“Of course I don’t mind, I’ll be all right. I’ll see you soon,” I said, then turned to Raul. “Thank you for the books.”
He bowed. “You’re welcome, milady. If I can ever, and I mean ever be of service to you, please don’t hesitate to come by.” When he stood erect, he gave me a wink.
I waved, and as I hurried away from his carriage, I saw him and Rhyne in deep conversation. What was going on? Why were they giving each other those knowing glances?
A part of me knew Raul was dangerous, but I didn’t care. We’d met four summers ago, right before I turned twelve. Much to Gram’s chagrin, he’d taken a liking to me and we developed a strange friendship. He brought me exotic gifts from his travels and in exchange, I’d spend hours talking with him. I was certain Gram knew I snuck down to see him, especially when I returned home with new books and jewelry not found in these parts. I’d been caught twice this last spring, which earned me several hours of stacking wood, but it was worth it.
Lost in thought, I wandered along the various stands until I ran into a very solid, very masculine chest. I raised my head to see Lord Kenrick, who reached out to steady me. “I’m sorry.”
“Pardon me, Lady Brielle. I didn’t mean to run into you. I fear my mind is elsewhere.”
“Mine as well.” I smiled, shifting my purchases beneath my arm. My heartbeat quickened as I watched at him.
He stared, intent on my face. We stood, silent, gawking for several moments, and I had no idea why. We barely knew each other.
His mouth turned up at the corners as he drew his hand back. “What brings you to the marketplace?” He glanced at my books.
“I needed some new reading material. Father Machai is running out of manuscripts for me to borrow.”
“Ah, then you are friends with Father Machai?”
“I am. He tutored me for several years at the request of my grandmother. And he gives me access to the church’s library.” Unlike most of the villagers, Gram thought education important and wanted me to read and write and to speak other languages.
Kenrick grinned. “Then it is fate that has brought us together this day.” He offered me his arm.
I accepted it. “What makes you believe fate intercedes, Lord Kenrick?”
We ducked into a shaded area next to the stables where the heavy smell of hay clung to the air, while horses whinnied from their stalls.
He leaned closer. “Because I have need of Father Machai’s library, and for some reason he’s taken a dislike to me.”
I laughed. “What have you done to upset the poor priest?”
“I do not know. The moment I mentioned the Beast, he told me he couldn’t help me.”
“Why, Lord Kenrick, are you so certain that this Beast exists? And what, pray tell, do you hope to find within the church?”
He raised a hand to shield his face from the sun. “I was told that my grandfather, rest his soul, was attacked by the Beast when my father was nine. For a long time, I thought they were just stories.” He shifted his gaze to mine. “Until a few years ago, when I found my first body. It’d been torn, almost shredded, in the same manner as my grandfather. So I poured myself into research, and one day, while scouring books in a monastery I came across written accounts of the Beast. The attacks weren’t restricted to one certain village, but rather occurred in several locations. Written testimonies spanned a couple centuries. The more research I did, the more proof I found.”
“Pardon me if I find this highly unlikely. How could a creature such as this live for several centuries and avoid capture? It’s too fantastical, even for me.”
The wind picked up, tugging a scroll from my hand. I raced to catch it, but Lord Kenrick scooped it up and held it out to me. His hand brushed mine, sending jolts through my whole body. His skin was warm and the air sizzled between us as if I’d been sucked into a lightning storm. My fingers trembled as I took it from him.
“The tournament,” he blurted out.
“Pardon me?”
He shook his head as if trying to chase a thought. “I—I remember where I saw you now. At a tournament, near Crawford.”
Crawford? That was where my late aunt Narcissa and cousin Lucia’s estate was. “Perhaps you’ve confused me with someone else. I really meant it when I told you I haven’t been out of Dark Pines in years.”
He smiled. “Maybe you just have one of those familiar faces.”
