Fire and Gold (Sisters of the North Book 1)

by Mara Amberly

  Governor Arani decided he would make the journey that night, but he refused to let his brother Luca travel with him. Luca was older now and self-sufficient in most ways, but he could still grow impassioned with ease and had a temper that sometimes got the better of him. Cerus respected who his brother had become, but with the situation dangerous, he was reluctant to place Luca in a courtly setting. Some men were made for such places. Cerus was not, but his brother was most certainly not. He didn’t think that Luca would feel especially left out once he was occupied with a task that included exploring the city and meeting its women. Cerus would just need to overcome his inclinations to meddle in matters of politics, where possible.

  Cerus found his younger brother in his inn room alone. Luca was sitting at a desk, reading through a book when Cerus knocked on the door and opened it.

  “Brother, what have I told you about opening the door? I might not have been alone.”

  Cerus merely shrugged. “What do I care? Is that a book you’re reading?”

  Luca smiled, “well spotted.”

  Cerus sat down on the side of the bed, amused.

  “I have decided that I must go meet with King Merrion to discuss the situation that brought us here,” Cerus said with a grimace. The window offered no view of the temple, and yet he found it hard to draw his eyes away, knowing what lay out there. “I believe the Nemorans may have plans to either take the city or assassinate its King,” he added.

  Luca’s eyebrows rose in surprise. It wasn’t something you heard every day. “Time to leave?”

  Cerus rubbed his chin. “Time for me to leave. There is no love lost between King Merrion and I. The man should never have been given leadership, especially over a whole kingdom, but a Nemoran on the throne would be so much worse.”

  Luca nodded in agreement. “There would only be one in particular.”

  “Yes, Jarlath. The Nemorans don’t need the kind of power they would have if they gained control over the King’s armies. I’m going to talk with him Luca, if I’m not too late for that as well.”

  Luca gave this strategy some thought and set the book down. “If they are planning a coup of some sort, then that would place you there at potentially the most dangerous of times. Do you need someone to watch your back?”

  Already anticipating this response from Luca, Cerus grinned. His brother was quite selfless in his own way. “I’ve decided I’ll leave at first tide but it would be my preference to go alone.”

  Luca looked unsure, “why is that, brother? You might be best having someone there.”

  This was where Cerus would need to do the convincing. “It will be a delicate matter of diplomacy, and quite honestly, I don’t want you there right now. If I don’t make it off Kalle Demorre Island, you need to lead Haledor in my place. More than likely it will be a straightforward visit, complicated by long waits and red tape. I wouldn’t worry.”

  Luca looked uncertain, especially when Cerus started talking about leading Haledor in his place! It seemed a ridiculous thing to say when Cerus was standing here, and Luca knew him to be an expert swordsman, but greater men had been slain. “So say I stay here, what should I do until you return?” Nothing?

  “Keep an eye out for trouble and gather information without asking too many questions. My suggestion would be to visit the taverns in the city and the brothels.”

  Luca gave his brother a meaningful smirk in response.

  “Don’t drink too much in case you speak your mind too readily, but it’s a tactic that you could use on others. People love to talk but be aware; some may be spies or they might be listening. Were the situation reversed, I’d have eyes on us already.”

  Luca agreed. “I wasn’t born yesterday. I’ll be careful and learn what I can. I can think of no strategy that would suit me so well, but you probably already know that. I’ll leave the diplomacy to you.”

  Cerus was relieved to hear this. He thought it would take more to convince Luca. Cerus knew he would need to dress for his visit and prepare. He sighed at the necessities that would be required so as not to shame Haledor, though south-westerners usually expected Haledorans to be rough around the edges.

