by Avril Sabine
“What’s going on here?” Gil demanded. “Abdicate? These aren’t the princes, are they?”
“I’m afraid so.” Farnell looked from one prince to the other.
“Then why aren’t they at the castle where they belong? And I’ll be damned if I let some man paw my daughter. Prince or not,” Gil stated.
Farnell gestured towards Gwyn. “Take these and clean them. You,” he pointed at another soldier, “Get a fire started. I want these cooked so we can move as soon as possible.” He turned back to Gil once Gwyn had taken the hares. “Your kids came to me offering their services when you turned down my offer.”
“Elf sight!” Gil roared. “Which one of you has it?” He leapt from his stallion and glanced between his two children, his sword pointed first at one then the other. “Tell me and I’ll put you out of your misery.”
“Me,” both Irlan and Shadow called out.
“Forget it Irlan. He’ll have to accept it. I’ve got elf sight.”
“Don’t be a fool. It’s me.” Irlan glared at his sister.
“Answer me. Or do you both have it? I’m not passing it along! Twice cursed trait.” Gil’s hand tightened on his sword.
“It saved our lives plenty of times,” Shadow said quietly.
“You, girl?” Gil looked horrified.
“Me.” Shadow pushed Carson’s arms from her and stepped forward. “And I refuse to hide it any longer. I’m proud of what I’ve done. We found the heir,” she gestured towards Thornton. “I found him. I found the path you didn’t want to look for. I saw armies hidden. A ravine, the passage Thornton was hidden behind. It was better than spending my time growing old serving ale in a tavern.”
Gil stared at her and his sword lowered. It was the first time his daughter had ever spoken back to him. “I’d expect this kind of talk from your brother. He’s always had a smart mouth. But not you.”
“And what has staying in the background gotten me?” Shadow demanded. “I’ve been the image of my name. Well, no more. Cut me down where I stand if you want. I’m not going back to the tavern. I’ve got to find a way out of this valley and get Thornton to the castle.”
“It’s always the bloody royals. See what they do to you?” Gil glanced at his empty sleeve.
“So what?” Shadow demanded. “They were willing to let their firstborn die for us.”
“They wouldn’t have,” Gil snarled.
“Yes they would. And I finally figured out why. It’s not because they want to rule the country. It’s because they know what it would be like if there wasn’t law and order. Even their sons fight over who’ll escape the duty,” Shadow said.
“They’re stringing you along,” Gil said.
Shadow turned to Thornton. “Do you want to be king?”
“Hell no!”
“Will you be?”
“Only if I can’t talk Carson into the chore,” Thornton said.
Shadow turned to Carson. “What about you?”
“Only if I have no other choice. I’ve seen what a nightmare it is. Give me a position in the army any day. Even if we were permanently at war. Much easier.”
“So, what’s an arm in the whole scheme of things?” Shadow demanded.
“Tell me that when you’ve lost one,” Gil said bitterly.
“I will,” Shadow answered softly.
“Crazy child. Must have got knocked around the head as a tot,” Gil muttered.
“And I know who did the knocking.” Irlan stared defiantly at Gil.
Gil took a step towards Irlan, his sword coming up. “You better watch that mouth of yours, boy.”
Farnell stepped forward and pushed Irlan back a couple of steps, his eyes on Gil. “No more talk of killing your offspring. Put away your sword. We’ll eat and be on our way. The enemy won’t be far behind. How’d you get in here?”
Gil stared at him a moment. “I’ll deal with this later.” He glanced towards Carson. “Without interference.” He sheathed his sword. “I got in up that way.” Gil pointed behind him. “Found the tunnel blocked and went further along. There’s another way in but not as easy as the first.”
“Looks like you can get a horse through there though.” Farnell eyed Gil’s stallion that stood patiently beside him.
Gil nodded then rounded on Carson when he saw him put his arm around Shadow’s shoulders. “Get your hands off my daughter!”
“Carson! One day of peace,” Farnell demanded.
