Dare (The Blades of Acktar Book 1)

by Tricia Mingerink

  23

  Leith lay on his back and watched the crack of sky above the canyon walls lighten to iron grey veined with shades of indigo.

  If he could, he’d stay like this forever and forget he was a Blade. He huffed a sigh that clouded the air above him. Shoving the blankets aside, he sat up. The morning air slithered down his spine.

  After shaking out his boots, he tugged them on. As he tied the leather laces, Shad groaned, rolled over, and stretched. His hair frizzed in several directions while his chin wore the shadow of several days’ worth of bristles.

  Leith scrubbed his hand along his own face. Six days of travel and…nothing. A little scruff on his chin and a couple of bristles above his lip. Maybe. If what he felt was facial hair and not dust and wishful thinking. “We’ll reach Stetterly today.”

  Shad nodded and tugged on his boots. When he finished, he shook out his bedroll, droplets of dew bursting into the air. “So this is where we split up.”

  “Yes. The First Blade is still at Stetterly.” Leith eyed Shad. How much did Shad trust him? Unlike when Leith talked to Martyn, Shad had no way of knowing what Leith would tell Vane. “I have to report to him.”

  Shad rolled his blanket. “It’ll be a boring report. All you’ve done is travel to Stetterly all by yourself.” A smirk creased his face.

  Relief washed through Leith’s chest. Shad trusted him, and Shad would convince Lord Alistair to trust him. He reached for his saddle. “You’ll have to wait here a day before you can ride into Stetterly to join your father. Martyn knows you weren’t with your father when he stopped at Uster.”

  “All right.” Shad flopped to the ground and rested his head on his bedroll. “I need to catch up on my sleep anyways. Blades don’t get a lot of rest.”

  “And lord’s sons value rest too much.”

  Shad grinned and laced his fingers behind his head. His expression sobered. “What are you going to do about the First Blade?”

  “Hopefully after I report to him, he’ll return to Nalgar Castle and leave me in charge of watching all of you. I’ll report to you when it’s safe.” That was the plan, anyway. Leith wasn’t sure what he’d do if Vane stayed to watch while he sent Leith to Nalgar Castle.

  He swung his saddle onto Blizzard’s back and tightened the girth strap. Blizzard twisted his head around. His ears pressed against his head irritably.

  After placing his saddlebags behind his saddle, Leith dug into one and drew out the Bible. He held it out to Shad. “Can you keep this for me? I wouldn’t put it past the First Blade to search my saddlebags.”

  Shad took it, eyebrows raised. “He’d search your saddlebags? Even though he doesn’t have any reason to suspect you?”

  Leith shrugged. “It’s his job to keep the rest of us in line. Rumor has it he even loosened one of the stones in the wall separating his room from the Second Blade’s so he could make sure the Second Blade wasn’t plotting to take his place.”

  No one knew if the rumor was true, but Leith had taken to checking the walls of his room for loose stones and peep holes just in case.

  He finished saddling his horse and waved as he rode into the gray morning. The canyon’s walls echoed with the lonely clip of Blizzard’s hooves. The sun rose higher in the sky. Without a breeze, the temperature rose along with the sun in the depths of the canyon.

  Mid-afternoon, Leith reached the section of canyon below Stetterly Manor, the stretch of canyon he would’ve plunged into during that blizzard if he’d missed the manor.

  Renna seemed to think that God had a purpose in bringing Leith to Stetterly. Could God have a purpose for him? Most likely Leith was being directed for Renna’s good or Brandi’s good or Shad’s good. Leith could be content with that. It was a nice feeling, thinking that perhaps he was being used to bring good to someone’s life instead of only evil.

  In a thick clump of spruce, he spotted Vane’s camp. He unsaddled Blizzard and tied him next to the other horse. Was Vane watching him even now?

  Warily, he climbed a pebbled path and slipped through the prairie grass towards Stetterly. Only the occasional bend in the grass marked where Vane had walked that morning.

  “Looking for me, Torren?” Vane’s voice slithered from the prairie behind him.

  Leith whirled. Vane rose from the grass a few feet away. His eyes cut through Leith, as if he could dissect Leith’s head and read every traitorous thought. Leith swallowed. “Lord Alistair has come to Stetterly.”

