The subtle sound of water drifted through the tunnel. “Do you think we have time to rest?” Damien asked.
Selene was quiet for a moment. “Perhaps. A few hours maybe.”
“I think we need it.”
“Good idea,” Taegis replied, his voice muffled ahead. “Should our pursuers catch up we will need our strength to fight or outrun them.”
Sten grunted in agreement behind him.
The sound of water grew louder. Ahead, the mine shaft opened up into a wide cavern. Upon exiting the tunnel, a blast of cool, misty air hit Damien’s face. The ceiling rose at least two stories above them, dotted by jagged rocks. At the far end of the cavern, a narrow river rushed by. There was a platform near the water’s edge with old barrels, carts, and a large wooden contraption the size of a wagon, all leftover equipment from when the mines were active.
The group approached the platform. Farther down, a thin stone ledge followed the river along one side. Yes, they would definitely want to rest before walking along that path.
“This looks like a good place to stop.” Damien wiped the sweat from his face as Sten lowered the saddlebag onto the ground near the platform and rolled his shoulders.
Taegis came up beside him. “I’ll take the first watch.”
“I’ll let you do that,” Damien replied. He felt like he could fall asleep on his feet. He glanced at Lady Selene as she looked around, her hands bound behind her back. “I’m sorry,” he said, catching her attention. “But I must insist on keeping your hands tied.”
She lifted her chin. “I understand.”
However, he could make it a bit more comfortable for her. He removed his jerkin, bundled it up, and laid it on the ground near the wall. “Here. Cohen, you sleep near the tunnel we just left. I’ll lay down by the riverside. Sten, Karl, spread out.”
“I’m going to stay right here,” Taegis said, taking a seat across from Lady Selene and between Cohen and Damien. He braced his arm along his knee and held the newly lit torch.
Lady Selene struggled down onto her knees, then turned around and placed her head on the jerkin, keeping her back to the men. Damien lay on his back nearby, his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes. But no matter how tired he was, sleep did not come.
The top of Lady Selene’s head was a few feet from his, the orange glow from the torch reflecting off her dark hair.
“I couldn’t do it.”
Her words echoed again inside his head. She said House Ravenwood saw him as a threat and she had been sent to eliminate him. How was he a threat? His brow furrowed. His only desire had been to unite the houses against the empire. If House Ravenwood had indeed aligned itself with the Dominia Empire, then yes, he would be a threat. But he would have first tried to negotiate with them. This whole situation did not seem strong enough to warrant assassinating him or House Vivek. There seemed to be more going on—even more than some prophecy uttered by the Dark Lady.
Damien sighed and rolled over. He frowned as he stared at Lady Selene, now curled up in a ball. What made her stop? She had been in his room tonight with her swords, which meant she had come with the intention to fulfill her mission. But she didn’t. So why? Every Great House he knew owed its allegiance first and foremost to itself, evident by the closing remarks of each house yesterday. Even his own house, by aligning with the others, benefited from that alliance. With her disobedience, Lady Selene had broken the fundamental rule of every Great House and thus had forfeited her life.
All to save him.
He couldn’t help but be impressed at her courage, and he was reminded again of how little he knew about her.
Her breathing steadied into slow, even breaths. At least she could sleep.
He watched her a moment longer, then shifted onto his back and closed his eyes. What did she plan on doing next? Did she plan on going back? She would be most likely executed for treason against House Ravenwood. Or had she hoped to disappear into the mountains? But she had no supplies.
You could provide her sanctuary in the Northern Shores, a quiet voice whispered.
He opened his eyes and sat up. Yes, he could do that. It would not help his relationship with House Ravenwood, but there was no salvaging that relationship now that they had tried to kill him.
“My lord?” Taegis said quietly. “Are you all right?”
“Yes, Taegis. Just plagued by thoughts.” Damien settled back down and closed his eyes again as sleep drifted toward him. He returned to his earlier musings. Yes, he would be happy to offer Lady Selene sanctuary in his country. After what she had done to save him, it was the least he could do. But they would have to cross the border quickly, before their pursuers showed up and he was forced to raise the water-wall to protect Selene. And his people.
There is a way to make her a part of your people, that same voice whispered from earlier.
He squeezed his eyes shut. No. He would find a way to save her. He would not let Selene drown by his power, even to save himself. But there had to be another way. Any way but that.
37
Selene woke up to someone shaking her by the shoulder in the darkness.
“Time to go,” Damien said close by.
It took her a moment to remember where she was. She pushed herself up and blinked as the dull roar of the nearby river filled her ears and her senses acclimated to the dark mine. Her arms and wrists ached from the odd posture her bound hands put her in.
His hand moved from her shoulder to her upper arm. “Here, let me help you up.”
She struggled to her feet and shook out her legs. Taegis, Damien’s personal guard, seemed as though he had just woken up, as he sat up and ran a hand over his face. The guard with the dark curly hair stooped down and grabbed the saddlebag nearby, the last remaining torch in his other hand. The monk and the other, shorter guard were also waking up on the other side of the cavern.
