Eventide (Meratis Trilogy Book 2)

by Krista Walsh

  Footsteps on the stairs announced someone’s arrival. Jayden looked up expectantly, but from the disappointment on his face, Jeff guessed it wasn’t Maggie.

  “Ah shit,” Michael Dorning’s voice sounded behind him. “This don’t look good.”

  “Did you pass anyone else in the halls? Are they coming with help?”

  Dorning came around and laid one hand on Jayden’s shoulder, the other holding a swath of dark material. Jeff could see the restraint his friend used not to shrug him off. “It’s the middle of the night, lad, it’ll take a few extra minutes. They’ll be here. And I wouldn’t worry too hard over your sister. She’s made of tough stuff. Isn’t that right, my Lady?”

  She managed a weak smile, her face growing paler the longer they waited. Jeff felt a rush of blood slide though his fingers, over his wrist.

  Dorning held up the cloth. “Found this on the stairs going out of the Keep. Looks like whoever did this was in a rush to leave.”

  “You’ve already been out searching?” Jeff asked, surprised.

  Michael raised a shoulder. “I heard the fuss, and the servants all pointing after someone running away. Knew Jayden had come down here already, figured he could handle it.” He scratched at the greying stubble on his chin, his face more drawn and haggard than earlier. “Couldn’t find him.”

  “Is Darcy still searching?” Jayden asked.

  Michael’s brow shot up in surprise. “No. My guess is he’s asleep. Boy can sleep through an earthquake. I haven’t seen him.”

  “We’re coming! We’re here!” Maggie shouted from the top of the stairs. She ran down, her husband, Conrad, and eldest son, William, close behind. “Oh sweet mercy. Oh gods. Jasmine, honey, I’m here.”

  Maggie swept in next to Jeff and nudged him out of the way. He gladly stepped aside for the skilled people to take over. His arm had started to shake with the amount of weight he’d tried to apply, and as the shock wore off, he had a harder time staying calm.

  “Let me see, sweetheart,” Maggie said as she gently pulled Jasmine’s hand away. More blood spilled out of the wound, and Maggie’s face pinched with tension, her eyes cool and focused.

  “Maggie?” Jayden asked, almost pleading.

  “It’s bad,” she replied. Her gaze slid over to catch Jasmine’s, and she clasped her hand. “But you’re not going to die. Hear me? We’ll get the bleeding stopped and then the physician can patch you up. If your brother survived having his body cut in half, you can survive a poke to the guts, right?”

  “Right,” Jasmine gasped.

  Jeff slid closer to the wall as Conrad stepped between him and Maggie and stooped down to pick Jasmine up off the floor. The man had lost a bit more hair from the top of his head in the last few months, and his waistline had grown a little thicker. The muscles in his tree-trunk arms strained with the woman’s dead weight, but the blacksmith didn’t have any trouble once he regained his feet.

  “I’ll be there in a minute,” Jayden called after the enchantress as she hurried away. Before William could follow, he reached out to grab his arm. “What about Brady? Why isn’t he here?”

  William was one of the scholar’s apprentices. At nineteen, he was a dark haired, lankier copy of his father—one of the few Stanwell children that didn’t take after his mother. Right then, the concerned expression Jeff had seen so often on Conrad’s face crossed his. “He’s in the library, sir, with the doors locked. I haven’t been able to get in to see him all night.”

  “Shit.” Jayden ran his hand over his hair and turned back to the pool of blood where Jasmine had lain.

  As Jeff watched, Brady’s apprentice turned pale, and he swayed on his feet.

  “You all right, man?” Jayden demanded.

  William nodded. “Fine. Just the blood, I think. I’ve never seen so much.”

  Jeff gave him a reassuring smile. “I know how you feel. Why don’t you head home? Your mum will be busy tonight, I’m sure. Someone needs to look after your brothers and sisters.”

  With another nod, his lips pressed tightly together, William cast a curious glance towards Venn before he left. On his way, he almost bumped into the four physician’s aides coming down bearing stretchers, Cassie behind them.

