by Tara Brown
All that was left was a naked and bleeding man with the slice of a sword through his chest from one side to the next.
“By the gods,” she whispered. She blinked but it remained. She turned, purposefully moving her gaze past Ivor’s stunned expression, to the other beast. He was also a man, naked and dead, missing a hand that lay on the cobblestone next to him.
“Lenny?” Ivor whispered. “How did you learn to fight like that?”
“Lenny!” Hilde shrieked and ran at her sister. “Gods, Lenny. You scared the life from me.”
“It’s okay, Hilde,” Lenny lied.
Nothing was okay.
Absolutely nothing.
She twitched and quivered as she walked her sister to the carriage. She climbed in after Hilde, needing to sit for a moment.
The princesses stared at her, wide-eyed and possibly scared. The queen reached forward, squeezing her shaking hands. “You were brilliant, my dear.”
“She was more than brilliant,” Lord Ivor said as he walked to the carriage. “Better than a single guard we have with us.”
“That’s lucky. Half of them are dead,” the queen offered.
Lord Ivor walked to one of his dead guards and pulled his sword from his hands. He wiped it and walked back to the carriage. “Can you sit with the coachman and keep an eye out with me?”
Lenny nodded, taking the sword. It was warm from where the dead man had held it firm in his grip.
“We ride. We do not stop until daylight,” Ivor said sharply.
The queen nodded.
Lenny stood but Hilde grabbed her arm.
“It’s okay, Hilde,” Lenny said softly. “I won’t let anything happen to you.” That was not a lie.
Hilde squeezed as if asking Lenny to stay. But the queen took her hands and held them tightly.
“Get us out of here,” she whispered.
Lenny stepped out and climbed with her shaking legs to the seat where the coachman was. He tipped his hat at her. “Some fine fighting, miss.”
“Thank you,” Lenny said as Ivor climbed onto his horse. He took Asher’s reins and eyed the remaining soldiers who were whispering to themselves as they mounted their horses, carrying torches. Eyes darted to her.
She wondered what they were thinking.
Lord Ivor stayed close as the coachman shouted at the horses.
“I’ve seen those yellow eyes before,” she held the torch the coachman had handed her and shouted at Lord Ivor over the noise of the carriage and the hooves. “In Blockley.”
“The engagement party. That’s what you saw in the alley?” he asked, getting his horse up to a gallop.
“Yes.”
Lord Ivor didn't say anything else.
Lenny wondered what he was thinking.
Actually, Lenny worried more about it.
Chapter 25
Blockley had never been such a sight for sore eyes. Or sore bottoms. The adrenaline from the attack and the monsters who belonged in legend got them through the day of riding, but toward the end, everyone was exhausted.
Arriving at their destination gave them a new vitality.
Lenny’s family had been summoned to the hall.
She watched the queen, her mother, and her aunt Mildred speaking in a small huddle. Amaya was off to the side, listening to stories being told by the princesses.
The magistrate and her father and uncles spoke to Lord Ivor and the guards.
Everyone in the room glanced at Lenny throughout whatever they were being told.
Her stomach ached and her body hurt in ways she had never hurt before.
But two things soothed her.
The hounds rubbing against her, scenting themselves in a frenzy.
And the ghost of her brother sitting next to her.
“Has Amaya been able to see you?” she asked him softly, petting the dogs so no one would think her crazier than they already did.
Wilf nodded.
“Can Hilde see you?”
He shook his head.
“Can Mother see you?”
Again he twitched his head back and forth.
“So just me and Amaya?”
He shrugged.
“And you two,” she said as she rubbed the hounds faces. “I missed you both.”
“And they missed you,” Uncle Alek said as he walked over and sat on the other side of her from Wilfred. It was his second time leaving room for her brother.
“You see him, don't you?” she asked.
“I do,” he confessed softly. “But don't tell anyone. They’ll think us crazier than they already do.” He glimpsed at Lenny. “What happened?”
