Arcane Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 2) by Kara Jaynes Page B

able to conduct a proper search of them. Not alone, anyway.”
    “That’s where we need to go,” she said determinedly. “The outlaws are there, I’m sure of it.”
    Aaric tilted his head, puzzled. “What makes you so sure, Adaryn?”
    Adaryn’s mouth snapped shut and she fidgeted a little. “Oh. Well. Just rumors. In the city.”
    “ Adaryn, ” both men said simultaneously.
    “Fine.” She glowered at the two of them. “King Matias told me.”
    “What?” Bran blurted out. Aaric stared at her, aghast.
    “Well, why not?” she said defensively, heat rising to her face. “He’s a friend of mine, and he has an incentive to get rid of the brigands, does he not?”
    Bran put his face in his hands. “Adaryn.” He sounded strangled. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
    “And why should I be?” She was offended. Aaric could hear it in her voice and her face was red. “I didn’t initially plan to tell him about our quest but it just slipped out, and good thing it did.” She filled both men on her most recent discussion with the king.
    “Hmm.” Bran rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I can’t say I’m entirely thrilled about getting him mixed up in all of this, but he does have a motive to help us.”
    “True,” Aaric said.
    “When do we leave?” Adaryn asked.
    Aaric eyed her dubiously. “Perhaps it would be better for you to stay here,” he said, thinking of the fight they had with the brigands before arriving at the city. “It will be dangerous.”
    Adaryn rolled her eyes at the same moment Bran laughed. “She fights better than you do.”
    Aaric split his glare between the two nomads who unapologetically grinned back. He sighed. “Fine.”
    “Let’s leave tomorrow,” Bran said. “I’ll have the cook put together some proper rations for us tonight.”
    After he left, Adaryn went to sit on the bed next to Aaric. He put his arms around her, drawing her close to him, breathing in her woodsy scent.
    “I hope we find it.” Adaryn’s voice was muffled against his chest. “I want to get this over with.”
    “Me, too.” Aaric ran his hand up and down Adaryn’s back. “I don’t know if we’ll find this Fyrsil in my father’s notes, but we’ll at least find out if the brigands have something that is giving them the edge. It would explain why King Matias’ guards haven’t been able to do much to stop them.”
    Adaryn was silent, her arms wrapped around Aaric’s waist. Aaric hoped his worry hadn’t shown in his voice. If they didn’t find the brigand leader, he wasn’t sure what to do next, if there was anything they could do.

 
    24
    Adaryn
     
    “ I like Sen Altare better than Ruis,” I said to Aaric as we rode side by side. It was the first overcast day since arriving at Sen Altare, and it looked like it might rain. Bran took the lead, riding Star and scanning the land as he always did. We were nearing the end of our first day of travel, and Bran said we were getting close to the ruins. He always took the lead. He didn’t want to be ambushed. “Still too crowded for me, but it’s cleaner, the people stay out of your business and there’s no slavery.”
    “That’s true,” Aaric said absently. He was only half listening. The man was reading another book.
    “How are you liking the Scholar’s Guild?” I tried switching subjects for the fourth time, attempting to engage in some conversation.
    “We’re here,” Bran called from ahead.
    Aaric’s head snapped up and, putting his book away in his pack, urged his horse ahead. “Hurry, Adaryn,” he called over his shoulder. “Not the time to be distracted.”
    I frowned at his back. He accused me of being distracted? I considered throwing a rock at him, but then my horse stepped into view of the Tyrko Ruins and all thoughts of Aaric were wiped from my mind.
    The Ruins were located in a vast, basin-like depression. Broken stone buildings of various sizes dotted the landscape as far as the human eye could see.
    “What was