Sword of Mist

by Tara Brown

  “Mother!” Princess Alba shouted, “I refuse!”

  “You will go.” The queen’s tone made Lenny jump though she tried to hide it. “You will not make enemies of the Aster family.”

  “It’s ridiculous.” Princess Margit rolled her eyes, unmoved by her mother’s anger.

  Hilde sat quietly, her back straight and her eyes focused on the table so she didn't accidentally steal a glance at Lenny who was already staring at her.

  Lenny had never been so desperate to leave a room.

  “You are annoying our guests with your pettiness. We will change the subject to something more suitable.” The queen winked at Lenny. “At least allow the poor girls to become accustomed to you before you act yourselves.”

  The three of them laughed, forcing Hilde to smile, but Lenny wasn't certain what was happening.

  “Is it true, Lenny, you have employment on the docks?” Princess Alba asked a seemingly innocent question but Lenny knew better than to assume that.

  “Yes, my uncle owns a shipbuilding company and requires a diver to help with patch work—”

  “How fascinating,” Princess Margit said, intentionally cutting her off with the dry remark.

  “It's not, but I have wolfhounds to feed,” Lenny added, certain they would be impressed with that.

  “And, Hilde, do you work as well?” Princess Alba questioned, not giving a fig about the hounds.

  “No,” Hilde answered softly. “Lenny is the only ambitious one.” She smiled at Lenny who was planning her escape and Hilde could sense it.

  “Wolfhounds are not dogs you see in Dahleigh often,” Queen Saleen commented as she too took a pastry.

  “No,” Hilde agreed.

  “And are you two still planning to return home?” Princess Margit glanced at Hilde with her dark eyebrows lifted, questioning her.

  “Yes, I must go and pay my respect to our father.”

  “Of course.” The queen nodded. “We will all come.”

  “The whole court?” Princess Alba choked the question out.

  “Of course not.” The queen sighed. “A small party of us. You girls, me, guards. I haven’t had time to prepare the court for a trip.”

  “Will Lord Ivor be joining us?” Princess Margit inquired delicately. Her eyes didn't flicker to Lenny, and by the blush on her cheeks, Lenny wondered if the princess was asking for herself.

  “Yes. I believe he would enjoy the trip and we couldn't be safer than in his care.”

  “Does my mother know we will all be joining them in Blockley?” Hilde asked.

  “I made her aware of my intentions last night as she was boarding the carriage to go home with Amaya. As Wilfred’s godmother, it is my duty to pay my respect.” The queen sounded sincere in that.

  “Of course.” Hilde smiled. “I am excited for you all to see Blockley, even if the circumstances of the visit aren’t—well—”

  “Where exactly is Blockley?” Princess Alba asked.

  Lenny had many responses for that, most were questions about the type of ruling family that didn't know where their citizens lived. But she kept them to herself.

  It was a struggle to be certain.

  “In the South. We will leave tomorrow morning. And be back in time for the end of summer festivities,” the queen stated.

  Lenny couldn't believe her bad luck.

  And as far as she could tell, it was getting worse by the minute.

  Chapter 24

  By the third day of riding with the royal carriage, Lenny was convinced the gods were against her. She refused to ride in the carriage and instead, rode Asher alongside it. But they had to keep pace with the carriage filled with silly girls. Listening to them giggle, complain, and snore was wearing on Lenny’s patience. She imagined Hilde was close to the breaking point.

  Lord Ivor rode next to her, but his focus was occupied by their surroundings and his task of keeping the queen safe.

  He and a dozen guards made the trip feel as if they were part of an army.

  Lenny’s one grace every day was riding ahead and securing rooms for the party. The gallop made Asher happy and the freedom gave Lenny the strength she required to survive the remaining hours of daylight she would spend with them in inns.

  When they arrived at the third inn, the one in Pyle where Lord Ivor had made a fool of himself in front of her mother and sisters, Lenny blushed seeing him ride up.

  “Finally. I daresay my legs were beginning to twitch,” Princess Alba grumbled and climbed from the carriage with Lord Ivor’s assistance. “Another disappointment awaiting us, no doubt, wouldn't you say, Cousin?” she asked him.

