Dark of Winter: A Between the Worlds novel

by Morgan Daimler

  “You also refused to promise not to try to escape,” he said sharply.

  “And you took my shoes,” she pointed out. “If you are that worried about it Sal, then I will promise you that this time I will go directly to the bathroom, pee, and come directly back for breakfast. Unless of course you’d like to escort me yourself.”

  He hesitated then nodded stiffly, “I trust your word Allie. Go on, then come back and join us to eat.”

  She couldn’t stop herself from rolling her eyes, but she turned and went quickly to the small bathroom before he could say anything else or her own mouth could get her into trouble.

  She quickly debated contacting Jess and Bleidd, again, but rejected the idea. There just wasn’t any time to talk now and she felt selfish disturbing them just to hear the sounds of their voices. Instead she took care of her toileting needs and contemplated whether or not she should try to make an escape on her own at some point or just keep waiting to be rescued. Glancing down at her socks she winced slightly and made a face. No, escape is probably a bad idea she thought to herself. So far things are pretty stable here and I know Jess, Bleidd, and the rest of the squad are on their way. Me running off into the Wildlands, without shoes, not even knowing which way to run, would just make this situation worse. My best bet for the moment is probably to hang tight where I am and help the guys as much as I can.

  When she emerged into the main room a few minutes later she found Sal’s eyes fixed on the entrance to the hallway. Well I guess you don’t trust me so much after all she thought feeling suddenly tired, but she went over and joined the two men at the table without a word.

  Anna set a plate down in front of her than joined them as well with a plate of her own. The eggs were good and the meat at least tasted like beef, whatever it actually was. She finished everything in front of her, much to Anna’s obvious delight. Sal continued to pick at his food, his mood stormy. Allie stood up and walked with her plate over to the sink, taking the opportunity to look out the window.

  It had stopped snowing some time the night before or early that morning but the sky was still overcast. A fresh foot of snow covered the ground and filled the evergreens surrounding the little house. Getting a better look outside today than she’d had the day before she could see another building adjacent to this one with a fenced in area around it; she assumed a barn. A flat area extended off between the towering trees which she guessed was a road. There wasn’t anything else to see though with all the snow, not even Cormac’s tracks from the day before.

  “Enjoying the view?” Sal’s asked, his tone grating on her nerves.

  “Yes actually,” she said. “It’s peaceful out there. Quiet. I’ve always liked the winter.”

  Her answer surprised him, she felt it. A moment later he was standing next to her by the sink. “Do you think so? It looks cold to me.”

  “Oh I’m sure it’s cold,” Allie agreed. “But it’s still pretty. This is the sort of day at home where I’d build a fire in the fireplace and curl up by the window to read a book.”

  He looked at her for a long time, watching her watch the scenery. “My father should be here tomorrow.”

  “Yes, I guessed as much.”

  “Guessed how?” he said, his voice sharp again, suspicious.

  “From your mood,” she said simply. She glanced at him and realized he was blushing. It made him look very young. She sighed. “I’d think you’d be happier. You succeeded didn’t you? Here I am, all kidnapped, ready to hand over. Isn’t that what you wanted? To use me to reclaim your place.”

  He didn’t say anything for a long time, just stood next to her looking out the window. Finally, “What I want is impossible. What I need is to keep all my limbs intact. Whether or not that will happen is going to depend on how angry he has been with me these past months and how badly he still wants you.”

  “So why kidnap me at all if you weren’t sure it would save you?”

  “It was my only hope,” he said simply, before turning and going back to finish his breakfast.

  Allie watched him go then turned back to the window. Damn it now I feel sorry for him. Don’t be an idiot Allie. Do not feel bad for the person who put you in this situation. If he gets tortured he deserves it, it’s not my fault. Still she felt uneasy and started wondering if there was a way she could help herself and Sal.

  ********************************

  Bleidd rose early the next morning, nodding to Brynneth who was standing near the entrance of the cave on watch. Bleidd walked over and joined him, looking out at the thick blanket of new snow that covered the woods around them. Jess and Tashlin were still sleeping although the sun was above the trees. He felt a restless urge to wake them but in truth they had pushed hard the day before and stayed up late discussing strategies and debating the little information they had about Allie’s situation. As eager as he was to get back on the trail he knew the fresh snow would make traveling harder and if the two younger elves needed rest better they get it while they could. For all any of them knew they could be facing a hard fight against unknown odds when they did finally find Allie.

  Glancing back he noticed the fire had died down, so he went and added more wood from the supply against the wall; although it may have made a good excuse to leave together for a bit he and Jess had gathered more than enough firewood while they were out as well. A little bit of magic once the wood was placed and the fire was back to its former cheerful self, popping and crackling as it warmed the space. A moment of staring into the flames stirred a memory and he went to Jess’s pack and pulled out a supply of porridge. Grabbing a water flask he returned to the fireside, conjured a small cauldron and began preparing breakfast for the group.

