Chapter IV. Pale Shadows
IV
PALE SHADOWS
“WE SET OFF with the strangled dawn, northeast along the òrd; the strangest quartet those frozen wilds had seen in a while, I’d wager.
Despite the company beside me, the day seemed even darker than usual, and the sunlight barely worthy of the name.
I rode on Argent, Ashdrinker strapped to my saddle, my eyes drifting toward her silvered smile.
I was afeared for my friend now; stricken that her hurts were my fault, hoping she’d still be up to the task of slaying Fabién.
“Wondering now if she’d survive it.
“Lachlan rode at my right, a brave chestnut sosya from the stables of San Michon named Victory beneath him. His collar was laced up over his face, green, kohl-edged eyes constantly searching the wastes around us, one hand always poised at his pistols.
“Aaron kept his distance to avoid unsettling the horses, but as we traveled the deadwoods of Ossway, I could sense a tension among beasts and brethren both. Lachie was on edge, aegis ablaze in Aaron’s unholy presence.
Even Baptiste seemed under a cloud. He rode at my left, broken arm slung at his chest, a dun tarreun named Rosebud beneath him.
His dark eyes were edged with sorrow, drifting always to his husband, but rarely answered.
“As we rode, he and Lachie told the tale of their final battle with Nikita. All three had played a role in the Blackheart’s death—Aaron casting away Nikita’s sword, Lachie holding him in place.
I smiled as Baptiste recounted the deathblow with his silversteel mallet, goosebumps prickling tattooed skin.
“‘So love does conquer all, eh?’
“Baptiste nodded. ‘So the storybooks say.’
“I cleared my throat, not wanting to pry. ‘You and Aaron … are you boys well?’
“Baptiste looked toward his love, walking among dead trees in the distance.
“‘We’re fine, Gabe. A lot to take in, is all. We’ve not had much time alone since he … changed. We’re still figuring it all out.’ My brother smiled then, old fire in his eyes. ‘But we stand together. And with you. God knows we’ve survived worse than this.’
“We rode hard through dim days beneath the blackened sun, trying to get as far as we could before the weather turned warmer. The country about us was a frozen wasteland, worse than it had ever been, and trekking through the ruins of Ossway in wintersdeep would have been rough enough. But in Elidaen’s brief summer, all would run to muck and mud, and once-frozen rivers would become impassable floodways.
We’d a long way to go before León, and trouble was already brewing among us.
“Aaron was hungry.
“I could see it clear; his cheeks slowly hollowing, shadows gathering under bright blue eyes. He pawed his belly constantly, and his temper was wicked short. From the thirst growing in me, I’d a small understanding of the pain he must be feeling.
And I knew if he got nothing else to drink, my brother would soon be trying to drink us.
“‘We need to start hunting,’ I declared, sitting around our fire that night.
“Baptiste winced as he inspected his dressing. ‘Sick of potatoes aready?’
“I took a long pull of vodka from my hipflask, scowling at the spuds bubbling over the flames. ‘Always. But I don’t mean food. León is still weeks from here, and Lachie and I don’t have enough sacrament to last the distance.
These lands are rife with wretched. We need to start catching and bleeding them to make more sanctus. ’
“Lachie blew red smoke into the air. ‘Foulblood. Nae exactly the finest of flavors.’
“‘We’ve done it before. During the Sūdhaemi campaigns, remember?’
“‘Too well. Remember that farmer near Qadir? With the pegleg an’ nae teeth?’
“‘I can still taste him. Was like smoking a pig’s arsehole.’
“‘Hell of a siege, though.’ Lachie grinned, eyes shining with memory. ‘Three days of blood, whole battlefield bathed silver. How many marriage proposals did ye get after?’
“‘As I recall, the alderman’s wife was more smitten with your narrow arse than mine. But that was yesterday. Whatever we find along the road to León today, we smoke.’ I looked at Aaron, lurking on the edge of the light. ‘Or drink, as the case may be.’
“Blue, shadow-smudged eyes met mine. ‘Oui.’
“Lachlan reached into his boot, drawing a silversteel dagger. Twirling it once through glowing fingers, he tossed it point first into the snow at Baptiste’s feet.
“‘Beautiful blade,’ the big smith said. ‘Forgemaster Argyle’s work.’
“Lachlan nodded. ‘Ye’ve a keen eye for steel.’
“‘Oui.’ Baptiste patted his silversteel warhammer. “But I brought my own.’
“‘Can’t open yerself up with a mallet, though. Ye don’t need to cut too deep, like. But if any Dead are close, the scent of a little claret will draw them in like flies to shite. Gabe and I will heal, so nae sense in us clipping a vein. But I can—’
“‘You are not,’ came a low hiss, ‘bleeding my man like some hog in a butchery.’
