by Eliza Tilton
“Is that why your face is flushed? And I thought it was because of me,” he said, stroking the left side of my cheek. “I’m glad you found me. I have something for you.” He handed me a scroll.
I snatched the letter out of his hand and carefully unrolled it. “It’s from my mother!”
Dearest daughter,
I cannot tell you how relieved we are you are safe. We have been worried sick
since your disappearance. Lord Lucino’s courier explained everything. What a horrible misunderstanding! I pray Lord Lucino disciplines those responsible.
As for your engagement … I always dreamed of my sweet girl marrying a lord and now it’s happening. And to think Daath really exists. It’s all so wonderful. We are overjoyed and give you our blessing. Due to your father’s current work, we will not be able to come see you until after the summer season.
I wish we could visit sooner. I miss you terribly.
Stay safe, and enjoy the ball, darling. We love you very much.
“What does she say?” Lucino asked.
My hands clenched the sides of the paper. “She says, she’s thankful I’m safe, they miss me terribly and would love to come but can’t … she says to enjoy the ball and they give me their blessing …”
“That’s wonderful.” He followed me to the bench.
I stared at the letter, re-reading Mother’s words. What did the courier say? I never agreed to marriage and yet she wrote as if it was a certain thing.
“What’s wrong, my lady?”
“I wasn’t expecting that. I thought she would want me home. She doesn’t even know you.”
Gently, he placed his hand over mine. “Every father and mother wants the best for their child, and I can give that to you.”
My eyes watered. “She said nothing of my brother. Isn’t she concerned for him?” I looked to Lucino, who seemed thrown by the statement.
“Your brother?”
“Yes. When I was kidnapped, he and his friend went looking for me. They were at the attack when your captain took me back here. I didn’t mention it in the letter; although, I should have. I need to find him.”
Lucino sat very quiet. I watched his face, searching for a response, but his expression was stone, imparting nothing.
“He could be anywhere.”
“Please, I need to know he’s safe.” I squeezed Lucino’s hand forcing his attention back to me. “Do this for me, and I will be forever grateful. I don’t want anything to happen to him.”
“Very well, my lady.” Lucino stood. “If you’ll excuse me. I must leave you for now, but I will send some men out to look for your brother. I’ll have Lucy get the details from you.”
“Thank you, my lord,” I said, bowing my head and watching him disappear into the maze.
Chapter Thirty
Lucino
Lucino had been pre-occupied the past two days, but I could wait no longer.
“Reginald, I need to speak with Lucino, immediately.”
“As you wish my lady. I believe he’s training.”
“I don’t care. Now, Reginald.”
“As you wish, my lady.” Reginald walked down the corridor. I followed.
Even after spending time here, I still couldn’t navigate the twisty mansion. A secret stairway here. A locked door there. I had gotten lost once and never tried again. Although, I couldn’t place the fear, the mansion frightened me. A strange darkness hovered over everything, including the silent servants.
We walked down a stone curved stairwell leading deep into the mansion. The sounds of fighting echoed up towards us. Reginald opened the oak door and we entered into a sparring match.
Lucino fought another man. His bare skin glistened with sweat and he shouted as he thrust his sword forward. There was no doubting his beauty, and my own heart betrayed me by beating faster. I shouldn’t stare at such a sight. A proper lady would avert her eyes.
“Jeslyn?” Lucino stopped once he saw me, flicking his partner away.
Willis handed him a towel, and Lucino wiped his face.
“Sorry to interrupt, but may we speak?” I kept my eyes away from his bare chest.
“Of course.” Lucino waved the other servants and guards away, including Reginald.
I clasped my hands together and waited while Lucino drank from a nearby mug.
“Do you have news of my brother?”
Lucino stood, wiping his mouth with the back of his hands. His look chilled me.
“I meant to see you later,” he said softly.
“What is it? What do you know?”
He stepped closer. “I’m sorry, Jeslyn. There was an attack on one of the villages. Your brother and his friend are dead.”
No.
“You lie!” My legs crumbled.
Lucino’s hands caught me before I reached the ground. “I’m sorry. We arrived too late. There was nothing we could do.”
My brother … the boy who teased me and put a frog in my bed was gone. I’d never hear his loud boisterous laugh or his constant grumbling. Another brother lost.
Tears filled my eyes. “No, this can’t be. It’s a mistake!”
“Let me escort you back to your room.” Lucino guided me, and I walked in a daze.
“I am sorry for your loss,” he said, his arm holding me up. “If there’s anything I can do.”
“I want to go home.”
“Of course, my lady.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Avikar
“Well, boys, welcome to paradise.”
The sight of the painted landscape made me forget about everything. Scarlet and cerulean hues covered
the rolling hills. I slid off Brushfire, bent down and picked a sunsetcolored flower out of the flowing grass. I lifted it to my nose and inhaled. It smelled like honey. My hand grazed the silky wildflowers covering almost every inch of the area. Closing my eyes, I breathed in the dewy scent of fresh rain. The tranquility of the terrain pulsed around me. Every thought vanished as I let Daath pull me into her essence. I belonged here. I didn’t know why, but I felt it in my bones.
