Not bothering to thank them, Mistral immediately began to walk in the direction the dryad had indicated only to be instantly flanked by the twins.
‘I’ll carry that for you shall I?’ Phantasm murmured solicitously and took her saddlebag.
‘Taking this a bit far aren’t you?’ Mistral scowled, reluctantly relinquishing her grip on her saddlebag.
‘I promised your Mage I would look after you Mistral.’
Mistral knew he was lying buy couldn’t be bothered to argue, reflecting instead that it was a good job she would have plenty of opportunities to kill things over the next few days or at the rate they were going the twins might not make it back to the Valley with all their limbs attached.
The twins were unusually quiet while they made their way to the north end of the Vale. Mistral didn’t mind, she was too busy looking at the stalls set out beneath brightly coloured awnings. A display of beautifully crafted elven bows drew her attention briefly but a stall selling hunting knives caused her to stop and stare until the twins’ sighs of irritation became too loud to ignore and she reluctantly allowed them to drag her away. They all stopped at a stall further along selling leather goods. The amazon sat beside the stall greeted them in a husky voice and stood up to select items and deliver her sales pitch on each. While she explained the benefits of leather wrist supports to the twins, Mistral found herself studying her with a critical eye, calculating how she would fare against one of them in the unarmed combat event. The amazon was tall and muscular, easily dwarfing both the twins and physically blessed with a fighter’s attributes; good reach, strength, stamina and eyes that shone with a fearless gleam. Finishing her swift study of the amazon’s statuesque physique Mistral smiled to herself as she identified her weak spot. Nodding contentedly she reached out and picked up a pair of fur-lined boots.
‘I promised your mother I’d get some new boots,’ she said to the twins. ‘I think these are an appropriately contemporary blend of practical with a stylish edge, don’t you?’
Clutching her new boots protectively to her chest before Phantasm could offer to carry them for her as well, Mistral turned to Phantom as they walked on towards the northern end of the Vale.
‘Is Xerxes planning a card game for tonight?’
Mistral could see that the festival would fill her days and be demanding enough to dull the ache of missing Fabian, but she was dreading being left with too much time on her hands in the evenings and have nothing to do but think. Not that she would admit that to anyone, least of all the twins who would no doubt see it as even more of a reason to force their company on her.
‘No.’ Phantom replied promptly, adding with a weary sigh. ‘Actually, let me rephrase that. Yes, I am sure that Xerxes is planning a card game for tonight, however Chieftain Wolfsnare is hosting a feast to celebrate the start of the festival.’
‘So please make sure you brush your hair Mistral.’ Phantasm added, casting a pained look at her dishevelled ponytail. ‘Remember that we are here representing the Ri.’
‘And what style would you prefer me to wear my hair in tonight then brother?’ Mistral asked sarcastically and instantly regretting her flippancy when she was forced to listen to Phantasm’s ideas on hairstyles for the rest of the walk.
By the time they reached the far northern end of the Vale Mistral had sunk into a stupor bought on by endless talk of plaits, twists and other things that sounded more like a form of torture than a hairstyle. She barely noticed when they entered a wide open space where a makeshift coral had been erected to secure the horses.
‘Ah, here we are!’ Phantom announced, snapping Mistral out of her hair-induced coma.
She looked over at the horses grazing in the enclosure and frowned. Cirrus would stand out like a shining star amongst the heavy cobs and stocky ponies that were grazing there.
‘There’s too many goblins around for me to leave Cirrus there!’ she muttered to Phantasm.
‘Despite the fact that your horse could probably eat a goblin I have to say that I agree. And if Cain’s cousins are anything to go by the hob aren’t much better.’
‘Sharp-eyed doesn’t quite cover it.’ Phantom agreed. ‘Did you see Hermes eyeing Mistral’s wedding ring? I thought he was going to pull it off her finger!’
‘I’m not sure that was about the gold.’
‘I think I can handle Hermes!’ Mistral growled then gave an exclamation of pleasure when her gaze fell upon the pool that had been designated for female bathing. ‘Finally! This is where I actually get some time to myself! See you in a while brothers.’