“Lachlan arched his eyebrow at Aaron. ‘Just a scratch, like. I’m nae lookin’ to hack his fuckin’ wedding tackle off.’
“‘I fear we’d need a bigger blade for that,’ Baptiste murmured.
“Lachlan crowed with laughter, and I raised my hipflask in toast. The blackthumb chuckled, winking at his husband, but Aaron wasn’t smiling.
“‘Why are you laughing?’
“The smile died on Baptiste’s lips, in his sparkling eyes. ‘Aaron, we’re just—’
“‘You think this a jest? Giggling with this idiot like some snot-nosed schoolboy?’
“I shrugged, taking another pull of vodka. ‘I thought it was funny.’
“‘Of course you did. You’re drunk, Gabriel.’
“Lachlan poked the fire, scowling. ‘If I were ye, vampire, I’d spend less time frettin’ on Gabe’s drinking habits, and more on my own.’
“‘Ease off, Lachie,’ I murmured.
“‘Oh, fuck him. We’ve all got our share of troubles on this road. But there’s only one of us bleating like a sheep on the rag about them. This effete wanker could tumble into a barrelful of tits and come out with naught but a complaint in his gob.’
“Aaron’s hands curled into marble fists. ‘I should crush you like a—’
“‘Try it, softboy. I’ll rip yer baby blues out through yer fuckin’ jacksie.’
“‘Nobody’s ripping anything from anywhere,’ I growled. ‘Ease off, Aaron.’
“‘You’re taking his side?’
“‘You’re both on the same side. Mine. Now untwist your fucking pantaloons before I knock some sense into the both of you.’
“‘Hell with this,’ Aaron spat, turning and stalking away.
“‘Aye, off ye fuck,’ Lachie called at his back. ‘See if ye can find a sense of humor out there while ye sulk. Or at least some way to pry the stick from out yer poncy arse!’
“Silence fell around the fireside, punctured only by the movement of the horses, the crackling of the flames, the soft tread of Aaron’s retreating footsteps. Baptiste was staring at Lachie, drumming his one good hand upon his leathers.
“‘I’ll wager you’re a delight at funerals.’
“‘Look, I’m sorry,’ Lachie sighed, exasperated. ‘But he rubs me raw. I know he’s got a heaping of shite on his plate, but we’ve all of us been through hell just now.’
“‘He was Lord of Aveléne. Before it was destroyed. A prodigy of the Silver Order, before he was cast from San Michon. Heir to a vast barony, before that was stolen from him too. I’ve lived with Aaron de Coste for half my life, and I tell you true, the one thing my love hates above all is feeling powerless.’ The blackthumb looked to Lachlan across the flames.
‘How do you think he felt when Nikita made him kneel?’
“‘He’s thirsting,’ I said, meeting Baptiste’s eyes. ‘He needs to feed.’
“‘And how do you suppose that makes him feel, Gabriel?’
“‘I don’t need to suppose. I know. But this bitchliness with Lachie is wearing thin.’
“Baptiste shrugged. ‘He’s jealous.’
“I scoffed then, eyebrow raised. ‘Of this little donkeyfucker?’
“‘Oi!’ Lachlan flicked snow in my direction. ‘Don’t talk about yer ma like that.’
“Baptiste stared into the dark where his love had disappeared. ‘Aaron has ever stayed faithful to me in his heart. Even in Nikita’s arms, he loved me true, I know it. But part of him loves you too, Gabe. Perhaps in ways even Aaron isn’t ready to admit.
And listening to the two of you speak about your days of glory?
Storming walls and fending off proposals and being knighted by empresses while Aaron was forced to live in exile and shame? ’
“Baptiste met my eyes and sighed.
“‘That was supposed to be his destiny, Gabriel. His story. Is it any wonder he envies the man who actually got to live it with you?’
“Lachie glanced my way at that, stirring the stew with lips pressed thin. Baptiste stood with a wince, adjusting his sling. ‘I’d best go talk to him.’
“‘Don’t stray far,’ Lachlan warned. ‘The dark has teeth.’
“‘Well do I know it.’
“With a small nod, Baptiste trudged into the deadwood.
Sighing, I served up two bowlfuls, handing one to Lachie.
We sat in silence, each wrestling private thoughts, me washing down the spuds with more vodka.
My liquor was fast running out, and without alcohol to numb it, my thirst would only get worse.
“‘We should kick his bloodless arse out of this boat afore he sinks us, Gabe.’
“Looking up, I found Lachie’s eyes upon me, firelight dancing on emerald.
“‘I know ye were friends when ye were bairns. I know ye love him like—’
“‘A brother. And so he is. One I walked through hell with. Aaron and I won the Battle of the Twins together, Lachlan. And when the Beast of Vellene was at our throats, it was Aaron who opened his gates to us. Without him, Dior would be de—’