Retrieve

by Sarah Addison-Fox

  Cester peered down at the boy. “Listen to Kade. If you get into trouble either climb or run and hide.”

  Martha’s lip was trembling as she handed him a small cloth wrapped parcel. The scent of fresh baking filled his nostrils, and he beamed at the cook. “Dumplings?”

  Martha nodded. “Mind you share with the boy.”

  Kade stuffed the package in his saddlebags and swung up on his mount, his eyes on a cautious Hadley as he stepped to his and scrambled up.

  His shoulders set and his face grim, Kade pulled his mount away, waving to his sister as they left the campsite.

  Hadley was silent as they plodded through the surrounding forest. Kade left the boy to his thoughts, grateful at least he hadn’t been saddled with a chatterbox.

  He worked through his plan, Cester’s directions were clear. Find the princess, retrieve her by any means necessary, and return her to the springs where a nobleman would be waiting with payment.

  Despite the urgency, Cester was, as always, sticking to protocol, which would mean trekking to Arrowford so that Hadley would have time to learn everything he needed to.

  Kade slid another glance at his assigned newbie, and his frown grew. The boy could run, he could climb, but he couldn’t hit a target with a dagger, and he was possibly the worse archer Kade had ever set eyes on. Just my bloody luck.

  He shook off his misfortune. Carl had been saddled with a lad not much better, only difference was, Carl wasn’t going to Amaria with a newbie for a scout.

  A sudden drop in temperature alerted him to a possible downpour just before Kade found the path to the tavern. A fat splosh of rain dropped on his shoulder as they made their way through the trees. The wind began to pick up, and Kade gave the instruction to gallop, before spurring his horse on.

  They still had a two-day trek, and it would be a matter of minutes before the heavens opened releasing a torrent of water that would soak them to the skin, not to mention the dumplings Martha had slaved over.

  By the time they’d arrived in the tiny village, the rain was beginning to fall in a steady stream. Kade dismounted and grabbed his saddlebags as the stable boy gave them a warning to hurry inside.

  “Bad weather on the way,” the boy said.

  Kade looked back the way they’d come and grimaced. The boy was right, the swollen clouds were almost black, darkening the entire sky. A crack of thunder came from overhead, and Kade motioned for Hadley to hurry.

  The tavern was quiet as Kade stepped inside. Warmth striking his face from the large fire that burned in the middle of the room. The tavern owner, Jack, a man he knew well, extended a hand in greeting.

  His white beard covered half his weathered face, his grip strong and true as always. “Didn’t think you’d show, storm’s brewing, you made it just in time.”

  Kade laid a hand on Hadley’s bony shoulder. “This is Hadley, and he needs a bath before we set off tomorrow.”

  Jack grinned at Hadley. “I’ll get to it shortly. You need a drink lads?”

  Kade nodded, dropped his saddle bag to the floor and scanned the barren room. As usual, all of the high tables with stools, were all empty. “Slow day?”

  Jack threw his hands up. “Who can afford to drink? We’re barely able to feed ourselves let alone give the punters anything.”

  He nodded vaguely. It was a surprise Jack was still in business at all. The majority of the other vendors in the village had closed doors. Jack had been luckier. Most likely because he was friendly with Cester, and because he was always willing to accommodate the nearby Stormers.

  Kade took a stool and watched with amusement as Hadley struggled to sit. His legs dangling down as he adjusted himself and tried to find his balance.

  “No need to make up two rooms, we’ll share, save you the bother,” Kade said.

  Jack seemed relieved as he poured two tankers of ale from a wooden barrel. “That be good, Molly isn’t well, I’m barely keeping things going.”

  Kade wrapped his hands around the tankard and took a long swallow, wiping his mouth before answering. “Nothing serious I hope?”

  Jack perched on a stool and ran his hands through his thinning hair. “I don’t know, the healer seems to think it’s a mild malady, but you never can tell whether the plague has passed.”

  Kade flinched at the pain on Jack’s face. Molly was his only remaining daughter. His three sons taken two winters ago at the same time Kade and Meg had lost their parents and uncle.

