by A. E. Rayne
Jael laughed, walking away as Aleksander slapped his neck. ‘Come on, then, before there’s nothing left of you!’
It was finally dark, and Edela couldn’t wait to hop into bed, but she didn’t feel ready for sleeping. Her mind was so full of problems that she felt a sense of panic, unsure what to dream about.
Eydis and Biddy sat opposite her on stools, trying to help her decide.
‘Well, the prophecy makes sense to me,’ Biddy said. ‘It’s the key to all that will happen. Having knowledge of that could save Jael’s and Eadmund’s lives. And many more.’
Eydis frowned. ‘But what about Eadmund? Shouldn’t you try and dream about him? See what to do about the other rope?’
Edela frowned, pushing away Vella who was trying to crawl onto her lap. She smelled horrible, and Edela wrinkled her nose.
‘I know,’ Biddy said. ‘I’ll wash them in the morning. Not sure where they’ve been today, but knowing those two they’ve been rolling in dragon guts again.’
‘What about Amma?’ Eydis murmured, deciding that she should bring it up, wondering if Edela knew.
‘Amma?’ Edela glanced at Biddy who looked on blankly.
‘She’s pregnant,’ Eydis said. ‘Isn’t she?’
Edela nodded, and Biddy’s eyes widened. ‘She is. And she’s worried. Worried that it’s Jaeger Dragos’ baby.’
Biddy’s eyes widened some more. ‘Poor Amma.’
‘Mmmm,’ Edela agreed. ‘I can imagine how upsetting that would be.’
‘Will she tell Axl?’ Biddy asked.
Edela shrugged. ‘I don’t know what she’ll do, but I’m not sure it’s anything we can help her with. I think I had better stay far away from that.’
‘Well, then,’ Biddy decided, ‘it has to be the prophecy for you. And Eydis, why don’t you try and find Eadmund?’
And having agreed upon that, Biddy proceeded to make some hot milk to relax them all.
Eadmund kissed the top of Evaine’s head.
She frowned, wondering why. Why was he kissing her head when her body was naked, pressing against his? When he hadn’t been able to keep his hands off her since their reunion in Flane.
Why was he kissing her head?
Evaine sat up and leaned over him, bending to kiss his lips, teasing them with her tongue. He didn’t respond. The lamps flickered, and she could see the deep crease between his eyes where he was frowning. Sitting back on her heels, she sighed. ‘What has happened, Eadmund? Something’s wrong. I know it is.’
Eadmund tried to smile, but his frown wouldn’t budge.
‘Nothing,’ he muttered. ‘Except being here with Jaeger. Being stuck here with him is what’s wrong. And now we have to attack Helsabor together. Side by side. How is that going to work when we want to kill each other?’
Evaine relaxed slightly. It was an explanation that made sense. ‘Do you have to go? Does Draguta need you when she has Jaeger?’ Saying his name made her feel sick. She couldn’t look Eadmund in the eye. ‘I don’t understand why she needs you. Why we can’t just go home now. You have your own kingdom to worry about.’
Eadmund tried to understand it himself, but any desire to rebel against Draguta met the strong resistance that pleasing her was more important than anything else. His thoughts eased, and he rubbed his beard with both hands, trying not to think at all. ‘Draguta needs me. I don’t think she trusts Jaeger. And who could blame her? After watching how he defended Skorro, he’s sure to make a mess of Helsabor.’
‘And what’s in Helsabor that Draguta cares about?’ Evaine wondered. ‘When you claim it, what will happen there?’
‘I imagine she’ll kill Briggit Halvardar. Install her own people to run the kingdom. Bleed it of its assets. Use them for conquering the rest of Osterland.’ He felt detached and strange, as though his head and heart were on opposite sides. The words came as easily as breathing, but his body was almost jerking in protest.
He could feel an ache in his heart.
Evaine’s mind started whirring. ‘And Helsabor is rich, isn’t it? Richer than Hest?’
‘I don’t know. Apparently, they have a golden throne, so perhaps. Richer than Oss, at least.’ He thought of his own wooden, fur-lined throne; its well-worn armrests and tall back. His father’s chair.
