Unraveled Homecoming

by J. L. Shelton

  Gregory’s eyes had narrowed into slits, aimed directly at Stephan. Easton looked equally perturbed at his eldest son’s actions. Mattie would be lying if the thought of pushing the Crown Prince out of his chair hadn’t crossed her mind at this point. The image of herself doing just that must have found its way down the couple’s bond, because Garin was soon coughing to cover up a laugh.

  Thank you, I needed that, he thought jovially.

  Not as much as that drunken excuse for a peacock will need to be dumped on that fancy blue behind of his if he keeps this up! she replied crankily.

  Easton and Gregory both had expressions of concern as Garin’s coughing fit seemed to grow worse. He excused himself, saying he just needed to get some water. Though he did as he said once he used the hand pump at the sink to fill a glass, the way his shoulders shook as his back was turned indicated that he was quietly laughing.

  “I really hope you aren’t coming down with some nasty illness,” Stephan said apathetically when Garin finally returned to his seat.

  Garin shook his head as he placed his glass of water in front of Mattie. “Just something caught in my throat, that’s all.”

  “Pity,” muttered the prince, the word barely muffled by the goblet he had lifted to his lips.

  If anyone else had heard that verbal jab, they chose to ignore it. Mattie’s tongue hurt when she bit it to keep the angry retort at bay. Garin soon took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He understood how hard it was to keep from calling the prince out on his rudeness, but he also knew that action would only create more problems than it was worth.

  After a final glare at his eldest son, Easton decided to continue the conversation her arrival had interrupted, “The only part of my plan with which I’m having difficulty is how to leave the inn on a separate course heading north without being noticed, especially since Stephan insists I take the full number of agreed-upon guards with me. And waiting too long after he departs carries the risk of discovery by staying in one place too long.”

  “Use the Tradesmen’s Path,” Mattie said without needing to give the king’s dilemma much thought. Her father raised an eyebrow at her, which she ignored. Now was not the time to explain how she managed to learn every inch of Crosshawk while he was gone those four long years. “It’s not on any map, but runs behind all the businesses on that side of town Eventually it will curve and meet up with the northern section of the King’s Road.”

  “It won’t be the smoothest route,” warned her father. “Loaded wagons making deliveries have carved some deep and hazardous ruts in the dirt over the years. But it will keep you out of direct sight, especially if you leave the same moment as the prince.”

  “Like a back door,” mused Easton as he took a sip of wine.

  “If you and your men can find travel-stained cloaks and keep the hoods over your faces, no one will look at you twice,” added Garin. “And it sure couldn’t hurt to keep a low profile.”

  Stephan leaned back and grudgingly said, “It’s the best solution we’ve had thus far, father.”

  “I agree,” said the king with a smile. “Thank you for the input, my dear.”

  Mattie lowered her head when she said, “My pleasure, Your Majesty.”

  “I still wish I could go in your stead,” grumbled her father while his brow furrowed in anger. “Or at least join you on this journey. Two leaders meeting in secret and away from their bases of power is nothing but a recipe for disaster.”

  “I have to agree with the Lord Protector on this,” growled Garin, the fact he thought his father was close to being an idiot coming through loud and clear. “Are you absolutely certain that this isn’t just some trick to lure you away from the safety of the castle or from all your guards?”

  Though not aware of the full story, Mattie couldn’t help but agree with their assessments. Assassinations were yet to be a thing of the past, and the king could be walking into a trap. While she had no real love for the man, he had been a relatively just ruler.

  “Greg, Garin—I have thought of those possibilities already,” reprimanded Easton. “I took great pains to verify it was Asger who had contacted me, despite the fact that the means he has to do so are already difficult to replicate. And we have both made certain that only the two of us know where the final location for the meeting shall be held. All I can say for now is that I should be back in Crosshawk before Yule.”

  Poor Garin was hit with the brunt of Mattie’s terror. He’s meeting in secret with Asger!?

  Yes, he said as he gave her hand another squeeze. But we have time to prepare for the worst, don’t worry just yet.

  “And Greg,” added the king as he clapped the man on the shoulder. “I’d feel infinitely better if you remained here, in case my eldest needs your assistance while I’m away.”

  “For my job will be to pretend my father decided to watch from the sidelines after he pushed me into deep water to learn how to swim. Politically speaking, of course,” said Stephan with a sigh after placing his hands behind his head and causing those elbows to stick out to their respective sides. “Being his most trusted advisor, Lord Coiro will help maintain the illusion that my father is hiding somewhere in the castle.”

  “That’s a lot of trouble for just one conversation,” Mattie couldn’t help but note.

  “But a necessity,” said the king without further explanation.

  “Too many strange things have been happening,” offered Stephan, sounding more like the old friend she used to know. “I—we can’t ignore them anymore. If my father has a chance to discover some answers, he must take it.”

  Easton nodded while giving Gregory a very pointed look. The response from the Protector was two hands raised as if in surrender. No one was going to change the king’s mind about this insanity, obviously. Mattie hated to admit it, but the man went up in in her estimation concerning the regards of his character. While the two families would never agree, it was a comfort to know that he too thought the safety of his kingdom was something for which he would willingly risk his life.

