Chapter 28
RIVALS
ASTROPHEL
‘GUESS THAT LEAVES us the chairs, then.’ Blayze folds his arms as we survey the high-backed wingchairs that will serve as our beds for the duration of our stay in the Silver Palace.
Ours is the smallest of the three interconnecting rooms we’ve commandeered, but closest to the stairs.
Should anything follow us into the palace and make it past the cragstalkers guarding the main doorway, we’ll be the first line of defence.
These rooms must have been impressive once, but now they only have their solid walls and intact windows to recommend them.
Blayze drops his pack beside the less threadbare chair.
His eyes dart around the rotting chamber.
He’s remained twitchy ever since I rescued him from the Arx Magnum’s dungeons.
‘We’ll make it work, eh, Fifi.’ He runs a knuckle along the emberwing’s crest as she comes to roost on his chair. She looks so much smaller robbed of her fire-feathers.
I set my own pack down and look to the flayed ceiling. Me and the Clanschief sharing a room, and only a poky vestibule at that. Sister, give me strength.
Bags discarded, and a fire started in the grate, we quit our humble quarters and return to the central dressing chamber.
By wavering lantern-light, Maris is busy ranging furs on the dusty floor.
Delphine is already resting on hers, still horribly pale after invoking spritesong.
I saw a nearby spring mentioned on one of Leilani’s maps.
I’ll advise Delphine to seek it out in the morning.
Briar is nestled inside a large wardrobe Blayze turned on its side to serve as stable for her.
She’s licking the weeping sores on her lichen-flecked forelocks.
I wince and turn in search of Tansy. Briar needs her attention; the wounds she sustained in Galtair haven’t fully healed.
I inflicted some of the star-cursed things myself.
My gaze lights on the door leading to the last room – the bedchamber. It’s opening.
Tansy slips out and gently pulls the door shut behind her.
‘Is she asleep?’
Tansy nods. ‘Took an age to convince her. She wanted Delphine to take the bed. But I got a fire going, forced lavender tea down her, and Leilani’s resting now. It should help her through the night.’
‘And you didn’t say anything?’ I ask, frowning.
She shakes her head. ‘I still think she ought to be told. She’ll find out the moment she passes something reflective…’
I square my shoulders. ‘Not till we’re sure. Orthriel might be mistaken. We’d only cause unnecessary worry and she’s carrying enough as it is.’
Tansy sighs but doesn’t argue. Her gaze travels to the wardrobe.
‘I’ll hand out rations, then I must tend to Briar.
I’ll need to dress her wounds properly in the light, but I can make her more comfortable, at least.’ She starts to search her pack for a parcel of the starfruit.
‘Did you discuss sleeping arrangements?’
‘Girls in here, with you. Boys in the chamber nearest the stairs.’
‘To defend your honour, should the need arise,’ Blayze chimes in, making a shallow bow as he accepts his paltry portion with a grimace. ‘Fancy a hunting trip, Peacock? There’s only so much of this rind I can stomach.’
I nod as I chew. Starfruit may provide all necessary nutrients, but it doesn’t fill a man’s belly.
Especially as we’re eking out supplies to ensure we’ve enough to last a return journey.
Fresh meat might restore colour to Blayze’s cheeks.
Since Galtair, he’s almost as sickly-looking as Delphine.
Leilani could use something to keep her strength up too.
Once I’ve finished eating, I turn for bed.
‘Why do you insist on ruining all our fun, Astrophel?’ Maris has sidled next to Blayze. She’s tiptoeing her fingertips up his forearm. ‘You bunk in here. Give Blayze and I some privacy.’
I hold myself straighter. ‘Some of us don’t have the morals of alley cats.
Besides, the doors are large and the walls are thin.
But please, avail yourselves of other chambers.
Preferably on a different floor of the palace.
Most were missing windows, some lacked ceilings too.
Or better yet, find a quiet street corner.
It’s snowing again, but what’s a little blizzard in the face of burning passion? ’
Blayze laughs awkwardly, his eyes darting to Leilani’s door.
He places a fleeting kiss on the top of Maris’ head, then claps me round the shoulder.
‘Come on, we best turn in. It’s been a long…
’ He pauses, smile fading, his expression suddenly grave.
‘On second thought, there’s something I need to do. ’ He drops to his knee.
I start back.