I peered at him, unable to look away. I moistened my lips. What was wrong with me? Why did Kenrick elicit this type of reaction from me? It left me unsettled, almost confused.
“I’ll talk to Father Machai,” I said at last. “If you’d like, I can help with your research. Maybe translate the text for you.”
“Perfect. Will tomorrow work?” His dark hair blew across his forehead and I had the sudden urge to swipe it away.
My hand rose of its own accord, as if it was natural for me to brush his hair aside. Startled, I dropped it back to my side. “Tomorrow would be splendid.”
“I’ll be at the church first thing in the morning.” He bowed. “Thank you, Lady Brielle. I look forward to seeing you again.”
I watched him walk away, his tall frame hard to miss amongst the shoppers. When he got to the corner, he turned and looked over his shoulder. Another smile formed on his lips.
Not wanting him to think me desperate, I averted my gaze and slipped into the crowd. Before I got too far, though, I spotted Raul racing after me like the devil was at his heels.
“Brielle Healer, wait.” He waved his arms frantically.
People turned to stare at him, pointing and whispering as he drew closer to me. I was sure tomorrow we’d be the talk of the bloody town. But for today, I didn’t care.
“What’s wrong?” I asked when he stopped beside me, a serious look upon his face.
He caught my arm. “My grandmother just arrived in Dark Pines, and she told me I was to fetch you right away.”
“Is she ill? Does she need a salve? Maybe I should send for Gram instead, you know she’s more skilled in healing than I am.”
“No, she doesn’t need Loreen.” He leaned closer and whispered, “She’s here about your nightmares.”
My throat tightened. I’d never mentioned my nightmares to him, so what could his grandmother possibly know about my horrific dreams?
“Your grandmother is here, now?” I searched the crowd, wondering which person she was.
“Yes, she just got in and is waiting at my carriage. She didn’t want to draw attention to herself.”
“Very well, lead the way.” After so many weeks of nightmares and visions, loath as I was to talk to strangers about this, I knew I couldn’t ignore her. Because if she knew this much without me divulging information, she might have the answers I sought.
When we got to Raul’s carriage, I saw an old, withered lady sitting next to a small fire, a dress made of various hues swept the ground as she rocked back and forth. Her long, gray-black hair was loose about her shoulders. Gold rings adorned her fingers, while large hoops swung from her lobes.
As if alerted of my presence, she raised her kind, brown eyes.
“You must be Brielle, the girl my grandsons told me about. Come, sit by the fire. Let us talk.”
Raul tugged a blanket from one of his tables and laid it on the ground for us to sit on. I lowered myself and crossed my legs. Rhyne sat on one side of me, while Raul settled on the other, his knee pressed against mine.
A sensation ran up my leg at his touch. Does he have any idea what his closeness does to me? I turned to glance at him then quickly shifted my gaze forward again.
Smoke from the fire curled up in front of us, like long vines reaching to the stars.
“Now, why don’t you tell me of your nightmares?”
I swallowed the lump in my throat.
“Go on, Bri, she won’t lay judgment on you. She’s here to help.” Rhyne gave my hand a squeeze. The flames seemed to leap in fron
t of us and I jumped. How did that happen?
His grandmother gave him a startled look. “Hmmm … I think maybe there’s more here going on than just her dreams. Is there something more we need to speak of, Rhyne?”
What did his grandmother mean by that?
Rhyne glanced at his cousin, who nodded his head no.
Raul chuckled. “Let’s not get into that today. We’re here for her.”
My courage wavered, but I hoped she’d be able to figure out the horrible visions I’d been having. According to previous conversations with Rhyne, his grandmother was one of the strongest fortunetellers in his tribe or so his mother had told him. Maybe she could also explain the extreme headaches I got following them as well. So I spoke to her of my nightmares, of the death and severed limbs, and of the creature that stalked people in my sleep. But I left out the more recent images of Kenrick. When I finished, she reached for my free hand.
