Stones of Fraine (Legacy of Fraine Book 1)

by Amy Morris

  “I knew this city existed, but never imagined this.” Angel responds before losing track of his thought.

  “All new to me,” Toad shrugs, then gives Razz a quick glance to see if she has any recognition of it.

  “Same here,” she mutters in astonishment of its sheer size. I can see in her mind that it’s true.

  “So according to what we know, actually what little any of us know. This is the last large city we should see before we cross the Cordova border?” I ask to anyone who might answer me.

  “I’m blind from the Groves border on so I would have to agree Abby,” Rabble offers with a shrug.

  “As far as I know you’re both correct,” Angel offers.

  “So we already knew we would send Rabble into town since he’s the least recognizable, but what of help? Any suggestions on who should accompany him?” I scan the group.

  “Originally, I would think the next least recognizable person should go with him. But with a city this size, along with none but yourself decently clothed, it should be safe for all of us to enter,” Angel encourages the group. “Besides, they wouldn’t be looking for us here after so long, would they?”

  “You have a point,” Rabble agrees and I nod.

  “So it’s settled we go in for new clothes and a decent inn for the night expecting we’re safe?” Talia asks.

  “That’s the plan for now,” Angel admits, “unless you have a better suggestion?”

  She doesn’t and shakes her head to signify just that. “Good, we can get a break from the road. I for one could use a hot meal to go with my new clothes,” Rabble adds.

  All are in agreement long before we enter the city limits of Declan. There doesn’t seem to be much effort to keep the uninvited out when Rabble explains we’re a group of traders coming to market. After a quick explanation for most of the group’s appearance, being robbed on the road, we’re all admitted. “Not much of a vigilant city guard,” I offer once we are some distance from the gates.

  “Doesn’t mean we’re not being watched,” Talia offers. I straighten in my saddle at that reminder.

  “One would think we’re fine though,” Angel suggests as the group lead. “But you never know who could follow us,” he mentions monitoring the roof tops around us, causing me to do the same.

  The first market we come to sells clothing, which is very fortuitous for everyone besides me. The rest crudely clothed stick out like a sore thumb, looking more like beggars than traders. Once some coin is used to outfit the group, we venture farther into the city.

  It’s decided that we can gather fresh supplies in the morning, so no reason to stop at the food stalls for now. Our aim is to find an inn on the north side so that a hasty exit will be easy. Along the northern city wall leading to the gates, we find the Crown & Thistle. Quickly, we decided it’s our best location for a good night’s rest.

  “Are you sure we should stay here and not camp outside of the city walls? I really don’t want to attract anymore attention, while also avoiding recognition?” Wondering aloud what we are all probably thinking.

  “Abby, I really doubt they’d be looking for you within Groves borders,” Angel remarks, but caution is written across his face. “One would assume they think we crossed into another kingdom, never to return. That would have been the best thing to do if not for the prophecy, Abby.” His face is serious, I wonder if my task has doomed us all, but shake it off before anyone else notices.

  “It’s been way too long since I’ve had a hot fresh meal and a bed of any kind to lie on, so I for one will take the risk,” Toad announces.

  “Alright, I guess I’m just being overly cautious. That’s all,” I offer the group as a way of explanation.

  “Did you see this, Abby? Us being attacked here?” Goss asks out of hearing of the others.

  Quickly I shake my head, “No, just overly concerned, that’s all. Oddly enough, I haven’t had a vision for some time now.”

  “Is that bad?” she asks.

  “I don’t know. Only time will tell, I guess. For now, I just want to make it out of Declan in one piece.”

  “I get that Abby,” she offers, dismounting and tying her horse near the trough.

  Since part of me is sure we’re fine, I follow her lead. Taking time to reflect on Toad’s idea of a bed for the night. Which puts my nervousness aside, longing for a hot meal as well. Throughout dinner the hair on my arm feels like it’s standing on end, but after looking multiple times I know it’s not literally doing that at least.

