Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1)

by Jennifer R. Kenny

  Slowly sleep came creeping up upon her. Having drunk so little she knew it was not the wine to be blamed, but rather a combination of many factors. She had slept poorly the night before and had been forced to rise early. Before that, Evangeline had been attacked in the carriage. Looking back at the past few days Evangeline could see many holes in her regular routine that was finally catching up with her now.

  She fought the sensation, though. It would seem improper to sleep out here on the lawns. Her eyes lids getting heavy, Evangeline had made a deal with herself to only close her eyes for a moment, to let them rest. Settling back into the blanket, her free hand sliding back and forth over the lawn as she rested her eyes, listening to the sounds of the outdoors. The sounds of nature called to her, smoothed over her face and traced patterns in her hair.

  The birds sang for her, a slow melody that joined with the rustle of leaves and the chorus of grass blades bending over each other to create a personal lullaby that only Evangeline could appreciate. She knew her relationship with nature was unique. No one she knew could hear the songs of the grass but she barely felt mad. It had brought her far more comfort than fear in her life. Her mother had often spoken of Jasmine and her connection to the scent. Evangeline felt her personal pleasure in the scent was nothing more than nostalgia. The passing scent of jasmine was not to be compared with the songs Evangeline enjoyed.

  Evangeline wasn’t sure when she had fallen asleep. A chill chased down her arm and she reached blindly for a blanket. “Viviana, close the window.” She murmured when she suddenly remembered where she was. Her eyes snapped open and the sun was setting in the distance. The tree shadows stretched out long across the grounds and Evangeline shifted uncomfortably away from them even though she knew their shadow could do her no harm.

  Looking around, wiping the sleep from her eyes carefully she was pleased to see that nothing had been touched while she slept. Somehow it was far more comforting to know that no one had seen her then to know that someone had and then left her to sleep in the sun. Her face was tender to touch, and she was willing to believe that she would be pink in colour, but hopefully nothing worse. Sunburn was not something she often did, as she tended not to tan.

  Sighing, Evangeline rose from the blanket and collected up the wine bottle and glass. She was glad to see that she had finished that glass instead of spilling it all over herself. Evangeline was embarrassed enough by the whole incident. She was simply glad it had not been worse than it was. Satisfied she had everything in the basket, the blanket over one arm she headed towards the horses’ stable.

  Four horses were in their adjoining paddock, and as Evangeline approached, she watched as one by one they sensed her. She tried to show a healthy vibe in her step, and not one of fear. She had been told that animals can sense emotions in a different way to people and showing them fear did not make them empathic as it can be in humans but rather have them react violently. As far as she knew the horses here were still just regular horses and not something more. She did not want to find out.

  “Hello?” she called out as she approached the door which was open part way. She couldn’t be sure if it was always like this. There was no sign that the door being open was on purpose or accidental so she was careful as she looked around for a face as she approached. “I am sorry to intrude on you at this hour.” Evangeline pushed the door to the barn open a little more and slipped inside.

  It wasn’t late but the routines of Braykith were foreign, and Evangeline wasn’t sure if this was a good time to be wandering around the barn. Frowning, it seemed she was alone and she was surprised to feel relaxed by that realisation. The tension was still tight between her shoulders but Evangeline no longer feared to walk in on something dangerous. Setting the basket and blanket down on the closest table she couldn’t help but look around a little.

  The horses were all aware of her now, the ones in their stalls were watching her more intently than the ones outside but she still felt like a dozen sets of eyes had suddenly focused on her. “I did excuse my intrusion.” She pointed out to the closest beast, not bothering to tell herself that speaking to horses in this manner would do nothing for either party. They would not be trained to respond to voice commands if they were anything like the horses back home.

  Approaching the one who seemed the least determined to acknowledge her presence, Evangeline took a moment to really see the horses without the threat of their riders or the innocence of youth. They were tall, standing closer to seven foot then the regular five foot eight she was accustomed to. “May I?” she asked the horse. It brayed, tossing its head back and Evangeline paused. The horse settled though and seemed to be waiting for her.

  Tentatively, trying to appear neutral in fear that the horse would respond negatively to her caution, Evangeline reached out to its side. Running her hand along, she was surprised that it felt like a usual horse. Her range was limited but she dared to touch it as fully as she could with a gate between them. It was a dappled grey colour, spotted in sections like a smear of grey paint had been left in an unexpected shower. Evangeline smiled as the horse went on ignoring her and allowed her to pet its side again.

  “You are quite impressive, although you knew that.” Evangeline praised the horse, unsure why she was still speaking out loud to an animal that could not understand her. She looked around and deciding there was no harm to come to her from doing it Evangeline unlocked the gate that was part of the illusion that it was trapped safely. Evangeline would not believe there was a material in the world that could contain these horses should they wish to be free.

  Evangeline could see the animal better now, the darker spots by the hooves and tail blending in perfectly to the grey. The horse was a gorgeous specimen, although all the horses here seemed to be the prime picks. She wondered if she found the area where the soldiers’ rides were kept, would they look as beautiful as the creature she stood by now. Evangeline held out her palm, and the horse pressed its muzzle against her hand, making Evangeline giggle.

