Frost Bound (Entangled with Trickery #1)

Neve

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Neve

They traveled north through the village, deeper into the city.

It was a slow-going procession as the crowd seemed to thicken when they neared the Seed, the homes alongside the road rising to two or three stories high.

The immense branches of the Seed cast shadows over the cheering crowd. Dahlia alternated between waving to the people and staring upward at the tree in awe.

“I’ve never seen something so grand,” she murmured to herself. “It must have lived a very long life.”

“The tree has always been part of our history.”

She glanced at him quickly before her attention turned back to the Seed. “It no longer flowers?”

“No. It has long gone to sleep.”

Her face fell. “How sad.”

Neve shrugged. “The tree provided shelter, food, and trade for many years. Even in death it provides.”

His niliave cocked her head. “How so?”

“Look.” He leaned forward and pointed to the trunk.

She shifted in his lap and followed the direction of his claw. Her gasp of surprise made him smile.

“It’s a city in a tree!”

“Yes. The center for trade and worship.”

“Will we go inside?” Her voice held a touch of tempered excitement.

“Not today, jaivelle .” Neve stiffened as the endearment flowed from his tongue. He barely managed to keep the frown off his face. Her shoulders slumped the smallest bit, but the smile never left her face. “Next time,” he offered gruffly.

They approached the town square, where the area bottlenecked right before it opened up. His Haunt had formed a loose circle around them, constantly searching the crowd. Olwen was grinning and waving, playing the part while Eyri occasionally waved shyly. Then there was Flyka. Not a smile anywhere near her face, her head on a swivel.

“What did your healer say?” he asked.

“She had to pack, but she will catch up to us tonight.”

“Does that please you?”

“It does.”

A shrill whistle passed his ear, and screams erupted around them.

“Ambush!” Olwen shouted.

“Protect the reillov !” Flyka roared.

The crowd burst into motion, everyone trying to get out of the way as another volley of arrows rained down on them. The Haunts closed in on them.

Neve hunched over Dahlia and dug his heels into Cessa. The rukhal bolted forward, people diving out of the way. The princess tried to look around his shoulder, but he shoved her back under him. “Don’t be stupid. Keep your head down.”

“Where are they coming from?” she shouted over the din as they fought to get off the main road.

“Don’t know.”

“Give me a weapon.”

“Everything I own is too bulky for you,” he roared, waving an arm for the citizens to move when an arrow grazed his left forearm. He hissed and pulled his arm back, scanning the rooftops for archers.

“Where’s my slingshot?”

For some reason, he’d kept the infernal thing. It looked old and well loved. He couldn’t trash it.

“Strapped to my bow—what are you doing?” he snarled as she pushed at his chest.

“Move,” she growled.

The valles deftly maneuvered herself until she faced him, her legs thrown over his thighs. He wrapped his arm around her back and held on as her fingers reached around his cloak for her slingshot.

“Stones?” she muttered in his ear.

He huffed. “Why would I carry stones?”

“Fair enough.” She slid one hand down his chest, grabbed the top button of his tunic, and yanked it off. She leaned back against Cessa’s neck and notched the button in the sling. “Don’t let me fall,” was the last thing she said before leaning to his right, completely exposed.

An arrow whizzed by her head, lodging in the ground as Cessa sped by, Olwen and Eyri by their sides.

“Got him,” the princess murmured. She pulled back the slingshot and fired. “Godsteeth, I missed. Olwen, do you see him? Behind us, blue window, second story.”

“I see him,” Olwen growled, turning his rukhal around.

An assailant rushed them from an alleyway to the left. Neve yanked Dahlia upright. “Wrap your arms around me.” She obeyed as he pulled a dagger from the sheath at his chest and struck, hitting the giant in the jugular.

One down.

“To the left,” Eyri shouted, his spectacles fogged up. “They’re trying to force us into the bottleneck.”

Neve urged Cessa left, past the dead assailant. The ring of the rukhals ’ hooves against the stone cobbles echoed around them. Cessa snorted and panted hard as they continued to run. He wasn’t made for sprinting but rather for endurance.

They swung around the corner and Dahlia was torn from his arms, his claws ripping right through her cloak. He yelled, and vaulted from the beast’s back, a blade already in his hand. He spun and snarled at the giant dragging the valles by her thick braid. She held her scalp, tears in her eyes as her feet tried to find purchase against the slick stones of the alley.

“Drop her now,” he bellowed, stalking toward the stranger dressed in black.

The vagabond wore the royal color. A taunt.

“I’ll slit her from ear to ear if you get any closer,” the giant threatened, his tattooed head on display.

Vergllos . This was one of his men.

“Release the valles and I’ll let you go free.” A lie . Neve would kill him.

The traitor cackled. “I know you better than that, reillov . Watch as she bleeds crimson.”

Neve lunged as the assailant yanked Dahlia up to her feet and brought the knife to her throat. The little human sank her teeth into the fleshy part between his thumb and wrist. The giant yowled and loosened his grip, dropping his blade, but still she didn’t let go.

He shoved her, her body flying through the air before tumbling over the hard ground. “I’ll kill you, bentai .”

Neve drove his blade into the attacker’s upper heart. “Me first,” he barked. “Who sent you?”

The giant laughed, the sound deranged. “Your reckoning.” His laugh cut off as an arrow lodged in his throat.

Neve tossed him to the ground and spun to find Flyka on the nearest roof, her crossbow in hand. “We needed information.”

Eyri helped Dahlia up from the ground, and Flyka slid down a drainpipe to land silently beside Neve.

“I saw his tattoos from above. He was Vergllos, and wouldn’t have given you anything.” A pause. “Plus, you had already stabbed him. He wouldn’t have survived.”

“He threatened my reilleve . He deserved it.”

Neve scanned his little human from head to toe as she turned to face him. Her clothes were filthy, and she had a bruise forming on her cheek, but other than that she looked fine. She spat on the ground and wiped at her mouth with her sleeve.

“Your shoulder?” he asked brusquely, crowding into her space. He crooked his finger underneath her chin and tipped her face to the side so he could see the bruise better. No blood, only the attacker’s. That was something.

“It’s fine.”

“It seems your flat teeth do have some use.”

She bared them at him and pulled back out of his reach, once again spitting on the ground. “He shouldn’t have grabbed my hair.” Her gaze narrowed on the tramped lysterm flower. “He ruined my gift,” she snapped. “I hate bullies.”

It seemed his little valles had some fight in her. She’s survive another day.

“Olwen?” he asked, striding back to Cessa.

“Cleaning up the mess. He’ll meet us at the edge of the city,” Flyka answered, her eyes sweeping the ally and roofs above. “Where your soldiers await you.”

Neve nodded, and held his hand out to Dahlia. “Let’s be gone.”

She didn’t complain as he lifted her onto Cessa’s back and then mounted behind her. Nor when he pulled her curvy, soft body against his own. She shook slightly, but he didn’t scent fear.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“After-fight jitters. Happens every time.”

He stared down at the top of her hair. Just how many times had she gotten into fights? Just what sort of mischief had the princess gotten up to in the past?

“Was that meant for me or you?” she whispered.

His lips thinned. “Both of us.”

“Should I be worried?”

“No.”

He’d worry for the both of them, and pray they’d finally make it to the Glace Palace alive.