  They may have read too many romanticised stories of Haledoran rogues sweeping Kallean women off their feet and carrying them off to their desert hideaways. It would be amusing to do just that, if only to create some literary accuracy, but he had more serious concerns. Cerus bid his brother goodnight and returned to his own inn room. Some of his possessions were still on board the ship, but he didn’t intend to be on the island for long, unless the King kept him waiting or something happened. Cerus didn’t have endless time to waste on an arrogant fool monarch, but this was important and it was necessary to treat it as such.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  It was dark when Alexa awoke. Her back hurt from sleeping on the hard ground and her feet still ached from the walking. “Urrghhhh,” she whimpered as her returning awareness told her how cold she was. She’d slept uncovered, with her blanket turned into a makeshift bed. It took her some time in waking to realise that Hermea hadn’t woken her for her watch. Maybe it wasn’t time yet, but she had a feeling that it was later than it should’ve been. Alexa looked around but she didn’t see any sign of Hermea.

  Brigita and Cassia still slept, so either Hermea was still on her watch or something had happened. She didn’t want to wake the other ladies unnecessarily, so Alexa rose from her bed and looked quietly around the camp. She thought about calling out, but she was reluctant when it would involve waking the others or potentially alerting anyone who might be nearby to their presence. Alexa ventured close to the road. She could distantly see a small cluster of buildings, one of which was likely the inn. The mountains loomed like darker shadows in the distance, but she couldn’t pick out their features at night.

  Her decision made, Alexa returned to the camp site, though not without checking through the forest more first. There were still no signs of Hermea, so far as she could tell. Alexa softly called for her, but her calls went unanswered, and the sound must’ve travelled more easily than she’d expected, because Cassia and Brigita were woken by the sound of her voice.

  “What’s going on? Is she missing?” Brigita asked, looking around the camp site to get her bearings.

  It had taken Alexa this long to notice, but the cloth Hermea had slept on was gone and so was her sling bag and possessions.

  “She’s taken off?” Cassia asked, rising sleepily to her feet.

  “Wait, what’s this?” Brigita was standing by now, and had something in her hand.

  “What is what? I don’t understand,” Cassia answered. “A note?”

  They crowded round to read it. A small ball of fire flared to life in Cassia’s hand, and she raised it above the note like a candle. It didn’t burn her skin at all. The note was written in charcoal on an otherwise blank piece of paper that appeared to have been torn from a book.

  “I’m sorry,” it said, “but I want to return to my family. I wasn’t a priestess yet. I am going back to Kalle. Good luck.” It was signed ‘Hermea’.

  Brigita sighed, and looked around the forest. It seemed darker now and more foreboding with a source of light so near. “It might be for the best,” Brigita said.

  Cassia shook her head, “oh really? What happens if they kill her, or catch her and question her? She knows everything, like where we’re going. She even knows what the survivors from the Temple of Victory are planning!”

  Brigita disagreed, “she was not with us for long and the Nemorans who kidnapped the sisters in Kelbani will be expecting a rescue attempt. They wouldn’t learn much from her. Only that we are intending to join them, but that in itself isn’t so surprising.”

  Alexa looked a little saddened. “I don’t think she should’ve done that. Why didn’t she just leave when we were in Kalle? It’s dark - when did she write the note?”

  There was no answer, because the other ladies didn’t know.

  “I didn’t even have time to t
each her the message spell. She won’t be able to reach us if she needs help,” Alexa said.

  Cassia was annoyed, but for different reasons. It was a bit selfish, she knew, but if she’d known Hermea was leaving, she could’ve given her a message for Josef. Now there was no possibility of that, unless there was time to find her. “So you’re not even going to look for her?” Cassia asked.

  Brigita shook her head, “she’s made her choice. I know it isn’t what you want to hear, but it is what it is.”

  Alexa didn’t know what to say, but she felt like she’d failed in some way, oversleeping.

  “Hermea may have been gone for hours. It looks to me like an hour or two later than we were planning to sleep. I’m sorry.”

  The moon was partially blotted out by the trees, but it glowed distantly, high in the sky now.

  “Maybe we should go down to the inn on the road now,” Alexa said. “My canteen of water is almost empty and it could be a full day’s travel before we have the means to top these up again. They should have a water barrel outside, so we wouldn’t even need to go in, but we could use the supplies.”

