From Darkness Won Part 52

She shot Sir Caleb a knowing look.

Sir Caleb looked surprised. "The king must have manners, my dear."

"Are you hungry?" Esper asked Achan.

"Very much. It has been days of eating dried food. I long for something different."

"Then you shall have it."

"It's being in the middle of the night, Your Highness," Bodwin said. "But I'm having wakened enough servants to be seeing that you're being fed."

"Oh. I thank you, but I can make do until breakfast."

"Be thinking nothing of it, Your Highness. My servants were being here long before I. They have been waiting many years to be serving their king again. It's being an honor they have been waiting years for."

"I see. I hope I will meet their expectations, then."

Bodwin bowed. "I'm being sure you shall."

"Has Sir Eagan arrived?" Achan asked. "I was told he was on his way here with his own party."

"We've not been hearing a word from him. No one was telling us he was coming, either."

Achan would have to bloodvoice him the moment he sat down. "He's expected any moment, I am sure. I hope he'll have no trouble at the gate."

"I'll be letting my men know to be watching for him."

Bodwin led Achan and the others up the narrow staircase. They exited onto an outdoor path that pa.s.sed several structures built into the wall of the mountain. The exterior walls were rock and masonry. Stone pathways branched off here and there, leading up to other dwellings.

Achan followed Bodwin up another stairway, this one chiseled out of the rock. At the top they turned left, wove around another rocky corridor, then walked up another short flight of stairs to a red door in a wall of masonry that curved outward in a half circle.

"This is being your chambers, Your Highness. And a very lucky place to be laying your head. For on a clear day, one can be seeing Mount Bamah."

"I am sure once Darkness is vanquished, the view will be immaculate."

Bodwin s.h.i.+fted his feet. "Yes, well... I'll be having some food brought up right away."

"Thank you, Bodwin."

Inside, the circular room was made from masonry on one side and carved rock on the other. A large bed sat in the center of the room, covered in white furs. It had no headboard or canopy. There seemed no way to know which side was the head.

Matthias was already present and had hung several of Achan's s.h.i.+rts up on a rack.

"I see you've wasted no time, Matthias."

"Your clothing got wrinkled in the saddlebags, sir. The trunks kept everything nicer."

"Why bring all the clothing, then? One or two outfits would be plenty."

"Oh, Sir Caleb insisted I not leave any behind, sir."

"That's not surprising. Come help me out of this armor."

Matthias came running. Shung still needed to a.s.sist with the points, but Matthias was becoming quite adept at his job. When all the armor was removed, Achan felt light and free.

Matthias went to lay out the chain hauberk, so Achan pulled off the gambeson, tossed it aside, and fell back onto the bed with his feet still flat on the floor. The furs felt soft against his bare skin. Matthias returned and tugged off Achan's boots. Achan sent a knock to Sir Eagan.

Sir Eagan replied right away. Yes, Your Highness? How do you fare?

We have arrived in Noiz. Sir Gavin told me you were coming here. Are you close?

We are but a day away.

Excellent. I look forward to seeing you all.

Thank you, Your Highness.

Achan closed his eyes, starting to drift off almost instantly. He distinctly remembered someone grabbing his legs and twisting the rest of his body up onto the bed. But he didn't wake. He willingly let sleep take him captive.

32.

"I need to stop." Gren stumbled in front of Averella and lowered her pack to the ground. "I can't carry this anymore."

"We mustn't stop," Peripaso said. "That'll give the wolves a chance to surround us."

As if in answer, a wolf howled somewhere ahead. Trees towered above both sides of the trail like sentry walls, though they were not solid. Wolves could easily dart between their narrow trunks and onto the path.

"Jax and I are taking turns watching for them," Sir Eagan said, "though animals were never my strength. Sir Gavin is the Great Whitewolf, not I."

"I sense there are two ahead on the trail," Jax said.

"Can you storm them?" Averella asked, thinking of her mother.

Jax shook his head. "I'm not trained to storm."

"I could try, but not until we stop somewhere safe," Sir Eagan said. "I cannot see, and it will take some time for me to locate them in the forest."

Noam stopped on the trail beside Gren. "If the wolf is ahead of us, should we leave the trail?"

"That would seal our deaths," Peripaso said. "Wolves like to send their prey in circles until they tire."

"But we're already tired!" Gren said.

"That's why we must press on," Peripaso said. "The sooner we reach Noiz, the better."

Noam put his arm around Gren and gave her a side hug. "What is Noiz, anyway? I've never heard of it."

"Noiz is a sanctuary for the royal family," Sir Eagan said. "The king retreats there for leisure or refuge."

"Won't the wolves follow us there?" Gren asked.

"Wolves avoid crowds," Peripaso said. "Once we reach the settlement, we'll be safe."

"But can't we rest a bit?" Gren asked.

"Allow me, Madam." Bran stepped forward and hoisted Gren's pack over his good arm.

Gren wilted with relief. "Oh, thank you, Bran."

Averella's heart warmed to see Bran step in to help Gren. Her gaze met Gren's, and Gren looked away. Averella knew not how to behave around Gren in light of Bran Rennan's presence, knowing his true feelings for them both.

They continued on. Wolves howled around them. Sometimes far away. Sometimes so close the hair on Averella's arms bristled. The forest path became rocky and mountainous. Sir Rigil took Gren's pack from Bran. Not even Jax could keep up Peripaso's pace.