A clear stream gushed over the steep side of the Vale in a narrow waterfall, creating a natural shower that fell into a deep rocky pool at its base. Mistral eyed the water longingly; she felt hot and dirty after the long ride and couldn’t wait to dive in.
‘Bye then!’ she said pointedly when the twins remained close by her side.
‘Sorry Mistral, but it’s going to be a back-turned affair.’ Phantasm replied stiffly.
Mistral stared at him, ‘Are you joking?’
‘No.’
‘Believe me, I don’t want to do this either.’ Phantom said, looking decidedly uncomfortable. ‘But we swore not to let you out of our sight for a single moment.’
‘There is no way I’m having a wash with you two watching me! It’s just ... wrong!’
‘We promise not to look.’
Mistral regaled them with savage threats about what she would do to them if they didn’t go but they refused to move and waited patiently until she had run out of breath.
‘Look Mistral, I am sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but we promised.’ Phantasm said quickly before she could draw in enough breath to start swearing again.
Phantom was less tactful. ‘Would you rather I fetched Xerxes?’ he said acidly. ‘I’m sure he’d love to join you, he might even scrub your back for you as well!’
‘No I don’t want Xerxes here and I don’t want you two either!’ Mistral shouted and glared at them furiously for a full minute but they simply gave her cool looks in return. ‘Oh, I don’t believe this!’ she finally burst. ‘Turn your backs then!’
Mistral waited until they had turned to face the other way before stomping bad-temperedly over to the edge of the pool. Casting a quick look over her shoulder to make sure they both still had their backs turned, she undressed hastily and dived into the water and was immediately followed by Prospero leaping in excitedly after her.
The clear pool was as cold and refreshing as it had promised to be. Mistral broke the surface with a gasp and swam towards the waterfall, intending to use it as a shower to wash her hair. The water was deeper beneath the waterfall and Mistral couldn’t touch the bottom so she trod water while she leaned her head back into the fast flowing torrent. As her head broke through the thin veil of water she was surprised not to feel rock but air behind her. She spun around in the water and stared curiously into the dark space behind the waterfall. Deciding to investigate, she threw a swift look in the twins’ direction to make sure they still had their backs turned then swam through the waterfall to find herself in a small cave.
It was too dark to see much at first so Mistral trod water and allowed her eyes to adjust while Prospero paddled in behind her. After a few seconds she could make out the cave’s low ceiling narrowing down to meet a thin shelf of rock. Prospero suddenly growled and began to circle her protectively, staring fixedly at the back of the cave.
‘What is it boy?’ she murmured and stared into the cave but couldn’t make out anything in the dim light beyond the edge of the rocky shore.
Mistral heard a faint rattling noise followed by a splash as a stone rolled down from the back of the cave and dropped into the water. She held her breath and stared harder, straining her eyes to see what, or who, had dislodged the stone then gave a startled gasp when she saw something pale shift in the shadows. Praying that she hadn’t disturbed one of the daunting-looking amazons trying to have a quiet swim Mistral immediatel
y began to scull backwards out of the cave.
‘Come on boy!’ she called quietly to Prospero.
Mistral swam out into the warm sunlight and continued straight to the side of the pool, quickly hauling herself out before whoever was in the cave came out. She had become used to having her own bathroom in the Valley and wasn’t entirely comfortable with the notion of communal bathing.
Shivering from the cold of the water, Mistral hastily pulled open her saddlebag and tugged out a clean set of clothes, dragging them awkwardly over her wet skin she realised that the trousers were the shockingly tight ones that Melsina had given her. Swearing under her breath, Mistral suddenly remembered that Phantasm had packed for her and rummaged through the saddlebag with a growing sense of panic. She found more new shirts and another pair of Melsina’s black trousers but none of her comfortable, loose fitting clothing. Looking around frantically for the dirty clothes she had left in a pile at the side of the pool she clenched her fists in anger when she saw they had mysteriously vanished.