  “We haven’t heard of any new cases for at least six months. There’s word the famine is easing some in the south, maybe the spring will bring new growth here too?”

  Jack gave him a smile, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. “Maybe. I’ll go heat the water. Give me an hour, and you’ll have enough for a bath.”

  Kade grasped the man’s arm before he could walk away. “Just fill it in the kitchen, no need to bring it to the room.”

  Jack pursed his lips then his face cracked into a more genuine smile. “Always the more thoughtful of the Stormers. It’s that captain of yours. He’s a good influence on you all.”

  Kade returned his attention to his drink, shooting a glance at Hadley only to find what could only be described as horror on the boy’s face. “The kitchens?”

  He frowned as he took a large swallow. “Jack’s an old man; I’m not having him haul pots of hot water upstairs just for us.”

  Hadley dropped his gaze and muttered something under his breath. When he looked up, his eyes were determined. “I’ll take them upstairs.”

  Kade gave him a cold look. “No, you will not. If he sees you doing that, he’ll insist on helping you; the kitchen is good enough.”

  Hadley’s eyes flashed with annoyance. “It’s not private.”

  Kade nearly choked on his ale. His brow knotted as he pulled a face at the strange boy. “You’ll have more privacy than with the Stormers watching on, and you’ll have hot water which is a luxury in itself.”

  Hadley’s slender jaw worked, his eyes locked on Kade’s before he nodded.

  Kade shook his head and scratched his arm vaguely as he peered at Hadley. “You going to drink that? Because if you don’t, I will.”

  Hadley shoved the drink towards him.

  “How old are you?”

  The boy’s eyes moved around the empty room as though checking for something. “Seventeen.”

  Kade paused, the mug halfway to his lips. “Seventeen?”

  Hadley squirmed in his seat. “Yes.”

  Kade took a gulp and held onto the brew as he fixed his gaze on Hadley’s thin, hairless chin. “You look younger.”

  Hadley bristled. “Maybe I haven’t finished growing?”

  Kade nodded vaguely before stretching out his back. “You want to go over the plans again?”

  Hadley gave him a blank look before shaking his head.

  A spark of irritation grew. If the boy wasn’t going to pay attention, he’d be worse than a liability. “Fine, we’ll go over it after we eat dinner. I’d advise you to eat as much as you can, this is going to be the last hot meal we see in a few weeks.”

  Hadley met his gaze before he looked at the arm Kade was still absentmindedly scratching. “Is that the mark you get?”

  Kade followed his gaze, before pulling his sleeve over his tattoo. “It’s the Stormers mark; you qualify for one when you complete your first successful retrieval. You’ll get yours at the springs.”

  If you stick around, that is.

  Hadley gawked at the tattoo for a moment before he looked away again. Kade blew out an irritated breath and finished the rest of the ale.

  Whatever was up with the boy, he wasn’t here willingly, he might have escaped a worse fate, but no matter how quickly he could climb a tree, or how fast he could run, the lad wasn’t committed.

  Which meant Kade would have to watch him very, very closely.

  Hadley stepped inside the warm kitchen, sweat already soaking through her clothing, her hands shaking so much she shoved them in he
r pockets to hide them from Kade.

  Her food sitting in her belly like a lump, she watched as Jack poured the last of the pots of steaming water into a large copper tub.

  With the room lit only by a large wood stove, a spark of hope bloomed in Hadley’s chest she could get away with bathing in front of Kade.

  Jack gave her a weary smile as he passed by. “I need to go check on my Molly, towels and soap are right there. Sorry the light isn’t good, I’m conserving candles you see.”

  Kade thanked him, dropped the clean clothes beside the bath and threw the threadbare towels on the floor as he took a seat. “Hurry up; I want the water after you.”

  Hadley’s legs were rooted to the ground as she gave him a weak smile. “You go first; I’m dirtier anyway.”

  He narrowed his eyes, but shrugged, and yanked off his boots from where he sat. Hadley’s horror grew as he unbuckled his knives and began unbuttoning his shirt.

