The Daath Chronicles- The Complete Series

by Eliza Tilton

  “What do—”

  She pressed a dagger to my throat. “You won’t fool me twice, Lucino.”

  Impossible. Never once did I use my captivation spell or give her any reason to suspect me.

  “Who? Are you feeling all right?”

  “Lie to me . . . and I’ll kill you now.” She gripped the dagger tighter, pressing harder, nicking the skin.

  “Very well. What gave me away?” I held up my palms, showing my surrender.

  She pressed the blade deeper against my throat, fire burning in her eyes. “You’re the only person I’ve met who hates butterflies.”

  “An insect gave me away?” I laughed, meeting her glaring expression. “Are you not afraid then?”

  “No.”

  “You should be.” In one swift movement, I came from under the blade, pushing her hand up and away from my face, then twisted her wrist until she dropped the dagger. She yelled as it fell to the floor with a clank, then kneed me in the groin.

  “Why do you women always insist on hitting there?” I gritted my teeth.

  Jeslyn stood ready, another dagger in her hand.

  “Where do you keep all those things?”

  Her cheeks flushed, and if her body wasn’t rigid and angry, I would’ve thought she was blushing.

  “Really, Jeslyn. Is this necessary?”

  “What are you doing here? How are you even alive?”

  I straightened, adjusted my shirt, and shifted back into the other human form. Shaking my head, the brown hair morphed into blond and grew longer. My height returned to its normal stature, my arms and legs lengthened. The dirty complexion left, replaced with smooth, cream skin.

  Her eyes widened and her arms lowered.

  “Much better.” I stepped closer and she stepped back, raising the dagger with both hands, pointing it at me.

  “I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “Then what do you want?”

  “I’ve come to make peace.”

  “Peace? You tried to kill my brother.”

  “Yes, that was unfortunate, but he did interrupt our wedding.” I took both her hands in mine, the dagger still between them. “Or have you forgotten we were to be wed?”

  She glared, and I found the action riveting.

  “You mean nothing to me,” she spat. Her body stiffened as I held her in place.

  “Oh?” I took the dagger out of her grasp and used the metal tip of it to pull out the locket hidden beneath her dress.

  “You still desire me.” I sniffed the air near her neck. “I can smell it on you.”

  Her eyes narrowed, and I laughed.

  “But I’m not here to seduce you, my lady. I have a proposition for you.”

  “And why would I listen to anything you have to say?”

  I bent lower so we were eye to eye. “Because the life of every human depends on it.”

  “Jeslyn?”

  “I’m here!”

  “You have to go.” She pushed me toward the door and snatched her other dagger off the floor.

  “Is this how you treat all your patrons?” I shifted back into Edward.

  Her brow creased and her pout was strangely attractive.

  “Very well,” I said, “but I’ll be back tomorrow. We’re not finished.”

  She gave me one last icy glare before turning her back to me.

  Excusing myself, I left the store before Harold asked me yet another map question.

  Jeslyn’s reaction was unexpected. I thought she would be more frightened, instead, she wanted to slit my throat. I smiled as I replayed her daring move. How she coerced me to the back room and asked for my help. She was not the simple girl I remembered. No, she had matured into quite the woman. Persuading her off would be a bit more complicated, but I did love a challenge. She would agree. I would see to that. I just had to monitor her until then.

  Nighttime in this place went from loud and boisterous to quiet and empty. The window in my rented room overlooked the street below. Harold’s shop was a few structures past the inn. Dim lamplight came from upstairs. Jeslyn’s room faced the street, and at night, she would look out her window and brush her hair, never knowing I watched.

  Below me, a group of hooded figures crept around the building and slunk across the street heading west. They hid in the dark places where moonlight refused to shine. There were five men, and all five crept toward Harold’s shop.

  Interesting.

  I jumped out of the open window and landed on the street. Using the shadows, I followed the cloaked figures as they rounded to the back entrance of the shop.