  “No, Cousin. This inn is quite nice. I believe even you will enjoy it.” His reply was dull and lacking his usual humor.

  Hilde smiled sweetly as he helped her out. “Thank you, Lord Ivor.”

  “Of course.”

  “What is that smell?” Princess Margit asked as she climbed out, wrinkling her nose in disgust. Her eyes flickered to Lenny, who assumed she meant to suggest it was she who smelled. Lenny’s gaze narrowed, which the princess smiled at.

  “There’s a bog nearby. We’re quite close to the base of the Brown Mountains here,” Lord Ivor answered, again speaking as though it were a job and not a joy.

  “Lovely,” she muttered and walked to the front doors of the inn as a guard got the door and entered with her.

  “I think it’s quaint,” the queen said with a smile as she climbed out. “And I am grateful to be out of that carriage.” She took Lord Ivor’s hand and let him escort her to where Lenny was standing next to the door, watching the spectacle before her. Hilde and everyone had gone inside. Queen Saleen took Lenny’s dusty hand in hers and whispered, “This is why you are your mother’s favorite.” She squeezed and laughed, not knowing how mistaken she was.

  Lenny nodded, allowing her to believe she was correct.

  Lord Ivor furrowed his brow, but fortunately the queen couldn't see.

  When they were inside, Lenny hurried to the room she was sharing with Hilde. She closed the door and began washing up. She wasn't excited about the evening to come, but she was excited to lie on the bed for a moment. They were allowed an hour or two to nap before they had to ready themselves for dinner.

  Her shoulder was exactly as the physic had predicted, tense and sore from travel, which she hoped meant that she only needed to rest to make it better. And the moment she was on her back, lying still and taking deep breaths, Lenny noticed the pain subsiding.

  “You are so lucky not to be in that carriage,” Hilde whispered as she entered the room and locked the door behind her.

  “They’re awful,” Lenny said, not bothering to whisper. “The worst people I have ever met.”

  “Not the queen though, she seems lovely. And I feel sorry for her that her daughters are so wretched.”

  “She raised them. Isn’t there a saying Gran uses about nuts not falling far from the tree?” Lenny opened her eyes to see Hilde grinning. “I don’t trust her, not yet.”

  “You are evil.”

  “I believe you’re supposed to gasp my name then call me evil,” Lenny joked. “You are getting rusty, Hilde.”

  Hilde climbed onto the bed with Lenny, snuggling into her. “I am so grateful you came. I don't know how I will cope with them when you and Amaya are gone from court.”

  “I think Amaya and Josu should consider living in his family home near the castle,” Lenny confessed. “Or Mother should come and bring Aunt Mildred with her. You shouldn't be alone with them. I don't trust a single one.”

  “Nor do I.” Hilde lifted her head and met Lenny’s worried gaze. “Apart from Lord Ivor. For some reason I trust him, more so than I do my own husband to be.”

  “No.” Lenny shook her head. “Prince Landon is a good young man. I think if you can escape his family enough, you might have a blissful marriage.”

  “A love marriage?” Hilde asked.

  “Yes.” Lenny smiled, believing it possible. Where there was so
mething about Lord Ivor’s character that made him familiar and comfortable with both girls, Prince Landon had the same effect on Lenny.

  “I can’t believe we have five more days of this.”

  “We don't.” Lenny chuckled. “Lord Ivor has instructed the driver to push on, skipping inns and villages along the road. He’s been lying about the time at the queen’s behest. Apparently, the princesses don't bother with time. They’re so accustomed to everyone doing everything for them. You’ve been in the carriage four to five extra hours each day, cutting the duration we will be on the road.”

  “I thought it felt longer, but I assumed it was the company I have been keeping.”

  “Indeed, they are draining.” Lenny closed her eyes again.

  “Has Lord Ivor improved himself in your mind, or heart?” Hilde teased.

  “I will admit, the man has patience beyond what anyone would have expected. How he hasn't shouted at them even once is beyond me,” Lenny mumbled.