  It was bad enough when the other boys undressed with reckless abandon. But Kade too? She whirled on her heel and found elsewhere to look.

  She edged her way back to the chair, nearly stumbling over his boots as she kept her eyes averted.

  Kade sighed deeply, and she listened as the water sloshed around as he washed. Hadley averted her eyes until he was standing, towel wrapped around his waist. “Your turn.”

  Her body flooded with heat, her heart hammering wildly in her chest as she tried not to look at the way the water was trickling down the slope of his chest muscles.

  A loud crack of thunder shook the building, and the driving rain beat a steady stream against the window panes. Through the undressed curtains Hadley spotted lightning as it flashed across the darkened sky, all of which only served to increase her anxiety.

  Hadley’s breaths became harder to find, dressed in her heavy winter clothes, in the confines of the small room, her head grew light the more she looked at the steaming water and tried to avoid looking at Kade.

  Her chest seemed to have swelled in the heat, and she felt the bindings even more acutely than before. She bent over, her palms slick as she grabbed at the bindings in an attempt to draw breath.

  The room began to spin, the floor moving under her as she stumbled towards the bath, grabbing the edge a split-second before her legs gave out and she slumped to the floor.

  Kade peered down at her, squinting in the poor light before hauling her to her feet, his face blurry as she gasped for breath.

  He held her at arms-length as he assessed her face. “What’s wrong with you now?”

  Hadley clawed at her chest, gasping as she sagged in his iron grip. Kade’s frown deepened before his hands shifted. She had little time to consider what was happening before he shoved aside her jacket and in a single move wrenched the fabric of her vest and shirt at her chest.

  The ripping sound happened at the precise moment she was able to make sense of what he was doing. Surprise lit his face as his eyes caught on the cloth she’d wrapped around her chest. “What is this?”

  Hadley shook her head, her body screaming for air, panic flooding her veins, her voice barely a whisper as she rasped. “Can’t breathe.”

  His eyes widened before his hands were at her chest, and more fabric tore before her lungs expanded enough for her to inhale deeply.

  Kade released her, and she stumbled away, clasping her shirt to her chest, eyes filling with tears at what he must have seen.

  He backed away, confusion brewing on his face. “What are you hiding under there? Did you steal something? Is that what’s the matter with you? Are you worried someone will find you?”

  Hadley shook her head, relief flooding through her as he approached again, sucking in blessedly large amounts of air as she spoke. “No, I swear.”

  He froze, his posture rigid. Hadley’s cheeks flooded with heat as she hastened to lower her voice. All the dim lighting in the world couldn’t hide her if she sounded like a girl.

  “I mean, I haven’t stolen anything. I had a few coins, the binding it kept them safe,” she spluttered.

  He eyed her for several beats of her thrashing heart before motioning to the bath. “You still need to get clean. You stink, and we’re not wasting the hot water.”

  He turned on his heel and spun the chair, so it was facing the wall before plonking down in it, his back to her.

  Hadley stood shaking, paralyzed by indecision, if he so much as glanced in her direction at the wrong moment, he’d know.

  The rain drove harder against the windows, almost competing with the thudding in her chest. Her eyes darting from where he sat in the flickering shadows, she awkwardly unlaced her boots and began stripping off the soiled clothing.

  After several minutes of fumbles and the occasional growl from Kade, she stepped into the bath, careful to keep her body covered until the last moment.

  Hadley grabbed the gritty soap and began scrubbing her skin, curling into herself, hiding as much of her body as possible. Her eyes locked on Kade’s back, her heart spluttered as he removed one of his knives and began idly playing with it.

  She paused for a moment, waiting, but he only examined the knife in his hand, turning it so it caught the light. Thunder rattled the window pane, and she jerked in response.

  The soap slipped from her hand, and in a panic, she ducked enough to dunk the side of her face in the water.

  Unable to grab hold of the slippery soap, she panicked as it slid towards the drain hole at the end. Her breath caught when black grease started to pool on the surface of the water, and she knew she’d dislodged the polish.

