The Sapphire Flute: Book 1 of The Wolfchild Saga
Page 14
CHAPTER NINE
Ember dashed at the tears that hadn’t stopped since she stepped out of the house and left her sobbing mother behind. She had fully expected Marda to throw open the door and chase after her, had hoped for it even, but she never came.
As the ash turned to gray mud falling from the heavens, Ember drew in a deep breath and darted across the field to the warm comfort of the barn, more grateful than ever for Ezeker’s weather charm. The mage lights came up as soon as she entered, the twins having respelled them when they cast their own magelights over the field. She stopped for a moment to blink away the light blindness after the almost pitch-dark of the ash and rain-filled sky.
Brownie whickered as Ember drew near to the dark mare that had been her favorite for so long. “Hey, girl,” she said as she stroked the horse’s neck. “How about a ride? You feel up to that, huh?” The mare nodded as if she understood. Sometimes Ember thought she just might.
Ember’s saddle was at the back of the barn resting on an old sawhorse. Reins and lead ropes hung in loops on the wall above. Ember took down the reins and threw the saddle over her shoulder before she turned back to Brownie. She had tightened the belly strap on the mare when the barn door swung open again. Ember tensed for a moment, unsure now if she wanted to see her mother, if it meant she would try to stop her from going to the trials. But it wasn’t Marda.
Aldarin stepped into the warmth of the light, a satchel under his arm and a bag in his hand. He didn’t say a word—just went to the back of the barn and returned with a saddlebag he packed as he walked. He threw the satchel over Brownie’s rump and strapped it on, then turned and gathered Ember in his arms. “That took a lot of guts,” he whispered. “You’re doing the right thing.” Ember burst into tears again. She couldn’t help it. Much as she and her mother disagreed and fought, she did love her, and it was tearing Ember apart to know how much she’d just hurt her. “I had to do it, didn’t I?” she asked her stepbrother. “Do you think she’ll ever understand?”
“Shhh,” he whispered, rubbing her back. “She’ll get over it. Let it go. You did what you had to—though when I told you to take control of your life, I never expected you to do it in such a grand manner.”
Ember laughed and pulled away from Aldarin. She sniffed, then wiped at her cheeks. Aldarin smiled, took her face in his hands, and kissed her forehead. “I’m proud of you, Sis. Now get out of here. Ezeker is expecting you.”
“What? How could he know I’d be coming tonight?”
“I told him. Just now.” Aldarin tucked some small foodstuffs in the saddlebag and buckled it, then laced his fingers together and bent forward to give her a boost up.
Ember didn’t move. “How?”
Aldarin gave her a lopsided grin. “I’ve got my ways.”
She rolled her eyes. It wasn’t worth the time it would take to discover his secrets. She placed her foot in his open hands and heaved herself into the saddle. She looked down to see his hand outstretched, holding a piece of white parchment. She took it, recognizing the scrawl on the front. It was the note Paeder had given her.
“Paeder wanted to make sure you read that before you left. I packed the rest of your gifts in the saddlebag and put some travel food and apple pudding in there, too.” He gave her leg one more pat, then turned to go. He jumped back, startled, as Tiva ran in, nearly colliding with him.
“Father’s bad, Marda needs you, can you call Ezeker?” He burst it all out in one breath, his eyes wide.
Ember moved to get down from the horse, but Aldarin turned with an outstretched hand.
“No, Ember. Now is your chance. There’s nothing you can do, and you might miss your opportunity to get to the trials. Go.”
“But—”
“No buts, Sis. Go.”
Ember couldn’t decide which part of her heart to listen to—the one that told her to help her stepfather, or the one that longed for the mage trials. Aldarin made her mind up for her when he slid the barn door open wide and pointed.
Ember chewed at her lip before giving Aldarin one brief nod. He waved and left the barn with Tiva almost as quickly as the twin had come, the side door still open and swinging in the wind. Murky gray rain spattered the hay in the entryway as Ember readied herself to go. She went to tuck the envelope in her breast pocket, but thought better of it. She held it in front of her for a long second, broke the seal, and began to read.
