The scent of campfire and apple pie flitted through the air, reminding me that autumn was nearly upon us.
I spotted Rhyne through the crowd, Gertie on his arm as he talked to Bowman. I smiled, then turned my attention to several people who shifted to stare at me as I walked by. For once, I felt as if I were the Belle of the Ball. Closer to the raised scaffold, the Star Pole had been erected for the festival. Already, white and silver ribbons hung from it.
My thoughts drifted to the man in the cage and I shivered. Soon the scaffold would be used for an entirely different reason. Bertha Gatekeeper staggered into me, nearly dumping ale on my dress.
“Sorry ’bout that.” Her swollen eyes stared through me. “Liam and I met this night, fourteen years ago. We danced all night.” She swayed back and forth as if he were leading her.
My throat thickened. I’d been the one to find Liam dead in the woods. I fought to keep the gruesome murder from my mind. With a sad smile, I patted her arm.
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
She raised her glass in a toast then moved on. How many others suffered this night because of the Beast? The Mayor should’ve cancelled everything.
“There you are,” Rhyne said. His golden hair shimmered against the setting sun. Ivy colored eyes swept over me as I took in his forest green tunic, black breeches, and new black leather boots. A smile tugged at his lips. “You look breathtaking.”
A blush crept up my neck. “Thanks. You clean up nice yourself. So where’s Gertie?”
“Her da is taking her for a spin about the square. So, would you like to dance?”
“Yes. But only if you don’t try to do anything ridiculous.”
He grinned. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I swatted his arm. “So you don’t remember your attempts to dance with me by the creek last summer?”
His eyes twinkled as he tugged me into his arms and spun me around in time with the music. “I have no recollection.”
I snorted. “Well, let me jog your memory. It had something to do with tossing me in the water when you dipped me backward.”
“Oh. Now I remember.” His grip tightened on my waist as he dipped me back then snapped me up so my hands hit his chest. “Was that better?”
“Um—let’s just stick with basic steps.”
Rhyne swayed with me, and I glanced over his shoulder, searching the square. Then I saw Kenrick, standing on the outskirts of people. His dark hair caressed the sides of his chiseled jawline. I lowered my gaze taking in his attire. He wore a blue tunic, lined with silver thread, his tan breeches tucked neatly into knee high brown leather boots. A smile crept to my lips as I looked up at him once again.
A magnificent sight.
His gaze shifted, landing on me. But at that moment, Rhyne spun me, and when I came back around, Sarah stood next to Kenrick, tugging him into her arms for a dance. My grip tightened on Rhyne.
“You all right?” Rhyne leaned closer, his breath tickled my cheek.
“Yeah.” I nodded. “How could I not be when I’m with the great Rhyne Butcher?”
“See, at last you admit how wonderful you think I am.” His eyebrows wiggled.
“More like an arrogant, arse.”
“And yet here you are in my arms. Even you can’t resist me, Brielle. Guess all the meat I gave you over the years finally won you over.”
“Pardon me, may I cut in?” Raul tapped on Rhyne’s shoulder.
I stared into a pair of familiar brown eyes. Tonight, Raul wore a plain white tunic and black breeches. He’d foregone the beads and settled on a simple crimson ribbon to secure his dark hair at the nape of his neck. His skin glowed golden against his shirt, opened just enough to reveal a silver medallion at his neck.
“Sure. I should probably go hunt down Gertie before someone else tries snagging her.”
He handed me off to Raul, who led me in more advanced steps as we glided amongst the other dancers. His hands slid down my waist and he spun me out and back in again.
“So you decided to take part in the festival this year,” I teased as he pulled me closer. “I thought you said these gatherings were for fools.”
“That was before you were old enough to attend them. Now, at least, I have someone to share in the misery that this village considers a match-making ceremony.”
I giggled as he swept me through a sea of gyrating bodies. “Glad I could oblige. Besides, our dancing together will give the masses something more to talk about.”
As Raul regarded me, his smile disappeared. “Brielle, promise me something.”
“Of course.”
“Be careful with your heart.”
I swallowed hard. “What do you mean?”
His fingers brushed tendrils of my hair from my face. “The knight, Kenrick, who has been paying you visits. I’m just afraid he might not live up to the type of man you need.”
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Bri, come now, this is me you’re speaking to. I understand you better than anyone in this narrow-minded town. We’re kindred spirits.”
I shifted my gaze from Raul’s. “Then don’t lecture me. I realize Kenrick is leaving soon, I’d be foolish to give him my heart. But you know what my prospects are.” What I really wanted to tell him was that although Kenrick had opened something in me, it was he who had my heart.
His fingers forced my chin upward so I looked at him. “Don’t sell yourself short, these are your feelings we’re talking of.”
“I will be careful. You have my word.”
“And if anyone should hurt you, you have my word that I’ll hunt them down.” His skin became hot beneath my fingers, as if he were with fever.
A lump lodged in my throat and, once more, the dangerous spark curled over his features. My mind drifted back to the previous day when he’d pulled a dagger, ready to kill the man in the cage. And of course, I couldn’t forget how he nearly gave his life for me with the wolf.
