Winter of the Wolf (The Desolate Empire Book 4)

by Christina Ochs

  Estenorians jogged down the corridor in an orderly column, and Major Silberg let them pass, then sent Gwynneth’s guards in the same direction, keeping a half dozen back.

  “Now we go,” he said, herding Gwynneth and Elektra like sheep.

  Gwynneth turned to a scuffle behind her. The tenacious Countess Biaram was still trying to win through, but Gwynneth’s guards held her back.

  “You swore not to tell anyone, Archduchess,” she screeched.

  “Tell what?” Gwynneth asked Elektra as they burst out the back door of the palace.

  “That she worked for my mother.” Elektra flushed. “And I didn’t promise,” she added almost defensively.

  “I’m glad you told me,” Gwynneth said. “Truly.”

  And then the major pulled Elektra forward so she could show them the way. It was nearly dark now, and icy rain bit into Gwynneth’s face. She couldn’t remember where she’d left her cloak. But she ran now, as Elektra, Silberg and the Estenorians pulled ahead.

  She was still too late for the fight at the prison gate, which didn’t last long. The Estenorians didn’t hesitate to use their pistols and it seemed Princess Viviane’s guards had few.

  By the time Gwynneth reached the building, Silberg was stepping over a body and ordering the roundup of prisoners. There weren’t many.

  “I don’t know where the rest of the guards are,” he said. “But you should wait here.” Then he disappeared into the building with Elektra.

  Gwynneth shivered, and one of her guards put her cloak over her shoulders. She smiled at him. “There’s not much time to talk, but to make a long story short, Princess Viviane has betrayed us to that screeching woman back there, who killed Prince Kendryk. Now we’re rescuing Braeden Terris.”

  “If you say so, Your Grace,” the man said.

  She hoped his comrades would be as accommodating.

  Silberg came back out, his face like thunder. Gwynneth ran to him as he said, “Braeden Terris has already escaped.”

  Elektra

  Elektra couldn’t believe Braeden was gone, but Major Silberg seemed inclined to believe the guard he’d questioned.

  And the man looked completely bewildered. “He was here, I swear.” He shook his head. “I brought him breakfast this morning, and he was in his room, same as always.”

  “Where are the other guards?” Silberg asked. “There had to be more than just you lot.” The assault on the building had killed two and wounded three, while three more surrendered.

  “There should have been at least eight inside, and five or six more outside, on the other side of the building.”

  Silberg nodded, his face grim. “If there’s been a rescue operation, they got here right before us. But now we can expect Princess Viviane to act.”

  Elektra didn’t know what to do, and turned to Gwynneth, who stood shivering, but wrapped in a warm cloak.

  “If Prince Devyn has roused my troops, they’ll soon be advancing on the palace,” Gwynneth said. “Perhaps they can distract Princess Viviane while we look for Commander Terris.”

  “Who might have rescued him?” Elektra asked her.

  “No idea.” Gwynneth shook her head. “What remains of his original escort are with me, so they didn’t do it. I’m sure he has other friends but I don’t know who they are.” She turned back to Silberg. “What do you recommend?”

  “Whatever we do must be quick,” the major said. “It’s all well enough that the commander escaped, but we must do what we can to stop his pursuers, who might already be out there.”

  The wind had risen, and over the rain and rustle of the trees, it was hard to hear anything else.

  Silberg nodded at Gwynneth. “It’s best if you get outside the gates and meet up with your larger force. Approach the palace front, but don’t attack unless it’s necessary to defend yourself. With any luck, you’ll distract the bulk of Princess Viviane’s troops and keep them away from us. If the princess confronts you, just keep her talking as long as you can. Once we are certain Commander Terris is safe, I’ll meet you there.”

  Gwynneth gestured for her guard to follow her and disappeared into the building, presumably to come out the other side, free of the palace walls.

  Next, the major looked at Elektra. “You’re the reason we’re here in the first place, so it’s best you come along.” He didn’t seem angry exactly, more inconvenienced. “Can you shoot?”

