“If I remember correctly, Irving was with you that night. Why would she have the beast attack him?”
I shake my head, now more convinced than before. “It’s her.”
Grace wrinkles her brow, obviously thinking about it. “You did say it seemed as if the beast tracked you, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I answer, relieved she’s finally contemplating it.
Her eyes flick to mine. “Right after you saw Kent with his mistress?”
I tilt my head to the side. “I’m not sure what that has to do with it.”
I’ve lost her. She’s in her own world.
She continues, “And Kent’s been on a hunting trip every time the beast attacked…”
“Are you saying she’s using her husband? They don’t seem to get along well enough to plot together.”
Slowly, the color drains from her face. “Now he’s going to be king, and the attacks have suddenly stopped.”
“Right,” I say slowly. “So it’s Giselle.”
“No.” Grace looks impatient that I’m not following her. “But it may be Kent.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Rogert lunges at Hallgrave in the courtyard. One misshapen drachite blade meets another misshapen drachite blade, and the men’s shadows dance in the torchlight.
I sit on the short wall, waiting for my turn. Clouds have settled, cloaking the stars, but I don’t think we’ll have rain tonight.
Hallgrave finally bests Rogert, and the two take a moment to catch their breath once the match is over.
“I’m exhausted,” Rogert says, breathing hard. “I’ve never tired this easily in my life.”
Hallgrave nods, resting his palms on his knees.
I chew my lip, concerned.
We certainly are at a disadvantage. If we’d never known the unicorn’s magic, we wouldn’t miss it so acutely.
With another deep breath, Hallgrave rights himself. “Keven, Audette? Who’s next?”
Keven looks at me in question, but I motion him on.
Just like Grace, none in the Order believe me about Giselle. They all think I’m jealous, involved too deeply to see how foolish my accusation is. Grace’s theory about Kent—that they’re willing to consider.
But I saw the look on his face at the ceremony that pronounced him as Edlund’s heir, the misery etched into the lines of his brow. I simply can’t believe he killed his own father.
Giselle, though? I believe she’d kill anyone or anything that gets in her way. She said it herself. She always gets what she wants.
Rogert flops next to me as Keven and Hallgrave circle each other. “I’m retiring after we kill this ludrako beast.”
I give him a sideways look. “I find that hard to believe.”
He wipes the sweat from his brow with his tunic. “This ‘being like everyone else’ thing—it’s exhausting.”
“No matter if you leave the Order or not, you’ll always be missing the unicorn’s magic.”
“Yes, but I could be sitting fat and happy on my estate and not facing down the beast of nightmares.”
I elbow him in the side. “You want to live the life of a house cat?”
“Yes, yes I do.”
He smirks, and I know him well enough not to ask what he’s thinking.
Rogert opens his mouth, about to tell me anyway, when the rapid sound of a horse approaching catches our attention.
Hallgrave and Rogert pause in their duel, just as surprised as we are that someone is coming calling this late, and at such a rapid pace at that. My heart nearly seizes with apprehension when I make out the rider in the night.
Irving draws his horse up to an abrupt stop, and he leaps to the ground. Urgently, he says, “Audette, I need to speak with you.”
“What’s happened?”
Irving glances at my men. “I can’t…we need to speak alone.”
My knights look at him with suspicion, wondering, as I am, what he doesn’t want to say in front of them. He looks more than worried…possibly slightly guilty. Like he has something to confess, and he wants to do it before…
There’s the sound of another horse, and, again, we turn toward the road.
“Audette, please,” Irving pleads, true fear flashing in his eyes.
Barowalt races into the courtyard at a much faster pace than is safe for him while he’s still healing. He sees Irving, and there’s murder in his gaze.
My shoulders begin to tremble.
“You have no right to be here!” Barowalt shouts, his whole body rigid with anger. “I want you off our land!”
Still injured, my brother can’t swing down from his horse as gracefully as Irving did, and Rogert rushes forward to assist him.