  Vane huffed. “I already knew that. Do you know why he’s here?”

  “He plans to take the ladies Rennelda and Brandiline back with him to Walden.” Were the girls all right? Had Vane harmed them?

  “Why now after all this time?” Vane turned towards Stetterly as well. He stroked the hilt of his favorite throwing knife, the one buckled on his right hip. “Lord Alistair is a key player in the Resistance, is he not?”

  Leith couldn’t hide that fact. “Yes.”

  “And he’s been in communication with Abel Lachlan.” Vane’s mouth twisted. “He plans to set his son up to take the throne. If the younger Alistair were to marry Lady Rennelda, he could claim Acktar’s throne. With the backing of the Resistance, he could pose a threat.”

  Vane’s words gave Leith pause. Was that Lord Alistair’s plan? Did he intend to have Shad marry Renna so that Shad could claim the throne?

  A strange sensation twisted his stomach. Why should it matter to him?

  24

  Renna heaved another wet dress onto the clothes line and pinned it in place. Scrubbing droplets of water from her face, she bent to grab the next article of clothing.

  With the tension of the past month, they’d gotten behind on laundry. But now with the guards from Uster patrolling the yard, Aunt Mara decided they could risk washing their clothes as long as they finished in daylight.

  She skimmed the prairie for a smudge of black and spotted nothing. Her back itched with the feeling of eyes on her, but at least the Blade had kept his distance. If he was out there and not her imagination.

  Brandi struggled outside with another basket. She dropped it beside Renna. “That’s the last of it.”

  “Good.” Renna swiped hair out of her face with the back of her wrist.

  Figures in the distance caught her eye. Several silhouettes on horseback trotted towards their manor. Renna’s heart stopped for a second before leaping into her mouth.

  The guards halted their patrol and closed in a defensive line. The captain pointed from her to the kitchen door. She placed a hand on Brandi’s shoulder. “Let’s go inside.”

  Brandi clenched her fists and nodded. They hurried into the manor, barred the door, and drew the curtain.

  Aunt Mara blanched, set down the bowl she was stirring, and reached for the butcher knife resting on the tabletop. “Is the Blade back?”

  Renna lifted one corner of the curtain and peeked out. “Riders are coming this way. Six of them.” If only Uncle Abel were here. But he’d taken the risk to go into Stetterly. He’d neglected the townsfolk long enough.

  Aunt Mara bustled to her side and peered out the window as well. “The guards can handle six men if they’re a threat.”

  Renna squeezed her hands together. At least there didn’t appear to be any Blades among the riders.

  The horsemen drew closer. As they entered the yard, the guards surrounded them, swords drawn.

  One of the riders nudged his horse forward. Grey streaked his brown hair at his temples, but his beard remained thick and untouched by grey. He wore muted, green and brown clothing under a leather vest with matching leather gloves. After a few minutes, the guards gave half-bows and sheathed their swords.

  The man swung down from his dark bay horse. Renna sagged against the windowsill. Lord Alistair. He’d come in response to Uncle Abel’s message. But why had he come in person? Why hadn’t he just sent guards the way Lord Segon of Uster had?

  Aunt Mara relaxed and hurried to the door. She swung the door open before Lord Alistair even had
a chance to knock. “Henry, we’re so glad you came. Please come in and sit down after your long journey.”

  “Glad I arrived in time.” Lord Alistair bowed and stomped the mud from his boots as he entered.

  Aunt Mara closed the door and waved him to a seat. “Something to drink?”

  Renna tiptoed away from the window and slipped onto the bench. What was Lord Alistair doing here?

  “Water would be fine.” Lord Alistair perched on a bench and leaned his forearms against the table.

  Brandi grinned, pranced to the table, and plopped onto the bench across from Lord Alistair. “I’m Brandi.”

  Lord Alistair grinned back at her. “You were only knee-high to my horse last time I saw you.”

  “You let me pet him. I remember.” Brandi bounced on the bench and cocked her head towards Aunt Mara. “May I go see the horses?”

  Aunt Mara opened her mouth, but the door slammed open. Renna jumped and inched her hand toward the knife on the table. Uncle Abel stomped inside and hung his cloak on the peg. “Henry, it’s good to see you again.”

