Chapter 6
CHAPTER SIX
Two chestnut mares are saddled and waiting when I get to the stables. Peylin went ahead as I gathered supplies and packed them into my wax-treated leather satchel. I remove the worn bag from around my shoulders and place it in the saddlebag with a heavy sigh of realization.
I’m leaving my city to travel with a man I hate to save my life. The shot of liquor I took before getting to the stables isn’t enough; I should have taken two, or three.
“Last chance. If you want me to come along, just say so.” Peylin hands over the reins. “I can quickly prepare another horse.”
“No, but thank you.” I give her a hug, squeezing tightly. “Thank you for putting up with me all these years.”
“It’s been my pleasure. You’re the strongest warrior I know, especially after everything. You don’t give yourself enough credit.” She pulls away and grips my shoulders. “Come back to Varithen. She’s yours, not mine.”
“As long as they don’t take it from me.” I scoff.
“There’s no chance of that. All the guard stations are manned.
We’ve always had the city watch on double duty, multiplying our presence in the streets as the crown thinks our city doesn’t meet their pristine safety standards.
Please, they know from our reports that we tolerate no crime.
And you did good, spreading rumors all those years ago about how anyone seeking to cause harm in this city ends up cursed. ”
I cut her off. “Yeah, real ironic, now that I’m the cursed one.”
“Well, the Fates do like to intervene. It’s their only source of entertainment, if this is even their doing.”
“Great. They would choose my life to intervene with.” I roll my eyes and step away from her, and double-check all the straps. More to give myself something to do than to scrutinize her work. I trust Peylin with my life.
“Well, you did make a bargain…” Peylin trails off. I turn around, knowing there is only one reason she wouldn’t finish her sentence.
Mikael leans against the doorframe, clad in black riding leathers that double as armor.
They leave nothing to the imagination, tight over his crossed arms, showing off every line of his muscles.
“Did I just hear you made a bargain with someone? Bryn, you surprise me. I never thought I’d hear those words. ”
His gaze roams over my body just as mine had his, drinking in my similar outfit. Purposefully showing off the curve of my ass and the swell of my breasts. Looks like we are playing to win, then.
I give him a stony glare. “It is information you will never be privy to.” Then mutter under my breath, “And I never thought you’d do something that ended up cursing your ex.”
He narrows his eyes but doesn’t respond, only strides toward me like he’s a Fates-blessed warrior and stops right in front of me.
The amulet drops from between his fingers and he holds it up.
“You should wear this, since you now believe me. We don’t want it to go missing. Plus, it’s a beautiful piece and—”
“Don’t.’’ I glare up at him. He offers it to me again, but I just stand there and let the silence pass between us.
Peylin comes over and takes the amulet from him.
“It would be a wise choice.” She moves behind me and sweeps my hair to the side.
The moment the amulet touches my skin I want to recoil, to rip it off and throw it at him but I contain myself.
Once Peylin secures the clasp, the weight of it settles against my chest like a stone ready to crush me.
Mikael grabs a set of reins, and in one smooth motion he mounts one of the horses.
I give Peylin another hug. “Thank you. I will return. This city gave me purpose, and I won’t fail it.”
She squeezes my arm and steps away with a nod. I mount my horse and lightly tap its ribs, spurring it into motion.
“Return her to me alive, Mikael,” Peylin calls out.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Mikael says over his shoulder.
I navigate through the city streets, taking the back roads to avoid any unnecessary attention. For the most part, Varithen is well maintained; even the alleyways are clean.
Every colorful window dressing and flowerpot hanging from a wooden sill is a sight I commit to memory, along with all the stones laid by the dwarves who came around when the city was young and growing.
We bartered for their skill in laying roads and constructing the buildings in exchange for, of course, gold.
But I also gave them the extra benefit of healing herbs, and magic-infused seeds to grow within their stone halls.
As reclusive as they are, we still occasionally see a familiar face or two when a trade needs to be made.
It doesn’t take long to make it out of the eastern part of the city and into the woods beyond. I breathe in the crisp, clean air that even Varithen cannot cultivate. I let out a deep sigh and tap my mare into a trot.
Mikael keeps pace without speaking. He’s been quiet since we started riding. It’s not an awkward silence, but one of respect. Mikael knows, even with our bond broken, what I need. He’s always known when to give me the space to breathe, to let it all sink in.
