Between the Water and the Woods

by Simone Snaith

  “We should get on the road again,” Fish spoke up.

  “You didn’t get to wash,” Emeline realized aloud. Fish smiled and patted her arm.

  “That’s all right, heart. I’ll live.”

  Dada collected the boys, and the five of them wandered to the wagon. Dale and Aladane glanced back at the knight, reluctant to leave, but Emeline wanted nothing more than to lie down under a blanket. The night was cold, and she shivered as she tossed her things into the wagon.

  “Did you see that knight’s face? He looks as young as my sons,” Fish was saying.

  Before Dada could reply, a voice called out from the inn. Innish was hailing them from the doorway.

  “Yes?” Dada asked, surprised.

  “Sir Reese says we shall escort you to the capital!” Innish’s voice rang clear in the night air. Emeline stared sleepily, not sure she had heard him right. “If you can wait till the morning, that is! Rellum Sapient is too tired to travel now.”

  Emeline looked at Dada and Fish in disbelief. They were stunned as well, but not nearly as much as Dale and Aladane—the boys broke into wild grins, gaping at each other. Were they now going to travel with a Lash Knight?

  “…Certainly! Thank you!” Dada managed to answer. Innish disappeared back inside, leaving them standing by the wagon, still in shock.

  “Bless water!” Aladane sat on the ground.

  “Bird!” Fish said, staring at Dada. “What d’you reckon? Do you think he wants us as witnesses to all that?”

  Dada frowned in thought. “Witnesses? Yes…Maybe…But we saw the same things that he and Innish saw, and I’d guess their testimony is worth more than ours….”

  “Well, I don’t want to be involved in any of it,” Fish said. “But we’ll be a lot safer if we travel with those two, if anything else happens.”

  “I agree,” Dada said quietly.

  Dale sank down next to Aladane and leaned on him, overwhelmed. Emeline patted his dark head to reassure herself that he was all right.

  “Do we have enough payts for a room?” Dada asked, digging into his pockets.

  “I think that woman’ll give us a discount, with the children looking so tired and scared,” Fish offered.

  “I’m not scared,” Dale said with a huge yawn.

  Before long, they were crowding into one bedroom, chilly and narrow with only two beds. It felt odd to be up so high, on the second floor of the tall brick building. Emeline peered out the large window into the night as Dada spread blankets on the floor: The moon lit up the Braedle Road below, but it was empty and quiet.

  “Bird, you and the children take the beds,” Fish said, sparing a look of resentment for Aladane. Ignoring the glare, the boy flung himself onto one of the beds with relief.

  Emeline climbed into the other one with Dale. The bed was creaky and the mattress was thin, but it was a welcome softness compared to the wagon floor. She put her arm around Dale and he curled against her with a sigh.

  “I’m so glad you’re safe,” she whispered, squeezing him. “Now don’t snore.”

  * * *

  Emeline was last up, still shaking off clinging dream images of vines and underwater flowers—not lilies, but fiery, brilliantly colored flowers that she’d never seen before—while she brushed her hair. Sun shafted in through the room windows.

  “I’ll go down to the stable,” Fish told Dada. “And get the horses ready.”

  “Do you think the lady will make us breakfast if we look scared?” Aladane asked Emeline.

  “I think she’s probably tired of us. We’ve got our own food anyway,” she told him, yawning.

  “Al, we’re being escorted by a Lash Knight,” Dale said with a grin. “We can’t keep him waiting.” Aladane grinned back and the two of them tore out of the room, leaving a couple of towels behind. Dada scooped them up, irritated, and followed.

  Emeline dressed and then hurried after them down the large staircase. The lobby was sharp and clear in the morning light: Its brick walls were blackened and stained in patches, and the floor was unswept, scuffed with footprints from the chase the night before. She remembered what the knight had said about not recommending the inn to anyone. Maybe he’s used to fancier places in the capital.

  A young blond woman stood near the front, leaning on the counter and tallying a handful of payts. She wore a ragged dress and her feet were bare, but she was very pretty. She glanced up as Emeline passed and gave her a friendly smile.

