‘Not hungry.’ Mistral sighed again and fiddled with her full goblet.
Fabian set his own drink down and looked at her, concern furrowing his brow, ‘Is something wrong?’
Mistral raised her eyes and gazed thoughtfully into his for a long moment before replying, ‘Only the usual.’
‘The usual?’
She shrugged, ‘You know … you and me ... what it’ll actually be like when we’re finally together.’
Fabian stared wordlessly back, his black eyes scorching her with the heat of twin suns. She held his gaze, feeling the slow burn of desire spread through her stomach. Abruptly he dropped his gaze and began eating again.
‘Sometimes you have the most inappropriate effect on me,’ he muttered, shaking his head and still not looking at her.
Mistral grinned and said nothing.
‘So practise on me.’ Fabian suddenly looked up again and Mistral was disappointed to see that some of the fire had gone from his eyes.
She sighed again. He was always offering himself up as a practice piece. Most people were uncomfortable having their auras read; at having too much of their soul exposed. But Fabian didn’t seem to care, telling her that he had already concealed enough for one lifetime and would never hide anything from her.
‘Or don’t you want to be able to See?’ he raised his eyebrows challengingly.
Mistral pulled a face at him and sat up a little straighter, preparing herself to read his aura. She cleared her mind, concentrating solely on the air above his head. In an instant Fabian’s aura shimmered around him in a halo of colour. She studied it for a few seconds before smiling and looking back down at her untouched drink, breaking the vision.
‘So what did you see?’ he demanded with mock impatience.
‘Only what you’re feeling – as usual.’
‘And what am I feeling?’ he persisted, a smile lifting the corners of his mouth.
She eyed him across the table, ‘You need to take a cold shower.’
He grinned wolfishly at her, ‘Only if you come with me.’
She grinned back then leaned across the table, her smile gone to leave her suddenly serious, ‘Honestly Fabian, I don’t think this is working. I don’t seem to be getting any closer to being able to read people’s thoughts. Maybe Leo was wrong. Maybe us not being together is actually holding me back. I think we should –’
‘Mistral.’ Fabian cut her short with an angry gesture. ‘We’ve been through this.’
It was true. She had been trying the same argument for a while now but with little success.
‘You could well be the only chance for me to do something right with my life. But more importantly than that, I will not risk you missing the opportunity to escape a destiny of being a hunter or assassin because of my impatience. We have a lifetime together and when you have the Sight I will stand more chance of spending it with you in one piece.’
Mistral pouted and glared sulkily into space, drumming her fingers against the tabletop. She couldn’t argue with his reasoning. They had been through this a hundred times. Work as a Seer would be highly paid and a lot less dangerous than normal Contracts but she was becoming more and more frustrated by her lack of progress at developing Sight. Serenity repeatedly told her to open her mind and listen to her dreams – well she couldn’t so much listen to her dreams at the moment as be set on fire by them.
Fabian sighed and pushed his empty plate away to reach across the table and take her hands in his. The action reminding her again of first time he had ever held her hands and her irritation instantly melted away.
‘Why don’t you come outside with me?’ he asked softly.
She looked up questioningly but his face was unreadable. All he would offer were the tantalising words.
‘I’ve bought you a present.’
Instantly she was excited, leaping to her feet and bouncing around to his side of the table before he had stood up.
‘Is it those butterfly knives? Only I’ll need a new knife belt if it is! They won’t fit on the one I’ve got at the moment –’
‘Mistral.’ Fabian cut in firmly. ‘No it is not the butterfly knives.’
Mistral deflated slightly, ‘Oh.’
He smiled at her and touched his hand lightly to her cheek, ‘Come outside and see.’
Taking her by the hand Fabian led her out of the tavern and into the pouring rain. Pulling the hood of his cloak up he led her down a narrow cobbled alleyway at the side of The Cloak and Dagger. Stopping outside a heavy wooden gate set in the stone wall, Fabian looked at her over his shoulder at her and smiled.
‘Here we are.’
‘The backyard of The Cloak? Why didn’t we just use the back door in the tavern and save getting wet?’
‘You’ll see.’
