by S. Young
He fined the manager (and Den Hewitt) and threatened him with criminal charges if he did not return to the normal working procedures. To ensure his obedience, Wolfe left two of his men to guard the workers and sent a messenger to Vojvodkyna Winter Rada explaining the situation. He asked her to send some of her men to relieve the Royal Guardsmen and to assign a replacement manager for the mine.
I rested easier knowing Wolfe had taken care of it. I had known he would. I sighed wearily and stared straight ahead, worrying about what we would find in the next village we passed through. I had so much to tell Haydyn once she was awake and well. Our problem wasn’t just the evocation. Our problem was that outside the cities governed by the Rada, the people were ignored and left to go about their business. Those with power took advantage of those with none. That had to change.
I straightened my spine with determination.
When this journey was over and my task complete, parts of Phaedra would need reform.
Chapter 21
To my utter relief, the next few days through Daeronia passed uneventfully. We stopped in two other mining communities, and neither was suffering under the conditions of the first. From their disposition to the state of their homes and their fervent hospitality, they were fire to the southern coal mining village’s ice.
And I? I was confused. Perhaps I had merely wanted to put the prior manager’s attitude partly down to Haydyn’s evocation, but the northern coal miners were wonderful in manner, and surely if the waning of the evocation was part of the problem, then they would be the ones to feel the effects more so than the south.
My forehead was in a perpetual state of wrinkles.
The situation with Wolfe hadn’t changed. In fact, it had worsened. He had Lieutenant Chaeron pass along anything he wished me to know, and the night we dined in the home of the manager of a large coal mining town called East Winds, Wolfe flirted with their twenty-year-old daughter and ignored my existence.
I ignored the fist of agony in my chest. His behavior was of my own making and I had no right to feel anything toward him.
We had been following the River Cael and were closing in on the border between Daeronia and Alvernia. A constant knot of anxiety now lived in my stomach, the need to get to the Pool of Phaedra an obsession, sharp and unrelenting. I was impatient when Wolfe stopped us by the river for our midday break and was about to voice my disgruntlement when I remembered I hadn’t spoken to him for three days. Plus, it was unseasonably hot, not even a wisp of that crisp Daeronian breeze I had come to love.
I told Chaeron I needed a moment alone and wandered along the bank of the river that flowed on the left side of the trade road as the men gathered near the woodland on the right. They stopped, sliding down to lean against tree trunks and eat the hard biscuits that had come to form their unsatisfying daily diet.
I was still in sight, but I used the horse to cover me as I took off my shoes and stockings to dangle my feet into the river. I sighed at the blissful cold water on my skin and thanked goodness I hadn’t had to walk too much.
Reluctantly, I pulled my feet out of the water and reassembled my clothing before Wolfe sent someone to collect me. However, as I strolled back to the men, my eyes darting over them, there was no sign of Wolfe … or Chaeron. Puzzled, I searched for them.
Just as I was about to draw near the first group, I caught a flash of color out of the corner of my eye. Turning toward the trees, I saw Wolfe’s green military jacket. He’d had to borrow it from one of the Guard. Curious as to why Wolfe and Chaeron were huddled in the woods, I eyed the men to see if any were watching me. I was somewhat disappointed to see that none of them were, too busy eating and talking among themselves.
Excellent guarding, gentlemen.
Rolling my eyes, I snuck away and edged closer to Wolfe and Chaeron. I left my horse and stopped a few trees back from them, hidden in the shade.
“I just don’t know if it’s a good idea.” Lieutenant Chaeron exhaled.
“I have to,” Wolfe insisted, his voice flat.
“I could do it.”
“No, it has to be me.” Wolfe shook his head. “If Rogan’s going up into the mountains, then I’m going to be the one protecting her.”
Chaeron sighed again. “Things are difficult between you as it is.”
“I know. But I won’t let my feelings get in the way of my duty. Which is to protect her.”
“What will I tell the men?”
