The blow thumped Martez back on his heels. He shook his head, as if hoping to clear it, but the motion only added to his daze. His balance was shaken and he stumbled to his knees. The second rock Deryn threw, bigger than the first, struck him square between the eyes. Martez landed flat on his back. Yet still his eyelids were open and his hand grasped the Witch-Lord’s sword, feebly attempting to brandish it.
Deryn selected a rock, far larger and heavier than those she had thrown so far, halfway to being a small boulder. She stood up and raised the stone above her head, using both hands. It took all her strength to lob it the six feet that lay between them.
Martez’s skull cracked open, like a coconut.
That one’s for you, Shea.
*
“The most powerful weapons demon magic can devise, and you killed him by throwing stones.” Marshal Palemon shook his head, clearly torn between disbelief and admiration.
“Martez was careless and wasn’t paying attention. He gave me a chance.”
“Overconfidence let him down.”
Deryn shrugged an agreement. To her mind, total self-belief was necessary for a warrior. In a fight, pessimism could so easily become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Martez’s failing had been the blinkering that went with arrogance. Observe closely, miss nothing, and focus on what’s important. This had been Brise’s summing up of what it took to be a successful scout, the mantra she had instilled in Deryn.
Martez had been too pleased with himself to really notice what was going on around him. He had thought the world could be bullied into being what he wanted it to be. His focus had been wrong. He had been too enamored of the sword in his hand to pay attention to her. Had he looked, he could have ducked the first stone. If he had correctly identified what was important, the outcome might well have gone his way.
The marshal rifled through a stack of papers on his desk and pulled one out. Even with the page upside down, the lettering at the top was big enough for Deryn to read Martez’s name there.
Palemon studied it briefly before continuing. “Regardless of how you did it, nailing Martez was a good job. There’s a big price on his head.” The corner of his mouth twitched into a fleeting ghost of a smile. “No matter what shape it’s in. And I won’t deny you your due, despite the difficulty it gives me.”
As Martez had said, the reward paid in the king’s name for turning over the Witch-Lord’s weapons had been derisory in relationship to their value, little more than a month’s pay to Deryn. However, the bounty for killing a wanted outlaw like Martez would be far more substantial.
Although disproportionate, it made some sort of sense. The king had no need to offer more than novelty value as a reward for handing over demon artifacts. Magic weapons were of no use to a law-abiding citizen. Even if Deryn held on to them, she dared not use them openly; otherwise she would be reported and arrested. Whereas a criminal would not hand over powerful weapons at any price. Furthermore, most commoners feared magic and would not want anything tainted by demons in their home. On the other hand, when it came to tackling an outlaw like Martez, honest citizens would need a real inducement to justify the risk. A large amount of money might also tempt a fellow criminal to betray him.
Deryn squinted, trying to make out the number printed below Martez’s name. She looked to be in line to receive some serious money, enough to see her through that winter, and probably the next two as well—certainly enough to quit the job in Neupor and head down south to visit Brise.
“You’re thinking you’re going to be shorthanded back at the station?”
“Yes. I’ve lost Sergeant Nevin as well.”
I’m not sure that lost is the right word. Deryn kept the thought to herself. “I might be induced to stay there for the winter.”
Palemon frowned. “I’ll happily give you Nevin’s position, but I assume you’re talking about more than a sergeant’s salary.”
“I’ll take that as well, but I was thinking about the tomb. The king will want someone to investigate what else is there. If the money was right, I’d be willing to hang around in Neupor until spring as a guide for whoever he sends.”
“How much?”
“A hundred dollars.”
“Done.” Palemon’s eyes narrowed, possibly as he realized he had jumped at the offer a little too quickly. “You know you’ll be getting ten times that for Martez?”
“Yes. But I was going to be staying in Neupor anyway. No harm adding to the bonus.”
“Staying? Why?”
“There’s somebody I want to stay with.” Deryn grinned. “And if that’s all, sir, I’d quite like to head off as soon as possible, so I can return to her before the snows arrive.”
Palemon leaned back in his chair. His expression was halfway between amusement and disdain. “I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. We all know where Iron Wolves keep their brains.”
Deryn did not challenge the implication. Let him think what he wanted. She gave a small dip of the head and turned to go, but as the door closed she caught part of the marshal’s muttered parting shot.
“…a pulse and two legs.”
The jibe should have irritated her, but instead Deryn smiled. True, she wanted Alana physically, far more than she had ever wanted anyone in her life, but the emotion ran so much deeper and harder. She felt the familiar ache in her cheeks from where her smile had gotten too broad.
So this is what falling in love is like.
Alana’s cottage, Neupor, northern Galvonia
Two days later, diciembre 12, evening
The rich aroma of the lamb stew simmering over the hearth blended with that of fresh-baked bread and wood smoke. Amber firelight washed over the comfortable clutter filling the single room of the small cottage. The effect ought to have been cozy and reassuring, especially by contrast with the wind whistling over the thatched roof, but Alana could not relax.