  “What’s going on? Is Jasmine all right? I just saw them …” She stopped when she saw the mess and covered her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Jeff wanted to go and comfort her, but his feet stayed cemented to the floor, his attention stuck on the physicians loading up the two guards to take them away. Now that the immediate urgency of getting Jasmine in Maggie’s hands had passed, Jeff found he couldn’t stop staring at them, their lifeless eyes directed at the walls. It didn’t matter that he’d spoken to them all of once in his life, it hurt to see them dead.

  “What about you? Are you injured?” Jayden demanded of Venn, pulling Jeff’s attention back to the living.

  “I’m fine. Mostly pissed off that I couldn’t grab my knife and go after whoever did this.” She jerked her chin towards the bodies on the stretchers, and at the blood dripping from the bars in front of her. Running her first two fingers through it, she smeared it against her thumb with an expression of distaste.

  “Not even cleanly done.”

  “What the hell happened here?” Jeff asked, more stunned than looking for a repeat explanation. He made to pass his hand over his face, but caught sight of the blood and stared down at his palms.

  “Nothing you can do anything about,” Dorning said, not unkindly. He twisted the material between his fingers. “Best you two go back up to your room.”

  Ignoring Michael’s advice, Jeff looked to Jayden, who didn’t bother to repeat Michael’s suggestion, probably knowing from experience that Jeff wouldn’t listen.

  The physicians carried the stretchers back up the stairs, Cassie watching them until they disappeared. “Do we have any idea who did this?”

  “Yes, ma’am, I think we do,” Michael said. He passed the cloak to Jayden and bent down to grab a dagger out of a puddle. He gripped it between his thumb and forefinger to avoid some of the mess. The blade was long and thin, blood slowly trickling down to pool at the point and fall to the floor in heavy droplets. The hilt was intricately designed and encrusted with coloured gemstones. Engraved into the pommel was the head of a black bear, teeth bared, and amber eyes flashing orange in the fire light.

  “That’s Harold’s blade,” said Jayden.

  “Is it?” Jeff asked. “I never saw him with it. Never seemed the dagger-wielding type.”

  Jayden nodded. “I saw it sticking out of his pack on the journey home. Wondered why he didn’t carry it on him.”

  Michael sniffed. “Caught him pulling it out once or twice to clean under his fingernails. Probably all he ever used the damned thing for.”

  “Until tonight,” said Jayden, his voice heavy with fatigue and the loss of his men. “How in the blasted hell did he get back in? I left strict instructions to stop him on sight.”

  “Probably the same way he’ll get back out. The man may be the first counsellor’s office manager, but he’s damned good at going unseen. Hope you don’t mind, but I gave orders to have the Keep searched top to bottom, no cranny left unchecked.”

  Jayden mumbled his thanks, flapping open the cloak Dorning had found. “We assume this is his then?”

  Cassie picked up the hem and ran the fabric through her fingers. “It looks like the one Harold wears, but it’s hard to tell one stretch of dark wool from another.”

  “It’s his,” Venn spoke up. When everyone turned to stare at her in surprise, she rolled her eyes like it was the most obvious deduction in the world. “You can tell by the stitches and the quality. High-priced material, high-priced seamstress.”

  Jeff took her word for it. Itchy warm material was itchy warm material in his mind, no matter how much one paid for it.

  “Why do you think he came after Venn?” he asked.

  The room fell silent as they considered. After a minute, Cassie said,
“Maybe because she tried to kill you?”

  Jeff frowned. “So he was trying to protect me? That doesn’t seem likely. Besides, what can she do from in there?”

  “Watch yourself, Creator,” Venn warned.

  “You’re locked up,” said Jeff, refusing to feel intimidated. “You’re hardly a threat right now.”

  She shrugged.

  “Maybe it’s ‘cause she failed to kill you,” Michael cut in. Everyone directed their attention to him. “He saves you, plays the hero, earns your trust. Considering how hard he hit her, with a horseshoe of all things, probably didn’t think she’d survive. He could hardly try again after we had her tied up and guarded.” He barked a laugh. “Guess he must have been pretty terrified when we brought her back here, afraid she’d identify him somehow, so he tried to do away with her before she did.”

  “As likely as anything,” Jayden agreed, sounding like a man pushed to the edge of tolerance. “If motivations matter at all right now. We’ll set up an extra guard around the dungeon, make sure he doesn’t get as close if he tries again.”