“What happened?” I demand of Irving.
“Nothing,” he insists, his eyes sincere. He grasps hold of my hands. “I swear it.”
Leaning on Keven, Barowalt stalks forward, limping. He’s seething, livid. I’ve never seen him this mad. “As we were leaving Aunt Camilla’s quarters, we saw Giselle sneaking out of Irving’s door.”
Irving shakes his head, matching Barowalt’s anger with his own. “Nothing happened!”
“She was barely dressed, Irving!” Barowalt yells.
Stunned, I take a step back. Just when I think my knees will give out, Keven takes my arm.
No, Irving couldn’t have…
My stomach rolls, and I’m afraid I’m going to be sick in front of them all.
“I had nothing to do with it,” Irving insists. “I don’t know how she let herself in, but the moment I found her, I told her to get out.”
No one believes him.
I’m not sure I believe him.
As if sensing my trust crumbling, Irving turns toward me. Practically groveling, he takes a step in my direction, but Hallgrave blocks his path. Irving steps to the side, craning his neck around the knight. “Audette. You know me now. You know me. I didn’t do this. I swear it.”
“I think you should go,” I whisper.
He looks as if I knocked the wind out of him. His shoulders slump; his face crumples. “Audette…”
“It’s late.” I turn from him. It hurts too much to look at him right now. “I can’t…tomorrow. We’ll figure this out tomorrow.”
“Stop this. Look at me,” he pleads. “Let’s talk, just us. Please, you have to listen—”
Though I won’t look, I can hear the scuffle between him and Hallgrave as the knight pushes Irving to his horse. If he keeps resisting, a fight is inevitable.
“Audette, I lov—”
“No!” I whip around, finally looking at him. “Even if it’s true, don’t say it now. Don’t sully it.”
He stands by his horse, holding the reins. “Tomorrow.”
I nod, not quite meeting his eyes. “Go now.”
Reluctant, he mounts his horse.
The sound of the fading hoofbeats nearly does me in.
Without a word, Keven escorts me into the villa and walks me to my room. When we reach the door, he asks, “Will you be all right?”
Unable to answer, I give him a bare nod. He hesitates but finally closes the door behind him. I fall on my bed, numb. A raging, void bleakness grows in the pit of my stomach until it consumes me. I finally cry.
I’m not sure how long I’ve been here, cradled with my blankets, when Milly lets herself in and sits next to me.
Several moments pass in silence before I finally ask, “Were you with Barowalt?”
She doesn’t answer right away, but when she does, her voice is faint. “Yes.”
I turn toward her, still clutching my blankets. “Did you see her?”
Her face contorts with pain. “Yes.”
My shoulders shake, and I clench my eyes shut, trying to block out the image of the two of them together. Barowalt is prone to overreacting, but Milly—Milly wouldn’t upset me unless it were absolutely true.
“But I didn’t even have a chance to question Irving,” she whispers. “The moment he and your brother
saw each other, it was if it were a race to the stables to reach you first. If it weren’t for Barowalt’s injuries, I know they would have come to blows.”
That’s how Irving arrived first. He simply outran Barowalt.
“I would have raced after them, but we had Letta with us. I couldn’t leave her.”
I nod, suddenly too ill at the thought to speak of it further.
Hoping to signal her that I can’t rehash any more of it tonight, I pull the blankets over my head. The bed shifts, and Milly lies down next to me, just like when we were little. She doesn’t say anything else, but having her here, knowing she cares enough to stay with me, helps. Even if it’s only very little.
I don’t sleep well. Every time I close my eyes, I see Giselle in Irving’s arms. Thanks to her ridiculous armor, I can regretfully imagine her scantily dressed, and it makes my nightmare vision all that much worse.
But with the morning light comes clarity.
Either I put my trust in Irving, or in his reputation. Those are my only options.
