“Eli are you alright?” He turned to look at a woman pushing through the crowd towards him. “Did you know she was here?” She pushed a strand of her blonde hair out of her face and reached out for him.
He looked around them, but no-one else seemed to react to her. “Uh, no I didn’t.”
“It’s so good to see you. When father said that he was coming to meet you and Uncle Merrick, I knew I had to come with him to see you. It’s been so long.”
He stepped back as she moved forward. The smile on her face fading.
“Sorry. Who are you?”
“It’s me, Maevine. Jaxon’s daughter.” She frowned. “Forgotten me already?”
Elijah tried to search his memories for her face but kept drawing a blank. “I guess…” Her face dropped. “I’ve been forgetting a lot of things lately.”
“Sure…”
“Elijah!” Merrick’s voice called out, breaking their awkward conversation. “Where are you?” He pushed through the people and put a hand down on Elijah’s shoulder. “Next time tell me where you’re going.”
“Hi uncle Merrick.” Maevine smiled.
Merrick lifted her chin up with his index finger. “Maevine, my darling niece, haven’t you grown up a bit? How old are you now?”
“Seventeen. Same as Sienna.” Merrick pulled the girl into a hug and squeezed. “Merrick!”
They both laughed as Merrick let her go. Elijah pulled his lips into a smile.
“Where is your father? He didn’t send you to butter me up, did he?” Merrick put a hand on her head and messed her hair. Maevine ducked and pushed his hand away from her head.
“Merrick,” Sylvia said, appearing to his right and stopping whatever Maevine was about to say next. “They’re about to light the pyre. Do you want to join in?”
“Yes,” he replied. “I would be honoured.”
Sylvia looked behind her as they moved away. Her eyes focused on Elijah. “It was terrible, you know. She thought she’d been through the worst of it after they burned down her house. Then they came for her inside the tavern.”
Maevine bumped shoulders with Eli as they walked behind, the gap between people closing on them.
“They came for her twice? Did you see them?”
“No-one saw anything. The house went up so quickly.” Sylvia took a sharp intake of breath. “Then poor Armand. He found her after she didn’t come out for two days.”
Silence hung in the air as torches were waved above heads. It tightened around him; it felt like the entire congregation almost held their breath as they lowered the torches, and the pyre was set alight. A weird sensation crossed his chest. He couldn’t remember knowing her, but he still felt a twang in his heart as she went up in flames. Everyone stayed frozen in time as they watched the flames burn the pyre to nothing.
After it died down, Merrick tapped Eli on the shoulder and nodded his head towards the tavern, away from the pyre. The last flickers of embers were dying, and the smell of burnt flesh was hurting his head.
“They’re waiting for you inside,” Maevine said as they headed up to the doors of the tavern. “Melvin isn’t in the best of moods.”
“No change from normal then.”
Inside, Jaxon and Melvin were nowhere to be seen. Merrick spoke to the barkeep, who pointed to the stairs. On his return, the three of them went up to Magda’s room. Upstairs was nothing more than a corridor with doors along either side of it. The door that Merrick stopped outside of had a painting of flowers on a chain in a circle and his hand hovered outside above the handle.
“Are you alright?” Elijah asked.
“Yes.” Merrick nodded and tried the handle. The door was open. “She was holding onto something for me, I want to see if it’s still here.”
Elijah raised an eyebrow. “How long ago did she… you know… would anything still be here?”
“The deceased’s belongings are not moved until after the funeral,” Maevine said, looking behind them.
Merrick pushed the door open fully to reveal a completely ransacked room. The small chair at the desk was lying on its side, the blanket covering the bed was half on the floor. Whoever had been here left drawers open and papers strewn all around.
“What…?”
“A mess?” Maevine offered, following Merrick inside. She carefully stepped only on the wooden floor that was visible and not any of the papers.
Merrick bent down and lifted a few letters, but discarded them as soon as he picked them up. His eyes fell to the floor with a sigh.
“What are we looking for?” Elijah offered, gesturing to the mess of a room. “Is it a specific letter, a trinket, something you gave her?”