“Did something happen while I was asleep?” Taegis asked, coming to full attention. Damien and Taegis must have switched duties while she slept because she remembered Damien falling asleep when she did.
“No, but . . .” Damien looked back toward the tunnel they had left. “I feel like we need to go, and the sooner the better.”
“You’ve always had an instinct for danger.” Taegis stood to his feet and Karl handed him the torch. “Probably due to your gift.”
Gift? Selene looked up sharply. She knew very little of House Maris’s gift, other than that it was connected to water. But if Damien could sense danger, why had he never sensed her those nights she visited his room? Or maybe he never sensed danger because he was never in danger. . . .
Damien glanced at her. “Which way?” he asked. “I’m assuming it’s the path that follows the river over there.”
“Yes.” She carefully brought her face back to her normal impassive look.
Taegis lifted the torch and headed for the river. Selene followed, taking up her position from yesterday. Karl followed close behind her, along with Damien, the monk, and the other guard.
Only a few hours left before they reached the end of the tunnel and the edge of the Magyr Mountains. Then she would see Lord Damien safely across the river. No doubt her mother had already sent a contingent of guards after them, and the chances they would meet up with them once they exited the mountain grew with each passing hour, which meant her chances of escaping after she left Damien grew slim as well. Not that she ever really had a chance. Her last-minute choice to save him left her no time to plan or pack anything. In truth, it was a suicide mission. From the moment she was caught, it would only be a matter of time before her mother’s swift and decisive wrath would end her life.
The very thought choked her. She knew deep down when she chose to help Lord Damien that it would most likely end her life, but as the reality of it all sank in, fear overtook the rational part of her mind.
She licked her lips and stared at the torchlight ahead. What was on the other side of death? The Dark Lady? Something else? The Light, like the one that
illuminated Damien’s soul?
She liked the last thought the best. But she also knew her soul was too dark to exist in such a place. No, most likely she would finally encounter the Dark Lady and be made to pay for her defection from her house and from her patroness.
She bit down on her lip to keep from crying while her body surged with cold adrenaline. I’m stronger than this. I can do this. She watched the flame from the torch, the way it moved, the way its light danced across the wall. Just like Damien’s soulsphere.
Slowly, her body relaxed as she watched the light. She couldn’t forget why she was doing this. Even if she did not carry light inside of her, she would protect it. For Ophie. For her people. Even for Amara.
Fear tinted the edges of her mind, but she held fast to her resolve and watched the torchlight.
The river roared to their right, rushing along toward the surface. The travelers hurried along the path. Selene did her best to keep up, but exhaustion, emotional whiplash from the last few days, and being unaccustomed to such long treks made her feet feel like lead. And she could sense the growing anxiety of her companions.
“How much farther?” Lord Damien asked behind her.
Selene mentally pictured one of the secret map vellums from the castle and her own knowledge of the mountain path. “We’re almost to the exit. Once we leave the tunnel, it’s less than a mile to the Hyr River and your country.”
“I didn’t realize we would be so close to the border once we left this place.”
“Yes. This path was used to deliver our mining goods to the north back when our mines were still operational.”
“I see. Good.”
She heard the relief in his voice, and her stomach twisted. Soon Lord Damien and his companions would be across the border, safe in the country of the Northern Shores. And she . . .
She would buy the men as much time as they needed to cross. It was a small comfort, but not much, and even the torchlight could not stop the shaking of her limbs or the cold clamminess spreading across her palms.
What would Mother say of her now? Where was her boldness? Her courage? No, she had always possessed small, cowardly thoughts.
Just think of the light. Selene swallowed. Remember what you’re saving. She breathed in and out and used her training to force her fear back until the tight invisible cords around her loosened.
A half hour later, light appeared at the far end of the tunnel. The brightness seemed to inspire the men. Taegis walked faster, and Selene could feel the others pressing in behind her.
“Thank the Light.” Cohen panted behind her. “We’re almost to the surface.”
“Yes,” the other guard—Sten?— replied. She heard relief and an almost happy note in his voice.
Selene’s stomach whooshed, as if she had missed a step on her way down a staircase. I can do this. She clenched her hands behind her. I can finish what I started. I will see Lord Damien to his country. I only ask one thing, please save my people, especially Ophie. I won’t be around to help her anymore. And Renata.
She blinked, startled by the change in her thoughts. Who was she praying to? Lord Damien? The Light? Whatever deity was listening? Whoever it was, whoever heard her petition, all she asked was for the people she cared about most to be protected when she was gone.
At the cave’s entrance, a forest of conifer and brightly colored deciduous trees spread out along the base of the Magyr Mountains as far as the eye could see, like a patchwork quilt of many fabrics. Colorful leaves of red, orange, and yellow littered the forest floor, while up above the sky was a deep blue. Beyond the trees and below the cave’s exit, the Hyr River flowed, marking the boundary between the mountain and sea nations.
The air was cool and held a woodsy smell. Birds chirruped nearby, unaware of the strangers who had just left the underground. And the sun . . . She sighed. The autumn sun felt so good against her face.
