Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
When I spotted an inn positioned at the crossroads ahead, I also glimpsed the white spires of Adele’s castle over the distant hills. A subtle tingle of warning crept along the back of my neck, whispering that danger waited in Adele. But I’d already known that.
“How long until we reach Adele?” I asked.
“Tomorrow,” Brandle said, toying with my braid.
“Will Sarah be okay by herself until you return?”
“Yes. She’s used to me making these trips,” Andrew said.
I glanced at Brandle. “How often do you do this?”
“We’ve never accompanied Andrew before,” he said.
I could feel his thoughts. What we were doing now wasn’t safe. They weren’t safe. But his resolve was unshakable, and his purpose wasn’t only to help me free Eloise. He was determined to reclaim the life that had been taken from him and his brothers.
“Can you share with me the risks? I have no wish to make a mistake that brings ruin to us all.”
“We mustn’t draw attention to ourselves,” he said.
“How do you plan to achieve that? Your face will draw attention, no matter where you go, Brandle. And seven handsome men fawning over one woman will assuredly draw curious stares.”
“Am I fawning?” he asked with a playful smile.
“Most assuredly.”
He chuckled and released my braid.
“We vow to use discretion in public settings,” he said. “And though you may see a handsome face, most others will see our worn, poor clothes and pay us little mind.”
I wished he were wrong, but he wasn’t. So many measured a person based on the wealth the person possessed.
Brandle eased away from me and leaned against the side of the wagon, as did Darian. Sitting alone, I turned in my seat to look at the inn.
“It’s best if you keep your eyes down, Princess,” Darian said.
“Why?”
“You will draw in suitors like flies to honey, and we will draw unwanted attention when we’re forced to send them off in droves.”
I rolled my eyes at him, demurely tucked my chin, and waited for the wagon to pull into the yard.
Andrew hopped down from the seat and spoke to the lad at the stable while Darian helped me down and quietly told me to stay near the wagon.
Peering up from under my lashes, I watched Andrew count out a few coppers, which he handed over to the boy; then he motioned for me.
“Move faster, girl,” he said, sounding gruff. “I want dinner before it grows cold.” He looked at Brandle and Darian. “Water and unhitch the ox right this time.”
“Yes, sir,” Brandle said, striding away.
I withheld my snort at their act and hurried to Andrew’s side with the rest.
We ate a simple stew the inn provided and then went to the barn for the night. I slept in the back of the wagon with Andrew while the others found less desirable locations in the loft or stood guard.
It felt as though I’d barely slept when the gentle rocking of the wagon woke me. The flicker of the nearby torches was the only light in the otherwise dark night.
“How long have we been traveling?” I asked as I sat up.
Eadric, who was walking beside the wagon, said, “About an hour, I think.”
“Why didn’t you wake me?”
“No need to,” Liam said from the other side. When I looked his way, he handed me a biscuit. “If it wouldn’t draw attention, half of us would be in the wagon with you.”
I took a bite of my biscuit and looked beyond Garron and Daemon to search the horizon for any hint of Adele.
“How much longer until we arrive?” I asked.
“The city lies beyond the next rise,” Brandle said.
I looked at him, Edmund, and Darian, who walked behind the wagon.
“Wouldn’t I draw less attention if I’m on the bench beside Andrew when we arrive?”
Brandle nodded, and Liam held out his hand to help me move into place. The bench was harder than the hay-filled bed.
Within moments, I was internally wincing and recalling the last wagon I’d ridden with Hugh and Eloise. The road to Drisdall had been smooth then, but our lives had already been turbulent.
Please be well, sister, I thought.
Cresting the hill, I saw Adele laid out before us. A stone wall surrounded the city. Oil lamps burned brightly in the pre-dawn darkness, illuminating the slumbering streets and making it easy to see the curls of smoke rising from the occasional home.
It seemed peaceful enough. Yet, that subtle tingle of warning buzzed along my skin as I took in the sight. It whispered that Adele wasn’t what it seemed. But was anything what it seemed? Rarely. Regardless, I knew we had no other choice but to enter.
The road on which we traveled met with a more established one at the bottom of the hill. Another wagon rumbled along it, heading for a city gate guarded by at least ten armored men.
