“He was the man you remind me of,” Amicia confessed. “Every day he courted me, proposing our betrothal, but I refused him, as you have refused me so callously despite all my efforts to make you a proper wife.” If he only knew how deeply she despised the notion of being proper.
“There is nothing callous about the truth. I’m an old man, Ami. My days for taking wives and having young are behind me,” he shouted, then realized the woods slumbered, and finished more quietly, “and I will not stay here.”
“You’re leaving?” she gasped. Her eyes wide with horror, her chest ached as if she had been punched.
“Aye, on the morrow,” he nodded firmly.
“But why?” she pleaded, no longer holding back the drops of sadness as they stained her flushed cheeks. “We have everything we need here. We should stay the rest of our days and be happy in the ease of our lives.” Her thoughts turned, and she remembered the dragon. “And what about our safety? You would leave us to that beast?”
“The ease is exactly why I must go,” he insisted, running his hand over his hair and pulling at the knot to free it. His shiny locks falling about his shoulders, he shook them, enjoying the feel of the night air and longing for the sea. “I didn’t fight my whole life to end up here, in this wretched place. I don’t care what the nymphs say. There is a way off of this rock, and I intend to find it.”
“What’s so wretched about it!” she bit through clenched teeth, anger seething inside her. “Tell me that, will you?”
“Gah,” he fumed. “Stubborn woman. Where’s the challenge of the glen? To build a shanty? To wander through green meadows and fields of flowers? There’s no thrill in the hunt. The food practically falls upon our table. No enemies to fight, as peace floats about us as if this were a dream.”
“The dragon!” she supplied, stepping towards him and shoving her finger in his face. “That’s the challenge! You must stay and protect us, as you always have,” she finished as a small plea.
“The dragon,” he scoffed. “He is no threat to us. He could torch the entire valley with a few simple passes should he desire it,” he informed her, waving his hand in the direction of the monster’s field. “I’m certain he isn’t here for that, and what he is here for is of no consequence to me.”
Raking his jaw side to side for a moment, he grunted, “I’m leaving, and that’s final. If you wish to go, pack your things. If not, I bid you happiness in the life you have chosen.”
Staring at his back as he stomped towards their cabin, Amicia whined, then cried more loudly. She had no desire to leave Esterbrook, but her heart ached with the idea of living without Piers Massheby to share in whatever lay ahead. “And to think this very afternoon, Uscan had warned me our paths might part,” she sighed to herself as she hauled the bucket towards their home, such as it was.
Still observing from his hiding place, Rey grinned to himself. Sure, he respected the Mate, but the other man had always stood in his way with the girl. After he leaves, I can stop standing in his shadow, he determined. I’ll have a real chance to move up in her estimation. I’ll get my turn to court her at last.
Following behind a few minutes later, the air felt heavy when he arrived back at the cottage. Pretending he had been out for a piss, he exaggerated a yawn and flopped back onto his bed. Staring at the light of the dying fire as it danced on the ceiling, he remained still until he had fallen asleep while dreaming of the days to come in the glen.
Long Goodbyes
The following morning, chaos reigned in the meadow. Piers had risen early and had his things packed to leave when Baldwin and Animir joined him.
“But why must you go?” the former cabin boy sulked. “Is it because we disobeyed?” he asked, his heart filled with remorse as he watched the other man prepare to leave.
“No,” the Mate clipped. “It’s no one’s fault. I simply can’t stay here any longer. Winter will break soon, and I wish to go north and explore options for getting out of this kingdom.”
Animir gaped at him, “You know it is not possible to leave Eriden. Queen Preivia has even vouched it is so.”
“Well, I don’t believe you have exhausted every possibility,” the older man replied calmly, looking over his pack.
Joining them, Amicia announced, “I’m going with you.”
All three of the males turned their heads to gape at her simultaneously, but it was Rey who spoke up, coming through the door from outside. “Have you gone mad?”