  “I wish it was on better circumstances.” Lord Alistair took the glass of water from Aunt Mara and drained it in a few gulps. “I need to speak with all of you.”

  Lord Alistair’s tone chilled Renna's arms. What he had to say couldn’t be good.

  Lord Alistair pushed to his feet, stepped out of the door, and called over his guards. After positioning three in front of the outside door, he directed the other two men to guard the inside door leading to the rest of the manor. Renna shivered. What did Lord Alistair have to say that would warrant such caution?

  When the guards were in place, Lord Alistair returned to his seat. Uncle Abel and Aunt Mara also slid into seats around the table. Aunt Mara toyed with her apron while Uncle Abel rested his elbows on the table.

  Lord Alistair’s gaze flicked between all of them. “Six days ago, I received your message, but I was delayed in translating it because the Bible I keep hidden in my study was missing. After searching for it, I eventually translated the message with another Bible. As I was finishing, a Blade broke into my study, returned the missing Bible, and claimed he wanted to spy for the Resistance.”

  Renna dug her fingers into her palms. What trick were the Blades playing now?

  Brandi smirked as if she’d already guessed what was going on. “Leith must’ve really wanted to read more about Daniel.”

  Lord Alistair raised his eyebrows at her. “Yes, so he told me. He said he’d been the Blade you helped a month ago, and he had the scar to prove it.”

  “Where is he now?” Uncle Abel half-turned to the door.

  Lord Alistair steepled his fingers. “Supposedly he followed me here from Walden. Shadrach went with him to keep an eye on him. I haven’t seen either of them since I left.”

  A squirrely feeling skittered through Renna’s stomach and chest. Was Shadrach all right? Six days alone with a Blade. A lot could happen in six days.

  And if nothing had happened, then would both the Blade Leith Torren and Shadrach Alistair show up here? Something squeezed at her chest. Not fear, exactly. Something else she didn’t dare name.

  “You want to know if he’s telling the truth about joining the Resistance.” Uncle Abel scrubbed his jaw.

  Aunt Mara rested a hand on his arm. “Leith Torren was a sight better than the Blade watching us now. He was polite and respectful. He never threatened the girls and never did anything untoward to either of them, not even when he was with them alone during that blizzard. I’m not sure if that makes him trustworthy, but I wouldn’t be scared to feed him a meal if he were to show up on our doorstep again.”

  Uncle Abel nodded, lines framing his mouth. “I’ve risked my life on his word before. I’d be willing to risk it again.”

  But what about her life and Brandi’s life? Was Uncle Abel willing to risk their lives too?

  Brandi slapped her palm on the table. “This is ridiculous. Of course he’s telling the truth.” She rolled her eyes. “The First B lade being here proves it.”

  “How so?” Lord Alistair tapped his beard. His eyes glinted as if he really considered what Renna’s thirteen-year-old sister had to say.

  Brandi crossed her arms. “Well, if Leith had told King Respen everything he knew about us, then the king would’ve sent the First Blade to kill us. The First Blade didn’t kill us. He just spied on us for a month and stole our Bibles, which would’ve been completely unnecessary if King Respen already knew all about us.” She shrugged. “If Leith told the truth about hiding what he knew, then it makes sense he’d tell the truth about this too.”

  Why did everyone but Renna think that Blade was trustworthy? Yes, he’d been better than the First Blade, but that was like saying a mountain lion was better than a rattlesnake. Both could be deadly given the chance.

  Lord Alistair swung his gaze towards her. “He said all he told Respen was that he was saved by a man named Daniel.”

  Brandi’s grin widened until it extended nearly from ear to ear. Renna clenched her cold fingers. Another trick? The First Blade had toyed with her for the past month. Was the Third Blade doing the same thing?

  Lord Alistair turned his gaze back to Uncle Abel. “If Leith Torren’s information is to be believed, Respen is preparing for a major strike against those who oppose him.”

  Aunt Mara clapped her hand over her mouth. Uncle Abel put his arm around her shoulders. “And the girls?”

  “He won’t let them live a second time. According to Leith, the First Blade will be sent after them.”

  Renna reached under the table and gripped Brandi’s hand. Would this fear never end? “When?”

