by Eliza Tilton
In the distance, I could see Bruno chasing after a rabbit. I closed my eyes, hoping sleep would take me far away.
A scratchy, wet object licked my cheek. I opened my eyes to see a white shaggy face drooling over me.
Bruno panted, and I pushed his furry body away. It was dark already. I stood and stretched. Raven lay on the grass, still sleeping.
I knelt by her face. Her hair was draped over her side and small breaths came out of her mouth. “Raven,” I whispered.
“Hmm.”
Gently, I shook her shoulder. “Time to wake up.” She grunted and frowned.
“Raven.”
Her eyelids cracked open. “Nighttime? Perfect.” She yawned and rolled into a ball.
“Raven, get up.”
She groaned and waved me way.
“You’re worse than my baby sister.” I shook my head, scooped her into my arms and started walking.
“Hey!” she said, finally waking.
I cradled her like a baby and whistled for Bruno. “Come on, boy.”
“I can walk, you know. Put me down!”
She wiggled out my grip and placed her feet on the ground.
“It was either carry you or leave you there.”
The wind lifted her hair, blowing it around. Her mouth open then shut. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
I shrugged. “You’re nothing compared to my little sister. You wake her and it’s instant tears and screams.”
Raven pulled her hair into a bun, smiling. “I was probably like that when I was young. How old is she?”
“Five.” I slipped my hands into my pocket and rolled one of the marbles. I remembered the first time I showed Calli how to shoot marbles. She beat me on her first try.
“What really happened between you and Jericho?”
The question jarred me. “What do you mean?”
“You didn’t think I bought that story last night, did you? All three of you were acting weird, and if Anna wasn’t so busy making sure everyone had enough to eat, she would’ve noticed it too.”
“It’s not my business to say.”
She eyed me, a little fire burning in those dark eyes. “He’s my cousin. It’s my business to know. I heard what the guards said. I know you guys aren’t telling the truth. Please, Avikar.”
I sighed. “You won’t believe me, even if I tell you.”
“Try me.” Her hand touched my arm, and I swear she gave me goose bumps.
“Well, Derrick and I, as you know, were headed here, that part was true. We caught Jericho trespassing on our land.” Her eyes widened and sweat pooled at the base of my neck.
“Trespassing?” Her hand stayed in place, linking my arm with hers as we walked.
“He was spying.”
“For what?”
I scratched my head, thinking of any useless fact I could spin. Then it came to me. “We have certain plants with high medicinal purposes. He was trying to steal them.”
“Why? We have herbs here?”
I leaned to the side and lowered my voice. “These are special herbs, said to keep you young.”
Her eyes lit up. “The mandrake,” she whispered.
I stifled a chuckle. “Jericho begged us to let him go, so we made a deal.”
“But what about his comrades, didn’t they search for him?”
I shook my head. “No, they must have assumed he failed his mission.” I kept my expression stoic and continued. “He was lucky it was Derrick and I who found him, anyone else and he would have been slaughtered.”
Her eyes watered, concern rippling across her face.
I started feeling a little bad. “He bragged about the landscape and beautiful women. In exchange for his rescue, he offered to be our guide and to give us a place to rest.”
Raven glared at me. “You saved my cousin to see girls?”
“Pretty girls,” I corrected.
She groaned, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “I can’t help it,” I said, “I’m weak when it comes to a pretty face.” Then, into her hair I whispered, “If I’d known about you, I wouldn’t have hesitated.”
She lifted her chin, her eyes smiling. “Flattery will get you nowhere.”
I could see the sparkle in her eye, and the slightest hue of red in her cheeks. She believed me, and that was all that mattered, even if I did feel bad for lying. Telling Raven the truth was too dangerous, for all of us.
“But don’t say anything,” I said. “Jericho is embarrassed about the whole thing. I can trust you, right?”
She pretended to zip her lips.
“Good. I know you’re fast, but how fast are you really?”
She smiled. “Faster than you.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Avikar
A fire burned in the stone fireplace, filling the room with warmth. Anna had cooked another amazing meal. She and Raven were cleaning while the rest of us hung by the fire. Jericho smoked from a wooden pipe. The smoke smelled of sage and strawberries. I’d never seen anyone smoke save for the old merchant in our village. Up North, there were fields filled with a smoking herb called red warrior. Large plants with red flowers and sharp bristles. They were calming plants said to relax the body, but mostly they were given to warriors with grave injuries, or to the sick.
Jericho offered his pipe to us. Derrick shook his head, but I was too curious. The pipe was smooth. A carved claw held the bowl portion. I had no idea how to smoke. Was there a special technique? Guess I’ll give it a go. I put the pipe to my mouth and inhaled. Before I could taste anything, my lungs heaved the smoke back out.
Jericho laughed heartily while I punched my chest. “It takes time getting used to,” he said.
My coughing fit continued until Derrick whacked my back.
“Should we burp you?”
There was no point in trying to give him a witty retort—I couldn’t talk.