“Tell them I’ve taken Rogan on a tour of Alvernia, to let her see for herself what the area and the people are really like, so she can report back to the princezna.”
“They’ll think it’s insane. They’ll wonder why you’ve gone alone, perhaps even speculate …”
“If any one of my men utters a derogatory word against Lady Rogan, I want you to deal with them.”
Chaeron sucked in his breath as if insulted. “You know I would, Captain.”
“Good. Tell them the Alvernians are paranoid, suspicious. A royal entourage traipsing around their land would be seen as an act of aggression. Tell them that Lady Rogan and I are going incognito.”
“All right.” There was a moment of silence between them before Chaeron peered at Wolfe with genuine concern. “Wolfe,” he said softly, surprising me by using his given name, “you’ve never been into the mountains. A few of the men here have. They’d be better suited to escort Miss Rogan.”
Wolfe shook his head determinedly, his jaw set. “I won’t let her go into that without me.” He shoved a hand through his hair in obvious frustration, appearing vulnerable and lost. “I would not be able to … It would drive me mad thinking of her out there without me …”
Chaeron placed a hand on Wolfe’s shoulder. “All right.”
I backed away as stealthily as I could, the blood rushing in my ears and flooding my cheeks. I walked numbly back to the men with my horse; I saw nothing and heard nothing as we mounted and set off.
Wolfe was furious with me but he still cared. Cared enough to follow me into the heart of the Alvernian Mountains where the chances of us both coming to harm was great.
No. I shook my head, ignoring Chaeron’s concerned looks. I wouldn’t go into the mountains with Wolfe. I had to keep my distance. I had to stay focused on finding the plant, and I couldn’t do that if I was worrying about Wolfe.
I had to get away from him somehow.
When we reached Arrana, I had to leave and set off into the mountains alone. It didn’t matter if I had an escort. Only I knew the way to the Pool of Phaedra, and my magic would get me there. I just had to be careful and remember the route up so I could get back down the mountain without fault.
That night, we made it to Arrana. Smaller than the other cities, Arrana was also more heavily fortified, with a fifteen-foot wall snaking around its border. Like one of the keeps used thousands of years ago when the mages first came to Phaedra, the city had a moat, drawbridge, and armored guards. We had to wait for permission to enter, and as we crossed the sturdy bridge into the city, I frowned in disapproval. There were no wars in Phaedra. No need for city walls and moats and drawbridges. I understood the vojvoda was nervous of the mountain people of Alvernia—I was nervous of them and I had to walk right into their midst—but his fortification sent the wrong message. It isolated Arrana, made it a lone entity, separate from Haydyn’s Phaedra.
What must the people of Alvernia think? Or any people who crossed the border into Alvernia? It was unwelcoming and superior. Worse, it was aggressive.
This, too, would have to change.
This would never do, I thought glumly, watching Markiz Andrei follow the servant girl’s bosom with his eyes whilst his father, Vojvoda Andrei, tried to convince me that his son would be a brilliant match for Haydyn. I found it difficult swallowing my fish as I dined with them. I studied the junior Andrei as he smiled at me, and I bemoaned the vapidity behind his eyes. The poor boy wasn’t lascivious or cruel. He was just … silly, and … well, not very intelligent. He was so wrong for
my Haydyn. Haydyn needed someone as clever and passionate as she was, someone who stood up for her and to her.
Someone like Matai.
All of a sudden, I felt unbearably sad.
I let Wolfe and the vojvoda do all the talking. I smiled enough so as not to seem unpleasant and bored, but I was sure the vojvoda was puzzled as to why Haydyn would send an advisor on her behalf who had barely opened her mouth.
But I was buried by the troubles of Phaedra. Buried and useless. I needed Haydyn to wake up. I had needed her to wake up before she fell ill. I only hoped that she would once I provided the cure and told her all I’d learned. To begin with, marrying Andrei would be a terrible mistake.
So lost in my problems, I barely noticed that Wolfe had finagled it so that he was the one to walk me to my room. As we drew closer and his arm brushed mine, my awareness of him drew me out of my musings.