I sit up and shove the blankets aside. Milly, always a late sleeper, is stretched out on the other side of the bed and snoring softly. On any other day, I’d wake her just to tease her about it.
Not today.
I dress as quietly as possible and then slip out of the room. Hoping to sneak out undetected by Barowalt or my knights, I slink through the halls. I turn the last corner, almost to the servant’s entrance in the kitchen, and scream out loud when I find someone right in my path.
Letta steps back, just as shocked to see me as I am to see her.
Clutching my chest, I demand, “What are you doing up?”
She looks as solemn as usual, her eyes wide with fear. “I was hungry.”
Taking several deep breaths, I try to smile. “Of course. I’m sorry.”
Nodding, she steps out of my way, half-terrified of me.
What kind of ogre am I that I scare a small child like this?
“I’m sorry,” I say again, trying to keep my voice softer this time.
She only nods.
Without another word, I exit through the door and step into the cool, sunny morning. Spring has come to Ptarma, and it’s beautiful.
My mind is elsewhere, and I don’t have time to dwell on the new buds in the gardens or the blooms in the fruit trees. Working quickly, I saddle my horse and ride toward the castle.
By the time I deposit my mare in the care of a groomsman, my hands are shaking.
I’m terrified to speak with Irving, but it’s best to get it out of the way. If I dwell on it further, I’ll go mad.
Evading all but servants and maids, I wind through the castle halls. The way to my aunt’s quarters is familiar now, and I barely think about which way I’m going. I’m so lost in thought, I don’t look up in time to realize Giselle is at the end of the hall I’m walking down.
Our eyes meet, and for a split-second, hers flash with triumph. Quickly, she hides the expression. “Good morning, Princess.”
I try to nod and walk past her.
“It’s awfully early to visit Irving, don’t you think?” She pauses, thoughtful. “He had an eventful night. He might not be…decent yet.”
Unable to ignore her, I whip around.
Her eyes are bright, even if her features are smoothed in innocence.
“You set him up,” I say, stepping forward. “You knew Barowalt and Milly were visiting Aunt Camilla yesterday, and you timed it all just right.”
I had all night to think about it, and I know I’m right. Just as I know she’s the one controlling the beast.
She widens her eyes in mock innocence. “And how would I know that? You poor thing. It’s amazing the lengths some people will go to protect themselves.” She steps forward, hips swaying. “You just can’t handle the thought of us together, can you?”
I bite my cheek to stay silent.
“Why would he want you, naive princess, when he could have me?”
“You’re lying. He didn’t want you. When he saw you, he told you to get out.” Just as she did, I let a heavy pause settle between us. “He didn’t want you.”
I say it with such conviction that for one fraction of a heartbeat, her veneer cracks. She tries to cover it, but she knows she’s slipped.
Her expression turns angry, but I only smile as I try to brush past her. As I do, her hand catches my shoulder, and her fingernails dig into my skin.
I gasp, more startled than hurt.
“He’s a man like any other,” she hisses near my ear. “He’ll only hold out for so long, and then he’ll fall. They all do.”
Yanking my shoulder away, I glare at her. “What is your plan this time? Are you going to sic your pet ludrako on me again? It didn’t work well the first time, and I promise it won’t work the second.”
Startled, Giselle takes several steps back. “What are you insinuating?”
“You know exactly what I’m insinuating. Don’t play coy.”
She’s unarmed, and I am too, but my fingers itch for my sword.
Slowly, she glances down the hall, one way and then the next, and then she smiles. “I have heard you’re trying to stir up rumors that I’m the one controlling the beast. But no one believes you. They think you’re a jealous child.”
“I don’t care what they think.” I turn to leave, a little leery of having her at my back. “Eventually, as it always does, the truth will reveal itself.”
“Audette?” Giselle calls as soon as I think I’ve stunned her into silence, her voice unsettlingly sweet. “You should watch your words. I’d hate for something bad to happen to someone you care about.”
