‘Fabian?’ she asked softly.
‘Yes?’
‘Would you go stand by them please?’
Fabian instantly rose from the sofa and walked quickly to stand between the twins. Almost immediately his aura flooded her vision with a burst of familiar rainbow hues. Mistral regarded the three auras before her with clinical interest. Each individual aura was clearly defined but less acute, with the colours blending into the aura of the person next to them to create a shimmering fog in the air above their heads.
Mistral blinked and the illusion vanished, ‘Well. At least I’ve achieved something with my second year.’
‘You could see us all?’ Phantasm demanded excitedly.
‘Of course she could.’ Fabian said quietly, his face glowing with pride.
Mistral grinned up at him, ‘You were all there, revealed in your true glorious colours!’
Prospero whined and padded over to the sofa. Laying his head on Mistral’s lap he gazed up at her, his tail wagging in anticipation.
‘I know boy. It’s time to eat,’
‘Oh good, because that smells fantastic! I must say I am pleasantly surprised that you can cook Mistral. Was this something you learned in Nevelte?’
‘Don’t ruin a good meal Phantom.’ Mistral warned.
‘Sorry, sorry.’ Phantom grinned. ‘I promise not to mention the “N” word again. Want me to carry the casserole to the table?’
Replete after a good meal of boar casserole and a generous amount of red wine, the twins collapsed into their armchairs by the fire with contented yawns.
‘I think an early night is in order.’ Phantasm declared sleepily and reached for his cloak.
‘Definitely, I don’t think I could move after all the food I’ve eaten anyway.’ Phantom agreed, dragging his own cloak over himself and swinging his legs over the arm of the chair.
Fabian walked softly over to where Mistral was drying plates by the kitchen sink and wrapped his arms around her waist.
‘Coming to bed?’ he whispered into her ear.
Immediately dropping the linen towel down onto the sink, Mistral took his hand to be led quietly past the already snoring twins and up the wooden stairs to their bedroom only to be greeted by the sight of Prospero sprawled out across the bed.
Fabian regarded the dog silently for a moment before sighing, ‘I think that dog has some status issues.’
Mistral laughed quietly and nudged Prospero with her foot. He opened one eye but didn’t move, as though making sure that she really wanted him to go before jumping reluctantly onto the floor and collapsing heavily by the side of the bed.
Fabian stretched out on the bed with a satisfied sigh and watched Mistral sitting down on the edge of the bed to unlace her boots. Dropping them to the floor with a dull thud she quickly slid across the bed and curled up against his side. His arm snaked around her, holding her tight. She lay her head against his chest and listened to the sound of his steady heartbeat, feeling the gentle rise and fall of each breath.
‘Will you promise me something?’ she murmured softly.
‘I will.’
‘Whatever happens at the meeting … if things go wrong and it does end up being a fight … you won’t risk your own life by trying to protect me will you?’
Fabian didn’t reply but she heard the sound of his heartbeats accelerate.
‘What would you say if I asked the same of you?’ he finally murmured.
Mistral tilted her head to gaze up at him, immersing herself in the black velvet of his eyes.
‘I would do anything to still have you alive.’
‘Then you understand why I cannot make you that particular promise. But, to more important matters, tell me what you are going to cook for breakfast. I am becoming quite impressed by your culinary skills –’
Shortly after dawn the next morning the horses were saddled and ready to leave. Casting a final glance over her shoulder at their honey-coloured house, Mistral breathed in the cool morning air and cantered out of the yard after Fabian. They followed a rough trail leading them west, towards the high cliffs that formed the coastline to the Isle. As they rode around the edge of The Velvet Forests, Prospero repeatedly vanished into the heavy undergrowth to return with an unsuspecting rabbit between his teeth; some of which Mistral managed to retrieve before he ate them.
‘That’s dinner sorted then!’ she said with satisfaction, stringing a pair of rabbits to the pommel of her saddle.
‘Not going to be quite as good as last night’s then.’ Phantom grumbled, giving the scrawny looking rabbits a disparaging look.
‘Is that a compliment or a complaint?’
‘Both actually. I don’t suppose there’s any chance of Prospero bringing down another boar is there?’
