"You ran that far? I wouldn't expect that from a young lady of high standing. I thought people like you spent all their time sewing or something."
Another stupid statement. Why couldn't he say anything intelligent?
She gave him a frigid glare. "I assure you there is more to my life than sewing and walking around in pretty dresses. Or do you think it was luck that put an arrow through the back of that man's head?"
"Sorry, I was actually trying to compliment you. You know, most women in your position wouldn't know how to shoot straight."
To his surprise, she laughed. The tension in his shoulders eased, and he allowed himself to lean casually against a nearby tree.
"You have that right," she said. "Most noble women are useless."
"So why're you so good with a bow?"
She glanced around, fixing her gaze for a long moment on the dead Imperial Guard. "Don't you think we should go somewhere else? We don't want to be seen."
"Yeah, good idea." He also felt ashamed to stand so close to the man they'd killed together. It seemed as if the whole world was watching and judging them. They started walking, in silence at first, but eventually the silence grated on Markus. "You still haven't told me why you're so good with a bow."
She didn't look at him. "I don't want to talk about it. Not right now."
"Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you."
Why was she so hard to talk to? He'd spoken to other girls before, and it hadn't been this hard. Then again, he hadn't killed anyone with other girls.
She seemed determined to stay ahead of him, though she didn't appear to have any idea where she was going. When he increased his pace, he saw tears streaming down her face.
He put a hand on her shoulder, then wondered if that was the right thing to do. They barely knew each other. After removing his hand, he said, "What's wrong?"
She walked a few feet away, then collapsed against a nearby tree. Her voice was thick with tears. "I-I don't know why I'm sharing this all with you, but I guess I owe you something. I wouldn't be alive now if you hadn't stepped in."
Markus knelt down beside her, hoping he'd sound reassuring. "You don't have to share anything you don't want to. I'll understand."
"No, it's fine. I'll tell you. When I went to the meeting, two guards came with me. Varek and Len, two of my closest friends in the world. They died protecting me. It really hit me just now that I'll never see them again. Just like my mother." She put her head in her arms. "I can't take this anymore."
"It's not your fault. Those people died because of Warrick. Just like your mother. Just like thousands of others. You can't blame yourself for the deeds of an evil man."
She looked up at him, her face streaked with tears. "When did woodsmen become so wise? You're right. I can sit here feeling bad all I want, but that's not going to accomplish anything. I swore that day four years ago that I would kill Warrick. That hasn't changed."
"Now I understand. That's who you've been thinking about killing."
"I can't believe I'm sharing all this with you. I can't believe I let you see me so vulnerable. I barely know you. Nobody gets to see me like this, not even Kara. I'm really not the kind of person who cries all the time."
Markus scooted closer to her, but not too close. "I never thought you were, Nadia. You've just been through something terrible. It's okay to cry."
She wiped the tears from her face, then rose and began walking again. Markus followed. After a few minutes of silence, she stopped and turned to him. "This is going to sound stupid, but how do we get back to Crayden?"
Markus stepped ahead of her. "I'll lead the way."
He hadn't had any intention of going to Crayden, but he couldn't allow her to walk home alone in her current state. There was also that reward she'd mentioned. If he was going to set out on his own, he'd need money.
"You haven't told me anything about you," she said as they walked.
After a moment of internal debate, he said, "Well, I guess my life isn't exactly going great either. When I was three years old, my parents died. I still don't know how, but I suspect Warrick had something to do with it. After they died, my uncle, an Imperial Guard at the time, raised me."
Her eyes widened. "Your uncle was an Imperial Guard? Do you still live with him?"
"I know what you're thinking." He pushed aside a low-hanging branch. "They're not all horrible people. My uncle certainly isn't. He did make some kind of deal, though, a deal that means I have to become an Imperial Guard tomorrow."
Her mouth dropped open, and she stopped.
"Don't worry," he said. "I have no intention of becoming an Imperial Guard. I tried to get out of the Empire, but I failed. I'm still not sure why they left me alive. Now I think I'm going to try my luck by going to Mountainside. I'll probably get killed on the way, but anything's better than serving Warrick."
She stood frozen in the middle of the clearing they'd entered. Markus felt tense, unable to read her expression.
At last, she started walking again. "Did you ever think of trying to kill Warrick?"
"No. Why would I try to do the impossible?" He felt a jolt of panic. "Not to say anything's wrong with your dreams. I just don't see how they can happen."
"Don't worry. I get that a lot. I think it's possible. It has to be."
"You never know. Maybe it is. Why fight if we can't ever hope to win? Especially since you can't actually leave the Empire. There's an invisible barrier on the other side of the mountains. No one can cross it."
"I didn't know that," she said. "That gives me even more reason to kill him."
Markus thought a moment. "I hope you find a way to make that happen. I mean, I want to see him dead. I just can't see myself being the one to make it happen. No, I'm better off hiding out in Mountainside."
"Well, I hope you make it there."
They walked in silence for the next few minutes, listening to the sounds of birds, insects, and animals scurrying through the underbrush. When they reached the edge of the forest and Crayden came into view, they stopped.
