Respen’s sharp gaze swept from her dirt-covered palms to the grass stains on her skirt. His mouth curled. “Go make yourself presentable. I have guests arriving. First Blade, see to it that she has no more mishaps between here and her room.”
As Respen spun on his heels and stalked away, Martyn took Renna’s arm and towed her to the brick staircase. She didn’t fight his grip.
Who was coming? They had to be important, so important Respen felt the need to impress them. Who would Respen, King of Acktar, have to impress?
While Martyn waited outside her door, Renna sorted through the dresses in the wardrobe and paused by a deep red dress, a stark contrast to the blue and purple of the rest of the dresses.
She pulled it out and held it against her. Could she pretend enough confidence to pull it off? When she married Respen, she’d be queen. Perhaps it was time to carry herself like one.
After tugging on the dress, she faced the mirror. The bodice hugged her body before sweeping into a flowing skirt of the same rich, floral patterned fabric. Her silver cross necklace rested against the swooping neckline and winked against the bold background.
Renna forced her chin up. She wasn’t going to tuck her necklace into hiding once again. Respen had promised he’d stop persecuting her faith. If he was going to keep that promise, he might as well start now.
She swept from her room and held out her arm to Martyn. He gaped at her, blinked, and offered her his arm. Gripping her skirt in one hand, she let Martyn escort her down the corridor and the grand staircase.
As they reached the last few steps, Renna spotted Respen in the center of the Queen’s Court conversing with two men. In their silk shirts, fine cotton trousers, and polished boots, they had to be noblemen. That explained Respen’s need to impress them. Most likely, they were some of Respen’s followers.
While Martyn remained at the bottom of the staircase, Renna held her chin high and glided across the bluestone path to the fountain. Did that look regal enough?
Respen eyes glinted, and a smile spread across his face. He slipped an arm around her, resting his hand against her waist.
She sucked in a breath. Her skin shivered with his touch. It took all her strength not to push his hand away. In a little over two weeks, she’d marry Respen. Somehow, she didn’t think it’d be a marriage in name only.
Respen steered her forward. “Lady Faythe, this is Lord Beregern.”
The taller of the two noblemen bowed to her. Gray bristled through the blond hair at his temples. When he straightened, his eyes focused on her silver cross necklace. The muscle at the corner of his craggy jaw flexed.
Renna forced herself to smile and give him a half curtsey. Of all the lords in Acktar, Lord Beregern persecuted Christians with the most zeal. More men and women had died in Mountainwood’s main square than at Nalgar Castle.
“And this is Lord Norton of Kilm.”
Lord Norton bowed as well. Younger than Lord Beregern, his short, brown hair showed no gray above his angular face. He smiled at her, though his gray eyes remained cold as the stones of Nalgar Castle. “A pleasure to meet you, Lady Rennelda.”
She struggled to keep her smile in place. Respen had at least given her the courtesy of using her title Lady Faythe, mostly because it suited his purposes to acknowledge her as rightful heir of Stetterly and the throne of Acktar. But Lord Norton only used the title given to every child of a lord.
“Men from Kilm and Mountainwood form the backbone of my army. Their support is invaluable.” Respen’s grip tightened around her waist.
He must really want her to impress these men. Was Respen’s position as king more tenous than she thought? Half the lords in Acktar supported him, but how long would that continue if the Resistance wasn’t stamped out quickly? After all, if Respen could claim the throne without a drop of royal blood, what was to stop the others from getting the same idea?
Was that perhaps why he wanted to marry her? Not only would he stop the Resistance, he would also solidify his position with the other lords.
Respen patted her hand. She gritted her teeth and didn’t yank her hand away. “Lady Faythe, if you would excuse us. We have a few matters of state to discuss. You will join us for supper, of course.”
“Of course.” Renna dropped into another curtsy as Respen strode off, leading his two guests.
She frowned. They were probably going to talk about the war. If she could spy on them, perhaps she could learn what was going on. Not that she had any way of telling information to the Resistance, but she’d heard nothing since Respen had told her Stetterly had been overrun and burned.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Renna turned. Martyn stood a few feet away, his arms crossed.
