Chapter Two #2
None of them were safe against such people. It was why, though he hated Cador for his betrayal, he was grateful for the vile lesson in it too. He’d learned well.
But really, weren’t Cador and his sister na?ve too? They seemed to trust that they wouldn’t be punished for their treachery. It was Jem’s word they believed, yet he couldn’t allow any guilt for his deception. He wouldn’t . He forced himself to lie and do the opposite of his instincts.
It was the only way to survive.
Hedrok whimpered and thrashed suddenly. Jem thought of Austol, wondering how his young sister Eseld fared.
The disease was claiming her too, and Jem could only imagine how Austol suffered caring for her helplessly.
He could even understand why Austol had been willing to do anything to save her, even if it cost Jem his head.
But he couldn’t forgive it.
He’d believed Austol a true friend, and in Jem’s life he’d had precious few other than Santo, his favorite sibling.
Growing up, he’d been content on his own, nursing injured birds in his aviary and getting lost in his books.
He thought of his favorite heroine, Morvoren, with a fond pang.
She had been a loyal friend who never betrayed or disappointed him.
Because she isn’t real, you pathetic boy.
Austol was all too real. All too flawed.
Not that Jem thought himself perfect by any means, but had any of it been genuine?
Austol had given him advice and taught him to ride, and Jem had never suspected for a moment his friend would be capable of turning him over to Bryok and the people who would see him beheaded for their cause.
How could Jem trust any of them? He ate with Jory and played dice. He kept quiet and was polite to all aboard, even Creeda, knowing he was completely outnumbered.
Once he was home, the odds would be in his favor. Then they’d see what real justice looked like.
His gaze found Cador, as it always did. Thick legs braced, Cador’s jaw was clenched tight as he led the team lowering Lusow to the barge. Jem could see his palms would be scoured by the rope and wanted to tell him to use more care—surely there was some material around to act as buffer.
He forced himself to look away, peering into the southern darkness again.
Gods, he just wanted to get home . He was determined to help Ergh’s innocent children.
The last thing he wanted was a war. He was a Neuvellan prince married to the future chieftain of Ergh, whether he liked it or not.
He would do his duty. What was right. He would seek justice, and if that meant locking up his husband, so be it.
And so let Cador burn his hands on the rope as well! And let Jem not care if he did! Yet his heart ached like an arrow dug relentlessly into it. He rubbed at his breastbone with his fist.
What he wouldn’t give to be back in his aviary by the lake near the castle. His lake, with a honeysuckle breeze rustling the leaves and a sweet cake sticky in his pocket. Were there hatchlings who needed his help? It seemed so long ago that was his biggest worry in life.
His mind drifted to the forest around Cador’s cottage with its evergreens and carpet of pine needles. The tiny buds of white flowers would have blossomed by now. Did Derwa flit from branch to branch with the other askells?
She was probably eaten by a hawk.
Sudden tears pricked his eyes, but at least he could blame it on the smoke.
Soon, the hunters rowed Jory and Lusow ashore before heading back. Hedrok had become hysterical when Creeda had tried to fit him with a smaller harness, so Cador hoisted him in his arms, assuring Creeda he wouldn’t let go.
The boy whimpered, his lips thin as he bravely tried to stop crying. One powerful arm on the rope ladder, Cador began his descent, Hedrok clinging to his neck. Water slapped the hull, Cador’s grunts of exertion the only other sound in the eerie stillness.
Jem rushed to the railing at Hedrok’s panicked shriek. He peered down into the darkness as everyone seemed to shout at once. Cador and Hedrok were lit from a handheld lantern on the waiting barge, the woman wielding it motioning with her arms and casting a ghoulish orange light.
Cador’s left hand gripped the rope, his boots still solid on the swaying ladder. Legs dangling, Hedrok screamed, hanging around Cador’s neck as Cador grabbed at him with his free hand. One of the hunters climbed the ladder from the bottom, the ropes swaying.
The wet sounds Cador made were gasps for air. Hedrok choked him, his full weight hanging around Cador’s throat. His high-pitched screams of terror made the hair on the back of Jem’s neck stand. It seemed everyone shouted instructions and suggestions in a cacophony of noise.
Cador’s eyes bulged, and he hefted Hedrok with his free hand, grabbing at his backside. The other hunter lunged up and took hold of the boy, and a moment later Cador was gone with a massive splash in the dark water.