  Despair closing in on her, Hadley caught a sob before it burst forth. She needed an excuse. A reason to leave before the early light of day gave her away completely.

  Maybe if she feigned illness, she could slip to their room, then sneak away in the dark while he slept, taking one of the horses?

  Resignation filled her as the water became murkier. There was no denying her disguise was gone now.

  She sighed deeply, found the soap, and with a last look at Kade, she slid her head under the water, and washed the boot polish from her hair.

  When she sat up again, arms curling protectively around her body, he still hadn’t turned. Biting back a sigh of relief, she stepped out of the bath, and bent to pick up the towel, scrubbing furiously, leaving half of her body still damp before yanking on her borrowed clothes, only realising after she bent to lace her boots, she’d forgotten she’d needed to bind her chest again.

  She grabbed the filthy clothes and held them to her chest a moment before Kade spun to face her.

  His voice was thick when he spoke. “Upstairs. To your right. My bed. I mean our room. Has beds in it, all the rooms do.”

  He rubbed at his neck, his eyes on the floor. “I need to empty this water. Not fair on Jack eh?”

  Hadley glanced down at the blackened water and managed a limp nod. Her body tingling all over, from nerves and the scrubbing she’d inflicted on her skin.

  Kade cocked his head, a curious expression on his face. “Go on; I’ll be right up.”

  Her feet inched forward, uncertainty building as he looked everywhere but at her.

  What are you waiting for? Move!

  Her veins flooded with heat, muscles primed as she saw he was giving her the chance she needed.

  In her haste to exit the sweltering kitchen, she almost ran into Jack as he crossed the tavern floor. She mumbled her apologies and ducked her head before climbing the stairs as fast as her trembling legs could carry her.

  When she was safely behind the door of the room, she blew out a breath as thunder boomed around her.

  Maybe I can get away after all?

  Kade stared perplexed at the doorway long after Hadley’s footsteps rescinded, and he realised with a start that Jack was speaking to him. Probably had been for a few minutes. “What?”

  Jack frowned and shook his head. “I said, you don’t need to empty it lad, you do any more for me, I’ll have to pay you. Besides, it can wait till
morning, no point going outside in this nasty storm.”

  Kade gave him a weak smile. “Eh, sorry, right, of course, well thank you.”

  Jack cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. “You alright lad? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?”

  Kade sucked in a breath before waving a hand in the air. “I’m fine. Just need a bit of air, stuffy in here.”

  Jack shook his head and spoke to him like he was dim-witted. “Not tonight you aren’t lad. I sent young Jimmy home, locked the stable up tight. The storm has only gotten started, and I’m picking it’s going to hang around for a few days at least.”

  Kade’s jaw slackened slightly as he tried to unravel his tangled thoughts. “Uh, a few days eh?”

  Jack chuckled. “Good thing you and the lad got here before the weather turned, don’t want to be stuck out there in the middle of it. Much better to be tucked in one of my rooms.”

  Kade cleared his throat and gave Jack a distracted smile as he picked up Hadley’s clothes. His fingers catching on the fabric he’d ripped from Hadley’s chest. Kade dropped his chin, as he stalked out of the kitchen. His mind filling with questions he couldn’t answer.

  He made it as far as the first stool he saw before he slumped onto it. The sound of Jack humming as he tidied the kitchen for the night, doing little to break his confusion.

  Hugging the clothes to his chest, in much the same way Hadley had done, he sat frowning at the floorboards as though they could provide an explanation.

  His forehead wrinkled as he shifted the dirty clothing in his hands and looked upwards. Oh crap. Hadley was not a boy. Never had been. Hadley was in fact, a blonde girl with very non-boyish curves hidden under her masculine clothes.

  What was he supposed to do with this information? Pretend he hadn’t been spying on her, using his knife as a mirror?

  Was he supposed to pretend he didn’t care and go back and try to convince Cester she should still accompany him? Kade cursed himself, then the gods and then his inability to make a quick decision. How could he willingly take her into such dangerous territory now? Why would she even want to go?