And thinking of his father led Eadmund back to Morac again.
And he scowled.
Morac had come to sit with Morana after supper, giving Else the opportunity to escape the chamber for a while. He was still salivating over the lobster, and the perfectly sweet wine, which had made him quite sleepy. He was thinking about Evaine’s servant too. She really was a beautiful woman.
Morana tried to glare at him. Her brother’s thoughts were droning, and she had grown bored with listening to them. She doubted he noticed. Morac had always been self-involved. Never selfless enough to be a true Follower. Never clever enough to see what was hiding in plain sight.
He had always had his sister to look after him. To see that which he had missed himself. She had guided him and rescued him and helped him navigate the dangerous waters in which he sailed.
But now?
Now, Morana couldn’t help him at all.
He was entirely on his own.
Else opened the door, unable to mask her disappointment at being back in the chamber. She had enjoyed roaming the castle and the city as a servant to Irenna Dragos, and even when she was working for Jaeger she could get out and about, but being stuck inside a stone prison with a silent patient was making Else almost as morose as Morana. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I was able to get a few apples, which I’ll stew to add to Morana’s porridge and honey in the morning.’
Morac looked at her. ‘Morana hates honey.’
‘Oh. Draguta insisted I give it to her.’ Else put her basket on the bed and started rummaging through it. ‘I shall boil some water, make a nice tea to settle our stomachs. Can I get you anything, my lord?’
Morac shook his head, yawning, thinking that he should find his way back to his cottage. ‘No, thank you. I’ve drunk quite enough for one night. And at my age that just means I’ll be up all night long!’
Else nodded, thinking how right he was.
Edela had gone to bed holding the Book of Aurea, their strongest connection to Dara Teros, hoping that somehow it would lead her to the prophecy. The letter she had written to Jael was something. But not enough.
Not when their entire existence was at stake.
Edela’s dreams rushed impatiently towards her like a stiff breeze off the ocean, and she felt herself blinking in their force, almost blown backwards, away from the clouds she so desperately sought to enter.
The swirling images whipped around her, rushing by so fast that she struggled to make out their meaning. She saw Draguta. A younger Draguta. A kinder Draguta. With her family. Her dark-haired sisters. And one girl she hadn’t seen before: her youngest sister. And suddenly the whirlpool stopped, and the little girl remained alone.
Staring at her.
‘Do not look for me, Edela,’ she said. ‘Not here. Draguta is watching.’
And then everything went dark.
Sigmund couldn’t sleep by the sound of it, and nothing Tanja was doing appeared to be working, so Runa got up to see what was happening, bumping into Amma who had crept into the kitchen to find something to eat.
They both jumped.
Runa smiled. ‘I don’t imagine anyone can sleep with that noise,’ she whispered, inclining her head to the door.
‘I didn’t know you were staying in the hall again,’ Amma murmured. ‘What about Bram?’
Runa looked embarrassed. ‘Oh, he decided that he’s well enough not to need any help, so I came back. Better to go where I’m useful.’
Amma nodded, easing her way past Runa. ‘Well, goodnight, then.’
‘Amma,’ Runa reached out and touched her arm. ‘I’m only just down the corridor if you need anything. Even if it’s just to talk.’ She didn’t know why she felt compelled
to say anything, but she could tell the girl was pregnant and feeling awkward about it.
She knew how that felt.
Amma’s eyes were big as she stopped by a flaming torch. ‘Thank you.’ She was beginning to think that everyone could tell; that they were all staring and whispering about her. And she knew, worst of all, that Axl would return soon.
And Amma didn’t know how she was going to tell him.
Runa watched her go before turning towards Tanja’s chamber, thinking that maybe Sigmund was missing his parents. She wondered if Evaine thought about him anymore?
If Eadmund even remembered he had a son?
Eskild walked beside Eadmund.
Oss’ square looked different than when she had been the queen. It felt smaller somehow. More buildings had encroached upon it over the years, and Ketil and Una’s fire pit took up a fair amount of room now. But it was still as muddy as ever, she smiled to herself, her arm through Eadmund’s. He turned to her suddenly, and released himself from Eskild’s hold, walking towards the table where he sat down with a frown.