Bemused by what could possibly be hidden in the backyard of The Cloak and Dagger, Mistral watched Fabian lift the latch on the gate and let it swing inwards. Holding his finger to his lips he drew her to him and together they peered into the rain-soaked yard. At first all Mistral noticed was the smell of stale ale and rotting food. She looked around, taking in the piles of rubbish and broken barrels lying on their side. She couldn’t see anything that remotely resembled a present. Then a low rumbling growl drew her attention to a sheltered corner near the back door of the tavern.
She gasped as a pair of large pale blue eyes appeared out of the gloom. Another growl erupted and a massive dog slowly emerged from the shadows. Mistral’s eyes widened, taking in the dog’s anvil sized head crowned by pointed ears. The luxuriance of his white coat was something to rival the finest fur money could buy and his sheer size was enough to make anyone take a step back. His back was easily as high as her waist ... and his teeth. Well. They were something else.
She turned to look at Fabian, her eyes shining.
‘He’s beautiful!’
Fabian regarded the dog quietly for a moment, ‘He’s a hunting dog. I asked Clovis to keep an eye out for one for me. He doesn’t usually deal with dogs but he knows a tracker in one of the villages nearby that likes to breed his own. He’s more wolf than dog really.’ he added a touch dubiously.
‘Is he trained?’ Mistral whispered, her eyes drinking in the mammoth creature before her.
Sensing her scrutiny the dog lifted a lip to growl threateningly, revealing again long curved incisors a manticore would be proud of.
‘To hunt.’ Fabian confirmed then frowned. ‘But I think he has some obedience issues.’
Mistral sighed happily.
Having made its mind up that Mistral and Fabian were no threat the dog abruptly sat down on its haunches and continued to stare balefully at them, oblivious to the rain that hung in glistening drops from his heavy coat.
‘Has he been named?’ Mistral asked, briefly tearing her gaze away from the dog.
‘Prospero.’
Mistral gave a laugh, ‘Really?’
Fabian shrugged, ‘It would appear that someone has a sense of humour about sorcerers.’
The village clock chimed the hour and Fabian sighed.
‘I’ll leave you two to get acquainted, there a few matters I need to discuss with Leo.’
Fabian’s face immediately took on the guarded expression he wore whenever he spoke about his brother. Mistral knew that their relationship was complicated but she never enquired about it. If something was bothering Fabian he would tell her in his own time. Feeling suddenly sad she stepped closer to his body. Sliding her hands beneath his long cloak she pressed them against his chest, feeling the movement of muscles as he breathed. The heat of his skin through his shirt burned her hands like she was touching an open flame. Resting her head against his chest to inhale the familiar scent that always made her head spin, Mistral felt his arms wrap around her, holding her tightly against him.
‘Will I see you before you go tonight?’ she whispered.
Fabian’s two months as a Training Lieutenant were nearly finished and he was taking the first years out on an overnight
hunting trip. Mistral had been forbidden from going on by Leo stating flatly that she would be “too over enthusiastic” and intimidate the first years, but she was not convinced by his uncharacteristic show of concern for his first years. She knew that between them Fabian and Leo had agreed not to let her do anything more dangerous with her swords other than polish them. Frustrated as she was by Fabian’s overprotectiveness Mistral still hated it when he left her, never quite managing to shake the strange feeling that a part of her went with him, leaving her incomplete.
‘I shall find you once I’ve seen Leo.’
He lifted her chin with one hand and kissed her softly. She closed her eyes to savour the moment and then he was gone, the sound of his footsteps rapidly fading away down the cobbled alleyway. Giving herself a mental shake, Mistral took a deep breath and turned to face her new dog.
Hands on hips Mistral studied Prospero, being careful to avoid direct eye contact. She wasn’t taken in by his relaxed sitting posture. She could feel his eyes following every movement she made, coiled ready to spring at the slightest provocation. Mistral pursed her lips and deliberated for a few seconds before deciding on a course of action. A dog like that would never respect a master out of force. Respect had to be earned.
Instantly, she knew what to do.
Turning and walking out the yard, Mistral left the door open behind her and strode down the alley and across the wet cobbles of the village square to the horse paddock. All of the Ri herd had been turned out and were picking morosely at any sparse grass they could find in the mud of the paddock. Cirrus was a little apart from the rest of the horses, standing with his head held low, looking wet and miserable in the sheeting rain.
