“Don’t think I have enough for both of us.” Rose frowned.
“Get your legs free, then help me up,” Lars said. “If we can get back to the river, we can take care of our hands.”
Rose nodded and carefully poured a trickle of water over the ropes binding her legs. Lars held his breath, but nothing happened.
“It’s working.” Rose looked closer. She kicked her legs free, leaving a broken cage of earth where she had lain.
She knelt beside him, soaking his tunic in her haste. He didn’t complain as he ripped free.
“Remember which way we came?” They paused at the top of the hill, waiting to let their eyes adjust to the natural moonlight.
She jabbed her bound hands to their right, but a howl brought their attention to the hills on their left. A lean shadow passed over the top of the hill, leaping away from the lunging grasp of the ground.
They sprinted back to the river without another word, running in silence, their frantic breathing and the slapping of packs and weapons the only sound between them.
Are we going the right way? I don’t think we’re going to make it back. His quick despair lifted as he caught sight of its long silver glimmer ahead. The trolls roared behind them, and they once more quickened their steps.
“Get in the river!” Lars shoved her as they neared the bank.
But Rose slowed, hesitation showing in her expression. “I can’t swim very well.”
Lars barely restrained a curse. “I’ll help you. It’s better than staying out here.”
Cold seeped through his boots as he waded in. The water rushed around their chests as they reached the center of the river. The rope disintegrated around his wrists and he pushed back against the current.
“What about Killian?” Rose wobbled with a splash.
“Let’s worry about them first.” Lars nodded to the shapes that thundered to a halt in a spray of earth at the river’s edge.
“Clever,” the male troll spat. “But the cowardly little wolf is still out there. Maybe we’ll just let you freeze while we hunt him down.”
“He’s not a coward!” Lars splashed water toward the bank and the trolls recoiled with a hiss.
“That’s right. You are. That’s what you think, isn’t it?”
“Don’t listen t’ him, Lars.” Rose said, her words cut off by a rope snaking from the bank around her neck.
Lars shoved her under water until the coil dissolved. She re-emerged with a gasp, coughing water from her lungs. He edged in front of her, watching for the troll’s next move.
It came in a blurring flash and he barely managed to get a hand up in time for the rope to wind about his forearm, instead of his neck. He prepared to plunge it under water. Wait! He’s holding it.
He yanked back and the troll lurched forward, startled. Lars grabbed the rope in both hands, struggling to keep it above water. The troll pulled back and Lars jerked it with all his strength. Rose joined him in a swirl of water and grabbed the rope.
“I’ve had enough of this.” She joined her strength with his.
The female hurried to help her companion, but two shapes jumped her from behind, sending her stumbling into the water. She collapsed with a wail and the water churned where it claimed her.
The male howled in anger and hauled them closer to the bank with a mighty burst of strength. Rose lost her grip on the rope, tripping, and Lars tried to dig his feet into the soft river bottom as he lost ground. But the troll dropped his end of the rope, shoved forward by an unseen force and fell into the river.
A second splash followed the troll and Killian swam into Lars’s chest.
“Killian, you idiot!” Lars grabbed him in a hug. “You all right?”
Killian shook water from his ears, yipping at Rose.
“You scared me t’ death!” She ruffled his soggy ears.
They waded back to the bank, Killian reaching the shore before them and shaking dry before the wild dogs pounced on him with playful growls.
I wish it was that easy for us to get dry. Lars squeezed water from his shirt.
“Now what?” Rose wrung her hair out.
“Head back to that town?” Lars sat down to empty water out of his boots.
“Sounds better than sleeping out here.” Rose shivered. “What were they doing this far north anyway?”
Lars’s shoulders slumped, the troll’s words returning to mock him. “You’re probably looking at the reason.”
Killian growled, padding over to them and flopping down beside Lars.
Rose frowned. “Lars, don’t believe what that thing said.”
“Like you’re not going to?”
“I know.” She sank down with a sigh. “But at least you’ve started t’ prove me wrong about you.”
He mustered a faint smile at her teasing words. But everyone’s been right about me so far. He shoved the thought away.
“You’re not worthless either, you know. Two Baedons killed with your help, and now two trolls.” He nudged her shoulder.
She chuckled as she re-tied her hair. “Aye, but if two Wyverns show up next, you boys are officially on your own.”
Killian growled as Lars laughed and pulled his boots back on. He glanced at Rose.
“What did he mean about you having magic?”
Rose shrugged as she emptied her boots. “Don’t know. As far as I know there’s never been magic in my family.”
“Strange.”
“Know what else is strange? Green eyes…” Rose cast him a sly look.
Lars rolled his eyes and Killian yipped, rolling onto his back with his tongue lolling.
Rose laughed. “Who is she?”
“Someone I think you’d get along with a little too well,” Lars said wryly.
“She sounds nice, then.”
Lars raked a hand through his damp hair with a wry grin. “She is. Though I think I might have destroyed any chance I ever had with her.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. She sounds smart, so you might be surprised.” Rose gained her feet. “You coming?”
