That news suddenly made Garin even more nervous about what was going to be in store for him. He had no idea what would happen if they tried to cripple his power in the same fashion. For someone who had hated magic all his life, he surprisingly found the thought of being stripped of it again frightening as hell! Still, everything inside him screamed he had to go through with this, for Mattie’s sake if nothing else.
It’s livable, he reminded her, knowing why she was distraught.
Yes, she snarked. But it sucks!
He reached a hand out to her, and then winced when she gripped it tightly in desperation. No matter what happens, our bond will still work. Remember?
All she could do was nod at this point because she was busy swallowing a feral growl. Esus had just stopped his horse twenty feet from the porch, his scarred face lifted to get a good view of them. An evil grin appeared when his eyes fell on Mattie. His gaze lingered just until she stiffened under the scrutiny.
The black-haired devil was a little too relaxed when he leaned forward and addressed Lord Gregory. “Lord Duke and Protector, I have arrived to finalize the matters of truce with Crosshawk. Because of a grave misunderstanding, I nearly broke my Ausas’ agreement. Therefore, your nephew will now be returned to you with our abject apologies.”
Esus then nodded sharply to Bran, who was more than happy to slide off the horse. Garin was impressed when the man opted for walking away with his head held high instead of running. During this moment, Lord Gregory stepped off the porch. When Bran finally reached his side, the man placed a hand on the younger one’s arm. No words were exchanged between them, but the Duke nodded his head anyways. Garin and Mattie then quickly moved so her cousin had a clear path to the door.
Without missing a step, Bran lowered his head the second he was next to them and vehemently whispered “The most danger will be at Yule.” before he escaped into the safety of the inn.
A vague warning, but Garin was starting to get used to those. Yule was less than a month away. Unless they drove the horses into the ground, he doubted they could reach Arduenna by then. Still, he was going to make it a point to be extra cautious around his birthday.
And I’ll try to pry more information out of him, said Mattie just as Lord Gregory bowed a head respectfully at Esus.
“I thank you for bringing my nephew back to us, Silva.”
Esus seemed pleased at that response. “Now, let us discuss My Ausas’ terms for peace. They remain the same as before, her children returned to her keeping.”
Butterflies hit Garin’s stomach as he watched his father-in-law stand tall. While they were pretty sure how this was going to play out, there was always that small chance the universe would slap them for being presumptuous. Now to hope Lord Gregory was a good actor.
Garin needn’t have worried. His father-in-law’s boredom seemed real enough when he said, “I will admit her terms are generous, Silva, but I cannot in good conscious order any of her children to surrender to her. Because she added that condition, many would consider this to be nothing more than an overblown family dispute.”
“If you had not extended asylum to all, perhaps,” countered Esus, his voice and eyes cold as ice. “But you became their liege lord in that moment. Your word here is law.”
“This duchy has never been ruled with an iron fist. If Iantha had learned the lesson that fear isn’t always the correct way to rule, her people might not have searched for an alternative home.”
Esus’ face twisted with rage, and his voice came out like a hiss. “She has not asked for any of those other traitors. She only insists that at least one of her children must come with me and thereby face her judgment. My Ausas will settle for no less! Is that really too steep a price to prevent war?”
Garin’s throat felt dry and his stomach as heavy as lead when he shouted, “Then to prevent such a thing, I’ll go!”
The shocked expression on Esus’ face was nearly comical. “What was that?”
Garin leaned over and gave Mattie a quick yet fervent kiss. She grabbed his arm for but a second before reluctantly releasing him into the Winds of Fate. “I said, ‘I’ll go’!” yelled Garin as he leapt from the porch. He ignored the gasps of surprise sounding out from within the various nearby buildings after he firmly stated, “If Iantha promises that she won’t attack Crosshawk or punish our siblings in any way for choosing to live here, then I’ll willingly go with you to Arduenna!”
Lord Gregory played his part perfectly. “What are you doing? What about your responsibilities to your father and king?”
Garin didn’t have to pretend the wistful smile he gave to Mattie. “My responsibilities to her and to our people will always come first.”
His father-in-law stared at him with utter amazement. “You must be mad.”
“But sane or mad, Lord Duke and Protector, his presence in Arduenna would cement My Ausas’ bargain.” Esus declared with a contemplative expression on his face. Garin could tell the elf wasn’t sure whether or not he had just been tricked, but was willing to go along with the unfolding events.
Garin pointed a finger at the ground when he angrily shouted, “Do you swear to that!? Before all these people and by all that’s Holy, do you swear that I alone am enough to satisfy Iantha’s terms for peace!?”
The elf’s expression switched to bemused. “Lord Von Bos, I swear that if you willingly come with me to meet with Our Ausas, there will be no war between Arduenna and Crosshawk. Our siblings can also live here in peace if they so desire. Those two things I can promise you.”
Garin then turned around and unbuckled his belt, already beginning to feel naked without a weapon by his side. His hands were shaking so badly that he wanted to ask his father-in-law for help, but Esus would see that as a sign of weakness. Finally he removed the scabbard from the strip of leather and gave Lord Gregory his broadsword for safekeeping.