I glance over my shoulder. “Is that a threat?”
She shrugs, holds my eyes for several more seconds, and then disappears around the corner.
With my heart beating madly in my chest, I hurry on to Irving’s quarters. I beat on the door, not caring that it’s early.
If he slept any better than I did, he deserves to be woken abruptly.
Almost immediately, he swings the door open. His eyes are guarded, but when he sees me, his whole body sags with relief. Not bothering to explain my presence, I throw myself at him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
He gasps and clutches my hair, murmuring all kinds of alibis and promises. None of it matters.
“I believe you,” I say against his tunic.
Holding me tighter, he pulls me to a chair, where he sits with me perched on his lap. He clings to me like he has no intention of ever letting me go. “You do?”
“I do.”
Eventually, he sits back and looks me in the eyes. “I love you—desperately, completely, with my whole heart.”
Playing with the trim at the collar of his tunic, I say, “I didn’t want to fall in love with you—didn’t want to trust you. Didn’t want to come to care for another person just to have them ripped away from me. It hurts…so much.” I look up at him. “But I can’t help it. I do. I love you. And I do trust you…with my whole heart.”
After brushing my unruly, untended hair out of my face, he presses the softest of kisses to my lips. Needing him, needing the reassurance that we’re all right, I wrap my arms around his neck and lose myself in the moment.
We linger together in the sweetest of ways, kissing, talking, planning, dreaming, for most of the morning. Irving never coaxes me for more, and though I burn with an intensity that, again, makes me wish we were already wed, I never offer it.
By early afternoon, hunger finally ousts us from Irving’s quarters. Thankfully, we don’t run into Giselle on the way to the kitchens.
“You know we have to speak with your brother and his knights,” Irving says after he swallows the last bite of an apple and tosses the core into a bucket of kitchen scraps.
I tear an herb roll into small pieces. “They’re not going to believe you.”
Irving steps forward and pulls me into his arms. “You do. That’s all that matters to me.”
Still, by the ti
me we reach the villa late in the afternoon, my nerves are practically vibrating.
“What is he doing here?” Barowalt demands the moment we find him hobbling the garden paths.
“Giselle set him up,” I say. “I met her in the hall. She practically admitted—”
“It doesn’t matter right now,” Barowalt says, his voice on edge. “Have you seen Milly?”
The worry at convincing my brother of Irving’s innocence shifts to something more acute, like ice in my belly.
“No. Should I have?”
“Letta asked to go on a picnic, but that was before noon.”
I take a step forward. “They should have been home hours ago.”
“I know.” He limps forward, leaning on his staff as if he is in more pain than usual. “I’ve sent Keven and Rogert to look for her.”
Fear grows, and, suddenly, Giselle’s words fly to my mind.
Feeling ill, I find a nearby bench and sink into it. Milly’s disappearance has nothing to do with Giselle. It was an empty threat spoken in a moment of anger.
Or was it? I don’t have any doubt she’s controlling the beast. Why would I doubt her ability to get to Milly and Letta?
“We have to find them,” I say, rising, already running up the steps toward my room so I can change and fetch my sword. I quickly pull on my leather armor and braid my hair into a crown at my head.
Just as I’m coming back down, Barowalt hollers, “Audette!”
I race down the stairway, my heart leaping to my throat. I find Barowalt, Irving, and our three knights standing in the entryway. My brother looks like he’s about to come undone.
Keven holds an arrow and a piece of parchment in his hands, and his expression is ashen.
“What is that?” I demand, wary.
“It was attached to the door,” Keven answers. “It must have been placed there just after you and Irving arrived.”
“Is it a ransom note?” I ask, my throat thick.
Keven shakes his head, his expression grim. “Not exactly.”
“Well?”
“It says Milly and Letta have been taken to the ludrako’s lair. If we can’t locate them by morning, they will be fed to the beast.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Audette of Brookraven (The Eldentimber Series Book 4) Page 21
