river, cutting through the land. In the middle of the river was a man in a tiny boat. He appeared to be fishing. It was all so picturesque, and I wished I had been in company with whom I could express such a sentiment.

I regretted having to pull my attention away when Tristan spoke up. 

"What's so interesting?" he asked through a yawn.

"Nothing, really," I replied in the same bored tone I would give Father. I didn't want to lose my privilege of enjoying the view.

He looked past me and his brows rose in surprise. "Fancy rod for someone in a coracle."

Monty leaned over me to look. "Yeah. Something ain't right with that. Sit back a bit, Pretty Boy. I don't trust this."

He was surprisingly gentle as he pressed my shoulder back against the seat. I didn't understand where I stood with this man.

I would no longer be able to entertain myself with the view, and I certainly wouldn't be permitted to ride in the driver's box again. I sank back into the seat as Tristan pulled the curtains shut with an annoyed sigh.

"We can open it again when we get closer to the Crypt."

It was a small consolation.