Aleksander had just arrived, he remembered.
Aleksander Lehr. Jael’s lover. Her best friend. Her family.
And his insides had flipped, and every fear of losing her had emerged from the shadows to taunt and panic him. But, he reminded himself, Jael had chosen him. Chosen to stay on Oss as his wife.
He sat there, trying to remember that.
Looking up, he saw Morac approach the table. He watched him sit down, talking to him. And Eadmund must have been talking back because Morac kept nodding, asking questions.
And they sat like that for a while until Morac pulled something from his pouch and handed it to Eadmund.
Eadmund told himself not to take it.
‘You have to take it,’ his mother said from behind him. ‘Take it and look at it.’
Eadmund reached out and reluctantly took the leather strap from Morac, his eyes on that tiny golden curl, and he felt a pain in his heart, remembering his son.
‘Look at it,’ Eskild breathed. ‘Turn it over, Eadmund.’
And as Morac got up to leave, Eadmund turned over the leather strap and saw the symbols.
39
Jael felt an urge to move, but her body wasn’t as keen. She rolled onto her side, pulling out a pebble that must have been wedged into her back all night. Sitting up, she shook off her fur and pushed her cold feet into her boots, staggering out of the tent, only one eye deciding to open.
‘Thought you were planning on staying in there all morning!’ Thorgils grinned as he approached with Fyn. They’d been up early, fishing, and had three good-sized trout between them. ‘You’ll miss out on breakfast!’
Jael stared at him. ‘Do you ever stop bleeding?’
Thorgils looked over his tunic, now almost entirely red with dried blood, down to his trousers which he could see were leaking. ‘Ha! No, it appears not. We’ll be home soon, though. I’ll get Astrid to sew me up as tight as a corpse!’
‘Well, hopefully, nothing happens on our way back home, or you might well be a corpse!’
Fyn frowned.
Jael patted him on the back. ‘Come on, let’s eat. Then we’ll ride. I want to get back to Andala as quickly as possible. We should ride as late as we can tonight. That should see us home in the morning.’
Now they both frowned.
‘What have you been dreaming about, then?’ Thorgils wondered, following Jael as she headed for the nearest fire. ‘Draguta?’
‘No, I didn’t have any dreams. But she must be plotting her next move. How could she not? And I’d rather be back behind Andala’s walls, able to protect everyone before she makes it. Wouldn’t you?’
Thorgils nodded, thinking about Isaura and the children; hoping that Draguta would take her time before unleashing her next creature upon them.
Draguta peered inside one of her seeing circles, searching the clouds, quickly finding what she was looking for. ‘Ahhh, good. We won’t have long to wait at all.’ She glanced at Meena who stood by the door, not knowing where to put herself. Draguta was almost pleased with the look of her now. She’d had Brill brushing Meena’s hair again, and it was almost tamed, though it was still that disgusting red colour. ‘You may go. Go and enjoy the morning. Perhaps visit your aunt? Tell me how she fares, though I imagine I can already guess the answer to that.’ Draguta’s smile was satisfied as she nodded for Brill to pour her more wine.
Meena blinked, wondering if she had heard her correctly.
‘And do see how Jaeger’s plans are coming along. I shall finish here then be down to check myself. I do not have time to wait around while Jaeger and Eadmund decide whether they can play nicely together. Jael Furyck is not wasting any time. Her army will be on the march before we know it.’
Meena didn’t wait to hear what else Draguta would say. She started backing away towards the door, eager to escape.
But Draguta appeared to have forgotten she was even there.
Her attention was immediately drawn back to Briggit Halvardar.
What an interesting challenge she was going to be.
Eadmund had left the house before Evaine had dragged herself out of bed, which worried her further. She fretted as she walked beside Morac, wringing her hands. Her father had arrived early, which annoyed her. Now that she had her own house with Eadmund, she did not wish to spend every moment in her father’s company. Though, she supposed, at least it gave her someone to talk to about Eadmund.