Carson stared at Gil. “No more threats about killing her and I’ll keep my hands to myself. For now.”
“Permanently,” Gil ordered.
“One day of peace I was ordered.” Carson’s lips twitched and a smile erupted for the barest instant.
“One day. Then the truce is over,” Gil warned.
“Or renegotiated,” Farnell said.
“One day,” Gil and Carson both said.
Carson dropped his arm from around Shadow’s shoulder but stayed near her.
Once the meal was eaten, the horses were collected and they mounted. Gil would only tolerate Irlan riding with Shadow, no one else was acceptable apart from himself. Carson wouldn’t tolerate that plan.
“They’re driving me crazy,” Shadow said to Irlan as they followed their Pa through the forest.
Irlan grinned. “It’s good to see men who don’t fall at his feet in a quivering heap when he bellows.”
Shadow sighed. “I guess. I just wish I didn’t feel so much like the bone between two dogs.”
“Your farmer wouldn’t have made you happy. You need someone who’ll stand up to Pa. You wouldn’t respect anyone who couldn’t,” Irlan said.
“Maybe.”
“You know I’m right,” Irlan said.
“Oh no!” Shadow’s hand covered her mouth as she stared ahead.
“What?” Carson rode closer to see what was wrong.
“We’ve got to go through there,” she pointed to the stream ahead of them that appeared to go through an opening then drop over a cliff.
“Over a cliff?” Carson demanded.
“No. We’ve got to go through a horrible little tunnel the stream flows through. We’ll have to walk the horses. The stream goes fairly fast and the rocks are slippery. You really need to be able to see to get through here,” Shadow said.
“Their problem,” Gil snarled.
“I’m not leaving them behind,” Shadow protested.
“They’ll see once they get past the first few feet,” Gil said with an unconcerned shrug.
“We’ll have to help them through,” Shadow stated.
“I’ll help Irlan. The rest can find their own way,” Gil said.
Shadow slipped off her horse as they reached the edge of the stream. Her hands went to her hips and she glared at Gil, anger pooling in her. “What sort of man are you? I never realised how pathetic you are. You’d leave them here? The General? The princes? These men who follow orders. Even the poorest soldier has a better character than you.”
“Don’t give me no lip, girl. See this?” He pointed to his empty sleeve, reins held in his hand. “No, you can’t. That’s because it isn’t there. It’s because of the likes of these that it’s not there. What would you know about it all?”
“Perrun might lose his leg. Tell me Perrun? Are you going to hate the world if that happens?” Shadow demanded.
“Well… ah… I guess not,” Perrun stammered, embarrassed to be put on the spot.
“No backbone. That’s why it won’t bother him,” Gil said.
“No backbone! I think you’re the one with no backbone!” Shadow shouted.
Gil raised his hand to strike his daughter. Carson was there first, grabbing his wrist and bending his hand back.
“Don’t touch her.” Carson’s voice was deadly quiet.
Chapter Twenty-Four
“You think I should listen to that? A man’s got a right to discipline his kids,” Gil growled.
“She’s no longer a kid. She’s a woman who doesn’t have to answer t
o you,” Carson warned.
“Then if she wants to be treated as one, she should act like one. Not running around the countryside with shorn hair and wearing her brother’s clothes.” Gil pulled away from Carson.
“I don’t care if she wants to run around the countryside naked. You’ll treat her respectfully,” Carson said.
Thornton grinned. “That’s something I’d want to see.”
Carson ignored his brother. “Do you understand, Gil?”
“Forget about him,” Shadow said. “He’s not worth the effort. He’s whining about loosing an arm. What about Roper and Wardell? And the other soldiers that started out with us, the ones who lost their lives. I bet they would have loved to have only lost an arm. Come on. I’ll lead you through. Even if it takes the rest of the day.” Shadow turned her back on her Pa.
“Do you want to go first, General?” Shadow asked.
Farnell nodded and dismounted. He led his horse over to Shadow. “The princes next,” he ordered.
“Yes, sir,” Shadow saluted.