  “Look at the village girl,” she said cheerfully. “Men would pay through the nose for you.” Emeline frowned at her, confused, and she laughed. “Didn’t you know that?”

  Dada came back in through the door, looking impatient. “There you are,” he said, grabbing Emeline’s hand. “You sure are in a dream this morning.” He gave the blond girl a wary look and she blew him a kiss. Harrumphing, he dragged Emeline out the door.

  Outside, Fish and the boys sat in the wagon, looking expectant. Emeline hurried to climb into the back next to Dale, who was staring out at the road ahead of them.

  She had to stare too. There was a small, ornate steam-carriage there, puffing clouds out of pipes in the back. It was painted the same blue as the Sapient’s cloak, its wheels and doors silver-gilt. A thin young man in simple black livery sat at the front of the carriage in the driver’s box, one hand on a large wheel and the other on a handle crank.

  With a start, she saw that Loddril—bound hand and foot—was lying across the top of the carriage, strapped in among the luggage cases. She supposed that made sense. He had to be brought to the capital, and he certainly couldn’t sit inside with the Sapient he’d tried to murder. But he was in for a long, rough ride up there with the baggage.

  Nearby, Sir Reese and Innish sat on horses jet black and larger than Ma’am Kayley’s, which snorted at them. The knight no longer wore his cloak, and his armor shone like polished black stone in the sun. He held his helmet under one arm, and his long black whip was coiled on his hip. An engraved symbol on his breastplate reflected the light: It was a perfect circle.

  He turned to gaze sharply at Emeline, as if he hadn’t really noticed her before. In the sunlight, she saw that he had bright green eyes and striking features to match his build: a straight nose, a strong jaw, defined cheekbones. She met his stare hesitantly, wondering if he was angry that she’d taken the longest to get ready. But she could not read his expression.

  He brought up his helmet and shoved it down onto his head. Then he turned his horse around and spurred it forward, Innish following. Behind them, the carriage driver pulled on the handle crank and the impressive contraption sputtered into motion.

  “Look at that. How does it work?” Fish asked as he slapped the reins to make the horses follow.

  “It must have some kind of contained fire,” Dada said uncertainly. “And some water that it boils into steam.”

  As they spoke, Emeline noticed a few women standing in doorways or on porches, waving to passing men. She thought of the smiling blond girl in the inn and winced. She was beginning to understand why Dada was concerned about her. Maybe the world outside Equane was more dangerous for women than she thought.

  Don’t talk to any strangers, heart. Stick close to your folk.

  “I hope we get to ride in a steam-carriage at the capital,” Aladane said, with his mouth full of breakfast bread.

  “Imagine—a Sapient traveling with us,” Dada mused. “I suppose Sir Reese must have some idea who wanted him dead.”

  “Probably the less we know about that, the better,” Fish replied darkly.

  soon as they left Blyne, they found themselves at the foothills of the Spine. It was a huge, craggy range, blue-shadowed and steep. The forest that spread over the slopes was covered in mist, while the peaks were patched in a brilliant white that could only be snow.

  “I wish we could talk to Sir Reese and Innish
,” Dale said, trying to see past the steam-carriage to the riders.

  “How do you think a boy that age became a Lash Knight, anyway?” Fish asked Dada. “I mean, apart from his size. Shouldn’t he still be a squire?”

  “It doesn’t seem likely that a squire would be involved in the rescue of a Sapient,” Dada commented.

  “He’s got a symbol on his armor,” Aladane said. “He has to be a real knight.”

  “Maybe he’s special,” Dale said, sounding pleased with the thought. “Maybe he’s so good that he beat all the others his age.”

  Emeline thought of how true Reese’s aim had been with the whip. Maybe so.

  At midday, the Sapient’s carriage slowed in front of them. Rellum’s small white head popped out of the side window, and Innish trotted up to speak to him. A moment later, the guard nodded and rode over to the wagon.