  After eating, I’m thankful to share a room with just the girls tonight. To celebrate our recent escape, Talia pulls a bottle of sweet red wine she purchased out of her pack. Before long the four of us have demolished it forcing Talia to purchase another which she happily does. The mood is light and we laugh for some time before a hard knock on the door startles us from our revelry.

  “Who is it?” Talia, always the guard asks approaching the door, sword drawn.

  “Me,” comes Angel’s familiar voice.

  “Party crasher,” Talia grumbles unlatching the door for him.

  “Do you all realize that the whole inn can hear you cackling in here?” he yawns. “Let alone how late it is. Get some rest and lock the door behind me,” Angel snatches the open bottle that’s not finished and walks out.

  “Asshat,” Goss snorts.

  “Well, he has a point,” I offer.

  “Don’t let him get to you, but sleep is probably a good idea. I think the men plan on getting out of here before dawn. The less seen and heard of us, the better,” Talia relents.

  Goss and I share one of the room’s two small beds, still giggling from the wine we try our hardest to just pass out but to no avail. “Why do we have to get up so early?” Goss yawns.

  “Go to sleep,” Talia gripes throwing a pillow at us. Using the extra pillow, I’m better able to prop myself up now, much to her annoyance.

  “Like they said, we’re trying not to draw attention,” I remind her.

  “Shhhh,” Razz whispers, “I have nothing soft to throw over here.”

  “Do you still have something in your heart for Angel? Abby, I need to know either way just for peace of mind. I know you already said no, I just want to make sure.”

  “No, I really don’t Goss,” I assure her no lie needed.

  A loud thud hits the floor right by my side of the bed, “I still have another shoe,” Talia threatens.

  “Pssh, no fun,” Goss mumbles as she rolls to face away from me. Snuggling into the extra covers she’s relented by shifting my eyes grow heavy and I finally succumb to sleep.

  The boys do have a plan to leave before dawn, I realize when they knock on our door the next morning. But it would seem from the looks of them, we weren’t the only ones up late imbibing. Toad’s eyes are bloodshot, while his right hand is rubbing his brow as he leans against the wall. Looking as though he’s seen better days is Angel leaning as well next to him with the back of his head pushed against the wall. The least worn over is Rabble, who probably has more experience in over indulging than the rest.

  “We’re going to grab breakfast to eat on the road on our way out ladies. Ten minutes to dress, pack and be in the stables,” Rabble yawns before following Toad and Angel down the hall. Toad even looks green, which makes us giggle as Razz quietly mentions it while we load our packs.

  “Poor guy just can’t catch a break” I yawn. The three stone's glow under my shirt as I finish dressing, catching my attention. “Why are they glowing?”

  “A warning,” Goss offers first.

  “It’s a warning to not ruffle the guys' feathers while they’re hungover,” Talia snorts loudly.

  Razz’s face shows concern, “Do they usually glow when there’s danger?”

  “No, they have glowed before in different situations. Or not at all like before we ran into Jobe. Let’s not dwell on it,” I tell her with a reassuring smile that one who’s known me longer could see through. Shaking it off, the four of us make our w
ay to the stables, hungry for whatever food the guys got ahold of.

  We’re silent as we exit the inn and realize just how early it is, not even a faint glimpse of daybreak on the horizon. Hearing the horses whine from the barn, I can only think they aren’t thrilled either at being up at this hour.

  “Quiet,” Talia whispers.

  “It is,” Razz offers before having a hand not her own slung across her mouth.

  “Shhh,” our warrior hisses, removing her hand from Razz’s face. “Something doesn’t seem right.” Signaling for us to stay where we are she silently slips around to the back of the barn.

  Minutes seem to pass before we hear a whistle, which Goss assumes is the all clear and starts toward the barn. Focusing on Razz, I just shrug and we both head that direction, picking up the pace to catch up. Following behind her into the barn, none of us notice the trap before it’s too late.

  Hands have a hold of each of us before a struggle can even start. They tie gags to our heads as multiple hands bind our feet and hands. All I can think right now, as I’m thrown to the ground with the others, is that I wasn’t a fan of this last time.