  Brigita knew it would likely be necessary, but it still worried her. “Bar staff can be questioned, as can anyone who’d have reason to linger in such a place. We’re women travelling alone and that might draw unwanted attention.”

  Cassia thought she might blend in better than her sister or Brigita on account of being less-serious looking. She wasn’t sure they’d understand why, or how, or where she was coming from with that, but she was certain of it all the same. Not that her red hair didn’t tend to attract a different sort of attention. There was a chance that Hermea was down there as well. “I’ll go. I think I can handle myself well enough and I can deal with rough and tumble men. Ask my sister. She’ll confirm that for you.”

  Alexa smiled, “oh yes, my sister can at that.”

  Brigita grimaced. “It doesn’t change what we are, ladies. Remember that.”

  Cassia nodded, “of course, Sister Brigita. If I go in alone, yes I might draw attention, but not so much as the three of us will, looking cautious and keeping an eye out for trouble.”

  Alexa agreed, because it made sense. “Cassia has a point. Maybe mix in with some other travellers, and it’s likely no one will bat an eye.”

  Cassia grinned, “my thoughts exactly. Admittedly I am drawn by the notion of a hot meal and if I bring out a number of these, it may draw attention, but I’ll see what I can do. What do we need?”

  Alexa looked at Brigita and back at her sister, “food and water; that’s it for now. Aside from that, it will depend on our route into the mountains. If we want to avoid climbing, we’re going to need to take the main pass. It’s also going to get colder, but for the time being, I think we’re alright.”

  Brigita wasn’t worried about that quite yet. “Coats would weigh us down and slow our journey. The weather isn’t that cold just yet. Cassia can summon a fire if we need one, but I would suggest we avoid that as much as possible once we’re on higher ground, especially at night. See what you can get there Cassia, but try to avoid the wrong kind of attention. We could use a package of cooked meat to bring with us for the trip.

  I’m going to stay close and I would advise Alexa to do the same, in case you run into trouble. If we cross the field and come down behind the inn, we will be nearby if you need us. You know your fire spells well, don’t you?”

  Cassia smiled, “yes.”

  Brigita was reassured by this. “Good. If you run into trouble, send up a firework of red and we will know to help you. Some flames in the face are also an excellent deterrent.”

  Cassia let her spell dissolve and the small ball of flame disappeared as abruptly as she’d summoned it. It was decided the ladies would leave their camping gear where it was for now, though they brought their sling bags along. Their bags were lighter without the blankets and the few pots and utensils they’d procured from the tavern in Kalle. Cassia walked down with the sisters, and as they drew closer she recognised one building as an inn. It had a small stable to one side and a blacksmith’s hut on the other. “Well this is me. I’ll try to bring us back goodies and not spend too much of your money, Alexa.”

  Her blonde-haired sister grinned, “It’s not like there’s a fortune there to begin with. Do what you can.”

  With a nod, Cassia was gone, and her hips had developed a notable sway as she walked through the darkness.

  “I just hope they don’t take her for a whore,” Brigita said.

  “That’s incredibly mean,” Alexa said in a chiding tone, surprised that the elder priestess would say such a thing.

  The inn was several storeys high and it had pane glass windows lit by the inviting golden glow of lantern-light. No one lingered outside, but Cassia could see several horses were stabled in the building beside the inn. Peering through the window, she could see several men drinking and got a general impression of the room. Cassia looked nothing like a priestess now, yet she feared others might see straight through her disguise. As long as I don’t do anything stupid, all will be well. Now I just need to keep telling myself that!

  Her vibrant red locks were loose around her shoulders, and she was dressed in the non-descript grey-green blouse and skirt she’d travelled in. A cloak completed her outfit and helped keep the chill at bay.

  There didn’t look to be anything untoward, like an ambush ready to spring up around her. Outside the inn, she noticed a trough of water for horses and a barrel of water for travellers to fill their canteens or bottles. She tasted the water, which seemed fresh, and dunked her canteen into the barrel to fill it up. With that done, she made her way back behind the inn.