‘Phantasm!’ she shouted while she buttoned up the dark red shirt she had never worn. ‘You’ve only packed the clothes your mother gave me!’
‘Have I?’ Phantasm called back in a surprised voice. ‘How very remiss of me. I do apologise Mistral. I suppose you will just have to suffer looking presentable for once.’
Sitting on a sun-warmed rock to pull on her new leather boots Mistral laced them then took out her irritation on her hair, giving it a vigorous combing before leaving it loose to dry in the late afternoon sun. Finally shoving her dagger into her belt and wishing it was Phantasm’s arm instead, she stalked over to rejoin the twins.
‘Can you please tell me just why you two insist on trying to dress me all the time?’
The twins spun around, tilted their heads to study her appraisingly they both smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
‘Better!’ said Phantom.
‘I agree. And in answer to your question Mistral, it’s the irresistible appeal of all that hidden potential that is really the essence of all your problems. You need to embrace all of your gifts, and I’m not talking about just Sight.’
‘And how would dressing like a – a … oh! Words fail me! Help me to embrace Sight?’ she demanded furiously, waving a hand angrily at her trousers.
‘If you took a little more pride in your appearance I am sure it would have a positive effect on your mental state and help you master your gift.’ Phantasm explained patiently.
‘Pride? How can I be proud about being dressed like a – a … whatever the hell I look like!’
‘Look Mistral, I really don’t see the problem. You are wearing trousers and shirt!’
‘Just!’ she howled furiously.
‘And a wedding ring.’ Phantasm continued in a firm voice. ‘Now, there is nothing inappropriate in your dress so I really don’t think that you’ll be mistaken for one of those hard-working nymphs. You are perfectly respectable, and anyway, I doubt that there is a male here who would dare think inappropriate thoughts about you with an expression like that on your face!’
Mistral’s eyes widened but she managed to control her anger by drawing in a deep breath and deciding to change tactics.
‘But I’m really not comfortable dressed like this. And, I don’t think Fabian would approve.’ she gave Phantasm a pleading look. ‘Can I have my other clothes back … please brother?’
The twins regarded her for a moment.
‘No, sorry, you look much better like that. I just can’t bring myself to let you go back out in those tatty old clothes.’
‘And Mage De Winter looked very approving last time you wore those trousers.’
‘Come on brother! I’ll muck your horse out for a whole week!’ Mistral wheedled.
‘No.’
‘A fortnight then!’
‘No.’
They bickered all the way back to the tent to find that Xerxes had started a game of knuckle bones with Cain’s cousins and was having a heated argument with Hermes about the rules.
‘No! Two rolls of the dice are not permitted if you are “feeling lucky” Hermes! Just face it! You’re a cheating hob like your wretched cousin! Ah –’ he broke off to leer at Mistral as she approached. ‘Hello Mistral! Wearing my favourite trousers again I see!’
Mistral glowered meaningfully at the twins who merely shrugged and ducked inside the tent, no doubt to organise her wardrobe for the rest of the festival.
‘One more word and I will beat you to within an inch of your life.’ Mistral snarled, venting her frustration on Xerxes.
‘I don’t think he’d complain.’ Hermes murmured, running an eye over her trousers.
‘Oh for crying out loud!’ Mistral snapped and abruptly turned on her heel and stormed off, diving between the tents to be rapidly lost from their sight.
Drawing in several deep breaths, Mistral forced herself to try and calm down while she strode through the confused tangle of tents, stepping over guide ropes and apologising brusquely whenever she lumbered through surprised groups of Arcanes playing cards or chatting quietly around their campfires.
Prospero padded silently alongside her, his pale eyes occasionally flicking towards the dark interiors of the tents they passed but never leaving her side. Once she had calmed down enough to think rationally again Mistral made the happy discovery that she was actually on her own. She smiled and instantly forgave the twins for the incident with the trousers. Feeling her mood and the corners of her mouth lift at the same time she looked around with fresh enthusiasm. It was time to explore.