  The small house next to the store had a hitching rail in the front. Using that as a step stool, I jumped and pulled myself onto the roof. The men were no longer in the back of Harold’s shop, which meant they were inside. I dashed across the roof, and leapt onto the shop’s roof. In the house, Harold screamed, but only once. The sound was quickly muffled.

  Jeslyn’s cry followed.

  I reached her window and lowered myself inside. Two men held her by the arms, dragging her through the doorway. At my entrance, they released her and charged me.

  Fools.

  My sword pierced the first man’s chest before he could yell. I pulled it out and swung it at the second attacker, who blocked it. He came at me with a powerful thrust, which I parried, putting him on the defensive, hacking and slashing until I knocked the blade out of his hand and sliced his chest open.

  She looked at me wide-eyed, then scrambled for the sword left from one of the captors. “Grandfather!”

  With a sword in her hand, she turned and ran and I chased after her.

  We clambered down the stairs and out onto the empty street. Her grandfather and the men who took him had vanished.

  “Grandfather!”

  “Be quiet. You don’t want to announce our location.” I grabbed her hand and led her to where I had first seen her attackers. She kept my fast pace and soon we reached the docks.

  “There.” I pointed to two men untying a boat.

  “We must go to him.” She stepped forward, but I pulled her back, taking her behind one of the large wooden carts left on the street.

  A large man, flanked by six guards, walked over to the boat. He had a ghastly haircut that frayed like a bird’s nest, and a beard that was far too long for my liking. The men were too distant for their conversation to reach us. Another group, matching the cloaked figures I had seen, dragged Harold, gagged and bound, onto the ship. Blood trickled from his forehead.

  Jeslyn wiggled, trying to break away from me. “Let me go!”

  I shook my head and tightened my hold. “There’s too many and I can’t risk you being taken.”

  The man and his guards turned to leave, heading in our direction. I pushed her to the ground and rolled her under the cart, keeping my hands locked to her sides. As they passed us, a touch of brown and green peeked out from beneath their cloaks—colors of neither The Order nor the king’s army.

  I placed my hand over Jeslyn’s mouth and held her still until they entered the boat. Tears splashed my hand as it slipped out to sea.

  When the dock quieted, I released her.

  She scrambled to her feet and ran to the empty dock, turning and looking each way. The night air ruffled her hair and white nightgown, making her appear wild and distraught. She grabbed the ropes of a tiny boat wading in the water.

  “What are you doing?” I stepped beside her, seizing the rope from her hands.

  “I’m going after him.”

  “And how do you expect to do that? With a rowboat?”

  “Help me.” Her panicked gaze met mine, her eyes glossy. “Please.” She folded her hands and brought them to her lips, as tears spilled down her cheeks. Then she wiped her face and met my gaze once more, this time with the glint of unwavering determ
ination. “If you help me rescue my grandfather, I’ll do whatever you want.”

  I didn’t need her approval to take her, but having a willing companion always made things simpler. “Very well. I can’t promise you we’ll find him.”

  The guards piqued my interest. They were clearly part of a guild. Why would such a force come after Harold? The man sold jewelry. What importance could he possibly have?

  If we planned to track her grandfather, we’d need to do it quickly. “You can no longer stay at your place,” I said. “You’ll stay with me tonight.”

  “I will do no such—”

  “You will do as I say.”

  Her eyes lit with vicious fire, so I softened my tone.

  “I can’t protect you if you’re not by my side.”

  Resigned, she lifted her chin and walked past me.

  “After you, my lady.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Lucino

  With my cloak hiding her beauty, I escorted Jeslyn into the inn and to my room. She regarded the dingy room, her gaze landing on the lone bed.

  “Take the bed. Lock the door behind me, and only open it when you hear this.” I knocked three times then paused and knocked once more.

  She nodded, her shoulders slumping as she sat on the bed.

  “I’ll be back before morning.”

