by Emma Miles
‘Osun has been visiting inns and markets as we moved south but there is nothing from Elden.’ He sat beside her and gazed at the trees. ‘We may find it more dangerous in Elden when we return than it is here.’
‘We should go to the Fulmers.’ She sat up straighter and shifted on the blanket to face him. ‘Come with me, Jorrun. Bractius can’t tell us what to do there, we could be togethe—’
Her anger rose as he shook his head and winced. ‘If I went to the Fulmers Bractius would see it as a defection, a betrayal. It could seriously harm relations between Elden and the Islands. It’s an option I’ve already considered. He’ll never let me go.’
The muscles of her chest squeezed in tightly, making it harder to breathe in. He reached over to run a finger along her cheek and under her jaw, carefully avoiding the cut Dryn Dunham had given her. When she looked up and caught his eyes sparks of electricity ran through her to the tips of her fingers and the roots of her hair. She leaned forward and kissed him, her fingers digging into his shoulders.
When he pulled away, they were both breathing hard and the heat of her skin was not from the sun.
‘Let me get you something to eat.’ He stood up and went over to some bags that Osun had left them.
She gritted her teeth and wrapped her arms tightly around her body. Was he ever going to stop being sensible? It wasn’t as though she was … fragile. She uncurled her hands and watched them shaking.
He returned and placed some bowls of food down, but her stomach shrank at the sight of it. Her limbs felt heavy, and she lay down on the blanket, drawing her legs up to curl up her hands around them. Jorrun sat beside her and gently stroked her back.
‘You told me once that you were a slave,’ she said. ‘It’s true, isn’t it? You’re Bractius’s slave. You are no more able to live without a master than Osun is.’
He withdrew his hand but didn’t reply. She clenched her eyes shut and curled up tighter. Everything hurt. Especially her heart.
***
The following day they removed the bandages from her head and Milaiya washed her hair for her. It was such a relief to feel clean that she embarrassed herself by crying again. She managed to stay out of the now almost empty wagon for longer. On the final day of their journey through Chem she spent much of it sitting beside Milaiya as she drove the shaggy red bulls. Kesta opened her mouth and closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the sea, the scent of home.
‘I’ll try not to be long,’ Osun told them as they set up camp in the same place he’d first met them. ‘But if I am to get news of Elden, then this is the best place.’
‘Be careful.’ Jorrun clasped his wrist.
Milaiya set about unharnessing the bulls, not looking up as Osun rode away with the horses. Jorrun set some wood for a cook fire, picking up a piece of coal which he threw for Azrael to catch. Kesta walked over to the fire and regarded the wood. Taking in a deep breath she reached for her magic and the wood burst into flames. She laughed, folding her arms about her waist. Her powers were back, and it hadn’t hurt.
Azrael flew several loops around her, still eating his coal.
‘How do you feel?’ Jorrun was studying her face from a distance.
‘All right.’ She nodded and then smiled. ‘And hungry!’
***
Osun didn’t return until dawn. Milaiya was already up and about and Kesta heard their voices and sat up groggily. As she opened the canvas of the wagon, Azrael shot out past her. Jorrun spotted her and walked over, offering his hand to help her down.
‘No news,’ he said.
Kesta looked at Osun.
‘Nothing at all from Elden,’ the Chemman confirmed. ‘No messages, no Adelphy.’
‘But he must know Dryn is dead?’ She turned back to Jorrun.
He drew his hand across his face to rub at his short beard. ‘It could be that no message has reached him from here, either, but I find it highly unlikely that no one here has done a blood scry to him, or him to them. Let’s get ourselves to the Borrows and see if my ship is still there first, we’ll decide about Elden once we’re underway.’
‘What about me?’ Milaiya asked, her eyes huge.
‘You’re coming, of course,’ Osun replied. ‘Or do you want to stay here alone?’
She shook her head.
‘Well, then. Go and set your bulls free, that’s the best I can do for them.’
She stood for a moment, staring after Osun. Kesta walked over to her and placed a hand on her back. ‘Come on, I’ll help with the bulls. Things will be very different in Elden, you won’t be a slave there.’ Even as she said it she thought of Jorrun and Bractius, of Osun’s inability to adapt to Elden life. Were things really better in Elden than Chem? For women, most definitely, but for men? Maybe not so much.