“I don't know. I saw the creature about to attack Hilde and something came over me. I grabbed the sword and I fought until they were dead.”
“With a skill no one has seen before. Lord Ivor said he has not witnessed someone move so quickly or fight with such instinctual ability,” Uncle Alek whispered. “Lenny, you’re odd, always have been. But this is something else.”
“I agree.” She was terrified of it, the something else. Wilfred lifted his silvery eyebrow and offered her a warning glance. He was worried as well.
“And lupine,” Alek said with a heavy sigh. “We’ve not had lupine in the forests for—”
“A thousand years, at least,” Queen Saleen said as she came closer. “They’re a creature of legend. The last reports of lupine are ancient. I believe it was on the shores of the great battle they are mentioned. We will have to see the record keepers in Waterly City. We shall board a ship and sail back there. I refuse to take the girls on that road again. Not until Elias has patrols.” She turned to Lenny. “And the guards will need training. As you saw, they’re not equipped to fight a beast such as that.”
“You can’t be serious.” Alek scoffed. “Lenny can’t train men. She’s a—”
“If you’re going to say girl, hold your tongue. She was the only reason we survived. Two lupine killed six of my men, three guests of the inn, and four horses,” Queen Saleen scolded him.
“No offense intended, Your Grace.” Alek took a tone Lenny flinched at. “But I was about to say, she’s a diver with no battle experience. Whatever this was; however, she saved you, had to have been fear driven. Instincts.”
“I agree,” Lord Ivor added. “Lenny was—”
“Why don’t you two men stop talking about Lenny and let her speak for herself?” the queen demanded.
Lord Ivor’s nostrils flared, matching her uncle’s, but they quieted and all eyes turned to Lenny.
“I don’t know. I can’t train men with skills I don’t understand.”
“This isn’t the first time she has seen the lupine,” Ivor stated.
“What does that mean?” Lenny’s father asked loudly.
“She saw one in the alley here in Blockley, the night of Amaya’s engagement. Yellow glowing eyes in the alley. I came upon her as she saw it. She was rattled, shaken. I knew something was wrong but not what.”
Lenny pleaded with him to stop but he continued on.
“If she is present when they are, and somehow has the skill to kill them, is there a chance this is somehow linked?”
“As in Lenny is somehow responsible for the lupine?” Amaya asked.
“Of course not, but she’s drawing them. They’re after her in particular.” Ivor didn’t sound convinced of what he was saying, but that didn’t help. His words stung.
Scar nudged Lenny who scratched her face and ears.
“You mean as in magic? As in magic has come back?” the queen concluded.
“Yes, I don’t know. I guess, Aunty. I’m as confused as you. We all know what we saw. Lenny, the lupine. It’s madness.” He fought a yawn and tried to keep his eyes open. “I’m exhausted. I can’t imagine how Lenny’s feeling. We need sleep.”
“I’m going home.” Lenny stood, not sure how to take anything that had happened. She lifted the sword Lord Ivor had given her.
“You’re not walking home alone,” her
father barked at her.
“Apparently, I’m never alone,” she said snidely and walked to the door to the hall. “Don’t worry though, I’ll be sure to lure all the monsters so they follow me.” She was too tired and not certain if she was making sense.
Wilfred, Scar, and Ollie followed her outside.
“Lenny, for the sake of the gods, wait!” Lord Ivor shouted after her.
But she didn’t. She strode quickly, desperate for her bed and maybe a wash bucket.
“I didn’t mean you conjured the lupine.” He jogged to catch up which took him no time. He grabbed her sore arm, making her wince.
“Just leave me alone!” she shouted.
“No!” he shouted back but then softened his tone, “Never.”
“Fine, then come along. But I don’t want to hear how I’m somehow responsible for all the death and the lupine. You notice no one else has come out of the hall? They’re in there talking about what a freak I am. My own family. And honestly, I just want to wash my face and sleep and forget this entire month has happened.”
Wilfred gave her a hurt look.