  “I have no treats,” She said, looking around to see if she could offer some. Evangeline was bending in the stall for the best picks of the straw that had been discarded when she heard two horses’ approaching. Evangeline paused, the strength she had felt when she entered the stall fading quickly now that there was a chance of being caught. Surely she would be forgiven. Or she could remain hidden and hope that no one would spot her.

  Holding her breath, Evangeline’s back pressed into the wooden stacks that made up a wall, she waited. The hooves sounded dull as they walked, and Evangeline knew that sound better than the light knocks of the horse she was with as it pawed the ground, still looking for treats from her. The horses approaching had been working hard and they were tired. Daring to peek, Evangeline looked up as the horses walked by the stall towards the empty ones at the end of the barn.

  One was tan and white and foreign to her, but the other she would recognise anywhere. The black stallion was imposing and there was no delusion to that power. She felt small just seeing him walk by and her heart sped up as Quintus’ horse was led by her hiding spot and into his stall. Leading them was Glais. He held a set of reigns in each hand, most of him hidden by a thick riding cloak, but Evangeline was sure it was him. The tan and white mare must belong to him, and Glais was returning the animals to their stalls after the investigation.

  While Evangeline was not sure on how best to communicate with Glais, she did believe that she needed to learn. They were so opposite, and clearly the stresses of becoming King had altered his perception of the world. She would be his wife someday, and so Evangeline would do all she could to make their life together bearable if nothing else. Just when she thought it would be best to make her presence known someone new entered the barn and she was forced to stay hidden and spy through the cracks.

  Evangeline did not know this girl. She had light hair, lighter than blonde and it seemed white almost even in the fading daylight. The barn offered low illumination but she appeared to ligh
t up like the light was attracted to her. Long blonde hair that fell to her waist, shorter than Evangeline’s but no one would call the hair short. She was dressed simply, but there was still an air of something about her. Evangeline was betting she worked within the castle.

  “I saw you approaching.” Evangeline ducked back down, her heart pounding for a new reason now as she wanted to hear Glais’ response. Who was this girl and why was she watching for Glais?

  “And you deemed it necessary to stalk me down to the barn Luella?” Glais asked her, and from what Evangeline could hear he didn’t sound pleased by this. She relaxed slightly to know his tone from last night was not for her benefit but merely the manner in which he spoke. Evangeline had been warned, but the proof made her feel better.

  “I missed you and I know what it is like when you have been riding all day.” Luella sighed, her voice a soft pant as she closed the gap between them. Glais was working on unloading the horses, not knowing that Evangeline sat so close to him during this exchange. “It wouldn’t be the first time you took advantage of me in the barn.” Luella grabbed the lapel of his coat but Glais shook her off.

  “If you knew me at all you wouldn’t be so obvious.” Glais’ voice was hidden behind the horses as he worked, but it seemed that everyone was struggling to hear along with Evangeline because none of the animals dared to move. Even the grey dapple she was with had stopped seeking out treats and had frozen in place, its ears pitched to the noise.

  “Because of that girl?” Luella accused, not shy about bringing her problem with Evangeline to Glais’ attention.

  “Evangeline.” Glais corrected Luella and Evangeline closed her eyes as he said her name. She had known all along that Glais would not be as strict in who he was intimate with but Evangeline never imagined she would need to witness such an exchange. Foolishly she was hopeful that her arrival would meant that he would not be seeing anyone else. He had acknowledged her, named his preference, or so Evangeline wanted to believe. However, Luella was clearly making herself available in ways that Evangeline could not.

  Glais sighed but it appeared that his displeasure was not something Luella was going to take into consideration. Knowing Luella so intimately meant that he was well aware of how her mind worked. She did not seem to realise they could be easily spotted, and when Luella brushed against him, Glais looked beyond Luella to the stable doors, ignoring the way her lips pressed to his collar. “We must be more careful.”

  Evangeline felt weak in the knees and almost fell forward as her mind collapsed. Tears prickled at her eyes, forcing their way beyond her closed lids to slide down her face. The sunburn was nothing now compared to the heat burning in her heart. Would she be forced to share him with this girl? How long could she pretend not to know, and would Glais care if she did?

  She imaged herself rising from the stall and walking out of the stables and into the night with her head high and all the dignity of her heritage but she could barely manage to stay in the half curled up ball she was in now. If she tried to walk, Evangeline was sure to fall. She stayed and waited to hear the rest, knowing there was nothing good would come from being forced to witness this exchange.

  “She will discover the secret Glais,” Luella said with a smirking smile teasing her lips. She wasn’t shy about letting her eyes roam over Glais’ body as she watched him. She had not been expecting him to lash out at her and she gasped in surprise as he reached violently for her without warning.

  “When I am ready,” he snapped his hand around Luella’s throat. He held her there long enough for a warning and released Luella with a gentle shove. Luella’s hand went to her throat and she swallowed hard but managed to stay standing without showing how much it really hurt. “Go and wait in my room where I told you to remain,” Glais grumbled.