“I didn’t know Adele had a defensive wall,” I said. “Is it leftover from a bygone time, or have there been attacks?”
“It’s new,” Andrew said, “and best not discussed in the open.”
“I understand.”
As our wagon slowly rumbled down the hill, assisted by Andrew’s braking, the other wagon reached the gates. I watched the guards search it thoroughly and speak with the driver. We were still too far away to hear what was being said. When the guard stepped back, the wagon pulled through the gates without an issue.
Garron reached out to pat the ox with his free hand and glanced back at me. He dipped his head and cast his eyes down meaningfully.
“Stubborn,” I muttered. “It won’t be me that calls attention but them.”
Andrew chuckled, proving he’d heard me.
As we approached, I lowered my head and gaze to appear less noteworthy. Then, I opened myself to feel what the guards were feeling. They were tired and ready for the next watch to relieve them. One of them resented the queen and her order to guard the gate.
From under my lashes, I looked for that guard. His nearly white beard bespoke his age.
The older guard stepped out from the rest and lifted his hand as we approached.
“Halt. State your business in Adele and the duration of your stay.”
Garron and Daemon stopped walking quicker than the ox. Andrew drew back on the reins and cursed at the poor creature until it listened.
“We’re here to find a new ram for my sheep and my daughter.”
A few of the guards laughed, but that laughter died as they noted how many men were with us. I could feel the older guard’s suspicion growing.
“Seven extra men to help? Are they brothers?”
“Brothers and cousins. Three are mine, and four are my sister’s sons. Need the help to watch the girl and the ram,” Andrew said. “Heard Adele isn’t safe for either.”
Their suspicion turned to humor again, except for the head guard.
“And the duration of your stay?”
“If the market is as well attended as I’ve heard, a day or two at most, I hope.”
Feeling the old guard’s attention shift to me, I picked that moment to lift my head just briefly enough to meet his gaze. Though I knew a beautiful appearance wasn’t the sum of my worth, it still held value, and I used it to my advantage when necessary. Softening my expression, I presented myself as a beautiful, shy young miss with a single glance.
The guard’s suspicions faded instantly.
“The market is well-attended, and you are right about needing the extra help. Watch over what’s yours carefully. The Guard won’t help find what you misplace.”
“I understand,” Andrew said.
The old guard stepped back and waved for us to enter the city.
As we passed through the gate, I saw another man seated at a desk in the alcove. He studied us as we passed and made notes on a piece of parchment.
I waited until we were a suitable distance away before asking, “What happens if we don’t find the ram and my future husband in the allotted time?”
“No need to feel pressured. You heard the guard. They won’t come looking for us if finding you a husband takes longer. That doesn’t mean you can tarry, though. Watch and listen carefully so you can make a wise choice. The rest of your life depends on this.”
“Father,” Garron said in soft warning.
Andrew grunted acknowledgment and continued along the road.
The sun kissed the horizon by the time we stopped before a stable on the outskirts of Adele. Though that tingle of warning persisted, my intuition said it was no more dangerous than any other place we’d passed despite the pervading smell of dung and mold.
Brandle strode toward the wagon and helped me down.
“I’m sorry these are the only accommodations we can offer,” he said softly.
“You have no reason to be. Life isn’t meant to be lived without hardships. Overcoming difficulties defines us. Life is the whetstone, and we’re the dull blades.”
“Some of us are duller than others,” Edmund said, walking around us. He swatted Daemon’s hands away from the harness and showed him how it was done.
Brandle tweaked my chin lightly to regain my attention.
“Don’t go anywhere alone. Always have one of us with you. Understood?”
I nodded and accepted his proffered arm.
He guided me to the run-down inn next to the moldering stable.
When we entered, a woman dressed in a worn gown and well-mended, clean apron looked up from the vegetables she was chopping. A hint of fresh bread and savory stew drifted from the scrubbed hearth, making the inn feel less unfit for habitation.
“Stabling or hungry?” she asked.
“Both,” Brandle said. “And we’ll need whatever rooms you have for two nights.”
Her brows lifted. “Two nights?”
He nodded. “Nine bowls of stew, please. With bread. And honey, if you have it.”