They came upon a deep cave in a rocky cliff. After a thorough search, Jax p.r.o.nounced it safe, and they made camp inside. Though all were exhausted, the men devised a schedule for watch, and everyone else went to sleep.

Averella woke from a nightmare of Esek striking her. Had that been dream or memory? It was difficult to tell with the tricks of Darkness and the horrors she had apparently been through this last year. She lay awake, sorting recent thoughts.

Achan had rescued her from drowning in the Mahanaim ca.n.a.ls. Jax had confirmed that. She also recalled Achan carrying her on his back to keep her out of the dark waters of Arok Lake. There had been leeches in the water. Horrible little slugs that drank blood.

She s.h.i.+vered. Maybe that had been a nightmare.

Mother told her that some man had discovered she was a woman and had attacked her. So her dream of the man called Polk must have been true. Or was that the attack by the man called Khai? In any case, Achan had used his mind to control some man and stop him from going too far.

And Achan had also rescued her from Esek's tent. Mother confirmed the truth of this. But Averella had also dreamed about Achan carrying her, lifting her onto Dove's back.

Dove? Oh, it was a horse. Who did Dove belong to?

That mattered little. The point was that Achan had rescued Averella again and again. Put himself in danger for her sake. Why had she run from such loyalty? Who would not want to marry such a man-especially since he was to be king?

She rolled over. Jax, Bran, and Sir Eagan lay sleeping around the fire pit. Two moths fluttered above the campfire, casting their shadows on the rocky ceiling of the cavern.

Sir Rigil sat staring into the flames, arms propped on his knees. For being one of the best groomed knights in Er'Rets, he was a mess, even after a swim in the plunge pool. A smudge of dirt darkened one cheek. His bangs hung in greasy strands, curling around his ears. He had grown a short beard too. It made him look older. Tired.

"Why so glum, Sir Rigil?" Averella whispered, propping her head on one hand. "We are almost to our destination."

He turned his blue-eyed gaze to her and held up the sword Averella had taken from the Mahanaim guard. "My sword. It is lost. I've had it since my manhood ceremony. It was taken in Allowntown."

"I am sorry."

He winced. "I know it's only a hunk of steel and wood. Still... Keseel felt like a friend."

"I can imagine the bond a man must have with his weapon, especially when it has served faithfully for so long."

He smiled, still handsome even in filth. "That's it exactly, my lady. You don't think me petty?"

"Of course not. I had to leave Kopay, my horse. It is natural to cling to what is familiar."

"Which is why so many marry a friend." He gazed into the flames again. "Ah, if only I could wed my sword. Keseel and I would make a fierce pair. No one could cross us."

Gren giggled, startling Averella, for she thought only she and Sir Rigil had been awake.

Sir Rigil groaned. "Now you too will think I'm petty, Madam Hoff. Or odd, at least."

Gren lay just behind Averella. "Do you mind my asking, sir? Bran and I have not been friends long. Do you think that would make us a poor match?"

A crooked grin stretched across his grubby face. "Not because of your friends.h.i.+p or lack thereof. I've other reasons for thinking you and Master Rennan are a poor match."

"Because I'm a peasant and a widow and pregnant with another man's child, and he-"

"No." Sir Rigil raised an eyebrow. "Because you're the most argumentative woman I've ever known. More so than even Lady Averella, and you see what happened with her and Master Rennan."

Gren frowned at Averella. "What's wrong with a woman who speaks her mind? That's not argumentative. Just honest."

Sir Rigil merely raised an eyebrow.

"And I didn't see what happened with Lady Averella and Master Rennan."

Averella sighed, glancing to where Bran lay sleeping on the other side of the campfire, his bandaged arm resting on his chest. "I hardly know that myself, and I supposedly lived it."

Sir Rigil c.o.c.ked his eyebrow Averella's way. "I'll tell you what happened, my lady. The two of you fought yourselves right out of love with one another. Both so bossy the other couldn't stand it."

Averella clicked her tongue. "Really, Sir Rigil."

He batted a moth away from his face. "'Tis true. I swear it upon my good name."

Gren sat up, scowling at Sir Rigil. "Master Rennan has never bossed me."

Sir Rigil laughed. "Only because the two of you have done nothing but walk in circles. He was on duty, Madam Hoff. To keep you safe, not to debate life, not to court you."

"But he said he cares for me."

"I'm sure he does. But Rennan is too wise to pledge his heart to a woman he barely knows."

Gren turned red and opened her mouth to retort.

But Sir Rigil held up his hands, which the campfire shadowed on the cave wall behind him. "Peace! I will tell you what you must know. When his betrothal to Lady Averella ended, he asked me about you, Madam Hoff. To see if I thought you a wise choice to pursue. So take heart that he does have interest to see whether you and he are compatible. After the war. That is not a proposal, Madam, so do not mistake it as such. It is merely a statement that a good man wishes to know you better."

"And you told him I'm a poor choice?"

Sir Rigil sighed, met Averella's gaze, and grinned. "Madam Hoff, I have already given my answer. You need a man you can have charge of. A man with little will of his own. And take it from me as Bran Rennan's master these past seventeen years, he does not like to be yoked."

For reasons Averella could not explain, this brought a smile to her lips.