  Jeff looked at the bloody key sitting in the lock and appreciated how close it had already come. He didn’t think he could deal with the guilt of having both Connell sisters’ deaths on his hands.

  “I say we let her go.”

  “What?” The word echoed around the room, Jeff unsure which of the others had exclaimed it loudest or most incredulously.

  “We know Venn can take care of herself, so instead of risking more guards, my recommendation is that we release her.”

  “Are you even more of a lunatic than I suspected, Author?” Jayden asked. “I think all the world jumping has messed with your senses. This woman came within inches of killing you. You still have scabs on your face from the attempt.”

  Jeff’s hand automatically reached up to brush the cut at his cheek.

  “Jeff, think about this,” said Cassie.

  “I have,” he lied. “I think we’ve come to a better understanding. One where she won’t try to kill me again.”

  Venn tapped her fingers against the bars. “I can’t make any promises.”

  Dorning smirked, and Jayden huffed with growing impatience.

  Jeff clenched his teeth. “You’re hardly helping yourself. Do you have any current intentions to plunge a knife into my chest?”

  The girl hesitated, blue eyes piercing into his. Finally, almost reluctantly, she let out a sullen, “No.”

  “See? We’re fine. Let her go.”

  Cassie looked like she wanted to argue further, but remained silent.

  “If Brady had bothered to join us, his opinion could have been helpful right about now.” Jayden chewed on his lip. Finally he forced out a sharp breath, twisted the key, and pulled the door open, hinges creaking. Pulling his own blade, he set it to Venn’s throat as she stepped forward. Their eyes met, level, neither one blinking. “One foot out of bounds towards him, I will gut you. Understood? The man may be a fool, but he’s my friend.”

  Venn leaned in, allowing the edge of the blade to press into her skin. Jeff winced as a drop of red trickled down her throat under her collar. “If I wanted him dead, it would happen. I’d be gone before anyone knew it.” She stepped back and wiped the blood away with the back of her hand. “But don’t worry. If what Jeff says about Siobhan is true, he has nothing to fear from me. Give me my dagger, and I’ll swear to help you find the man who hurt your sister.”

  “You mean, you want to stay with us?” Jayden asked, as if unsure what to make of the offer.

  For Jeff’s part, he believed her. Especially when she added, “As long as I can drive my blade into the heart of the man who killed Siobhan.” She looked at Jeff. “The face may have changed, but my mission hasn’t.”

  Jeff nodded. “I think that’s fair.”

  Jayden ran his hand over his hair. “I have no idea why we’re agreeing to his.”

  “Seems pretty daft to me,” Dorning agreed. “But this here is your ship. If you’re sure …”

  “I’m sure,” Jeff stated. “Siobhan was killed because of me, so I owe Venn whatever help I can offer.”

  Cassie crossed her arms. “Even if it puts your own life at risk?”

  “Yes.”

  “It’s settled, then. We’ll have a room prepared for you.” Jayden sheathed his sword, resting his hand on the hilt. “Now I think we should all get away from this place. Return to your rooms and try to keep as much of tonight’s events to yourselves as you can. We don’t want to incite panic. I’m going to go check on Jasmine.” He took a step forward and stumbled, his legs too stiff and shaky to carry him forward. He caught himself just as Cassie moved to help him. “Thanks, I’m fine. Or I will be. Whoever did this to Jax will soon have their own blood pooling at my feet, and I will make it slow and painful. You have my oath.”

  He strode up the stairs, the others trailing after him.

  At the top, he turned towards the Haunt, and stopped when the others continued to follow.

  “I don’t need a fucking entourage,” he growled. “I need to see my sister.”

  “She’s our friend, too,” said Jeff. “We all want to make sure she’s okay.”

  “Why don’t you come with me, miss,” Dorning said to Venn. “We’ll go find a servant and get your room set up.”

  Venn froze, unsure what to do. Her pale face in the darkness stood out like a ghost, her blue eyes almost clear. She stared at Jeff with questions in her eyes, but he stayed silent, allowing her to make her own decision. After a moment she nodded and followed Dorning up the stairs.

  “I still don’t trust her,” Cassie murmured.

