The thought of flying through the countryside until they were both tired did tempt Mattie. There were things back at the estate she wanted to avoid, a long and heated discussion with her father being one. But they couldn’t run from the uncomfortable forever. Mattie shifted her weight to one side as she lightly kicked her right heel against the mare’s flank. In a motion more fluid than any horse should accomplish, Firestorm banked and swiftly turned herself back towards where their run had begun.
It was time to go home.
***
Having arrived back at the estate just as Bran was making Garin growl because her cousin was teasing her husband about the drastic change in his appearance, Mattie didn’t wait for either of them before gracefully sliding off Firestorm. Her cousin gave her a knowing smile just as Garin offered to shear off those red locks of his so they could match. Bran let loose a boisterous laugh at the cheeky suggestion and heartily clapped him on the shoulder.
Their surprisingly companionable interaction meant that it was up to her to go over and convince a girl to get off her horse. Selina had stopped the animal only a few feet onto the grounds, far back from the others. Though her short black locks had grown a little during the journey from the Stronghold, they still couldn’t hide the abject terror on her young face.
Unfortunately, the horse she rode was sensing the girl’s emotions and was starting to get skittish. Mattie made soothing noises to the creature, placing a comforting hand on its shoulder. The animal’s breathing slowed down a pace, and the woman’s focus turned back to the girl.
Selina’s bronze complexion was so chalky that her wide brown eyes almost looked like black holes. “Mattie, I can’t do this!” she sharply whispered as her gaze noticed an auburn-haired man’s approach.
Mattie had suspicions as to where this new fear had come. “Yes, you can. You are no stranger here.”
While doubt flashed over the girl’s face, a young hawk landed next to Mattie. A quick shimmer of silver later, and a twelve-year-old boy with black hair stood in the raptor’s place. Mattie’s ward, Dougal Orbus, gave her a rather fierce hug. The time spent in her father’s care had definitely built the boy’s muscles up, because she gasped for air before he released her.
“I’m so glad you’re all back!” he exclaimed. “Saves me from facing that damn obstacle course for a few days!”
“A temporary reprieve, I assure you,” said Gregory jovially as he neared.
Mattie deftly grabbed the closest rein when the horse noticeably took a step backwards. There was no way she was letting Selina escape that easily. The assumption that the girl was attempting such a feat turned out to be correct when Mattie’s glance was answered with a glare.
Gregory Hawksthorne was an observant man, because his paced slowed as if he was approaching a nervous animal. “Selina, welcome back to our home,” he said with a tone that was equal parts merry and gentle. “I’m glad you made it to Crosshawk in one piece.”
“So am I!” added Dougal excitedly. “Now that you’re here, I can start learning more about knives. Maybe you can teach me a thing or two.”
Mattie’s father released a happy snort. “Don’t think that will get you out of your lessons with me, lad.”
Said lad seemed unfazed by the comment, just shrugged and smirked. “Had to try.”
Hope was there when a half-hearted smile appeared on Selina’s face. Then Mattie’s heart stopped when Dougal’s face lit up a little too quickly in response to the girl’s change in demeanor. Oh sweet Adonai, the boy had a crush on her!
He’s only twelve. Nothing to get too hot and bothered about yet; he’s only twelve, Mattie muttered to herself, willing all those protective instincts of hers to calm down. Even if she wasn’t sure which one of the two youths it was she wanted to protect.
Despite the potential issues this suggestion could bring about, Mattie looked up at Selina and said, “Hey, why don’t you go ahead and take Dougal over to Garin? My husband needs to be freed of the extra horse, and Goldenrod needs to meet her new owner.”
Dougal’s eyes went wide as his mouth seemed to drop open. “A horse?”
Gregory reached over and smacked him lightly on the back. “The pony has been too small for you for some time, lad. I made mention that you needed a real steed to Asger, and he sent one with Mattie as a gift to you.”