“Let me read you,” she said. She closed her eyes and she rocked faster. The fire glowed more brilliantly and my hand pulsed, like all the blood had rushed to it. “I see a girl with tattoos upon her arms. There’s a knight who hunts the darkness. Blood. Bones. So much magic. There’s death and life. A curse. A ghostly woman, who could be friend, but could also be foe.” Her lids shot open, and she stared right at me. “You will have to fight. And there will be pain. So much pain. But there will also be love.” Her glance drifted first to Raul, then in the direction of town, as if the answer lay in wait there. “Your love can save you in the end. But you must trust in it and those closest to you. For darkness will come before the end.”
Raul’s grip on my other hand tightened, and this time, there was no denying it. The fire leapt higher, blazing brighter than it had before with Rhyne. Heat radiated from his fingers, thrumming up my arm. Feeling as if my hand were covered in flames, I released my hold. What was going on with him? His grandmother stared at him as well, as if in deep thought. I turned my head to find him watching me. So much emotion emanated from him, yet he remained silent.
For a moment, we inched closer, until I felt his breath on my cheek. If either one of us moved but an inch, our lips would touch. But as a horse rode by in the distance, I remembered where I was, and tore my gaze from his. Once more I looked to his grandmother. “A-and what of my nightmares?”
“You know they are not nightmares, Brielle. Trust your instincts. Let them guide you, and they will lead you on the right path,” she said. With that, she slumped forward, as if all her energy had been sapped.
Raul released my hand and climbed to his feet. “Grandmother?”
She raised her head. “I will be fine. Now you boys, go on, see her home. I’ll be here when you come back as there are things we need to discuss.”
“Grandmother?”
“Be a good boy, Rhyne and do as I say.”
Raul grabbed her a blanket, and I heard her whisper, “The magic is bound up around her. Someone knew what they were doing.”
So many thoughts swirled in my mind. Who was the girl with the tattoos? And what did she mean by magic and a curse? Did the death she spoke of have to do with the attacks in the village?
As we ambled away, I swore I heard their grandmother’s voice in my head. “Go to the place it began and offer blood.”
I turned my head to find the Wanderer woman fast asleep, which meant I’d imagined it.
“I know you don’t fully understand what she told you, but her words are encouraging, don’t you think? That amongst death, there will be life and love … ” Raul said, giving me a smile.
“Yes, it’s very encouraging.” I stared at him.
A few moments later, Raul delivered us back to where he’d found me earlier near the stables. “I’ll see you around, dearest Brielle. Perhaps later this week you might be able to sneak away for a picnic.”
He raised my palm to his lips, sending my pulse soaring into the sky. Raul was finally inviting me to spend time with him. Alone. How long had I dreamt of this moment? Of being more than just Loreen’s granddaughter. He’d given me hope last spring when he’d walked me home. How many times had I replayed those scant moments in my mind, imagining his lips on mine? I cleared my throat, trying to seem casual.
“I’d loved to. Just send word to Rhyne as to when. And thank you for everything,” I said, when he released my fingers. With a quick wave, I hurried away, Rhyne on my heels, leaving the marketplace behind, all the while rubbing my hand. It still tingled from where he’d touched it. I had a lot of things I needed to sort through, starting with the meaning behind Raul’s grandmother’s words.
When Raul was out of sight, I turned to Rhyne. “Rhyne, what was that back there? With the fire?”
He seemed to fidget, his gaze shifting away from mine as if he didn’t want to talk about whatever it was that’d happened. “Don’t worry, Brielle, I’m taking care of it. I promise; we can talk about it sometime, just not now.” He gave my arm a pat and said, “Let’s just get you home.”
Rhyne and I were quiet as we made our way back through the village. Although I was glad his grandmother had given me the reading, it left me more confused than ever.
Not able to stand the silence between us, I said, “I ran into Lord Kenrick today.”
Rhyne jerked me to a stop. “What’d he want?”