“I’m sorry, Wilf. I don’t mean I want to forget you. I’m just exhausted and confused.” Hot tears sprang from her eyes as she stepped to the ghost next to her. “I want you to be alive and tell me what is going on.” She wiped her face roughly and continued walking.
“You can see him?” Lord Ivor asked.
“Please don’t tell anyone.” She realized she had spoken aloud.
He grabbed her good arm, spinning her. “Lenny, I am yours. Your friend. Your protector. Yours, however you will have me.” He stepped closer, pulling her into his embrace and letting her weep on his chest.
Lenny wiped her eyes again. “Thank you.”
“Now let’s get you home to sleep.” He wrapped his arm around her back and turned them, hurrying to the horses. She climbed onto Asher as he climbed onto his horse. The ride home was minutes long but it felt like a lifetime.
She was twitching with the need to sleep by the time she jumped down. She took the saddle off Asher and put him in the barn, giving him water and feed. He looked content to be home.
Lord Ivor did the same with his horse.
When she opened the door to the house, she sighed at the smell of it. It was food for the weary soul. Sir Kitty came rushing for her. She lowered and scooped him up, bringing his fluffy body to her face and inhaling the scent of barn and house and family that he carried with him.
Scar and Ollie sniffed the cat and found their way to their beds, lying down after many circles to stomp them down.
Lenny placed Sir Kitty down at the hearth, stroking his back and Tubby’s belly as he rolled over to expose it when he saw her.
“I missed you all,” she yawned and forced herself to get up. “There’s a guest room next to the powder room. My mother always keeps it clean.” She pointed down the hall as she headed to the stairs, climbing them though she wished to collapse there.
“Good night, Lenny,” Lord Ivor spoke softly.
“Good night.” She waved over her head.
She stepped into her room, undressed, and collapsed on her bed. Not even bothering to wash her face.
Chapter 26
Waking had been blissful for a whole minute, until Lenny realized she had slept the day away and every inch of her body ached. The sun was high in the sky, noon at least.
If she and Asher never went for another ride again, it would be too soon.
Ollie’s hot breath washed over her face, making her groan. “Ollie, you smell. What has Wen been feeding you?” She rubbed the dog’s face, wincing when she had to move more than an inch.
He whined and she forced herself to climb from the sheets. A fresh washbowl was laid out with cloths and towels. She cleaned and dressed, feeling better.
When she opened the door, she saw legs, and a chair that wasn’t normally there. She paused and leaned out the door to find Lord Ivor sleeping in a chair that had to have been moved to her doorway. He was covered in her mother’s favorite quilt.
Lenny scowled but before she could stop them, Scar was nudging him and Ollie was raining down dog breath on him.
He woke with a start, squinting at the dogs for a moment, seemingly as confused as Lenny was as to why he was sleeping in the hallway.
“What are you doing?” Lenny asked.
“I was sleeping.” He yawned and stretched, before standing.
Lenny tried not to stare at him in his white linen shirt that was unlaced and open, revealing his chest. “But why are you sleeping here?”
“Why wouldn’t I sleep here?” He grinned and placed the quilt down, picking up his jacket from the back of the chair. “I’m fond of chairs, actually.”
“I see.” She knew he believed it was her calling to the lupine and was sleeping outside her room to protect her. “How long have you been here?”
“Since—” He stretched again and pressed his lips together. “Does it matter?”
“I guess not. I’m starving.” She rubbed her stomach as it growled at her, changing the subject. She didn’t want to discuss her being some sort of disastrous mess or that he slept outside her room because he worried she was a disastrous-mess magnet. Or worse, the reason for all the disastrous messes.
“Your cook has made something. I smelled it about an hour ago.”
“There’s no cook.” Lenny smiled as she walked with her dogs to the stairs. “My mother cooks. She learned from my gran.”
“Your mother is the first cousin to the queen. She was raised at court. She couldn’t possibly care for the house and raise you girls.”
“She does and she also helps on the farm when Father is at sea, if she feels generous,” Lenny joked.