“Don’t get cocky,” Farnell warned.
Shadow grinned. She felt extremely good after finally telling her Pa how she felt. Like a massive weight had been lifted. “Take my hand, sir. It might be easier if you close your eyes. That way what your eyes see and what your body feels doesn’t confuse you.”
Farnell took Shadow’s hand and closed his eyes. He let Shadow lead him into the water, listening to her as she told him where to step and what to avoid.
Before they entered the tunnel, Gil called out, “Shadow!”
Shadow turned. “What?”
“Don’t let them walk over the cliff at the other end. The illusion begins again out there,” Gil said.
Shadow stared at her Pa for a moment. “Thank you.” She turned back to Farnell and explained to him where he was to step next. Once they were past the illusion, Shadow said. “All right. Head towards the other end. Not too far though. You heard my Pa, you’ll fall over the cliff. Just go far enough to give the rest of them room to get in.”
As Shadow stepped outside, her Pa walked past her, leading Irlan. She looked towards Thornton. “You’re next. Come to the edge of the stream and close your eyes.”
Thornton willingly followed, teasing her the whole time. Laughing, Shadow finally told him he could open his eyes. Expecting to lead Carson through next, Shadow was surprised to see Perrun there with Gwyn supporting him. Not having time to argue, Shadow led them through. It was more difficult to direct two men.
She came back out to find another soldier ready to go in. She looked at Carson. “I was told to bring the princes through first.”
Carson looked around. “Nope, no prince around here. You must have already taken him through. I’m a captain, remember?”
“The General didn’t want you going through last,” Shadow said.
“We’re wasting time. My men go first,” Carson said firmly.
“You won’t change his mind, ma’am,” the soldier waiting for her said. “He’s always last out of any trouble.”
“Fine.” Shadow turned back to the waiting soldier. “Close your eyes.” She took his hand and led him through the opening. When she had taken all the men through, she glared at Carson waiting there for her. “Close your eyes.”
“Shadow.”
“What?”
Carson stepped close. His lips curved momentarily before he dipped his head to press them against hers.
Shadow’s hands went to his chest as the kiss deepened. When she finally pulled away, she said, “I thought you weren’t going to lay a hand on me.”
Carson held up his hands, the reins of his horse dangling from one of them. He grinned. “Nowhere near you.”
“I don’t think that’s exactly what Pa meant.” Shadow fought back her own smile.
“Shall we find out?” Carson put his hands behind his back. He leaned forward.
“What’s taking so long?” Gil demanded from the mouth of the tunnel. “What do you think you’re doing?” He strode forward. “I told you to keep your hands off her.”
Carson pulled his hands from behind his back, still grinning. “Not a single hand on her, Gil.”
“You think you’re funny, don’t you? Come on. I’ll take you through and we’ll see how funny you are,” Gil said.
“No. I’ll take him through. Close your eyes, Carson.” Shadow took one of his hands. He closed his eyes. “There’s a step down into the water.”
“You’re a fool, Shadow. He’s playing with you,” Gil warned.
Carson opened his eyes and looked at Gil. “I’m not.”
“You mean you’d marry some tavern keeper’s daughter?” Gil gestured towards Shadow. “You’re second in line for the throne if anything happens to your brother. I’m not a fool.”
“I’m not a liar. I’d marry your daughter tomorrow,” Carson said.
“You barely know me. You can’t talk about marriage after so little time,” Shadow protested.
Carson smiled down at her, his hand tightening on hers. “I do know you. And I know my own mind.”
“Well I’m not marrying anyone. I’m too young.” Shadow ignored the fact she’d been willing to marry Elrick to escape the tavern and turned to her Pa. “Now you get back to the rest of them.” She turned to Carson, “And you close your eyes.”
“Your Ma was only a year older than you when we married,” Gil said.
“Go!” Shadow pointed towards the tunnel.
“This matter isn’t over.” Gil turned and headed into the tunnel.