His uncle nodded. “Some letters, a bracelet, and I gave her a cloak which she wanted to give to Ruby…” He cleared his throat. “Take everything you can see, we had better head downstairs and find Jaxon.” Merrick stood up, stuffing a handful of papers into his satchel.
Elijah grabbed a few and put them in his pocket, while Maevine tidied up a closed drawer, made the bed. He wasn’t sure why she did that, but it made her useful in a way. Merrick probably didn’t want to say anything with her here.
“I found the cloak,” Maevine said, pulling it out from under the bed. “Is this the one?”
Merrick took it from her hand and nodded. “Yes, thank you.” He looked down at it and then up at Maevine. “You might as well have it.”
Maevine took it and nodded with a smile. Merrick turned away and left the room. Eli followed him out and down the stairs. As they reached the bottom, a man appeared in the doorway.
He opened his arms outstretched. “Brother.”
“Jaxon, it’s good to see you. Maevine is so grown now.”
“Ah, my darling girl found you. I was wondering where she had disappeared to,” Jaxon said, letting Merrick go.
Elijah moved to the side so he could see Jaxon properly. He definitely looked like Merrick, although more human. His short hair showed his ears, and they were not pointed like Merrick’s were. He was dressed head to toe in the King’s Elite Guard uniform, King Roderick’s hawk emblem stood out on his black tunic in the bright yellow of the King’s house colours.
“Melvin is waiting outside with the horses. He’s ready to move out when you are.” Jaxon stepped back and they walked through the tavern. Maevine pushed past Elijah to walk next to her father, leaving him alone at the back behind the three of them.
4
Guarded Escort
Elijah hadn’t said a word since they left the tavern. Maevine hadn’t either. They’d both let the others greet each other and catch up. Melvin had argued with Merrick right off the bat and caused tension almost instantly. Jaxon cut through it with his wit, but they rode on either side of Jaxon.
“What do you think they’re talking about?” Maevine said, bringing her horse closer to Elijah’s.
He shrugged. “No idea, they’re too quiet to make out.”
Jaxon glanced behind and nodded, while Merrick was silent. He turned to Melvin and whispered something before turning back. “Almost there. I’d say only another day’s ride and then we will be back at the castle.”
The path they were on opened to a sort of clearing. There were a few stalls around, but because of the late afternoon, most of them were empty. I wonder who comes here to trade.
“How are we doing back there?” Melvin asked, looking at Maevine. She smiled and nodded.
“Fine,” Elijah mustered in response. Merrick grunted instead of replying. He seemed to be asleep riding atop his horse, or at the very least riding with his eyes closed. How does he ride so perfectly, sitting up and not fall off with his eyes closed?
“I suggest we make camp for the night,” Jaxon said, pointing up ahead. “There’s a place near to here that we can use.”
“Hopefully, the tents are still up!” Melvin laughed. “The last patrol better not have hidden them like they did before. I didn’t enjoy getting in a tree to get them out, not that you were much help eit
her.”
“Oh, stop complaining. They do it for a laugh; the new recruits trying to get one over on us. Don’t worry. I have a plan for when we get back.” Jaxon gave Melvin a grin. They are planning something. He glanced at Maevine, who was shaking her head with a smile.
“You know it’ll only make things worse, right?”
“Sweetheart, it’s only a bit of fun. They’ll like it.” Jaxon said, winking at his daughter.
Maevine shook her head and then looked down at her horse’s mane before her eyes found Elijah’s. Before he could smile, a stray low branch from one of the passing trees hit him in the face. He gripped his reins tighter, so he didn’t fall off and turned away from Maevine’s snigger. Shrugging it off, he refocused on Melvin and Jaxon’s conversation.
“So, are you and Merrick actually asleep when you do that?” Melvin asked, flicking his head in Merrick’s direction. “It seems like it would be hard to sleep atop a horse.”
