The journey to Isca was long. And that was the point. The Empress sitting virtually unguarded in a carriage, riding away from her home city and even her home land, with the only help anywhere nearby being one small group of soldiers who'd fallen back.
Isabelle wasn't oblivious to how many things could go wrong.
But she didn't have a better plan.
She was betting that, whatever their plan was, her bait was still better than theirs. Enough to risk even a little bit. Or maybe they'd risk it all knowing it was a trap and hope to overpower her defenses?
Either way, as the road stretched onward and they headed west, away from civilization, into the forest.
She wished they'd show their faces sooner rather than later.
Phoenix murred at her side. He'd crawled all over her lap and cuddled into her in what was either a silent protest or an attempt to comfort himself by protectively draping himself over her. Whichever it was, he nuzzled his cheek into her shoulder and lightly dozed.
