And then there was the child. Was Junnie truly keeping Asher’s daughter because she felt it was wrong to do otherwise, or because it would be her ally, her key to the north?
I rolled over, kicking the bed sheets away. It could be the rogues. It could be the fey. It could be anyone. But I really didn’t want it to be Junnie.
My thoughts turned to Fannie then, betrayed by her own father. He had essentially disowned her, choosing my mother over her as his second, and then me after he’d all but driven her insane. Fannie had turned to council to protect them, a birthright, their kin, and council had betrayed them as well. When her bonds began to break, she thought Junnie and council had entrapped her, and she went for revenge. It had cost her life.
My thoughts floated in and out of those images, of Fannie razing the village that had been our prison, of the fires that burned my mother. It was hard to say when they morphed into dreams, but I could see my mother in a gown of azure and lilac, leaning forward to whisper secrets.
“It was the bond,” she said softly, “that was why my mother couldn’t leave him.”
“But–” I started, and her finger came up to silence me.
“It isn’t right, my Freya. I cannot let him destroy her family so he might lay claim to more land.”
And then she was burning. The flames licked at her white gown, beaded and lacy. Screams surrounded us, but I could hear her whispering, “Others will come. Others will come.” The flames engulfed her and I was suddenly under water, struggling for air. Others will come.
I jerked awake, damp with sweat and panting. I lay staring at the ceiling, one thought circling through my mind like a bird over prey. Others will come.
Damn Asher. The bastard had made an army of them, and they were going to come for me. One by one.
Chapter Eleven
Decision
Eventually, I accepted the fact that sleep would not be returning anytime soon, and dragged myself out of bed. I took a long bath before getting dressed, and let myself wince as I laced a corset around my ribcage. It was getting better, though, and I was able to take a few deep breaths before heading down to find the others.
I stepped into the hall and found Anvil leaning against the wall beside my room. I raised a brow.
“Only until we are certain,” he answered.
I nodded. “It won’t be long, I assure you.”
He smiled a fiendish grin and I reached up to clap him on the back as we made our way down the corridor.
We found Ruby, Steed, and Grey in the dining area. When we sat to join them, I realized they were eating lunch, and wondered exactly how long I’d slept.
After two servings of braised elk and cornmeal, I decided I could face what I was going to have to do. “Find Rhys and Rider, we’ll have a meeting as soon as everyone is gathered.”
I excused myself and headed for Chevelle’s study. He was standing near the back wall, staring out the window. The silver dagger lay on his desk.
He turned and saw my focus.
“It is an alloy.”
I lost all awareness of my intention. “Alloy?”
He nodded grimly. “Yes.”
“So...”
“So we have no idea the kind of threats we’ll be dealing with. This and the ice–” he stopped when a note of anger slipped into his voice. Waited. And then, “We will be fighting blind.”
If I’d had any notion he’d forgiven Asher in his demise, it was gone. I was beginning to build on my own resentments as well. Even in death, I wasn’t free from him.
Chevelle stared at me for a long moment. And then I realized I’d forgotten my purpose. “Oh. I’ve called a meeting.”
He nodded and began to walk toward the door, but as he neared me, he saw there was more.
“I wanted to see you first,” I explained.
His gaze fell to the hand fisted at my side, lingered, and then returned to meet mine.
“You trust me.”
It wasn’t a question, so he didn’t answer. He simply waited for me to go on.
I didn’t.
He came closer, reached down to take my fist in his hand, and loosened the fingers. I understood the gesture was meant to ease me, to let me know I could relax and just tell him, but it didn’t have that effect. I fought the flush but forgot to mask my expression.
He moved even closer and released my hand so nothing stood between us but a few inches of air. I dropped all emotion from my face.
Chevelle’s jaw tightened in response. “Do you know the one thing I enjoyed?” he asked, his hand reaching up to cup my cheek.
I could only manage a quiet, “What?”
His thumb brushed my lip and the flush returned, despite my best efforts. “You couldn’t hide it,” he whispered.
I took a deep breath, reining it in as the memories rolled over me. Every look, every touch. “Well,” I said, working for a steady tone, “you weren’t doing so well yourself.”
A sexy smile took over his face. “Still, it was…” his eyes fell to my lips, slowly tracing their line, “...satisfying.”
That was it. I’d finally made a good decision and I was going to cave after one touch from him. One word.
Ruby cleared her throat from the doorway.
I turned to her, stepping away from Chevelle, and couldn’t decide whether to be angry or relieved at the interruption.
She looked a bit concerned for her safety. “The others.” She pointed vaguely in the direction of Anvil’s study.
Chevelle walked past me and from the room without another word, but Ruby jumped aside as he neared the door. I raised a brow.
She leaned out the door to peer after him, only looking back to me when he’d cleared the corridor.
I smirked before joining her to go.
“What?” she answered. “I thought he was going to pluck my ears off.”
We entered the study and Ruby took her place among the others, purposefully walking wide of Chevelle.
I really should have discussed this with him first.