Chapter 13
Noak swirled his thumbs around each other as his men set up camp around him. He’d been casting spells to try and find his escaped wolf, but every time a frustrating wall of nothing stared back. Faeries were probably involved. Another reason the meddlers need to be dealt with.
Still, maybe he should thank them before he destroyed them. Without the inaction of the faeries in his youth, he would never have discovered the power of sorcery.
A muffled curse disrupted his thumb twirling. Finn had gathered fuel for a fire, but it smoked in defiance of his best efforts.
“Let me.” Noak shooed him aside and lit a fire with the snap of his fingers.
Finn wiped his hands on his yellow jerkin and put away his flint. The other two men joined them. After a week and a half scouting trying to find the prince, they had reconvened among the hills.
“What now?” Finn tore apart jerky and shoved it into his mouth with grimy fingers.
Noak ate his own meal with a little more refinement. “We wait. We have spies scattered around. Surely one of them will see something.”
“When do we head back t’ Myrnius?” One of the brothers spoke. Noak still couldn’t tell them apart, even after months spent in their company. But then, it’d never really mattered.
“When we have our wolf,” Noak said. “I need his blood for the spell, or everything has been for naught.”
“Could ‘e have gotten very far? Maybe ‘e’s still in t’ forest.” The other brother handed out hot corn cakes.
“We searched the forest.” Finn juggled his hot corn cake for a moment before biting into it.
“There are rumors that Prince Lars also disappeared. He might have made it further than we think.”
“Or been killed.”
This came from the other brother. Jokum perhaps? It was true, they had found the remains of several dead wolves during their search of the forest. Noak frowned at the man. He’d been trying
to avoid considering that possibility.
A warmth in his coat pocket distracted him. He frantically dug for the stone, ordering Finn to fill a bowl with water.
Finn handed it over and Noak tipped the smooth blue stone into the bowl. The water bubbled a moment before the surface smoothed and a soldier with the insignia of the king stared out at Noak from the reflection.
“You have news?” Noak gripped the bowl tight.
“Yes,” the man said. “A young man Sir Einar believes was Prince Lars was at Sandnes village along the river three days ago. A girl and a brown wolf were with him.”
Noak laughed in his relief. “Where is this village?”
“Ten miles southwest of Ammelby. The villager said they intended to travel to Myrnius.”
“Thank you. The talisman I gave you should bring about even more luck.”
“Thank you, sir.” The soldier bobbed his head.
Noak fished the stone from the water and the image faded.
“Why Myrnius?” Finn inhaled a corn cake whole.
Noak returned the stone to his robe. “I’m willing to bet they are trying to find a faery. Break camp. We’re heading back sooner than I thought.”
The men did not argue and a few minutes later, they trudged through the hills, guided by the ball of light Noak sent bobbing ahead of them.
*
Noak and his men halted on the bank of the churning river, just downstream from a derelict bridge. After traveling for two days, they stared wearily at this new obstacle.
“Give it a try?” Finn sent a skeptical glance at the tenacious wooden structure.
Noak wrinkled his nose.
Finding the ford further downstream would take several more hours. They could chance the bridge—and the swirling depths in front of them—and save some time on their hurried march.
Noak placed a timid foot on the first plank and it creaked a warning beneath his weight. The river erupted in a geyser and a faery emerged from the water.
He scowled and retreated a step.
“You!” She pointed a trembling finger at him, her eyes flashing with rage.
“I see my reputation has preceded me.” He flashed a smile, twitching his sleeves back to allow his hands freedom of movement.
“You and your ilk will not pass here.”
“I’ve been wanting a challenge.” He thrust out a hand, sending water funneling at her chest.
She raised a hand and carelessly diverted it away.
“I’ve fought your kind before,” she sneered and extended her hand to the water. Droplets flew up to form a spear in her hand. Noak caught a breath of cold as it hardened to ice.
“Then maybe we share some of the same fond memories of the war.” Eagerness leapt in his chest. If she fought in the war, I’m going to enjoy this even more.
She stepped forward, the water solidifying under her feet. “You know nothing of that war.”
He placed one hand on the bridge’s crumbling rail and laughed. “I remember plenty. I remember a village, fire, and death, and a faery who stood and watched it happen.”
A madness in her gaze had shown in her gaze before, but horror caused the spear to tremble in her grip.
“Lublin.”
“Very good!” he sneered. The wood creaked under his touch. “Then you understand why I have a score to settle with the Myrnian faeries. Let me pass and I’ll consider sparing the water.”
She heaved the spear upright to level at his chest. “I’ve heard plenty of lies from your kind. You’d no sooner spare us than care for those men behind you. I had a duty once to fight magic like yours. I am Kaja of the raging spear and you shall not pass.”
His smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Then let’s hope you’re not out of practice.”
He uttered a sharp word of magic and the bridge collapsed, the jagged pieces darting toward the faery.
She threw up an arm and the attack halted. He raised both hands, chanting under his breath. Her hand quivered under the strain, but she hefted the spear, crazed eyes fixing upon his chest.