"I was wondering something," Markus said, staring at the valley in which Crayden sat, at the canyon the bridge crossed. "Why didn't you shoot him sooner?"
"I was panicking." Her face turned red again. "Besides, have you ever tried shooting a moving target while you're also on the move? Trust me, it's not easy."
"Yeah, you have a good point there. I'm a terrible shot."
She smiled. "You're probably not that bad."
Markus thought about disagreeing, but he'd let her believe whatever she wanted. He enjoyed seeing her smile after the day she'd been through.
* * * * *
Darien's head pounded. He'd spent too long looking at the Webs of Fate and praying that Nadia and Markus, as Weavers, would find a way out of their predicament.
He needed them. To gain the power necessary to improve the world, he needed three items: the Stone of Creation, the Stone of Destruction, and the Stone of Restoration. He already had the first two, but Cyrus and others had hidden the third from him. For some reason he did not yet understand, he needed people like Nadia, Markus, Berig, and Tylen to uncover the stone.
If they died, Darien's plans would die right with them.
When he peered that far into the future, though, he found too many dark strands. Were they dark because of the time distance, or because of the same unknown force that made so many of the strands dark? Nothing bothered Darien like feeling he wasn't in control.
And the dark strands did that to him.
His whole body felt tense and sore. He rang a bell, calling his steward into the room.
"What do you need?" asked the young man.
"Send a servant to give me a massage."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Darien followed his steward out of the room, then through the corridor. They parted ways at the entrance to Darien's chambers. Darien entered the room and collapsed onto the bed. Light magic made him immortal, but it didn't prevent hunger, pain, o
r fatigue.
A few minutes later, the servant entered the room. She had given him massages many times before, and she was quite pretty. At times, he had wanted more from her, but he could tell she had no interest in him, that she was scared of him. He would not force himself on her. Many of the rebels would have expected him to be that kind of man, but he wasn't.
Still, it had been a long time since he'd had any companionship. In his early years, some women had been attracted to his power, to what they considered his handsome looks. He'd never let them get too close, though. They would only complicate his plans.
The servant moved along his body, massaging his sore neck and shoulders for a long time. He grunted a few times, but said nothing else.
What did he have in common with someone like her?
For so many years, he had set himself apart. He had never been comfortable around others, save for his old friends from his days at the Academy, but in recent years, he had shunned nearly all contact. It wasn't a healthy way to live, but it had become normal to him. Comfortable.
In the Webs, he had seen hints of companionship. There was a young blond woman whose face appeared at times, but then he'd hit a dark strand.
"Your Majesty," the servant said, "I can't help you if you won't relax."
"Sorry," Darien said, making an effort to let his tension go.
How could he relax when so much depended on him?
Chapter 17
Nadia didn't want to return to the castle, didn't want to see her father, didn't want to explain what had happened or face the loss of Varek and Len. Markus walked beside her, glancing around nervously. She had no encouraging words for him.
One guard stepped forward as they approached. "Lady Nadia, your father's been worried." He narrowed his eyes at Markus. "Who is this?"
Markus backed away, as if trying to hide behind her—impossible at his size. She put a hand on his shoulder and encouraged him forward.
"Markus saved my life this morning."
"It sounds like you have quite a story to tell," the guard said. "Your father should be in his study." He looked again at Markus. "You may accompany her."
Markus nodded weakly, scooting closer to Nadia, and she felt the urge to laugh. For someone who'd challenged an Imperial Guard, he didn't seem brave right now. She led the way through the open castle gate and into the grand foyer. Beside her, Markus stared at everything, eyes wide.
The gate guard who'd spoken to them accompanied them across the foyer. Nadia felt a stab of anger. She was capable of finding her father's study on her own. Perhaps she was under watch. Her father must have figured out where she'd been last night. Would he even have kind words for Markus? With the stress her father faced, his actions were unpredictable.
They reached the door to her father's study, and the guard knocked.
"Come in," her father said.
The guard opened the door, ushered them inside, then stood off to the left. Nadia walked into the room, chest tight.
"Nadia, you're alive," her father said, looking up. He sounded relieved. Other than that, she wasn't sure.
"Yes, Father, but just barely."
Her father leaned on his polished wooden desk and pointed at Markus. "Who is this?"
"This is Markus," she said. "He saved my life."
"This is a story I'd like to hear," her father said, his expression unreadable. "I know how it began. I know where you were last night."
Nadia swayed on the spot, wringing her hands together. She was proud that she'd disobeyed her father, so why did she feel so anxious now?
"I knew something like this would happen," her father said. "You have no respect for my position or authority."
She tried to control her temper, but it exploded. "How can I respect your position and authority when you support an evil regime? When you disgrace your wife's memory every day?"
Her father's eyes narrowed in a way she'd never seen before, and his expression hardened, like ice had taken hold of his features. "Don't. Ever. Say that. Again. I loved your mother more than anything in the world. You've gone too far this time, Nadia."
