Hugo’s large hands broke open the wax seal and read the contents. His face gave nothing away as he crumpled it in his fist and met Jack’s gaze. He nodded once.
“I am under your command, prince,” he informed them with a slight smile.
He didn’t seem resentful of his orders at all, then Diamond remembered this had been the way for them for years.
“Good, just like old times then,” Jack replied, smiling back at his friend. “You will take a squad of the best fae warriors Commander Riddeon has and lead an attack on the giants. Kill the clutch before they get anywhere near the wall.”
“How many warriors does that give me?” asked Hugo, planning already.
“Twenty,” replied Jack. “Tallo will show you the explosives. There is a plentiful supply.”
Diamond stood quietly and listened to their planning. She wondered if she could summon enough magic to help, if she would lose control and burn everyone near her to ash. For the first time in ages she felt a bloom of panic. The reality of using her magic outside the shield was truly terrifying. She feared losing control near Hugo or the other warriors. She could kill them. Her breathing hitched. Closing her eyes she felt a sheen of sweat tickle her brow.
A tug on her chest.
Diamond looked to the source of that tug.
Hugo returned her gaze, his sapphire eyes steady, his magical caress calming. Silver sparked in his eyes. He took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. A reminder to breathe. In. Out. Slowly. She swallowed and nodded, understanding.
“You won’t hurt them or me,” he said, his confidence in her reassuring. Leaving her to calm herself, his attention returned to Jack. “Where is the clutch now?”
Jack pointed to a detailed map spread out on the other end of the large table.
“This is Master Dervin,” Jack said, indicating a tall, slightly stooped man standing by the map.
Diamond frowned. He had been so unassuming, she had missed his presence in the room. Or he had entered while everyone was paying attention to Jack. Intelligent grey blue eyes twinkled out from a lined face. Diamond smiled at the man.
“He is my master cartographer. This is the route the giants are taking.” Jack traced a finger along the map. “If you have any questions about the terrain out there, Master Dervin will be happy to answer them. He is very adept at covering large amounts of terrain quickly and reproducing it in exacting detail on maps.”
Master Dervin nodded, an acknowledgement of Jack’s praise.
Hand drawn with delicate and colourful illustrations, the beautiful map immediately drew the eye. Intricate gold writing identified where important landmarks and villages could be found. Colours melded together, making structures and land masses so real and vibrant they seemed to stand off the thick vellum. Diamond gasped at the beauty of it.
It occurred to Diamond that although the Queen had managed to all but erase magic from her lands, Jack’s father had done no such thing. He had protected and ruled his gifted citizens with laws, not killed them. Master Dervin was gifted, to produce such a magnificent piece of art. She eyed the man curiously. Maybe Master Dervin was far more than a cartographer.
Cover a lot of ground? Probably a shapeshifter then.
His twinkling eyes crinkled at the edges when Diamond came to that conclusion, as if he perceived when she figured it out.
“Our scouts expect the giants to have reached this area in four days. Another report confirming their position is due when I reach the wall this evening,” Jack said. “We have been watching them for the last week, and they have not deviated. This clutch has been travelling the coastline, using the beaches and shallow water when the forest is too thick to walk inland.” Jack’s jaw muscles tightened as he gritted his teeth. “They are destroying the small coastal villages as they pass through them. Our scouts say most towns and villages near the wall have been abandoned for a while, but we still find stragglers. If we don’t stop this clutch, they will wreak havoc on the wall within the next few days.”
Diamond glanced at Hugo, but there was no way to know what he was thinking.
“Tallo is waiting in the armoury for you both. As he had a hand in developing them, he is the best one show you the explosives. Zane, please show the commander where to go.”
Zane stepped up. “Follow me.”
Hugo nodded farewell to Jack and followed Zane outside.
When Diamond started to follow, Jack’s hot hand grabbed her wrist and held her back. “Wait,” he ordered and closed the door as Hugo left. “Diamond, I wish I didn’t have to put you in such danger. But your magic may make all the difference to this war, especially if you can wipe out those giants.”