  “A few miles down the road there’s a turn-off toward the Hawking River,” he told them. “Rellum Sapient wishes to stop at the lodge there.”

  Emeline’s heart quickened at the thought of water plants, cooled by river spray and glistening with damp. Her palms warmed.

  But was now really the time for magic? With a Sapient here?

  “All right,” Fish said. “What for?”

  “For lunch,” Innish said stiffly. He wheeled his horse around and rode back up to the front.

  “Well, my, my!” Fish said, and Dada laughed. “Some of us can just eat while we ride.”

  “He’s an old man,” Dada said, smiling. “Traveling must be hard on him.”

  “Inside that moving cottage?” Fish snorted. “Life must be pretty different in the capital.”

  “We might as well catch a few fish while we’re there. Add to our supplies,” Dada said, and the prospect of fresh fish cheered them all up immediately.

  Before long, Emeline could hear the faint roar of rushing water. The steam-carriage turned onto a wide, stony road branching off the Braedle and they followed, rattling along in the direction of the mountains. She gripped the wagon’s side.

  Suddenly, the way opened onto a remarkable view: The woods curved back from a wide belt of rushing, tumbling water, its rapids white as boiling milk. This was the Hawking River, which cut through the Spine and disappeared in the trees to the east. A fresh, clean smell of mud and mist filled the air, and on the riverbank sat a low, half-timbered building.

  “Look how fast it is!” Dale exclaimed. The river was loud, crashing and swirling against rocks in frothy eddies. It was at least twice the width of the Braedle Road.

  Emeline’s eyes were drawn across the water to the dense trees on the other side. They were eerily quiet and still beside the busy river. Watchful, almost.

  Were there Dark Creatures behind those trees? Eyeing them from across the water? She looked back at the old wooden lodge and wondered how its builders were brave enough to get lumber from the forest.

  Sir Reese and Innish were dismounting in front of the lodge. The carriage slowed to a stop behind them, puffing steam, and Fish stopped the wagon in turn. Emeline gasped as Loddril’s head lifted briefly on the carriage roof; she’d forgotten he was there, buried in the luggage.

  Aladane and Dale practically vaulted out of the wagon to get to the riverbank, trailing a fishing net behind them.

  “Emeline, make sure they don’t fall in and drown?” Dada asked, exasperated. “I need to feed the horses.”

  “I’ll try!” She got down quickly and ran after them, glancing at the carriage as Rellum Sapient stepped out. He sized up the lodge with a weary look and wrapped his lush cloak more tightly around himself.

  She reached the wild Hawking River and the two wild boys cavorting at its edge. Pulling up her skirts, she plodded through the mud and reeds to join them, river spray catching her deliciously in the face.

  There were reeds everywhere. They weren’t pretty like her lilies—they were just green stalks—but her fingers tingled with a familiar anticipation.

  She looked at the boys—Aladane was helping Dale shake out his fishing net; neither of them was watching. No one was watching, in fact. She couldn’t resist.

  Holding her breath, she reached an eager hand out toward the reeds. A shot of heat raced down her arm, and one of them sprang toward her.

  “Emeline!” Dada shouted. She jumped and put her hands behind her back as he and Fish came through the muddy grass, carrying fishing poles and food bundles. “Don’t lean out over the water, heart.”

  Aladane gave a cry, and they turned to see his meager net disappear off into the rapids. Fish laughed, the sound echoing out over the water.

  “I told you the weights weren’t heavy enough!” Dale said.

  She eyed the long reed that had stretched toward her. She’d made it do that, she knew. How close did she have to be to make it grow? No one was watching her. She took one step back, and then another, and then, surreptitiously, held out her hand.

  For a moment, nothing happened. Then the reed pushed itself up slowly, twisting a little as it reached for her. She lowered her hand, slowly, breathlessly, and the reed drooped and came to rest on the ground. Her arm hummed like a just-plucked harp string.

  “Em, aren’t you hungry?” Dada and Fish were spreading a blanket over the grass and laying their things down. “Have some bread to hold you over.”

