Chapter 12 #2
What game was she playing now?
Nadya gripped her ax. “Speak of the she-beast.”
“She can’t find us here…can she?”
I raised my open palm to quiet them, my senses focusing on The Huntress approach.
She was limping–the cold had probably gotten to her, dressed in that flimsy gown that now barely clung to her curves and exposed enough of her legs that I had to force my gaze not to wander.
But she kept going.
Still two floors down, in the east wing, but she was coming.
Not with blades or arrows, but with a smile in her voice, sharp enough to cut.
“See, where I come from,” The Huntress went on, a bite to her words. “We don’t let our guests just wander around our homes.”
Yes, yes, the grand Aquila stronghold, the center of her world, now turned into the biggest threat to her life.
“We need to talk,” she said, letting her voice travel. How had the cold wind not stolen it yet? “Face to face, unless you want me to wake up your entire city.”
Geryll fidgeted next to me. “Maybe we should go get her?”
“Maybe she’ll wander into the dungeons and do our job for us,” Nadya said.
“Let her come.” I grinned. “I want to see what she does next.”
Zandyr had said The Huntress had a brilliant mind. I agreed–but it was more devious than any of us had given her credit for.
“Or, perhaps, you want everyone to know about our business, hmm?” The Huntress got louder, but her tone was still unnervingly melodic. Like she thought she was out on the hunt and playing with her prey.
She should have known by now the roles had been reserved.
She was in my territory.
“Let everyone know what their Commander is capable of,” she said. “I could go on and on about the coffin–”
Quick footsteps approached her.
Only then did I tense. What if I was wrong about her and she was truly a cold killer?
I was halfway to the door when another voice joined The Huntress’.
Gods above and below, no.
I groaned, loud enough to shake the weapon racks.
Nadya and Geryll gave me a weird look.
“Hello,” The Huntress said, suddenly sounding cold and caught off-guard.
“Stars above, dear, you’re shivering,” said the voice that I cherished above most, but did not want to hear right now. “Heavens, I hope you don’t mind me saying, but you look like you’ve been through a lot. How can I help?”
“I’m looking for the Commander.”
“Ah, you’re our new guest! You seem much nicer than Nadya feared. Come on, dear, come on, take my coat. Let’s get you bundled up and I’ll take you to him.”
Nadya and Geryll crowded around me, watching the door like one of those great big dragons near the Bone Bridge might burst in.
Honestly, the dragon would have probably been easier to reason with.
But underneath the annoyance, a surprising sense of thrill was trying to flicker inside of me.
I tamped it down and rolled my shoulders back, ready for the inevitable.
“What’s…what’s happening?” Geryll asked.
A sigh was my only reply as the door slung open and in walked Mrs. Thornbrew. Capping off at five foot two, what she lacked in height, she made up for in sheer gumption.
Mrs. Thornbrew had been old since I’d been a boy running through streets I shouldn’t have and not a hair on her silver head or a wrinkle on her stern face had changed.
I suspected she would outlive us all and chastise and overfeed us until our last day.
With no children of her own, she considered all of us her grandchildren–and acted like it.
She raised her button nose high in the air and fixed me with that unsettling gaze.
“Honestly, Ry.” She tsked. “Your mamma taught you better than to leave a poor, weaponless woman walking alone and barefoot in your home.”
Just to the side of Mrs. Thornbrew, The Huntress arched one of her brows at me, even as she struggled not to grin.
“Yes, so cold.” She tucked Mrs. Thornbrew’s fur collar under her chin, the white mink making her eyes, even reddened as they were, shine brighter with mischief.
She was loving this.
She wore victory better than Mrs. Thornbrew’s cloak and, damn it, I almost admired how well it fit her.
Mrs. Thornbrew placed her hands on her hips, staring me down as only she had the nerve to. “This is no way to treat a lady.”
“That lady decided to go exploring all by herself,” I rumbled. “And don’t let appearances fool you. She’s dangerous.”
“So are you,” Mrs. Thornbrew said. “So is everyone in this bloody fortress. Look at her–”
I really didn’t want to right now, because The Huntress was practically radiating triumph.
“–she’s defenseless, the darling thing.”
The Huntress struggled to keep a straight face, the corners of her mouth twitching. “A bow and some arrows would help tremendously.”
“Of course, dear. Any lady worth her salt needs to have a weapon on her at all times.” Mrs. Thornbrew gave me one last mean side-eye and took The Huntress’ hands in hers gently. “Now, Ry here is too proud to tell you, but he asked me to ready a special room for you.”
Godsdammit. The last thing we needed was The Huntress thinking we all buzzed around her. “Just a room.”
Which, yes, I had requested. I wasn’t about to throw her in the dungeon, no matter what she imagined.
“You’ll find a nice hot bath there when you’re ready. I’ll tell the cooks to bring up some smoked venison for you,” Mrs. Thornbrew went on. “You need your strength to survive around these parts, you look to come from warmer lands.”
The Huntress’ smile flickered with pain. I wondered if anyone else noticed.
“You two.” Mrs. Thornbrew nodded at Nadya and Geryll, who’d almost vanished behind me. “The stew’s done, hurry up before it gets cold.”
They shuffled from behind me and quickly made their way to the exit. Geryll whizzed past The Huntress, as if afraid she might bite him. Nadya strolled out the door, narrowing her eyes at her in a way that promised violent revenge should something happen.
“Be nice. She’s a guest.” Mrs. Thornbrew sniffed at me and then closed the door, leaving me alone with The Huntress once more.
Her smile instantly fell, replaced with a sharper coldness than the storm’s, like she was daring me to say something. Make my next move. Surprise her.
It should have pissed me off.
It only thrilled me more.