Letting her mind wander and her feet do the same, Mistral meandered aimlessly through the tents, smiling and nodding at any Arcanes that met her gaze but politely refusing their offers to join them in a meal or a game of cards. She was too happy simply walking around and enjoying the atmosphere. The festival was for her kind only, those whose appearance had forced them into exile from the human world to an Isle where they were considered inferior by the ruling Mages. But for three days they could rejoice in their uniqueness. A celebration, that’s how Saul had described it, and she could see what he meant. Whatever differences the Arcane tribes had were put aside for the duration of the festival with any lingering bitterness redirected towards the Mage population.
‘Have you heard the one about the three Council officials trying to cross a river?’
Mistral listened to the start of another crude joke about Mages being told to a laughing group of goblins and gazed down at the band of gold on her finger. She had no doubt that she was going to be regarded as a traitor for marrying a Mage.
Her Mage.
Slowing to a thoughtful walk she began to wonder what Fabian was doing right now, whether he had found Putreo and completed the Contract. Perhaps he was already making his way back and would be waiting for her in the Valley when she returned from the Festival. Occupied by her hopeful musings Mistral didn’t realise where she was until she was suddenly staring into a pair of soulful dark eyes.
‘Oh! Sorry!’ she gasped when she realised that she had wandered straight into the centaur camp. ‘I was –’
‘Deep in thought. Yes, I could see that.’ the finished centaur in a deep voice.
Mistral nodded and silently cursed her carelessness. What had Phantasm said? That they took offense easily, and she had rudely blundered into their camp.
‘I’m really sorry,’ she muttered and began to back away, somehow feeling that it would be even more disrespectful to turn her back as she left.
The centaur fixed her with his deep stare, ‘Stay, Seer, there is much we need to discuss.’
Mistral blinked at him … Seer ... ‘I - I haven’t got the Sight –’
The centaur continued to gaze at her calmly, ‘Not yet maybe. But you will master your gift.’
‘I don’t think I can actually.’
Mistral was shocked to hear her voice admitting something she dare not even confess to herself. She quickly bit her lip to stop herself from confessi
ng any other secret fears, like the fact that if she never mastered Sight she would never have a life with Fabian.
‘Imperato.’ The centaur announced and after a moment’s confusion Mistral realised that he was introducing himself.
‘Oh … I’m Mistral,’ she muttered, feeling suddenly self-conscious in her new clothes.
Imperato smiled, softening his hard, proud face, ‘I know. Join us. You will be safe here.’ he gestured to the tribe of centaurs waiting quietly behind him.
Mistral gazed in wide-eyed wonder at the tribe while they took it in turn to introduce themselves.
‘Dravite,’ announced the centaur closest to Imperato. Mistral couldn’t help but notice his equine body was a magnificent dark chestnut and hoped that he didn’t take offense at her probably all too obvious admiration.
‘Faras,’ said the centaur next to him in a quieter voice. He had blue eyes that seemed not to look directly at her, but beyond her. His hair was lighter and his equine body that of a dappled grey.
The rest of the tribe introduced themselves, too many for her to remember. She nodded mutely at each before quickly realising that there were no females present. Her confusion must have showed on her face because Imperato abruptly turned to her and spoke in his wild, deep voice.
‘Our Bonded partners remain in The Velvet Forests. It is not appropriate for them to attend.’
Mistral instantly noted two things; Bonding, and the fact that they felt it was not appropriate for females to attend. She glanced down at her trousers again and grimaced, wondering just how offensive they found both her presence and the way she was dressed.
‘Join us in a drink to celebrate the gathering of the Arcane tribes,’ Imperato said and waved one of the tribe forwards to offer Mistral a horn cup full of a golden liquid.
Mistral accepted the drink the centaur offered and took a tentative sip. It was mead, strong and sweet. She glanced down to see Prospero sitting quietly by her side, his expression alert but relaxed. He obviously felt that the centaurs posed no threat to his mistress.
The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams) Page 36