Eva had to give it to them. The Kyren had chosen their territory well. They'd picked an area full of natural defenses. The rugged mountains and deep ravines would make it difficult for all but the most determined to find them.
It would be impossible for Fallon, or anyone else for that matter, to invade with a large army. At least not easily. And definitely not quietly.
Judging by the number of times he'd banked, and a few of the more distant mountains she was using as reference points, she had a feeling they hadn't gone as far as Sebastian wanted to make it seem.
Maybe half a day's flight at best.
Then again, she could be wrong. Navigating from air was much different than from the ground.
Pathfinding wasn't exactly in her skill set either. She knew north from south and east from west. In the Lowlands that would have been more than enough, but the Highlands were different. They had a way of turning a person around, making your sense of direction meaningless.
Eva had a feeling no matter how many times Sebastian flew her along this path, she'd never be able to guide others to the places she'd seen.
Which was exactly what the Kyren were hoping for.
We're getting close, Sebastian said after what felt like an eternity.
Finally.
Eva's ass thanked him. It had been hours since their last rest stop and her lower extremities had long since gone numb. Persistent aches in her hips and the small of her back let her know they'd had about enough of this nonsense.
Sebastian's timing was impeccable since Eva had been planning to ask him for another rest break.
Now that there was an end in sight, she bit back that request and instead worked on making herself comfortable for the remainder of the ride.
Just a little further and then she'd finally be done.
Unable to resist any longer, Eva slid one boot out of a stirrup, straightening and bending her leg a few times before slipping her foot back into the stirrup and repeating the process with the other leg.
Finished, she twisted her upper half left and then right before settling down again.
It didn't quite work out all the kinks but it would do for now.
The sharp walls of a ravine rose around them. Fully extended, Sebastian's wings cleared the space with only inches to spare. The walls of the ravine were covered in moss and greenery, a river trickling under their feet.
They followed its snaking path as Eva stared around her in curiosity.
Hold on, Eva.
Sebastian picked up speed as a bend in the ravine approached. He banked, nearly turning sideways as they raced around the corner.
Eva caught her breath as the ravine jogged in the opposite direction.
Sebastian flapped his wings, following the twisting corridor without hesitation.
A rushing sound filled Eva's ears. "What is that?"
Her question went unanswered as she clung to Sebastian's back, leaning with him every time he had to shift direction.
The ravine widened slightly, and Eva finally caught a glimpse of what was causing that sound.
Ahead, the river plummeted over a sharp drop, a wall of stone blocking their path behind it.
"Sebastian," Eva warned.
If he didn't slow down, they were going to crash.
The spray from the waterfall dampened her clothes, its touch icy cold as they approached the drop.
Suddenly, Eva had a feeling she knew what Sebastian was going to do. She grabbed the oh shit handle and hung on for dear life.
Sebastian folded his wings. They dropped, missing the rocks jutting from the lip of the waterfall by inches.
The sight below was terrifying. The ground lost in a misty haze that veiled everything.
There was nowhere to go. Cliffs to their fore and the waterfall and more rock to their rear.
They were truly trapped and with the mist coming off the waterfall there was no way to know what awaited them below.
"Sebastian!" There was panic in Eva's voice this time.
Sebastian's wings snapped out, and they shot into the fog as Eva fought the urge to close her eyes. Strange as it was, she felt a need to face what was coming with her eyes wide open.
The roar of water was all around her. Nearly deafening. Until it was all she could hear.
A small break in the fog ahead allowed her to see the cliffs looming large.
She sucked in a breath, only noticing the small cave in the side of the cliff once they were already passing into it.
Darkness embraced them. Eva straightened, half afraid a stalactite or other rock outcropping would knock her silly.
When her head remained attached to her body, Eva relaxed slightly, taking the opportunity to loosen her grip on the handle.
Not entirely, just enough to let the blood flow back into her fingers.
Below her, Eva sensed Sebastian's calm. There was none of the tense anxiety or fear of a gruesome death that haunted her thoughts.
It made her realize something she should have before. This wasn't his first time coming this route. He was too familiar. Reacted too quickly to the twists and turns. Preparing for the next before they were through the first. Almost like he'd done this before. Many times.
And here she'd thought it was another one of his flying games.
Scare the silly human. Well, he'd certainly done that.
As they flew, the darkness took on a violet tinge, allowing Eva to see.
"Wow," she said softly as she studied her surroundings.
The strangeness of this place was unexpected.
In the presence of absolute darkness, like what you'd find in a cave, it shouldn't matter how long she stared into the void. Her eyes would never adjust.
Yet here, she was able to see the columns of rock around them, carved by water and time. Small pockets of darkness that told her of other chambers to the cave.
Eva looked down, noting the inky black of the river, violet specks of light glimmering along its surface.
"What in the world?"
Having a thought, Eva looked up and gasped. Along the ceiling, thousands of tiny lights shone. Like stars in the night sky.
Only the color of violet.
There were thin strands of light stretching between each dot. Interconnected in a massive web.
Like what you see?
"You have no idea," Eva said, not taking her eyes from the ethereal sight.
It was like a dream. An amazing, beautiful dream.
"This is—" She shook her head again, her laugh echoed off the walls. "I have no idea what this is."
Look in front of you, Sebastian said softly.
Eva squinted over his head. Sunshine waited, along with the mouth of the cave.
Sebastian soared out of the cavern, over a cliff that dropped into one of the most beautiful places Eva had ever seen.
Kyren frolicked in the sky. Columns of rock towered over the meadows and trees interspersed throughout the gentle rolling hills.
"I thought you weren't taking me to the herd lands," Eva whispered, unable to tear her gaze from what was in front of her.
I didn't. Not exactly. At least not the ones you're thinking of.
Eva's forehead furrowed as she aimed a troubled frown at the back of Sebastian's head before returning her gaze to the view.
He was right. This wasn't the herd lands of her dreams. A place she'd only touched on in passing. One she might have thought a figment of her imagination if not for the conversation she’d had with the herd lord there.
She'd encountered that place again when trapped in the mist. It had laid claim to her soul in a way this place didn't.