She scurried to gather the required bowls as Brandle led me to one of the public tables. Eadric, Darian, Daemon, and Liam carried our packs in.
“The stew smells delicious, Mistress,” Eadric said with a charming smile.
“Aren’t you sweet.” She slid the bowl with a larger portion in front of him.
I could feel Darian’s amusement.
The woman promised to have the rooms ready before we finished our stew and hurried up the stairs.
“Did she say how many rooms?” Andrew asked.
“No,” I said.
He grunted and started eating.
I didn’t think the number of rooms would matter. They wouldn’t let me sleep alone even if the inn had twelve rooms.
“The bedding is clean, and the rooms are being aired,” the woman said as she descended the stairs.
“How many rooms?” Andrew asked.
“Four.”
While Andrew settled the bill with the inn's mistress, I followed Garron and Darian to the rooms. Each barely had enough space for a bed and a washbasin. They put my bag in the one at the end of the hallway under the eaves.
“Girl!” Andrew called from below.
“Did he forget my name?” I whispered to Garron.
He shook his head. “It’s better not to use it.”
“Ah.”
I hurried down the stairs and looked at Andrew.
“I’m taking your cousins to the sheep market. Stay with your brothers.”
Since I wasn’t sure which of them was supposed to be my direct kin, I kept my gaze on Andrew as I nodded.
He motioned for Brandle, Daemon, Darian, and Liam to follow him and left me with Edmund, Eadric, and Garron.
“Mistress, do you have a deck of cards?” Eadric asked.
* * *
The others didn’t return until well past midday.
“Good news,” Andrew said, walking in. “We found a ram.”
I looked through the open door and saw Brandle leading the animal to the stable. Questions churned in my mind. They hadn’t truly gone to the market for a ram, had they? I’d thought it’d been a ploy.
Garron nudged my leg under the table, and I returned my gaze to my cards.
“The seller mentioned a new breed I’m interested in. He sent his son home for it. It will take him a few days to reach their farm.”
I could feel the mistress’s joy just as I could feel Andrew’s need to find a reason to end our stay at this inn.
“And a husband for me?” I asked.
“That might take more time.” He glanced at the brothers. “You’re all of an age to look for a wife as well. I doubt many of them will wish to remain in the country to sheep farm with our family. There may be more opportunities for you here. My sister always hated that she couldn’t return to Adele.”
“Opportunities?” Eadric asked. He sounded confused, but I knew he wasn’t.
“The farmer mentioned there are many homes for sale,” Andrew said. “Go. All of you. Explore Adele. Find a home that will attract a bride and a way to support one.”
“Yes, sir,” Eadric said, setting his cards aside and rising.
The seven of them left quickly. I glanced at Andrew, but rather than gain any clues regarding their purpose, I watched him signal to the innkeeper that he’d like a bowl of stew.
“After you’re finished, can we go to the market?” I asked.
Andrew paused with a spoon partway to his mouth. “It’s safer to wait until your brothers and cousins return.”
“You’ve sent them out to look for homes and wives. I doubt they’ll return before dark.”
He grunted his acknowledgment but didn’t agree to go to the market with me. I could feel his resistance to it and glanced at the innkeeper. She was busy kneading more bread.
Having nothing better to do, I joined her and offered my hands in exchange for news regarding Adele.
“I’ve lived outside of it my whole life and am nervous about living here,” I said. “I’ve heard rumors, and my kin won’t let me out of their sight. Is it truly not safe here?”
She slowly straightened and searched my gaze. Whatever she saw or didn’t see there assured her that my question was sincere. She glanced meaningfully toward Andrew and toward the door. I understood her intent. She didn’t wish to speak of anything in front of him.
“I’m wondering if Father’s ox is safe in the stable when it’s unattended.”
“It’s always safer to watch over what you need to protect, girl,” Andrew said, proving he was listening to us as he ate.
When he finished, he didn’t move to check the livestock but slouched in the chair, folded his hands over his waist, and closed his eyes. That he felt I needed more protection than the livestock worried me. Was it truly that dangerous here? Why had he let the rest leave alone then? While I knew they weren’t alone but had each other, it still concerned me that he’d allowed them—strangers to this dangerous town—to leave with no experienced guide.