“We need to move,” Jericho said.
I picked another flower, inhaling its honey scent. I twirled it around, examining the bright red petals. In the valley, every flower, blade of grass and small tree became alive. I watched the landscape breathe. In and out. In and out. An invisible weight pressed against my chest and warmth spread through me. I needed to lie down for a minute. I spread out my arms as I lay on the grass, watching Derrick stretch and grin.
Jericho grabbed me by the shirt, pulling me away from my nice, soft bed and forced me onto Brushfire.
What’s gotten in to him?
He snatched the flower out my hand, threw it away and dashed over to Derrick.
“Hey!” I reached for my falling flower. “Why did you do that?”
“Because those are deadly,” he said while struggling to get Derrick on his horse. “It’s one of Daath’s natural defenses. If you fall asleep here, you’ll never wake up.” He slapped Brushfire’s backside, and we took off, leaving the beautiful valley far behind.
We approached a two-story cottage with a thatched roof. A petite woman worked in the garden on the side of the house. She looked up when we were close.
She dropped her spade, dusted off her hands and ran towards us. “Jericho!”
Jericho jumped off his horse, and she threw her arms around him.
“Hello, Anna.” He hugged and kissed her.
“I was worried when you didn’t come back. No one knew what happened. Where have you been?”
“It’s a long story, but first, I’d like you to meet Derrick and
Avikar.”
She turned to us and smiled. “Hello boys.”
“Hello,” we both said.
“I ran into them o
n the road,” Jericho said. “They saved my life. They wanted to see Daath. I thought it was a fair trade and invited them to stay with us.”
Anna’s smile faded. “Jericho, you know visitors are forbidden. What if someone notices? You’ll be executed!”
“Everyone will be busy with the summer festival. You forget how big Daath is, dear. If anyone asks, I’ll say they’re from the shores.”
Anna cringed. “Those people are savages, but they do keep their
distance.” She sighed. “Very well, you boys come inside and I’ll fix you something to eat.”
Anna served pork that had been smoked and glazed with apple. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever tasted. Derrick ate a good portion of the pork and half of the almond bread. Back home, we ate rue, lots and lots of rue. There were other things, like beans, potatoes, fanna, but never anything as delicious as this.
After we ate, Jericho showed us to a room upstairs where we could sleep. Derrick threw himself onto one of the cots. “It feels like forever since I slept in a bed,” he said. “We’ll sleep well tonight.”
I sat across from him, untying my weathered boots. “Not me,” I muttered.
Derrick laced his arms behind his head. “Still having nightmares?”
I leaned against the wall, thinking about the drowning dreams and the spirit that attacked me before battle. “Yes.”
“Want to talk about it?”
I crossed my arms. “Not really.”
“We’ve been friends since we were kids. I know how hard Jimri’s death was for you, but talking about it would help. It’s okay to cry. Here rest your head, little one.” He rolled his shoulder in my direction.
Is he kidding me?
“Don’t give me that look. We can talk about our feelings and cry our eyes out until morning. Oh, it will be splendid!” Derrick’s voice ended in a girlish pitch, and he cradled his hands to his chest.
I threw a pillow at his head, but he ducked and it just missed him.
“You’ve been hanging around my sister too much,” I said.
“Probably,” he huffed. “I still can’t believe we’re staying with her kidnapper.”
“The man saved your life!”
“This has to be the stupidest thing we’ve ever done.”
I smirked, remembering all the trouble we used to cause. “What about the time we sneaked in on Susan Beatrice?”
Derrick grinned. “That was only stupid because we got caught.”
And, boy, did we get caught. “I know working with Jericho feels wrong, but what choice do we have, and after what he did today, well, he’s okay.”
“I don’t care that he saved me. It doesn’t excuse what he did.” Derrick stared at the ceiling. “We have to find her.”
“We will. We were lucky. I don’t know how we would’ve found Daath on our own.”
“I know,” Derrick murmured. “I’m going to sleep. Try and get some yourself.” Derrick pulled the blanket over his head and rolled onto his stomach.
Leaning against the wall, I thought about Jeslyn—my annoying, good girl sister who I loved to prank. We used to be closer when we were younger, but after Jimri’s death, and Derrick courting her … we grew apart. Unimaginably, I actually missed her nagging.
Sitting in Jericho’s house, my head spun. I wanted to hate him, but he saved Derrick. If Jericho wasn’t there, I would’ve been responsible for another death.
“Ugh, what is that smell?” I covered my nose and bolted towards the window.
Derrick chuckled.
“Derrick, what did you eat?”
“Not sure. I ate a lot. Uh-oh, hold your breath.”
I poked my head out the window. “No more pork for you, or you’re sleeping in the barn.”
“I’m nice and relaxed.” Derrick yawned.