While he tightened the weaponless belt back up, Mattie ran down the steps and pulled him into a fierce embrace. The tears in her eyes were flowing heavily, and she wasn’t giving a damn about what Esus thought. Garin held her close and wished he didn’t have to let her go.
I love you, Little Wolf.
She looked up at him, a smile as always because he had said her nickname. Then she gave him a kiss that soon had his father-in-law coughing uncomfortably. Her hands remained on his cheeks when she pulled back.
I love you too, Former Ruffian.
Tears threatened to consume him after she said that, so he gave her one more kiss instead. Then the most beautiful creature in the world left his arms, stepping back into the comfort of her father’s waiting ones. At least she wouldn’t be truly alone here in Crosshawk. Her family would support her through this.
Steeling himself for this path he must face alone, he turned his back on the best thing that had ever come into his life. He lifted his hands before him as if in surrender and glared at Esus. The elf wasn’t the only soul in the vicinity with an expression of utter disbelief on his face when Garin firmly declared:
“Then on behalf of Crosshawk and all her people, Silva, I willingly accept Iantha’s terms and shall go with you to Arduenna!”
Epilogue
The black-haired elf took the time to make a careful inspection of the scene in front of him. There was Garin, bent over the edge of the river and being allowed to refill a waterskin with unshackled hands. A guard was on either side of him, weapons at the ready in case he tried to escape. Four more were fanned out in a semi-circle behind them, eyes darting around for possible trouble.
Six well-armed and armored guards, a perfect number. Just enough that flight would be difficult, but not too many to attract unwanted attention as they rode through Menapolin. Until the elves reached Arduenna, they would parade the man around as if he were only an important guest, the protection of whom would just be considered a courtesy.
Satisfied he had all the information he needed at the moment, the elf disappeared back into the woods. It had only been two days since t
he contingent had left Crosshawk behind them, but they were making decent time so far. Garin was too honorable for his own good. He had kept his word about going with them willingly and had not even thought of escape. A rather frustrating set of circumstances in the grand scheme of things.
So lost in thought was the elf, that he didn’t have a chance to react to the arm reaching around him from behind. Nor time to keep the knife from being pressed sharply against his neck. He somehow managed to hold completely still, despite the fact his heart was hammering within his chest.
The voice in his ear sounded like a hiss. “Why are you following my brother?”
Truth was all he had to give. “Because that self-sacrificing idiot is also my brother.”
A responding snort came before he was released from the hold. Turning around, the elf immediately recognized the man standing tall before him. His assailant had wisely kept the knife up between them, those brown eyes of his narrowing in wariness.
“Well met, Renard,” said the elf as he placed a hand over his heart and bowed his head. “I am Crius. And since it seems we are of the same mind about saving Garin from himself, we should talk.”
Determined Heir
A short story by J. L. Shelton
Events occur three years prior to those within Entangled Inheritance.
“Mattie, wait up!” called seventeen-year-old Bran Brewer while he had to jump over a rather large rock.
“You’re faster than this!” the young Mathilda Hawksthorne yelled back before she ducked under the branch of a large, meandering ash as it stretched across their path. She was grateful she had found some trousers that still fit her after all these years, because the skirt of a dress would have been in the way today. Hopping over a large mud puddle, she added in a challenging tone, “So try to keep up instead!”
She chuckled when her cousin let loose a few curses before he shouted, “What has lit a fire under your ass today!?”
Skidding to a stop by the stone marker for which she had been searching, Mattie yelled, “I’ll be seventeen this winter! My father still hasn’t been found or sent any word yet, so I need to learn every inch of this duchy before I am of age!”
“By having us antagonize the most reclusive of the Potenti!?” he demanded when he was finally in sight. Vaulting easily over the branch his large frame would have never fit under, its assistance helped him to land right next to her. He brushed some stray red strands out of his face when he added, “This is insane, cousin! Even for you!”
Mattie tossed the braid of her auburn hair back over her shoulder while she glanced at the strange engraving. It appeared to be two overlapping chevrons as one pointed to the right and the other to the left, leaving the shape of an open diamond in the middle. When she reached out and touched it, Bran shivered.
“I never liked that symbol,” he groused. “It has too many meanings both for good and for ill.”
Mattie snorted before she straightened back up and crossed her arms. “You just don’t like the thought of Senecio actually existing in more than just fireside tales.”
“There’s a reason the man made his home in the most deserted part of Crosshawk,” growled Bran, distrust in his eyes when he glanced at the trees of the untouched forest. “Not only is he one of the eldest and strongest of the Potenti, but he also hates visitors of any kind!”
“Except I am the heir!” growled Mattie. “My father would have brought me to this northwestern corner and introduced me to the man this year as tradition dictates. But with him still missing, I don’t see any other choice but to go knock on that door myself!”
“I can’t decide whether or not I should weep about my Da knowing you were going to get into trouble when he told you not to return to work until the day after tomorrow,” grumbled Bran as he glanced warily down the overgrown pathway. “It’s never a good sign when he explicitly tells me to keep an eye on you.”
“But I’m glad he did,” Mattie said with a grin. “Now, come on.”