  When Elektra nodded, he asked a soldier to give her a pistol. “Just keep the powder dry.”

  He glared at her, and Elektra shoved it under her cloak. Fortunately, she hadn’t taken it off after receiving the news from Countess Biaram.

  The major fired off orders, and Elektra hurried to join him as they filed through the main corridor of the small building and into the woods on the other side. It was dark by now, and raining hard. Elektra wondered how they were supposed to find anyone.

  Once they were picking their way along a narrow forest trail, the major said, “We can’t be sure which way he’s gone, but if Princess Viviane has sent people after the fugitive, there’ll be sounds of trouble soon enough.”

  He was right. They’d only been walking a few minutes when pistol fire cracked in the trees.

  “That way,” the major said, though he hardly needed to give the order as his soldiers hurried toward the noise.

  “Hold your fire,” he called. “We don’t want to shoot the wrong people.”

  Elektra pushed through the brush after the major, her skirt now soaked and tangling around her legs. The hand gripping the pistol was sweaty, and under her cloak, she switched it to the other so she could wipe it on her dress.

  They crashed through the trees, and Elektra was certain the enemy must realize they were coming. But speed was more important right now than silence.

  They came to a sudden halt in front of a group of unfamiliar troops.

  Silberg shouldered forward, Elektra on his heels. “If you have Braeden Terris, hand him over,” he said. Ever since this had started, the small, quiet major had turned into someone Elektra didn’t recognize; forceful and commanding.

  “We don’t have him,” the man at the front of the other group said. “Are you from the palace and looking for him?” His tone was dangerous, and Elektra realized these couldn’t be Princess Viviane’s troops.

  “No,” Silberg replied. “We’re Estenorian, fighting under King Lennart and we’re here ... well, never mind right now why we’re here. Fact is, we were hoping to rescue Braeden Terris, but it looks like someone’s already done it.”

  “Almost,” the man said. “I’m in Princess Galena Sebesta’s personal guard and she sent us to retrieve Terris. We’re sure he got out of prison and into the woods, but he was supposed to meet us here and never turned up.”

  “There was fighting in the woods. Did you hear it?”

  “I thought I did, though it turned out to be you lot.” The man shook his head. “That means they probably got him.”

  “Well, we can’t have that,” Silberg said. “I don’t care what you do, but I’m going back into the woods and not coming out until I have Braeden Terris.”

  Maryna

  It was surprising how much Edric Maximus had taught her, Maryna thought. She’d just been a little girl, but had read all of the Holy Scrolls in the ancient tongue while under siege inside Birkenfels.

  It had taken about six months and there was much she didn’t understand, but she’d done something few people in the world had managed.

  At least that’s what Natalya thought. “Edric must have had a great deal of faith in your abilities,” she said. “He spent so much time with you.”

  “He might have been bored.” Maryna hoped Edric had done it because he liked her, at least a little. “I also think I reminded him of my father somehow.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I miss them both so much.”

  “You’ll see them again soon,” Natalya said, though her anxious eyes betrayed her cheerful tone.

  Maryna wiped her eyes and turn
ed to Natalya. “There’s no point in pretending anymore.” She gulped down the rest of her tears. It was time to grow up. If she could read the Scrolls in the ancient tongue, she could bear this. “We will be stuck here for a long time and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

  “You are a very strong person.” Natalya’s voice shook just a little. “And you’ll make a marvelous ruler for Terragand someday. If no one comes to get us soon, I swear to you I’ll get us out of here, even if I have to seduce every last guard.”

  Maryna gasped at the idea. “Even the fat one with the big pimple on his chin?” All of the handsome young guards had disappeared the moment they entered these rooms. “Or the one with the missing left hand and the terrible breath?”

  “Especially that one.” Then Natalya was laughing, and Maryna joined her.

  Fortunately, Natalya never had to make good on her promise, for someone came to get them only a few days later.