  “I don’t see that we have a choice right now,” Jeff replied. He kept his voice low so as not to disturb Jayden’s brooding thoughts. “So many enemies sneaking around, we need to trust someone. Or else I don’t think we’ll win this.”

  When they reached the corridor leading to the Haunt, they were hit with the sound of Jasmine’s screams and started running. Jayden burst through the door so fast Maggie yelped and jumped back, hand on her chest.

  “Jayden Feldall, you almost stopped my heart. What the hell are you thinking, barging into a surgery like one of my children on a rampage?”

  Jayden stopped, his eye wild, face pale. “I heard her scream.”

  He slowly approached the worktable, which Maggie had cleared off in a rush to make room for Jasmine. Books and broken glass littered the floor where she’d swept her less important items.

  Jayden crouched down behind Jasmine’s head and kissed her brow. She didn’t look as awake anymore, her eyes half-open but unseeing. Her breathing had slowed and evened, but her skin still glistened with sweat. Conrad stood by her side, dipping a cloth in cool water and wiping her face. Jayden reached for the cloth, and the blacksmith allowed him to take over. He stepped away to clear more room for his wife.

  “I got the bleeding stopped,” she said, wiping loose hair away from her face with her shoulder. “The physicians shouldn’t have any problem sewing her back up. It doesn’t look like anything important was hit.”

  “Anything important?” Jayden growled. “Her whole body is important.”

  “You know what I mean, Jay,” Maggie replied calmly. “Nothing vital. I still had a bit of the potion I used with you last year, so I added that to the mix. Should heal quick and clean in a day or two. Hear that, pet? You won’t even have much of a scar to brag about.”

  Jasmine’s lips moved, a soft incoherent murmur coming through.

  “Thank you, Maggie,” Jayden sighed, resting his forehead against his sister’s. “I’m sorry.”

  “No need for apologies,” the enchantress replied, sagging down onto the bench and taking Jasmine’s hand in hers. “Although later I may be hurt that you had so little faith in me.”

  She forced a faint smile that Jayden tried to return. His attempt collapsed as Jasmine’s back arched, and she let out a whimper.

  “She’s heavily drugged,” Maggie explained
, “so she doesn’t feel so much pain. Probably pretty uncomfortable, though. The tissue’s knitting back together inside of her.”

  “Can’t you make her sleep?” Jayden asked, voice trembling.

  “I didn’t want to dose her too heavily, yet. Not with that much blood loss. But she won’t remember any of this when she wakes up.” Maggie looked over her shoulder to her husband. “Would you mind asking someone to come get her? A comfortable healer’s bed may be what’s called for at this point.”

  “Of course,” said Conrad. He pushed away from the wall to rest his hand on Maggie’s shoulder and kissed her cheek. “Make sure to come back to bed, hm? You’re not doing too well yourself these days.”

  The man looked at Jayden as he said these last words, as if giving him a warning not to push his wife too far.

  Maggie kissed the hand on her shoulder and waved him away. “I’ll just be another minute.”

  Conrad shuffled off with a yawn, a trigger that set them all to it. With the release in tension, Jeff felt weighed down by fatigue, and he dropped onto the bench on the other side of the table, his gaze glued to Jasmine’s face. Cassie sat next to him, taking the woman’s other hand.

  “Gods be damned,” Jayden expelled, hammering his fist on the table. The three conscious people jumped, and Jasmine rolled her head towards the noise.

  “Jayden,” Maggie snapped, “sit down and stop trying to break more of my things.”

  Unable to ignore her tone of voice, Jayden slid onto the bench next to Jeff, his hand still pressing the cloth to Jasmine’s brow.

  “How did we not pick up on Harold’s treachery before any of this happened?” he asked. “How is it possible I didn’t see?”

  “You’re only human,” said Cassie. “We all spent a week with him and none of us saw. He hid it well under his antisocial detachment. Don’t blame yourself.”

  “If she doesn’t make it, I’ll never forgive myself.”

  Maggie let out a moan. At first Jeff thought she was annoyed with Jayden’s determination to take responsibility, but she raised both hands to her head and pressed down on her temples. Her eyes were squeezed shut and her shoulders shook.