She stepped back, both pleased that he’d noticed and annoyed. If he found out Edison had been visiting her, she was in big trouble. Who knew what her father would do to her. Or Edison!
“Was there someone in your room this morning?” he asked.
She blanched as her heart threatened to explode. “No!”
“I thought I saw a shadow through your window,” he said. “Are you telling me the truth?”
“You caught me out! It was one of my many lovers who visit me every day.” Hopefully, a half-truth would be more believable than a blatant lie.
“It’s your attitude, too.” Tate bit down on the inside of his lip as his head tilted. “You’re not behaving like yourself.”
“Leave her, Tate,” said River, putting her hand on his arm. “She told you it was nobody. I was with you and I didn’t see the shadow.”
“You were with him?” Anger bubbled in Pip’s empty stomach. All these years she’d been asking where he was going in the morning, and now he’d not only told River, but he’d taken her with him!
River nodded. “I followed him. He wouldn’t tell me where he goes, either.”
“And where does he go?” Perhaps this was her opportunity to find out at long last.
“I’ve told you before,” Tate said. “I set the rabbits free in the cornfield.”
She huffed. It seemed she was going to have to wait a little longer for him to tell her the truth. Perhaps she’d be able to get it out of River a little more easily one day.
“Pip, I don’t mean to give you a hard time,” said Tate. “It’s just that I’m worried about you.”
She felt her resentment for her brother melt away as she looked into the depths of his dark eyes. That was two handsome men who were worried about her now.
“Sit down and let me fix your hair.” She reached for the strands of hair that had flown free of the tie Tate normally wore.
“River likes it like this,” he said, glancing at his wife, whose cheeks turned a dark shade of pink. Just how far had things progressed between these two?
“But father doesn’t like it,” she said. “He’d shave you bald before you could say roast potatoes with dripping.”
Tate sighed and sat down, allowing her to pull his hair into a knot, handing her a tie from his pocket. He must go through hundreds of these each year. His hair was almost as restless as he was. She liked fixing his hair, finding it a way to express affection for her brother without looking him in the face. She didn’t deserve his love.
No, that wasn’t right. Perhaps she did. Edison said it wasn’t her fault her mother died. She’d helped her live her last days to their fullest. She was dying anyway. Some people were just born weak. Edison said she had to rise above that. She had to be stronger than her mother had been. He was helping her.
“Don’t worry about me,” she said to Tate, stepping back, satisfied his hair was princely once more. “I’m fine. I’ve never been more fine, in fact.”
“We’ll let you eat, then.” Tate stood and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“Do you mind if I visit you sometimes?” asked River. “It can get lonely here in the palace.”
Pip found herself smiling. “That would be lovely. We can be sisters.”
River moaned in a strange way and Tate rushed to her, putting a protective arm around her. Pip remembered too late that Tate had mentioned that River’s sister had died recently. The last thing she’d want right now was a new sister.
“I’m sorry,” said Pip. “I didn’t mean…”
“It’s okay.” River’s eyes filled with moisture. “Having a sister would be nice. I do miss my sister. She was my best friend.”
“Off you go,” said Pip, not sure what to do with a Guardian’s tears. “Go and make me an aunt.”
“Not you, too.” Tate rolled his eyes.
As they left, Pip thought that being an aunt would be nice. She could play with the child in the gardens and be the kind of friend she’d always wished she’d had as a child. If it were a girl, she might even give her niece her set of dolls. It was about time she stopped playing with them. They’d have such fun together. It would be just like she was a girl again herself.
But she’d have to leave her bedchamber to do that. Could she do that? Maybe. But then again, maybe not. Perhaps just thinking about it was the first important step.
ARIEL
THE NOW
“Where are you going?”
Ariel watched as her son prepared a sack of various essentials.
“I told you. A King’s quest.” He smirked and she saw his father’s face embedded in his features. She was thankful he didn’t look more like him.
Ariel sighed, hoping this quest was an invention of her son’s mind. What possible mission could the King send her son on? His job was to work by her side, not gallivant around the kingdom pretending he was a Guardian, like he’d done with Tate as a child.
“And who will help me while you’re gone?” she asked.
“You have plenty of supplies. I’ve made sure of that. You’ll have to serve your tonics in the tavern yourself. Just don’t kill anyone while I’m gone.”
Edison chuckled and Ariel went to her kitchen, needing a rest from her son’s presence before she decided to kill him.
She didn’t trust him. She never had, really. But now it was different. Now that he was grown, he wielded far more power than he had when he was a child.
She knew he’d been sneaking out somewhere in the mornings and had followed him as far as the palace itself and seen him slip inside one of the doors used by the servants. But what was he doing in there? And did it have anything to do with the tonics she’d discovered him creating in her kitchen when he’d thought she’d been asleep? The two had to be linked.
But what exactly was he up to?
Perhaps Edison going away on his mysterious King’s quest was a good thing. It would give her time to think without the distraction of him being there.