  I left Jeslyn and went downstairs to where the inn’s servers poured heavy drinks to the customers. Candlelight surrounded the rugged men that sat around the round tables. I found a place at the bar and quietly sat, ordering a drink. I observed the men around me, listening to conversations about women, bets, and the king’s latest conquest. The drabble nearly bored me to sleep, but rogue guards didn’t enter a small town without talk stirring.

  “Did ya see Hoke’s men outside? Whispers must be true.”

  Hoke. A familiar name, but I couldn’t recall anything in particular. I waited for more, but the man, distracted by a tavern wench, broke off the conversation to comment on the size of the girl’s bosom.

  The wench grabbed his hand, leading him up the stairs.

  I followed.

  She smiled coyly as he groped her, beer catching in his unruly beard, a disgusting show of low class.

  When the two went into a room, I pressed against the door and stumbled in after them.

  “Hey, what do you think you think you’re doing?”

  Stumbling, I grabbed the wall. “Me? This is my room!” I turned to face the wench. “Hello, miss.” I smiled at the pretty blonde, who smiled back.

  The man grabbed my shirt. “Go on, get.”

  “Wait!” I held a finger to my lips. “I know you . . . you . . . came in with that Hoke fellow!”

  The man’s brows furrowed. “I’d never get involved with scum like that.”

  I hiccupped and wobbled. “Scum?”

  “That Nomad King is a danger to us all. Now go, you’re costing me coin, boy.”

  He shoved me through the doorway, and I fell backward onto the floor. “Sorry, sir. I’ve had too much ale tonight!”

  He shook his head and slammed the door shut.

  Nomad King. A label I did remember.

  I secured us passage on a merchant ship heading to Jehoia. The fare had cost me more coin than I liked, but it would take us near the crystal caverns. Romulus had created a teleporter in the caverns that linked to Daath. The caverns had a myriad of crystals Romulus used in his experiments, and one of the few places in Tarrtainya that had lodestones. As soon as we entered Jehoia, I would let the trail lead us to the teleporter and take Jeslyn to Daath.

  “Jeslyn.” I nudged her side as she tossed under the blanket, still tired from me waking her late the night before to re-enter the room. “We must leave.”

  Her eyes fluttered open as she glanced around, slowly rising.

  “Here.” I handed her a bundle of clothes.

  “These are breeches.”

  “Yes. And while I will miss those pretty dresses of yours, I can’t have you drawing attention to yourself.”

  She nodded. “I understand. Please turn around.” She motioned me to move with her finger.

  I walked to the window and peered outside.

  “Where are we going?”

  “I’ve secured us passage on a ship heading to Jehoia. From there we’ll head to Nomad’s land. The person who took your grandfather is from there.”

  Silence followed, and I’d thought she’d fainted.

  I turned around. She held a chunk of her hair in one hand, a blade in the other.

  The action shocked me into movement and I darted across the room. “Are you a fool?” I ripped the blade out of her hand.

  “You said I needed to blend in. Don’t you think it would be best if I cut it?”

  “No.” Her hair spilled across her shoulders, and I couldn’t imagine it chopped off. “There’s no need for extremes,” I said, then had an idea. “Wait here.”

  She lifted her hands in protest, but I was already moving out the door to search for Rika. At this hour, she would most likely be in the kitchens preparing for morning.

  The tavern held one passed out patron and Rika, who kneeled on the floor, scrubbing it.

  “Good morning.” I gave her a wide smile.

  She stopped and looked up. “Good morning, sir. You need something?”

  I squatted next to her, keeping my smile wide. “I do, actually.” When her gaze set on me, I activated the spell. “I have a friend in need of a lady’s hand. It’s no one you will recognize.”

  Rika nodded, her face and body frozen with my words.

  “Wonderful. Please, follow me.”

  When we reached the door, I knocked the code and Jeslyn let us in.

  “Oh, hello Rika.”

  Rika’s head tilted to the side. “You know me?”

  “Of course.”