She realised that she was just standing there and, shaking herself, untied the rope from the nose ring of one of the bulls. ‘Can these rings be taken out?’
Milaiya reached up to touch it. ‘With the right tools, maybe, or someone strong.’
‘Jorrun,’ she called, and he stood up at once. ‘Can you see if you can take these nose rings out without hurting the bulls?’
He walked over and studied the bull’s nose while Milaiya and Kesta held its head. Both women drew in a sharp breath when both his hand and the metal ring glowed blue and the ring dropped away. Kesta followed him as he did the same with the other nose ring.
‘How do you do that?’ Kesta demanded. ‘What kind of magic is it?’
He regarded her and grinned, then turned and walked away.
‘Jorrun!’
He ignored her and kept going. She growled, hands on her hips. She heard a soft chuckle and narrowed her eyes.
‘You’re free.’ Milaiya softly murmured.
Kesta went back to join her. ‘I’m going to try to show them.’ She stood the other side of the bull and placed a hand in its curly fur behind its ear. ‘To talk to animals, you have to use feelings and images rather than words. I’ll try to explain that they are free and should stay away from humans unless they are hurt or ill.’
Milaiya nodded, clasping her hands together and stepping back. Kesta relaxed and a smile spread across her face at how easily her knowing came back to her. She did her best to explain to the animals and when she’d finished they went over to Milaiya to nudge and snuffle at her.
‘It’s time to go!’ Osun called over.
Kesta felt her stomach shift and a million butterflies danced there. Time to leave Chem. Time to head back to the Raven Tower.
***
No one was as surprised as Jorrun when they found his small ship still sheltered in the sharp cove. Kesta extended her knowing.
‘Still deserted,’ she confirmed.
Jorrun frowned. ‘Don’t over-exert yourself. You’re still recovering.’
She screwed her face up at him and he responded with one of his rare but beautiful smiles. Her heart skipped a beat.
Osun dropped his heavy chest on the deck, making her jump.
‘That’s it,’ he panted.
Jorrun nodded and checked the rope for their small boat was securely tied. While he went to take up the anchor, Kesta loosed the sails and set them to the wind. She couldn’t resist adding a little of her own to get them out of the cove and raised an eyebrow at Jorrun, challenging him to complain. He didn’t react but as he walked past her, he jabbed one finger into her ribs.
‘Ow!’ She rubbed at her side.
He took a small green book out of his bag and took it into the cabin, she couldn’t resist following. He glanced up when he realised she was behind him.
‘I can’t even read it,’ he said.
She took the book from him and looked at the embossed silver runes on the cover; they were nothing she recognised. A large, narrow hole went almost all the way through it where it had caught her dagger. ‘I only picked this one as it was small enough to hide. And I love green.’
‘I love you.’
Her breath caught
in her throat and goose bumps ran over her skin. She couldn’t bring herself to turn around. ‘I … I could stay in Elden.’
‘No!’ He grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him. ‘You were right, I am a slave to Bractius, but I won’t let him make you one. Or our children.’ His voice broke as his throat tightened. ‘You have to be free, Kesta. You have to go back to the Fulmers.’
She clenched her fists, still gripping the book in one, and refused to reach out to him. Her nose and eyes tingled, but she gritted her teeth against it. ‘No one tells me what I can or can’t do.’
‘Exactly.’ Jorrun let her go and stepped back, his eyes unblinking. ‘Exactly. And that’s how I want you to stay.’ He looked into her mismatched eyes a moment longer before turning and ducking out of the cabin. ‘Neither Osun nor Milaiya can sail,’ he mumbled.
She slammed the book down on the table.
***
They approached the coast of Elden cautiously at night, searching the dark shadow of the land for any signs of smoke and flames. Kesta stretched out her knowing and was greeted by a confusing cacophony of emotion. It was Azrael who brought them news, daring to fly across a narrow stretch of sea to the land to speak with the other drakes.
