by J. R. Castle
Leaping out behind the trees with spears and arrows might not be enough. The Regent would be heavily guarded with warriors of great skill. Darnel would need a concealment spell to give him an advantage. But would he be able to hold the concealment and fight?
He drew all his energy into his core. Ever since they’d done the stripping ceremony on that Illuminate, Darnel had felt his powers were a little stronger, much to his relief. Now he knew there was a way to make them even stronger than before. He smiled.
Darnel glanced around. Logorians could blend into their surroundings when necessary. He pressed his hand against the trunk of an elm and watched as his skin, then his clothing began to blend in with the earthy colors of the forest. He wasn’t able to do the trick as perfectly as they did, but at least he’d be harder to see.
Unfortunately, maintaining the concealment would take more mental energy than he wanted to spend. He released the spell for the time being.
Once he reached the place where the others waited, he found them sitting around small fires, cooking rabbits and squirrels they’d hunted. How did they expect to keep an element of surprise with all that smoke floating through the woods and onto the road?
A harsh shout drew Darnel’s attention as one of the Brethren with red markings all over his head strolled up to the group with a furious scowl on his face. “Fools! Imbeciles! They sent me out here to tend to goats.” He kicked at the fire, stomping it down with his heavy boots and sending sparks and embers at the group of youngsters.
Darnel touched the tree behind him, blending into the background. He did not wish to be lumped into the goat herd. Maybe he’d move farther away from the others. He did better on his own, anyway.
“How do you do that?” Asked a female’s voice from beside him. He turned to find the elf girl staring right at him. Had he not concealed himself enough?
He released the spell, glowering at her. “I do not know what you’re talking about, elf.” He spat the last word out like he would the seed from a bitter fruit.
She glared back. “That’s right, I am an elf and can see right through a Logorian’s concealment, though you’re quite pathetic in your skills, mutt.”
Anger surged through Darnel at the cruel name she called him. Pulling a thin dagger from his sleeve, he grabbed the she-elf in a headlock and dragged her deeper into the woods away from the others. Keeping one hand clamped tightly on her mouth, so she couldn’t call out, he pointed the dagger at her neck with the other.
When she struggled, he pressed the blade to her neck until a thin stream of blood stained her fair skin. “I’ll have no problem feeding the ground your blood, do you understand me?” He hissed the threat into her pointed ear.
She grew still, slumping in his arms. He set her down on the ground but didn’t release his hold. “Call out, and it’ll be the last that passes your lips.”
When she nodded, he asked, “Why do you hound me? What business is it of yours what I do?”
The elf managed to jerk his hand from her mouth. “I’ve wanted to join up with Fajer for many seasons. He brings in the most gifted. He has great influence with the Brethren, and he’s powerful. I’ve wanted to ask him to take me on as his apprentice, but everyone said Fajer works alone. Then he shows up with you. So, I was curious what powers you had that swayed him to change his mind.”
Darnel sat on the ground, easing his grip on the girl, but keeping his knife ready. If she made one wrong move, he’d drive it in right between her ribs. “My powers are not your concern. And you’re just as much of a mutt as I am.” He hated that word. Only those who thought themselves superior to half-breeds used it.
“No, I’m a true elf.” She sat up and extended her hand toward him. “I am Anwynn of the Mire Woods. My family settled there half a century ago to establish a new elf colony. Then trolls moved in and destroyed everything we’d built. They killed my family and clansmen while all slept. My brother and I escaped, along with a few other children. We took the survivors to Wilderland. I happened upon the Brethren and pledged my allegiance to them in return for a promise to rid the woods of those vile creatures.”
Darnel twirled the dagger between his fingers, watching her with growing suspicion. “Did they keep their promise?”
She nodded her head once. “They did not kill them, but the putrid beasts are now under the Brethren’s authority and will spend their miserable lives slaving in the mines below the mountain.”
“Doing what?” he asked, acting bored with their discussion.