The expression of shock still didn’t leave the boy’s face. “My own horse?” he whispered with disbelief.
Gregory seemed a little confused at Dougal’s reaction. Meanwhile, Mattie was trying to keep tears from entering her eyes. Even as a lowly stable boy, the youth had a remarkable affinity with horses. Perhaps they were his only friends at the time. Her father had no idea just how wonderful this surprise was.
“Come on, fish boy,” said Selina with a snort, her caustic tone breaking the mood. “Let’s introduce you to her before a swarm of bees make a nest in that mouth of yours.”
Mattie let go of the reins when the girl nickered at the horse. While the animal began to walk towards the others, Dougal hugged her father. She heard the boy’s quiet and heartfelt “Thank you.” before he jogged to catch up with the departing girl.
Watching their approach be heartedly greeted by the others, Mattie smiled. Then a laugh escaped her lips when Selina shrieked at being lifted off her horse and into a bear hug by Bran. She couldn’t hear the context of the ensuing conversation, but the garbled voices sounded merry.
Then a soft smile formed on Mattie’s lips when Garin handed Goldenrod’s reins to Dougal. The boy held his hand under the horse’s nose for but a second before he was hugging the animal. When the mare lowered her head and rested it on his shoulder, the woman knew those two were going to get along just fine.
“Despite all he’s been through, he’s a good lad,” commented her father who had been witnessing the scene as well. “I’m glad I thought of getting him a horse.”
“How has his training been going?” Mattie asked, wanting to hold off the more difficult conversation in regards to Dougal for as long as possible. “He’s obviously stronger than when I left. He almost cracked a rib hugging me.”
“He started learning the basics of swordplay last week,” said the man with a bit of pride. “He’s a quick study, and smart as hell. And he helped Bran, Tobias, and I get your birthday present done in time. Truthfully, I don’t think we could have completed it without him.”
Mattie’s eyebrow rose for two reasons. The first was because she had nearly forgotten that she would be turning twenty in a few days. The second was that it had been forever since she had ever received an actual gift for being born, let alone one that took four people to make.
“What did you do?” she asked in a dubious tone.
His smile was far too mischievous. “You’ll see.”
Though Mattie wanted to grill him about this surprise, it would have been as pointless as pulling a badger out of its hole with her bare hands. Instead she asked, “Speaking of the War Mage, where is Tobias?”
Her father sighed. “He’s delivering some supplies to our elven refugees. I temporarily gave them the land on the Eastern side of Hawk’s Run for now, excluding anything close to or south of the Black Willow Forest.”
“I wondered why it seemed quieter,” Mattie commented. “Do they have shelter and enough food for the coming winter?”
The man started to slowly walk towards the others, making his daughter follow him in that northerly direction. “Yes to both. After the initial shock, some of the residents in Crosshawk pulled their resources together and helped out. Many of the landholders are still not happy about the situation, but everyone has agreed to wait until spring to sort everything out.”
“Small blessing.”
He stopped and flashed a sad smile. “There have been many of those lately. You being home again happens to be one of them.”
Mattie went to reach out to him, but her body completely froze instead! The sudden shock running through her was because she finally got her
first full view of their family’s home. A gray stone house that had once resembled a small cottage had grown into a medium cottage during her absence. What used to be the outer wall of the kitchen and living room had been stretched out at least a good thirty feet. The ivy had already started to creep up around the bottom, though it would take a while to catch up with the invasion underway over the rest of the house.
Mattie’s father wrapped an arm around her shoulders and gave her a hearty squeeze. He chuckled at her dumbfounded look before he said, “Considering how small your room was, there was no way Garin could fit in there with you. I’m also rather attached to my own, which was the only one big enough for a married couple. So we made you both a new one instead. And since we were already elongating the living room, we added a nursery to it as well.”
Mattie’s appreciation came out as a sob-filled hug when she clung tightly to the man and wept her joy. While it was a given that the couple would reside on the estate, she had never imagined her father would go to so much trouble to make them feel more comfortable about the idea. Especially not after the man’s initial rage at Garin for impregnating her outside of wedlock.