Bran reached out to stop her from walking past the stone marker, but she ran ahead a few steps before he could grab her. He growled his frustration but soon followed. Twigs and leaves crunched under their feet as they went along, and more than one animal quickly fled from the intruders entering their domain.
When her cousin’s footfalls stopped making noise, Mattie quickly turned her head to glance at him. She paused as well when she saw the unusual expression of fear in his eyes. “Bran, what’s wrong?”
Strands of his hair flew about when he shook his head. “I’m not sure how to describe it, cousin, considering I have never felt this type of uneasiness before. The only thing I know is that we really shouldn’t be here.”
Confirmation for that statement appeared before Mattie could form a response. A strange rustling noise came from the ground, causing her to glance down. The surprise at seeing a large, braided vine wrapped about her ankles was diminished by the sudden yank that had her sprawling into the dirt! By the noise of a large object crashing to earth and Bran’s subsequent curses, the same had happened to him. Then Mattie shrieked when she was madly pulled through the leaves and natural debris, her fingernails clawing at the ground not helping one bit as she disappeared into the forest!
***
“This is one of the worst troubles you’ve ever gotten me into, cousin,” grumbled Bran. “Never in my life did I want to sympathize with a wild creature caught in such a trap.”
Mattie turned her head to look at him, having to agree with his assessment. His long red hair was dangling towards the ground as they were both hanging upside down by their ankles. The vines still held them fast, though the twisted, natural ropes were now draped over a knotted branch of a rather tall oak tree.
Even with the distressing fact that blood was rushing to her head while she was looking at the world from the wrong direction, she crossed her arms and sighed. “I take it you can’t convince the plants to let us go.”
“Nope,” he said frankly. “Whoever is controlling them is obviously a more powerful Nature Wright than I. You know, like a Potenti we shouldn’t have disturbed.”
Mattie rolled her eyes at the growl in that last statement. Then an approaching chuckle caused her breath to catch. A melodious tenor soon quipped, “Well, well—what do we have here?”
Bran grumbled something rude under his breath when a wiry man came into view. Coarse brown hair contained within a long braid that fell down his back appeared as if it hadn’t been washed in months, so the bits of grime on the man’s lightly tanned skin didn’t surprise Mattie. However, the fact his sleeveless vest of leather and the trousers that barely covered his knees looked pristine confused her. Her brow furrowed, wondering why the man would care more about the condition of his clothing than his own body.
His rounded face with bushy eyebrows and a scruffy beard in the first stages of growth looked up at them, green eyes merrily twinkling as he studied his captives intently. Then a chortle left his chapped lips before his bright smile revealed that his teeth were as white as snow. “Belladonna’s great-grandbrats?” he asked with a snort before turning his back towards them and walking a few steps away. “Considering the Brewers are my kin as well, this should be an interesting conversation.”
Then the man snapped his fingers, causing Mattie to scream with surprised indignation as the vine let her go! Even with the sudden drop, she twisted herself mid-descent and landed on her feet. Bran hadn’t been as lucky, but his rear end had always been able to take a hit.
Even as his two uninvited guests were growling, the one who obviously had to be Senecio said, “Better stick close to me, you two. My dwelling is well-hidden, and it’s easy to get lost in these woods. Many of these plants have a mind all their own, and they don’t take kindly to strangers.”
***
Senecio’s home had been built between two ancient oaks, and vines hung down from the trees like a protective shield. When he made a sweeping motion with his hand, the plants parted to reveal a small mou
nd-shaped structure squatting on the ground. It was a simple construction made of rough-hewn stone with a single wooden door.
He quickly ushered his unexpected guests into the strange house, the change in light at her back soon indicating that the natural veil had returned to its original position. Mattie blinked at the rounded one-room structure, finding it to be about half the size of her own home and larger than she had imagined. Bran made a noise of surprise and rushed over to a table filled with nothing but potted plants positioned directly in front of one of the seven windows found about the place. Mattie wandered to the centermost area and looked up at the small hole in the topmost portion of the ceiling. It was directly over what appeared to be a fire pit.
“How does the rain not get in and put the flames out?” she mused as her brow furrowed in thought.
“I do have a little skill in Air magic to help with that, young Hawksthorne,” said Senecio with a chuckle as he made his way over to the opposite side of the house.
A mountain of furs was lying upon a wooden pallet, making her wonder if that was actually his bed. After pulling three pelts out of the pile and slinging them over his shoulder, he walked towards what looked like a large stump growing out of the floor. When he carefully placed the furs around it, she noticed that the surface had been smoothed out in a manner similar to that of a kitchen table.
Once done, he sat down cross-legged on the largest fur and firmly said, “Come. Tell me why you both thought traipsing through my woods was a good idea today.”
Bran took a last wistful glance at the plants before grumbling, “I was following her.”
Mattie glared at her cousin for a second before quickly taking a seat on the fur to Senecio’s right. “And I’m here because I turned sixteen this past winter,” she said with a quick nod of respect towards the man. “I know my father was supposed to make the proper introductions, but—”
“Ah yes,” said Senecio with a worried expression on his face. “Our Lord Duke has gone missing on us at the worst possible time.”
Unraveled Homecoming Page 41