“Digging for the precious metals the Brethren use to trade with. It has special properties. I don’t understand how it all works, but the wizard can think that metal into any shape they wish and will it to appear anywhere they want. And they can make it disappear, just as easily.”
Darnel tried to pretend this wasn’t new information to him. Fajer had never explained how his endless supply of gold worked. He gave it freely to people in exchange for whatever he wanted. What simple-minded fools humans could be. He chuckled.
“Interesting story, Elf. Why are you sharing it with me? Now?”
She drew her legs up to her chest and wrapped her arms around her knees, making it harder for Darnel to stab her if she made a wrong move. Well, her neck was still exposed, that was good enough. His fingers wrapped tighter around the hilt when she took her time answering.
“I’ve shared my story, Darnel. Now you can share yours. I know you are a half-breed. Logorian from your concealment charm. I sense there is no human blood running through your veins.”
He lunged, aiming the tip of the blade at her neck. To his astonishment, she leaned back and extended her arm as a larger dagger materialized in the palm of her hand. Electric sparks danced around the edge of the silver blade, adorned with glowing elfin symbols. His neck burned from the blade’s nearness.
Darnel froze.
“Right,” she chuckled. “Thought you’d see reason. Listen, I will not reveal your secret if you’ll speak on my behalf to Fajer. I’m a strong fighter. The Brethren keep me here to wait on them, but they’ll tell me nothing. I have no Master who will claim me because I’m a female and a pure elf. But if Fajer will train the likes of you, then I have a good chance of him taking me on. I don’t mind pulling my weight. I do not even require a soft bed to sleep upon. I prefer the shelter of the trees or the softness of a mossy patch of earth.”
He could cause her pain and disarm her that way but feared her screams would attract too much attention. Moving back into his sitting position, he offered a nod. “Let’s see how you fare with this assignment. If you can kill the Regent, then I’ll speak to Fajer on your behalf.”
That would get him out of having to do the deed. If she failed, then…well, he’d deal with that problem when it presented itself. “Do we have a deal?”
The dagger disappeared, and she stood, extending her hand to help him up. He shoved it aside and stood on his own. Her smile was tight but full of the hope only naive people held onto. “Deal. I’ll send an arrow through his heart. But if you go back on your word, Darnel, I’ll let everyone know the truth about you. Everyone.”
Maybe while she was busy sending an arrow through the Regent’s heart, he’d send his dagger into her back.
Chapter Twelve
“The people of Goia deserve a celebration,” Kardia banged her fork on the table during dinner with her parents later that night. “We should celebrate the start of Winter, don’t you think?”
Mother scowled. “Do not bang your utensils on the table like a ruffian. And no—”
“What a delightful idea!” Dadda cut her off. The more he contemplated her suggestion, the faster his head nodded and the wider his eyes grew. He noticed his wife’s sour expression and ducked his head. Focusing on the slice of the roasted boar he cut into, he said, “Kardia has a point, Asmita. The folks have worked hard rebuilding—”
“At our expense.” Mother snapped. “If not for us they’d still be picking wild berries and roots from the forest.”
Dadda sat back in his chair. His tight-lipped expression told Kardia he had words to speak in response, but no desire to get into another quarrel with his wife. Instead, he turned back to Kardia. “A celebration is most definitely in order. I will speak to the town elders and begin arrangements. Will you be willing to play your mandolin? We can get a few other musicians in town to provide entertainment.”
Kardia brightened. Dadda might not wish to quarrel with Mother, but once he made up his mind about something, nothing would change it, no matter how much his wife bickered or pouted.
“Yes! Oh, and Miltie and I plan to share stories. We thought perhaps we’d make puppets and offer the children and their parents a bit of fun entertainment, too.”
“Puppets?” Mother scoffed. “Music? Frivolity! A waste of time and energy, if you ask me. Wilhelm, what do you suppose the cost of putting on such an event would be?”