“Call to order another gathering,” I said. “No pomp, this will be a congress.” I glanced at Anvil. “Bring in the clan leaders singly. And anyone else of note.” My eyes traveled down the circle. “Steed, you and Grey flank Ruby all evening. Rhys and Rider, post by the south entrance. All others will be sealed.” I didn’t look at Chevelle or Anvil when I directed them. “Anvil at my left. Chevelle at the opposite end of the long table, I want you in my line of sight at all times.” This brought a few peculiar stares, but I kept on. “Tomorrow.”
They had their orders and they knew it was serious. Now came the part I’d been dreading. Chevelle and Anvil would understand. If not my choice, then at least my reasoning. It was why Asher had wanted me. It had been a constant battle to stay on the throne. He had needed a powerful second to rule without challenge.
I would have to do the same. It was my only option.
The others deserved to know my motivations, I would have to make them understand. I opened my mouth to speak, but they all froze. They’d heard something I hadn’t... or maybe something I’d ignored. The pat of boots against stone grew louder.
My guard were on their feet. Grey was at the door first. At the sight of him, the watchman yelled, “Rogues, south gate.”
I gritted my teeth and ran. I wasn’t as fast as the others, but I’d been running these corridors since I was a child.
We burst from the castle as one, and the seven formed up around me as if they’d been doing it for years. The yard was bloody, the rogues had worked fast. There were twenty of them, a ragtag band of thugs with greased hair and spiked armor. I scanned the faces and found Vandrell, son of Stryder.
He was huge, fists as large as my head, and he was ugly. His jaw misshapen and scarred from fighting, his cheeks stained with animal blood. War paint. They used it when raiding the villages. His hair was tied back, too high on his head, and the front of it stood in pointy tufts.
He was staring at Ruby.
> “Reform,” I yelled, and they followed without question. They had seen.
Now Steed and Grey stood before Ruby, Rhys and Rider at her sides. Anvil and Chevelle had stayed in position, but I stepped through them to the front of the line.
The rogues came to rest, waiting for my reaction. They were enjoying their little outing, they wanted to drag it out, revel in their triumph. They were fools. I let my eyes roam the line, falling on each of them. Their leather was worn black, their armor dented from battle. A few wore mail. All carried hammers.
“You raid my castle as if it were a village,” I accused.
“You will fall, halfbreed,” Vandrell answered. “And the fey whore will decorate my pike.” With that, he raised the weapon in the air, hammer still at the ready in the other hand.
“Save the pike,” I said levelly to the seven behind me.
Vandrell roared and the twenty rushed forward, joining in the battle cry.
I didn’t take time to wonder how many of our people they had killed, to worry whose blood covered their hammers or splattered the yard, it didn’t matter now. There was only one way, only one justice. I raised my hand and Vandrell was silenced first. Power shot from my palm and shattered his heart. Fire erupted beside him, lightning burst from behind. There was a flash as two more collapsed, all before I’d focused a second attack. A crunch of bone, the thick wetness exploding flesh.
Twenty men, twenty warriors fell on the stone without so much as a weapon being raised by my guard.
I walked forward, among the bodies of the fallen, and reached down for the pike. When I turned, my guard remained motionless in their formation. I moved to Ruby, and placed the pike in her hand.
“Tomorrow,” I said, looking over my shoulder to Anvil. “Congress.”
I wasn’t sure how I’d gotten blood on myself. I couldn’t remember being close enough. I scrubbed at it, thinking of the stares I’d received on the way back to my room. Everyone had been watching. It had happened so fast, I wasn’t sure how, but they had all found a window to lean out, a doorway to peek around, some way to watch. I hadn’t wanted to leave the others to clean up the mess, but I couldn’t stay when I’d realized the size of our audience.
I knew they would take care of it. They would honor those of our people who were killed before we arrived. They would report to me who had been taken and I would pay tribute to them, show my respect to their families. And Ruby would spike that damned Vandrell’s head.
I stopped scrubbing. My skin was raw.
I dressed in clean pants and a loose tunic and returned to my room. I heard a shuffle outside, but didn’t go to check who was on duty. I stared out the window, into the empty darkness of night, and then closed my eyes, searching for the wolves. I hadn’t felt them since I’d returned from our journey. They must have left while I slept.
I wondered where they were. I wondered if they knew about Junnie. I wondered what I was supposed to do with all this power, why they’d brought Rhys and Rider, whether they’d known about Asher, why the rogues chose today to attack, and who else wanted me dead. I wondered when I’d get some sleep.
Late the next morning, a light knock sounded at my door. I was already awake, but my voice was still hoarse when I answered. “Yes?”
Ruby poked her head in.
“You’re knocking now?” I asked.
She pushed the door open and shrugged. “I brought you some bread.”
She sat it on the table by the door, whether because she could tell I wasn’t interested or because it had only been an excuse to see me I wasn’t sure.
“I stood the pike by the gate,” she said. “For our guests.”
A flicker of concern that I’d given Ruby too much authority edged out my other worries for a moment, but when I looked up at her, it appeared she’d simply done what she thought I’d have wanted. I nodded. “I suppose that’s for the best. I’m sure they’ve all heard by now.”