  “In three weeks or so.” Lord Alistair’s voice lowered. “I’d like you and Brandi to come back with me to Walden. I have soldiers and will better be able to keep you safe.”

  Renna gulped. “Leave?”

  Brandi glanced at Aunt Mara and Uncle Abel. “You’ll both come too, won’t you?”

  Uncle Abel and Aunt Mara shared a look. They clasped hands, and Uncle Abel turned back to Renna and Brandi. “We’re needed here. I can’t leave the congregation here without a pastor.”

  Aunt Mara reached out and grasped Renna’s other hand. “We can’t protect you. You and Brandi need to go to Walden where you’ll have a chance to be safe.”

  “Even Walden might not be safe for long.” Lord Alistair leaned closer. “But, the Resistance has gained strength. If worse comes to worse, I can take the girls out of Respen’s reach.”

  “Thank-you.” Tears brightened Aunt Mara’s eyes.

  “We won’t be coming back to Stetterly, will we?”

  Aunt Mara and Uncle Abel shared another look. Uncle Abel shook his head at Renna. “No. Not while Respen is in power. He can’t afford to let you live, so you’ll be in constant danger even if Lord Alistair can protect you from this current threat.”

  Renna gripped Brandi’s hand tighter to disguise her shaking. All she wanted to be was safe at home. Why couldn’t Respen just leave them alone? She’d promise to never get married, never have children, if that’s what it took.

  “Will we get to ride horses?” Brandi bounced in her seat.

  “Yes, you will. I brought a horse for each of you.”

  Brandi grinned. “Which one is mine?”

  “Whichever one you want.” Lord Alistair smiled at Brandi. Her happiness blasted away the gloom of the past few minutes. “I’m sure Renna won’t mind if you have first pick.”

  Renna nodded, but she didn’t speak. She didn’t care if she rode a beautiful mare or a work-roughened mule. Either way, her heart would tear in two when she was forced to leave home.

  25

  Shadrach Alistair stood in her kitchen. Renna halted in the doorway, her hand resting on the door frame. Her heart pattered through her chest. Her memories had been of a sixteen-year-old boy.

  But he’d grown into a man with broad shoulders carrying his bow and quiver, scruff bristling across his square jaw, and a feet-
planting, long-legged stride. His dark brown hair shagged into eyes the color of the canyon walls after a rainstorm.

  Her legs wouldn’t move. She should smile. Or at least say something. Anything besides the strained gurgle that burbled from her throat.

  Shadrach’s mouth quirked as he stepped forward. “It’s good to see you again, Renna.”

  “I…” Her voice withered like midsummer grass. Footsteps pounded the hallway behind her. She slid her feet two steps out of the way as Lord Alistair strode into the room at a pace that would’ve been a run had his dignity allowed it.

  Lord Alistair gripped Shadrach’s shoulders, blinked, and bear-hugged him. Shadrach stiffened, his arms at his side. Perhaps it was as awkward for him as it was for Renna as she pressed her back against the wall. Or maybe his quiver was jabbing him in the back, which was a painful possibility considering how tightly Lord Alistair squeezed him.

  “I’m fine.” Shadrach thumped his father’s back. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  Lord Alistair returned his grip to Shadrach’s shoulders. “I know. I…” He shook his head and dropped his arms to his sides. “Let’s call the guards so we can talk.”

  When he’d stationed guards outside both of the kitchen doors and Uncle Abel, Aunt Mara, and Brandi had joined them, Shadrach slid onto the bench near the table. Uncle Abel remained standing while Aunt Mara lifted the frying pan from its hook on the wall next to the fireplace.

  Brandi breezed across the kitchen as she fetched eggs from the lard barrel. Lord Alistair perched on the bench across the table from Shadrach.

  Renna’s feet felt mired in snow as she tottered across the kitchen. She yanked plates from the cupboard and slid them onto the table. Did her hair look all right? She’d twisted it into a braid, but she hadn’t been expecting Shadrach.

  Lord Alistair leaned both elbows on the table. “So what happened? Did the Blade give you any trouble?”

  Renna reached for one of their glasses. Her hands trembled so much the glass slid in her fingers. Blades outside, Shadrach Alistair inside. Both things squiggled through her chest.