“How odd.”
“Well, it’s not like she’s out there building fences, but I’ve seen her feed chickens.”
“You seem refreshed.” Lord Ivor observed.
“I am. My body aches. My shoulder is worse than it’s been. And I’m still not sure how to process what happened in Pyle. But I feel rested at least.”
“Well, rested is a start. You appeared at the point of falling down walking last night,” he said with a chuckle.
When they got downstairs, Lenny found two plates of food with cloth lying over them. They were filled with griddlecakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, and berries. She handed Lord Ivor a plate and a fork.
“Is there coffee?”
“Not here but we could get some at Knights. Wen can make it.” She lifted the fork, not bothering to sit at the table as he was. She leaned over the counter and poured fresh syrup over the plate.
“You didn’t just put syrup on your bacon and eggs?”
Without answering him, Lenny lifted a forkful of syrupy eggs and bacon and shoved it into her mouth. She chewed, moaning, though the food was cold.
He wrinkled his nose as he stood up from the table and brought his plate with him. He too leaned over the counter as he dumped a fraction of what she had, on his griddlecakes only. He cut a bite of griddlecake and ate it, nodding.
She lifted her gaze to his face as he chewed, noting the way his jaw flexed. Something about it was pleasant, the way it was to watch James.
Lenny finished the plate off quickly, drinking a large glass of water and sighing happily. She held her plate for the hounds to lick, earning a second unimpressed look from Ivor who was only partway through his meal.
The door opened and they both turned cautiously to find Wen in the hallway.
“Wen!” She jumped at him, hugging him tightly with the one arm.
“You’re awake.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her to him.
“Did they tell you?” Lenny asked from his chest, noting he squeezed tighter today.
“Amaya might have mentioned it,” he mumbled.
“Of course she did. Lord Ivor, have you met Wen, my dearest friend?”
Lord Ivor’s eyes narrowed for a moment as he seemed to be inspecting Wen.
; “I don’t believe we were properly introduced.” Wen held a hand out for him. “It is a pleasure.”
Lord Ivor stood and took his hand, shaking it, all the while staring.
“Anyway, the reason I have come, is your family is gathering at the shore to do a lantern ceremony this evening. They would like you to make your way to town,” Wen said, offering Lord Ivor a scowl back.
“Of course. We will go now.” She filled the water for the dogs so they might drink before they left. She grabbed the sword Lord Ivor had given her.
“You’re bringing a sword to the lantern celebration?” Wen asked.
“The lupine were real, Wen. If they’re real, what else is? I’m not taking chances.”
“Nor should we,” Lord Ivor added, standing up tall as he finished his meal.
“Did you really kill two of them, Lenny?” Wen questioned.
“She did. It was the fiercest fight I’ve ever witnessed. She moved like a bolt of lightning, running at them, spinning and hacking.” Lord Ivor wasn’t praising her and Lenny knew it. He was worried, as was she.
“I couldn’t imagine it if I tried.”
“And I can’t stop picturing it, yet I wish to never imagine it again,” Lenny muttered.
“Nor I,” Lord Ivor said.
“What a nightmare. Hilde said she couldn’t sleep, though she’s exhausted. The images plagued her all night,” Wen offered as they walked to the door, followed by the hounds. “Did the memories affect you as well?”
“I slept like the dead might.” Lenny paused and gave Lord Ivor a worried stare. “Is that a bad sign? Have I been taken over by something foul?”
“If you have been taken over by something, then I have as well.” Lord Ivor laughed bitterly. “I slept well. I didn’t stir until I smelled breakfast.”
“I doubt I would sleep again after seeing a lupine eat a man.”
“They really were horrifying.” Lenny thought on them. “The worst part was when they turned back into a man. All the fur and size and claws and teeth, gone. Just a man, a dead man.” She shuddered. “It was truly awful and I hope it’s the last we see of them.”
“Indeed,” Lord Ivor concurred as they walked to the path.
