Fortissima

by Sara Kingsley

  I return her half smile with a full one. “Thank you. Please accept our heartfelt gratitude for the information. And of course these provisions.”

  Through a small window I notice the light outside has grown dim. Nightfall isn’t far away. “I suppose we’ll be leaving now. Thank you again for your kindness.”

  “’Tis my pleasure, m’lady.” She gives a small curtsy as she says this. It takes me aback. Nobody has ever curtsied to me before.

  We stow the food in our packs and head back out to the road. Soon we are in the thicker woods outside of the village. As night falls around us we reluctantly continue walking. I try not to think of the hot bath and soft bed I’m desperate for.

  A crescent moon rises above the mountains behind us, lighting our path through the forest in the clear night air. We don’t speak, for fear our voices might carry. My legs are rubbery with exhaustion, but the night feels safe. We’re invisible. So I keep going.

  By dawn I can barely keep my eyes open. We come upon a small hollow in the ground and crawl into it. I lean back against my pack and fall immediately to sleep.

  “Raven! Wake up!” Tui’s whisper is insistent, right in my ear.

  I peel my eyes open. For a long second I can’t remember where I am. I shake my head. The light is dim—it must be early evening already.

  When Tui’s face comes into focus, I see his eyes are worried. “There’s something or somebody nearby.”

  “Where’s Leif?” I look around, trying to get my bearings.

  “He’s snuck out to try to get a closer look.”

  I crawl out of the hollow and stand up. The last of my sleepiness dissipates. At first there’s only the sound of a few birds twittering in the treetops, settling down for the night.

  Then I hear it. The sound of horses. “I’m going to sneak out too, see what’s out—”

  “No, Raven. We should stay here. It’s too thick for horses to get through to us. They must be on a wider trail we didn’t see before. Leif should be back any minute. Hopefully it’s just someone passing by.”

  The sound seems to be getting nearer. The next few minutes are torturous.

  I’m about to dash into the trees myself when I hear someone rustling through the bushes. Tui darts between me and the sound. He grabs a small knife from inside his boot and holds it out in front of him.

  Leif’s face emerges from the greenery.

  “Who is it? What did you find? Are we in danger?” The questions come pouring out of me.

  But Leif doesn’t answer. Instead he says, “Grab your things. Come with me.”

  “But … who …” I stutter.

  Leif is smiling calmly. “Don’t worry. It’s okay.”

  We grab our packs and make our way through the bushes. Sure enough, a few minutes later we come upon a wider trail. It’s nearly dark by now, but I can see them standing there in the light of the moon.

  Our three horses: Pearl, Pango, and Hazel. And atop Hazel is Catriona.

  I’m stunned. The only thought that comes into my mind is that Leif could be very wrong. This might not be okay at all.

  I’m about to open my mouth to say so when Pearl breaks away and trots over to me. She nudges my face in greeting with her velvety nose. I close my eyes and breathe in her familiar scent. I thought I’d never see her again; would never stroke her soft, shimmering mane like I’m doing now. For a few minutes it’s just her and me, reunited in the moonlight.

  I give Pearl a last pat on the nose and walk over to Catriona. I take a deep breath before I speak. “Well, aren’t you a surprise in the night?”

  “It’s exactly how I planned it,” comes her reply.

  Chapter 14

  I’m fuming.

  “Why did you … how could you … argh!” I stamp away from all of them. I need a few minutes to myself, to calm down.

  I stand in the dark, in the middle of a small circle of trees and breathe deeply.

  It doesn’t work.

  I march right back to where they are waiting. Nobody has moved. They seem frozen, waiting to see what I’m going to do.

  I stop in front of Catriona, hands on my hips, my face right in hers. “What do you mean, exactly, when you say you planned this whole thing? Are you really saying you meant to steal our horses, meet up with goodness-knows-who, and lead them right here to us? Did you really think that I’d be happy about it? Hunters—and others—are everywhere. We’ve got to lay lower than ever, now. We’re very nearly there. What kind of game are you playing?”