“Jack, disregarding the Queen, I want to try and help you and the people in this valley. They don’t deserve death at Ragor’s hand, nobody does.”
He sighed, suddenly looking like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. “No, they don’t. I’ve seen—and so has Hugo—how quickly those giants can destroy a city. How much pain and death the Dust Devils can wreak in mere minutes if we fail.” Pale-faced, he gulped.
“Jack, we won’t fail. You won’t. And I won’t. Your people deserve their homes back, and so do you. You are to be a king. I will do everything in my power to make sure you are crowned in your own kingdom, where magic is welcomed and protected; not like here, where such gifts are shunned and feared.”
“I still don’t want to put my friends in such danger,” Jack told her.
“Jack, you have to do what’s best for your people. They are relying on you for their lives, and the lives of their loved ones. They will need you to lead them home to their own lands. Your responsibility is to them, not us.”
Jack laughed but there was little humour in it. “Is it? I’m hardly a reliable monarch. I didn’t keep them safe before. The best I could do was scatter them, send them across the seas to the other kingdoms. Those that made it here did so without me. I was fighting to survive with Hugo in the forest. What makes you think they need me?”
“Jack, stop. You have been leading your people since you were a child. Everyone makes mistakes, even princes. It’s clear your soldiers trust you or they would not have stayed here with you. They would have run far from this place or escaped with others across the seas.” She smiled. “But you are not a child anymore, Jack. Even Lord Stockbrook saw that today. You have the respect of powerful men and warriors. You are leading the army of two kingdoms, and you have the ear of an immortal commander. You, Jack, have organised this valley and negotiated a place of refuge for your people. You have to stay in control and lead them because, from where I’m standing, no one else can.”
Jack stared at her open-mouthed.
It had been quite a speech, Diamond decided, giving his cheek a pat.
“Gods, I wish you loved me and not Hugo,” he grinned. “That idiot better make his move soon or I might just change my mind about being your friend.”
“No, you won’t,” she quipped. “You might be able to rule a kingdom, Prince Oden, but you could never handle me and my magic.”
Jack snorted. “You are absolutely right, my beautiful half-blood friend. I couldn’t. So run along and find out if I’ve managed to make your soulmate jealous enough to admit his feelings.”
Diamond rolled her eyes. “You are a bad man, Jack,” she said. Smiling she kissed his cheek, then opened the door to step into the dim corridor beyond, closing it gently behind her.
CHAPTER 36
Hugo was disappearing around the side of a large building at the back of the compound. Squelching and slipping through the mud, Diamond half-walked, half-ran to catch up. Tallo was greeting Hugo and Zane when she ran up behind them, breathing heavily.
“Sorry,” she apologised, panting.
Zane and Tallo grinned. Hugo, on the other hand, eyed her sullenly, his nostrils flaring as he inhaled. His eyes shot accusingly to hers. Diamond almost groaned out loud. Jack’s scent must be all over her after kissing his cheek.
“I
n here,” said Tallo.
Hugo turned away from her.
They silently followed Tallo past several well-armed guards and into the large warehouse. It was dry inside and smelled of pine and metal and something else—maybe chemicals. Diamond gaped. Weapons were everywhere, all stacked neatly side by side. Old and worn weapons were piled up against the walls. Nothing would be wasted. If they were beyond repair, they would be smelted down in the nearby furnace and re-forged.
Tallo took them over to a large, reinforced trunk and opened it carefully. Diamond peered in at the small explosive devices. They looked remarkably innocent. Just small Silverbore spheres. Tallo lifted one and held it out to Hugo. Eyeing it suspiciously, Hugo took it. His big hand dwarfed the deadly item.
“I know it looks small and harmless, but it isn’t. They’re deadly little suckers when you use them right. All you need to do is take this cap off and press here. Then run—or fly—like hell. You have five seconds from pressing that button before—boom!” His hands flew out in demonstration.