"My dearest Ember,
I know you have loved Brownie since the night you helped me bring her into the world, and I believe she loves you every bit as much. If I know you as well as I think I do, you will not let your mother dictate your life and will be soon heading for the mage trials. Go with my blessing and love. As sick as I am, I wanted to give you a gift, a legacy that you can call your own, and perhaps remember me fondly in the process. Brownie and Diamond Girl are yours. Contained within this letter are the papers naming you their owner. Keep them safe.
Please keep in touch, daughter, and I hope that I may call you that, for daughter of my heart you are. I know that I cannot take the place of your father, but I hope I have been a father of sorts to you. I do love you, child, with all my heart, and probably even a little more than some of my rascally sons, though please don’t tell them I said so. Marda has consented to take me to see the Mage Council, and I do not know if I shall see you again, though I hope it may be so. If not, at least I can go to my grave knowing I have been loved by three of the greatest of women, and have created three of the finest of sons. If indeed you do come to the mage trials, find me. I would like to see you again before I die.
If anyone can become a mage by force of will alone, Ember, it will be you. I pray for your success so your mother might at last see you for the brilliant star you are.
Eternally my love,
Your ‘other’ Da"
Ember was in tears again by the time she reached the end of the letter. She’d always known Paeder was a good man; she’d just never known how much that affected her personally until now. She hoped and prayed she’d have the chance to see him again and tell him how much his letter meant to her.
For the first time in her life, she felt like she had a real father, and couldn’t stand to think of losing him so soon.
Ember wiped at her tears again, tucked the papers in her pocket for safekeeping, and gave Brownie a nudge. She didn’t need Diamond Girl right now, but she’d return the first moment she could to collect her inheritance. She tried not to think on Paeder’s illness and instead let her thoughts settle on his kindness and goodness.
Fortified by his love, Ember nudged Brownie forward. The horse willingly stepped through the barn door and into the muddy rain.
The high road wasn’t three minutes from Ember’s home, and she reached it quickly, even in the dark. The magelights that lined the highway still weren’t working, though whether they had been covered by mud or if the fluctuating energy from the volcano had taken them out, she didn’t know. It was darker than she’d ever seen it—so dark she could barely see the trees that edged the road.
She walked Brownie slowly for several minutes down the highway. The weather charm would keep her dry, but it certainly wouldn’t prevent a broken leg or cracked head if they slipped and fell.
Ember glanced at the shadows along the edges of the road and shivered. Her imagination summoned up all kinds of monsters that could attack her from the dark, and she had to fight the urge to nudge Brownie into a run. She just wanted to be safe in Ezeker’s tower until morning.
Lost in her thoughts, Ember nearly jumped out of her skin when a voice hailed her from the darkness.
“Ho, the road! Would you be willing to help a traveler out? I’m looking for Horsemaster Paeder’s farm. Might you know where I could find it? I can’t see a thing in this weather.”
Ember got her heart rate under control and chuckled nervously.
“Yes, sir, you’re almost there, though I must warn you, he’s quite ill. I’m not sure he’d be up to a visitor tonight.”
&n
bsp; “Pity, that. Might you know if he’s got a girl there, a brunette, about fifteen or sixteen seasons?”
“Why do you ask, sir?” Her heart started to race again. Why would a stranger be looking for her? Had C’Tan found her already? “I don’t recollect any girls there, sir. What did you say her name was?”
The stranger chuckled, a low menacing sound that sent ice up Ember’s spine. “I didn’t, but judging by the fear coming off you, I’d say you’re lying through your straight little teeth. Oh, yes, I can see them. Hello, Shandae. Your aunt sends her greetings.”
Ember had just enough time to register his words, to realize the relationship Aldarin had implied earlier, that C’Tan was her aunt, before a sharp pain in the back of her head sent blackness to envelop her completely.