  I shook my head, urging Jeslyn to be quiet. “This is Rika. She’s going to help with your hair.”

  Rika gave a courteous nod.

  “We’ll be traveling by sea, make sure her hair is suited for travel.” I handed Rika a few coins. “For your troubles.”

  “No, trouble, sir.” Rika’s gaze lingered a moment longer than it should have.

  “Very good. I’ll return shortly.”

  Dressed in oak-brown breeches, a sandy shirt that buttoned to her chin with a line of ruffles down the middle, black boots reaching the mid of her thighs, and a wide brimmed black hat, Jeslyn was still stunning—though not nearly as delicate.

  A sailor may think twice about mistaking her for a vulnerable lady.

  Rika had done an excellent job of turning Jeslyn’s hair into a more suitable design, much better than Jeslyn chopping it off. Three braids hung from her head, off to the side.

  “Satisfied?” Jeslyn placed a hand on each hip.

  “Ruffian attire suits you well.”

  She sauntered to me, a stern look in her icy eyes. “If you cross me, I’ll kill you.”

  I held in my laughter. “Of course, my lady.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jeslyn

  I kept my head low as we walked to the ship, afraid a sailor would recognize me. Lucino had given me a hat to blend in, but I felt like I stood out. Many sailors knew me. After I had searched for shells, I would often visit the docks and ask the men questions about the sea and boats, watching them unload their wares at sunset. Would they stop us if they recognized me? Did anyone know what happened to Grandfather?

  I searched for Grandfather’s boat and for Beckett, but saw neither. Did Beckett know of the kidnapping? Had he left? While we walked, I thought of asking some of the sailors, but if Lucino knew where Grandfather had been taken, I had to trust him, even though I didn’t want to.

  The shop would be closed, and after a day or two, Ms. Gen would come to see
why I hadn’t visited her for bread. A few more days, and she would worry and send word to my father. I didn’t want my family to worry, but there was no time to send word myself. My parents would be frantic if they learned of our disappearance, especially when Avikar had yet to return home. The thought made my chest tighten with sadness.

  For all his foolishness, I wished Avikar was here with me. He would find Grandfather and I wouldn’t need Lucino’s help.

  “Lucino,” I said. “We need to stop somewhere.”

  “There’s no time.”

  I grabbed his arm. “If I don’t tell Ms. Gen about Grandfather, she’ll send word to my family. I need to let her know I’m okay.”

  He stopped. “And you think she’ll let you run off with me?”

  This was an argument I wouldn’t let him win. I dug my fingers into his arm. “We’re going.”

  “Very well.”

  Backtracking away from the docks, we arrived at Ms. Gen’s just as she opened her shop.

  “Jeslyn,” she said with a smile. “Here for your morning bread?”

  “No.” I ushered her inside. “Grandfather’s been kidnapped.”

  “What?” Ms. Gen’s hand went to her heart. “When? By who?”

  “I don’t know, but we have a lead.” I touched her arm. “I’ll find him.”

  Ms. Gen shook her head. “You can’t go after him. What if you get hurt? Oh, Harold . . . .”

  “Ms. Gen,” Lucino said. “I will protect Jeslyn. There is no need to be afraid. Watch over the shop and tell anyone who asks that Harold and Jeslyn have gone on a voyage.”

  A blank expression appeared on Ms. Gen’s face and she nodded.

  “Let’s go.” Lucino grabbed my elbow and turned me around.

  “Have fun on your voyage!” Ms. Gen said, smiling.

  She wore a genuine smile, and I wondered how she could possibly be happy at a time like this.

  Lucino remained in the form of the dark-haired boy, Edward. In the tavern, he hadn’t changed, and I didn’t necessarily want him to, but every time I glanced at his dark hair, I wondered why it wasn’t blond. Lucino’s natural hair color reminded me of the golden honeysuckles near the lake. He still wore the dusty breeches and worn-in attire, striding across the docks as a regal bird.