‘Adelphy is dead!’ He crackled and hissed.
‘You’re sure, bug?’ Jorrun stood up from his seat at the rudder.
‘Yess! The Icante killed him!’
Kesta sucked in a sharp breath and clutched at the fabric of her tunic at the shoulder.
‘There are sstill some Shem warriors about the place being hunted down, be we have won! Elden is ssafe!’
Kesta sat down on the deck. Her vision blurred, and she had to steady her breathing. ‘Is my mother okay? And my father?’ She looked up at the fire-spirit.
‘They wait for you at the Raven Tower.’
‘We’ll head straight for Taurmouth,’ Jorrun called out. ‘Fancy calling that wind of yours now, Kesta?’
She smiled and called up her magic.
They came rapidly into the harbour and Kesta’s eyes widened at the devastation that greeted them. They had to steer slowly around several wrecked ships and many of the harbourside homes and businesses were nothing more than scorched ruins. Several of the wharves had collapsed into the water and they had to sail a long way in before they spotted somewhere that looked stable enough for them to tie up. There was no harbourmaster waiting, but a group of warriors in torn and singed clothing hurried up to see who they were.
‘I’m Thane Jorrun of Northold! We come with news from Chem. Who is in charge here?’
‘Jarl Hadger still lives.’ One of the warriors spat onto the wooden planks. ‘Although Chief Adrin has taken charge since he got back from Mantu. What’s this news then?’
‘Dryn Dunham, the Chemman Overlord, is dead. If you could send word to the king, I’d be grateful.’ He turned to Osun and his brother reluctantly took a coin out of the purse on his belt and threw it up.
The warrior caught it. ‘I’ll do that. Mermaid is the only inn still standing if you want food and somewhere to stay. Land’s burnt out pretty much from here to the lake.’
Kesta bit her lower lip. Rosa and Catya!
‘We are obliged.’ Jorrun gave a slight nod, dismissing them.
The talkative one narrowed his eyes but dipped in a small bow and gestured for his men to follow him.
Kesta ducked her head inside the cabin. ‘Are you staying here, or do you want the lantern?’
‘I’ll sstay.’ Azrael hissed.
She followed the two men onto the wharf and saw that Milaiya was still standing on the deck. She held out her hand and smiled. Milaiya came forward to take it and she helped her step across. She removed the woman’s veil. ‘You are in Elden now. You are free. Here you are no longer a slave and Osun isn’t your master.’
Milaiya stood looking at her, so still that at first Kesta thought she mustn’t have understood. Milaiya lunged forward, grabbing Kesta’s dagger from her belt. Kesta tried to grab at her as he swung the dagger wildly at Osun. Fabric tore, and a red line opened up across his chest. Jorrun drew his sword as Osun raised his arms, using his own flesh to shield himself. Kesta grabbed Milaiya’s flailing arm, and she twisted a foot around the woman’s ankle to drop her to the floor just as Jorrun’s sword swung around to stop, just an inch from Kesta’s throat.
They stood for a moment, breathing hard, her eyes fixed on his and her heart pounding loudly in her ears.
Then Osun crumpled to the wooden planks, Jorrun quickly sheathed his sword to throw himself to his brother’s side. Blood was welling up from between Osun’s hands. Jorrun tore off his shirt and placed it over the wound, pressing down hard. He turned to Kesta, eyes wide, face pale.
‘Help me, Kesta!’
Kesta’s muscles wouldn’t move, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from his.
Osun or Milaiya.
Kesta grabbed Milaiya’s arm and pulled her up off the ground. With a glance at Jorrun she took two steps forward, but instead of helping she snatched Osun’s purse from his belt, took the former slave’s wrist and ran.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Kesta; Kingdom of Elden
The first building they came to that showed signs of life, Kesta stopped and pounded on the door. A man answered, his shirt half tucked in, his hair dishevelled, and no shoes on his feet.
‘We need help.’ Kesta told him. ‘A man has been attacked down on the wharves by a thief. Is there a healer still alive anywhere?’
‘Well, yes, I think so. They have a makeshif—’
‘Will you fetch them? Or go to the wharves just down the road there and help get my … my brother-in-law get to them?’ She reached into Osun’s purse and took out a coin.
