Chapter 13
Soren rolled off her cot in a daze. The dreamless sleep tonic had worked wonders, but it left her groggy and out of sorts when she first awoke.
She pulled on yesterday’s trousers, dawning fresh socks and undergarments before slipping the brown, long-sleeved shirt over her head. She slid the black vest under her bust and tightened the strings before strapping on her boots.
She noticed the tracker had joined them at some point in the night after he had reconnected with Adaryn. She silently thanked him for having self-control over what surely would have been a disastrous exchange of physical intimacy. She couldn’t imagine how awkward waking up this morning would have been if he hadn’t stopped himself from kissing her. Let alone if Adaryn had walked in on something actually happening.
She shook her head, annoyed with herself, and popped out the door in search of Baz and Enara, who had already vacated the premises. She found them in the kitchen, assisting a kindly older woman with wiry red hair that had begun to whiten at the roots. She was full-figured and was waving a hand in exasperation as she spoke to Baztien.
“No, no, no.” She pressed a palm to her forehead, leaving behind a trail of flour. “You have to sprinkle flour over the surface first or the dough will stick!”
“Oops,” Baz said as he held up the dough that had somehow weaved itself between all ten of his fingers. He tried shaking it loose, causing a chunk to fling sideways and affix itself to Enara’s cheek.
She laughed it off, wiping her face, and assisted him in trying to save the unfortunate-looking food item. It was then she looked up from the counter and greeted Soren.
“Hey, lady, how did you sleep?”
“Not bad. A little groggy. I’m gonna have to get more sleep drought soon. I only have a few days’ worth left.”
“Maybe we can run into town and get some,” Enara offered.
“Where’s Jai?” Baz asked, blissfully unaware of Soren’s interaction with the tracker from the night before.
She shrugged nonchalantly. “He had a late night. I figured we should let him rest.”
“Fair enough,” Baz replied.
Soren poured herself a large mug of coffee and observed as he continued to work on his dough under the watchful eye of the servant lady.
The lady turned to Soren, her large hips swaying back and forth as she approached. “And who might you be?” she asked as a way of introduction.
“Uh … I’m Soren,” she responded quickly. She needed to act like she belonged here, just another servant to offer a helping hand before the wedding. “Soren Nightsong, from Amerus. I heard they were hiring extra help for the princess’s wedding and I jumped at the opportunity.”
The woman let out a boisterous laugh. “My dear girl, save your folly for the nobility. Your friends already told me you arrived with Jaideep Ashwood.”
Soren nearly choked on her coffee about being caught so obviously in a lie. She cleared her throat and eyed her friends, who had momentarily paused their baking venture. “Maker, you two. I thought we were supposed to be inconspicuous!”
“It wasn’t our fault, Sor,” Baz clarified. “She saw right through our story, too.”
Soren looked at the woman nervously. “If you know, why haven’t we been arrested?”
The woman spoke clearly. “Because I trust Jai. I have known that boy since he was running around here in nappies, trying to steal my loxberry tarts.”
Soren relaxed her shoulders before the woman continued.
“But don’t think that gets you out of helping.” She pointed a finger at each of them. “No one sleeps and eats for free, you hear me?”
“Yes, ma’am,” they replied in unison.
“You may call me Mrs. Fern. Now, let’s get cooking.”
* * *
A few hours later,Jai woke and joined the rest of the hoodlums, as Mrs. Ferndale would call them, in the kitchen. By the looks of it, she had set them straight to work. The entire space was filled with bubbling pots, crackling oven flames, and the mouthwatering scent of?—
“Are those loxberry tarts?” he asked, reaching a greedy hand toward the cooling tray on the counter.
Mrs. Fern swatted it away with a swing of her ladle. “Hands off.”
The trio laughed as the tracker tried to dodge his childhood caretaker’s wrath.
“Some things never change.” Everett’s voice was filled with humor as strode over to them.
Jai used the momentary distraction to snatch a tart and shoved the entire thing in his mouth, chewing aggressively.
“Insufferable child,” Mrs. Ferndale admonished. “Get him out of here before he devours the whole tray,” she told Everett. “And take his friends with you.”
“Are you sure?” Enara asked, knowing their tasks were far from finished.
“Not to fret, dear. If I need you, I will find you. There isn’t a hidden hallway or room in this castle that I am not wholly aware of,” she said, her eyes shining.
The girls trailed after Everett and Jai, with Baz taking up the rear.
Jai looked at him, gobsmacked as he noticed he held a tart in each hand. “How did you?—”
“She said I was her favorite,” Baz replied with a shit-eating grin then shoved both tarts in his mouth at the same time.
Jai’s glare could have lit a pond on fire. “Bastard.”
* * *
Enara wasoverjoyed when they walked into the stable to find that Everett had saddled up five horses so they could travel the grounds. They were all thankful for the opportunity to speak openly and express their ideas and concerns away from curious ears.
“We exercise them daily, so no need to worry about looking suspicious,” he said, tightening a strap on the underbelly of a speckled pinto. “This hear is Baymont.”
“He’s beautiful,” Enara gushed, petting long strokes down the horse’s thick neck. “Is he yours?”
“No, they all belong to the king, but my strongest bond is with the gray thoroughbred in the corner there. Amadeus is the fastest of the king’s herd.”
“Good thing we aren’t racing then,” she replied. Her attention shifted as another horse reared up on its hind legs in excitement as Jai approached it.
“Whoa, whoa, boy,” he soothed, his arms raised. “I missed you, too,” he muttered softly, kissing its snout as it sniffed at him happily.
“And that’s Casper. He has been Jai’s mount of choice since childhood, and his partner, Soliel, in the next stall is Adaryn’s.”