At the other end Shadow found Gil had left Irlan near the edge of the cliff so he could prevent the men from falling over. Once Carson was through the tunnel, Farnell ordered them all to mount up and head down the narrow trail.
Shadow travelled alone on a horse towards the front of the column, directly behind Carson and the General. All down the narrow trail Shadow kept glancing over her shoulder. It wasn’t until they’d left the narrow trail well behind she noticed a glow filled the sky behind them.
She slowed her mount and moved to the side of the track so she could ride beside her Pa. “It’s an army, isn’t it?” She nodded to the glow behind them.
Gil didn’t answer. Instead he looked past her to where Carson dropped back to join them. “Looks like the wrong person was called Shadow.”
“The glow?” Shadow persisted.
“An army. At least a couple of hundred hidden men,” Gil said. “I don’t know why they’ve bothered to hide them so soon. That many will make plenty of noise and leave tracks a blind man could follow.”
Carson didn’t bother to look behind them. “How far back?”
“Half a day,” Gil said.
“Two hundred! We can’t fight that many.” Shadow cast another glance behind, her eyes drawn to the glow of magic.
“A few miles ahead there’s a shortcut,” Gil said to Carson.
“How much of a shortcut?” Carson asked.
“You could be with your men that are camped in the foothills in a day,” Gil said.
“How will an extra fifteen men help?” Shadow asked.
“What’s to stop the army from following?” Carson asked.
“I’ll lay a false trail after I show you where the shortcut starts,” Gil said.
“Is anyone listening to me?” Shadow asked.
Carson turned to her and smiled. “Haven’t you learned yet? A good soldier never questions their superior officers.”
“Haven’t you learned? I’m not a good soldier and never likely to be. What’s the plan?” Shadow asked.
“I won’t leave behind any men if I can help it. We’ll collect the men from the foothills and take it from there,” Carson said.
“So in other words, you don’t have a plan,” Shadow said.
Carson turned to Gil. “Can you let the General know?” He waited until Gil rode ahead with a curt nod then turned to Shadow. “I do have a plan. To get you and my brother back to the castle in one piece.”<
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“That’s not a plan, that’s a wish.”
“As far as I’m concerned it’s a plan. I need to discuss this with the General. Don’t stay at the back of the line.”
Shadow glared after Carson, frustrated by their conversation.
Thornton rode over to her, Irlan on the horse with him. “He makes you want to throw something at him sometimes, doesn’t he?”
“What are you thinking of, getting mixed up with him?” Irlan demanded.
“There’s nothing wrong with him,” Thornton said.
“Go away the both of you,” Shadow said. “Or I’ll be throwing something at you. Something sharp.” Her hand momentarily rested on her dagger. When they had ridden ahead, Shadow looked towards the glow in the sky. She shuddered as she thought of what an army of two hundred men on horses would look like. An army of thirty archers had been frightening enough.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Shadow sat away from the fire and watched as Carson, Farnell and Gil discussed their plan. As Gil had promised, it had taken nearly a full day to make it to the camp the soldiers had made in the foothills. He’d joined them an hour ago, having spent the rest of his time laying a false trail for the army to follow. The sky was clear of the glow of magic, but Shadow couldn’t resist checking regularly. They couldn’t face an army that size. They’d be slaughtered.
A soldier brought mugs of ale over to the fire, gave one first to Farnell and then to Carson. Shadow held her breath as the soldier held out the last mug to Gil. He started to reach for it and then dropped his hand, shaking his head. The soldier moved away and Shadow began to breathe again. He still might be moody and short tempered, but Shadow was finally starting to like the man her Pa was when he wasn’t drunk. It had been far too many years since she’d seen him sober. Shadow glanced up as a soldier came to stand beside her.
“Iain.” Shadow nodded as he sat down.
“What are ya doing here? It was bad enough when we thought ya were a young lad. But a lass should be at home. Not risking her life.”
“Not you too,” Shadow complained.
Iain grinned at her. “It’s only because we care, lass. If my girl wanted to join the army I’d drag her home and chain her up till she came to her senses.”