  20

  My back is to half the group, so I’m unable to see our captors when a lantern is lit behind me. It doesn’t take long to find out, regardless. Goss yells against the fabric in her mouth something fierce. The look in her eyes could kill if possible. Whoever is behind this, we’ve run into before I can tell by the way she’s acting. My suspicion is correct once I hear the voice of the ringleader.

  “Dear sister, it’s time you come home,” Therin croons menacingly. “You need to stop running around with this false royalty and do your duty in marrying Renoe.”

  Something that sounds like a strangled shit escapes Rabble who’s lying closest to me. Realizing what would have caused that obscenity, I cringe at the thoughts of what a rival monarch might do to another kingdom's heir. My mind reels, I keep coming back to his point of their non-magic alliance. That gives me some comfort that he will be safe from King Alex’s wrath.

  “Come now, princess,” Therin kicks my leg with enough force to spin me more in his direction. “If you would have just come back with us in Renolt Village, none of these peasants or my sister would now be facing punishment. Although for Goss marriage shouldn’t be one, so you better start behaving like a soon to be banker's wife and not some street rabble.” At this I giggle and shoot Rabble a look. He rolls his eyes in response at the jest. Goss’ tirade does nothing for her, I hope it at least releases some of her anger as she keeps yelling and thrashing as much as the bindings allow. Therin grabs her by the shirt collar pulling her face close to his, “We can do this even easier, I can just knock you out sister.” I’m able to see her shake her head, at least outwardly calm down for the moment.

  As they load us across horses, they secure us in twos. My gaze catches Talia’s for the first time since our capture. Her eyes roll and the face that follows can only mean how could you idiots get caught. Shrugging, I’m glad that I’m not lying over the same horse as her. That honor goes to Toad. Angel and Goss are roped together next, which leaves me with Rabble since I can’t seem to find Razz in the group at all. Where could she have gone, I thought she was right behind me when we entered the barn? Turning and scanning as much as I can for her, I’m knocked over by Rabble. He whispers for me to stop it before they pull him off me. Frustrated and offended, it takes about two minutes for my temper to cool when I realize why he said that. They catch her and it’s all over, right now she’s our only hope of escape.

  I wonder how long it’ll be until we reach Madera around midday when the guards led by Therin stop to eat. “From what I overheard the big guard say earlier three days as long as the trail is clear,” Rabble answers for me.

  “So three days for Razz to figure out how to free us,” I sigh internally back. Shaking his head in agreement gives me some hope. “Can she do it?” No response from him, just the feel of his shoulders shrug. “Big help,” I send back his way.

  After more painful hours with my chest and stomach strapped to a horse, we stop and are unceremoniously pulled off the horses for the night. They tie each of us to a separate tree, we are just in the Brays Mountains foothills, there’s plenty to go around. Led alone one at a time, they give us a chance to relieve ourselves with a guard watching and eat a small crust of bread. Spending the night tied to a tree unable to see my companions in the cold is horrific, and I pray that it’s the only night spent this way.

  The same as dinner applies to breakfast, no lunch is again my assumption. So I don’t complain when I notice the mold on my bread, along with Therin’s sneer as he watches me eat from a distance. Spending the next couple hours watching the terrain change to a backdrop similar to what I grew up around in Madera leaves me wondering what I did to upset Therin so badly. The thought just won’t leave my mind until Rabble chimes in. “You really need not spend your time on that. Maybe try having those stones of yours free us, Abby.”

  “You think I haven’t tried,” I yell mentally at him.

  “I guess there goes that option,” I hear desperation in his thoughts. Now that I think more about it I try to reach out into Therin’s mind to see what might be going on with his demeanor towards me and betrayal. But nothing, so I relent to just being jostled for the rest of the day until our next stop.

  My stomach grumbles enough that Rabble has been laughing some the last hour since it started. It’s not much longer when we are hauled off the horses again for another cold, dreary night alone after stale bread. But this time I’m not tied to a tree, I’m escorted to the larger tent that I can only see as belonging to Therin. Deposited onto a pillow next to a low table still bound, I do what I can to right myself as I feel eyes watching me struggle.

