I bow my head down. “Yes, sir.” I’m kicking myself for not finding one before I left. The last thing I want is to stick out. Definitely not here.
We’re supposed to kick the Treasoners that are slowing, holding up the line. Get them moving again like common cattle. I refuse.
An old man struggles. I see the Hunter nearest me heading over to prod him. I grab the Hunter’s arm as he passes me. “Wait. I’ll take care of it.” He looks annoyed and shrugs, then motions for me to go ahead.
I whisper in the old man’s ear instead. That he’d better get moving before the commander sees. I tell him we’re almost there. Which is most certainly a lie.
I grit my teeth the rest of the way to the camp.
I wouldn’t have thought it possible to be overjoyed to see a prison camp when we reach it the following day at high noon. Inside the tall fence, we hand the Treasoners over, and I and the other Hunters who’d brought them are ordered to the mess hall for lunch. I wolf down my disgusting glop, then excuse myself to find the latrine.
I search that whole damn camp. Every tent, every corner. I scan dozens and dozens of anxious, bruised, and dirty faces. Young and old. Men and women. Many I recognize from the Bastion.
Not a single one belongs to my father.
Chapter 16
I’m trying to hold Rosie close, to stop her from seeing any more than she’s seen already. But she struggles free and immediately notices the fur Tui is holding.
“Is that—” Rosie reaches out to touch it, but Tui’s faster. He curls his hand around it and slips his hand into his pocket.
But it’s too late. The others have seen it too, and now they’re gasping and crying, grabbing ahold of each other.
Nile plucks another piece of fur from a branch near him. “Bearcats? Not murderers, eh?”
I don’t know what to say. My heart is crushed as I begin to fully comprehend what Cecil and his clan have done. I’m sure they did it to protect me. But they shouldn’t have killed these men.
“They knew these men were dangerous.” I say this loud enough so everyone can hear me. “They were trying to protect us. We don’t need to be scared of them.” My words don’t seem to be helping. Not one person moves an inch, scared motionless with terror.
Nile raises his brows. “Kind and clever? I hope you’re right, m’lady.” He looks around, studying the grisly scene once more. “Least they could have done was to leave the weapons for us. Well, let us move on, then. There’s not much we can do here.”
I lead Rosie back to Pearl, and we both climb upon her back. “Keep your eyes closed,” I whisper to her. She nods and does as I ask. She doesn’t open them until the remains of the three Loyalists are far behind us.
I try to make sense of what’s happened. Cecil had sworn bearcats had never killed any humans, that this was an ugly rumor spread by past rulers. An excuse to keep the bearcats exiled to their dark forest. It was the humans who were ordered to kill a bearcat if it was seen. I want to believe that some other terrible creature must have murdered these men. That the fur we found was merely a coincidence. Perhaps the men had come across the bearcats, threatened them, and the bearcats had no recourse other than to defend themselves. But I know I’m only making excuses. I know the bearcats could have easily frightened any men away. These men were eaten.
Rosie rides with me, trembling, all afternoon, right up until we see smoke curling up through the trees some distance away. We’ve come upon the Treasoner camp we’ve been searching for.
Nile bids us to wait, says we don’t want to alarm the others, and he will whistle when we’re to follow. He disappears into the trees on his own.
Only a few minutes pass when we hear his distinct whistle, and we continue on to the camp.
I wonder if Nile has told the others who I am? I really should have warned him not to. But when Pearl and Rosie and I step into the small clearing, it’s clear the news is out.
“May I present Her Majesty Raven Araroa!” A riot of shouts and cheers reaches my ears. I stop Pearl in the center of the crowd; a sea of beaming faces surrounds me. Hands reach out for me and gently touch my legs, stroke Pearl’s shimmering coat. I reach down and shake the hands closest to me, all at the same time wracking my head trying to figure out what to say to all of these people. What are they hoping I’m going to do?
I hold a hand up, and the din quiets down. “Thank you for the most gracious welcome. It is us who must thank you all for being such welcoming hosts. I know supplies are slim out here, and I hope we’ll be able to pool our resources to get by. We don’t bring much, unfortunately, except for the news that I think we’ll be safe out here. There’s been no signs of King Araroa knowing about us … gathering this far from the Bastion. I think we’ll be well.”