Finn’s crossbow creaked behind Noak and he increased the tempo of his chant. The wood shook in midair, torn between the commands of the magic users. Kaja’s gaze flicked behind him to Finn, who now stood with a bolt trained on her.
The archer pulled the trigger without hesitation.
Kaja swatted it out of the air with the spear, but Noak only needed that brief moment of distraction. A broken plank snuck around her guard and smashed into her gut. She doubled over with a cry, unable to stop the rest of the ancient bridge from crashing down upon her.
The river churned and boiled as Noak sent a wave to wash over the spot where she’d vanished. A whirlpool spun the debris for a second, its edges almost reaching the bank and then the river quieted, resuming its regular course and sweeping the wood downriver.
“She gone?” Jokum glanced at him.
Noak shrugged, sending a tendril of magic into the water to test its depths. Nothing but water and silt settling under its caress.
“Looks like it.” He swept a hand over the river, collecting some of the drifting remnant of the bridge and melding it together to make a rough footbridge. “Let’s go.”
They had no more time to waste. Likely the faery hadn’t gone very far. He wanted as much distance between them and the river as possible. And, he patted the stone in his pocket, we have a wolf to find.
Chapter 14
Sir Einar found the king and his search party a day’s ride from Sandnes. King Jonas practically pulled him from his horse.
“Is it true?” He crushed Einar’s arm in an iron grip.
“I don’t know if I can believe it myself,” Einar admitted. “But there’s no other reason for Jeppe to be there.”
“And a brown wolf?” Jonas’ brow furrowed.
“It has to be Killi. Has to be.”
“This curse…” Jonas bowed his head, dragging a hand through his brown hair. Einar rested a hand on his shoulder.
“Courage, brother. At least he’s not dead.” I won’t believe that my nephew is dead.
“Small comfort.” Jonas cleared his throat, leading Einar to his tent. Einar removed most of his armor and took a cup of wine.
“You think they’re headed to Myrnius?” Jonas settled into a chair with his own goblet.
“That’s what the villagers indicated.”
“Faeries?”
“The most logical explanation.” Einar rubbed a sore shoulder. The muscle had been in knots since the beginning of the whole nightmare.
“We’ve had no more reports of this sorcerer,” Jonas said.
Einar tapped his ring against the cup, debating on stating the likely reason the sorcerer had disappeared. “Most likely searching for Killian as well.”
Jonas frowned. “So, both my sons and an innocent girl have put themselves in his path. You think they know?”
“Lars and Killian are smart. They might.”
“You might have a higher opinion of my eldest than I.” Jonas traced the rim of his goblet and sighed.
Einar had never given his brother-in-law his full opinion on his wayward nephew, and now seemed hardly the time. But there might be some hope for the future yet.
“The villagers did say he promised to see about sending the Brigade to check up on them after the baedon attacks.”
A bit of hope lurked in the small smile that creased Jonas’s face. “Did he? There’s something.”
Einar refilled both their goblets. “What do we do now?”
Jonas rubbed the stubble that coated his chin. “I don’t want them out there on their own. If something happens I won’t just lose sons, I’ll lose heirs.”
Einar nodded. His fragile daughter wouldn’t ever be ready for that position if the worst happened.
“But we have to find them first, and sending an armed troop after them might attract even more unwanted attention.” Jonas sighed. “I’m open to suggestions, Einar.”
“You don�
��t want to ask your council?” Einar gave his brother-in-law a slight smirk.
Jonas snorted and slouched into his chair, stretching his legs out. “If you would ever accept my invitation to join the council, I technically would be.”
Einar chuckled as he set his cup aside. “If we ride hard, we could reach the border within a few days. Bring a few soldiers with us, leave the royal banner behind, maybe we find them without attracting too much unwanted attention.”
“We?” Jonas raised an eyebrow.
“Your sons and my nephews,” Einar said. “I didn’t think you’d be interested in staying behind. You’ve already put everything in order with your council and the queen just to be out here. Technically, we’d just be moving the search party further west.”
“You’re a bad influence on me.”
“My sister is more than capable of overseeing the kingdom for a few more weeks.”
“Why do you think I married her?” Jonas smiled as he stood and spread a map of Calvyrn on the table. Einar joined him, placing weights on the parchment corners.
“They were here three days ago.” Jonas tapped the bend in the river. “If you were looking for a Myrnian faery, you’d head for Celedon Forest.”
Einar scanned the field of parchment from Jonas’s finger to the legend marking Celedon. It was a fair distance, but for once the sparsely-populated southwest corner of Calvyrn worked in their favor.
“They’d be foolish not to stop for supplies,” Einar said.
“Or some ale,” Jonas said with a wry smile.
Einar again held his tongue concerning Lars. “There’s only so many towns or villages where they could be.”
Jonas leaned on the table, studying the most likely options. “You think we can catch up?”
“Creator willing.” Einar shrugged.
“One of these days you’ll have to share your secret to such a straightforward faith.” Jonas sighed. “It seems to have eluded me.”
Einar clapped his shoulder with a smile. “It might seem easier than you think. When do you want to leave?”
“When can you be ready?” Jonas countered.
Always impulsive. “We can be ready again by dawn.”
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