  She smiles at me innocently. It makes me want to slap her.

  “I was truly just trying to help,” she pleads. “I’m sorry for not telling you anything. I just … I knew you’d never go along with my plan. I thought you’d be able to travel so much faster if you had the horses after the pass, but you’d never have agreed to me taking them around on my own.”

  “You’re certainly right about that. I’m not happy about it now.”

  A small part of me realizes her plan was a good one, truth be told. But she still went behind my back. It was extremely dangerous.

  “I know.” She raises her chin a bit higher and doesn’t take her eyes from mine. “If it eases your mind at all, I was very careful. And I think rather helpful.” She motions her head toward the food-filled packs we’re carrying.

  I let my hands fall from my hips and take a step back. “You had something to do with our gift of food?”

  She nods. “I sent word that you three would be coming through Pinehaven, along with payment for the provisions—”

  “Wait a second,” I interrupt. “Who told the pubkeeper’s daughter who I was?”

  Her face grows serious. “What do you mean? She knew who you were?”

  “Yes, she knew precisely who I was, and where we were going.”

  “I promise you, I told of no such thing. I only said I knew of some friends who’d be passing through who’d need food.”

  “Your contact had no idea who we were?”

  “No,” Catriona says. I study her face. There’s no indication she’s not telling the truth. But then again, I now know she’s a splendid liar.

  “Well, she knew. Maybe it was simply a guess.”

  “How? How would she have guessed that?” Catriona asks.

  I consider how much I should tell her. Probably as little as possible. I can’t trust her, not anymore. “She said Hunters had been through Pinehaven.” Something occurs to me then. “You didn’t come across them, did you?”

  Only then do her eyes dart down to the ground. She’s clearly considering how much to tell me. “I did not. I encountered many groups of Hunters on my way here, but only along the main road.”

  “The pubkeeper’s daughter said many commoners had joined up with them. Did you notice that as well?”

  “Yes, that’s what I saw too. But listen, I think you are safe on this route. I’ve only seen them on the main road. Besides, they don’t think you’d be able to cross the pass.” She grins. “Clearly they were wrong.”

  “But what were they doing in Pinehaven, then?” I ask.

  It’s nearly imperceptible, but it happens, I’m sure of it: a quick intake of breath. A split second of unease. Then she’s looking at me and smiling again.

  “I don’t know, Raven. I didn’t see them on my way here, I swear it. I didn’t see anyone at all on my way over from the main road. I’ve been hiding out here in the woods ever since, waiting for you all to pass by.”

  I’m not sure whether to believe a word she says, but I’ve got no evidence to argue. We just need to keep making our way to the Bastion.

  I reach over to stroke Pearl’s nose again. “The horses seem well. It’s good to see them again.”

  Tui is already transferring the food in his pack to Pango’s saddle bags. Leif offers to do the same with my pack, but I brush him off. I repack my own supplies and offer to transfer some of Leif’s load, which he graciously accepts.

  Just before I mount Pearl, I need to know one last th
ing from Catriona. “We’ve been traveling at night, to lessen our chances of being seen. Are you going to continue with us?”

  “Yes, m’lady. I’d be honored to accompany you on this final leg,” she replies. It’s the first time ever she’s called me that. I’m not sure what to think of it, really.

  “Well then, we’d better get on with it. Can I offer you a ride, Leif?”

  He grins broadly. “I’d love nothing more.”

  I mount Pearl and Leif climbs on behind me. Tui and Catriona have already started off down the trail. I nudge Pearl into a trot to catch up.

  Leif presses his body slightly against mine. He rests his hands on his thighs and balances easily. We hardly speak as we ride swiftly through the night, our bodies swaying in unison to Pearl’s canter. His body heat radiates into mine and his peppermint-scented breath warms my neck. The sky is completely clear with a brilliant half moon. It’s bitterly cold, but I’m definitely not shivering.

  We ride all through the night like this, stopping only once to rest. When we do, it’s a relief to walk around, stiff after hours of riding. But after only a few minutes I find myself looking forward to getting back onto Pearl with Leif.