She sighed. So much for spying.
24
Brandi meandered through the rocks at the base of Eagle Heights. Usually when she was upset, she retreated to the stables. They’d become her refuge after her parents died. The manor seemed too gloomy, and Renna was always on the verge of crying, so it’d been easier to spend time with the mule and goats.
But that wouldn’t work in this case. If she went by the horses, she’d see Blizzard, and Blizzard would remind her of Leith and thinking about Leith reminded her that he’d helped kill her parents.
She couldn’t go back to the cabin she shared with the others. Lady Alistair or Abigail would notice the look on her face and ask what was wrong. Brandi couldn’t tell them. Putting the truth into words would only make it more real and hurtful.
Why had Renna never told her? Didn’t she know Brandi could handle the truth?
Brandi stumbled along a path down the north side of the mountain into a thick forest. She smelled smoke and heard people talking in the distance as if another section of the camp lay at the base of the mountain, but she didn’t investigate. Curiosity didn’t seem all that productive anymore.
Hopping onto a boulder, she hugged her knees. How was Renna surviving at Nalgar Castle alone? Was she still looking for rescue?
Brandi growled and buried her face in her hands. Leith must still plan to rescue her. He wasn’t going to let a little thing like Keevan stand in his way. Why did he make it so hard to stay mad at him?
Someone perched on the boulder next to her. She didn’t have to look to know that Jamie had found her. “What do you want?”
“Leith told me what he told you.” Jamie’s quiet voice eased around her, as if asking why she was so angry. Something cracked like he’d picked up a stick and broke it into smaller pieces.
Of course Jamie would be on Leith’s side. Brandi rocked back and forth. “He helped kill my parents.”
“That doesn’t mean he isn’t your friend.”
She shifted. “Yes, it does.”
“Leith wasn’t much older than you. He’d spent five years training with King Respen. I know the darkness of that place, how it seeps into you until you aren’t sure how to get away, if you had the courage to even try.”
Brandi glanced at him as a shudder traveled down his back. His shoulders hunched. “To become a Blade, Respen makes you kill another trainee, someone he deems unworthy. Leith saved me from having to do that, but if he hadn’t been there, I would’ve had to kill or be killed.” He heaved a sigh. “The fear of death can make you do a lot of things you don’t want to do.”
Brandi blinked and turned away. She’d killed someone because she feared he was going to kill her and Jamie. If she’d been training under Respen, what would she have done? Would she have made the choice to kill or to let Respen kill her? Six months ago, she would’ve boldly said she’d never follow Respen’s orders and never kill. But now? She wasn’t sure.
“Will you at least think about forgiving Leith?”
Brandi nodded. As mad as she was now, she’d never stay angry forever. She probably would forgive Leith eventually. Maybe. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.” Jamie jumped off the boulder. “Now, it’s time you did a little exploring.”
She slid from the rock. “What else is there to see? It’s just more trees, more rocks, and more cabins.”
“Come on.” Jamie motioned for her to follow him.
She padded after him as he led her away from the base of the mountain. Ahead, the voices from earlier grew louder. As they broke through the tree cover, Brandi caught her breath. They stood on the edge of a lake, the forest dropping away into a rocky shoreline. A few wooden canoes were tied to stumps several yards up the shore. A couple of the canoes floated on the lake, pairs of men throwing nets into the water.
Up the hill from the lake, cabins marched in two rows as if along a street. Several women washed laundry in a tub. A blacksmith pounded on a piece of iron in front of an open-faced shed. Another man laid a fish on a trestle table and deftly fileted it.
“There’s a whole village here.” She gaped at all the buildings, at the people hustling back and forth with their tasks.
“Respen has no idea something like this exists.” Jamie waved at the buildings. “This isn’t the only town. There are several more even farther north.”
