The Hunter #2
If I were truly free… what would I do with that freedom? As much as I wanted to disappear in my cottage in the mountains, I somehow knew I couldn’t run away. Not when I had seen just how cruel Calista could be. Not when I knew that humans and unseelie were suffering so much.
“I’m sorry,” I said again, more solemnly this time. “You’re right. I’ve been a complete ass. I will… try to be better. I promise.”
Dangerous words to utter around Eira. But this time, I meant them. I wasn’t making a bargain out of necessity or coercion.
I wanted to be different from Calista. Different from my father.
Eira nodded, her expression still tight. “Thank you. And… If we make it through this alive, I promise not to have you executed.” She made a face, then added, “Well, at least not immediately.”
I snorted. “Wow. What a generous gift.”
“I know. I’ll make such a magnanimous queen.”
“Can you two please leave?” Mauro growled. He was reclined in the snow with his paws covering his snout. “I’m not sure I can endure another second of this.”
Before Mauro could make another comment about flirting, I nodded and jerked my head toward the woods. “Let’s go. We’ll assemble our glamour on the way.” I cocked an eyebrow. “Unless you still don’t trust me.”
She eyed me up and down with pursed lips. “We’ll see.”
With that, she strode past me with a jaunty lilt to her step, Frisk trotting beside her. My eyes were drawn to the sway of her hips, and something hot burned in my chest. Had her curves always looked that appealing? And had she always walked like that?
Realizing I was staring, I averted my gaze and hurried after her and Frisk.
Frisk kept watch ahead of our steps and warned us when we got close, but it was unnecessary.
Even from a distance, we could make out the hurried footsteps and cacophony of voices that echoed through the trees.
I knew the village of Tolston well; I had often traveled through it on my journeys.
Ordinarily, it was a humble, quiet hamlet.
But as Eira and I approached the edge of the wood, the village was almost unrecognizable.
The buildings and cobblestone roads were the same, but the area was filled with soldiers in full armor, swords and metal clinking as they walked, barking orders at the townsfolk.
Villagers bustled about, hurrying out of the way of the militia men.
Soldiers burst into homes without warning, tossing belongings about as if searching for something.
I exchanged an alarmed look with Eira. She banished me because I stole something from her. Was that what the soldiers were looking for?
More importantly, why did they think the stolen object was here? Had word spread that Eira was making her way to the palace? If so, wouldn’t the soldiers have tried to intercept us on the mountain?
Something wasn’t right.
“Glamour,” I muttered to Eira.
She nodded and withdrew behind me, most likely to hide her secretive magic. But it was just as well; I would prefer her to remain behind me anyway.
I searched within myself for my magic, which had grown sleepy and dormant from disuse during our days of traveling through mountains and forests.
A low hum emitted from within my chest, and I focused on it, drawing it out.
My skin prickled as I donned my most comfortable glamour—that of a tall, stocky farmer with sandy hair and tan, calloused skin.
This was the glamour I often wore when traversing through Tolston.
In fact, some of the villagers would likely recognize me.
That could work in our favor, if I was a trusted townsperson.
I glanced behind me, but the princess was nowhere to be found. Eyes wide, I scanned the trees behind me. She and the fox had completely disappeared.
What the hell?
“I’m here, hunter.” Something sharp flicked my nose, and I winced.
“Damn you,” I grumbled, and her chuckle echoed in my ears. I wanted to stay and scrutinize her glamour—blood and ice, how did she do that?—but we needed to move quickly. “How far away is your contact?”
“Stella lives on the other side of the village,” Eira whispered.
Well, shit. “Is she expecting us?”
“Yes. But we have a contingency plan in place for situations like this, when things get dicey.”
“What’s the contingency plan?”
“She gets out. We rendezvous at the castle at the full moon with everyone else.”
I swore under my breath. “You are impossible, Eira,” I growled. “That might have been nice to know earlier.”
“We can still use her home as a hideout even if she’s not there,” Eira said. “That doesn’t change our plans.”
I rolled my eyes. “All right, stay close to me. As effective as your glamour is, I doubt it would stop someone from running right into you.”
“That’s happened before,” she said.
“Why am I not surprised?” I muttered before moving forward, my steps shifting from snow-covered brush to ice-slick cobblestone. A carriage wheeled past me, occupied by at least half a dozen soldiers.
It looked like Calista was preparing for a siege. Was there an outside threat I didn’t know about?
“This is weird,” Eira whispered in my ear, no doubt noticing the same thing.
“Agreed. Keep a sharp eye. And try not to talk.” I hissed the words out of the corner of my mouth, hoping no one noticed I was speaking to myself.
We idled down the road, my insides quivering with nerves.
Every instinct told me I should run and flee from the presence of so many soldiers.
But nothing was more suspicious than someone running away.
Instead, I forced my steps to be slow and casual, meeting the gaze of each person I passed by and dipping my head politely in greeting.
Harlan, my villager persona, was a kind fellow, the type of person who helped a stranger in need and smiled at children.
He was the exact opposite of myself. Which made him the perfect disguise.
“Should we get a horse?” Eira whispered.
“No,” I said under my breath. “It will take us longer, but horses and carriages are more likely to be stopped and searched. And stop talking.”
She huffed angrily but said nothing else. Mercifully.
Our leisurely pace down the road was excruciating. Every soldier who hurried past flicked their eyes over me briefly before moving on to the task at hand.
I was no threat. Just a farmer making his way to the tavern after a long day of work in the field.
“Do you even know where you’re going?” Eira asked.
“Yes,” I ground out. “Follow my lead and be quiet.”
“So demanding.”
“You there!” bellowed a voice.
Shit. I stilled and turned to the speaker. A trio of swordsmen approached, the metal of their armor clinking with their hurried steps. The one in front lifted his visor, eyes narrowed as he looked me up and down. “What’s your business here?”
I raised my eyebrows and pressed a hand to my chest before glancing behind me as if expecting the soldier to be addressing someone else. “Don’t mind me, good sir. Nothing but a local farmer.” Being unable to lie meant I had to speak in fragmented sentences. But it worked for my persona.
“Where?” barked the soldier.
I pointed down the road in the direction we’d come from. “Down that way. I’m tired and could use a drink.”
“The tavern’s closed,” the soldier said. “You should make your way home immediately. There’s a curfew in place, and anyone outside after dusk will be arrested.”
Curfew? What the hell? I didn’t have to force the look of alarm on my face as I asked, “What’s going on? Is the village in danger?”
“Queen’s orders,” he said curtly. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind…” He gestured in the opposite direction, waiting for me to walk that way.
Damn it all.
“I—I have someone expecting me,” I said.
“I don’t care,” the soldier snapped. “We’re telling everyone to go back to their homes, even your friend.”
“But—please. It’s extremely important.”
The soldier dropped his arm, his dark eyes blazing as he drew closer to me. I had to squash the instinct to straighten my shoulders and look him in the eye. Instead, I pretended to cower under his scrutiny.
“I said leave. If you don’t follow orders, I’ll be forced to arrest you. Is that what you want?”
Several soldiers across the street were watching curiously. A few were making their way toward us. Not good.
I lifted my palms in surrender. “All right. Apologies, good sir. I know you’re just doing your duty to the crown. I’ll—I’ll do as you say.”
I turned on my heel, then froze as a voice boomed, “Theron! Is that you?”