Chapter 14
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We emerge just outside Halsford, up the hill around the usual place where the Breach opens. I’m feeling groggy as Locke carries me into the village.
Along the main street, there’s a festival-like atmosphere that reminds me of Kitore.
The tavern is open and many are at the tables outside.
Others are milling around, hugging each other, and making merry.
I hear Tavish giving orders regarding tents for the newcomers in the warded area that Dane has created around the newly finished cottages as we pass the Trading Post.
My fingers curl into Locke’s tunic collar as I pull myself as close to him as I can. If the Dark Realmers from Fiana’s court can stay, does that mean I can? Or will we be travelling back to Kitore for Vie to send us to a place where we won’t be followed?
I’ll be happy so long as I’m there with all three of my males, but if I could choose, I think I’d like to stay here.
I understand that it isn’t a utopia, but neither is it a horrible place.
I like many of the people here, and I enjoy spending time in our cottage, at the baths.
I’d like to go to Gwen’s to call upon her when I want, perhaps become friends with her in time.
When the villagers notice us, they thump Locke, Jak, and even Morgan on their backs. They enquire after me, looking weak in Locke’s arms, as if they truly care what happens to me. It’s very different from how they were when I first arrived a few weeks ago.
Yes, I’d be sad to leave Halsford.
We make our way as quickly as we can to the healer’s rooms, dodging well-wishers and children who keep trying to hug Morgan’s legs instead of throwing stones at him.
When we’re finally inside, I’m placed on my feet and, though I’m a bit dizzy, I don’t feel too bad, all things considered.
Lia is placed gently on the cot in the corner by Dane, who kisses her lips and murmurs something that makes her smile, albeit wanly.
Jak immediately administers another potion, this one from a tiny, locked cupboard built into the wall.
I sit down heavily in a chair close by.
‘What’s that for?’ I ask.
‘It’s especially for pregnant females. Rare. Hard to make. It creates a sort of bubble, I suppose, around the babe to protect it while Lia heals.’
‘Where did you get that from?’ Morgan asks.
Jak looks over his shoulder and frowns when he sees that so many people are still in the room.
‘Bryn can stay, but the rest of you, out.’
Dane immediately shakes his head. ‘No, I’m not going anywhere, Jak.’
‘Dane,’ Lia murmurs. ‘Please. Jak has already said I’m healing well, and the babe will be all right. Don’t loom. Go and help Kal and Grey, make sure no one else is hurt. I’ll be here when you return.’
Dane’s expression is closed as he unblinkingly regards her, but he finally nods. ‘All right, just for an hour or so. Then I’ll be back, and I expect you to explain to me, as well as Kal and Grey, why you kept your condition secret from us.’
Lia wrinkles her nose. ‘That sounds very taxing. I don’t think it’s good for me to be taxed with the babe. You know now. Can’t that be the end of it?’
Dane’s sigh is long-suffering. ‘You will be the death of us, woman.’
She gives him a wink.
‘But what a death it would be,’ she murmurs, and Dane’s lip twitches.
He leans over and gives her a sound kiss before he turns and beckons Locke. ‘I’d speak with you before I go, and, Morgan, I need the tether to get back to the court.’
Morgan nods. ‘I’ll come with you. You’ll be all right here, Bryn?’
‘I’m feeling much better,’ I say and he leans down to hug me.
‘Get some rest,’ he murmurs, and I nod as he leaves the room.
Locke caresses my face and kisses my lips, putting his head against mine for a moment. ‘I thought we’d lost you,’ he breathes, and then he straightens and gives Jak a nod.
The look Jak gives him in return is one of deep respect and caring, something I haven’t seen him share with Locke before.
As Jak examines Lia, feeling her stomach and making sure the wounds are healing properly, I put together a tea for her using various herbs on the table beside me.
I test my leg and stand, finding that I feel almost normal now but for a small headache.
I seem to have almost fully recovered from Fiana’s conjure.
My father told me mage’s conjures couldn’t kill me, but it certainly felt like that’s what it was doing at the time.
It was lucky that Locke and Dane were there. I smile faintly.
I hadn’t truly believed that Locke would put my safety above his mission, but he did. He saved me instead of going after Fiana.
‘Locke isn’t like Varrik,’ I say softly to Jak.
His hands pause as he pours hot water into the cups. ‘No,’ he finally says. ‘He’s not.’
He puts a cup in front of Lia, telling her that she must rest, and stay on her back for at least an hour until the potions have finished doing their work. Then, he puts one on the table next to me.
‘This should help with the headache,’ he murmurs and I smile.
‘I didn’t even tell you I had a headache,’ I say.
He shrugs. ‘Sometimes I just know these things.’
He kisses my cheek.
‘I’m going to see if any of the human slaves from Fiana’s court need a healer,’ he announces. ‘I’ll be back before Dane returns, I expect. Stay here.’
