by Lindsey Duga
As Lynel led us to one of the larger houses, Zach leaned over my shoulder, speaking quietly. “A clumsy shot, was it?”
I turned my head and noticed how close he was. I could see the flecks of both emerald and amber in his eyes. “Would you rather I tell him the truth—that you refused to use a Royal’s Kiss and I had to drive it off?”
“That’s up to you, but what they think of it won’t change my mind.”
“If I thought it would, I would’ve said it.”
“You know, Ivy…” Zach’s hand brushed mine, and I couldn’t tell if it was on purpose or not. “I think you understand me more than you’d like to let on.”
My ears grew hot. “You flatter yourself. It just means I’m no stranger to men dumber than a bridge troll.”
Zach’s laughter was so loud I couldn’t help but smile with him, even when Lynel glanced back at us with a raised brow.
Because the village had no inn, Lynel brought us to his house. His ancestors had been the founders of the village, so his house was the biggest. It had two stories and a brick chimney, and the high roof was made of brucel wood. One of his partners, Patrice, showed us to two rooms they kept tidy and vacant for travelers, and told us she would have baths drawn and a warm meal ready.
“You really don’t have to go to all the trouble,” I insisted, standing in the doorway to my room as Patrice took up the tiny hallway, one of her little ones clinging to her apron and staring up at me in awe.
Patrice, with her round face and lovely blue eyes, shook her head and waved her hands. “I won’t hear another word of it, princess. You are welcome guests. We are honored to host Royals in our home.”
Desperation surged through my gut. I would protect these people from the griffin. No matter what.
“We’re really grateful to you, ma’am,” Zach said, coming up behind her.
Patrice smiled. “Dinner will be along shortly. I’ll come and fetch you.”
“I’ll help prepare,” I said, removing my cloak and rolling up my sleeves.
“That won’t be necessary, princess,” Patrice said hurriedly.
“Don’t be silly. I don’t mind.” I started to follow her, when Zach caught my bare arm.
He brought his face close to my ear and muttered, “I’m going to take a look around the village and see if I can get some information about the griffin attacks. They might know where the nest is located.”
“Good idea. We’ve got less than forty hours before the griffin’s wing heals and it can attack, so the quicker we find its nest, the better,” I said softly. Not to mention our own deadline to find the dragon. “But why are you whispering?”
“Just wanted to get a closer look at those freckles.” He winked.
I ripped my arm from his grasp and turned on my heel, all but running after Patrice.
An hour and a half later, Patrice covered the stewpot for it to simmer and then banished me from the kitchen. I was about to check on Brom at the stables when small hands caught the edges of my tunic. Children had gathered around me. They were as quiet as kitten’s paws—I hadn’t even heard them enter the kitchen.
“Hello there,” I said, kneeling to smile at each of them.
“Jordan, Colleen, Priscilla, leave Princess Ivy alone. She has things to do,” Patrice chastised them.
“Oh, I don’t mind. I adore children,” I said with a laugh as the youngest tugged at my hair and pulled it from its wrap. “It must be good to have all these helpers. Do Lynel’s other partners live here as well?” It was common for village founders to have quite a few partners to produce heirs to take their place later, so what Patrice said next surprised me.
“Oh, it’s just me. These little ones are all mine.” There was pride in her voice.
“That’s…rare,” I said, not wanting to offend her by how strange I found it. The toddler now had my braid and was beginning to unwind it with his tiny hands.
Patrice smiled. “It may seem odd to you, but we’re quite far from the Crown City, and we live much simpler lives out here in the outskirts of Myria. Often your first partner is all you need. Plus, the more children, the more mouths to feed.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“I have another baby sleeping upstairs, only a month old. My oldest daughter is watching over her,” Patrice said proudly, stroking the hair of the smallest girl.
“Congratulations,” I said.
“Thank you. He is quite the miracle.”
I found the choice of words odd, but I didn’t inquire further. After playing with the children for another half hour, I went to check on Brom. He’d yet to emerge from the stables.