  Just before dawn we find a small clearing surrounded by thick brush. Catriona hops down from Hazel and starts gathering kindling.

  “Do you think that’s safe?” I ask her. “To make a fire? Are we far enough from anyone who might see?”

  She nods, smiling confidently. “We’re miles from the main road. I don’t think we need to worry about anyone seeing us until we’re a day from the Bastion. Let’s warm ourselves and cook some food.”

  I see no reason to doubt her. Judging by the overgrown path, this route is rarely traveled.

  As the sky lightens with the coming day, we roast sausages and carrots over the fire. The air is chilly, but I am warm and content as we sip our mugs of tea and listen to Leif tell his version of our bearcat encounter up on the peak. A terrifying experience sounds so funny when he retells it. I smile while I watch the flames.

  “And then this enormous fluffy thing hauls me up over its shoulder and I’m kicking and screaming and trying not to pee myself—I haven’t gone for hours and hours because it’s so hard to pee in a blizzard—plus I’m frightened out of my wits, which doesn’t make it any better …”

  Catriona is throwing her head back in laughter and Tui is chuckling. “That was the worst part, was it?” Tui asks.

  “Oh no,” Leif continues, eyes twinkling in the firelight. “The worst part was when I actually peed myself when I saw I was heading into a cave with three more bearcats!”

  Our laughter peels out into the forest night. I admit to myself it’s a relief to have all of us together again. I finish my tea, then curl up in my bedroll. With my eyes closed, I listen to Leif tell the last bit of the story.

  I grow sleepy listening to his deep, smooth voice. It’s comforting. I try to imagine the days when Leif wasn’t traveling with me. I can’t. And although it was a terribly foolish thing to do, I’m glad Catriona brought the horses. She’s right in that it’s going to cut our travel time from here to the Bastion by at least half, probably a lot more.

  Suddenly I feel like we’re very nearly there.

  We’re away again at dusk, after a quick meal and a cup of coffee. An hour later we find ourselves riding in blackness. The moon is obscured by thick clouds and I can barely see past Pearl’s bobbing ears. At least the horses seem to have no trouble finding their way in the dark. The forest is still, and there’s not a sound to be heard other than the horses. None of us says a word. We’re so close to the Bastion now, it’s as if our voices could carry right there.

  At the first light of day I pull out Mr. Benford’s map to confirm this. There are four more marks between where I think we are now and the southern Bastion gates. Each tick is his estimate of how far we’d be able to travel on foot. We’ve been making twice that distance each day on horseback, so two more nights and we’ll arrive.

  The map also shows that in another hour or two we’ll come upon the river that flows right to the southern edge of the Bastion and then out to the port.

  Sure enough, as the sun peeks over the mountains far behind us, we hear the trickle of moving water. Just in time too, as our water bladders are nearly empty. We fill them in the icy river and drink and drink.

  That evening we head out again, following the river. But after an hour of riding, Leif puts a hand on my arm. “Hold on, Raven. Where are you going?”

  I halt Pearl. Tui rides up alongside us and Catriona stops on my other side.

  I turn around to look at Leif. “What do you mean? This river runs right to the Bastion.”

  Leif tilts his head, looking at me in a funny way. “I’m afraid it doesn’t, m’lady. That path is where we want to be going.” I look to see where he’s pointing, and see a small trail leading into the trees off to our left.

  I pull Mr. Benford’s map out of my pocket and examine it carefully. There’s no such trail on it. In fact, there are only thick woods shown where this trail might lead. It’s clear to me, rough as his map may be, that the only sure way from here to the Bastion is along the river.

  “Let me see it,” Catriona says. I hand her Benford’s map and she studies it for a minute. Thinking. She looks around, considering our surroundings. But it’s already nearly dark, and I’m sure even her tracking skills are far more useful in the daylight. “I think this map is correct,” she finally says. “Mine lacks even this much detail, but I can tell that trail goes north, and we need to be heading east, to the southern gates. This river will lead us the right way.”