“You know we aren’t actually sleeping. We just make people believe we are. What you don’t know is that my big brother is clinging on with his legs and has his hands around two daggers in case anyone tries to attack him.” Jaxon shrugged like it was nothing. “It’s like a half sleep. Enough for the body to recuperate and being alert to predators.”
Melvin shook his head. “Weird.” Elijah repressed the urge to snort-laugh at his comment. “You don’t have the Elven ears though. Which is a benefit for you, I’m sure.”
Jaxon scrunched his nose at the comment, turning away from Melvin. They rode on in silence for a while before Jaxon held up his hand and they all came to a halt.
“There are five of them close, more behind.” Merrick’s voice was low, but loud enough for them to hear.
Elijah watched as Jaxon turned to listen to his brother. He didn’t know why they had stopped, maybe they were close to the campsite, but the comment from Merrick made it seem like there was something, more like someone, up ahead. Although Merrick had trained him to fight, he could not teach him how to sense others in the distance. His Elven heritage gave him that ability.
“We are almost at the camp. What do you sense, brother?” Jaxon asked as he dismounted his horse. Melvin made no attempt to move.
“Up ahead, moving towards us, fast.” Merrick’s cryptic nonsense sometimes wound Elijah up. He would give you so much, but the rest you’d have to figure out, and it wasn’t always that easy. Still sitting on his horse, Elijah swore Merrick was still in that half-asleep state Jaxon had been talking about.
“Isn’t he still asleep?” Maevine whispered to him. Elijah shrugged.
Merrick’s head snapped in their direction, his eyes wide and alert. “Jaxon, how far is the camp? I think we should be able to make it before they meet us on the road.”
“Not far, dismount and walk your horses with me.”
Following his orders, Elijah got down from Keela’s back and gripped the reins in his hands, ready to lead her. Melvin stayed still for a few moments, waiting for Maevine to move before doing the same. Merrick’s words had put them both on edge, while the brothers were calm.
Jaxon waded forward through the shrubbery, Merrick and Eli close behind them. Once through, his vision no longer blocked by green leaves, Elijah could see a small encampment already set up. There were two tents on a flat section of ground and a fire pit just outside them. Merrick’s words swirled inside Eli’s head and fear gnawed at the bottom of his stomach. To make matters worse, as they tied up their horses, a light misty rain started to fall.
Although it had little in the way of a lookout point, the camp was a good stopping point for any patrol. Being well covered and in a central location meant they could rest and continue their journey without too much trouble.
Thin clouds covered the moon only allowing its dimmed light through, Eli was sure he stood in a puddle as he could feel the water inside his boots. Jaxon had already started putting up the cover for the fire in the encampment. To stop the rain from putting it straight back out again. Melvin was checking both tents with his sword drawn. Intruders were unlikely, but with Merrick’s comment earlier it was better to be safe.
“Oh, just get on with it, will you,” Jaxon said, as he threw his hands in the air. “What are you expecting? Someone going to jump out on you?”
Maevine stifled her laugh.
“Well, you never know,” shot back Melvin. “He seems to think there is someone out there.” He jabbed his finger at Merrick, who had taken a seat on a tree stump.
“There is, and they’re on their way here.” His response held no fear that there were people on the way. “Can’t you sense them too, Jaxon?” Merrick raised an eyebrow. A silent challenge to his brother.
“I can hear them, yes,” he replied quietly, turning his back to the fire he had just made. “Though, I’m not as blessed as my brother. They will hopefully go around us. Few people know about this stopping point.”
“Unlikely with a fire going,” Elijah snorted, and instantly regretted his inability to keep comments to himself. Jaxon scowled at him; his eyes dark from the dim light. Eli gulped as Maevine’s hand slapped him on the arm. Why on earth did you say that?
“The boy has a point though, Jaxon,” Merrick said. “The light will draw in many predators; we should have someone keep watch. I’ll take the first shift.”
Jaxon scoffed as he went into one of the tents, pushing Melvin out of the way. Melvin shook his head and followed suit.