The sun had just dipped below the horizon, and the last streaks of red, violet, and orange were barely visible over the rolling fields framed by the villagers’ houses. Glad to see the clouds gone, at least for now, I took a moment to admire the colors before I headed past a few shops, to find the village stables.
People were wrapping up for the evening, putting their farming tools in their sheds, bringing in firewood for dinner, closing shops, and sweeping their storefronts. It was a gentle, quiet village, and once again I felt a stab of fear for them. No. We’ll find the griffin and kill it. We still have time. There’s no need to panic.
In the stables, Brom was shoveling straw into our horses’ stalls.
Leaning against a wooden beam and bringing my hand to the nose of a pretty black mare, I said, “Can you believe him?”
Bromley stopped and just shrugged, then went back to pitching the straw.
“That’s it? That’s your whole response?” I said in disbelief. The horse nudged my palm, and I trailed my fingers over her soft snout.
He stopped and drew the pitchfork onto his shoulder. “I agree it’s not ideal—”
“Ideal?” I scoffed. “Try a catastrophe. Brom, he tricked us. He agreed to be my partner, knowing what he was expected to do, then backed out.”
Brom gave me a sheepish look. “Technically he didn’t back out. He’s still here. He’s still going after the dragon.”
“To what avail? We’ll die before we even get there if we don’t use the power of the Kiss. The entire point of our partnership is to use the magic of the Royals. One can’t work without the other—you know this.”
It was Kellian being on his own all over again. It was me going into battle without a partner, with the dwarf standing over me about to drive his sword through…
Solo acts didn’t work. I had enough proof.
“I know, but what can we do? Go back?”
I patted the mare’s neck. She blinked her large brown eyes and snorted. “No, we’ll continue on. We have to. But I’m not giving up. He will Kiss me. And we’ll share the most powerful Kiss the Forces have ever seen.”
Chapter
Fourteen
The Griffin’s Nest
The stew smelled heavenly. Combined with cinnamon-buttered bread, it made the perfect meal after three days of dried, salted meat and cheese. Once we had eaten, Patrice and Lynel’s children cleared away the table and left us to share a drink.
Zach had his mug filled with ale but had yet to touch a drop.
“So when did the griffin attacks start?” he asked, tearing off another chunk of cinnamon bread.
A heavy silence fell over the table, and Zach and I exchanged worried glances. Patrice reached over and grabbed her partner’s hand. Lynel placed his other hand on top of hers. “About a month ago. It showed up at the barn at the edge of the village, out of nowhere. It killed my brother and nephews. Patrice was the only survivor.”
The devastation and fear on Patrice’s face made it feel like the griffin had its talons in my heart, piercing it and making it bleed.
“I still can’t believe it just left me alone. I think the Holy Queen must’ve been watching over me. She wanted our baby son to be born.” Patrice laid a hand on her stomach.
Her previous words made sense now. That’s why she’d called her baby a miracle. Because they had both surviv
ed the griffin’s wrath.
Lynel took another swig of ale before answering. “After that attack, it scorched our western crops and chased all the game from the forest. We think it made its nest in there, though to be honest, we haven’t investigated.” He looked down at the table in guilt.
It was nothing to be ashamed of—the griffin was a powerful dark creature, as dangerous as it was bloodthirsty. Civilians stood no chance against their large claws and beaks.
Zach nodded to me, subtly, confirming what he’d told me just before dinner. After asking around, the villagers had all said something similar—that the griffin always went off in the direction of the northeastern forest. We’d also discussed the merits of going to the nest directly, hopefully to catch the bird in the midst of healing, rather than waiting for it to attack the village, so innocent lives wouldn’t be lost.
“We’ll leave at first light for the forest,” I said, leaning over to touch Lynel’s shoulder.
Lynel smiled. “Thank you, milady. Your kindness knows no bounds.”
I smiled back and caught Zach’s eyes across the table, but he quickly looked away.