  She wheeled around and hurried back to them, plopping down. Her mind raced: How wet did a plant have to be for her magic to work? If a tree was wet from rain, could she move the branches?

  And how long before she had to tell someone?

  She accepted the bread that Dada handed her in silence, watching as Fish assembled the fishing poles. Soon both men were casting lines.

  A waft of something fatty cooking floated by. She looked back at the river lodge, her stomach growling. Whatever Rellum Sapient was eating had a rich, meaty smell; it was something she’d never tasted.

  As she gazed at the lodge, the large black figure of Sir Reese emerged. Helmet-less and glove-less, he strode toward the carriage with something that looked like bread in his hand, tossing it up to Loddril on the roof. The sun was bright on his fair hair and dark armor. In an idle fashion, he started toward the river.

  He stopped close to her, frowning at the little fishing group with his arms folded. Fish hooted, swinging a medium-sized grayling out onto the bank; it flipped and flopped on the mud, flashing in the sun a bit like Sir Reese. The knight made a disgusted sound, muttering something under his breath.

  “Yes, sir?” Emeline asked shyly, rising to her feet.

  “Fish is for a man with no sense of taste,” he said.

  She blinked in surprise. The idea that someone might dislike fish had never really occurred to her.

  “Everyone eats fish in Equane,” she told him.

  “What a charming place it must be. I’ll have to go sometime.” He looked out over the river, not even meeting her eyes.

  Emeline stared at him. She had never heard anyone sound so biting and yet so blithe at the same time. Perhaps she misunderstood his tone.

  “Have you always lived in the capital?” she ventured politely.

  “No,” he replied coldly. “But I doubt you’ve heard of where I’m from.”

  Emeline bristled this time. He was insulting her. If all Lash Knights were this rude, then boys had no reason to worship them.

  “Must be somewhere they don’t teach manners,” she blurted without thinking.

  Then she stiffened, realizing she had just insulted one of the king’s knights. Was that a terrible offense? Was there a penalty? She saw with dismay that he was glaring at her.

  “Manners are about as useful as a trapdoor in a boat,” he said with some contempt. His gaze turned back to the river. “That’s the first thing you learn outside of the village.”

  There was no mistaking the condescension in this remar
k, and she scowled. He chuckled, surprising her, and she saw that Aladane had fallen backward onto his rump, yanking on Dada’s fishing rod.

  Sir Reese caught his breath abruptly, his eyes now on Dale. The boy’s sleeves were rolled up and his armbands were visible as he wound the crank on the fishing rod. Sir Reese turned back to stare at Emeline, his expression altered.

  “Are you Keldares?” he asked. The disdain had vanished from his tone.

  “Our mama was,” she told him, and pushed up one of her own sleeves. Her armband glittered rose-gold in the sun.

  He looked away, frowning, but as he watched her father and brother, his features softened. She was surprised how much it changed his face.

  “Are there Keldares where you’re from?” she asked.

  The knight gave her a sidelong look with his sharp green eyes. “For someone so concerned with manners, you ask a lot of questions.” The disdain was back, and Emeline gritted her teeth in disgust.

  “I was not aware that two questions were a lot,” she said, attempting to match his tone. Then she gathered up her skirts and stomped away to join her family.

  Dale turned to show her his catch, then practically jumped out of his skin at the sight of Sir Reese. The others noticed the knight then too, but he turned away from them and began to walk among the rocks.

  “Was he talking to you, Em?” Dale demanded, wide-eyed. “What did he say?”

  Emeline considered for a moment and decided not to disappoint him. “He hates fish,” she said. Dale looked surprised.

  “How could anybody hate fish?” Aladane exclaimed.

  “I’d like to ask him a few questions about the capital, if he’s out here walking around,” Dada said, setting his pole down.

  “He’s not very friendly,” Emeline warned him.

  “Lash Knights aren’t in the business of being friendly!” Fish declared, dragging his catch over to join them. “Let’s start a fire and get these cooking.”