More cheers go up. A familiar face steps out from among the crowd. She’s beaming. “Welcome, Woman King Araroa.” She bows deeply, her curls spilling down. I glance over at Tui, who is still sitting atop Pango a few yards away. He’s motionless. But his face gradually brightens as the realization hits him: he’s found Catriona again.
If someone stumbled upon our camp that night, they would think we were a traveling band of merrymakers. Not a group of orphans and widows, our very lives threatened by the terrible rule of our King. I decide to forget that for a while too, and I settle in next to the roaring bonfire. There is music and a delicious smell permeating the air, leaking out from the underground oven. The sky is clear, and a nearly full moon has just cleared the tops of the trees.
Rosie brings me a plate of food. I thank her, and she runs off again, proud to be helping the older girls serve everyone.
“You and Leif have sure been busy.” Catriona appears next to me, her auburn curls shining in the firelight. I hope the glow is covering up how red my face is from her comment. She sits down on the log next to me and plucks a piece of potato from my plate, popping it into her mouth. “I’m kidding, you know. Who’s the kid? And where’s Leif?”
“Leif’s looking for his father, Nile.” Confusion crosses her face, so I tell her the rest, ending with the fact that I have no idea at all where Leif is now.
The alarm on her face is clear, even in the darkness. “If he’s still in the Bastion, he’s got to get out. Everyone knows you’re back. They’re locking up anyone who’s suspected of supporting you, but I’ve heard anyone who’s known to be helping you personally … well, let me just say they’d be lucky to end up in a prison camp. It’s a good thing you got out of there, at any rate. We’ll keep you protected.” Catriona steals a bit of carrot.
I look down at my plate of food. My own hunger has completely vanished, along with any coherent thoughts. I say the only word that comes to mind: “Why?”
Catriona shrugs. “Why not? We’ve got nothing to lose and our lives to gain back if—”
“If what, Catriona?”
“If we succeed in throwing King Araroa out. He’s old. He’s cruel. And his son is not the legitimate heir. You are.”
My heart leaps at that. It’s what I’ve suspected has been building. Hearing it stated out loud and so succinctly fills me with fear. But there’s something else too: a small feeling that starts in my pounding heart and spreads through my chest like warmth. Pride. That the people of Nadir are willing to stand up for their rights. I despise Araroa as well; he might be my biological parent, but he’s certainly not my father. He killed Seraphine, my beautiful mother and beloved Queen to the people of Nadir. He’s tearing families apart right this minute, no doubt. He does not deserve to rule any longer.
Another feeling begins to take root. It is a tiny seedling, but I’m certain it’s there. It’s what Leif has been telling me all this time, and suddenly I believe it a tiny bit now. That maybe, perhaps, I could help the people of Nadir.
But then my mind floods with remembering the rumors I’ve been hearing. “Is it true? About the fighting? Is that really happening?”
Catriona nods her head in affirmation. “Yes, it’s true, m’lady. Even
in Greenhollow there have been fights. Loyalists have been trying to kick Treasoners out.” Her face grows serious, and she gazes off into the darkness. Clearly she’s remembering something—and I know just what it is.
“What about Baldachin?”
Catriona sighs and returns her gaze to my face. “Baldachin is still quiet. But people have started to take sides. They worry that Araroa will harm the village. Rightly so.”
“I know that. It’s where I’m headed.”
Catriona’s eyes fly open. “Oh no, Raven. You can’t go back there. Not yet. Araroa’s Hunters are on their way right—” She gasps, realizing she’s said far too much.
I stand up, sending my plate of food flying. “You knew this? What are you doing here, then?” I hiss. “You could have been back there days—weeks—ago. You could have warned everyone, gotten them out!” I’m yelling now, but I don’t care. Knowing my family is a sitting target, and now realizing that they could have been warned. I’m furious.