I fanned the putrid air outside, wishing I was sleeping in another room.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Avikar
Jericho took us into town. He planned to talk to one of the other guards, who he swore was a loyal friend. He had wanted us to stay at his house, hiding, while he investigated. Derrick nearly cleaved off his head after that suggestion, and Jericho agreed to bring us with him. He gave us a quick overview of the surrounding area and told us not to bring any attention to ourselves.
Derrick and I headed towards the crowded market. The air smelled of fresh bread, reminding me of home. Houses made of green and orange mosaics with curved archways and round windows loomed on each side of the cobblestone street. Roofs resembling dragon scales created a unique architecture.
While we walked, I rolled one of my marbles in my hand. I didn’t trust anyone and this place seemed otherworldly. Every townsfolk seemed either strong and tall, or lithe and beautiful. Women dressed in bright colors filled the street. I’d never seen so much color in one place. I caught the sight of a girl with mesmerizing green eyes. Derrick said something, but I was locked in her hypnotic gaze and voluptuous chest.
I bumped into a hard structure.
Stupid. I grinned at the girl, pretending I did it on purpose—I don’t think she believed it. When I looked at the obtrusive object, a large snake head stared back. I grabbed my sword and jumped away from it.
“That’s from that snake cult,” Derrick said.
“What cult?” I stepped around the statue.
Derrick scrunched his brow. “My father got a shipment of weapons from Crain Village. A lot of it had that emblem. Father said a serpent cult was spreading, very big in Lord Belfur and Lord Thebas’ regions.”
A serpent cult? I remembered the strange girls from Crain Village, chanting, and the symbol drawn on the wall and in the book. The symbol I saw in Crain Village bore a striking resemblance to this statue, but how could that be? No one else in Tarrtainya knew Daath existed. It had to be a coincidence.
I tightened the hood on my cape. “Let’s keep looking around.”
We veered off the main street and headed down a cobbled alley. The town was designed as one big maze with the market as the center. The side streets were narrow and twisted into dead ends.
I heard yelling and held out my arm to stop Derrick. I pointed ahead and we crept forward. Around the bend, two men cornered a slender girl and a big shaggy dog. The dog growled, but the girl seemed calm.
“Don’t be afraid little lady, we won’t bite.”
The girl glared back. “But I do. Now Bruno!” The dog bolted at the nearest man, grabbed his leg and shook his head back and forth.
“Ahh, get him off me, he’s biting!” His friend ignored the plea and met the girl head on.
She charged, and when she was in range, kicked out her right leg, sweeping the thug off his feet. The fall knocked the wind out of him, and before he could get up, she planted her black boot on his throat.
I stepped into view. “Nicely handled. I’m impressed. I thought we were going to have to save you.”
Her doe like eyes peered curiously at me. “As you can see, I can take care of myself,” she replied. “Down Bruno.”
Bruno let go of the man’s leg and she took her foot off the other. The two men ran shamefully down the alleyway. Bruno trotted back to her and she rubbed his floppy ear.
“You two don’t look familiar. Where are you from?”
I glanced back at Derrick who suddenly looked vexed. “My name is Avikar and this is Derrick. We don’t often come to this part of town.”
Her face scrunched. “I’m pretty good with faces, and I know almost everyone my age.”
“We came from the shores,” Derrick said.
That seemed to pique her interest. “The Shores? We never get visitors from there. My name’s Raven. Nice to meet you.” She smiled.
A smile like that could change a man’s heart.
She had smoky brown eyes with big curled lashes and long straight h
air. Just my type, and she was the first girl I’d met who didn’t wear a dress. I never thought a girl could look cute in a pair of tight-fitted breeches.
“And this,” she said, patting the dog’s shaggy head, “is Bruno.” Bruno barked.
Derrick leaned over to me and whispered, “Whip out that charm of yours and learn what you can about Lucino. I’ll meet you at Jericho’s later.”
Easy.
“What brings you to town?” Raven said. “I thought the shore people never left their homes?”
I slipped my hands into my pockets and took a step towards her. “We grew curious. Derrick and I were venturing here when we ran into a local who offered us a place to stay.”
She folded her arms and eyed me suspiciously. “Who?”
I ran my hand through the front of my hair. “You probably don’t know him.”
Her lips pursed. Apparently, some fast talking was called for.
“Jericho, didn’t catch his last name,” I said.
Her button nose crinkled. “Jericho? He’s back?”
She knows him? What are the chances of that? Keep calm.
“Is something wrong?” I asked.
Raven bit her bottom lip which made me realize she had very nice lips. “I don’t understand. I thought he was dead?” she murmured.
“Dead, why would you think that?”
Her eyes darted left then right. “We can’t talk here, follow me.”
Raven led me out of the town and into the nearby woods. I kept my hand on my sword just in case she tried to attack.
The woods opened. In its midst was a giant lake.
Raven breathed in and stretched out her arms. “I love this place. It’s peaceful. We can talk safely here.”
My eyes fixated on the immense lake in horror. Tall drooping trees surrounded the dark water; a sight too familiar. There could be no peace in a place this monstrous. I imagined Jimri running around laughing … then his still body floating on the water.