Gregory held his daughter close and whispered, “While there might be a lot of tension between your husband and I for quite some time, you needed to know that I’m giving him all the benefit of the doubt I have in me at the moment. We’re family, Mattie—including him. That was why his reckless actions had enraged me so thoroughly.”
Mattie’s brow furrowed as she took a step back. “What do you mean Garin’s family?
“Not by close blood ties,” reassured her father after seeing the look of concern on her face. “It’s just that, with mentoring him and knowing what was coming, he was damn near to being like a son to me already.”
The way he had phrased that had Mattie immediately asking, “So what made you train him all those years anyways? Besides your promise to Evangeline Von Bos, I mean.”
A soft smile appeared when he simply said, “You.”
Mattie snorted her disbelief, which brought a chuckle from the man. “I knew that I was not going to let any daughter of mine marry someone who wasn’t as skilled in combat as a Lord Protector. She deserved no less than that. And My King be damned, his fostered son was going to learn more than the few sword tricks I was ordered to teach him! If the nobles ever hear about my disobedience in this regard, they could come after me for treason. But to know my daughter would have a protector of her own at her side was worth that possible price.”
Mattie’s heart hammered, “Would King Easton do the same? Charge you with treason?”
Gregory shook his head. And though he tried to put her fears at ease, his words did not help. “The man has already taken me to task over my decision to train Garin so thoroughly, and has done so more than once. The fact I’m still alive means he’s relieved that I ignored his orders, despite the precarious position in which the truth of the matter could land me. By the grace of Adonai, only a few know that Garin’s skill was brought about by a complete act of defiance on my part. Hopefully that fact remains forever hidden in the dark.”
Mattie bit her tongue and glanced over at the small group laughing in the distance. Her eyes landed on Dougal, wishing that things had played out so differently for the kid. With everyone needing to get settled, now was not the time to round on the man for another secret he had wanted to keep hidden.
Chapter 9
“I do not give a damn who you are. I do not care that my daughter agreed to train under your guidance,” growled Lord Gregory as he stood tall before the ancient Draconian. “This is my home, sir, and you will abide by my standing rules when it comes to male guests with whom I am not familiar!”
Garin covered his mouth, trying to keep his smirk hidden. This was the Lord Protector he remembered quite well. Even with the hell his former teacher had gone through being tortured and then possessed by Caligo, the unyielding fortitude was still in there. This was the one who had to literally beat some sense into him when he was younger and helped keep him off the path of destruction. And that strength of will was now aimed at the wizened figure whose firm grip on his snake-encircled staff had whitened his knuckles.
Thank all that was Holy that Mattie and the others had listened to Lord Gregory! They had taken the horses to the stables; Dougal sticking close to Goldenrod as everyone had followed Bran out of the immediate area. Garin had only stayed behind because his father-in-law had insisted that a private conversation would be in order. However, he had a feeling it would be some time before that discussion happened, mainly due to these two strong personalities clashing with one another.
“That shack in which you house your gatekeeper is hardly a worthy place to lay my head,” snarled Leto.
Lord Gregory snapped back. “Worthy? You are no longer a king of anything, sir! Get used to finding yourself in humbling situations.”
“The groundskeeper’s house is roomier than you think,” Garin volunteered, remembering the times he had to stay in there.
Then he took a step back when those scowls were aimed at him as they both shouted, “Keep out of this!”
“Fine,” Garin grumbled as he crossed his arms. If no one would listen to reason, then maybe he should just let them go ahead and kill one another. Mattie wouldn’t like it if the two came to blows, but it would be a good show regardless.
Former teacher and current teacher glared at each other with such rage that Garin wondered how daggers weren’t coming out of their eyes. The staff was creaking under the force of Leto’s grip. Meanwhile, Lord Gregory seemed to be made of stone with how firmly he was standing his ground.