‘I don’t know Phantom, why don’t you ask him?’ Mistral snapped.
‘I knew it was too good to last.’ Phantasm sighed and kicked Jupiter into a trot to ride ahead of his brother, leaving him to bicker with Mistral.
The Rochfortes
They made camp for the night on the western outskirts of The Velvet Forests close to the sheer-sided cliffs that fell away down to the western ocean. The sound of waves crashing repeatedly against the rocks reminded Mistral strongly of her night on Mage Grapple’s warship. Catching her eye as he threw another log on the fire, Fabian gave her a private smile and she grinned back, knowing that he was also recalling that night.
Mistral finished skinning the three rabbits Prospero had caught during their day’s ride and speared each one carefully before passing them to Phantasm to balance on the spit over the blazing fire.
The twins talked quietly between themselves. Used their perpetual chatter, Mistral listened with half an ear and leaned against Fabian’s side when he sat down and wrapped an arm around her. Giving a sigh of contentment she gazed happily into the flames. Nothing pleased her more than to have spent a day riding out with Fabian and then have him next to her for the whole night.
The fire crackled and guttered as fat from the cooking rabbits dripped down. Prospero whined and stared fixedly at the roasting meat, a long string of drool hanging from the side of his mouth.
‘Don’t worry boy, one of them is yours.’ Mistral reassured him.
‘A whole one?’ Phantom exclaimed. ‘You spoil that dog. Which reminds me, I’m sure I caught him eating one of the farm chickens the other day, there were feathers everywhere and he looked distinctly guilty.’
‘Probably.’ Mistral smiled indulgently at her dog. ‘He quite likes to chase them. I think he finds it amusing when they squawk. Anyway,’ she added in a sharper tone, ‘he caught those rabbits so he’s earned the right to eat one!’
Phantom huffed angrily but didn’t reply and reached into this saddlebag to bring out a set of knucklebones.
‘Game?’ he asked tersely.
‘Let’s eat first,’ said Phantasm, turning the rabbits carefully. ‘If I start a game with you before they’re ready either the meat will get burned or you’ll cheat every time I have to turn it.’
‘I would never cheat!’ Phantom declared, looking offended.
‘You so would.’ Mistral said scornfully. ‘Don’t forget I can read your aura. It goes bright silver whenever you play.’
‘Oh how many times Mistral? Will you please not read my private feelings without asking me first!’
‘You can read mine if you want,’ she offered casually. ‘Oh sorry, forgot, you can’t can you?’
‘I’ve seen enough of your hidden parts thank you very much!’ Phantom snapped.
Fabian stirred slightly and Mistral glared at Phantom. He could argue with her all he wanted but to make Fabian think that he had seen any of her that Fabian couldn’t was both embarrassing and untrue.
Before Mistral could frame a suitably scathing reply a high-pitched giggle echoed out from the treeline behind them. They all immediately tensed. Prospero turned his head to stare into the darkness and growled and air was suddenly filled with the scrabbl
ing sounds of tiny clawed feet moving across bark. Another burst of irritating giggling rang out and Mistral caught a flash of something furry scurrying high up in the trees near them.
Fabian uttered an oath under his breath, ‘Spriggans!’
‘Damn it! We’ll get no sleep tonight!’ Phantasm cursed, standing up and looking towards the treeline just as an acorn flew through the air and struck him squarely on the forehead.
‘Little gits!’
Squeals of laughter rang out as a shower of acorns began to hail down on them. Fabian grabbed his cloak and pulled it over him and Mistral, protecting them from the onslaught. Laughing softly, Fabian bent and kissed her under the cover of his cloak.
‘Much as I’d like to stay under here with you all night, you know that we are going to have to do something about them don’t you,’ he murmured in her ear.
‘Allow me!’ she whispered back, suddenly excited. ‘I’ve been dying to try out something Cain told me about!’
‘As you wish, but promise me you won’t come back with a bear this time,’ kissing her swiftly, Fabian lifted the cloak from them and flinched as an acorn bounced off the top of his head.
‘Who’s up for a spriggan hunt?’ Mistral asked, reaching for her knife belt.