If only she could gather the courage to speak to the King herself. Although, his soul was almost as gray as her son’s, so she didn’t expect that would do her much good anyway.
“Things are going to be different when I return,” said Edison, following her into the kitchen. It seemed there was no getting away from him right now. Not until he’d said what he was so eager to tell her.
“How so?” She was unable to inject the pretense of energy into her voice. Being his mother had been so much more tiresome than she’d anticipated.
“If I succeed in the King’s mission, you’ll be answering to me from now on.” He puffed out his chest, pushing his blond hair back from his forehead. She knew it was wrong, but in that moment, she couldn’t help but think how the ugliness of his soul had seeped into his face, much like it had with the King over the years.
“You said you didn’t want to be the herbalist.” She sat down and waited for him to finish saying whatever it was he’d followed her in here to say.
“I don’t,” he said. “You can keep that job. But at least I’ll be able to instruct you on how to do it properly.”
It was at that moment that Ariel had her first black thought all of her own, causing her to wonder if her own soul was gray, or full of light as she’d previously believed? She could end Edison’s life with ease any time she liked and he’d never see what got him. She could make it look like pneumonia or heart failure or that he’d slipped away in his sleep. She knew all the recipes. They were written down in a special book she kept in a metal chest buried in the parsley patch, safe from her son’s hands, after she’d found him studying it as a boy.
But could she kill this son she’d raised? A son who once she’d loved? She didn’t think so, which was what made her think that her soul was indeed more light than gray.
“Good luck on your quest,” she said, with no further words for him. There was nothing she could say that would turn him around. She knew this as she’d spent the last eighteen years doing everything she could. But now s
he gave up. He was a lost cause. She’d be better off spending her energy coming up with ways to outsmart him than seeking ways to try to let the light into his soul.
“Is that all you have to say?” His frown was one of disgust.
“It is.” She buried her face in her hands and waited for him to leave.
“No wonder you’re killing everyone with your tonics,” he muttered, leaving her in peace at last. “You’re pathetic.”
Was she really killing everyone? That sweet Guardian girl, Daphne, had been the latest casualty. Was that really her fault? She still found it so hard to believe. Edison had to have something to do with this. There was no other logical explanation. Did that make her a bad mother to be convinced of such a thing?
With Edison gone on his quest, it would give her a chance to find out for sure. If the Guardians returned to health, she’d know he’d been interfering. And if they didn’t. Well, then she was the worst kind of mother there was.
EDISON
THE NOW
Edison rode ahead of the two carts of Guardians being hauled by the kingdom’s strongest mules. It was frustrating having to slow the pace of his horse to allow them to keep up, but it was necessary. Besides, they needed to get used to following him. Because when he returned, victorious from the King’s quest, he was going to be their master. Life was going to change in more ways than their small brains could ever imagine.
He sniggered at the thought they were helping him succeed. They may be brave and they may be strong, but they were also ridiculously stupid. Yet another reason why they needed to be pulled into line. The Guardians were given far too much freedom.
His plan was to head to the river that formed the border with Wintergreen, tie up the mules at the base of the mountain and make the remainder of the journey on foot. The Guardians would never get their carts across the water, but the walk would do them good to maintain their fitness. Not that the apothecary was too far from the border. Perhaps a day’s journey at most. But thankfully there was no need for Edison to have to take a single step, given that his horse could swim.
The sooner he was back at the palace, the better. He couldn’t wait to get started with his new life. It was so close now, he could taste it. He may not have been born a Prince, like Tate, but he was going to be so much more powerful, proving that brains were more important than birthright.
He followed the road over a crest and a giant rocky mountain range came into view. They were nearly there. He’d never seen this mountain range before, but knew it was the dividing point between four of the world’s five kingdoms. Much bloodshed had taken place here in generations gone by as the kingdoms tousled for power and borders were established.
And if he could see the mountains, the river wasn’t far. It’d be nice to dismount and stretch his legs. They’d spend the night here and attempt the river crossing at first light. The sun was already getting low in the sky and crossing at night would be far too dangerous, even with a dozen Guardians in tow.
As the mountain loomed closer, Edison reduced his pace to shorten the distance between himself and the Guardians. Their risk of an ambush was greater the closer they got to the shadows. Although, if the stories were to be believed, the three other kingdoms that bordered the mountains were united in peace now. What a ridiculous concept. Kingdoms were meant to invade, not align. It was just lucky The Bay of Laurel’s King hadn’t been stupid enough to enter into any such agreement. He didn’t need to with his strong army. And that was what Edison was here to prove. The Bay of Laurel called the shots.
The mules pulling the two carts of Guardians were tiring and their pace slowing. Frustrated at how close they’d come and how long it was taking, Edison decided to believe the rumors of peace and ignore the threat of an ambush. He took off ahead, his horse just as desperate as he was to reach the water.
He rode to the base of the mountain and dismounted at the river’s edge near an impressive waterfall. His eyes scanned the water from where it crashed into the river right up to the summit of the rocky mountain, marveling at the height it had to fall. He’d never seen anything like it.