“Do you think you can sneak away with me for a few minutes?” He drew me closer. “There’s something I want to show you.”
I sucked in a deep breath, my hands resting on his chest. Would anyone notice my absence? I knew Gram probably wouldn’t like it, but I was curious to see what surprise Raul had for me, even if the tiny voice in the back of my head asked if this was a good idea.
After taking a deep breath, I glanced up at him. “I’d love to go with you.”
We stopped dancing and he took my hand, leading me through the crowd to the outskirts of town. We slipped into the shadow-laden woods, where the blackness seemed to drown everything in its wake. It amazed me how well Raul could find his way through the brambles, for I could see very little. As I stumbled along, Raul steadied me, slowing his pace so I could keep up with him.
“Don’t worry, I promise it’s not much farther.”
A short time later, we entered a clearing and stood on the shore of a small lake. Moonlight filtered in from above like a silver beacon, glittering and shining off rippling water. But it wasn’t the lake that made me gasp, instead it was the hundreds of fireflies twinkling and flitting over it.
“Oh my—this is beautiful.” My fingers brushed Raul’s palm where I still clutched hold of him. “I’ve never seen so many fireflies in one place.”
He chuckled as he turned to study me. “This is the only place in Dark Pines I’ve ever seen them. Most people bypass this lake because it is small and has been fished so much that there isn’t much left in it. But there are other creatures and life that thrive here. I thought you might appreciate the beauty.”
“It’s perfect.”
In the distance, music from the festival twinkled on the night air and the bugs seemed to light up in unison.
Raul released my hand and caught my chin. “Dance with me,” he whispered.
My breath caught in my throat as butterflies tickled my belly. “I’d love to.”
For those few moments, it was just him and me. No worries of creatures in the woods or gossiping townspeople. Just us.
I watched him, the way his arms flexed as he twirled me about, the way his eyes lit up when he smiled. He leaned down so that his cheek rested against mine.
“Brielle, there is something I want to tell you.”
I wet my lips. “Yes?”
We stopped dancing and I felt his breath upon my earlobe. “I-I will be leaving Dark Pines day after next.”
My body tensed and I met his gaze, our lips mere inches apart. “So soon?” No, that’s not what I wanted to tell him. Come on, you have to tell him how you feel. What if he doesn’t come back? And you never get the chance to admit that you love him.
If he left, then that’d be one less person who understood what I was going through with my premonitions. One less friend in a village filled with hypocrites.
His fingers brushed tendrils of hair from my face. “Don’t look so forlorn, my little Brielle. I won’t be gone long, I promise.”
I covered his hand with mine. “But I’ll miss you.”
Tenderness washed over his features. “I would take you with me if I could, Dear One. Pack you up in my carriage and never look back.”
“Would you really?”
“In a heartbeat,” he murmured, his nose grazing mine as he moved his mouth closer to mine.
My heart raced, pounding a rhythm so loud that I was sure he could hear it.
“Raul.” His name formed on my lips as a plea, but to do what, I wasn’t sure.
A twig snapped from beside us and he stepped back, the moment broken.
“Let’s get you back to the dance before someone notices you’re missing,” Raul said.
I nodded and let him lead me back, the whole time wondering what had nearly happened between us. Maybe I ought to take him up on his offer, to let him get me away from this place.
When we arrived, the musicians had just ended the song. “I think I ought to let you dance with someone else for a bit,” Raul said.
“You know, I am not opposed to being your partner again.” I smiled.
“I know.” He squeezed my hand. “I’ll find you later.”
“Thank you, for taking me to see the fireflies.”
“You’re most welcome. It is good to remember that even amongst the darkness there is light to be found.”
My eyes met his and for a moment everything else drifted away. “Yes. It is.”
He grinned and I watched as he got lost in the wave of couples readying for the next set of music. After a moment, I ambled toward the tables of food where Rhyne chatted with Gertie about the decorations. They looked so happy together and I wondered if tonight would be the night he proposed.
The music stopped once more and Mayor Weaver took his place on the raised scaffold. “May I have your attention please? As you know, it is a long-standing tradition for our eligible young ones to dance before the Star Pole during the Festival of Stars. This is the night where you can see what matches could be. Though, not the final determination, the stars do not lie.”
The crowd cheered. Nervous flutters twisted in my gut and I took a deep breath. For a Christian village the people sure put a lot of stock in the old pole. I knew several couples who’d made their declarations based on who they ended up standing next to at the end of the dance.
“I ask all unmarried men and women to come forward and take your place at the pole. Girls, please take hold of the blue ribbons. Men, find your place at the white ones. At the end of the song, each row should go boy, girl, boy, girl. One match for each person.”
Everyone made their way forward. I clasped hold of a piece of blue ribbon, Clare Candlemaker stood in front of me, Henry Blacksmith beside me. When the music started the people at the pole would weave with their ribbons, dancing in and out between one another. After the threads were all braided, everyone would be next to someone, and according to tradition that would be your best match.
The sound of the flute twinkled, indicating the dance started.
Clare turned to me and giggled. “This will be so fun.”
