He dips his head as if in supplication.

At first, I don’t assume the enchantment did something. Then the golden butterfly I observed earlier flaps up towards the highest of the gully as if to depart.

Rheave glances at me wide-eyed. We each clamber up the earthen wall after it.

The butterfly glides this fashion and that, the farthest factor from a straight line. However as we pad via the underbrush after it, transferring between the bushes as silently as we will, I can see that it’s main us steadily if slowly onward.

The daylight glints off its wings because it soars over a log. It skirts a thicket and swings forwards and backwards round a grove of saplings.

I’m beginning to assume it’s merely having fun with a romp via the woods in any case when a tiny tingle grazes my face.

I freeze, concentrating on the feeling. With my breath held, I scan the woods round us for any signal of the Order of the Wild.

We’re nonetheless so deep within the forest that I can’t inform how shut the sting is perhaps. The march has all the time camped on open floor earlier than, to allow them to simply monitor the realm past the borders of their camp with out leaving the boundaries of their concealing magic.

If I can’t see past the bushes, they shouldn’t be capable of see this far throughout the woods.

Rheave has gone nonetheless at my facet. I maintain up a hand in a sign for warning and stroll onward with much more care and all my senses on the alert.

The trace of magic intensifies within the path the butterfly has flown. Once I’m positive of what path it’s in, I draw again to the place it’s solely a faint tingle and weave forwards and backwards to chart the perimeters of it.

The scourge sorcerers are to the west of this patch of forest. The faintest hum of their magic stretches far sufficient that I can sense it alongside a course of 100 and twenty-three paces via the comb.

I wish to get a more in-depth look. However I can’t threat utilizing my very own magic to hide myself.

I stare towards the camp I do know should be there, and one thing flips over in my head. I might smack myself for my obliviousness.

What number of years have I been sneaking round with none magical assist in any respect? I’ve gotten so used to counting on it over the previous few weeks that what was once automated didn’t even happen to me.

I contact Rheave’s arm and lean near whisper to him. “I’m going to creep a bit of nearer. It’ll be simpler by myself. Wait right here and maintain watch.”

He nods and geese his head to press a swift kiss to my cheek.

Crouching low, I ease ahead throughout the cowl of the underbrush. Many of the shrubs have misplaced their leaves, however their spindly branches will nonetheless cover me from anybody peering into the forest’s shadows.

I slink from bush to tree trunk to clump of wilted ferns, straining my sight. The magic within the air thickens with each step.

Julita’s presence expands in the back of my cranium as she returns to share my full consciousness. I see we’ve made some progress. I take it the march is camped that approach?

I dip my head in a delicate nod.

I knew we’d discover them. She pauses whereas I ease ahead with a number of extra furtive actions, and a giggle escapes her. , I feel that is extra enjoyable than merely whipping some magic round you. The place’s the problem in that?

I restrain a snort and scuttle onward.

Once I’ve left Rheave some twenty paces behind me, I lastly make out a much less dense space past the closest bushes. I can’t get a transparent view of the camp when it’s cloaked in magic, however it’s obtained to be proper over there.

Nice. Now what? I can’t spy on folks I can’t see.

To breach their concealing spell, I’d must stroll proper into the sector. Even the Hand of Kosmel can’t cover behind blades of grass.

I squint on the extra open space past the dense forest for any signal of motion. There is perhaps some sort of clue about their plans that I might decide up if I obtained nearer—however I don’t know the place their sentries are. The farther I emerge into the fringes of the forest, the extra likelihood there may be I’ll be seen.

After a number of minutes, I draw again about half of the gap I coated earlier than, to the place I’m assured I received’t be seen from the camp. I nonetheless keep low and silent as I transfer from tree to tree, listening and awaiting something in any respect which may assist.

A hen calls within the distance. Twigs rattle towards one another in a gust of wind.

I pull my cloak tighter round me and rub my hand over my face, hating the thought of leaving with out figuring out extra, conscious that I is perhaps extra helpful again with the others.

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