“Go practice your letters and numbers,” Andrew said suddenly. “Garron packed your books. It might help you find what we came here for.”
The innkeeper patted my hand consolingly and waved me away. I wiped my hands and went upstairs with the key to my room. They’d moved all their packs there, so it wasn’t troublesome to look through them all.
I found books, and as I suspected, they weren’t the primers Andrew had hinted they were. Garron had packed the spell books I hadn’t yet read. Since the window above the bed provided adequate light, I made myself comfortable and opened the first book.
It was easy to lose track of time as I learned more about what a caster could do. The complexity of some of the spells astounded me, and I wondered how the first caster had discovered them. It had to have taken time and endless experimentation. One of the spells did more than explain the steps to cast; it explained why a caster needed to do them.
For the healing tea spell, the caster’s hair helped to imbue the tea with the caster’s energy and intent. I frowned and thought of how I’d touched my energy to the tea outside of the piece of hair the second time I’d brewed it. Did that mean that the hair wasn’t necessary?
It also said that the candle was used to set the pace of the healing. The smaller the candle, the slower the boil, and the slower the spell would take hold. It then cautioned that using a fire to boil the water was too quick for many injuries, and the rapid healing could cause bones to set incorrectly or the skin to grow over stitches.
Intrigued by my newfound understanding, I didn’t notice the weaker afternoon light until I stretched the ache from my spine. Seeing it was close to dinner time brought out my restlessness again.
If they’d returned, they would have called for me. What were they still doing?
After only a moment of hesitation, I cautiously opened myself to the energy around me. It was different than lifting the lid off my well or connecting to my energy. Opening myself to what was around me felt more like quieting my mind to listen to the sounds of the forest when I was alone.
I sensed Andrew and the innkeeper below, the sheep and the ox in the stable, the boy hiding in the hay, and the people in the nearby houses. Then, I stretched myself farther and farther until I saw all of Adele’s people.
It was easy enough to see the casters. They glowed brighter than those without the ability to sense energy. The unhindered folk were dimmer and the animals dimmer still.
After spending so much time with the seven brothers, I’d thought I would be able to tell them apart from everyone else, but I couldn’t. In order to do that, I knew I would need to do more than simply open my senses. I would need to touch my well. However, I wasn’t certain I could do so without being detected by other casters.
I looked from the book resting on the bed to the door.
Andrew would stop me if I told him what I meant to do. As would the others.
My gaze drifted to the window. Brandle and the others would never let me out of their sights again if I left without word. Yet, I refused to remain safely tucked away while they went about their business.
Uncertain how much time I had before they returned, I quickly stripped from my gown and dressed in Liam’s ill-fitted clothing. Even with my hair tucked in an old cap, I knew my face would draw attention. So I touched my fingers to the room’s charred candlewick and filled in my sideburns and dirtied under my nose.
Satisfied, I opened the window and looked out. The building’s derelict exterior benefited me. I easily found footholds in the missing chinking between logs and climbed down into the side yard between the inn and its vacant neighbor.
Sensing the energy of the people around me made it easier to avoid notice. The boy hidden in the hay never saw me as I silently crept around the back of the building and cut through the yard of the business behind it.
I made my way along Adele’s outskirts until I found two casters living near one another. My hope was that, if they sensed me, they would think it was the other caster.
As I strolled by, I nudged the lid on my well and touched the energy within while keeping my senses open. Neither caster hid themself. In increments, I removed the lid from my well, and it wasn’t until it was almost halfway off that the energy from both casters immediately disappeared. I promptly hid my energy and continued on my way.
People filled the main streets. With their heads down, they minded their own business as they moved about. I could feel their tension and fear, which increased each time an armored group of guards patrolled the street they walked.
Following the locals’ example and listening to the warning that continually tingled along my skin, I avoided the guards as well.
It took almost an hour to reach another set of casters living close together. Both homes had signs advertising their services and a large flat stone in front of their door to keep visitors from tracking in mud. I knocked on the door of the caster whose stone was more worn smooth.
A woman not much older than me opened the door. Her gaze swept over me from head to boots then back to my face.
“You look like trouble. What do you want?”
“A spell.”
“Obviously. What kind?”
“Might we speak inside, please?”
She glanced up and down the street then stepped back to let me in.