Brandi followed Jamie down the dirt path that could be considered the main street. The rhythmic pounding from the blacksmith’s hammer echoed against the mountainside. She paused and watched the blacksmith raise the hammer again. The muscles in his shoulder bulged, but his stocky frame was shorter and leaner than she would’ve expected for a blacksmith.
Behind him, the open doors of his shed revealed long racks of swords, spears, and pikes arranged in neat rows. Brandi tiptoed closer. On a pair of pegs near the door, a short sword glittered against the log wall. She traced her finger along the hilt. What would it be like to train with a weapon like this? Would she be able to rescue Renna if she could wield a sword along with her knife?
It would mean killing again. Her finger hesitated on the blade. Could she do it?
Most likely, she’d never find out. Leith wouldn’t allow her to come along to rescue Renna. He and Shad and Jamie would make her stay here.
The pounding halted. Brandi glanced up. The blacksmith laid his hammer across his anvil and hooked a thumb in one of the pockets on his thick, leather apron. “Can I help you?”
“I was just looking.” Brandi drew her hand away from the gleaming sword. “You make weapons for the Resistance?”
“Yep, though I’m not the only one. There are several of us in Eagle Heights.” The blacksmith stuck out his soot-stained hand. “I’m Aindre. I was the blacksmith in Mountainwood before the king and queen were killed.”
Brandi shook his hand. “I’m Brandi from Stetterly.”
“Well, Brandi, I saw you admiring the short sword there. Why don’t you give it a swing?”
She drew the sword and hefted it. She didn’t know a whole lot about swords, but they were supposed to be balanced, weren’t they? This one felt all right to her. Heavy, but not too heavy.
She swung it. Sunlight glinted along the honed edge and winked on the polished pommel. What could she accomplish with a beautiful weapon like this?
She held it out to Aindre. “It’s a good sword.”
“Thanks.” Aindre took it and hung it back on its pegs. “I’m sure one of the young volunteers will find it useful.”
“Thank you for letting me hold it.” Brandi forced herself to smile. No one even thought she could fight just because she was a girl. Instead, he was going to hand this gorgeous sword to some stumbling, untrained boy who’d panic the first time he was in the real fight.
She’d been in a real fight, and she hadn’t panicked. Perhaps that meant she was a fighter, like David.
Jamie bumped her arm. “Want to see the training?”
With a final glance at the sword, she followed Jamie back up the mountain to a flat spot among the rocks below the cluster of cabins. Several divisions of men ran through maneuvers as their captains called out orders. On the far side, pairs of men sparred with wooden swords.
Brandi tapped her chin. Leith might not allow her to go with him, but it never hurt to be prepared, just in case she got the opportunity to tag along somewhere. “Do you think you could get your hands on a pair of wooden swords?”
“Why?” Jamie eyed her, as if trying to figure out what she was up to.
Brandi widened her eyes and tried to look as innocent as possible. “I’d like to learn. Just in case.”
“I learned a little bit of swordplay at Walden. But not much.”
“Then we’ll have to find someone to teach both of us.” With more training, she’d become strong enough to rescue Renna, once she figured out a way to sneak along.
25
Leith flipped the page of the Bible on his lap. He stared at the page. What had he read on the last page? He rested his bound hands on the book.
He should put his time locked in this cave to good use. He had a large chunk of the Bible to read yet. But how could he concentrate when every hour delayed Renna’s rescue? Instead of returning with an army, Leith was stuck in here waiting for Prince Keevan to hold a trial. If not for Shad’s efforts, the prince would’ve done so already.
Should he continue waiting for Shad to get through to Prince Keevan? Or should he try something on his own?
What could he do? He could attempt to infiltrate Nalgar Castle, find Renna, and figure out some way to sneak her past Martyn and the rest of the guards without getting both of them killed.
But Renna was Martyn’s responsibility. He wouldn’t allow Leith anywhere near her again. Would Leith have to fight, and possibly kill, Martyn to rescue Renna?
The guards pacing outside the entrance spoke to someone. A shaggy head of brown hair popped through first. Jamie crawled into the cave and leaned against the wall across from Leith.