“No, I just think it would be best, that’s all,” she bit harshly. The depth of her devotion to the man who had saved her on more than one occasion could never be doubted.
“Then we’re all going,” Bally agreed, almost eagerly.
Glaring at the girl, Piers growled, “Don’t be silly. The rest of you will remain here in the comfort of the glen. Trust me, if I find a way to get us home, I will return for you.”
“Nonsense,” Ami replied, turning her back and locating her bag. “I’ll pack the food,” she announced, her voice filled with excitement she did not feel.
“Amicia, listen to me,” the Mate spat, taking her arm and turning her to face him. “It will be dangerous. You’ve heard enough from the natives. You know I have to cross the desert to get to the north, and even then, there are no guarantees.”
“I don’t care,” she replied sharply, pulling herself free and marching towards the exit. “You said I could come.”
“I,” he stammered, recalling their conversation. “I didn’t think that you would,” he confessed. “And certainly not drag everyone else along. Look at what we have here,” he said, raising his hands to indicate the shelter and the surrounding lands.
“Exactly,” she said quietly as she left the room.
Instant rage filled Reynard’s heart, and he turned on the older man, screaming, “How could you do this?”
“I haven’t done anything,” Piers informed him, throwing his pack over his shoulder and marching out after her. “Ami, you can’t come.”
Ignoring him, she layered their dried meats that Piers had prepared over the months on the bottom, followed by Rey’s cheeses in the middle, saving room for a few loaves of bread on top. “I’m not taking the vegetables,” she announced. “We’ll eat off the land for as long as we can and keep all of this for when we need it the most, out in the sand.”
Glancing up at the men, who stared at her rather than pack, she sniffed, “Bally, you’ll carry the weapons again?”
“Aye,” he agreed, spurred into action. Locating the swords and bows, he placed everything in a bundle atop the table and bound them with a line to hang on his back.
“Rey Daye go?” Oldrilin said softly, looking up at her friend with sorrow-stained cheeks.
“Aye,” he replied, grinding his teeth. Turning to Animir, he declared, “You should return to Jerranyth.”
“There is no place for me with the elves,” he replied. “I have failed to report our whereabouts since the night we left, and I am certain there is a price on my head. If I go back, the queen will see to it that my fate is complete.”
“He’s going with us,” Baldwin interjected, tossing his bedroll out onto the ground in front of the door. Making the round, he rolled one of the quilts for each of them and tied it into a small bundle.
“All right,” Rey agreed, cutting the Mate an angry glare. “Lin, I’ll carry you in the pack we made to flee the elf city, or you can walk whenever you like, unless you want to remain here with the nymphs.”
Her smile brief, she nodded. “Thank you, Rey Daye. Good friend you always be.”
Pausing to lay his hand affectionately atop her head, he nodded his agreement. “Yes, my little siren. Always will we be.”
The cabin abuzz with preparations, Zaendra could tell something wasn’t right as soon as she arrived. “What’s happened?” she asked in a surprised tone.
“The Mate has decided it’s time to go,” Bally informed her.
Crossing her arms in an angry pout, the nymph stamp
ed her bare foot against the dirt floor of their cabin. “Why would he ever want to go?” she huffed.
“I have no idea,” Bally replied, still locating items they might need and seeing to it they were packed. “But the Mate’s in charge. When he says we go, we go.”
“I never invited you on this journey,” Piers shouted over his shoulder. Standing in front of the cabin, he glared at the woods on the far side, pondering if their newest neighbor was aware of their pending departure. “Damn folly, if you ask me,” he muttered. One man might slip by unnoticed, but with the whole group, they would find out rather quickly if the dragon were actually after them.
Lining up outside, Amicia had finished selecting their stores. Standing next to him, she asked, “Have you brought the bottles for the water?”
“Aye,” he clipped, not looking at her.
She could tell his mood was foul, but at the moment she didn’t care. “Look, Piers,” she snapped, “You said I could come, and you’re not leaving without me, and that’s final.”
