Jack would face a potentially life-altering choice when he emerged from the Aithwood. Adaira resided in the Breccans’ city, deep in the heart of western territory, and he could reach her in one of two ways: by the northern road or the southern road.
“Both will lead you around the mountains and into Kirstron,” Elspeth said as she packed provisions for him for the long walk. “And both present you with different dangers. If you take the northern road, you’ll have to pass by Thane Pierce’s holding and lands, which you should avoid at all costs. If you take the southern road, you’ll have to pass through Spindle’s Vale, a highly traveled route known for trickery. Either way, you’ll need to be very careful.”
“Thane Pierce?” Jack echoed.
“A noble family who like trouble,” his nan muttered in disdain. “Even if you take the southern road to avoid passing their holding, you should still be prepared to run into Rab Pierce. He and his men are known for their roaming ways and have been patrolling the roads lately as a self-proclaimed ‘watch of the west.’ There’s been more crime this summer than usual, and a thane’s son like Rab likes to feel important by enacting ‘justice.’”
Jack didn’t like the sound of Rab. In the end, he decided to take the southern road through the valley to avoid the Pierce holding altogether. It would take him two days to reach the city by foot if he set a hard pace. Those two days were bound to feel like two years, knowing Adaira was on the horizon, and Jack was tempted to veer into the hills, to see if the land would fold and shorten the distance for him.
“Don’t stray too far from the road,” Elspeth said, reading his mind. “As I said, the vale is known for mischief. The mist gathers thick, and it’s easy to get turned around without the sun or moon for guidance. But if you must depart from the road, follow the deer trails. The animals here are wise when it comes to knowing places to go and places to avoid.”
Jack nodded and accepted the provisions with gratitude. “And what of the city and the castle? Anything I should know about them?”
“Aye,” Elspeth said. “Entering the city will be no trouble. It’s sprawled around the castle, so you’ll have to pass through its streets whether you arrive from the north or the south. The castle itself is nearly impenetrable. It’s surrounded by a moat and built on a hill. There is only one way to access the fortress, and that’s by bridge. It’s heavily guarded, so you’ll have to think of a reason to get across. Perhaps pass yourself off as a merchant or trader.”
“I’ll do that,” Jack said. “Thank you, Elspeth.”
His nan, hands on her hips, tilted her head and stared at him. “Are you not afraid, Jack? I’ve just told you the path you plan to take is going to be riddled with impossibilities and danger, and you look as thrilled as a lad who’s been let out of class early.”
He almost laughed. “I know I should be afraid. But I’m where I’m supposed to be. And I’d soon become miserable if I forfeited my fate in order to remain ‘safe.’”
Elspeth only snorted, but he could sense she was moved by his words. She laid her hand on his cheek and said, “Then go, Jack.”
He bid his nan farewell, leaving her in the garden. She stood at her gate and watched him follow the river’s path upstream. He wondered if he would have the chance to visit her again, or if this had been the one and only time he would ever spend with her.
Soon the Aithwood began to thin around him. Gray light shone through the canopy like bars of tempered steel as Jack wove his way closer to the forest’s edge. He slowed when he saw a glimmer of gold in the shadows. When he smelled a sweet familiar rot.
Jack carefully approached a sick rowan tree. He didn’t know if he was shocked that the blight was also present in the west, or if he should have expected it. He took a moment to examine the surrounding trees and saw that another one looked recently stricken as well. Jack wondered if the Breccans had done anything to contain the blight, or if they had yet to learn that such destruction was creeping across their territory.
He would talk to Adaira about it, to see if she had any insight that he didn’t. But then Jack thought of Innes Breccan. Would he want her to know the east was struggling with the blight? Should he keep that information concealed from the west?
Jack grimaced, uncertain. He would deal with it later, after he had reunited with Adaira.
He carefully wended his way through the rest of the forest and reached the boundary, the place where the trees ended and the land unfurled.