‘I don’t imagine he wants you checking up on him all the time,’ Morac suggested tactfully, watching as Evaine twisted her fingers, her eyes darting around as they walked towards the piers where they could see Eadmund and Jaeger flailing their hands at each other. Evaine appeared oblivious to everything but her own internal turmoil, however, which he guessed was something to do with Eadmund. He had seemed a little moody of late, though Morac couldn’t blame him, having to contend with Jaeger and Draguta as he was.
‘You don’t think he knows, do you?’ Evaine wondered suddenly, watching the two men intently. ‘About what Jaeger did to me? You don’t think that’s why he’s different?’
Morac shook his head. ‘I think it’s unlikely Jaeger’s head would still be on his shoulders if that were the case,’ he suggested.
Evaine wasn’t so sure. She felt such a terrifying emptiness inside her body. It was as though Eadmund had drifted away, and though she could see him and touch him, he no longer belonged to her.
Jaeger watched Morac and Evaine approach, and then Meena too. ‘It appears that Draguta is sending all her little helpers to find out what progress we’re making.’
‘Well, she’ll be disappointed, then, won’t she?’ Eadmund grumbled. ‘Standing out here arguing isn’t going to help us. We should be planning around that map table of yours.’
Jaeger hated everything about Eadmund, but he couldn’t deny that he was right. Draguta seemed to think that they could just turn up outside Helsabor’s walls and wait for her to break them down. And though Jaeger didn’t doubt that she could, he didn’t know what would be waiting for them once she did. The Helsaborans had a reputation as cowards, but they were extraordinarily wealthy, with a fleet to rival any kingdom and a well-trained army manning their defenses too. But how strong were they really? When it came to a battle, no one had any idea what they were capable of. ‘Agreed,’ he said as Meena reached him.
Meena looked from Jaeger to Eadmund to Evaine to Morac.
Only Morac looked happy.
Everyone else scowled at her.
‘Draguta will come and see how your plans are going,’ she mumbled shyly. ‘Soon.’
Eadmund nodded, impatient to have some plans for her to see. ‘Well, as I said, we can’t do much about those piers. It’s the last thing we need to worry about. The ships can drop anchor, and the crews can swim to shore if need be. And some will fit in the coves. You’ll just have to move out the merchants.’
‘Who won’t be happy.’
&
nbsp; ‘No. Or you could bring them into the sheds. There’s still some room in there.’
Evaine smiled at Eadmund, who smiled back before quickly turning to Jaeger. ‘Let’s get to that map table. We need to talk to your most experienced men. Your brothers’ men.’
Jaeger glared at Eadmund. ‘What? Why?’
‘They led your army behind your father, didn’t they? Haegen and Karsten? Their men would have been inside their heads. We need to know what they know. What they suggest. Your father’s men too.’
Jaeger couldn’t get a word in as he followed Eadmund across the square, towards the castle.
Evaine watched them go, her face falling.
‘He is loyal to Draguta,’ Morac whispered as they stayed behind with Meena, watching the two kings stride towards the castle steps. ‘You can see that now. They both are. They are clearly hers.’
Meena knew that Morac was right. Part of her was relieved that Jaeger was tied to Draguta. On her leash. But she knew that it also meant he was no longer loyal to her, and without Morana, or even Else, she suddenly felt very alone.
Ulf saw Runa walking towards him with Bayla Dragos, and he smiled.
Bram turned in the other direction, looking for an escape, but Ulf grabbed his arm, and Bram turned back with a forced grin.
‘I would have thought you’d be further along than that!’ Bayla snorted. ‘The amount of time you spend here?’ And she looked down her long nose at them both.
Ulf wasn’t bothered in the slightest. ‘Well, the thing about piers is that most of the work gets done where you don’t see it, so we’re well along, in fact. You’re just seeing the surface. And that’s no way to judge anything. Come, come and look beneath the water and you’ll see. There’s a lot more going on under there.’ And without waiting, he took Bayla’s hand and led her closer to the water’s edge.
Bayla pushed her boots onto the wooden boards that ran around the harbour, but Ulf was stronger than he looked and a gentle tug had her quickly following him.