Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Boreus hadn’t enjoyed waking up alone, but she’d left him a note telling him where she’d gone and with whom, so he’d known that she was safe at least. Auster wasn’t enough of an idiot to act at cross purposes with Love, no matter how myopic he was being where Autumn was concerned.
Patience was not the strong suit of the North Wind, in the least, so when he’d discovered the note, he’d sighed, shaken his head and had dressed to go to the villa himself.
At least that had been the plan before he’d been waylaid by Urania who summoned him to the Highest.
The only one in the throne room of the summit had been Courage, and after Boreus had bowed had just given him a beckoning gesture and a crooked smile.
“We will train,” Courage had told him. “Light mislikes your fellow and will have you prepared to protect Autumn.”
“I will do my utmost,” Boreus replied, shaking his glaive into being, the blade at the top glistening like the heart of a glacier. “I mislike him as well, for all I love him.”
Courage chuckled, nodding. “Come then, we will resume training. I assume you know where she is?”
“Love sent me word,” Boreus followed Courage from the throne room. “I wish she had taken me, but I understand that it is an assessment on Love’s part.”
Courage nodded, pushing the door open to the sparring rings, to come face to face with Light, who looked as though she hadn’t been expecting them.
“My Highest?” Courage sounded confused. “Would you like to join us?”
“I think I’m out of practice,” Light said, sounding softer and oddly unlike herself. “If the thing I’m trying to stop happens, it is going to take all of us to resolve it.”
“What are we worried about?” Boreus broke in. “If it concerns Autumn, perhaps I can help.”
“She is never to be alone with the East Wind.” Light commanded, sounding like the Highest Boreus knew. “Not until his motivations have been vetted by me alone.”
“I hear, my Highest,” Boreus bowed. “I would not have allowed her to be alone with him now, at any rate.” Boreus took a breath and tried to decide how to phrase it. “He believes Autumn to be a parasite, something that can be removed.”
“And if that happens, I cannot see the way through.” Light tapped the side of her head. “I have set a few things in motion that I believe will help if the worst happens, but there is no guarantee, and that frightens me.”
“I will not allow her to be harmed,” Boreus said firmly. “She is mine and I am hers, and I will be there, no matter what.”
“Now,” Courage broke in, “Warrior, you will begin, and then we will turn our attention to the pup.”
Boreus looked around, trying to figure out where they saw Solace, and then realized that Courage meant him.
He sat on the bench at the edge of the room and watched Courage and Light spar. Boreus was a talented fighter, but the pair in the practice circles blew him away. They looked like they were about to kill each other, both of them flat-out attacking and defending in their turns.
But neither of them seemed to be able to gain the upper hand. They were too well-matched, even though Light seemed to be able to change the form of her weapon at will.
Boreus was fascinated, and was holding his breath more often than not as the pair of them danced together. Perhaps he would get Autumn to spar with him sometimes. She’d trained with Courage, and could probably put him in the dirt if he got distracted the slightest particle.
He smiled to himself, vowing to bring it up when he saw her this evening.
Once Light and Courage stood down, smiling at each other with the kind of soft love that Boreus had nearly destroyed and had been gifted with again, Courage turned to him and grinned.
“Your turn now.” Courage rumbled. “Light took my edge off, so you might be able to do something.”
Boreus doubted it, even blunted, Courage was still deadly and miles above him in skill.
But he rose and squared off against the Highest. Taking the blows and dancing back from the openings that were simply traps. He ended up on his ass a fair few times, but he kept going back for more.
Eventually, Courage called their session, grinning at him. “Nicely done.”
“I am going to ask Autumn if she will spar with me.” Boreus said, knowing that if it didn’t fit into the Highest’s plan, he would be told.
“A sound plan,” Courage nodded slowly. “Reinforce her training and you wield the same class of weapon, so you are well matched.”
Light stood, shaking her head. “They have returned, and Love is not pleased. I think you will be needed, North Wind.”
Boreus nodded, bowed, and hurried from the room. He wound through the halls, following the feelings beneath his heart. She was distressed, but that near silent, accepting sorrow that had nearly killed her three separate times was back and that made him hurry faster.
He hauled ass through the Bastion, following the feelings until he was in an area that he didn’t recognize. A villa within the Bastion, and he knew without a doubt that this was not a place he should be without a direct invitation. But Autumn was here, and she was far too blank for his comfort.
“Come in, Boreus,” Love opened a door and gestured him inside. “We were waiting for you.”
Autumn was sitting in a chair on the far side of the room, a mug of tea in her hands. But she wasn’t drinking, she was staring down into the cup like it held answers she was desperately seeking.
“Autumn,” he went to her, kneeling at her side and reached for her hands where they were wrapped around the mug. “Talk to me, love?”
She looked up at him, a sad smile on her face. “He never saw me,” she whispered. “Of the three of you, he never saw anyone but Eleni and I think he wishes me dead.”
“He saw you, love.” Boreus said, taking the mug and setting it to the side to pull her into his arms. “We all saw you, he just didn’t know it.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Autumn brushed a hand down his cheek. “He does not wish to see me and I think it is best if you go to him and make the plan to save Skirion. I will only muddy the waters for now. Once the plan is in place I will come and act as support.”
“Unfortunately that will not work the way you think it will.” Love said quietly. “You must all find balance to save him.”
“I will find a place with them.” Autumn said in a broken voice. “When they are ready for me, I will pick my role back up.”
“Give it some time, Autumn.” Love said. “Perhaps he will come around. We will see him again tomorrow.”
“As you say, Highest.” Autumn rose, taking Boreus by the hand. “I will see you in the morning.”
She turned to leave the room, and Boreus turned to go too, but he was stopped at a gesture from Love. “Highest?”
“Do not leave her alone,” Love said with a sad smile. “She is hurting, more perhaps than she is aware of.”