‘Don’t worry, Peacock. I’m not proposing.
For the record, you’re not my type. Prefer a little more muscle on my man-meat.
’ He winks, but all levity soon dissolves.
‘I should have done this sooner, but there was never a good moment while we were running from the guards.’ He reaches for the stolen mace lashed to his hip.
He runs the tip of the starburst flange across his thumb.
Blood wells. Garnet red and viscous as the molten metal he’s described surging from the Burning Mountain.
He takes his bloodied thumb and seizes my wrist, marking my pulse point with the wavering shape of a flame.
‘For saving my life in Galtair, and the life of my Guardian, I owe you a debt. If there’s ever a service I can render you, name it.
I’ll see it done. I mark the oath here in blood, until such time as I can scribe your family sigil in ink, here.
’ He taps his upper arm, the one that boasts that strange collection of tattoos. ‘I swear this by the Sacred Flame.’
He’s staring up at me, but his eyes are neither taunting, nor blazing with anger, as I’ve grown accustomed to. They’re earnest as a child’s. It’s disarming and I have to look away.
I clear my throat. ‘Wholly unnecessary, Arcuri. Let’s never speak of it again.’ I bid the others goodnight and turn again for our chamber.
‘Now, don’t be getting any ideas, Peacock,’ Blayze says, shrugging off his furs and curling into his chair. ‘I know I’m a prime specimen and just swore an oath to render you any service you so desire, but try to resist me, eh? I wasn’t joking when I said you’re not my type.’
I groan. If he keeps this up, it’s going to be a long night.
‘Best set off at first light,’ Blayze says, closing his eyes. ‘You know what they say about early birds… though I doubt even worms are in plentiful supply on these wretched peaks.’
The moment I rest my head against the mildewed chair, exhaustion floods my body.
Carving our way through that snowdrift was no joke; my arms feel like they’ve been half-wrenched from their sockets.
But though I’m bone-tired, sleep evades me.
It seems to evade the Clanschief too. He lies tossing in his chair for what seems like hours before snores confirm he’s finally slumbering.
It’s not just the musty room or fusty chair keeping me awake. It’s Leilani, and Orthriel’s parting words to me.
Perhaps a hunting expedition is exactly what I need tomorrow.
Anything to keep my mind off the promise I made the cielsylph.
*
BLAYZE JERKS THE arrow free from the hare, hands it back to me, then hauls the carcass up by its ears, adding it to the one we caught more than three hours ago.
‘Barely worth coming out for,’ he grumbles, scanning the mountain for the umpteenth time. Jumpier than ever out here on the peaks.
I replace the arrow in its quiver and draw my furs closer to keep the chill off my neck. ‘At least we’ll go back with something. Tansy can rustle up a stew, stretch them out.’
‘It’s the cragstalkers’ fault.’ He jerks his head to where the pack are busy stripping sinew from bone. ‘Left us with next to nothing while they bagged a frostfang.’
Serafine joins them at their bloody feast, the remains already picked almost clean.
‘I don’t begrudge them. They saved us in that avalanche. It’s not their fault quarry’s so thin on the ground.’
Blayze grunts. Despite the cold, sweat glints on his brow. He really must carry some kind of forge within him.
‘We can keep going if you want. Try for another hare.’ But my eyes are already searching through the sparse trees, seeking the palace domes. I thought a hunt might distract me, but I can’t put Leilani from my mind. I must get back before she wakes. I promised Orthriel I’d keep close watch over her.
Blayze follows my gaze and slings the hares over his shoulder with a sigh. ‘Come on, Loverboy, let’s get you back to her.’
As we turn to trudge through the snow, a mournful howl pierces the air.
Then another. My spine prickles. Frostfangs.
Many this time. The lone beast the cragstalkers caught must have become separated from its pack.
We both stop. Blayze places a finger to his lips, motions his head towards the trees.
Soundlessly, I follow him into the thicket.
Shielded by the branches, I lift my gaze up the mountain, blinking back memories of the hoarclaw attack in Lulana.
Frostfangs are smaller, less armoured, but they’re faster.
And while hoarclaws are solitary creatures, frostfang packs can be large.
Blayze is searching through the trees too, already palming his mace.
I take a deep, steadying breath, inhaling the crisp resin of the pines, for once glad to have the Clanschief beside me.