I glanced at him, experienced more than a twinge of desire, and looked away. We hadn’t talked or been this near to one another in some time. Not since Caera.
“In the morning, you and I will leave for the mountains.” Wolfe stopped and I drew to a halt, turning to him. We looked one another in the eye for the first time in days. “We’re going to pretend we’re taking a tour of Alvernia and its people, but in reality we’re going to retrieve that plant.”
I knew if I didn’t try to dissuade him after all we’d been through, he’d be suspicious. I had to give a little argument, even though I already had my plan at the ready. “Do you really think that’s wise … considering?”
“Considering?”
“Considering you hate me.” I held my breath, waiting for him to dispute it. I knew he cared. I just needed him to admit it.
Haven, I wished my heart would make up its mind!
I felt a sharp pain somewhere near the said organ when he shrugged. “It’s my duty.”
I bit back a hurt retort. “Fine. I want it noted that I dispute the idea. For future reference.”
“Noted.”
I nodded and turned to go into my room, disbelieving this would be the last thing I said to him before heading into the wilderness. I might never return.
I stilled as his hand wrapped around my upper arm. I glanced up nervously as he sidled closer, his eyes challenging me to stop him. I didn’t. I let him kiss me. I thought it would be a hard kiss meant to dominate, but instead he surprised me with a soft, seductive brushing of lips and tongue, meant to melt me. Even as he kissed me, giving me what I wanted, I ached with longing.
When he pulled back, Wolfe’s cheeks were flushed and he gazed at me again with that soft curl of his lip, bright gold in his blue eyes. “I want it noted that I don’t hate you. For future reference.”
Before I could stop it, a small smile tilted the corners of my mouth. “Noted. Although I must protest that you keep forcing unwanted kisses on me.”
“Unwanted indeed.” He raised a knowing eyebrow.
Arrogant knave.
I shook my head, feeling sad and happy at the same time. “Why do you persist, Wolfe?”
His grin was slow and wicked as he retreated. “Strategy.”
“Strategy?”
He cocked his eyebrow. “At first I thought imposed isolation would make you miss me—”
“Why, you arro—”
“But then I realized that it’s being near me you can’t resist. And there are only so many kisses you’ll take before you give in to me completely, Rogan.”
Ignoring the flush of excited heat that moved through me at his hoarse tone and serious expression, I gripped the handle of the bedroom door behind me and guffawed. “We’ll see, Captain. We’ll see.”
I slammed the door in his face, huffing at the sound of his cocky chuckle.
For a moment, all I could do was stare at myself in the mirror, touching a mouth that now tingled with the taste of Wolfe. I closed my eyes, hating that thrum in my body that never used to be there before he first kissed me.
I wasn’t even sorry for kissing him. I was thankful that our last moment together—before Wolfe truly did come to dislike me—was sweet, in that dysfunctional way of ours.
Completely discombobulated by him, or rather my muddled feelings for him, I scrambled about, ringing the bell for a servant and gathering some coins. Grateful when a young girl in rough servants’ clothing appeared, I explained what I needed and showed her the money. She stared at the coins in wonder. There was more money there than she probably earned in two years of hard work.
“Well?” I asked, my heart stuck in my throat.
For an answer, she scooped up the coins and pocketed them, grinning broadly. “I’ll help ye, my lady,” she replied in the soft burr of the Alvernians.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I went over again what I needed, and then waited for her return. She wasn’t long in reappearing, a few bundles in hand. In one was a pack with food supplies and a canteen of water. In the other was boy’s clothing, stolen from one of the stable boys. Hurriedly, the girl helped me into the trousers; they hugged my figure in a way that would make me blush if Wolfe ever saw me in them. I then pulled on the overlarge shirt, waistcoat, and warm overcoat to see me through the bitterly cold nights in the mountains. The boots she brought belonged to her—they were worn and soft, but still foreign to me, and I hoped my feet would cope in them.