In my room, I snuggled into the cool comfort of clean sheets. After sleeping under cloaks in the forest, I was more than appreciative of the bed. Still, sleep didn’t come easily. Lying in an unfamiliar room, alone, was harder than on the leafy forest floor under a sea of stars next to Brom.
Tonight, I was more uncomfortable than usual. Zach and Brom were in the next room. I knew that and yet, I couldn’t escape the echo of the griffin’s screech. It had been foolish of me to shoot that arrow. I’d been pushing down the guilt of it for the whole evening, but now I let it settle over me like a second quilt. Not only had I put lives in danger, but also we would waste a whole day tracking down the nest and slaying the creature. I had panicked—terrified we couldn’t defeat it without my magic. Was I being too cocky, thinking that way?
No. For once, I’m not the cocky one.
It was Zach. Thinking he could slay the beast without my help. I didn’t care what the stories said—no man had the strength or skill to take down a troll’s lair by himself. With that griffin streaking toward him like a comet, he would’ve been driven into the ground.
And yet, I remembered how he fought at the breach in the wall. How his sword dripped with blood.
Maybe I should’ve trusted him to kill the griffin. He certainly was capable—I’d wanted him as my partner for that reason. But there was a difference in trusting someone and possessing blind faith. I rubbed my cheek against the pillow and felt the ache of the bruise my mother left me, and along with it, the terror I’d felt with the dwarf’s magic keeping me in place, waiting for the taste of his blade. How foolish I’d been.
That wasn’t going to happen again. I couldn’t let myself make the same mistakes with Zach as I had with my other partners. I’d watch his back, and he’d watch mine, linked with the power of our Kiss.
I rubbed the heels of my hands against my eyes. As I rolled over and faced the door, I noticed amber light emanating from inside my pack. Slipping out of bed and padding across the wooden floor, I crouched and opened the bag. The light turned to a soft glow as my fingers closed around the enchanted compact mirror. I clicked the latch, and it popped open. Blinking against the onslaught of amber light, I heard my name.
“Ivy?” The voice of the Master Mage was soft and brought comfort.
My eyes now accustomed to the light, I could see Gelloren’s face within the glass. “I’m here.”
He smiled, his beard twitching. “How has your journey been? Where are you?”
“A village in between forests. They’ve given us lodging and food for the night.”
Gelloren nodded. “How many days’ ride from the mountains?”
“I can’t be certain. Five? Maybe more.”
“How is your new partner? Pulling his weight, I’m sure?”
My fingers tightened around the compact, and the engraved ivy of the mirror pressed so hard into my palms I knew it would leave the pattern on my skin. Now was the time to tell him. Tell him that Zach refused to Kiss me. That this mission was as hopeless as it was impossible. But what then? As Zach had reminded me, we had already come so far, and it would be a waste of time to turn back now. Even if I did, who else was as skilled as Zachariah?
“Yes, Master Gelloren, he’s quite strong.”
“Oh, so you’ve had a need for the Kiss?”
I cursed myself for walking into that. I tried to keep my face neutral. “We had a run-in with a griffin, that’s all.”
“How did your magic affect him?” The eagerness and curiosity in the mage’s voice was clear.
I fiddled with the hem of my undershirt. “The Kiss wasn’t necessary. We managed to drive it off with arrows. But Master, it’s late. I should…”
“Yes, yes, get some sleep. I’ll contact you again in two nights. I hope you will have made more progress, Ivy. The signs grow ever more alarming. We had yet another storm—the ice froze an entire field of crops—and another flock of sparrow harpies was spotted just beyond the wall. The fate of Myria and the other kingdoms rests in your and Zach’s hands.”
...
A soft knocking on my door woke me. Stumbling out of bed, I cast a quick glance at the window. It was still dark outside, but the pale hint of dawn nudged the horizon. I groaned, massaging my temples. Not good, Ivy. How unlike me to sleep late on a mission.
Thinking it was Brom, I pulled the door open without throwing on a cloak. Zach stood in the doorway, dressed and ready, his hair damp.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile, glancing at my long undershirt and bare legs.