Jericho leaned back in his chair. “How was your day with Raven?”
“Fine. Did you find anything out?” I said, the smoke remnants finally gone.
“Lucino has your sister at his estate,” said Jericho.
“What? Why?”
“Because that monster plans to marry her,” Derrick said, his face twisted in agony.
“What will happen to my sister?”
“I don’t know.”
The way Jericho said it made my stomach clench. That hopeless feeling swept over me and I wanted to puke.
“What can we do?” I asked.
“We go in and get her,” Derrick said.
My head turned to both of them. “What do you mean? How?” Derrick glared into the fire, rubbing his hands.
“We’ll try sneaking into his estate and getting her out the night of the ball,” Jericho said. “If anyone sees you, claim you’re a lost patron.
It’s our best chance.”
“What’s the plan?” Derrick said.
Jericho puffed on his pipe and blew a ring into the air. “You won’t be able to go to the ball without an invitation and I haven’t been able to locate one, but we’ll keep looking until the ball. Otherwise, Raven will help you get into Lucino’s through a secret entrance. You can go in at night.”
“Raven?” I couldn’t believe he would suggest dragging her into this.
“That girl is one of the best thieves I know,” Jericho said. “She can break into anything, including Lucino’s home.”
This can’t be happening. I rubbed my forehead, silently screaming into my hand. “When are you going to ask her?” Maybe I would have time to talk to her, explain everything.
“Now,” he said. “Raven!”
She walked in, our eyes met and she smiled, a warm, inviting smile that made me feel lower than a snake.
“Yes?” Raven said.
“Si
t.” Jericho motioned to the chair and she sat.
Jericho told her everything. I mean everything. Not once did she glance my way or say a word. Once Jericho finished, she asked when we wanted to go in.
“The night of the ball,” Jericho replied.
“I’ll see you then. If you’ll excuse me.” She shoved past me as if I wasn’t even there.
The front door swung open and slammed shut. Anna called after her.
“I don’t know what you did, but you better go fix it,” Derrick said.
I grunted and ran after her.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Avikar
Cold raindrops poured out of grey clouds. I shielded my eyes, searching for her. The wind howled, ripping right through my clothes and freezing my skin. Where did she go? And where did this storm come from? I ran. I only knew a few things about Raven, but I had a good guess of where she might have gone.
By the time I reached the lake, the storm thundered and poured sheets of rain. Beneath the dark sky, the open water looked even more desolate. An angry bolt of lightning touched down on the lake, lighting the sky on fire.
“Raven!” I held my cape as it flapped with the wind.
“Go away, Avikar!
She sounded close. “Please, Raven, hear me out!”
“No!”
Barely visible, I spotted her sitting on one of the willow tree branches. “Let me explain!” I pushed through the storm, getting closer to her.
“There’s nothing to explain.”
“Come back to the house with me and we can talk,” I pleaded. Through the thunder, I thought I heard her crying. “I’m sorry I lied, but I had no choice. I did it for your benefit.”
“My benefit? Are you serious? Why did you tell me that ridiculous story? I believed you, everything you said today … I believed and it was all a lie!”
“I had to tell you something. Jericho told us to say we were from the Shores. It was the only way for us to be safe.”
“I wouldn’t have told anyone. He’s my family.”
The rain soaked through my clothes, and I shivered. “I’m sorry. Will you come down from there?”
“It’s not that simple. You can’t just apologize and expect everything to be okay.”
“Why not? I said I was sorry. What more is there?”
The wind became so strong I had to keep one hand on my head to anchor my cape. “I’m the one whose sister is being held hostage. I had every right to do what I did. Who’s to say you wouldn’t have done the same thing to me!”
“You’re right. I would’ve done the same. After all, we just met. How could we possibly trust each other? We’re practically strangers.”
“Raven …”
“I don’t even know who you are; except that you’re a great liar.”
I shook my head. This was pointless. We could stay out here all night going back and forth. “I’m sorry. I hope one day you’ll understand and forgive me, but if you’re not coming, I’m leaving. I’m not standing out here in the rain all night, watching you throw a temper tantrum.”
“Ugh!”
A twig hit me in the face. “You’re crazy! I don’t even know why I followed you out here. I’m leaving!” I turned around and she didn’t argue, or call after me. Let her stay out here then. What do I care? I’m not here for her.
Saying I didn’t care didn’t make it true. Sloshing my way back to Jericho’s, I tried not to think of her sitting in the tree, soaking wet, crying … but I couldn’t. I don’t know why, but seeing her upset twisted my emotions into a tumult of chaos.
I should go get her. I stopped. Lighting and thunder screamed at me, forcing me to keep moving. No. I apologized more than once.
If she wants to come home, she will.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jeslyn
Of all my dreams, I never thought being a real lady would ever come true. I never believed my parents would wish me away, yet they had. Was I just another mouth to feed? Did they expect to gain wealth out of this? Or did they simply not care?
A storm raged outside, attacking the windows viciously. Thunder cracked in the night sky, and I hugged my pillow tighter.