“I’m waiting, aren’t I?” he held up a hand to indicate the magnitude of his evidence.
“Right,” she spat. “I want to say goodbye to the queen, so you’ll all need to wait here.”
Emitting a disgusted sigh, he cut his eyes over at her and declared, “Well, we don’t have time for any long goodbyes. Go tell her we’re off and thank her for the use of their lands. Then get straight back here so we can leave.”
Not bothering to argue, Ami left her pack on the table, brushing away tears as she marched through the woods behind the cabin. Coming out on the far side, the sacred rings lay before her, and to her surprise, Preivia stood in the center of them.
The long gossamer material of her dress floating around her on the breeze, the smaller woman waited for Ami to join her. When she had, she announced, “The time has come for your departure, Amicia Spicer.”
“Yes,” the girl breathed, “but how did you know? It was only decided just this morning!”
Her smile faint, the nymph gazed up at her with her crystal blue orbs, the morning sun glinting off her silver hair. “So special you are,” she whispered. “But you have not realized yet what lies before you… or behind.”
Confused, Amicia stammered, “No, I suppose not. We wanted to thank you for taking us in. The cabin was lovely, and the meadow, and the brook…” Her voice trailed away and her shoulders shook as she began to cry in earnest. “Damn it,” she fumed, clenching a fist and wiping at her eyes.
“You could let him go without you,” the queen quietly advised.
Coughing, Ami sputtered, “Never could I do such a thing. Piers Massheby may be a scoundrel, but he has stood toe to toe with danger in our favor. He had our backs when no other was there for us. We could never allow him to make this journey alone.”
“Then cry not for what is left,” Preivia advised. Offering her hand, she waited for the girl to take it, then gave her a firm squeeze.
Filled with the strength of the smaller woman, Ami closed her eyes and drank in the connection between them. “I may never see you again,” she sniffed, her tears subsiding. “I’ve lost so much,” she sighed, thinking of her parents, the ship, and Riran in turn.
“But think of all you have gained.”
Peeking through a half-opened eye, Ami studied her. “Do you have a response for everything I could say?”
Laughing quietly, Preivia nodded, “It would seem that I do. Zaendra will be with you. Her future does not lie within the glen. Take care of her and know that a special bond is grown between you.”
Frowning, Amicia gasped, “I cannot take your maid from you.”
“She is not my servant, though she has served me well,” the queen informed her, giving her a final squeeze and dropping the connection. “Return to your friends and resume your journey, sweet princess.”
Puckering her lips, Amicia agreed with a small nod. Her steps back through the forest slow, she considered the words that had passed between them carefully, for if she had learned anything about the queens of the southern realms, they seldom said exactly what they meant.
As soon as Amicia had disappeared into the trees, Reynard turned on the Mate, pouring out his anger full-force. “Why didn’t you just leave?” he demanded. “You told her last night you were going to go. You should have left while she slept and saved her the trouble of trying to follow!”
“How would you know what I told her?” Piers countered coolly.
His fury only heightened, the younger man stammered, “I heard you… I was awake you know, taking a piss,” he lied.
“Awake, for certain,” the Mate agreed, “listening to words not meant for your ears, more like. I fully believed she would remain behind with the rest of you. How was I to know this would be her choice?”
Glaring at him, Rey faltered, “How could she not?” The air caught in his lungs, he felt as if he’d been kicked. “She loves you, Mate.” Blinking a few times, his face crinkled as if he might scream or cry. “She does! She would never let you leave without her, and she will never be mine!” he shouted, unleashing his pain.
Shaking his head, Piers remained calm. “She may love me, but she loves you as well. She doesn’t see it. My star has blinded her to all other light. But it will pass, and one day she will realize what has been hers all along.”
Wiping at his tears, Rey glanced at the others who stood around him, gaping at his display. “What’s everyone staring at?” he bellowed. “Haven’t you ever seen anyone mourn before?”
