He must not succumb to the weakness of hope #Excerpt Forged in Fire by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MFRWhooks

In this scene, Pietas, Six, and their other companions have been following Joss back to camp. But it's been forever and they are no closer. She is legendary for her ability to get lost, so why she is leading them, Pietas can't imagine.

Surety

"Joss, you've been saying 'not far' for hours. Did I not teach you to mark trails?"

"I'm sorry, Pietas. It won't happen again."

Oh, but it would. She wouldn't mean for it to happen, but it would. He'd tried for centuries to teach her how to find her way, to no avail. He kissed her cheek and drew her into his arms, savoring her warmth.

"Joss." He placed his mouth near her ear. "You couldn't find your way out of a round room with one door."

She jerked up her head and looked at him, eyes wide.

"And I adore you for it."

Smiling, she took his hand. "Let's keep going."

The next rise led to a shallow valley with a gentle, sloping path leading to round-topped trees. Joss had gone ahead, scouting the way.

Six sighed. "I don't see civilization."

"Joss!" Pietas called, causing her to turn back and look at him. "Six wants to know if we're there yet." He smirked at his friend, who rolled his eyes.

"Almost." She motioned. "Keep going."

"Pi, I told you. She's trying to find a familiar landmark."

"Does seem that way."

"Don't you Ultras ever stop and ask for directions?"

"There's no one else on the planet. Ask of whom, ghost?"

Six spread his hands. "Just saying."

Joss turned and started back toward them. "It was further than I remembered, but I found it! We're minutes from the entrance."

A flare of hope quickened his heart. Pietas squelched it at once. Emotion did not color his decisions. A king acted with surety, not hope. Hope turned to disappointment. Disappointment turned to anger. Anger turned to rage. Rage removed control. He must not succumb to the weakness of hope.