  And for the first time, Mattie found herself praying that Adonai would watch over the man along the dark paths he was going to travel.

  “While I still have more than a few reservations in regards to your safety,” said Garin as he crossed his arms and sighed. “I understand your need to do this.”

  “As do I,” said Gregory.

  Easton chuckled. “Though I wasn’t looking for anyone’s approval, your support in this endeavor is greatly appreciated.”

  “I’m just glad you told someone outside the court that you’re running off on a mad adventure,” said Stephan with a shake of his head, dropping his arms at last. “And to those that will immediately send a search party if you don’t show up after a reasonable time.”

  “You worry too much,” scoffed the king. “I’ll be back before you know it.”

  But the anxiety the crown prince had about his father going on this trip hadn’t been eased. Possibly made worse because Stephan began to incessantly drum his fingers against the tabletop. A weight seemed to fall on his shoulders a second later when he lowered his head.

  It was in that moment a terrible realization came to Mattie. Despite all the training at his father’s side, Stephan wasn’t ready for this task! Not even for the short time ahead!

  He lifted his blue eyes up to her, sorrow and fear swirling in their depths. Then as if he had wanted to confirm her suspicions, he did something no one expected. Emptying the last of the wine into his glass, he stood up and raised the cup as if in toast. He nodded to each of them in turn, drank the alcoholic beverage completely down in one long gulp, and then escaped out the front. Before anyone could follow him, a large gray wolf stood in his place and ran out the gate, disappearing into the countryside.

  “Not sure what possessed him to drink that much, but go find him before he hurts himself!”

  One never disobeyed the Lord Protector when he barked an order so sternly. Garin and Mattie didn’t hesitate. Soon
they too were in wolf form, trying to hunt down a runaway prince.

  Chapter 25

  In the form of a large black wolf, Garin took the lead in tracking down Stephan. Mattie’s gray coat blended with his shadow as she stuck close to his side. The prince’s scent led them to the outcropping a few miles from the estate, and she wished to Adonai that it hadn’t! Being so close to the familiar landmark made her skin crawl even in this form, causing twitches to rankle her fur and make the hawk-like patch of black on her rump seem to flap its wings.

  How her husband had survived testing his power in this spot was beyond comprehension! Wild magic that not even the elves could control had taken up residence here ages ago. Many strange and mythical stories surrounded the cave, everything from it being a former magical prison to it being the very birthplace of the world. Regardless, all the locals attributed its creation to a powerful and ancient being known as Rhea—and they made sure to give the rocky mound a wide and respectful berth.

  And once the couple paused in front of the cave’s mouth, what happened next came with little warning. One moment Garin and Mattie had hesitated because the trail seemed to suddenly disappear, the next had a snarling gray wolf flying out of that hole like a comet! His sharp teeth aimed for Garin’s neck, and a yip of pain came from him when Stephan’s jaw closed tightly around the side of his throat!

  Luckily, Garin had fought in this form before. With a deep growl promising violence, he managed to gain similar purchase on his attacker’s shoulder. Stephan’s shock loosened his grip just enough that the black wolf tore himself free. Garin ignored the blood that fell from his throat after his brother’s teeth had ripped through his skin during that maneuver. Stephan then yelped when his attempt to reacquire Garin’s neck was met with the black wolf’s jaws clamping down even tighter on his own.

  Whether it was because the brothers had always harbored some hatred for each other or because of the unwelcomed new attraction the prince had for Mattie, these two kept on fighting even after Stephan managed to knock Garin away at last. Snarls, fangs, and fur were everywhere as they kept attacking one another. Mattie finally growled at this stupidity. But when she tried to intervene, Stephan used a back leg to kick her out of the way.

  A whine left Mattie’s lips when her head hit a rock, pain causing her eyes to tear up. Garin’s growl got even more threatening after he heard her distress. Blood dripped from behind her ear as she rose with a new snarl.

  STOP FIGHTING! Mattie shouted in her mind, knowing that Garin would hear her

  What she forgot was that something else could hear her as well.

  A sound that was as sharp as, but deeper than, a thunder’s clap came from within that cave! Blinding light flashed out of the hole before a strong force threw all three of them a good thirty yards away! As if that wasn’t enough, they were all in human form by the time they landed on the hard earth. Crosshawk’s ancient magic had affected their transformations, causing Mattie to throw up right then and there at that impossibility.

  “What in the hell was that!?” exclaimed Garin as he partially sat up. He was holding his head with one hand while teetering unsteadily against the ground with the other.

  “The reason most people stay away from here—wild magic,” Mattie groaned as every muscle in her body rebelled when she rolled over and away from her sick. Because she had landed on her stomach, checking on the baby was the first thing she did. Relief flooded Mattie because Isabelle was fine. Actually, if the woman didn’t’ know any better, she would think her daughter had enjoyed that sudden flight.

  Stephan stayed flat on his belly, causing his moaned addition to the conversation to be muffled by the ground under his face. “It would have been more merciful to just kill me. Damn, that hurt!”