I resisted the urge to cover myself. It was my own fault for answering the door indecently dressed. “I’m coming,” I said sharply.
“No rush. Brom just went to fetch the horses.”
I pulled the door closer, half shutting him out. “Call him Bromley. You don’t know him well enough to act so familiar.”
Zach gave me another one of his amused smiles. “I disagree. We shared a room. We’re plenty familiar.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling.
“Besides, he doesn’t mind.”
“He’s just being polite.”
“Don’t worry, princess, I’m sure he still loves you more.”
“I’m getting dressed now,” I declared, and shut the door in his face.
“Too bad,” I heard him say through the wood.
I almost flung the door open and whacked him on the back of his head with my shield, but decided I needed him conscious. So instead, I pulled on my tunic and pants, then laced up my vest and boots. After fixing my hair into a braided bun, I shouldered my pack and made my way through the quiet house and out into the chilly morning.
Brom had our horses waiting. Zach was already astride and checking the knives fitted into the saddle. Lynel and his family were outside, along with Toreck and two other men. I took Patrice’s hands and thanked her, but she insisted on a tight hug. Patrice’s arms were warm, and she smelled like freshly baked bread and earthy herbs—I realized then that this must be what being hugged by a mother was like. Safe and comforting. I reveled in it for a few precious moments.
Then Patrice drew back, took a pack of food from one of her children, and handed it to me. “It’s not much, but…”
“It’s more than enough,” I said, taking the bundle and tucking it into my saddlebag. Then I turned to Lynel, Toreck, and the two other men.
Before I could say anything, Toreck said, “Don’t worry. We’ll be accompanying you only as far as the edge of the wood. Your partner made it clear he doesn’t want us along for the fight.”
Zach avoided my eyes as he continued to check his daggers.
Toreck’s jaw was tight and his brow furrowed. I didn’t want any civilians with us, either. If things went badly, their blood would be on our hands. But I wondered what Zach had said to offend him so much.
“We’re very
grateful for your bravery,” I said with a nod to the other men as well, “but we want all of you to return to your children.”
Toreck uncrossed his arms and hooked his thumbs in his belt. “Yes, well, best be off.”
As the men led the way on their horses, I rode Lorena next to Zach. “Just what did you say to them?”
Zach scowled. “Nothing that wasn’t true.”
“Oh, of course. You insulted them by saying they’d get in the way.”
His silence was all I needed.
“Sacred Sisters, you could’ve been a little more gracious. Was it as offensive as the way you acted with me yesterday?” I rubbed my forehead and sighed. “What is it with you and not accepting help?”
Zach twisted in his saddle and raised his eyebrows. “You’re one to talk, princess. Who was the one who went onto the battlefield by herself just a few days ago?”
“That’s not the same. Not accepting help when it is given and not having help offered is completely different.” I poked him hard in the arm. “Besides, I remember asking you to be my partner that morning, and you refused.”
That shut him up. All the way to the forest, the two of us brooded.
When we reached the tree line, we dismounted, and Lynel and his friends promised they’d watch the horses. We thanked them, then Bromley, Zach, and I started into the forest. The path was small and clear, and as the hour passed, the trees got thicker. The sun rose, but instead of getting lighter, it got darker, and there were no sounds of stirring animals. We were nearing the heart of the forest.
Zach cursed and muttered something under his breath, something that sounded like, “Nothing—there’s nothing. Why do princes sign up for this willingly?”
For a moment I thought his comment was in reference to the ever-growing darkness, but then I realized he meant his Sense. He wouldn’t be able to feel anything of the griffin or its nest.
But I could feel it. I could feel it twofold.
The sickness that only the proximity of the Dark Forces could bring made my knees weak and my head light, but my limbs were heavy as if shadows were crawling into my blood and weighing it down. Usually I hid the feeling fairly well, but I must have looked sicker than I imagined, because Zach gripped my upper arm.