  “They’re trying to win him over. I’d say both are recommending themselves to him. Margit told me he is the most eligible bachelor in all of Dahleigh.” Hilde giggled. “They’re both so self-absorbed, they haven’t noticed he loathes them. Though I suspect Alba has noticed his regard for you.”

  “Great, just what I need to add to this catastrophe of a summer.” Lenny worried that either of those princesses taking notice of her would end badly.

  “It was meant to be the best summer of my life.” Hilde’s voice softened, “And you are correct. It’s the most miserable. And Wilf’s death doesn't feel real yet. The moment I am in Blockley and he is not, it will hit. I’m scared of that.”

  Lenny didn't add anything. She wanted to tell Hilde she should be scared. The pain of their loss was life altering. Lenny would never be the same.

  She knew that in her soul.

  The girls fell asleep, entwined in one another as they had done as children.

  Until a knock at the door startled Lenny.

  “Lenny?” Lord Ivor spoke through the crack of the locked door.

  It took her a second to comprehend where she was and what was happening. Had they overslept? Was it already two hours?

  “Coming,” she said, rubbing her eyes and sliding out from under Hilde’s arm. She slithered out of bed and crept to the door, opening it and stepping out to meet him in the hall so as not to wake Hilde or display her as she slept.

  “Sorry to wake you so abruptly,” he whispered. “But we have a problem.”

  She blinked and focused her eyes. Seeing the concerned furrow on his brow, she worried. “What is it?”

  “There’s been—an attack.”

  “What?”

  “Three of my guards and two horses. I—I heard the screams.” He paused, running his hands through his dark hair, and she noticed the cuts and blood stains on his wrists and clothes. “I don't know how to explain.”

  “You’re hurt.”

  “Most of this isn’t my blood.” He paled as he spoke quickly, “I heard screams and went running outside. It was too dark to see. Something was attacking them, my men.”

  “Something?” She squinted at his choice of words.

  “Yes, a beast. I’ve never seen anything like it.” He wasn't making sense.

  “Like a bear from the Brown Mountains? It is summer, it’s the season they forage in—”

  “No!” He grew agitated. “Not like a bear. Like a wolf that walked on its hind legs, a man but also a wolf.”

  “Did you hit your head?” She stood on her tiptoes to inspect him further.

  “No.” He put his hands up, shouting at her. “Lenny! Listen to me. It was a beast, I saw it in the moonlight. Like something from the legends.”

  “You mean the legend of the lupine?” she asked, fighting a grin. “That’s outrageous.”

  “Yes, I know that. I am aware of that. It’s completely outlandish, is what it is. But I know what I saw. It slaughtered two of my men before I arrived. I fought it but it managed to slay a third. It moved so quickly, hiding in the shadows.” His eyes widened and the fear in them was palpable. His lip quivered as he tried to speak, “It-it-it—it had eaten two of the horses already. They were dead on the trail where the men discovered it before also dying. Bellies ripped open with massive bite marks, the like I have never seen.”

  Lenny shivered. “This is im—”

  “Impossible. Yes, I know.” He lowered his gaze to hers. “I was afraid I had gone mad, but the others saw it too. We have to leave, now!” He was hysterical.

  “Now?” Lenny couldn’t believe this. “But—” His words sunk in. “Is Asher all right?”

  “Yes, he was spooked is all. He’s fine. We’re going to tell my cousins and Hilde that it’s brigands and the inn isn’t safe.”

  “Does the queen—?”

  “Of course, I told my aunt first. I said we have to leave at once. She agrees. We will ride all night and day and arrive in Blockley tomorrow at midnight, if we’re lucky.”

  “All right.” Lenny nodded, certain that Lord Ivor was not the sort of man to make something up such as this. “What do I do?” she asked, still groggy from her nap.

  “Pack your trunk, wake your sister, and meet in the lobby. Hurry!” he insisted, his eyes wild.

  “I am.” Lenny opened the door, stifling another yawn. She didn't move quickly, not trying to downplay his worry but struggling with the notion there was a lupine in the woods eating men.

  She didn't doubt that he saw something but there had to be a rational explanation. She’d seen bears walk on their hind legs before.

  But what if he were right—what if it was a lupine?