  Managing to turn her head in his direction, Mattie snarled, “That’s what you get for starting a fight with my husband. What in the hell is wrong with you!?”

  Noises of agony came from his mouth as he lifted his head. Auburn hair had been wildly freed from the ponytail, covering his face, but it was still obvious he was gritting his teeth. Finally he crossed his arms and tucked them under his chin. His voice was quiet when he admitted, “Honestly? I’m not certain.”

  “Brother, there are easier ways to tell me that you hate my guts,” said Garin as he forced himself to fully sit up. Gingerly, he put his hands on his knees and used them for support. “Less painful too.”

  An auburn mop of hair shook. “I don’t hate you, Garin. Not since the day you saved my life.”

  Garin’s eyes narrowed as his fingers inspected the magically stanched wound on his neck. “Could have fooled me.”

  New groans came from Mattie’s mouth when she too accomplished the feat of sitting up. After she could breathe normally again, she snarked, “Now I’m doubly confused by your stupidity!”

  A sigh and many moans of pain later, Stephan managed to roll over onto his back. That young face appeared much older with all the lines of worry etched upon it. “I think I’ve been slowly losing my mind over the years.”

  Garin tilted his head, a look of concern replacing the anger. “Other than the fact you live at the castle, what would make you think that?”

  With a wince, Stephan ran his hands down his face. “I don’t know if I can explain it.”

  “Try!” Mattie demanded.

  His body shuddered at her command. Taking a deep breath, he placed his hands on his chest and said, “I’ve had moments where I’ve lost time. For example, I find myself in a room with no memory of how I got there or why. People have come up to me asking about something I had said or done, and I stand there like an idiot because I have no idea what they are talking about. Luckily, Kaytlin has often been there to help fill in the blanks so I didn’t sound like a complete fool.”

  “Is that what happened just now with your attack on Garin?” Mattie asked, wondering what her earlier inspection of him might have missed. “Having no idea that you weren’t yourself?”

  The prince shook his head, the creases on his face deepening. “That was part of the scarier thing that’s been plaguing me recently. I could see and feel what was happening, but I had no control over it. It’s almost like my body has become a runaway horse that’s taking me along for a ride.”

  Garin’s eyes widened after that admission. Mattie didn’t need the bond to confirm his facial expression. She knew how disastrous this could be to not only Stephan but to the whole kingdom as well!

  “Brother,” Garin began with nothing but concern in his voice. “When did this all start?”

  The prince closed his eyes as if in pain. “Years, maybe? I’m not certain. I only know that the feeling like I’m watching myself from the outside started about a month ago.”

  A shiver hit Mattie. The timing of Stephan’s most recent problem was too coincidental, which was the same as when Falkner had captured the couple. Exchanging a look with Garin, she knew he had come to the same realization as well.

  Digging deep inside, Mattie tried to intentionally call the part of her power that could see patterns and traces of magic. Once it answered, Mattie cast her eyes on Stephan. He had the silver glimmer that every royal carried due to their shapeshifting abilities, and she detected no intruding strands of energy. But there was a golden glow deep within him as well, which surprised her. When she inspected it more closely, she gasped!

  “What wrong?” asked Stephan.

  “I know this will seem like a weird question,” Mattie said as she chewed her bottom lip. “But have you ever tried casting a spell or manipulating one of the Elements?”

  “That is an odd question,” mumbled Garin.

  “No,” answered Stephan, sounding like he wanted to know where the hell she was going with this. “At least, not that I’m aware of.”

  Damn it! Now Mattie was the one who was at a loss for words. How in the hell could she tell her friend that he carried an innate magical signature she had only seen once before? An unknown inheritance that carried more than
one unsettling question along with it.

  What’s on your mind, Little Wolf?

  Taking a second to rub her temples, Mattie hesitantly answered Garin’s question. The prince has an unusual power inside him, power he was obviously born with. I just don’t know if that might be what’s driving him mad.

  Now there was utter confusion from her husband. Why would you think it would do that?

  Mattie took a deep, shaky breath before answering, Because Helka is the only other one I’ve seen with this type of arcane energy.

  “I obviously missed something,” grumbled Stephan as he noticed the flashes of expressions on the couple’s faces, particularly Garin’s final look of horrified shock.

  “Stephan,” Mattie began hesitantly. Her tone must have increased his unease because he rolled over and sat up at last. “Sometimes I can see magic in a way similar to the one that allows us to see the silver strand of a shapeshifter.”

  “Okay,” he drawled before he narrowed his eyes. “Now tell me the bad part.”

  Suddenly Mattie needed to play with her fingers as she obeyed, “You possess a hell of a lot more power than any member of royalty should. I’m not a healer, so I don’t know whether or not if this is the source of your current problem.”

  Stephan leaned back, his brow furrowed in thought. Various emotions flashed behind those blue eyes, everything from fear to anger, before settling on resignation. “I think my mother and I will have a long discussion when I get back home.”

  Garin tried to stand but gave up halfway. “First we have to recover enough to get back to the estate.”

  Mattie’s legs soon confirmed that they weren’t ready for much more than shaking like they were mobile earthquakes. “Damn. Whatever is in that hill packs one hell of a punch.”