We ducked beneath Henry’s white ribbon and off we went. I circled round several men, then ducked down again. I laughed as Rhyne and I twirled by one another. The music went faster and the adults stood on the outskirts, clapping their hands in time. I hopped over the next ribbon, and then ducked under another one. Slowly, I saw we were nearing the end of the roped braid. Cheers got louder. My heart pounded in time with the drum.
I closed my eyes, letting the music sweep me away. At last, it stopped and I slowly opened my lids. With a gasp, I looked to find myself between Kenrick and Raul. Somehow we’d ended up with only three people in our row.
I had no idea where Rhyne was, but from across the square Gram’s face twisted in surprise. She shook her head no. Oh God. What’s wrong?
“Does this mean I must fight Lord Kenrick to the death in order to claim you?” Raul teased from beside me.
My fingers quivered and I gave a forced laugh. “I don’t think it’ll have to come to that.”
Kenrick chuckled. “I tell you what, I agree to share her with you for the rest of the evening.”
“Sounds fine to me. You can have the first dance, since I’ve already had one.” Raul bowed.
“So you’ve been keeping tabs on who she dances with?”
Raul merely smiled. “One must know their competition.”
With that, he sauntered away leaving me alone with Kenrick. My stomach knotted with nervousness.
“How did this happen?” I gestured to the ribbon.
“Someone likely missed a turn somewhere along the way,” Kenrick said.
I wanted to point out how odd it was we ended up together. Were the stars truly trying to tell us something? And if so, what did it have to do with Raul? My gaze shifted as I searched out Rhyne. Finally, I caught sight of him standing with the Dyers. Gertie laced her arm through his. I hoped he ended up with her, she made him happy.
“Shall we dance, milady?” Kenrick offered me his hand.
“I’d love to.” I looped my fingers through his, letting him lead me forward.
His arms slipped around me, and already, I felt something simmering between us. His breath fanned across my face as he leaned down. In that moment, he became my focus. I lost sight of everyone else. A short time later, with my hand in his, he led me away from the dancing couples and over near a large oak.
When we stood alone, he glanced down at me. “I’ve thought often of our kiss.”
I stared at him, my heart thudding so loud it drowned out the music. More than anything, I wanted to tell him I’d spent many hours daydreaming of him and our kiss. But I voiced none of these things. Because the truth was, I didn’t know what to do. There was this odd connection to Kenrick, but what of my feelings for Raul?
“You’re an outsider, Lord Kenrick. You came into Dark Pines to kill the Beast and now that that’s done, you’ll leave.”
“Do you truly believe this?” He raised a hand to trace my cheek, where just minutes ago Raul had touched.
I swallowed the large lump in my throat. “Yes.”
“I wouldn’t leave you, not like that. You don’t understand—these past weeks all I’ve thought about is you. When I’m with you, I feel content with life, as if we were brought together by fate.”
“And what of Sarah Weaver?” Of course, I knew he didn’t have feelings for her, but fear made me blurt the first thing that popped into my mind. I took a nervous step back. We bordered on talk of things far too personal.
“No. I escorted her around town only because I was trying to get more information from her father about the attacks. I figured if I showed interest in his daugh
ter, he’d have me to his home more often. But I promise you, she means nothing to me. And I know how awful it sounds that I used her, but the urge to catch this Beast drove me to drastic measures.” His eyes bored into mine. “You’re the one I’ve grown close to. The one I go out of my way to bump into and talk to. I cannot think of anything but you. Brielle, I think I’ve fallen in love with you.”
Kenrick took hold of my hand, his fingers entwined with mine. Our nearness made it almost impossible to think. I took a deep breath.
“Kenrick, I—”
“There you are.” Sarah stepped between us, clutching tight to Kenrick’s arm. “I lost sight of you during the dance around the Star Pole.”
“I’m sorry, Sarah, but I have some things I need to discuss with Lady Brielle.” He started to pull away from her, but her father came over as well.
“Oh, but I do love this song.” Sarah pouted.
“Not now, Sarah,” Kenrick said. When he clutched my arm this time and started to lead me away, the mayor intervened.
“Ah, Lord Kenrick. Can you please join us? There is something of the utmost importance we need to discuss.”
I felt him go rigid beneath my touch. He hesitated a moment, then turned to me. “I promise, we’ll finish this conversation later.” With that, he followed after the mayor and his daughter.
“Are you all right?” Rhyne and Gertie approached, both smiling.
I laughed. “Yes, of course.” But I really wasn’t.
“So, I wanted you to be the first to know that Gertie has accepted my offer of marriage.”
“Oh, I’m so happy for you.” I reached out and hugged first Gertie, then Rhyne.
“It was a complete surprise.” Gertie smiled up at him. Her freckled face shone with love. “I wondered why he seemed so nervous the other day when he came to speak to my father, but now I know why.”
I laughed. “Please tell me he at least made himself presentable before talking with him.”
“Yes. He was a perfect gentleman.”
I shifted my eyes over their shoulders, and saw Kenrick in deep conversation with the mayor. I wondered what they spoke of?
Legend of Me Page 15
