He grinned, pulling his arm away. “That makes twice now you’ve insulted my appearance.”
I rolled my eyes. If he only knew. “Can’t your mom do anything else for it?”
He flexed his arm, turning it over as he examined it while I tried hard not to ogle. “She used almost all her energy restricting the poison to the wound. No, it needs other magic for the rest. Magic that’s beyond her ability.”
“There has to be something. We can’t just let it fester like that.”
“We don’t have a choice. There’s supposed to be a small village not too far from here. They’ll have a witch doctor.”
He’d better not be serious. “If your mom couldn’t heal that, I doubt some witch doctor can.”
“Witch doctors can be incredible healers. Besides, they’ll have elixirs that would take my mom weeks to prepare.”
He was serious. “I thought we were trying to avoid civilization.”
“Lucky for us, this part of civilization doesn’t stay up to date with news of the realm.”
“I don’t like it.”
We both stared at the black mass on his arm, and then our eyes met. There was something in his gaze, something warm and comforting and…tender. Even more than I remembered, before my life had turned complicated and thrown me from its good graces.
We broke the silence at the same time.
“Last night—“
“About last night—“
We grinned at each other and I felt the heat rise to my face.
Alex held my gaze, and I fought to hold his. “I won’t ask you to trust me. That’s something I have to earn. I know that. But is it too bold to ask forgiveness? For leaving and never telling you about this place—this life?”
Could I? Was it even possible for me to forgive him for that? I still wasn’t sure I could trust him, but he wasn’t asking for my trust. Just forgiveness. Trust could—might—come later.
He didn’t show the hopefulness I knew he felt, but his words were sincere—all filled with regret. I couldn’t deny him a second chance, not when I sat there, missing him so much. “No, it is not too bold,” I said.
He studied my face. “You forgive me then?”
“Yes. And…I’m sorry I’ve been so difficult.”
Hints of a grin appeared on his lips. “It’s a good thing I like challenges.”
I laughed, shaking my head. “Challenge” was a nice way of putting it, and by the look on his face, he’d chosen that word with deliberate care. “And what I said to you, in your library. About hating you…” I looked away, growing increasingly embarrassed by my behavior.
But before I even finished what I was going to say, he extended his hand. “Friends?”
I grinned, placing my hand in his. “Friends.”
His fingers closed around mine. “Thank you.” The way he said those two little words, it was as though his spirit had spoken to mine.
A few moments passed, my hand wrapped in his. How strange that one moment could wash over the years, cleansing them from filth and grime. This was our chance at a new beginning, and he was still holding my hand. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Just so you know.” I pulled my hand free. “You may be off the hook for leaving me out of, well, everything, but I still don’t trust you.”
His eyes held me entranced. “Fair. I know I deserve it. But you will someday. I’ll make sure of it.”
“You really are that confident.” I raised a brow.
He laughed then, the sound of it massaging my heart. “Here.” In his hand was a dagger. My dagger. “I tried sharpening it for you.”
I took the blade from his hands. The still dulled blade. “You said you sharpened it?”
“I said I tried. Apparently it’s as stubborn as you are. Where’d you get that anyway?”
The little strip of metal flickered in broad daylight.
“In a stream—when Sonya and I went to fill the canteens. Any idea what these markings mean?”
His forehead creased in concentration. “None. I was trying to make sense of them, but they’re of a kind I’ve never seen before. By the way—” he glanced up at me “—how in the world did you kill that barghest?”
I’d almost forgotten what I’d done last night, with this dagger. It had sailed, end over end, straight for the barghest’s skull and landed with the skill and precision of an expert. And I was no expert. At least not with knives.
“I have no idea. I was just as surprised as you were when it hit.”
Alex looked thoughtful a moment, then back into my eyes. “Well, I guess I’m glad we didn’t meet those hellhounds any sooner, or you might have let it kill me.”
I laughed. “Oh, come on. I was mad at you. I didn’t want you to die.”
He raised a doubtful brow and I laughed harder. When my laughter faded, nature’s voice was the only one left speaking.
Three years. How do you pick right up from where you left after that amount of time passed? Especially when time had taken that someone to another world, trained him as a fighter, and shown him how to use magic. Not to mention, turned him into the most attractive man I’d ever seen. Time hadn’t been so generous with me.
I felt his eyes on me then, studying, watching. He was apprehensive just as I was. Old habits. The way we communicated. The closeness we had shared. They’d worked with such ease before, but time had rusted the joints, making them creak as we tried to operate them again. We had to start over. Build new habits and new communication, and we had to assemble the parts from scratch. I wasn’t sure I knew how to do that.
“Strange, isn’t it?” Alex said.
“What’s strange?”
“Starting over after how well we knew each other.”
Alex. Always perceptive, always accurate, and it was always irritating.
“You can obviously still read me just as well.” I smiled.
He smiled back. “Maybe we can start with you filling me in on your past three years.”
Well, this conversation could be devastating to my reputation. “Do you want to be bored to death? I don’t have anything exciting to share—except the past week, but you’ve been around for that. I say we start with you.”