  Ah, I had forgotten how easy everything is here, how quickly the magic responds he thought to himself, conjuring a long wooden spoon to stir the mixture with. Living so long in the borderland I had gotten used to the watered-down energy there. Even pulling on the bond Allie created to amplify my magic isn’t like this. It is better than the ambient magic of Ashwood but this, ah, this is wonderful. There’s almost no effort in these simple things. Creating the barrier at the cave entrance and then later the second one in the other smaller cave he and Jess had found when they were out together – really little more than a shallow indent in the rock face, just big enough to suit their needs – should have left him tired today. But he felt good, and these extra little spells were no effort at all, despite being things that would have been difficult to manage in Ashwood.

  With a thought he changed the loose shirt and pants he had slept in for his new uniform, smoothing the soft wool of the tunic and then gently caressing the badge. I could get used to this he thought, the ridges and etching of the goldwork smooth under his fingers. I am not sure if Allie will be thrilled or furious, and I will have to find a way to quit my old job without burning any bridges there, but…for all that…I could get used to this. I was redeemed thanks to Zarethyn, and I had a sword again, thanks to Jess. But this, this I have done. And now my place is truly regained. I am someone who matters again, not just the former Outcast elf.

  He smiled, imagining his mother’s face if she could see him now, the son she had never wanted and who she had disowned when he had been Outcast. She had been quick enough to claim him back when he was redeemed, if only to lay claim to the only person who ever managed to survive such a thing and be redeemed from it, but he had never forgotten how quickly his family had turned from him when he needed them most. When he had visited them last year they had been cordial enough but they made it plain that the stain on his honor remained in their eyes. He was forgiven but the mistake was not forgotten. And now I am not only redeemed, but an adept mage in the Elven Guard again. And married, when mother swore no one would ever have me with my attitude and willful ways.

  Behind him Jess stirred, sitting up slowly. Bleidd turned to him still smiling, “Breakfast is ready, if you are hungry.”

  “Indeed,” Jess said, looking curiously at the cau
ldron, “It smells good.”

  Bleidd turned to Brynneth to let the healer know that the food was ready, feeling unusually cheerful. “Brynneth, whenever you would like to eat, I have made breakfast.”

  Brynneth nodded, heading back to grab his bowl. This is where I belong he thought to himself as Tashlin also began to stir in his bedroll. This is where I’ve always belonged.

  *********************************

  Sal wanted to get up and pace, to stand at the window and watch for his father, even though the message had said two days. He wouldn’t put it past Varessial to tell him it would be two days and then to show up early, just to throw him off balance. That was exactly how his father worked. It wouldn’t be a lie after all if he was saying two days meaning yesterday and today, not two days from when he answered the question. It made Sal’s stomach twist trying to guess the real meaning behind the simple words. Getting up and walking would have relieved some of the tension. Instead he sat in the chair closest to the front door and watched Allie who was sitting by the hearth, watching him.

  Everything had gone perfectly since the moment he’d knocked her out by her store. He’d driven to the edge of the city area and dropped Tom off, then driven out to Philip’s place without any problems. Philip had been willing to open the border passage for them in exchange for Allie’s car and some information from Sal. The information had been a risk; if his father found out that he was the one who had given Philip that particular knowledge then a bit of torture would seem like a kind punishment. But he had been fairly confident that Varessial would never work out who it had been, and the alternative was to be trapped in Ashwood which wasn’t an option under the circumstances. He had to get through into the Holding and contact his father on his own terms – if Urien had captured him at any point it wouldn’t have mattered that he had Allie with him. Once Philip had gotten him across he had headed straight east to a small village at the edge of the Holding. He’d gone to the only inn in the village, hiding Allie in the stable, thinking that he’d find some way to work things out as he went along. Luck had been with him there too, because before he’d had to work out how he’d pay for a room and sneak an unconscious woman in, he’d spotted Cormac in the inn’s common room. The Púca hadn’t appreciated being roused out of the small inn he was staying at just as the night’s entertainment had really gotten going, but Sal knew the trader owed his father a debt and played on that. The Púca had been quick enough then to agree to hitch his horses back up and take Sal and his still unconscious ‘guest’ out to his own home to stay. It should have been a day’s ride but Sal had bullied the lesser Fey into driving the horses hard through the darkness until they arrived.

  Everything has gone exceptionally well he brooded still staring at Allie and yet it feels wrong. Not just because she’s pregnant and I hadn’t realized. Father will be annoyed by that but at worst it’s a complication. Not even because she’s married to one of the Elven Guard. That’s a bigger concern, obviously, but father has such a low view of the Guard that I think if I play that right he’ll see this as us pulling one over on them, rather than having over reached ourselves.

  Allie noticed him staring and raised an eyebrow before going back to her favorite pastime here, watching the hearth fire. I should be happy he thought watching the firelight reflect off her hair, which was out of its usual ponytail. I succeeded, on my own with no help from Ferinyth. Once father gets here I’ll be back in his good graces, or at least off his hit list. I’ll go home. The idea gave him no happiness at all, instead his stomach twisted harder at the memories it brought up. Always the least of everyone around him, always the one given the most unpleasant duties, always the one catering to everyone else’s whims. His father’s personal servant for all intents and purposes, cleaning up the messes left behind in the wake of Varessial’s temper.