Collecting a leadrope from the row tied to the fence Mistral vaulted over and walked across the muddy field towards him, calling his name as she drew closer. He snorted and lifted his head to watch her approach, his dark eyes gleaming with sudden interest. She walked slowly to his side, reaching out to grab his head collar only for him to pull back sharply and trot away. He stopped a short distance away to turn and look at her again. Mistral suppressed a growl of irritation. This game could go on for hours; she walked, he walked, she ran, he cantered round her in circles with something akin to joy on his face.
Taking a deep breath Mistral decided to employ the one foolproof method for catching Cirrus when he was being stubborn. She turned around and walked purposefully away from him.
Before she had taken five steps a heavy thudding of hoof beats and a blast of warm air against the back of her neck told her that Cirrus wasn’t going to be left out of whatever she had planned. Smiling to herself she carried on walking. She had been taken in by this act before too and had turned around to catch hold of his head collar only to see his heels as he thundered away. Mistral walked a few more paces before she stumbled when Cirrus butted her impatiently in the small of her back.
Feigning surprise she turned around and made a fuss of him, stroking his neck and rubbing his long straight nose. Sliding her hand down to grab the loop at the base of his head collar she quickly threaded a length of rope through it. Cirrus snorted and tossed his head but it was a half-hearted attempt at escape. Mistral smiled. She now had an accomplice in her plan to tame Prospero.
Feeling suddenly reckless she placed both hands onto his back and vaulted up. Landing lightly she immediately squeezed with her knees, urging him forwards. Cirrus snorted again and broke into a canter, heading straight for the fence. Gripping tightly onto his mane Mistral bent closer to his neck, keeping her balance while he leapt the fence and landed with a clatter on the glistening cobbles of the village square.
Hauling on the lead rope that would have to suffice as makeshift reins, Mistral slowed Cirrus and called Prospero’s name. A low growl rumbled out from the alleyway then a pair of pale blue eyes appeared and finally, Prospero prowled into view.
‘Come on boy!’ Mistral called, kicking Cirrus into a trot. ‘Let’s hunt!’
Prospero instantly leapt after her, his plumed tail wagging. Mistral grinned; here was another living being that loved hunting as much as she did. Pushing Cirrus into a canter they splashed through the deep puddles on the path leading to the North Gate. Mistral was soon heading out into the meadows with her new hunting dog bounding through the wet grass alongside her, easily keeping pace with her horse’s powerful strides. Mistral watched him, smiling through the rain that dripped from the hood of her cloak and soaked Cirrus’ coat. It was good to be out of the Valley and be free, even if it was foul weather. She pulled Cirrus round to head towards the forests, slowing to a walk when they reached the treeline.
The trees gave enough shelter from the rain to allow Mistral to pull back the hood of her cloak, freeing her field of vision. She held Cirrus back in a slow walk and studied the ground for any fresh tracks. Prospero padded soundlessly by her side, his pale eyes staring straight ahead and his ears stiffly alert but his black nose twitched continually, drawing in the scents of the forests. Mistral could instantly see that Fabian was right. Prospero had been bred to hunt.
A rustling in the dense undergrowth made her turn. A hind broke cover. Eyes wide with panic it gave flight, leaping away in gliding bounds. Mistral immediately jerked around to look at Prospero, keen to see the dog in action. To her dismay Prospero was not bounding enthusiastically after the fleeing hind but sat down staring fixedly in the direction of their rapidly escaping prey. Mistral stared at him, totally perplexed as to why her new hunting dog was not giving chase. She made a frustrated noise and Prospero immediately looked up at her. Staring intently at her he gave a low-pitched whine and shifted his front paws restlessly. Mistral nearly laughed. The dog with obedience issues was waiting for a command from his mistress.
‘Go boy!’
He instantly leapt after the hind, claws tearing into the loamy soil to accelerate away through the wet ferns.
And suddenly the chase was on.