  She grabbed the small trunk she and Hilde were sharing for the trip. Lenny hadn’t arrived in Waterly City with much, and Hilde had been restricted on what she was allowed to bring. Fortunately, they had hardly touched anything.

  “Hilde,” she whispered, still yawning. “You have to wake up.”

  “Is it morning?” Hilde muttered from the pillow.

  “No, we’re leaving. There are—brigands.” Lenny shook her head, sounding ridiculous.

  “Tell Lord Ivor to kill them and be done with it.” She waved her sister off.

  Lenny groaned. “He can’t. There are—too many of them. The queen is waiting for us downstairs.”

  “Fine,” Hilde grumbled and yawned. She rolled over and stretched, patting her hair down while blinking her eyes open.

  A scream tore through the silence of the inn.

  Hilde’s head jerked to the sound.

  A roar came next, so loud and violent Lenny’s skin crawled.

  Hilde’s eyes twitched to meet Lenny’s. “Brigands?”

  “Lupine, I didn't want to sound crazy,” Lenny whispered. “Ivor saw it. He said they’ve eaten two horses and three guards.” She started to panic too.

  “Eaten?” Hilde stood, her weary expression was replaced by terror as another scream filled the air.

  “Run!” Lenny opened the door and hurried down the hall, hoping Hilde was on her heels. The halls were filled with people. It was chaos and noise, screaming and roaring and horses neighing.

  Lenny bolted down the stairs, ignoring the agony in her shoulder.

  A scream came from the left when Lenny got outside the front door. In the lantern light, she could see a woman running toward her. Something dark and furry leapt at her, snatching her back to the shadows from where she’d come.

  Lenny ran hard for the carriage where the footman was holding a torch. She flung the trunk inside and turned, seeing her sister paused in the glow of the doorway. She was frozen, staring at the shadows to the right. Lenny followed her gaze, seeing yellow eyes glowing in the darkness. Yellow eyes she recognized.

  “Hilde!” she screamed and ran for her sister. Light glinted off something. Lenny scooped the sword up from the dirt, her hand slipping in the wet, thick blood on the hilt. She squeezed harder, bringing it in front of her, holding it like she had the wooden swords she fought Wilf
red and Wen with, all those years ago when they played. She skidded in front of her sister as the beast leapt from the shadows.

  Lenny screamed, “RUN!” to her sister. As the monster’s gaze fixed on Lenny and her sword, she reacted in a way she hadn’t expected. She ran at it, lifting the sword and screaming as she charged.

  The beast bounded at her but Lenny didn't back down. She ran faster at the shadows, meeting it in the middle. It swung at her with its massive claws, but she spun and sliced, bringing her sword down hard. The sound of the metal hitting the flesh was a first for her. She was scared, terrified, but something drove her on, desperation and a whisper inside her head, telling her what to do next. She lifted the sword again and used her body weight as she spun to drive the sword into its neck as it landed on a single front paw, screaming from the pain of the missing limb.

  When her sword was buried deep in its thick hide, she twisted the hilt, jerking it.

  The monster dropped, its blood and life quickly flooding the ground.

  Another scream drew her gaze.

  Lenny pulled the sword from the dead animal in a swift motion and ran toward the screaming woman. A creature like the one she had just killed was eating a man.

  Its face jerked and it growled at Lenny when she came near. She held the sword out as if it had somehow become an extension of her arm.

  The creature rose from the ground where it ate, standing on its hind legs, just as Ivor had said it would. It roared at her.

  “Lenny!” Ivor screamed from somewhere behind her, but Lenny ignored him and ran at the beast. It lunged at her, but she faked to the right and moved to the left, stabbing into the side of the monster, straight into the lungs as deep as she could drive the blade. Its roar was cut off as it wheezed and dropped to the ground, collapsing.

  Lenny left the sword in its side, letting go and stepping back.

  Her hands shook and her heart raced and she had no idea what had come over her.

  The monster’s eyes rolled into the back of its head and its blood-covered tongue dropped limp from its snout.

  Lenny stared in disbelief as the monster began to shake and twitch, though it was dead. The fur and claws receded, leaving flesh, a man’s flesh, and all the lupine traits had vanished.