  He found his thoughts turning to his time in Ashwood, especially after Ferinyth disappeared. He’d been in hiding of course, but it hadn’t been so bad really. Alice had treated him well, even catered to him in her own way, flattered that someone as attractive and pleasant as Sal had been interested in her. He knew it had raised her status in the eyes of her peers to have a live-in boyfriend who was an elf, when she came from a social level where people were lucky to be able to say they’d had a single one night stand with the higher ranking Fey. And he hadn’t minded the children. Tending them had been much easier than most of the things he’d done for his father. I was just using them all he told himself, but the words range false and he was overcome with a wave of melancholy Gods I hope Urien didn’t hurt the children at least. They couldn’t tell him anything even if they wanted to, they knew nothing except that I was their mother’s boyfriend and I took care of them. Poor things they must be terrified, wondering where I went, what happened. Especially if things…didn’t go well with Alice.

  “Sal?” Allie’s voice broke into his spiraling depression, snapping him back to the present.

  He tensed, bracing himself for whatever she was going to say, not that he didn’t agree she had a right to be angry with him. “If you need to use the bathroom again, you don’t need to ask.”

  “Gee, thanks,” she said, stretching her feet out in front of her. Not for the first time he wondered how old she was. She looked close to his age, and at first he had assumed that like him she was barely out of childhood, but it had quickly become clear that in her world she was considered an established adult. She had an unnerving way of looking him directly in the eye when she spoke, which she was doing now, “Is there anything I can say to your father that might help your case? Since you said you weren’t sure if handing me over would be enough to save you now.”

  He struggled to keep his expression blank, furiously trying to work out not only why she didn’t seem angry with him any longer but why she suddenly and inexplicably seemed to care about his well-being. I am missing something here he thought desperately I should assume she is just a soft hearted fool, but she isn’t. Kind, perhaps, but not the sort to be manipulated with a sad story, or she wouldn’t have a successful business; even I know business owners have to be skeptical about people. I have seen her use dark magic, she says she is in the Elven Guard, whatever else she is, she can’t be that foolish, nor that soft-hearted. He took a deep breath. “Why should you try to help me?”

  “I told you before that I don’t want to see you tortured,” she said, finally looking away.

  “Yes, you did,” he agreed slowly. “but why risk yourself?”

  “I’m pregnant, how much risk is involved?” she pointed out pragmatically.

  “Allie, why help me at all though?” he pressed. “I’ve admitted that I’ve been watching you for months. I kidnapped you, stole your car, plan to hand you over to people who will do whatever it takes to get you to tell them what they want to know. What motivation could you possibly have to care at all about my well-being?”

  “You stole my car?” she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I really liked that car.”

  “At the time it was necessary,” he said, surprised by how sorry he felt.

  “Oh, I’m sure,” she agreed. “And it’s just a car. Sal, I don’t know if I can explain this, but I meant what I said before when I told you that I believed that you felt sorry for doing this. There’s all different kinds of regret and it’s easy enough to apologize without meaning that you actually feel sorry for hurting the person you hurt, but I think that you really do feel sorry for doing this to me. I believe that. And I believe that you wouldn’t have done it if you didn’t feel like you had to, if it wasn’t me or you. And maybe to someone else that wouldn’t be good enough justification, but for me it is. It doesn’t mean I’m happy about it, or that I wish it couldn’t have been different somehow. But I’ve been kidnapped before and it didn’t involve civilized treatment and it did involve torture – and believe me that Dark Court elf enjoyed every moment of it. You aren’t like that, and that matters a lot to me.”

  She’s talking about Fer
inyth and his brother Sal realized feeling uneasy about his failed attempt to kidnap her. Well she is right, I’m nothing like him. “Well as you pointed out you are pregnant. I can’t torture you.”

  “You didn’t know that at first, and you still didn’t do anything to hurt me,” Allie said calmly. “So I’m asking you again, what can I do to help you now?”

  Sal shifted uncomfortably, still trying to find the trap behind her words. In his experience elven women were not to be trusted. While Allie might be half human the fact that she had married an elf meant that she was further into elven culture than he had realized and he was unconsciously shifting her into the category of full elf, and had been since she’d revealed how connected she was to the Guard. Then something she had said a moment before sunk in, “What do you know about the Dark Court?”

  “What?” she said, paling, then looking away. “What do you mean?”

  “You just said ‘that Dark Court elf’ when you were talking about being kidnapped before,” he said standing and walking over to her. “Why would you say that? What makes you think he was Dark Court?”

  “Are you telling me he wasn’t?”

  “Are you telling me he was?”

  They locked eyes, but this time Sal refused to look down, alarm bells going off in his head. She was half-human and lived in a bordertown adjacent to a Holding that was entirely under Light Court sway, that had been so for a thousand years, long before the Sundering and the Wars. She shouldn’t know anything about the Dark Court, except as children’s stories and perhaps rumors. After the silence had become painful she said, “You don’t think the Elven Guard knows about the Dark Court?”

  For an instant he relaxed, because of course she was wrapped up in the Guard and they could easily have told her. Then he realized that she hadn’t actually said that, she’d answered with a question. His eyes narrowed. “Is that how you learned about the Dark Court? The Elven Guard told you?”