Was he conscious? Could he even swim? What if the impact—
The questions were still whipping through Jem’s mind as he launched over the rail, bending into a dive.
The water was shockingly cold given the heat, but it didn’t matter.
He reached out in wide strokes, fingers searching for hard muscle that would sink like a stone.
He kicked, his foot hitting the barge painfully.
He surfaced in the gap between the ship and barge where Cador had vanished. Sucking in a breath, he was about to dive again when he realized he was looking at Cador treading water a few feet away. Brow creased, Cador blinked at him.
“You can swim?” Jem demanded. Hedrok still wailed but was safe aboard the barge.
“Of course. We have summer swimming holes. Still freezing, but warm enough for us.”
Mortified, Jem’s skin prickled, too many eyes on him. He mumbled, “I wanted to help in case Hedrok fell in the water.”
“He’s safe now,” Delen called. “Thank you, Prince Jowan. You are unhurt?”
“Yes, yes.” Face hot, he swam a few strokes to the barge before realizing there was no ladder. If he kicked hard, he might be able to raise himself up enough to grasp the edge, but would he be able to pull himself up? The humiliation of failing would be unbearable.
Before he could decide whether or not to try, strong hands took his waist and hoisted him, one of the hunters reaching for Jem’s wrist. With Cador’s palm fully on his arse now, Jem was pushed and pulled easily onto the barge.
Naturally, Cador was able to heave himself up with no assistance, even with his boots waterlogged.
Jem’s feet were still bare, his summer silks and breeches clinging to him.
Creeda climbed down the ladder, pushing past him to Hedrok, who only whimpered now.
She brushed back his hair and murmured comfort.
With a deep pang, Jem missed his mother. Were she and the rest of his family well and safe? What of this smoke? He told himself again to stop fretting. A wildfire in summer. Nothing to worry about. Soon, he’d be home, and they could fix…everything. His mother would know what to do.
The barge was rowed to shore, and Cador lifted Hedrok carefully, easing him to the rocky beach and keeping the boy cradled on his lap while Creeda soothed him. Feeling useless, Jem approached Jory and a still-skittish Lusow.
“You’re all right after your unexpected dip?” Jory asked.
Jem ran a hand over his wet curls, careful not to touch his sensitive scalp. “I’m fine. Hedrok is safe, so that’s what matters.”
“Mmm. Cador is safe as well.”
He shrugged carelessly. His wet clothes stuck to his skin, but it was warm enough that he didn’t mind. Nearing Lusow, he reached out tentatively, gratified when Lusow turned his snout into Jem’s hand. Jem pet his white-speckled head.
He’d spent too many years fearing horses after being kicked by one. Now he knew they were good, loyal beasts, even if they could be intimidatingly enormous.
Jory smoothed his palm over Lusow’s flanks rhythmically. “Now that we’re back on the mainland, you must be eager to see your family.”
“Very much so.” Everything would be easier at home. Everything would be all right and he wouldn’t be alone. He mostly believed Jory was a good man who meant what he said, but he was Erghian first and foremost.
Cador marched over and asked Jory, “Shouldn’t you wait for dawn to ride?”
Wait? There could be no waiting! “You have to go now!” Jem’s family might be in danger. From Kenver, from fire, from gods knew what.
“And risk Lusow breaking an ankle in a rut in this darkness?” Cador asked.
He swallowed his frustration. “Of course not. I wouldn’t want Lusow to be hurt.”
Jory gave him a smile. “It’s all right. Sunset isn’t too far off. We can keep a slower pace at first and ease Lusow back into it. At dawn, we run.” He regarded Jem seriously. “I’ll find out as much as I can about the fire and send back word with the provisions and horses.”
He nodded. The orange glow to the west didn’t seem any closer at least. “Thank you. Tell—” There’s so much Jem wanted to say and so much he didn’t. “Tell my mother I miss her and will see her and the others soon.”
Jory nodded solemnly. He and Cador clasped arms, Jory muttering something softly that Jem couldn’t make out.
Then he was gone, walking ahead of Lusow until they left the rocky beach and he mounted.
Jem had considered many times begging Jory to bring him along, but his extra weight would burden Lusow and slow them.
Jem turned to find Cador’s gaze on him, heavy-lidded and—despite everything—thrilling.
Jem stiffened and went to ask Creeda if she or Hedrok required assistance.
It wouldn’t be long until he no longer had to make nice with the woman who’d plotted his death, but her son was innocent in all of that and shouldn’t have to suffer if Jem could help at all.