“Five seconds?” breathed Diamond, peering at the metal sphere as if it might go off all on its own.
“Shit,” muttered Hugo under his breath. His wary gaze did not move from the sphere, and he nearly dropped it when a massive roar shook the very ground they stood on.
“Sulphurious,” Diamond breathed, recognising the owner immediately.
Tallo grimaced. “Yes, that’s your old friend. Since he burned the Queen’s armada, he has begun turning up at random, as if he’s testing the integrity of the shields. It seems he has a thing for the prince too.”
“Yeah, if Prince Oden goes anywhere from this compound, the black dragon will show up near him. Weird that he is so interested in a human prince,” reflected Zane.
Hugo and Diamond shared a look, both frowning. Another loud bellow rattled their ear drums, and they flinched. Some of the young soldiers looked petrified. A moment later the dragon’s wings thudded off into the distance.
They all looked at each other.
“Like I said—weird,” uttered Zane.
Hugo had moved closer to Diamond, his body now a barrier between her and the wide open entrance to the armoury. She flushed, realising he had done it to better protect her.
“Where were we? Damn dragon, too distracting by far. Yeah, I had some friends develop these little beauties. They did a good job,” Tallo said, scratching his upper lip with his thumb.
Hugo looked down at the silver sphere nestled in his hand. “Are these things safe to carry?” he asked dubiously.
“Sure, so long as you don’t rattle ‘em around enough to press that button.” Tallo grinned.
“That’s nice to know,” replied Hugo dryly, raising his eyebrows and rolling his eyes at Diamond.
***
Diamond perched on a wooden post with Midnight Fire and Luna, waiting for Hugo. When they left the warehouse, Diamond’s stomach had rumbled loudly enough to make him laugh, so he had gone in search of food. At least his mood seemed to have brightened again.
After he returned, they munched through their simple lunch. Diamond tried not to grimace her way through it. Her jaw and face still hurt when she chewed. Hugo kept eyeing her with concern. It was clear he had noticed her discomfort, but she was grateful he didn’t bring it up.
After they had finished, he threw himself into his saddle. Feeling his eyes track her progress, Diamond also mounted her horse, choosing to fix her attention on Luna instead of him. Her cheeks heated when she remembered the feel of his hand on her skin.
As they urged the horses toward the gates, a group of warrior fae marched up to them. Clad in light but tough Silverbore and leather armour, the whole squad saluted smartly.
“Commander Casimir? We are ready to go. Shall we meet you at the first tower later this evening?” asked the one at the front of the group. There was something familiar about him. Diamond squinted, unable to figure out what.
Hugo shook his head brusquely. “No, Elexon, we will not arrive until very late. I have somewhere else to go on our way to the wall. Guard the explosives Tallo has given us, and I will expect you at the tower at first light.”
The warrior tapped his left shoulder with his right fist. He nodded respectfully to Hugo, then—to Diamond’s surprise—at her too. Following the warrior’s example, the other nineteen tall, heavily muscled fae spread their impressive golden wings and raised themselves elegantly into the air. Diamond watched them head out toward the wall. She had seen fae in the skies around the city, but these warriors looked breath-taking in their beauty, flying as a fluid single unit, even when fighting the high winds.
“Should they fly in this wind?” she asked with concern.
Hugo smiled indulgently at her worried face, then leaned over and gave her braid a little tug. She gaped, completely thrown. This sudden playful side to Hugo was as disconcerting as the smile he was giving her. She gulped a mouthful of air. That smile flipped her belly and made him look unfairly handsome, even with his twisted scar. It pained her to realise how much she had missed his gentle teasing this last week.
Still smiling, Hugo coughed and cleared his throat. Diamond dragged her attention from his mouth.
“They’ll be fine. Don’t worry, they’re used to it. They’ll get safely to the tower and be ready to discuss our plans first thing in the morning. Which is more than can be said for us if we don’t get a move on, especially as we have somewhere else to visit first. So, come on. Let’s go,” he said briskly.