A knot of disquiet had been tightening in her all afternoon. She fought the urge to open the door once again and peer out. She did not need to see how dark it was getting, or how the snow was coming down ever harder. She certainly did not want to get into the pointless game of estimating its depth and trying to judge whether the pass to Oakan would be blocked yet.
Why had Deryn not returned? Alana had expected her back by midday at the latest. Surely four full days was enough to complete the round trip. Had something gone wrong? Alana rubbed her forehead. She would not give in to panic. She would wait ten more minutes, then eat dinner and go to bed. Tomorrow she would go down to Neupor and see what news she could find. And then she would—
Alana slumped in her chair and rested her head in her hands. What would she do? What could she do? Supposing Deryn did not return. Alana closed her eyes at the thought, in part to hold back the silly tears. She should save them for when they were needed. All she was doing now was pointlessly upsetting herself.
The latch rattled. Alana was on her feet even before the door started to swing open.
Deryn stood in the doorway, a dusting of wet snow glittering on her hair and shoulders. More swirled wraithlike behind her in the fading light. Her lips were tinged with blue and the hint of darkness under her eyes revealed a lack of sleep, but she appeared unharmed and gave off no emotion other than joy.
Alana flung herself into Deryn’s arms. “I was starting to worry.”
“I’m sorry, it—”
The explanation could wait. Alana silenced the words with a kiss. Deryn’s lips and skin were cold, but their touch flooded Alana with warmth.
Deryn’s response was initially enthusiastic but short-lived. “Um.”
Alana searched her face, anxiously. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m cold.”
“That’s all? You’re not hurt?”
“No.”
“But what took you so long?”
Deryn laughed. “It’s a bit of a story. Why don’t you let me get inside and shut the door first?”
An icy gust carried with it a plume of snow, un
derlining the point. Even so, letting go of Deryn for the scant seconds it took to shut out the wintry dusk was an act of willpower. As soon as the door was closed Alana caught hold of Deryn’s hand and drew her closer to the fire. Again she burrowed into the security of Deryn’s embrace and nestled her forehead into the hollow of Deryn’s neck.
“So what’s the story? Did Nevin do something stupid?”
“Yes, very.”
“Damn the man. What’s wrong with him?”
“Quite a lot now. He’s dead.”
“What!”
“As I said, it’s a bit of a story.” Deryn took a deep breath, as if to launch into speech, but clearly became distracted and turned her face instead to the hearth. “Is that dinner cooking? I’m starved. How about we eat while I tell you?”
Now that the anxious knot inside her had loosened, Alana was aware that she also was more than a little hungry, but she still wanted another long kiss and a few minutes with her arms around Deryn before she did anything about serving the food.
While eating, they sat side by side, with legs pressed against each other, from ankle to thigh. It limited the elbow room, but was so comforting, especially when Deryn’s tale reached its most dramatic parts. Alana could listen with the physical reassurance that all would work out well, even if she could not fully share Deryn’s pleasure at the bounty for Martez. The reward seemed small in comparison to the danger involved, especially when considering just how much money the king’s chief marshal had at her disposal.
Deryn seemed happy enough, though, at least in terms of the amount. “Sorting out the bounty claim was what took so long. I’d hoped to get away once I’d handed over the bodies, but Palemon had me giving sworn statements and signing claims and contracts all of yesterday. It was too late to set out by the time it was done, but since it’s just me and Ross now, and I’m acting sergeant, we were able to leave Oakan before dawn. Just as well, because the way it’s snowing, if we’d left it any later, we wouldn’t have made it.” Deryn smiled. “I think we might be snowed in up here now until spring.”
Alana put down her empty bowl and wrapped her arm around Deryn’s waist. “Snowed in for months with you doesn’t sound too bad.”
“It’ll give us time to work out what we do next.” Deryn’s tone was devoid of emphasis as she delivered the words, but her emotions flared with doubt, verging on distress.
Alana looked sharply in her direction. “You’re worried about something?”
Deryn was staring at the flames. “I don’t know, it’s…” She sighed and caught her lip in her teeth.
Was Deryn having second thoughts about their relationship? Alana’s throat tightened, but she forced herself to ask, “What?”
“I’m sure Palemon would give me the sergeant’s job here as a permanent thing, if I asked, but a place like Neupor, it’s not where I thought I’d end up. And I don’t know if I can…” She ended in an unhappy shrug.
Was that all? Alana smiled in relief. “If it makes it any easier for you, I don’t particularly want to stay here either. And now I can control my talent, there’s no reason why I should.”
“You want to go back to your family in Ellaye?”
“Oh no.” The mere thought made Alana cringe. “I’m well out of all that nonsense.”
“Do you have any other plans?”
“No. Do you?”
“In the short term, money’s no problem, thanks to the bounty, but eventually I’ll need to work.”
“And I’ve still got the gold chain I picked up at the tomb.” Alana grinned. “The king’s people don’t know what was there, so they aren’t going to miss it.”
“If you help guide them to the tomb, maybe you could claim a reward as well.”
“No. It would be safer if I’m nowhere in sight when they arrive. Orrin will probably want to visit the tomb in person, and I’d much prefer he doesn’t see me.”
“Does he know you’re here?”
“Yes.”
“Won’t he want to talk to you?”