  To Maryna’s delight, it was her old friend Count Vega. He smiled at her and kissed her hands, just like before while Natalya looked on, amused.

  “Have you come to take us to the queen?” Maryna asked him.

  He shook his head, replacing the hat—this one adorned with blue and green feathers—which he’d swept off while bowing to the two of them.

  “No,” he said, the feathers bobbing. Maryna was reminded of a rooster in the barnyard and stifled a giggle. “You are going on a journey.”

  “To Galladium?” Natalya asked.

  Maryna could tell she didn’t want to show how excited she was, but the wobble in her voice betrayed her.

  “I’m afraid I cannot give you any such information,” Count Vega said, his voice grave and important.

  Natalya and Maryna exchanged glances. They must be going to Galladium. King Gauvain had come through.

  Maryna felt dizzy with relief, but Natalya was more cautious. Once Vega left to let them pack, she said, “It will be a long way back, likely overland. I expect it to be a difficult journey since it’ll be winter by the time we get farther north. We must stay on guard, for many things can go wrong.”

  “Of course.” Maryna tried to appear grave and mature, but she still couldn’t help doing a little dance as she gathered up her few things. All she had was the dress she’d come in, another warmer one she’d been given when the weather turned cooler, and a scratchy woolen shawl. She’d wear rags all the way back to Galladium if that’s what it took.

  Early the next morning, a coach drew up to the garden gate with Count Vega on hand to escort them in. Maryna gave him an especially nice smile, she was so grateful to be getting out of prison.

  The coach bumped down the hill and back into the city, though now it wasn’t as colorful with most of the market stalls either gone, or shut up against the icy wind that blew between the tall buildings. In the past weeks, their walks in the garden became much shorter as the year turned cold.

  A dozen guards accompanied them through the city, but that number swelled at the gates.

  Maryna gave up trying to count how many there were because her nose was cold from sticking it out the window. “They want to make sure we don’t get away.” She turned to Natalya with a sigh.

  “And they’re keeping us safe,” Natalya said in her practical, somewhat condescending way. “The mountains between here and Galladium can be lawless, especially in wartime.”

  “I hope it’s not too dangerous.” When Maryna had been much younger, back in Allaux, she would have welcomed danger and adventure, but now she’d experienced some of it, she already knew the reality wasn’t so wonderful. So she decided the guards were comforting.

  The coach bumped along a good road for some time, and Maryna dozed off. When she awakened it was much later in the day and the coach had stopped.

  “We’re getting something to eat at an inn,” Natalya said. “Come. I must find out where we are, and I doubt the guards or Vega will tell us.”

  Count Vega escorted them into the inn, which was warm to the point of stuffiness. The food was good though, and Maryna enjoyed a spicy dish of rice and seafood. Their prison food had been sufficient, but bland.

  Vega kept them company and told them funny stories about Maladene country people.

  “What village is this?” Natalya asked, her green eyes piercing.

  “Not sure,” Vega mumbled, then said, “Oh, I haven’t told you the one about the priest who wanted red breeches.”

  “I’m sure you have.” Maryna watched Natalya, who’d grabbed at a serving girl’s arm and was speaking to her in rapid Maladene.

  Vega looked uneasy, but launched into another story, a little too loudly.

  Natalya’s face was white and angry though she said nothing until they’d returned to the coach.

  “What is it?” Maryna asked, when the door shut behind them and the coach began moving once again.

  “This is the coast road,” Natalya said. “I’m sure of it.”

  “Perhaps we’re returning to Galladium by sea?” Maryna wouldn’t mind that too much, as long as they didn’t run into Henny and Gaspard again.

  “I doubt it.” Natalya’s voice was tight. “If we’re headed to the port I expect we are, most ships from there sail to Cesiano.”

  “Why would we go to Cesiano? That seems a roundabout way of getting to Galladium when they could just sail up the coast.”

  “We’re not going to Galladium,” Natalya snapped. “They’re sending us to Teodora.”