She breathed deeply, holding in the retort she longed to hurl at him. When she felt she could speak, she said, "I'm sorry, Father. I didn't mean to question your love for her. I just can't understand how you can love her and support the government that killed her. How you could have loved her and turned her in to the Imperial Guards."
"I had no choice. Life isn't as simple as you want it to be. I won't say I agree with everything the emperor does, but as high lord, I must obey him. Your mother's activities nearly lost me my position, and perhaps my life. If you'd been caught last night, that would've been the end for me as well. There is no room for your kind of idealism in this world. Warrick is our ruler, and he always will be. We have to make the best we can out of that situation. When we support him, we are rewarded. When we don't, we are punished."
Nadia shook her head, disgusted. People like her father were the reason no one ever stood up to Warrick. Beside her, Markus was frowning. She met his eyes briefly to say everything would be all right. Her father wasn't a bad man, just a misguided one. He would treat Markus fairly as long as Markus didn't reveal too much.
Her father crossed his arms. "Now I'd like to hear you story."
"Can the guard leave first?" Nadia asked. "I don't want anyone else hearing this."
Her father sent the guard out of the room.
Nadia took a breath, fought against her anger, and recounted her story.
Afterward, her father said, "Does anyone else know of this?"
"No," she said. "Just the three of us now."
"Then it will stay that way. You might have made some foolish decisions, but I won't see my only daughter executed for defending herself." He turned his gaze to Markus. "The same goes for you, young man. You stepped in to save my daughter at great personal risk. What you did was a crime, but I promise I won't tell anyone. Thank you for saving her."
"I just did what anyone would have done."
"No, you didn't," her father said. "Most people would not have gotten involved. I owe you a great debt, young man. No matter what my daughter might think, I'm a fair man." He opened a drawer, pulled out a handful of gold coins, then handed them to Markus. Markus tucked them into a small bag tied to his waist, failing to hide a smile.
He glanced toward the door. "I should probably get going now."
Her father rose. "No. I'd like to give you a tour of the castle. I'm sure you're curious. Not many commoners get a chance to see inside here. Besides, I need a chance to stretch my legs."
"Well, okay. I guess I have time."
Her father led them out of the room. Nadia followed, sick with guilt over Varek and Len. How could she go on living without two of her closest friends?
Nadia's mind wandered while her father showed Markus the castle's first floor. Markus seemed interested in the practice room, but not the library. Before Nadia knew it, they were upstairs, taking a look at her room. All the while, she fought against tears. She couldn't let them see her weakness.
When they stepped out of her room, Markus pointed to a stone door. "What's that room?"
"Just a storage room," her father said. "Nothing interesting there."
They finished up by visiting the guard barracks. Nadia had to stay out of the room. Tears streamed down her face as she fell to a squat. When Markus and her father left the barracks, she still hadn't stopped the tears.
"Are you okay?" Markus asked. He reached out as if to put a hand on her shoulder, then pulled the hand away.
She got to her feet. "I-I'm fine. I just—I can't—never mind."
"I think you're regretting last night," her father said with a stern expression. "Maybe you should have thought about such possibilities before you disobeyed me."
She glared at him. "I lost two of my closest friends in the world. I really don't care what you have to say right now. No one regrets last night more than I."
Her father's e
xpression didn't soften. "Well, I think you might understand now why I do things the way I do. Opposing Warrick brings nothing but pain. I learned that the hard way, and so have you, I hope."
She looked away from both of them. "It still doesn't make anything right. Warrick rules only because we fear him, because people turn away from their dreams when something like this happens. But I don't care what I have to lose."
"Nadia, you're only going to make yourself miserable," her father said. He sounded genuinely concerned, no longer so angry. "Let it go."
She wiped a tear track from her cheek. "I can't. I have to try."
"You'll change your mind in time," her father said. "Believe me, after your mother's execution, I wanted to do something to avenge her. I hated what I'd done, and I still do. But the anger faded with time."
"Okay, maybe you're right," she said, but she didn't believe a word of it.
"Good. Now you're seeing some sense."
She almost laughed. Was he really that oblivious?
"I guess it's time to show Markus here out," her father said.
When they reached the open gate, Nadia felt another twinge of sadness. She didn't want Markus to go.
Her father put a hand on Markus's shoulder. "Thank you again. However angry I might sound with Nadia, I assure you I love her very much. If you ever need my help, I'll do everything in my power to provide it." He sighed. "I can make no promises, though."
How typical of her father. No promises.
"Don't worry," Markus said. "I understand."
Nadia stepped closer to him, swallowing a lump in her throat. "I-I'm glad I met you, Markus."
"Yeah, I'm glad too. I guess this is goodbye."
Nadia watched with regret as he marched down the cobblestone path leading away from the castle. She looked away finally when her father put a hand on her shoulder.
She pulled away from his touch. "It seems so strange. He saved my life, and I'll probably never see him again."
Her father frowned, leading her away from the open gate. "I'm sure he can take care of himself. You need to turn your attention to your future. Tylen is coming by for dinner this evening. I expect you to be on your best behavior."
Empire of Chains (World in Chains Book 1) Page 13