“Not as such. Tell him I started acting strange and then one day I vanished into the forest, and I haven’t been seen since. You won’t catch him shedding many tears. I’ll hide out in Oakan. Once you’ve shown him where the tomb is, you can join me, and we can blow some of that money. As long as you don’t mind sharing it with me.”
“I’ll have to think about it.” Deryn mimicked seriousness, but then grinned. “We could have some fun.”
“I’m sure of it.”
“We could visit my foster mother. You say you don’t want to stay with your family, but you could call in on them, maybe, without the king or Orrin knowing.”
“I’d rather not.”
“You don’t like them?”
“It’s not that. We’re sort of fond of each other, some of the time, but if they knew I could control my talent, they’d want to use me, and I don’t want to be used.”
Deryn nodded, and turned back to staring at the fire. The concern in her had softened, but not faded completely.
Alana caught hold of Deryn’s hand and raised it to her lips before asking. “So what do you think you’d want to do in the long term?”
“If it was just me, I’d go back to riding the Misery Trail. But I don’t want to spend months away from you.”
This was where the root of Deryn’s unhappiness lay. Alana felt a smile grow on her lips, not that she liked her lover to be distressed, but it was nice to know just how much Deryn wanted to be with her. She pressed Deryn’s hand against her cheek, partly to hide the smile, and partly because the contact felt so good.
“You don’t get rid of me that easily, you know. Anyway, you might be tired of me after a few months, and welcome a break.”
“Never.” Deryn frowned as her doubts did a U-turn. “Do you think you’ll get tired of me?”
“Stranger things have happened.”
At the expression on Deryn’s face, Alana could not restrain her laughter. Deryn really was very naive when it came to relationships. She met Deryn’s eyes, hoping to show that the reservations were a result of her experience, not her intentions.
“I wish I could say I’m teasing you, but always, at the start of an affair, you feel certain it will last forever, and then the lust wears off, and you’re left with someone you discover you don’t like very much, and they develop lots of annoying habits and before long…”
Deryn’s gaze was boring deeper and deeper into her soul, and with each word, the absurdity of what she was saying grew, until Alana could no longer go on. Was Deryn truly different from those who had gone before? Had Alana ever been so convinced that a lover was the only one for her? She looked down, regathering her thoughts. Were Deryn and she made for each other? Maybe in another thirty years or so, she would be able to answer that question, and regardless of how things turned out, she would be a fool not to give it her best shot now.
Alana lifted her head again. Her options were simple. “If you want to ride the Trail, I’ll go with you.”
“You don’t have the training to be an Iron Wolf, and they don’t take passengers on the Trail.”
“But they have horses, and mules. Isn’t there a need for someone to look after them? I’d be the best wrangler in the business.” Alana grinned. “People would swear the animals could talk to me.”
“As long as they don’t really believe it, you’d do fine.” Deryn started to smile, but then her expression faltered into dismay.
“What is it now?”
“The Misery Trail is dangerous. When I wanted to become an Iron Wolf, my foster mother tried to talk me out of it, because she was scared for me. I’ve just realized what she was feeling. I…I don’t want you to be in danger. You’d be safer back here, waiting.”
“I’ve just spent four days worrying about you. There is no way on earth I’m going to sit on my own for months, wondering if a windigo has bitten you in half and whether I’m going to see you again.”
“But all the time we we
re on the Trail, I’d be worrying about you. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.”
“Then it would be up to you to make sure you took good care of me. Isn’t that part of your job, as scout, keeping the party safe?”
“Yes, but—”
“But nothing. I’m not letting you ride off without me. Anyway, I’d like to see the wilderness, and Sluey, even Nawlings.”
Deryn frowned. The argument was not yet concluded, but Alana knew she would win in the end. For now she merely smiled and shifted around so she could rest her head on Deryn’s shoulder. They sat for a while in silence, watching the flames and listening to the wind outside.
Deryn’s arm tightened, pulling her close. “Do you really think you’ll get tired of me?”
“I’m utterly convinced I won’t. Right now, I want to spend the rest of my life with you, and can’t imagine it changing. I don’t know if I can trust my feelings, but all of that is for the future. We can wait and see how things go.”
Alana turned so she could pull Deryn’s head down into a kiss, deeper and more ardent than those that had gone before. Passion ignited inside her, a need to hold Deryn in her arms, a need to touch and be touched. She placed her hands on either side of Deryn’s face and gently pushed her back so that she was again staring, years deep, into Deryn’s eyes.
“For now, we need to go to bed.” Alana could hear her own voice growing husky with desire.
“You want to sleep?”
“No. Do you?”
About the Author
Fierce Overture by Gun Brooke. Helena Forsythe is a hard-hitting CEO who gets what she wants by taking no prisoners when negotiating— until she meets a woman who convinces her that charm may be the way to win a battle, and a heart. (978-1-60282-156-9)
Trauma Alert by Radclyffe. Dr. Ali Torveau has no trouble saying no to romance until the day firefighter Beau Cross shows up in her ER and sets her carefully ordered world aflame. (978-1-60282-157-6)
Wolfsbane Winter Page 27