He held my gaze a moment, then looked towards the bubbling river. “All right.” He took a deep breath.
I waited, suddenly impatient to hear everything about him.
“My past three years have been…challenging. When I came to this world, it was to attend the Academia.” Alex was quiet a moment. “My life has been consumed by that ever since. Training to fight and use magic, learning all about this world: the powers within it, the creatures that live here. I just finished my training a couple weeks ago.”
I was jealous. His life sounded incredible. “So what will you do now?”
He looked sideways at me. “Now I’m here with you. After that…I’m not sure. As an Aegis, I’m expected to serve someone of power, much like my dad’s always watched over you and Alaric.”
Birds sang and glided overheard like darts of bright pink and orange and blue.
“Do you have anyone in mind? Not that I’d know who they are.”
Alex raked a hand through his hair as he stared at the river. “My dad wants me to accept the role as Aegis for Lord Tosca. He’s been requesting me since I started training.”
“Who’s he?”
“He presides over Alioth, the territory farthest from Valdon.”
I didn’t know exactly how far “farthest” meant, but I did know I didn’t like it. Not after finally getting my friend back. “I can’t imagine your mom being okay with you moving to the place farthest from her.”
“She’s not. But it is a highly coveted position. The people of Alioth face many enemies. They’re attacked from their northern border—the Icelands—and since they produce most of our food, they tend to see the bulk of raiders. The king takes great interest in Alioth, and it would place me in direct communication with him, making it possible to gain p
osition, which my dad sees as a unique opportunity for me. My mom understands that as well. It would be an incredible chance to make a name for myself.”
I studied the set of his strong jaw, the disquiet in his eyes. No, it was more than that. I felt his disquiet. “But you don’t care about making a name for yourself.”
He was thoughtful as he watched the river. “Enough about this.” He looked back into my eyes. “Tell me about you.”
The way he was looking at me, the way he seemed to sift through my soul, made me nervous and uncomfortable. I didn’t want to share my uneventful life with him; he who had trained to fight, had probably made all sorts of interesting friends, and was being sought after by powerful people in this magical world.
Who was I?
The farm girl who didn’t even live on a farm.
“Really, I don’t want to bore you with that.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Nothing about you has ever been boring.” He grinned, showing off his perfectly straight, white teeth.
Stop looking like that!
“Right.” I smiled, feeling my cheeks flush. “I might have believed that before you went off to another world like the hero in some fantasy.”
“Oh, come on. I’m no hero.”
“I saw you fight—protecting me. People write stories about men like you, not about me. You tell me which is more interesting.”
“If you saw what I see, you’d never say that.” The warmth in his green eyes held me captive.
“Well, good morning!” It was Sonya.
She and Cicero were standing side by side along the opposite bank; Sonya was smiling, Cicero was frowning. And there weren’t any horses.
“No luck?” Alex shouted.
“None. I couldn’t even find tracks,” Cicero said. “They’re probably halfway home now, with our things.”
Alex stood. “You’re sure you know where you’re going?”
“I’ve got the compass and the village can’t be far. Either way, we’re not going back.”
“Of course we aren’t,” Alex mumbled.
“And,” Cicero continued, “since we’re so close it would be ludicrous not to visit them and see if they’ve heard or seen anything out of the ordinary.”
“Because a barghest attack is completely ordinary,” Alex mumbled again, his frustration surging. He still wanted to turn around and go back the way we had come. Anywhere but farther into this forest.
“Well, are you coming or are you going to wait for the barghests to return?” Cicero asked.
The sun had warmed my leathers so effectively that the cool water felt refreshing during our short swim to the other bank. The water stung Alex’s wound and pulsed through me as we swam. I kept my eyes on him—making sure his wounded arm worked and he didn’t tire. By all appearances he showed no weakness, only strength.
No one said another word about the barghest attack. I knew Alex was still upset about it, and I could tell Cicero and Sonya were unsettled, but they wouldn’t say it. Like speaking about it might mean it was real, and Cicero, at least, didn’t want to believe it was real. Not in this perfectly safe forest.
We walked on, around the trees, picking through vines. There were no signs of the horses. I hoped Alex was right. I’d hate my last memory of Calyx to be him running for his life away from those monsters. On occasion I glanced at Cicero to see if I could sense any doubt or hesitation, but he showed nothing but the determination of a leader.
Until he stopped and held a finger to his lips.
Alex walked to his dad’s side, staring off in the same direction and I began to notice the scent of wood smoke. I couldn’t see anything, but I could smell something burning.
Cicero motioned for us to follow him.
He led us forward, his movements quiet, calculating. Soon we were standing at the edge of a small cliff, peering into a narrow green valley. Wooden buildings were scattered throughout: small homes, large buildings, and a few barns. Some had fences, some didn’t. Smoke streamed from stone chimneys, dispersing into the thin blanket of fog nestled into the valley, casting everything with a milky tinge. A wide stream cut through the middle and a single stone bridge joined both halves of the small village. Beyond all of that was more forest and mountains.