Lastly, I pinned my long, thick locks in a bun and hid the hair under the woolen cap she brought. Hopefully, in the dim light, if I kept my head low, I could pass for a boy. If I removed the overcoat, no one would ever believe it. I just had to make sure I never removed it. Lastly, I stuffed the dagger Matai had given me into the pack.
I thanked the servant profusely, and then we hurried through the darkened house and out to the front gates where she had a horse ready and waiting.
Once mounted, I gave the house one last look. Wolfe was going to be furious. But I was counting on him not to be foolish enough to follow me into the mountains without the Guard. He knew my magic wouldn’t get me lost, but he didn’t know the way.
I sighed. I had to put all my trust in Lieutenant Chaeron. He wouldn’t let Wolfe leave without him.
Chapter 22
Fear wasn’t new to me.
I’d first encountered the feeling, with its jaw of sharp teeth and painful clawed grip, when Syracen killed my parents and I ran through the fields with my brother. For years, that fear never really went away. And it had shown up in little spurts these last few weeks, perhaps not as toothy as the first time, maybe not as adept at holding me down, but it had been there, taunting me.
Now it was back.
I was blind, galloping out of the city walls and down into the valley beyond Arrana. It took awhile for my eyes to adjust to the night, and with my heart already racing at the thought of getting caught, I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t upchuck all over my poor horse. But I held strong, my hands biting into the reins, as I widened my eyes, desperate for them to acclimate to the darkness. By the time I put Arrana at a fifteen-minute gallop behind me, I could see more than just shapes and shadows ahead.
I drew the horse to a stop, sorry that I didn’t know his name so I could soothe him better. I could feel his muscles tighten beneath me as he attuned to my tension.
The land before us dropped into a steep valley that stretched for miles, the mountains peaking over it in the distance.
I was all alone.
I snorted at the irony of it.
All I’d ever wanted was a moment of peace, to be truly alone, and now that I was, I was terrified. This land before me was alien and unknown. I didn’t know the towns and the people in them. My magic was the only thing keeping me together, that and the coat protecting me from the icy night air. I had never known it to be this cold at night during the summer months.
Stroking the horse’s face, I leaned over and murmured soothing words to him. His ear flicked against my mouth, tickling me, and he scuffed his hoof back, giving a little snort. He was ready. I smiled. At least I’d have him with me
for the journey through Silveran Valley—named so because it was the one area in Alvernia, other than Arrana, closest in temperament to the capital city. In Alvernia, that wasn’t really saying much. I reckoned it was called so more out of hope than reality. I trembled a little, thinking of the reports from the vojvoda that the valley people had grown more uncivilized.
I’d have to move through it inconspicuously, in a hurry.
With a jerk of the reins, we took off, the horse steady on his feet as we followed the steep trade road down into the valley. Once on level ground, we took off at a faster gallop; I hoped to put as much distance between Wolfe and me as possible. The last thing I needed was him catching up.
In the dark, I couldn’t see much. I wouldn’t have even if I’d wanted to, I was so determinedly concentrating on getting to those mountains. The trade roads were rougher in Alvernia, less traveled, and we stumbled a few times along the way.
Until my consideration for the horse overrode my need to reach my destination at speed.
I’d wear him out if I didn’t stop soon.
Every little noise I heard over our galloping made cold sweat slide down my back. I was thankful when the sun broke the horizon. It burst out over the mountains until the brownish-green rolling plains of the valley became visible. We grew closer to the mountains towering over the valley in the distance, mountains like monsters beckoning travelers into nightmare. Thick, brutish, looming trees the Alvernians called the Arans covered what appeared to be every inch of the mountains, the lushness of those deep, black-green trees a sharp contrast to the sickly pallor of the plains I was passing through. The mountain people of Alvernia lived among those trees, their homes shrouded by the darkness, their lives sheltered in ignorance and ungoverned isolation.
My stomach lurched and I pulled the horse to an abrupt halt. Thankfully I made it off the poor horse and to the side of the road before I vomited up last night’s fish.