His brows furrowed. “Not so much, Asmita, if everyone pitches in.” He nodded again at Kardia. “Miltie has been around a few places during her long life, I bet she has some marvelous tales to share. And our Kardia is so talented with her hands, is there nothing she can’t do?” He reached across the table and gave her cheek an affectionate pat.
Kardia blushed at his compliment. “We’ve already begun making the puppets we’ll need. Miltie had some dried corn husks she’d been saving.” Her grin widened. “This is going to be wonderful, Dadda. I just know it. Everyone deserves a bit of enjoyment and frivolity,” she stressed the last word, looking triumphantly at Mother. The bitter stare she received in return turned her blood cold. Mother had grown harder over the past couple of seasons. She was frightening at times.
Asmita bolted from her chair and left them, retiring to her private rooms upstairs. Kardia had a large room of her own but often stayed with the Herbalist, sleeping in Miltie’s tiny guest room.
It might be small, but it was comfortable. And she felt more comfortable with the older woman.
Dadda waved off Mother’s abrupt departure. “She’ll be fine, don’t you worry. I think your idea is jolly good and I’m glad you’ve suggested it. We do need a bit of fun around here. It’s been ages since there’s been singing and merrymaking in the town center.”
Kardia began gathering the dirty plates when Dadda stopped her and rang a small bell that had sat near Mother’s spot. A young woman wearing an apron rushed out, collected the dishes, then offered a quick bow before returning to the kitchen.
“We have a new servant, Dadda?” Kardia slowly sank back into her chair. “Isn’t she from the logging family? They live in the woods, near the river, do they not?”
“Yes. We have several new ones, I daresay. Asmita insists that it’s too hard to manage this large manor all on her own, so she’s hired more help. You are not around as much as you used to be.” Dadda continued working on his dinner, cutting into the thick slab of meat covering his plate. “Not that I blame you, dear. You are getting old enough to begin seeking a profession of your own. I would never have thought it would be growing plants, though.”
How could he act as if she had any kind of future? Since she had him alone at the moment, Kardia decided to bring up the topic she’d feared would cause nothing but more strife in her family. But she needed to at least ask.
“Dadda, I want your permission to go ahead and make the journey to Aloblase. On my own. All I’ll need to do is find the path that will—”
His knife hit the plate with a loud clang.
Undaunted, Kardia hurried on, ignoring his annoyed expression. “I’ve been reading all about the King and about how other Kingdom towns are. Did you know that if a town is protected by the White Tree, no wizard or another kind of conjurer can enter?”
Grabbing the napkin from his lap, he dabbed at his mouth, his eyes wide and filled with worry. “Is that what it would take? But we have no White Tree. The old one died.”
“It died because we no longer follow King Shaydon’s ways.” She gripped the edges of the table, hoping to make her father see reason. “We have to turn—”
Now it was her father’s turn to bolt from his chair. “There’s no point in it, Daughter. Your mother will never make such a trip. She’d never leave what we’ve built here. And even if I could travel with you, that would leave her unprotected, my dear Kardia. We cannot do that to her. If I was not here to stand as Prior, she would be cast out into the street, and you know this.”
“But I’m willing to go on my own.”
He shook his head as he came around the table, stopping beside her chair. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he said in a gentler voice, “I understand you are frightened, precious girl, but don’t be. We will find a way out of the contract. He tricked me, you know. He asked for the plot of land. I had no idea that you were on it, too, or I’d never have made such a deal. He cannot go around tricking people like that.”
“He can, Dadda, and he did. That’s what sorcerers do. They steal. They kill for what they want, and they work to destroy everything good King Shaydon’s people try to build. At least I can travel to see the King and ask for his protection.”
Dadda shook his head again, sadness filling his eyes with tears. “No, I fear you cannot. I’ll not grant you permission to make such a dangerous journey. You have no idea what it’s like.” Patting her head, his voice softened. “We will wait for the Regent to come and seek his guidance. We will do what we can to stand against that thieving wizard. I will not let him take you. There has to be another way. Don’t lose hope.”