“Isn’t there a church service this morning?” Leith shut the Bible and set it carefully on the cave floor.
“It doesn’t start for another hour yet.” Jamie brushed at the dirt on his trousers. “I didn’t feel like sitting around waiting.”
Leith cleared his throat and steeled himself. “How’s Brandi?” He still couldn’t banish the look on Brandi’s face when she realized her parents’ death was his fault, like he’d stabbed her and twisted the knife.
A futile question. She couldn’t be good. In the days since he’d told her the truth, she hadn’t visited. Not once. The ache in his chest intensified.
“I’m not sure.” Jamie hung his head and shrugged. “I don’t think she’s ready to forgive you, but she will eventually.”
Leith shifted his wrists against the rope. What if Brandi didn’t forgive him? He couldn’t lose her friendship. Not like this.
He shook his head. Best not to dwell on that too long. Brandi would forgive him. She had to. “How are the other trainees we rescued?”
“Lord Shadrach found families who wanted to take them in. From what I could tell, they’re adjusting.” Jamie drew his knees up to his chest. “He offered to find a family for me too. But I said no.”
“No?” Leith straightened so fast he scraped the back of his head on the sloped stone where the cave ceiling met the wall. “Why not?”
“I’m not like the other trainees.” Jamie pushed up his right sleeve, revealing the single pink mark across his shoulder. “No one here knows I was the Thirteenth Blade, besides you and Brandi. People are willing to help orphaned boys captured by Respen. But a Blade? You’re proof they don’t like Blades here.”
“You didn’t kill for that mark. You don’t have to carry the guilt of being a Blade.” Leith twisted his hands again.
“How long would it be before my new family saw my mark? Would they trust me enough to let me explain?” Jamie shook his head. His blue eyes shone wet. “Besides, I am a Blade. Maybe I didn’t actually kill anyone, but I planned to. I planned to kill Respen.”
Leith raised his eyebrows. “Half the people in Eagle Heights probably plotted to kill Respen at one time or another.”
Jamie hugged his knees. “You remember that day at Nalgar Castle when Respen ordere
d me to kill? And I refused?”
“Yes.” Leith tensed. What was Jamie trying to tell him?
“I refused, but when Respen ordered you to kill me, I thought about picking my knife back up. I was scared. If you’d been Vane drawing a knife on me…” Jamie’s shoulders shook. “I might’ve killed. I don’t know. That’s what makes me a Blade, and it isn’t something the people here would understand.”
“I understand.” Leith leaned his head against the wall. He’d tried to get Jamie out of the Blades, but he’d been too late to prevent damage. Was there a life after the Blades for any of them? Or would their past always bind them? “I’m sorry.”
Jamie straightened his shoulders. “It’s all right. I already told Lord Shadrach I plan to help the Resistance. They’ll need a good scout.”
“You’re only thirteen. You don’t have to go into battle.” Leith glanced toward the cave entrance. From here, all he could see was a circle of bright ground and the guards’ boots as they paced in front of the entrance. “How strong is the Resistance army?”
Jamie scratched a toe in the dirt. “The core is really well trained and armed. They’ve been preparing for years. Most of the old Acktarian army loyal to King Leon fled here shortly after Respen took over. But they’re still outnumbered, so they’re taking volunteers. There are a lot of boys my age all the way up to old men. A few girls even joined the archers, though General Stewart drew the line at girls in the foot soldiers.”
If Leith could only see for himself. He was a Blade. He wasn’t used to being blind. “Do they have a chance against Respen?”
Jamie cocked his head. “I think so. Maybe. It’ll be tough.”
A chance. Slim, but not hopeless. “They’re going to need a Blade’s help.”
“Yes. And since they don’t trust you…” Jamie ducked his head. “I guess it’ll have to be me.”
“Maybe they don’t trust me, but Prince Keevan will use me. He and General Stewart spent too long planning this war to waste an asset like me. Or you.” Even a Blade trainee could be useful to Prince Keevan and General Stewart.
Defy (The Blades of Acktar Book 3) Page 13