Calliope [Book 2]

Mido and Lily galloped through the woods. He called for Calliope over and over, but she was nowhere to be found. His heart sank and his stomach twisted. He felt his head spin as he tried to dismount only to fall to his knees and sob to the earth. He let his fist hit the ground, cursing each time it hit.

“Dammit, Calli,” he whispered. “You stupid fucking witch.” He pushed himself over and let his head hit the tree behind him. “Damn, stupid witch.” He gazed through the branches and into the clear, blue sky. “Should have killed her when I had the chance,” he muttered.

Lily snorted and Mido turned to his mare. She shook her head and pawed at the ground. Her muzzle twitched as she searched for some stray greens.

“None of this would have happened. I could be home, sleeping with sleazy girls right now.”

The mare was quiet as she nosed at the dead leaves. Her ears twitched at every sound in the forest, but ignored her master’s voice.

Mido sighed and turned his eyes back to the sky, waiting, as if some answer would fall to him, but Heaven was quiet; no one was listening. He felt tears sting his eyes once more. He squeezed his eyelids, holding back the sign of weakness, and got to his feet. He had to find her. He didn’t know where to look, or even where to begin, but he had to find her. Asmar’s revengeful citizens were on the hunt for her. He had no idea how many of them were searching, or how far they have or would travel, but she wasn’t safe, anywhere.

Mido mounted his horse and pulled back his shoulders. He looked around, unsure of where to start. He decided to make his way out of the forest; at the very least, he hoped he would have the pleasure of running into the Asmarians again. He would ride, he thought. Ride across the kingdom, searching every nook and cranny in the world, until he found Calliope.

Mido pointed Lily back into the kingdom and urged her forward. They hurried out of the forest and galloped through In’audis. The kingdom was quiet outside of the city. Mido didn’t come across a soul; not an Asmarian or a In’audisian. He assumed the kingdom was still on lockdown, searching for the rogue witch.

Horse and rider hurried past the city of Corvua and traveled through the rest of the day, slowing only when it grew too dark for either of them to see. Mido felt uncomfortable stopping in the middle of the kingdom, out in the open. He could feel Lily stumble beneath him. She had traveled hard with him over the last day and a half. He couldn’t push her any more.

Mido pulled her to a stop and dismounted. He removed her saddle and bridle and the mare immediately rolled in the cool grass, snorting happily. Mido leaned against the saddle, throwing the saddle blanket over his legs. The world around them was strangely quiet; not a cricket nor an owl could be heard. Mido gazed into the night sky, listening to the mare as she got back to her feet and shook herself out. She grazed quietly near her master, stopping only when her eyelids grew too heavy.

Sleep did not come as easily for Mido. He felt anxious to be on the move again. With every passing second, Calliope could be further and further away from him. His mind raced through every possibility. She could have been found – but there was no way they could touch her. She was strong. Even if she didn’t want to kill, she could use her magic to defend herself and get away. Hell, he thought, she could disappear into thin air. When did she learn to do that? Was she simply invisible to the eye? Did she go somewhere else? But where would she have gone?

Perhaps she went back to Librona. No, she wouldn’t have. There’s nothing she could do there, she knew this. She wasn’t a killer.

But she was a stubborn witch. She would do anything she could to save that kingdom.

Maybe she went to Scarletta’s castle in hopes of finding a solution. But she had tried that once before. Mido doubted there was anything for her to find there.

“Calliope, if you’re there, I will kill you,” he muttered. “So, you better not show your face.”

A cool night breeze blew through his hair, but the world around them was otherwise silent. Mido sighed and turned onto his side. He watched the blades of grass blow in the breeze. He felt exposed to the world. He prayed that no one would find him there. He closed his eyes just for a moment, but when he opened them again, the approaching dawn had begun to gray the sky. He pushed himself up and looked around; the world was still quiet. Lily was up and grazing once more. Her ears turned towards her waking master and she snorted. She finished her meal and approached him, ready to continue their journey.

Mido patted her nose and got to his feet. He stretched, thankful for the uneventful night and the couple hours of sleep he managed to get. He saddled the mare, mounted, and looked around them. It didn’t seem likely that Calliope would stay in the kingdom, with them on the hunt for her. She hardly knew of the world she lived in. The only other option for her was to return to Librona.

Mido turned Lily back towards the kingdom they once called home. He couldn’t step foot across it’s borders, but he had no other option. He had to find Calliope. And if she wasn’t there, he would need help searching the world for her. He would need ships to cross the seas and riders to cross the lands. King Sloan couldn’t deny him that. He would help them win their war against Asmar. He would slay every last Asmarian if it meant earning King Sloan’s trust again. He couldn’t do this alone, and he grew desperate with each passing moment.

Mido nudged Lily forward, heading back towards the distant forest that separated In’audis from Librona. They walked slowly at first through the morning mist until Corvua came into sight. Anxious to pass without being seen, he pushed Lily into a gallop. They galloped across the kingdom, still quiet and locked up, until they lost sight of Corvua. It would be weeks until they reached Librona’s borders. Mido couldn’t help but feel helpless and defeated, but he pushed on, determined to reach his destination. It was the only purpose he had in his life, now. It was the only hope he had to find Calliope.