“She’s just a girl,” Bally replied, shaking his head in disbelief.
“She isn’t just a girl,” the older man mocked his words while clenching his fist and displaying it for him. “She’s the woman I wish to make my bride. To have for all my life and to hold through all the nights.”
“If that’s true, then you must be patient,” the Mate stated with a smirk. “Now, look around and make sure we have everything. We’ll leave as soon as our girl returns.”
Holding the scowl, Rey hated the way Amicia had been referred to as our girl, but he had to admit, it was an accurate description. She cared for them all, and they all cared for her. “Don’t tell her I cried,” he requested meekly as he used what remained in the pail to wash his face.
Grinning at him, Animir agreed, “We will keep it to ourselves.”
Making another pass through the cabin to calm himself, Rey gathered Amicia’s personal items, slipping her brush and mirror, dagger, and what remained of the writing items into his bag. Then, presenting himself out front, he dropped the full pack on the ground and toyed with the empty one that would carry the siren when the time came.
Taking her place beside him, Zaendra placed a smaller bag at her feet and leaned on a long stick formed from the limb of a tree.
“What are you doing?” Rey demanded, glaring down at her.
“Waiting to leave,” she replied smugly, her dark button nose raised into the air as she stared straight ahead.
“You can’t come with us,” he countered, looking to the Mate for support.
“Don’t look at me,” the other man replied with an upturned hand.
At that moment, Ami rejoined them, oddly cheerful as she hoisted her pack. “Is everyone ready?” she inquired. “Zaendra, you have your things?”
“How did you know she was going?” Bally demanded in surprise.
“The queen told me,” Amicia replied with a full smile. “She helped me gain a little perspective,” she informed him, and she patted the shorter girl on the shoulder.
“Good, then I guess we can be on our way,” Piers observed, still half expecting to be attacked by the flying demon before they ever cleared the glen.
Circle of Friends
Lying in the woods across the way, Lamwen watched as the group gathered their gear and left the cabin, walking in single file just inside the line of the trees. They were headed north, towards the open end of the valley, and it wasn’t hard to decipher where they would go from ther
e.
The morning sun warming his scales, he had been awoken early by the heated discussion that preceded their departure. If they had intended to sneak away, they had failed completely in that respect, and he had been aware of their movements since daybreak.
“Silly mortals,” he chided, exiting his hiding place and returning to his meadow for a nap.
He would have no need to watch their every move. He knew exactly where he would locate them, when he was ready. The question was, would he alert Gwirwen to the new development?
As far as the king knew, Lamwen kept an eye on the humans for him and would inform him if and when they left the glen. However, after having lain in the sun observing them over three moons, he had developed a few theories about the Supreme Dragon’s fear of the girl. Theories he would like to test before he informed his leader of anything.
Stretching out next to his favorite rock, he blew bits of fire into the air and watched the rings of smoke that formed float into the blue sky. The girl is special, he surmised. That’s why Ziewen had been so concerned about her but not the males.
With Amicia being a wielder of magic, her bloodline could not be too distantly removed from Eriden. It would be impossible for a true mortal to use the shell. Unless she were a wizard, the thought occurred to him. But female wizards who can use magic are extremely rare, he turned in his mind once more, still searching for the right clue.
Rolling onto his side, he drew a deep breath and growled loudly as he released the air. So, what else could she be? She had certainly smelled of mortal flesh and blood, he acquiesced. Perhaps she has been forced into the form of a human. He toyed with the idea for several minutes before finally falling asleep, the answers still beyond his reach.
Awakening with a start hours later, the sun had moved far west and hung low in the sky. On his feet, Lamwen’s heart raced with excitement. Leaping into the air, he followed the path he felt certain the humans would have taken, as there were only a few that led to the desert but avoided the mountain of the elves. After several miles, he spotted them, as they were making camp near a small pond.
Journey of Darkness Page 4