  Gwynneth

  Though soaked and freezing, Gwynneth was far more worried about being stopped before she reached Devyn. By now, Princess Viviane would have had time to gather whatever military she had nearby, on top of her numerous palace guard. Gwynneth had assumed that Viviane sent the bulk of her army south to join Lennart, but now she suspected that might not be the case.

  She trudged across soggy grass, doing her best to stay in the shadow of the wall surrounding the palace grounds. They’d been lucky that the gate behind the makeshift prison already stood wide open, since Gwynneth didn’t know how they would have gotten back through the palace.

  While she walked, she tried to think of what this Countess Biaram had to do with Viviane. Had she truly turned her against Lennart and Kendryk’s cause?

  Gwynneth had never much liked the princess, but she was known for taking her oaths seriously and being a loyal friend. Though it was likely true everyone had a price, Gwynneth didn’t know what Teodora might offer that Lennart couldn’t.

  When they reached the front corner of the wall, the officer in front motioned them to a halt while he peeked around to see what it looked like.

  “Big army gathering there,” he whispered, turning back to Gwynneth. “But not ours.”

  “Can we get past them?” She whispered back.

  “We’ll try.” He raised his voice so those at the back were able to hear. “Stay alert, keep your weapons close and quiet. It’s dark enough we can cross that clearing without being seen, then our lot should be on the other side of that wood.”

  Upon his signal, they stepped into the open. Gwynneth ventured a sideways glance at the activity before the palace gate.

  Troops streamed through it into the grounds, and she hoped the Estenorians were already gone. Silberg appeared so efficient, she wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if nothing remained of their camp, with all of them already in the woods behind the palace.

  Though the tall grass in the clearing had been dry, the rain flattened it, and now everyone walked across it without making a sound. In spite of its slipperiness, Gwynneth and her escort kept up a rapid pace.

  When they reached the camp, Gwynneth was happy to find it undisturbed by the enemy. Everything was in upheaval; a good sign, meaning Devyn had convinced the colonel in charge to mobilize. Gwynneth’s guards asked their way through until they found him.

  Devyn had taken up a position at the edge of camp, already armored and mounted on an impressive charger, borrowed from Prince Dristan. The prince had grown fond of Dev
yn, making him splendid gifts of beautiful armor and weapons. With his helmet on, it was hard to believe he was still just a boy.

  On his right, Trisa Torresia was also mounted, Stella clinging to her back. Gwynneth didn’t want to take all these children into danger, but with any luck, she’d be able to keep Princess Viviane at bay until Silberg came around to help.

  “Mama.” Devyn looked relieved to see her. “Did you get Braeden?”

  She smiled up at him. “Not yet. It seems he escaped on his own while we were arguing with Princess Viviane. But the Estenorians have gone after him, and I’m sure they’ll find him soon.”

  A groom brought a horse for Gwynneth, and she mounted, grateful to be off her feet. Her dainty slippers were not made for tramping about in the woods.

  “What about the Archduchess Elektra?” Devyn asked. “Trisa knows all about her and says she can’t be trusted.”

  “She’s with the Estenorians, so I hope they’ll keep her out of trouble for now.”

  “Can’t wait to get my hands on her.” Trisa scowled.

  “We’ll have none of that,” Gwynneth said. “Right now, she’s helping us. You must settle your differences another time. What did you tell Colonel Destler?” she asked Devyn.

  “That Princess Viviane was trying to make you her prisoner.” Devyn smirked. “That got him excited for sure.”

  “Where is he?”

  Devyn nodded toward his left, where the colonel stood some way off, giving order to a cluster of officers.

  Gwynneth rode over to them.

  “Your Grace!” Destler said. “You’re safe.”

  “I was able to get away, but we still have trouble ahead.” As briefly as possible, she told him what she’d learned about the princess, Countess Biaram and Braeden. “We must keep the princess distracted while the Estenorians find Commander Terris.”

  “Don’t like getting involved with Estenor,” Destler grumbled. Since Arryk’s defeat, Aquianus had maintained a fragile neutrality.