The tense silence between them was finally broken when Lord Gregory vehemently said, “Once again, this is my estate! We have never, ever, let unknown men sleep under the roof of the main house until they have proven to be trustworthy. This rule has stood for hundreds of years, and I will not deviate from it! Sleep in a tent outside these walls if you don’t like it!”
Listening to his father-in-law’s speech reminded Garin once again from where Mattie’s temper had come. A chill filled the air as Leto’s eyes narrowed into thin slits. Lord Gregory just lifted his head and stuck out his chin even further; a sign that he was daring the Draconian to do his worst.
“You forget what I’ve done for your family and for your kingdom,” Leto finally hissed.
“Oh, you did quite a bit. The peace you crafted all those centuries ago has lasted, I grant you that,” said Lord Gregory acerbically. “And the Watchtower that was built still stands and helps protect these lands from various evils. But there was also much you left for us to clean up while you ran and hid in the North! And though I know why Roland agreed to let the task of being Menapolin’s Protector fall to those of his line, you sure as hell didn’t help him or any of his descendants with fulfilling that promise!”
Garin could’ve sworn he saw Leto’s staff start to glow when the master of this estate took a step forward and snarled into the Draconian’s face. “Where were you when the famines hit those first few years, taking the lives of both human and elf alike? Where were you when Iantha almost went to war just to rid the universe of The Exiles you had left in my ancestor’s care? Where were you when Wolfgang’s first castle was swallowed by the sea and almost killed that traitor who had been made king? Where were you when Coleman and his descendants disappeared from the face of the earth?”
“I had my reasons for staying far from here,” growled Leto through gritted teeth. “Ones you could never understand.”
“Maybe that is true,” snarled the Lord Protector. “Or maybe you were so preoccupied with Tristen’s abilities that you gave no further thought about the rest of the brothers! It was as if you felt your responsibilities to them were over, which was hardly the case. So my family both reveres and despises you, sir, for the things you have done and for the matters you left undone!”
When the Draconian didn’t respond to that vehement statement, Lord Gregory took a st
ep back and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. There was no mistaking the venom in the man’s voice when he said, “I am sorry, but if you were looking for a hero’s welcome of any kind in Crosshawk—I fear you have found yourself in the wrong place. My edict still stands. It’s either the groundskeeper’s house for your bed tonight, or you can walk right back out that gate!”
The light emitting from the staff intensified for a second, and Garin was almost certain that Leto was going to incinerate the Lord Protector. Then the ancient one took a sharp breath before the brilliance lowered to a soft glow, shaking his head in a weary fashion soon thereafter. He leaned on his staff and seemed to be taking full stock of the man before him.
The atmosphere of potential hostility lessened when Leto sadly stated, “It appears the rules of hospitality have lessened somewhat in my absence.”
“Most are still intact,” commented Lord Gregory, finally taking his hand away from his sword. “Though caution has caused them to change over time. Troubles still exist in this world, often knocking on our very doors.”
“Then forgive my pride,” said the Draconian as he bowed his head and ignored the verbal jab that had obviously been aimed at him. “It is wise to value the safety of your family in these hazardous times.”
“It is indeed.”
“Now, dear host, may I humbly ask that you show me where I’ll be staying the nights?”
Garin knew better than to follow them after Lord Gregory extended his arm towards the southeastern corner of the estate and gravely said, “Right this way.”
***
It’s nearly winter; how in the hell are these leaves still so green?
Garin had grown bored waiting for his father-in-law to return, a dangerous situation for him since his second experience with the Dragon’s Heart. His thoughts tended to wander down dark paths he would rather not revisit. Gratefully, his footsteps led him to the front stoop of the main house instead, his curiosity getting the better of him. However, it wasn’t the new addition that had grabbed his attention. His sight was on the impossibly vibrant ivy covering the outside walls.
Unraveled Homecoming Page 6