  “Give me your canteens. I’ll fill them before I go in and get noticed.”

  Alexa was quick to hand over her canteen and Brigita looked pleased as she handed over her own.

  Cassia left to fill them at the barrel. When the lids were firmly sealed, she dropped them into her sling bag and ventured into the inn.

  Several faces turned her way, curious to see who the newcomer was who’d opened the door. A man with a short beard watched Cassia from a nearby table, clearly paying attention to her as she made her way in. She passed several tables where diners ate their meals and noticed a few faces still hadn’t turned away.

  The smell of food was intoxicating after the long journey, and while Cassia knew that the patrons’ food was nothing special, her stomach told her something different entirely.

  An older man with a grizzled look about him was serving drinks at the bar. Cassia wasn’t sure if he was an innkeeper or a bartender, but perhaps he did the work of both. He had a wiry beard and he reminded her of how a sea captain might look.

  “Hello there,” he said as she approached the bar, making an effort at friendliness. “Are you all by yourself?”

  Cassia hesitated at his question, then smiled and shook her head. “No, not really,” she said, though she didn’t elaborate.

  Cassia could tell he wondered, but apparently not enough to lose a customer. “What hot food do you have right now?” she asked, trying not to show just how hungry she felt.

  “Well,” he said, looking around at the bar.

  Several faces turned away when he did this and he grinned.

  “Marilyn’s cow was slaughtered this morning so mostly beef. Stew, sliced meat and cheese. We could cook you up a steak if you want it.”

  Her eyes lit up. “Yes. I mean, how much would that come to please?” she asked, not wanting to order first in case she didn’t have enough money. At the back of her mind, there was the nagging reminder that this was Alexa’s money and all they’d have to do them until they reached Kelbani. It only made her crave a steak more.

  “A steak would cost one silver, with all the trimmings. Stew, or meat and cheese, would be a third that. Beer is a copper a pint. If you want water, take a cup and fill it up over there.” He indicated a barrel across the room.

  “I’ll get some of the stew then, and
could you wrap up some of the meat and cheese for me? Make it a double amount?”

  He nodded, only too happy to oblige and take the silver coin from her. “Since you’re a good customer, I’ll throw in a beer on the house.”

  She smiled at this. How long had it been since she’d last had a beer? Years? The priestesses drank wine or water, but she didn’t believe it was written anywhere that a sister couldn’t have beer.

  Cassia turned around to look for a table.

  The bartender said, “I’ll bring it over to you.”

  She nodded, and sat down at a table where she could place her back against the wall. Cassia felt safer that way, because no one could walk up behind her and she had a good view of the room. She slid her hand into her pocket, still checking the remaining silver coins were there, which they were. Cassia kept to herself but noticed several of the patrons watching her. Surely she didn’t stick out like a sore thumb? There was one in particular by the window who stared at her more obviously than the others.

  When eventually her patience grew thin, she stared plainly back at him with annoyance. She was sure he couldn’t be someone she knew, but she realised a moment later that it was the man from the prison. The one they’d saved from execution when Alexa read his destiny in the runes.

  Oh hell! I wonder if he recognises me or if he just likes redheads? She immediately directed her gaze away, trying to appear innocuous and uninterested. There was the creak of a chair and she thought it might have been his. Oh no, he’s coming over here. She glanced up briefly and saw he was approaching her. If he knows who I am, he could tell others. If the enemy knows we’re alive here, they’ll target us. There might even be a Nemoran spy in this room right now. I can’t afford to give that impression. I could leave, but it would look suspicious and we really need that food.

  Rudolf – that was the former-prisoner’s name. He’d cleaned himself up a lot. His dark hair was slicked back and he’d trimmed away his beard. It was why she hadn’t recognised him at first. He had that same square jaw and piercing blue eyes, and his face was still heavily bruised. He’d been boatswain of a ship, condemned for mutiny. Cassia balanced the appearance of the man against what she knew. She glanced up as he pulled out a seat at her table and sat down.