He picks up one of his supply bags and leaves Lia and me alone.
The Harbinger grins at me from across the room and I stand, taking my chair closer to her with my tea.
Lia takes my hand and squeezes it. ‘You did well today.’
‘How are you feeling?' I ask, changing the subject because Fiana is gone, which means, despite what Lia says, I failed.
‘I’ve been better, but the truth is, so long as the babe is all right, I don’t much care. I’m more bothered by the fact that Fiana escaped us. Again.’
I cast my eyes to the ground.
She leans her head back and closes her eyes, not noticing the disappointment I’m feeling.
'All that preparation, the missions. I can't believe we lost her. Fuck.’
‘I’m sorry,’ I say quietly. ‘If it wasn’t for me, Locke would have?—’
‘Likely died,’ she finishes for me, giving me a hard look. ‘They all would have, Bryn. You saved countless lives today. You did nothing wrong. You should be proud of what you accomplished.’
I sigh. 'But I didn’t fulfil the deal I made with Calder. As you say, she got away. Will I have to leave the Light Realm, do you think?’
Lia’s jaw tightens. 'You did everything you could, and then some, Bryn. They can't find fault with that. And Calder’s power has been curtailed. He’s no longer on the Village Council. And if anyone questions whether you held up your end of that bargain, they’ll answer to me.’
The cot creaks as she shifts on it.
‘Today, many of the Under-born saw for the first time at least a bit of what the Harbinger is capable of. I think I’ll have a bit of bargaining power after this. I’ve already asked to take Calder’s place on the council here.’
She shrugs. ‘I can’t travel the Breach again now until the babe is born. Too risky. Which means they’ll have to send my son, Ath, to me here. It’s not usually permitted, but even the Underhill won’t keep a child from his mother.’
She looks relieved. ‘He’ll be here with me and Dane, which means Kal and Grey will be as well.’
'Your power is quite terrifying,' I say.
She gives a sad smile. ‘Death is terrifying. But it isn’t my power. It’s the Harbinger’s.’
My brows raise. 'As in…a separate creature?'
Lia nods. 'It was taken from the Black Lake by Varrik. He attempted to put it in many others before me. I'm the only one it took to. All the rest died.'
'Fiana was talking to me about experiments,' I say. 'She told me that she was stronger than Varrik, that she had gone further. But she was still trying to find somewhere. A Black Lake.'
Lia nods. ‘The Black Lake is somewhere in the Dark Realms, but no one knows where. It was lost in the tides of the void.’
'I've dreamed of it,' I say.
Lia’s eyes snap to me. 'You've dreamed of it? Of the actual lake?'
I nod.
'Tell me what you saw?'
'It was in a stark landscape. Gray rocks everywhere. And the surface itself was pristine, like black glass. I was warned not to touch it or to put my hands in it. There were yellow flowers.'
Lia smiles. 'I’ve dreamed of it as well. I suppose that means you have some tie to it.’
But then she grows somber.
‘Don’t tell anyone else,’ she advises. ‘The Underhill won’t like that someone could find it again.’
‘What would they do?’ I ask.
‘Have you killed, perhaps. At the very least imprison you in the Underhill so that you couldn’t tell anyone.’
I shiver. Silence pervades the space, and I suddenly hear the loud creak of someone stepping on a loose floorboard in the apothecary.
I glance at Lia, who’s staring at the door.
‘I think we should go to my home,' Lia says very quietly, her expression turning worried.
‘But it hasn’t been long enough,’ I argue. ‘You’re meant to stay on your back.’
Lia’s eyes dart around the room and she heaves a breath. ‘I…don’t like this. I think we should leave. Now.’
‘All right but?—’
‘Ah, both in the same place. That makes things easier.’
A fae steps into the healer’s rooms, closing the door behind him with a well-placed kick.
'Voss,' Lia snarls, her eyes narrowing.
She attempts to get up, but I shake my head at her.
‘What do you want, Enforcer Voss?’ I ask.
He looks at me like I’m vermin. ‘What I want is for human females to cease meddling in my affairs!’ he hisses.
I snort at him, eyeing the small knife on the table that I use to cut herbs.
‘Was it you?’ Lia asks. ‘Calder was adamant that he didn’t let Fiana’s agents through the Halsford wards. Avendel said he wasn’t lying. So, was it you, Voss?’
Voss’ grin is evil. ‘Calder is a fool. Useful to me, I’ll grant him that, but a fool nonetheless.’
‘You tried to kill me,’ I say. ‘You cast a conjure and hid my wounds so that no one would help me even if I was found.’
Voss laughs. ‘I knew they were already searching. It was a simple conjure. Should have pushed you into the river, but,’ he waves a hand, ‘I didn’t think of it at the time.’