“The others are still hunting down the clan leaders for tonight,” she offered.
“So you are my guard.”
She nodded. “And Grey.” She paused, looked a little guilty, and added, “And Rhys.”
“When Chevelle returns, please let him know I’d like to speak with him.”
She rolled her jaw, but kept her lips tight.
“What?”
“I...”
“Ruby,” I demanded.
Her face twisted into a grimace. “I don’t know,” she started, “but I think he’s looking for Stryder.”
“Alone?”
She lifted a shoulder. “It isn’t as if he can’t handle it.”
And he’d left me here with no fewer than three guards. I swung my legs off the bed to stand. “How long has he been gone?”
“Too long for you to stop him.”
“Then that’s how it will be,” I said. She was burning to ask, but I ignored her. “Let’s get dressed, shall we?”
Chapter Twelve
Second
The rest of the day was a blur. I’d chosen a form-fitting costume, black and leather. A short cape for freedom of movement, clasped at the shoulders with pewter adorned with the crest of my line. I wore a cuff on my left wrist, but my right was bare. Ruby had painted the hawk and intricate runes there, just above the base of my palm. I was outfitted for a special kind of battle, and my opponent awaited.
I stepped forward, leaving the two watchmen at my private entrance to the hall. The room was silent as I took my place before them, Anvil at my left in all his regalia. The walls had been covered with dark silks and standards, all bearing the crest. The room was smaller than the banquet hall, windowless, and I couldn’t help but feel closed in. The torches and candles flared brighter, and I wondered if Ruby could tell what I was feeling. Hard to say, she did have a flair for the dramatic after all. I scanned the room, it appeared they’d been able to locate representatives for most of the clans. My guard was in place, but I couldn’t bring myself to look at Chevelle. What I was about to do...
But no, it had to be done. There was no other I would name.
“I have called this congress…” I heard myself droning the words but I could only focus on the crowd. They had already formed opinions of Chevelle; they had heard the rumors. Some of them had even been here when I had publicly denied him as Asher sought to arrange a marriage. And now, what I was going to do would be like openly denying him again.
Permanently.
A second was backup, there to step in when the lord fell. They could never be in a union, because one who was bound would likely die themselves if they lost that connection. If I chose Chevelle, if I named him my second, it would be like announcing we would never be bound. Otherwise, it would only be for appearances, for he would not live long after my death.
“... and call you to order as I name my second.”
As I made it through the lengthy speech, my eyes finally fell on Chevelle, across the long table. It would be as we always stood at these ludicrous functions now, opposite ends, never side by side.
I felt wretched.
“Chevelle Vattier. Born of North Camber, Guard of the Seven, Second to the Lord.” I held his eyes, skipping over the part that listed his mother and father, though it was secret to none. I’d already all but slapped him in the face.
Aside from the intake of breath, which might have been Ruby, silence smothered the room. I gave it a heartbeat, two, three. It crossed my mind that I should have prepared my guard further, but I couldn’t be sure, even now, what the clans’ response would be. They could oppose it, but it would call for their death to question my order so blatantly. They could fight, but they would lose. They might have had a chance, if they had all agreed, prepared before coming, but they hadn’t known. And I had the support of at least a few here. I hoped the rest simply accepted it. Far too many had died only the night before, I didn’t want to go through it again.
After several more minutes of quiet, I glanced around the room. For the most part, everyone in a
ttendance seemed confused, and eager to get out with their lives. No one wanted to be caught up in bloodshed here, in the castle.
Chevelle stood completely motionless. Expressionless. As if a statue in the costume of a guard.
“I call you forward to bear this token,” I announced.
He seemed hesitant to move and I drew in several long breaths through my nose. The token was nearly meaningless to all others. Mine had been the amulet. The same amulet Asher had previously given my mother. I hadn’t wanted it, had returned it to her, and she had worn it the day she burned. It was all that survived the fire, and they’d left it with me when they’d taken me to the village.
Chevelle finally made his way across the room, coming to stand at my right. I turned to him, nodding to his arm as I pulled the thin leather strip from my belt. I had retrieved it from the box of things he’d returned to me, and when he saw it, I knew he recognized it. The slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth was the only indication he might someday forgive me.
My hands were trembling, but there was nothing to be done for it. I tied the strip around his wrist, knotting it over his cuff to complete the ceremony.
I turned back to face the room. “As the High Guard bears witness, so bear the agents of the north. It is decreed this day, until the hour of our death, by no means disputed.”
“Hear, hear,” the Seven chorused.
“Hear, hear,” repeated the crowd.
After that, I had quickly dismissed the meeting and exited the hall. Now I sat perched on top of the castle, watching tiny little bands of the leaders of the realm scurry from the grounds. Even from this height, I could spot Rhys and Rider’s shocks of silvery white hair in the moonlight. It was cold, it was late, and I couldn’t decide if I wanted Chevelle to show, or if I was petrified he’d find me.
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