Selene stopped and looked over the valley. So beautiful. So achingly beautiful. She caught sight of Damien nearby taking in a deep breath, a satisfied look on his face. For the first time, a sad smile spread across her lips. Did he feel it too? The beauty of this place?
Selene closed her eyes. She wanted to soak in this moment, let it fill her and carry her.
She felt someone watching her. She opened her eyes to find Damien’s gaze on her, an understanding look on his face.
“Feels good, doesn’t it?” he said quietly. “To be outside.”
“Yes,” Selene said, withdrawing back into herself.
He stepped closer toward her. The others were gathering outside the cave. Taegis was studying the landscape below, while Karl dug around in the saddlebag. “Listen, I need to ask you something. What did you plan on doing when we—”
A horn blasted through the forest.
Damien whipped around, his words forgotten.
Selene’s heart flew up into her throat as the warm feelings vanished, leaving behind that familiar deep chill. She looked up toward the mountains, her face grim. Their time was up. Given where the horn had come from, her mother had sent word to the nearest garrison, and the guards were on their way.
A horn blew again, the sound bouncing across the hills.
“Dart’an,” Selene said under her breath. They would be able to reach the border, but barely. “It looks like they found us.” She glanced at Damien. “You don’t have much time. You need to make a run for it.”
“And what about you?”
“What about me?” she answered carefully. Did he not know?
“What were you planning to do once we reached the end of the cave?”
“My goal was to get you as far as I could. Now I have.”
“And then what?”
Her nostrils flared. “We don’t have time for this. You need to go! Now!”
“Then come with us.”
Selene glared at him. “What do you mean?”
“If you stay, you’ll be captured. But if you go with me, I can provide sanctuary for you in my country.”
Sanctuary? He would provide sanctuary for her?
“Lord Damien, we must go,” Taegis said, pointing toward the Hyr River.
Damien stepped behind her and began to undo the leather belt that held her wrists together. “I won’t leave Lady Selene.”
“My lord!” Karl exclaimed as he looked their way. “You cannot free her. She poses a threat to you, and our pursuers—”
“I won’t leave her here to die,” he said to Karl. Damien finished untying the belt and stood in front of Selene. “All you have to do is come with me.”
Safety from her mother. A chance at a new life.
“What if she tries to stop us?” Karl said, his voice rising in pitch.
“Come with us,” Cohen said, coming around her right side. “Lord Maris is a very kind man and takes good care of his people. He will protect you.”
The horn sounded again, making Selene’s heart thrash inside her chest. “I—” She glanced back. “I—”
If she lived, she would always be in danger. Her mother would hunt her down to the ends of the world. But . . . She looked back and found Lord Damien staring intently at her. With all her heart she wanted that light he carried within his soul. She would do anything to have it. But she would never have that chance if she didn’t go with him.
Death lay behind her. And life lay before her.
She knew her answer, and it carried her through. “Yes.”
He nodded and grabbed her hand. “Good. Let’s go.”
Before she could say anything more, he turned and started running downhill in the direction of the river. His hand was warm and strong, and he guided her as they crashed through the leaves and branches and dodged fallen logs. Distant shouts joined the horn blaring across the valley. Taegis and Karl ran on either side of them, Cohen and Sten behind.
“Once we reach the river, I will put up the water boundary,” Damien said.
“Water boundary?” Selene said and sucked in another lungful of air.<
br />
“Yes. There’s only one problem. . . .”
She glanced over at him. There was a pensive look on his face, tightening his features. Whatever the problem was, it seemed to be weighing more on him than their pursuers.
Selene breathed heavily and glanced back. She couldn’t see them yet, but they couldn’t be far behind.
She ran faster, keeping up with Damien. The two sped across the forest, her actions just a second behind his own. When he jumped over a log, she followed. When he ducked to avoid a tree or a low-hanging branch, she went with him.
And he never let go.
With each step, she felt like she was leaving hopelessness behind. Each step lighter than the one before. Instead of heading toward death, she was running toward life. Toward sanctuary. Toward haven. Toward . . .
The light.
Such a torrent of relief flooded through her that laughter threatened to burst from her lips. And tears. Lots of tears. She could feel them streaming down her face, mingling with the sweat as she panted and ran.
Is this what Damien felt in his soul? Is this what the Light felt like? If so, she would grab on to it with both hands and never let go.
They reached the edge of the water where the underground river and the Hyr River converged. Water rushed over rocks in a spray of white waves, crashing across the land as it made its way to the sea. Washed-up debris, logs, and boulders lined the riverbank. Damien paused and stared at the river as if he were studying it.
“Is there a way across?” Taegis asked.
Damien nodded and pointed toward a sandbar to the left. “We can cross there, away from the tributary. The water isn’t too deep, and there aren’t any boulders.”
The travelers hurried toward the sandbar. Selene’s heart thudded inside her chest. She could almost hear their pursuers crashing through the forest behind them.
Damien dashed across the sand and into the water. Selene followed, her hand still in his. She gasped at the cold intensity. Moments later, her feet and legs grew numb as she trudged across the river. Damien seemed to know where every foothold was beneath the water as he guided her across. She only slipped once but caught herself before going down.
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