‘I will!’ Phantom shouted from under his cloak, leaping to his feet eagerly. ‘I hate those damned tree rats ever since I had to hunt them in my first year and one of them bit me on the nose!’
‘I remember that, you made me put a dressing on it – you did look funny!’ Mistral laughed.
‘Not as funny as you did when you got slobbered on by the first knucker we ever hunted. You looked like someone had tipped a bucket of slime over your head!’
‘It was vile,’ she agreed with another laugh and pulled the strap tight on her knife belt. ‘Right, I’m ready! Now, may I suggest a small wager brother?’ Mistral raised her eyebrows. ‘Just to make things interesting –’
‘Now you’re talking sister! What do you have in mind?’
‘Bronze coin a spriggan … throwing knives only … the one with the most gets all the coins … sound fair?’
‘You’re on!’
‘How will you know who killed which one?’ Fabian enquired, ducking as another acorn shot past his shoulder.
‘Easily!’ Mistral responded with a grin.
Phantom gave a roll of his eyes, ‘Mistral engraves her initial onto all of her throwing knives.’
‘It makes retrieving them at the end of a hunt easier. There’s no arguing over which ones belong to who,’ Mistral explained as she tucked her dagger into the back of her belt. ‘Ready brother?’
‘Get your money out sister!’
‘Fighting talk! You’re so going to lose! Come on Prospero, let’s hunt!’
The hail of acorns abruptly stopped with the sound of a knife whistling through the air. There was a sharp shriek then the dull thud of something heavy hitting the forest floor.
‘Mine!’ Phantom’s victorious shout rang out clearly.
‘Was not!’
Safe from acorns, Phantasm appeared from under his cloak and turned his attention back to the rabbits.
Fabian smiled as he listened to Prospero’s excited barking and the sounds of Phantom and Mistral’s laughter as they chased the spriggans deeper into the trees.
‘I’m surprised you didn’t go with her.’ Phantasm remarked. ‘Mistral could find trouble in an empty room.’
‘I thought she and Phantom could use some time together.’ Fabian replied softly. ‘It might help them remember why they are friends.’
‘Either that or it will provide her with the perfect opportunity to kill my brother and hide his body in the forest.’
‘Either way, the problem of them constantly arguing will be solved.’
Phantasm smiled and turned the spit. They sat in silence for a few moments, the crackling of the fire and the sizzle of roasting meat punctuated by occasional wild shouts of laughter drifting back from the forest.
‘You know, of course, that Phantom has not seen any of Mistral that wouldn’t have been appropriate.’ Phantasm eventually murmured, not taking his eyes off the roasting meat.
Fabian didn’t respond and continued to stare into the fire, his face expressionless.
‘Mistral went through an accident prone stage last winter and developed an aversion to the Infirmary. My brother and I did our best to make sure she didn’t die of the injuries she sustained.’
Wordlessly Fabian switched his black stare to meet Phantasm’s, ‘I appreciate your help in keeping her alive when I wasn’t there to look after her.’
Phantasm nodded and looked back at the rabbits, they were nearly ready, ‘It was almost a full-time occupation,’ he admitted with a weary sigh.
‘I am beginning to realise that.’ Fabian muttered grimly.
The sounds of laughter grew louder again. Phantom and Mistral were returning from their spriggan hunt. The heavy thud of paws preceded Prospero’s arrival at the camp. He bounded up to Fabian and collapsed heavily at his feet, stretching out will a deep sigh of satisfaction.
‘Who won?’ Fabian enquired as Phantom and Mistral strode towards them, their faces glowing with laughter.
‘Prospero!’ Mistral grinned and threw herself down beside Fabian, reaching over to stroke Prospero. ‘I don’t think he’ll want that rabbit now, he’s eaten nearly all the spriggans!’
Prospero groaned contentedly and rolled onto his back, allowing Mistral to rub a hand through the thick fur of his belly.
‘You know, I think I’ve missed hunting,’ said Phantom, gratefully accepting the piece of roasted rabbit his brother passed him. ‘That was quite good fun!’