Catriona shakes her head. She looks up at me, her brown eyes large and serious. “No! Listen—I did warn them. Raven, they refused to leave. Miss Lilith, your mum and papa, Tui’s parents. They all said they had no better place to go. That they’d defend Baldachin with their lives against anyone King Araroa sent. That’s … that’s what the others are not so happy about.”
I stand there, not moving a muscle. My anger dissipates, just a little bit. The nugget of pride in my chest grows a little larger, that my family refused to give in.
I sink back down onto the log next to Catriona, staring into the fire. “You know I’m going anyway.” Out of the corner of my eye, I see her grin brightly in the firelight.
“Of course, m’lady. I’ll go with you. If you’ll have me, that is. Besides, if anyone can convince them to go, it’s you.” I look toward my friend and clasp her hand.
“Thanks, Catriona. I couldn’t imagine not having you along.” We hug each other to seal the deal. My stomach growls audibly. “Maybe I should get another plate of food,” I say with a laugh.
I search the ground for the plate, but before I can find it, someone appears before me, the plate in hand. I look up to find it’s Tui there, a moony grin stuck on his face. I glance back at Catriona. She’s not looking at me.
“Why don’t I let you two catch up.” They both nod, silently. I take the plate and start walking to the underground oven. I quickly glance back to see Tui and Catriona haven’t moved an inch. They are still gazing at each other dreamily.
Suddenly I’m looking forward to the next couple of weeks of travel to Baldachin even less.
The first thing next morning, I find Nile to tell him about our plans to continue on to Baldachin straight away. As I expected, he’s not terribly excited to hear this.
“I have to be honest with you, Raven, I don’t think this is wise. It’s got to be best for you to stay in one spot—here, with us—where the Hunters are unlikely to search. Besides, I’m going to get word to Leif to meet us here. What if you’re gone?” He tilts his head, green eyes large and questioning. It doesn’t work, though. I can see right through his plot.
“Nile, when Leif arrives, you tell him I’ll be right back. I will. I just want to get my family out of Baldachin before the Hunters arrive, and then I’ll be back. I’ll bring them here.”
He doesn’t argue. He can see I’m not going to change my mind. There’s nothing he could possibly say that would.
“Very well, m’lady. I’ll keep working on getting the message to Leif of our location, and he’ll be here, waiting for you.”
The image that flashes though my mind sends my heart leaping. Of joining Leif once more in the forest here. Safe from the outside world. A niggle of doubt flashes across my mind that this will indeed happen. But I ignore it.
I find Rosie next and explain to her that continuing on with me to Baldachin is no longer safe for her. That there are a lot of bad men trying to find me, and I want to make sure they have no chance of finding her.
“But what if they do find you, m’lady? What if they take you to the dungeon like they took my mum and papa?”
“I’ve already been to the dungeon.” I wink at her with exaggeration.
Rosie’s eyes grow enormous. “Have you really? How did you get out?”
“I escaped. Araroa couldn’t contain me then. And he won’t do it again.”
She grins, clasping her hands together. “How?” she asks again.
I can’t help but embellish the tale a little. Her small face is rapt as she listens to the story. “I picked the lock, and then I tackled a guard and stole his robe, and then I had to break Tui out too, and then we escaped.” I like this version better too, rather than the real one of Seraphine giving me the key and then being hung for doing so.
“Ohh! That’s so amazing. Come back and tell me all about your adventures in Baldachin.”
I ruffle her curls and promise that I will. I hug her, and she starts off to go play with the other kids. She pauses, then turns back to me. “Let me know if you see my brother? Please?”
Her face is so serious and forlorn it makes my heart hurt. “I’ll do that too, Rosie.”
The rest of the camp is disappointed that I’m leaving so soon as well. I tell them that I need to go find my family and bring them here so they are safe too. That Tui, Catriona, and I will be departing first thing in the morning. Catriona is an expert tracker—she’ll lead us back to Baldachin and easily evade any Hunters who are out there. While I’m explaining, nods of approval and murmurs of understanding ripple through the crowd. Nearly everyone here has lost someone dear. Of all the people in Nadir, they understand my need to make sure my family is safe.