  Leif hops down from Pearl and rummages around in his pack. “I’m sorry, Raven, but Benford must have made a huge mistake when he drew up that map. Look.” He unfolds a large piece of parchment. Another map.

  Even in the dim light I can see that according to Leif’s map, the river flows not toward the Bastion, but directly south, toward the Wild Coast. A dead end. And that, indeed, the path follows the edge of the forest, coming out onto the moor at the south end of the Bastion. The Hunter-patrolled main road leads to the busy west entrance.

  “I’m afraid that river goes nowhere,” Leif says. “Nowhere we want to be, that is. We’d best follow the forest path. This is the official map, so it must be correct.” He points to a small insignia in the corner. The official seal of Nadir.

  “When did you get this?” I ask him.

  I see his teeth flash in the dark. He’s grinning. “I’ve had it the whole time. Didn’t need it until now, though. It’s the first time we’ve nearly been lost.”

  I look over at Catriona but she says nothing. She simply shrugs. I imagine she’s feeling a bit embarrassed about nearly leading us way off course.

  Leif’s map must be correct, being official and all. Perhaps old Benford got confused and mis-drew his. He said himself that he rarely went as far as the Bastion. Usually he just travels back and forth between Sagegate and Pinehaven.

  I fold Benford’s map up roughly and stuff it back in my jacket pocket. I muster up a smile and say, “Okay, the path it is then.” I jump back onto Pearl, wait for Leif to join me, then steer us back into the forest.

  The sky is clear tonight, but we are soon so deep in the thick wood that only a few strands of moonlight seep through the treetops. The path is very narrow. It reminds me of our journey through the bearcat lands. Branches brush against us as Pearl winds her way steadily through the trees.

  Nobody speaks. After tonight there’s only one more night of travel until we reach the Bastion. We’re going to be surrounded by people who want me dead, and I can only hope that my plan to blend in and get through to the port before I’m found will work. That must be what’s causing my growing unease.

  I think again about the two conflicting maps. What if Benford wasn’t confused? What if … but that’s silly. Benford is very old and rarely travels this way. I decide I’m glad Leif had the correct map, before we found ourselves at a de
ad end and had to backtrack for days.

  My thoughts wander like this for hours, then there’s a loud whisper right behind us. “Raven! Stop! Something’s out there.” Tui rides up next to us.

  “Where? What is it?” I swing my head around in the darkness, but I don’t see anything. The moon has nearly set, and the tiny slivers of light it provided are gone.

  Tui’s arm points ahead to the left. Then I see it too: tiny flickers of light in the distance. It sets my heart pounding.

  “What do you think it is?”

  “Not sure,” he replies.

  A few seconds later there’s a quiet laugh from behind me. “Don’t be scared of a potential dinner,” Leif says with a chuckle.

  “What do you mean?” I say.

  “It’s just grouse hunters, most likely. I’ve come across them in the forest plenty of times. Those are their lanterns.”

  “Grouse aren’t nocturnal.” Catriona’s voice is harsh, coming from the other side of me. I look over at her but can’t see her face.

  There is a pause.

  Leif laughs again. “Sure they are. Well, some are, anyway.”

  “You think so?” Catriona says. Her voice has the same tone as it did talking to Leif weeks ago. As if she knows better.

  “We’d better stay back, regardless,” Tui says.

  “Go on,” Leif says. “They won’t hurt us.”

  But I don’t move. “I’ll wait.”

  I watch the lights as they grow brighter, coming closer. My palms, still holding Pearl’s reins, start to sweat. I wipe the dampness onto my pants. What should we do if they get too close? What will we tell them? We’re clearly not out grouse hunting ourselves. What story would they believe for us to be traveling in the dead of night? Probably none of them.

  Eventually the lights start to grow dimmer. I’m flooded with relief when it becomes clear they’re moving away. A few minutes later they dissolve completely into the blackness.

  “Let’s go,” I say. I give Pearl a gentle nudge and we keep on deep into the forest.