People were visible, tending to fields, or walking along dirt paths, or chopping wood. By the looks of the few I saw, they appeared to be a rough bunch.
But something about the whole thing was strange to me. I couldn’t explain it. Something just felt…off.
“Any idea where he’d be?” Sonya whispered.
Cicero shook his head, eyes darting between the wooden buildings below. I could feel his uneasiness, which made mine worse. “We’ll find someone that knows,” he said. “Wait here. Give us one hour.”
Sonya nodded, glancing back at me.
“Alex?” Cicero looked back at his son.
Alex nodded as he adjusted his sword, and I suddenly realized their plan. “Why aren’t we all going?” I asked.
“You’re staying here with me,” Sonya said.
My uneasiness began transforming into outright fear. “No. If that village isn’t safe enough for all of us, then—“
“Wait.”
It was Alex. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the valley below. I saw what caught his attention. Guards. There were three of them exiting one of the larger buildings. I was overcome with the Del Contes’ worry.
“Lord Vega’s?” Sonya asked.
“Not sure.” Alex’s jaw tensed.
“Who’s Lord Vega?” I asked.
“His territory is near here,” Sonya whispered.
“Let’s get out of here.” Alex started backing away.
“Get down!” Cicero hissed, and shoved me to the ground, Sonya flat beside me.
Alex froze.
The three men stood in a pack, all facing different directions, studying the landscape. One of the men had stepped ahead of his companions, his movements like a warrior on the prowl, all the while staring in our direction. Even from here I could see the dark shadows beneath his eyes and the scruff on his neck and face.
Fear spread through me as cold fingers touched upon my consciousness. I knew who those men were.
“The men from the inn,” Alex said, and I felt his anger. “I told you we should’ve turned around.”
Cicero glanced back at Alex, then his wife.
Alex began scooting back, tugging on me to follow him. “We need to get out of here before they see us.”
The man below motioned for his companions to join him, all of them now staring at the spot where we lay hidden. In unison, they drew their swords and began walking towards our cliff.
“Looks like they already have,” Cicero mumbled, gripping the sword handle at his waist. He and Alex exchanged a weighted glance, and then both looked at me.
I knew what was coming. They were going to tell me to run and hide myself, and there was no way I’d agree to that.
And Alex noticed. “Daria.” He placed a hand on my arm. “Please, you need to—“
Something rustled in the trees behind us. Right as I peered over my shoulder, a black bird shot out of the leaves and flew straight for the valley below. It reminded me of a crow, but it was the size of a vulture. I felt the surprise of the Del Contes as it soared and finally landed on a solitary wooden post just a few yards from where the men stood. The bird cawed, an eerie, lonely sound in the fog.
For a moment the guards stood there, glancing at the bird, then back at the spot where we lay. After what seemed like an eternity, the leader re-sheathed his sword and motioned for the men to follow him, and they disappeared back into the house. The black bird cawed again, extended its giant, black wings, and disappeared into the forest.
All the Del Contes turned and looked at me.
“What just happened?” I asked.
A gust of wind barreled through the forest and the fog below grew thicker, the world unusually quiet.
“Never mind,” Cicero
said and glanced at Alex. “Looks like you got your wish. Best pray that wound doesn’t spread before we get help.”
Chapter 17
The Fiori
We didn’t see the guards again. Still, the Del Contes walked with one hand on a weapon and their eyes never stopped searching the forest. And that feeling, the one that makes you think someone’s watching you? It nagged at me like a dripping faucet, but every time I looked, I saw nothing but shadows.
The trees were also starting to get on my nerves. Maybe I was going crazy but it seemed like they were alive. Not in the way normal trees are “alive”, but in the get-out-of-my-forest sort of way. I could’ve sworn a few branches conveniently swung into my path as I passed. I’d be walking, minding my own business, then all of a sudden—smack.
After a few hours of getting sideswiped by the trees—well, me getting sideswiped—our horses returned. The moment started out with a fright, but when we realized the strange rustling and crunching sounds were the result of moving horse hooves, relief presided over all else.
Poor Calyx. He was still so shaken and upset. It took me about two hours to calm him, and after that, all I felt was his regret. “It’s all right,” I had told him. “I’m glad you ran away. They would have killed you.”
That seemed to make him feel better, at least for a little while.
The trees didn’t attack me again after that. I didn’t know if it was because of the horses or because of something—or someone—else. Every time the trail allowed it, Alex rode beside me.
We spent the entire afternoon reminiscing and laughing. Alex reminded me of one particular day—I had been five and he had been seven—when he had decided to give me a haircut. Dad had never able to bring himself to cut my long dark hair. That day, my hair had been in one long braid, so Alex’s job had been quite simple. One snip of the scissors, and my braid had vanished. Alex had been so pleased with his handiwork, but my dad hadn’t seemed to share his enthusiasm. He had promptly accused Alex of turning his only daughter into a boy. I laughed so hard at the memory I earned myself a funny look from Cicero. Actually, he looked a little irritated, though I didn’t know why.
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