I had hoped to leave before anyone else was up, to avoid any kind of fuss. But when I emerge from my tent at dawn, the entire camp is bustling with activity. Tui and Catriona ready the horses—including Hazel, the horse we’d bought Catriona in Alderwood after we left Baldachin nearly a year ago. I’m glad to see those two are still together. It could have ended much worse that day the Hunters found us.
I hug Rosie goodbye again, and Nile too. Then I swing myself atop Pearl. I’m ready to go. Somebody has woven silver ribbons through tiny braids in Pearl’s mane. The thoughtful gesture sends butterflies fluttering in my chest. I touch the ribbons gently, then smile out at the Treasoners gathered together to see us off.
“Farewell, Your Majesty Raven Araroa!” Hamish’s voice calls out from the gathered crowd. I find his face and wave to him. Our eyes meet, and I send another silent promise that he will be reunited with his wife again. One day.
I have a major case of déjà vu as the three of us ride through the forest. But it lasts only for a moment as I realize how much has changed in the past year, how completely different the three of us have become. And perhaps the least of it caused by my becoming Woman King of Nuimana.
The night I found Leif in the forest—or when he found me—that was the moment that changed everything. The three of us no longer feel complete. Leif missing is like a giant hole in everything. Alone again, I feel the hole where he belongs. It’s grown larger, and it burns.
The trees here are farther apart, allowing the three of us to ride side by side. Catriona’s in the middle, telling us the story of what happened after my capture by the Hunters.
“When I saw those … those men, I spun Hazel around and hightailed it right back into the trees. A couple tried to chase after me, but we were too fast for them. Hazel was able to weave through passages too narrow for their large stallions. Even when I knew we’d lost them, Hazel and I kept going and didn’t stop.”
“But you did eventually, eh?” Tui’s gazing over at her, spellbound. I have to will myself not to roll my eyes. Be happy for him, I remind myself.
“Of course. Hazel and I camped out for a few nights, then we made our way to the main road. I rode her as fast as I could in the dead of night to avoid the Hunters. We slept during the day. Only a week and half later I was back in Baldachin.”
<
br /> My heart jumps, and my mouth is suddenly very dry. “What did you tell everyone?”
“I told them everything. Well, nearly everything—I didn’t mention Leif.”
I don’t miss the slight sneer in her voice as she speaks his name. But I can hardly blame her; the last time she’d seen Leif was when I threw him off my horse, after he’d admitted he was in on the plan to capture me. “And? Were they okay?”
“They are now. Or, they were the last time I was back home. Though I’m not so sure they’ll be happy to see you. I mean, they’ll be happy, but they’d rather you were still on Nuimana.”
Tui snorts. “That’s what I told her. Didn’t work.”
Catriona looks over at me. Stern. “Miss Lilith is going to be furious.”
Irritation bubbles up. “I don’t care if she or Mum or Papa are furious or not. I’m going to make sure they stay alive.”
“I know, Raven, that’s why I’m with you.” Catriona’s face breaks into a grin again, and she looks ahead. Nobody says anything further.
That night, we camp on the edge of the forest. Ahead of us are the long, flat plains that reach across to the old bearcat lands; on the other side of the forest, and across the eastern mountains, lies the valley of my home. I finally feel like we’re getting close.
We sip our tea, gazing into our small fire.
“I’ve been thinking. And I’ve got another idea,” Catriona blurts out. “Besides heading back the way we came before.”
“Go on,” I say. I’m open to any idea, as long as it gets me home quickly.
“Well, we could continue north for a while, then cut across the plains there. It’s fewer miles across, so we’d spend less time exposed, in the open, minimizing our chance of being seen than if we continued across from here. We’d reach Greenhollow that way and will be able to make our way back to Baldachin along the river, from the north.”
“What about the other towns up that way? Goodacre and Nordell?” I ask.
“Yes, those. We should definitely avoid them. A lot of Hunters up that way. Well, there are a lot of Hunters everywhere. But mostly along the main road. And where there are Hunters, there are Loyalists. Treasoners too, but they tend to be the quiet ones.”
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