And there is a lot to process.
The abruptness of his arrival, the proclamation that I’m cursed to die, and my father showing up sooner than expected, hinting at Mikael’s presence in Eidrfall.
The moon is at its zenith when I finally speak. In the night’s quiet embrace, my voice feels too loud, carrying through the darkness. “There’s a cabin at the edge of the woods where we’ll stay for the rest of the night.”
“Do we get to share a bed again?” He raises an eyebrow.
“You get to be the gentleman and take the floor.” I smile sweetly.
He adjusts himself in the saddle before asking, “Do you think you can still beat me?”
“Of course.” My last word leaves in a rush as I spur my horse first into a canter and then into a gallop.
His mount is slightly taller than the one I ride, but I’m lighter than he is. I’ve also ridden both of these horses often, and know their strengths and weaknesses. The forest is dense, but we’re on the well-worn trade path between Varithen and Runaria.
I’m easily outpacing him when I look back, but he has a huge grin on his face.
What is he up to?
I close my eyes, trusting my mare, and focus on the sounds around me. The pounding of hooves below me and the birds singing to one another in the branches above us. A rush of water in the distance, and another set of hooves that pound ever closer to me.
When I’m able to make out his breaths, I snap my eyes open to see his horse’s head inches from the rear of mine. This used to be one of our favorite things to do—run our horses in a friendly race.
But this race charges the air with energy. Rippling, fierce bolts flow between us.
I ease open the well of my magic, tentative, because I haven’t wanted to use my magic for a very long time.
It feels foreign, and wrong, like I shouldn’t waste it in such a way.
Not when I caused so much magic to be withdrawn from the land, ruining it.
I shut it off just as quickly at the thought, and instead whisper to my horse, urging her on.
She speeds up, but Mikael surpasses me anyway.
“No!” I call out. With a pouting frown, I add, “I always win.”
“I’ve had nothing but time to practice,” he yells over his shoulder before he slows his horse.
I pull on the reins and reach him within a few seconds. “How did you do it? I’ve always won.”
“Only because you’ve always used magic. You decided to play fair this time?” Mikael questions.
He can think that. He doesn’t need to know anything new about me, especially that I’ve stopped using magic. I wonder if the curse also weakened my ability to use it. I’m not sure if I care to know. I don’t deserve its blessing after what I did.
I’ve been just fine with only a blade and skill. Not using magic could be a risk for whatever we face, but one I’m willing to take.
Before I can answer, a pair of guards crest the hill, the ones that patrol the merchant roads throughout the night. Mikael nods at them, and they look between each other, a glance of suspicion passing between them.
“Jorgan, Amberly, how is your night patrol so far?” I ask, bringing their attention to me.
“Ah, Bryn, the roads are empty, nothing to report,” Amberly responds.
“Excellent. I’m traveling to Runaria for business. If you need anything, go to Peylin.” I nod at the guards in dismissal and continue past them.
A good thing about Mikael is that he can pass for a human. There are no other distinguishable features of his vampirism other than the slightly pale hue of his skin—currently masked by his black leathers and the moon’s glow.
“A woman in command. I like it,” Mikael comments when they’re out of earshot.
“If I command you to leave, will you?” I tilt my head, giving him an exasperated look.
“I’m not leaving you until this curse is broken. Then you may command me as you see fit,” he replies with a devious smirk, lighting up his eyes in delight.
“How can you have such thoughts when I want nothing to do with you?”
“Hope.” Mikael shrugs.
“More like your inflated ego.”
He laughs. “Since when have I had an inflated ego?”
My eyes widen incredulously. “You’re joking, right?”
“It’s not inflated if it’s true.” Mikael nudges his horse and starts along the path again.
“Right.” There is no point in arguing with him.
We take a narrow trail that veers off to the left.
It’s less visible than the others we passed.
Only my family can pass through the wards set to protect it and the land granted to us by the king.
I have fond memories of the times I came here with my mother and father, but I haven’t laid eyes on this part of the forest since she took her last breath.
An unsettling feeling blossoms, like rocks sinking, in my stomach. I never brought Mikael here; our relationship was still too new back then.
“Bryn.” Mikael’s voice echoes through the woods.
I blink and tear myself from the past. It’s only then I realize Mikael stopped a few paces back, unable to move forward.