While his horse drank, he removed his shoes and rolled up the legs of his trousers so he could cool his feet and wash his face. There’d be no swimming at this time of night when the temperature was about to plummet. He’d never get dry again before morning.
The Guardians had forced their mules into a gallop now, the panicked expressions on their faces making it clear they were unimpressed by Edison leaving them behind. The King had been very clear they were to protect him at all costs.
The thundering of the mules’ hooves shook the ground and the leaves of the trees that clung to the side of the mountain quivered in response.
As the Guardians got closer, the thundering grew in strength and Edison emerged from the shallows of the river to watch, frowning at the intensity of the noise, audible even over the crashing of the waterfall. Something wasn’t right. The rumbling was too loud and growing louder still. Two carts of mules could never make this kind of racket. Was there an echo?
He looked up the mountain, gasping to see a wall of boulders hurtling down, gravity pulling them faster and faster as they bounced and rumbled their way to the ground below.
“Watch out!” His voice was swallowed by the mountain as pain gripped him around his thumping chest.
The mules reared up and tried to turn around, restricted by the heavy carts attached to them. They panicked and turned anyway, uprighting the carts and spilling out the roaring Guardians, who hit the ground and scrambled in an attempt to get to Edison to keep him safe.
But they needn’t have bothered. Edison was a safe distance away. It was the Guardians themselves who were in danger, with the boulders heading straight for them. Their desperation to get to Edison only slowed them down, tangling them in the chaos, their feet unable to find purchase on the rumbling earth.
As stones and boulders smashed onto the dirt, the Guardians with their carts and mules were sent flying and a cloud of dust erupted, masking the carnage from Edison’s barely-blinking eyes. This didn’t seem possible. Of all the times for these stones that’d sat on that mountain since the beginning of time to decide to fall, it had to be now. Why, now? Not when Edison had come so far. Returning to the palace a failure wasn’t an option.
Edison stepped backward into the water, distancing himself further from danger as he waited for the last boulder to fall and the cloud to clear. His horse had already started its swim across the expanse, desperate to get away. Edison followed, splashing and kicking and propelling himself to safety.
He threw himself on the bank of the other side of the river, catching the reins of his horse just in time before it ran off into the dusk.
“Easy now,” he said, unsure if his horse could hear him. “Easy, boy.”
The pain in his chest was subsiding now, replaced by the screaming of his lungs for air, as the realization of how close he’d come to death hit him.
He pulled himself to his feet and peered across the river. The rumbling ceased and the waterfall soon became the only noise to be heard above the horrible panting Edison was aware was escaping from between his clattering teeth.
Had anyone survived?
As the dust was slowly taken by the gentle breeze, he saw a large pile of rocks where once there’d stood man and beast. Surely nobody could survive being crushed and buried under that. It was impossible.
With a sense of great dread, he had to accept that his Guardians were gone. There was no point in going back to look for survivors. It was a shame, but he reminded himself that it was better than if a group of real humans had been killed.
Somehow, Edison had escaped. If he hadn’t ridden ahead of the Guardians, he too would be dead right now. He’d made the right decision. This whole trip would’ve been a waste of time if he hadn’t survived.
Or was it still a waste? Surely, he couldn’t go on to the apothecary alone? He was wet, cold and shaking. Not in any kind of fit state
for such a journey.
And how would he demand the Alchemist hand over the elixir the King desired without the Guardians standing behind him? He didn’t pose nearly a great enough threat on his own.
But the King was adamant he needed the fertility elixir to provide him with a hoard of babies he’d call his grandchildren. But they were babies Edison would call freaks. Because their mother would be a Guardian. They’d be abominations that needed to know their place. Crossbreeding them with pure blood humans was wrong on every level. Just another reason why Tate couldn’t possibly become the King, because that would make his firstborn child heir to the throne and what kind of kingdom would The Bay of Laurel become with a freak seated upon the throne? He’d rather die than see that happen.
This was why he must continue on and complete his quest
A movement on the other side of the river caught his eye. A mule had somehow survived the rockfall and was trying to get to its feet, having pushed its way out from under the rubble. But its reins were pinned under a boulder and it was unable to stand.
Edison looked back to the water, contemplating for the briefest moment if he should cross the river again and cut the mule free. It seemed a waste of energy to save a beast with a brain even smaller than the men it’d transported here.
No, he couldn’t put himself at risk for a mere animal. That would be even more foolish than risking himself for a Guardian.
He had a quest to complete for the King and nothing was going to get in his way.
He squeezed some water from his shirt and climbed back onto his tired horse. He had to press on. His destiny depended on it.
RIVER
THE NOW
River knocked on Pip’s door and waited. The breakfast tray was heavy, even for her strong hands. There was so much food on there, all for one person. But it wasn’t her place to comment on that. Tate had asked her to see if she could get Pip to open up to her. He thought Pip needed a friend. And she owed Tate that much at least. He’d already done so much for her, treating her with such gentle respect.
The Kingdoms of Evernow Box Set Page 75
