Chapter 12
It had already been two weeks since the discovery of my secret mare, and it remained a secret still. Now shared between two, instead of one. Technically, it wasn’t just one secret. It was a big secret composed of many little ones.
I knew Cinnamon could weave her way into the heart of anyone who could see what a precious creature she truly was. Even one made of ice. Aegir asked about her well-being every day.
My replies were often tainted with uncertainty. The arnica and peppermint did help, but that didn’t mean she was immune to flare-ups. Which was why I never pushed her, lest I set her back.
I tiptoed around my bed and hoisted my bag, careful not to wake Nadya. My breath hitched when I opened my bedroom door, confusion taking over my face. Aegir stood in the doorway. I looked up.
What the?
Closing the door behind us, I whispered, “What are you doing down here? Do you need something?”
“My men and I are leaving for Dunehaven.” He also whispered.
“Do you need me to get you breakfast now?” I asked.
“No, I want you to come with us.”
“What? For how long?”
“A week, nine days max.”
“Nine days? No, I cannot leave for that long…because of you-know-who.”
“I cleared it last night with Mounir; he already knows you’ll be joining me.”
“It’s not because of him, it’s because of Cinnamon.” I only mouthed her name.
“She’s already taken care of.”
I grabbed him by his sandstone-hard arm and walked us farther down the servants’ corridor, away from the rooms.
“What did you do? You promised not to tell anyone about her.” I kept my voice low, but the tone was nothing short of hissed anger and concern.
“Relax, and I didn’t tell anyone. Just trust me, all right, she’ll be fine. Go grab your things. My men are soon ready from inventory, and we’ll be leaving shortly.”
I only stared at him.
What does he mean, she’s taken care of? And I couldn’t possibly leave her for that long.
“Cordelia, I swear to you, she’ll be fine.”
I surveyed him for a while longer before saying, “I thought you said swearing is not your preferred method of negotiation.”
“I did, didn’t I? A bargain, then.”
I raised a brow. “Should I bargain with you, though? We both know what happened the last time we bargained.”
“Just name your price.” Well, somebody was impatient.
“I will only come with you if you promise to restock Cinnamon’s bales of hay. All fifty of them.”
“Done. Now go pack your things.”
I blinked. “You’re serious?” I expected us to haggle.
“Yes. Now for Boreas’s sake, will you go get your stuff?”
“And you promise that she’ll be all right, even if it takes us up to nine days? And what if we are for some reason delayed?”
“Cordelia,” he said, grabbing hold of my arm, “I promise.”
I nodded. “It’s a deal, then.”
I didn’t waste much time packing, though I did pause to slip two silver coins from their hideaway. I placed one in each of my dress pockets so that they would remain silent.
As I was about to leave, Nadya stirred.
“Where are you going this early?” she rasped, blinking away her sleep.
“I was asked to accompany Lord Hailin to the market in Dunehaven. I will return in around a week’s time.”
“Oh, lucky you!” she said, before letting out a grunt and throwing off the bedsheet. “I will be accompanying the three princesses to the Fabrique today. They are in desperate need of new fabric for the Graind Races and plan to visit every stall. Yay me.”
I had almost forgotten that the Graind Races were only a couple of months away.
“Good luck, then. I’ll see you in a week. Take care of yourself, and keep an eye on Sabriela, will you?”
“I will. You take care as well, Delia. Be wary, all right?”
I nodded. “I will.”
“Let’s go,” Aegir said the second I opened the door. I had to up my pace to keep up with him, taking three steps of mine for two of his.
We made our way into the courtyard, the sun already beginning its slow ascent over the horizon, casting a fiery orange glow across the grainy landscape.
We approached Aegir’s men. Six of them. All very white, all donning weapons.
They moved around, focused on the final preparations.
Two of them were adjusting the saddles, and another pair carried waterskins, securing two along each side of every saddle, then storing the larger ones in the carriage.
The remaining men were doing their final checks.
“Here, keep this fresh,” one of them said, to another male I was certain was his brother. He handed him a bag of what I suspected was food. The trails of white mist that swirled around the sack told me he was an Ice Wielder.
Aegir walked up to one of his males, and I managed to get a good look at the twin axes strapped across his back.
The male he spoke to, Joel, was also armed.
He donned a sword and shield at his back.
His white hair was tightly secured in a bun that proudly showed his sharp ears.
I observed the other five, all well-built, all daunting, all…
young. None of them appeared older than thirty, but I had no doubt they were much older than that. Fae were immortal, after all.
“All ready?” Aegir asked.
“All ready,” they replied at once, mounting their horses in perfect synchrony, as if they’d done it a million times.
Aegir moved towards the unoccupied steed—a prestigious black desert horse—and gestured for me to move closer. “Come, I’ll help you mount.”
“Mount? On this one?” I asked.
“Yes, you’re riding with me.” Aegir must have seen my hesitation. “What’s the matter?” he teased. “Don’t tell me you’re afraid of horses?”
“The horse is not the problem here,” I assured.
One of the males snorted. Aegir closed the distance between us and leaned in. He lowered his voice before rasping bitten-off words. “I swear, Cordelia, when cruel words come out of your mouth, it makes me want to do things to it.” My face flushed and my eyes escaped his stare. I faced the carriage.
“I’ll ride in there,” I said, pointing.
“It will be too hot in there, not to mention that you might not be as comfortable on the wooden floor.”
“I’ll be just fine.” I made my way to the carriage and sat myself down.
I rested my back against the wooden panels and my elbow on one of the crates.
Aegir closed the carriage door behind me in palpable reluctance.
A few seconds later, we started moving. I opened the carriage curtain and was glad for the view before me—the dune-packed landscape that formed waves of a sandy horizon.
I watched the castle getting smaller and smaller. The sight of it from afar reminded me that I hadn’t once left the castle district in these past five years. My heart ached at the distance that grew between Cinnamon and me, but bargaining for her food was worth it. Or at least I hoped so.
Semuel’s voice whispered in my ear: We never refuse an opportunity that falls on our lap, Wildheart. And that gave me a bit of courage.
Aegir wasn’t lying about the carriage being hot; sweat was forming and drying on my body in repetitive cycles.
I opened my book but quickly learned that reading while moving was not a good combination for me. It made me dizzy and nauseous. So instead, I decided to move closer to the window.
The sun was setting on the horizon, the sky now orange with purple hues. Soon after, we stopped to set up camp.
I thought the men acted like children, especially when they played rock-fire-water to decide who would stand guard. I thought they could’ve drawn sticks, just like we did when I drew the short candle that led to me being here.
“Where are you going?” Theodor, the loser of rock-fire-water, asked.
“I need to…relieve myself,” I replied quietly.
He nodded. “Don’t go too far.”
But I did go far. Thank the gods there was a trail of tall cacti, and I went behind the farthest one—as far away from their ears and noses as possible.
After a long-needed sigh of relief, I made to turn on my heel, but halted.
I spotted movement to our east. When my eyes adjusted, shadows turned into figures.
A group of people moved our way. Armed. Shit! I have to warn the others.