Kardia stood, shoving the chair away. It toppled backward, hitting the floor with a loud bang that brought the servant girl and another young man with her.
Dadda waved his hand. “Leave us. You can gather the dishes in a while. For now, leave!”
They bowed low, backing from the room. Servants. Mother had employed more servants than the Regent himself would ever need in his grand castle. Disgust boiled up in Kardia’s stomach until she couldn’t stand another minute of being here. “I’m going, whether you like it or not.”
“You cannot go before you are twenty years, Daughter. Not alone. It’s…a common law.”
“Others have gone before they are twenty. Miltie told me. There have been a few exceptions to the rule.”
But Dadda wouldn’t listen. He continued to shake his head. Kardia had never wanted to disobey her parents, but at that moment, she was sick of what they’d done to Goia, to the Meeting Hall. Disgusted with their disregard for what all this was costing them. As if she didn’t matter at all. As if she was nothing more than a commodity to be traded off for their comforts.
Kardia turned away from her father, her last hope. She rushed to her room and threw a few belongings into a bag. She’d go on her own. There was no other choice. When she returned to the main room, she found Dadda standing beside the hearth, head bent, and face buried in the palms of his hands.
“I have to try, Dadda. I have to.” She rushed out the door before he could stop her. She’d take the main road out of town. Eventually, she had to come upon a narrow crossroad. Miltie said the White Road was hard to find, but if one truly wished to see King Shaydon, he would not put any hindrances in their way. Yes, going by herself increased the risks involved, but if what she’d read was true, she only needed to stay on the stone path, and it would keep her safe.
Her steps slowed. Except, she’d not bothered to pack food or any other provisions.
She couldn’t turn back now. Deep in her heart, she knew if she turned back, or turned aside, she’d never make the trip. Better to do it now while anger fueled her steps and curbed her ability to reason what she was doing.
Darkness engulfed her. The moon was too thin to give off much light. She hadn’t thought this out. But thinking would delay. Thinking would risk her not leaving before the snows hit. Thinking might cause her to lose her life to that…thief.
She’d reached the last house that made up her town. Dim lights flickered from behind the shutters. Seeing the ope
n fields finally come into view, her feet walked faster. She broke into a jog. The sooner she was outside of Goia, the sooner its hold on her would break. Once she reached the river, she would have reached as far as she’d ever traveled before. Even if it meant she had to jog all night, she’d not stop until Goia lay miles behind her.
A band of trees indicated she’d soon reach the river that bordered the township. She ran, intent on crossing the bridge before her strength gave out. Her breath puffed out like smoke from a chimney stack. Her side ached along with her legs. She’d never moved so fast before, not since she was a small child. Girls her age weren’t supposed to run.
She would run all the way to Aloblase if necessary.
The moment her foot touched the bridge, she slammed into a force. A blinding light flashed, throwing her backward several feet. She landed on the ground so hard, her breath went out of her lungs. Slowly, Kardia rolled over, gasping and coughing. Pain shot through her body. Her arms were scraped and bloody from landing on the ground so hard she slid the last couple of feet.
“Kardia!” Dadda called out, crouching at her side and helping her to sit up. “Oh, my beautiful girl, you shouldn’t have run off like this. My poor, poor dear.” He hugged her to his chest. Her tears saturated his shirt.
“Is this part of the King’s law? Did he do this because I’m too young to go alone? Because I was being disobedient to you?”
“No, my love. No. Shaydon is not that kind of ruler. I’m sure if he knew of your desire to go see him, he would find a way to make it happen. I don’t know much about such things, but I do know that. None who truly wish to see him, are hindered. Even if they go before they are grown and out on their own.” He sniffed as his voice broke. “I’m sorry we’ve failed you, Daughter. I’ve not kept you safe, as is my responsibility.”
“Then why can’t I leave? What…what stopped me?” She looked toward the shadowed bridge, not seeing any barrier, though she’d definitely felt it.