The man looked at the strange shape and pattern of it but took it, anyway. ‘I’ll send my son for the healer and come with you myself to the wharves, give me just a moment.’
‘No, we can’t stay.’ Kesta stopped him. ‘They are just down this road here. Which way is it to the Mermaid inn?’
The man’s brows lowered over his eyes. ‘Left at the top there and then right at the well.’
‘You promise you’re going to help?’
‘I will, miss.’
‘I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ She grabbed Milaiya’s arm and forced her to run again. They followed the man’s directions and as soon as she saw the inn Kesta slowed a little to catch her breath. Milaiya was panting hard, her cheeks flushed red. Blood splattered her sleeves in small spots. She glanced up at Kesta but couldn’t meet her eyes for long.
‘Do as I tell you,’ Kesta said, feeling sick that she was taking advantage of Milaiya’s conditioning as a slave. She pushed through the inn door and quickly made an assessment as to who was in charge. It appeared to be an old warrior who still carried himself like a fighter despite being missing an arm and his remaining hair having turned white.
‘Do you have a room left?’ Kesta demanded.
The man grinned and looked Kesta up and down.
She drew herself up and walked forward until they were almost nose to nose. ‘I am Kesta Silene and my husband is Thane Jorrun.’
The man’s grin vanished, and he paled.
‘Do you have a room?’
‘I can make room, my lady,’ he replied quickly.
‘Good. This lady here will stay with you until either I return to take her, or two weeks have passed. If I am not back for her in two weeks, you will arrange her passage to the Fulmers; via Burneton if necessary. No one will harm her, and you will see that she is fed and treated as an honoured guest. If I hear otherwise, you will have my husband and the king to deal with – if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky, you will deal with me. Is that understood?’
The man ground his teeth. ‘Aye, lady.’
‘Here.’ She dug into Osun’s purse and pulled out a handful of coins. ‘This gold should compensate you.’
The innkeeper held out both his hands and his eyebrows raised a little. Kest
a turned to Milaiya and grabbed her hands to look into her face. ‘Milaiya, you must stay here at this inn. They will take care of you until either I come for you or they find you passage to my home in the Fulmers. Remember, no one here is allowed to harm you in any wa—’
Milaiya threw herself to the floor and grabbed at Kesta’s trouser leg. ‘Mistress, don’t leave me!’
Heat rose to her cheeks and Kesta’s heart ached, but she kept her voice strong and her resolve iron. ‘Milaiya, I have to go. Jorrun needs me. You are safe here and I’ll see you soon.’ She grabbed Milaiya under the arms and pulled her up, staring her in the eye and calling on her knowing. ‘You are strong, Milaiya.’ She pushed Osun’s purse into her hands and, with a last glare at the innkeeper, strode to the door.
Once outside she bent over and placed her hands above her knees, drawing in several long, deep breaths. Choking back any doubts she ran back toward the wharves. She let out a small cry when she saw two men struggling toward her carrying a third. A young boy and another man jogged at their side. She stopped to wait, her heart hammering. It was hard to read Jorrun’s face in the darkness. He’d grabbed another shirt from the boat, but it was badly creased.
‘How is he?’ she asked.
‘He has taken some deep slashes but her first strike slid off his ribs. He should live. Where is she?’ His voice was strained from carrying Osun’s weight, his eyes red veined.
‘Safe. You won’t have to deal with her again. This isn’t the place to talk about it but … I want you to let her go.’
He didn’t reply but readjusted his grip on his brother. As they reached the building where they were treating the wounded he finally spoke. ‘I thought you had left me.’
She opened her mouth and took in several short, shallow breaths. ‘No.’
***
They waited while the healer sewed Osun’s wounds. Kesta couldn’t bring herself to look up at Jorrun’s pale face and she resisted the temptation to reach for his hand. The healer finally finished wrapping Osun’s forearm in white bandages and went to wash his hands. He walked over to them with a thin-lipped smile and Kesta felt relief flow through her, she sagged in her seat. Jorrun stood up at once and the healer waved a hand for him to sit.