“You two should get some rest. I’ll call if I need anything.” Merrick’s voice was always softer when speaking to Elijah. Although there was a roughness to the way he spoke to his brother. Eli knew deep down he cared for Jaxon too.
Standing up, he made his way to the tent and held the flap open for Maevine as she went inside. He sat down on one of the bedrolls, which to his surprise, was thicker than he had expected. Sleep came like a haze, and Eli was out cold as soon as his head hit the ground.
“Why is he here, Merrick?” Eli awoke to the sound of Jaxon and Merrick talking. “What are your plans for him?”
“I don’t know what you’re trying to insinuate there, brother. He is my nephew.” There was a brief pause. “I suppose he has become like a son to me.”
Elijah crawled to the front of the tent and peeked out.
“A son?” Jaxon sat back against the tree. A smile crept across his face. “Who knew you still had it in you?”
“I admit, it was difficult after Ysabel and my girls died,” Merrick looked to the floor. “They were my life.”
“How long has it been now? Seven, eight years?”
“Eleven,” his voice caught. “It’s been eleven years since the castle was burned down and Hector and Rhohesia were assassinated.” Merrick shook his head and cleared his throat. “Magda sent the boy my way, and at first I tried to tell her to find someone else. She appeared at my door, three arrows in her shoulder, shaking and repeating that she couldn’t save them.”
Jaxon shuffled closer to his brother and put an arm around him. “You did all you could. They slaughtered many that night. What would’ve happened if you had gone back? Where would Eli be now?”
“I know. He filled the void I was left with and, in my mind, became my son. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him now.” Elijah’s heart swelled with emotion. He hadn’t realised how much Merrick cared about him.
Maevine stirred, and Elijah turned his attention to her for a moment, but her eyes stayed closed.
“This is all very touching, and I can see you’re both having a moment, but I’ll be relieving you of your gold now,” a deep voice said from the right. Hidden in shadows, the flames from the fire flickered as a man in a dark-coloured coat took a step into the light.
Jaxon jumped to his feet faster than his brother, who stood shortly after.
“I think you picked the wrong encampment, friend,” Jaxon said, spitting out the last word.
“King’s Guards? I think this is the exact place I need to be. You always carry gold on yo
u. Now hand it over,” replied the thief, drawing a knife. “We don’t want this to be the cause of your injuries now, do we?”
“Please,” Merrick fired back. “You and the six others who are hiding around here might think they are doing a good job of hiding, but we knew you were there. I eat people like you for breakfast.”
“Oh, this one has a bit of a fight in him. I love it when they fight back. Let’s go then, boys!” The thief charged at him, and Jaxon braced himself. He slammed his shoulder into the thief and sent him flying over the fire, landing on his back as three more emerged from the shadows. Merrick was now back to back with Jaxon and easily fighting with two others. Swords clanged as they went on and Melvin materialised from the tent with rage in his eyes as he ran towards the fight.
Elijah sat frozen, looking out of the tent at the fight unfolding in front of him. Merrick had taught him how to fight, but he’d only ever fought against his uncle and not someone who would kill him without a second thought.
His attention turned to the sleeping girl next to him. She was still out for the count, but he didn’t know how long she would be able to sleep through the sounds. Looking back out, he saw one thief rummaging through the saddlebags. “Dammit.”
“What’s going on?”
“Maevine, it’s alright. Are there any weapons inside here?”
She rubbed her eyes and blinked hard. “Weapons? I have a dagger.” A creak sounded as she moved, and Elijah lifted the side of her bedroll. Underneath there had been a hole cut out of the floor and a chest sat inside it. Opening the chest revealed a few weapons, and Eli opted for a sword with a handle that was easy for him to grip hold of.
“Stay here and be quiet.”
Stepping out of the tent, he saw Merrick was now only fighting with one bandit while Jaxon and Melvin were dealing with three more. As his uncle cut down his opponent, he made his way towards the thief who had spoken first, but as Eli watched another figure emerged from the shadows. His movements were slow, and he was heading straight for Merrick.
Kingdom of Lies (The Kane Saga Book 1) Page 3