The large forest tracks were churned into a muddy soup by horses and men. The going was tough. Carefully, they guided their horses past the slower columns of foot soldiers, only urging to a faster pace when there was rare, but welcome, space.
The Rift Valley wall soon disappeared out of view, obscured by the tall trees and rocky glens. Hugo led Diamond down ever smaller tracks, some no more than animal paths. The reds, golds and greens of the winter forest surrounded them, a veritable canvas of vibrant colour, all breathtakingly beautiful.
Diamond inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She loved that earthy aroma of wet soil and pine trees. A small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, a sense of peace and gentleness settling on her. This forest was content. She could feel it. It reminded her of Berriesford, her childhood home. Her thoughts drifted to her father. Sharing her memories of her childhood with Hugo had been both painful and wonderful. Unsurprisingly, it had helped Diamond come to terms with her grief. It was nice to think of her father without bursting into floods of tears. Hearing his deep voice in her head and picturing his face, she drifted into her past with a sad kind of joy.
CHAPTER 37
Hugo watched Diamond’s face. Her content little smile as she closed her eyes made his heart ache. He had tried to give her the time she needed to sort out her anger and disappointment in him, but it was becoming harder with every moment that passed. Jealousy had slammed into him when Jack’s scent had lingered on her. Hugo knew he had no claim on her, but he could not stand the thought of her touching someone else. It was difficult to control his soul-deep need to express to her how much she meant to him. Fisting his reins, he shifted in his saddle, his wings shivering under his cloak. Midnight Fire snorted his objection. Hugo immediately reached down and patted the beast’s muscled neck to apologise.
A soft humming washed over Hugo. When he turned, Diamond’s eyes were opaque, a smile curling her generous lips. The gentle tune stopped when she felt his gaze.
“I’ve never heard you sing before,” he commented. One day he would ask her what she saw when her eyes took on that milky appearance. “Your voice is beautiful. It fits the gentleness of this forest. Will you continue humming for me?” he asked.
Her eyes shifted back to their normal vivid violet, colour staining her cheeks.Hugo loved that he could make her blush so easily. He guided Midnight to Luna’s side. Cheeks still flaming, Diamond resumed her humming. Her gaze avoided his. After a moment, she closed her eyes, trusting him to lead Luna on a true an
d safe path.
They headed deeper into the forest, the symphony of the wind in the trees their only company. Hugo kept his senses open but felt no other presence nearby. He needed to assess Diamond’s magical control. A low growl, too soft for Diamond’s ears to pick up, rumbled out of him. How fate must be laughing. It seemed the only place he never wanted to visit again was the only place where it would be safe to do that very thing.
Hugo knew every bit of the forest here and, with very little effort, threw up a wide cloud of shadow that rippled through the trees, shrouding them from any prying eyes. Valentia’s shield did not affect him as much out here, and he believed that applied to the woman at his side, too. He slowed their pace and guided Luna between two moss covered boulders.
Diamond glanced around, noting the shadow but remained silent, trusting him with whatever he was doing.
Soon they dismounted and gazed up a small cliff face. The glen was cold and damp, spray from the thundering waterfall saturating the air and their clothes. Diamond shivered by his side.
Hugo smiled. “Come here,” he said, opening his arms. His heart thumped as she flushed at his deliberately quiet tone. Oh gods, self-control, he told himself sternly. They both had other things to deal with. Their feelings for each other needed to wait. Even so, his breath hitched as she stepped close. Hesitantly, her arms wound around his neck.
In turn, he wrapped his arms around her lithe body and lifted her, determined to ignore the way her warmth seeped into him. Throwing out his un-armoured wings, he raised them in to the air. Spray covered his feathers until every beat resulted in a blast of shimmering droplets that exploded in rainbow cloud of colour around them. Flying with his wings un-armoured was one pleasure Hugo never tired of—one he did not indulge in often.
A Bond of Blood and Fire (The Goddess and the Guardians Book 2) Page 21