‘As my dog won the bet I think that I should win by default,’
‘Oh no, I don’t think so!’
‘Come on! Get you money out!’ Mistral took a piece of rabbit and tore into it with relish. ‘Honestly Phantom, you’re such a bad loser you make Xerxes look generous!’
Phantom laughed and Mistral joined in. They ate and talked around the fire until Phantasm pulled his knucklebone set out of his saddlebag and challenged them all to a game. Mistral declined, preferring instead to enjoy sitting with Fabian by the fire and gazing up at the bright scattering of stars stretching overhead.
‘I’ll go check on the horses.’ Fabian murmured.
Mistral watched him go with a frown. Fabian was never overly verbose but he had been quieter than normal for the whole evening. After a moment she quietly rose to her feet and followed him, catching him up as he reached where the horses were tethered.
‘Fabian? Is something wrong? Are you worried about the Contract? Only Phantom and I – well, we’ve sort of made up now, so I don’t think us arguing will be a problem anymore–’
Fabian abruptly turned to face her, shocking Mistral with the fierceness of his expression. He abruptly reached for her, holding her too tightly. She eased herself from his embrace with a frown.
‘It’s what Phantom said earlier isn’t?’
Fabian did not speak but stared at her in silence, his face bleached to a ghostly white by the starlight. After a long moment he sighed and shook his head slowly.
‘Jealousy is a pointless, wasteful emotion and I am ashamed to admit that yes, I am fiercely jealous of knowing that another man’s hands have touched your body.’
Mistral gazed into the fathomless black of his eyes and slowly reached out to take hold on hand. Lifting it to her lips she kissed the palm before placing it beneath her shirt, holding it against her skin to prevent him from pulling away.
Fabian’s eyes widened slightly and she heard him take a sharp intake of breath.
‘Mistral –’
‘Now yours are the only hands that will ever touch me.’ she reached for his other hand, placing it so that his hands encircled her waist. His touch was warm against her cool skin. She could feel the rough callouses on each finger catch as he tightened his grip.
‘I have a scar on my lower
back from a gargillian bite that Phantom treated for me.’ her gaze never left his as she whispered the words.
Slowly, Fabian moved a hand across her skin, feeling gently for the tell-tale raised scar, running his fingers lightly over the outline.
‘And a bite from a spined forest rat on my side.’
Wordlessly, Fabian’s hands brushed across her skin until he found the scar.
‘And Phantasm had to bind my ribs for me when Columbine cracked one.’
Her pulse quickened as Fabian’s hands slid up beneath her shirt, running his fingers lightly over each rib, every touch sending a jolt of pure energy through her. His eyes suddenly blazed and she knew he had felt it too. Desperate for him, she twined her hands through the hair at the nape of his neck, pulling him to her.
Breathing raggedly, Fabian dropped his hands back to her waist and gently pushed her away.
‘You will be the death of me,’ he muttered in strained voice.
She gazed boldly back, ‘It would be a good way to go.’
Fabian laughed softly then tilted his head to look up at the night sky. He drew in a deep breath, releasing it slowly it before he turned to meet her gaze again. Mistral smiled sadly when she saw that some of the burning light had faded from his eyes. She stepped into his arms to lay her head against his chest in a more controlled embrace.
The spring night was cold and they kept the fire burning, wrapping themselves in their thick wolverine pelts to sleep. Mistral curled up between Fabian and Prospero and slept soundly until dawn when the sound of Fabian talking to Phantasm roused her. Opening her eyes she gazed around sleepily to see Fabian’s dark head and Phantom’s shining blonde bent over a map of the Isle
‘Finally! We thought you were going to sleep through the Contract. Mind you, that might have been a blessing considering your ability to attract trouble.’
‘Ha ha, morning to you to Phantom.’ yawning, Mistral stretched and looked sleepily at Phantom. Noting that his hair was wet she sat up. ‘Is there a stream near here? I could use a wash to wake up.’
‘Yes, it’s over there.’ Phantom pointed over to where the horses were tethered. ‘We’ve filled all the waterskins already and fed the horses. I’ll have breakfast ready for when you come back.’
The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams) Page 11