  Even after this conversation, he still planned to sleep with her. Evangeline shook her head slowly at the reality of her situation and had no idea how to proceed. She did not want Glais to know that he had been found out, but how could she fake it come morning when they faced each other again. Evangeline knew Kyleigh was expecting her at dinner but that would not be happening now. Baxter said that Glais and Quintus avoided meals whenever possible, but she couldn’t risk it. Evangeline simultaneously wanted to confront him and never seen him again. Even if he did not arrive at the dinner table, how could she look at Kyleigh and pretend that all was well?

  Glais seemed to be taking his time unloading the horses, but he did not brush them down. The stable boy could do that when he returned. Walking back towards the main doors, he paused outside the dapple grey horses stall, noticing the gate was open a little. Frowning he looked in and saw Evangeline sitting in the straw.

  Their eyes met, hers were red and the grip around her knees seemed to be the only thing that was holding her together. He froze, his heart leaping as he realised she had heard the entire exchange between himself and Luella. Glais opened his mouth to speak but there were no words that would lend themselves to a genuine apology. Unsure what he should do, Glais nodded stiffly at her. What she must be thinking he could only guess. There was no accusation or even a hint of anger in Evangeline’s features. She was only hurt which made Glais feel worse. He ran his tongue over his lips but there were no words. After a moment he backed out of the stall, closing it behind him so the horse would not get out.

  Evangeline stayed frozen there in the horse’s stall until she heard Glais’ footsteps carry him out of the building. He did not apologise, or offer any words of kindness. Could Evangeline forgive him for this if Glais had offered to explain it? Perhaps he loved this Luella, although she dismissed that possibility quickly after the things he had said and done to her. Clearly there was no love between them. He had sounded angry with her, not happy to see her. This was not love, but rather a sexual connection that Evangeline could not hope to understand.

  The worst thing for Evangeline to admit was that Glais knew she had heard and had offered her no comfort. Perhaps that hurt her more than the knowledge did. With only herself to rely on, Evangeline sat in the barn stall crying as quietly as she could manage until it seemed there were no more tears to be shed. That was when she realised that she was no longer alone, but Thomas stood there, dressed in the same Braykith uniform as when they first met, but not that same cocky smile.

  “Evangeline?” He did not open the gate or intrude on her little world of grief. He had been tempted to walk away after discovering her in the stables. Dealing with emotions was not his strong point, and he was still cautious of her after their run in at the carriage exchange. He couldn’t leave her, though, and so he had stayed and now felt stupid for doing so. “Can I do anything for you?”

  Evangeline wiped her hand on her nose, sniffing hard and shaking her head. Thomas offered her a handkerchief and when she reached for it only then did he let himself in. Evangeline wiped her face on the fabric before blowing her nose. “Do you often carry one of these?” she asked. It seemed like an odd thing for a soldier to have.

  “Standard issue.” Thomas joked awkwardly, offered her his hand and she hesitated. Evangeline could not deal with the same level of interaction he had shown her last time they met. She wished for nothing more than to be left alone. Seeming to read her, Thomas offered her a small smile. “I apologise for my behaviour in the woods. I acted outside my duties and I allowed my personal feelings interfere with my work. Please, let me help you up.” Evangeline sighed and finally submitted to him, rising from the ground.

  She felt weak but was glad when she managed to stand alone even if she was leaning against the wooden planks that made the stall walls for support. “Thank you.” She kept his handkerchief and let herself be lead out of the stable. She paused before the dapple grey horse. “Who does it belong to?” she asked Thomas, her voice so quiet, she thought for a moment he didn’t hear her but it seemed he was thinking.

  “She belongs to no one I believe, but you might want to check with the stable boy. I haven’t seen her before tonight.” Whic
h did not mean much since he rarely came to these stables, but Thomas was offering Evangeline all the information he had.

  “I want her.” She decided on an impulse she didn’t usually give into.

  “Is that why you were crying? She reminds you of your horse back home?” Thomas asked.

  Evangeline paused, missing a step and quickly recovering as Thomas gave her a fine excuse for her emotional state of being. “There is much about Braykith that I do not understand, much more that makes me feel alienated. She welcomed me.” Evangeline looked back over her shoulder the horse now watching her leave. “Actually, she ignored me completely until she thought I had a treat.”

  “I’ll leave a message to the stable boy if you like.” Thomas offered, relieved to know it was nothing more than the stress of the move that had broken her so utterly. When he had come upon her, she seemed heartbroken and struck numb. She would not respond but sat there staring at the wall as if there was no horse in there with her at all. She appeared to Thomas as if she was sleeping with her eyes wide open, her breath panicked and her own nails biting into her skin. Thomas had been afraid to know what kind of news could make someone act in such a manner.

  Now, he felt he understood her a little better.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Evangeline’s shoes clicked on the stones of the castle. There was no charm to it now, and already she had come to realise that the longer she stayed here, the less magical and otherworldly Braykith seemed. It had been barely a full day and she was already tired of the sights. The fog was back, spots appearing in her eyes but she paid them no mind as she forced herself onwards. She had one location she needed to be and while Evangeline had never been to Glais’ rooms somehow, she seemed to know exactly how to find it.