They didn’t even want to come. Mother, who always spoke of Daath with a smile on her face, had no desire to see it. I knew this time of season Poppa was busy, but still, they could have made the journey.
Tears slipped from eyes, and I sobbed into the bed.
Did this mean I had to marry Lucino? If they had wanted me home, Mother would have said it.
I couldn’t escape the sorrow flooding my heart. Thoughts of my family, thoughts of Avikar and Derrick, and question after question.
Could I leave? See my family, speak with them in person. This couldn’t be what they wanted—to never see their little girl again.
This had to be a mistake, but what choice did I have? And would it be so terrible to marry Lucino?
And what did I have waiting at home for me, besides my family?
The candlelight flickered with the storm. Shadows bounced off the walls, and I pulled the blanket around me.
I had never been this conflicted.
I had never been this alone.
Lucino promised to take me home after the ball, or the wedding, if I accepted his proposal. He hadn’t asked me again, and I wondered if he assumed I had agreed.
Or maybe he was staying true to his word.
Either way, I only had days to decide. I prayed I would choose wisely.
Chapter Forty
Avikar
All three of them stared at me wide eyed. I threw off my cape.
“What?” I said.
Anna handed her daughter off to Jericho and scampered after me. “Oh, dear, you’re drenched. Let me get you some dry clothes,” she said, bustling upstairs.
“Guess it didn’t go well,” Derrick said.
I grabbed a nearby towel and patted my head. Anna came back down and handed me a shirt and trousers.
“Where’s Raven?” she asked.
“Sitting in a tree,” I stated, coldly.
“Jericho, it’s too dangerous for her to be out in this weather,” Anna said, her face creased with worry.
Jericho stood. His daughter cooed in his arms and he stroked her mop of blonde hair. “If anyone can take care of themselves,” he said. “It’s Raven. She’ll be fine. Avikar, go change and meet us by the fire. Anna, warm some milk for us.”
I stepped into the small washroom. The tiny room had a bench, a seat with a chamber pot and a table with a bowl of water. I stripped off the wet clothes and tossed them on the bench, shaking my head the whole time. Wondering how a girl could aggravate me so much.
Jericho had a fire roaring when I came in. His daughter slept in his arms and the sight reminded me of the decision I’d made. When I wanted to kill him, I didn’t wonder if he had any family. I just wanted him dead. Now, I knew I’d made the right choice.
Anna walked in with a tray of steaming mugs. I took one and held the hot mug in my cold hands, warming them. I sipped the milk, and sighed. It soothed my dry throat.
“What did you say to make her so mad?” Derrick asked. His big arms stretched out behind his head. I guessed he was finally getting used to Jericho not being the bad guy.
“She wanted to know the truth about how we met Jericho and I kind of lied.”
Derrick smirked. “I can only imagine what you said.”
“I didn’t think we’d be recruiting her.”
Jericho held his hand up as if he wasn’t to blame. “Don’t look at me. I didn’t tell you to get cozy with my cousin and get her liking you.”
“Me?” I pointed to my chest, and Jericho nodded. I thought about it. We were both flirting, and I definitely liked her, but … “I told her I was sorry, and she was still mad. She even threw a branch at my head
!” Derrick and Jericho chuckled which irritated me even more. “Women. Doesn’t she understand the danger we’re all in?”
Jericho sighed. “Unfortunately, when it comes to a woman’s heart, nothing is more important, especially Raven’s.”
“What does that mean?”
Jericho stayed silent, and I pushed the subject. “Tell me. What happened to make her so darn sensitive?”
“He’ll just annoy you until you tell him,” Derrick said.
“It’s not my story to tell, but I will say she had her heart broken, and she’s never been the same since.”
Who could do that to her? She’s nothing but sweet.
Derrick asked Jericho question after question about Lucino. I should have been paying attention, but Raven kept entering my mind. Her broken voice, and the hurt in it when she called me a liar. To her, I was another trickster. Someone who couldn’t be trusted. I didn’t want to be known as the guy no one could count on, but no matter what I did, that’s who I was, and it made me sick. I had to change.
The clay broke in my hand and I threw it at the wall. Great, now I’m out. Derrick had fallen asleep a while ago, and I’d been sitting here scribbling away my frustration, hoping I’d get tired. It didn’t work.
The rain beat against the window. I searched outside for any sign of her, but the storm made it impossible to see. My stomach churned with worry; if anything happened to her it’d be my fault.
Not wanting to wake Derrick, I tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. Loud thunder shook the whole house. When I reached downstairs, I grabbed a cape and slowly creaked the door open. I walked only a few steps when I spotted a shadow in the rain. My heart fell into my gut. Raven.
I sprinted to her. Her arms huddled her body, and she was drenched.
“Raven, are you okay?” I draped the cape around her shivering shoulders.
“Fine,” she stammered.
I put my arm around her and rushed her into the house. I led her to the fireplace. “Here, sit down. I’m going to find you dry clothes and start a fire.”