“Their horses are mated?”
“Yup, the symbolism of it all is eerie, isn’t it?”
“I think it’s sweet,” Enara replied, chuckling as Baymont nuzzled into her hand.
“I think you’re sweet,” Baz chimed in, plopping a wet kiss on her forehead.
“Gross,” Enara complained, wiping the spittle off with her sleeve.
He held the reins to another thoroughbred. This one had a white diamond on its forehead and a shiny brown coat.
Baz patted her flank, stating, “She’s no Ellie, but I’m sure she will do a fine job.”
That struck a chord in Soren’s heart, as she was reminded of the black Friesen she had traveled with from Vreburn. She was disappointed that she had never had a chance to name him. She sent up a prayer to the Maker that the old man by the river was taking good care of them before hopping into the saddle on the cream-colored quarter horse that Everett had assigned to her.
The rest of the group mounted their noble steeds and followed Everett out the back gate, onto the sandy trails that lay beyond the iron bars. They gave the guards a tilt of their heads, and they nodded in return, seemingly unconcerned.
“The lack of agency in the king’s guard is mildly disappointing,” Enara observed.
“Well, considering there hasn’t been an attack for over two hundred years, it’s not all that surprising,” Everett explained. “I think anyone would become complacent after that amount of time.”
“Fair point,” she replied, and they journeyed on.
With the horizon in front of them and the saltwater winds at their backs, Enara felt at peace.
* * *
They restedon a large blanket on the sand, the horses tied to a small grouping of palm trees at the edge of the tropical forest. They ate sandwiches of roasted pheasant and orange cheese smothered in a thick white sauce made of vinegar, egg, and plant oil. It was delicious.
Soren swallowed the last of it down with a guzzle of water and broke through the small talk the rest of the group had been making. “Hey, guys, I know this is nice and all, but we have to get a move on. What’s our plan?”
Jai had filled in Everett on the major details—an all-powerful being, who had an army of bird-men, intended to destroy Entheas, and they were his main target.
Everett had asked a few questions for clarification but, to Soren’s surprise, he did not balk or claim them to be liars. His faith in Jai was astounding. He took his every word at face value and vowed to help his brother in his mission to gather the forces of Patrivah to fight this new threat.
“I still can’t believe you’re going to be the king of Patrivah.” Everett’s concern regarding that fact was palpable.
“Well, believe it, brother, because the hierarchy around here is about to change.”
* * *
After returning to the stables,they continued planning well into the evening, thankful that Mrs. Ferndale had not called on them again for assistance. There were many working parts and so many unknown factors, but they had finally decided on where to go from here.
Enara, Baz, and Soren would head to Braexmirth with the second copy of Jai’s lineage documents, while the heir of Patrivah and Everett would stay in Edras Mora and try to convince the king to amass his troops.
The goodbyes were short-lived, as they planned to return to Edras Mora in one week’s time, hopefully having convinced King Elias to join the fight. The forges of Braexmirth might not be able to destroy the Oculus, but the bladesmiths of Olecastor would surely provide them with weapons stronger than any of the other provinces. The ores they had access to were tougher and lighter than any other mineral in Entheas. This, at the very least, would give them a better chance against Adriel’s forces.
Luckily for them, Everett allowed them to take the horses. He told them the king would never know with all the wedding preparations distracting him.
They packed and mounted their four-legged companions then clopped through the gates casually, mentally preparing for the few long days of travel ahead.
* * *
Jai watchedthe last of the horses pass through the gates and breathed out a sigh. They were off to do their part. Now it was time to fulfill his side of the bargain.
Momentarily, he wished to be back in his boat, on another self-serving mission to fill his coffers, but he knew that was not where his heart truly yearned to be.
He had avoided coming back here because he knew if he did, he would crash the wedding and ruin Adaryn’s chance at happiness. But he was here now. And so was she. And Maker damn him, but he would rather face down Adriel’s whole army of beasts alone than to let Adaryn marry Erick.
A new sense of calm and purpose filled his veins, lighting a fire in his belly. He stood taller and spoke with regal authority.
“Come, brother, I have a kingdom to claim.”
* * *
Jai and Everetttraveled through the castle with caution, though most rushed past, carrying fine china from one room to the next while the royal event organizer barked orders.
“That tapestry is sideways!” A woman clicked her teeth and scribbled notes on a parchment pad that she held in her hands, the jar of ink dangerously close to spilling. “No, I said appetizer plates, not dessert plates!” Her voice was shrill as she lay into one servant after another to get the castle ready.
The guys stifled their laughter as they snuck past, not wanting to get pulled into the fray.
“She seems delightful,” Jai commented.
“She’s not like that all the time,” Everett assured, his tone implying they knew each other on a more intimate level.
Jai let his eyebrows ask the question for him.
Everett shrugged. “What? It was only once or twice. I just help her to relax after the big events.”
“And the palace footman?” Jai asked.
“Oh, he got removed from the staff. Apparently, they caught him pick-pocketing the nobility as he helped them into their carriages.” He let out a disappointed sigh. “Too bad. He was a fun roll in the hay, too.”
“You have no shame,” Jai said as they turned the corner to the next hall and his heart skipped a beat.
The corridor was empty apart from Adaryn, who stood at the end of it. She wore a gown the color of autumn leaves, and her hair was pinned up on one side, a tiara of woven gold sitting squarely on her head. She looked every bit like the princess of Patrivah.
Jai’s brows furrowed when he noticed that her arm was nestled comfortably through the elbow of the Duke of Stelonbriar, and he stifled a growl. This was no longer the young boy they had known since childhood; this was the man she was set to marry.