Feeling the familiar rush of adrenalin Mistral dug her heels in Cirrus’ flanks. The big horse immediately lunged forwards, forcing Mistral to grab wildly at his mane to stop herself sliding down his back. Keeping one hand on the leadrope to guide him and the other wound tightly through his mane Mistral bent low over his neck and urged her horse on. Through whipping branches and dripping bracken they crashed, leaping fallen logs and thick tree roots. Deeper and deeper into the forests they travelled, following the occasional flashes of Prospero’s white tail. The less agile Cirrus struggled to keep pace with the dog through the dense forests and several times Mistral had to guide him around overgrown sections that Prospero had simply crawled under. The gleam of his pale fur began to appear less frequently and before long Mistral realised she could no longer hear the sounds of Prospero chasing the hind either. Cursing softly to herself she hauled on the leadrope and dragged Cirrus to a halt. She sat still, listening tensely. Above the heavy thudding of Cirrus’ heart and his snorting breaths she could hear only the pressing silence of the forests.
Cirrus fidgeted impatiently beneath her. Mistral turned him in a circle, letting her eyes rake their surroundings for any sign of her dog.
‘Damn it Prospero! Where are you?’
Silence met her muttered question. She turned Cirrus again, noting the change in the scenery. The trees were thinner here with more open stony ground and occasional dense patches of gorse. Mistral could see the grey mountain peaks through the sparse branches of the towering pines. They had travelled further west than she had first thought and were now close to the lower slopes of Western Range. Glancing around at the resolutely still bushes Mistral felt herself start to panic; just how was she going to explain to Fabian that she had lost her new dog on their very first hunt?
‘Prospero!’
Her ringing shout was greeted by silence. Cirrus whickered and pawed the ground in agitation.
‘PROSPERO!’ Mistral bellowed again, anxiety giving her voice a raw edge.
A low rumbling growl erupted from the trees on her right. Mistral immedi
ately pulled Cirrus round, hope leaping in her chest – Prospero!
Cirrus snorted in fear and began to back away when the head and shoulders of a mountain bear pushed through the low branches of spruce. Blinking and sniffing the air cautiously the bear growled again, its beady black eyes locking hungrily onto Mistral.
Mistral muttered an oath under her breath and fought to control her frightened horse. She could see the bear was only a juvenile and by its confused manner she guessed it had been roused from hibernation by some disturbance … which, Mistral reflected ruefully, had probably been her.
Assessment complete, Mistral swiftly weighed up her options. It wouldn’t be too hard to tackle a bear with her throwing knives or even her swords if it came to it.
‘I’ll take those odds,’ she muttered. Reaching instinctively over her shoulder for a sword her hand grasped uselessly at thin air, remembering too late that her swords were back in her room and she was facing a bad-tempered bear armed with only a dagger.
‘Not such good odds,’ she revised. Pulling quickly on the leadrope Mistral urged Cirrus to back away. Cirrus baulked, snaking his head and fighting against her to try and turn. Mistral knew he wanted to bolt, but if he did the bear would surely chase after them. She eyed the bear’s huge paws warily. One well-aimed swipe from the vicious looking claws would cause serious damage to her horse; something she couldn’t risk. She was going to have to force Cirrus to back away to a safer distance before she could let him have his head.
‘C’mon boy.’ she hissed quietly and tugged again at the rope, pressing into his sides with her heels to encourage him to walk backwards. Cirrus fought her, shaking his head agitatedly. Threatened by Cirrus’s nervous behaviour the bear suddenly roared and rose up onto its hind legs. Cirrus gave a high-pitched neigh of terror and reared. Swearing loudly Mistral lost her grip and slid from her horse, crashing to the wet ground mere feet from the angry bear. She staggered quickly to her feet and grabbed for Cirrus but he’d already fled, stopping a short distance away to paw the ground nervously.
A thousand oaths sprang to her lips but she silenced them and slowly reached for her dagger, keeping her eyes fixed on the bear pacing towards her. She tensed, ready to dive when the bear lunged. Her body was still but her mind wheeled, running through survival strategies, but none of them looked very promising. Mistral almost smiled … only she could end up facing a spring bear alone armed with only a dagger. One thing was certain, if she survived this then Fabian was probably going to kill her.
The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams) Page 4