  “I think I can handle it from here, thank you for bringing her,” he offers the guard who quickly leaves. “Now I’m unsure of untying you. Removing the gag seems like a bad idea. But I want to talk, so it’s the least I can do.” I roll my eyes as he cuts the binding from my head instead of untying it, taking a lock of my hair with it. I notice he stuffs the locks into his pocket as he sits across from me. “Anything you’d like to say before I have my dinner brought in and have you tied back to your tree for the night?”

  “How could you do this to your sister?” I snarl at him, feeling rage start to build inside me.

  “I gave her a chance to change her story, to being kidnapped instead of an accomplice last night. Since she isn’t here with us now, it’s safe to assume you know her answer. Is that all?”

  “Why did you turn on me? Why do you hate me?” the questions come out just above a whisper as my anger reminds me of all he did after we left Madera.

  “You are trying to usurp the rightful king of Groves, for that you have to be stopped.”

  “I don’t want the kingdom, he can have it,” trying to reason with him.

  “You ran off with Angel instead of staying with me. If you had cooperated, I would have petitioned for you to be my wife. To keep you safe in our home, Abigail,” he snarls at me.

  “What? By keeping me safe in your home, you mean a prisoner, don’t you?” I spit at him angrily, feeling a slight tingle in my chest. That’s it keep getting angry, I tell myself. The stones will help set me free.

  “I’ve wanted you for years, but all I ever got from you in response was the sight of you mooning over Angel,” he thunders before reaching for his silver goblet. I almost fear he might strike me with it.

  “You were like my brother, hells even Angel is. That’s why my little crushes years ago mean nothing now.” I remind him since he was the one who so cruelly years ago broke my heart by laughing at me when Goss teased me about it in front of him.

  “You were a child then, you’re a woman now,” he remarks, rising from his seat and walking towards me. I won’t bring myself to turn his way as I feel the weight of him disrupt the pillow I’m seated on. “I’ve watched you since then grow into a beautiful woman, but your eyes on
ly seemed to linger on Angel as you got older,” his hand caresses my cheek. I bite back the bile rising in my throat as the stones hum under my shirt.

  “Therin I do not want you, nor do I want Angel. It was a crush years ago. Don’t hold it against either of us.”

  “Oh, but I will. At least for him. Once I bring you back as my gift to King Alex he’ll reward me with whatever I want. Including you, along with amusing myself punishing Angel.”

  “He’s been like your brother, how could you do that to him?” I ask, more rage growing inside me. I stay outwardly calm as to not bait him, although I want to yell that he’ll never have me.

  “A competitor from an inferior family. That’s what he’s been since we became teenagers,” he casually mentions as he undoes the binding around my ankles. Hoping I’ve calmed him some or have the power to enchant, my guard drops some as I try to figure out an escape from the tent. Before my spirits can lift, Therin grabs me by the rope around my wrists and throws me across the low table. One hand is holding my wrists while the other rips at my pants trying to lower them. Letting out a scream, he stops paying attention to my pants long enough to shove a wadded up rag into my mouth, slamming my face back into the table.

  “One way or another, you’ll be mine at least once,” he spits into my left ear. The rage building in me draws on a tingle of magic that quickly forms into a tornado of power coursing through my veins. Pushing an orb of magic at him, a stunned Therin is thrown across the tent as I clamber to my feet and head for the outside. Thinking to conserve my power, I only gave him a small jolt. Even though he deserved what I did to Jack more.

  Without thinking to unbind my hands, I take off through the camp. Spitting my gag along the way in front of stunned guards seated around small fires. Once they gather their thoughts though they’re right behind me, catching up quickly before the first one is fell by an arrow to the throat. Hoping its Razz finally making an appearance, I quicken my pace as much as possible when a large hand grips my left arm, I’m crushed to the ground by the large guard. More like a giant than anything else but now seeing what stopped his momentum protruding from his chest I thrash as much as possible to free myself. It’s a fruitless effort, his bulk is just too much as the life drains from him, I see death in his eyes as another arrow pierces his throat. Blood drips onto my face. His stare now blank, just driving itself into mine. My fear and anger of dying under this man assails me.