“I’ve agreed to help him research his Beast. We’re meeting at the church tomorrow to go through Father Machai’s documents.”
His face reddened, and his jaw twitched. “But you don’t believe in the Beast. Besides, do you think that’s a good idea? You barely know Lord Kenrick.”
“Since when have you become concerned about who I spend time with?”
He sighed, kicking at a rock. “If you must know, I had planned on inviting you fishing tomorrow. Just the two of us. We haven’t had a chance to talk much lately with your gram needing you to help make salves and Da having me in the shop.”
“Really? You couldn’t have been that worried about us going fishing, since Sarah was telling her mother she wanted to meet you at the creek.”
He snorted. “She overheard me talking to Gertie Dyer about going on a picnic with me, and of course Sarah tried inviting herself along.”
“Good, because you had me worried for a moment that you might actually fancy Sarah Weaver.”
“Not in this lifetime.”
We passed through the main gate and away from town. Dust spiraled in the air from the carts driving by. Trees cast eerie shadows in the late day sun, while birds chirped and whistled private melodies only they understood.
I nudged Rhyne in the side with my elbow. “You know, you don’t have to walk me home every evening.”
“I know, but I like to make sure you’re safe.”
Being with Rhyne felt familiar. There was a certain comfort between us. We could talk about anything with one another. Our hopes. Our fears. The blasphemies of the villagers. Our love lives, or in my case the lack thereof. And now he knew my secrets. My nightmares.
I listened to the wind dance through the maples. For once, everything seemed perfect.
I bent down and picked a violet near our cottage, then glanced at Rhyne, who watched me. He rubbed his chin, as if in deep thought.
He cleared his throat then moved closer. “Bri?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think I should ask Gertie to accompany me to the festival?”
Although I wasn’t fond of Gertie’s parents, she was nice enough. Most importantly, she made Rhyne happy. And she wasn’t Sarah Weaver. “Yes.”
“H-how do you think I should ask her? Show up at her house? Maybe take her for a walk and give her flowers? Or do you think I ought to get permission from her da first?”
I giggled, clutching his arm. “Listen to you, you sound so nervous. How about you wait until she walks by your shop tomorrow to deliver dyed cloth to the Weavers? You can catch her alone then.”
His green eyes focused on me. “That’s
perfect. But what if she says no?”
“She won’t. I mean, who could resist all that charm?” I teased.
“Indeed.” He tugged on a strand of my hair. “I’m gonna borrow Da’s cart. I want to make it proper for her.”
“I’m so excited for you.” I hugged him, still holding the books Raul had given me.
“Now all we need to do is find you someone.” He winked at me. “Assuming you haven’t already got someone in mind … ”
With a smile, I glanced at the ground. “Rhyne, don’t start that again. You know my place is here, with Gram.” Although, my thoughts often drifted to Raul. But he was here for a short time, and soon he’d drive away in his carriage again.
“All right. But if that changes, you know you can talk to me.” He chuckled. “And so you know, you best save me a dance at the festival.” He playfully punched my arm. “I should probably head out so I can get home before dusk.” He waved, and then sauntered down the rocky path, whistling as he disappeared into the pines.
When he was out of sight, Gram came outside, as clear a sign as anything that she’d been listening and waiting for Rhyne to leave. I would have rolled my eyes if I didn’t love her for it.
I gave her a hug.
“What was that all about?” she asked.
“Rhyne has finally gotten the courage up to ask Gertie to the festival.”
“Hmmm … She’s nice enough.” She mumbled something under her breath then held me at arm’s length “The Wanderers are back at the marketplace.”
“Oh?” I feigned innocence. Shite.
Gram snorted. “You’ve already been to see Raul, haven’t you?”
“The Wanderers are not a bad people.”
“No. Maybe not. But some of them, like Raul, are dangerous. Just you remember that.”
I laughed. “You worry too much.”
Legend of Me Page 4
