Chapter 18
REDVYR
Vallon stepped up to the pyre we’d built, having set Tylok—all of him—upon the burial bed.
Vaygar had placed Tylok’s hands gripping the hilt of his blade upon his chest. Vallon had found a bonnet of his daughter’s, a wooden sword of his son’s, and the apron his wife wore.
An old dark fae custom in burial—to take a token of your loved ones into the afterlife.
The priest, holding a lit torch, then said the shadow fae prayer for the dead.
“May Solzkin warm you on your journey. May your ancestors greet you at the gate. May your pain be gone into the afterworld. May your soul rest in this final fate.”
He lit the kindling along the bottom of the pyre then tossed the torch on top, stepping back to where we all stood and watched in silence. In reverence to the dead.
Tylok had fought hard to save his family. He’d died for them, as would any male who loved his family. It grieved me that he’d given his life, and yet, his wife and children had still been taken by these creatures. And for what purpose?
Once the flames had devoured Tylok, the fire beginning to die, I turned to Prince Torvyn.
“We must be on our way to meet our clan. Especially with this news of the grimlocks, I want to be sure our camp is fortified and protected for the winter.”
“In Ghasta Vale, correct?” he asked.
Though the shadow fae kept to their city in the Solgavia Mountains, their priests monitored the surrounding territories. I’d seen Vallon on more than one occasion. They would know our routine of wintering in Ghasta Vale.
“Yes.”
He gave a stiff nod. “It is a good place for your clan. Easy to defend. Just keep your warriors on guard at all times.”
“No need to remind me. I will watch over my people, though it will be a long winter.”
“For us all, Lord Redvyr.” He gave me a respectful nod, as one fae lord to another, then he turned and marched away.
Vaygar followed right behind. Vallon said to Tessa, “I will give Murgha your love.”
“Thank you. Please watch over her.”
“Always,” he assured her before turning to follow the prince and Vaygar.
The prince took flight first, his great wings spreading wide. The other two beat their wings and lifted off after him, the three of them disappearing quickly into the gray skies.
“There will be more snow today,” said Bezaliel.
“Heavy snow.” I whistled to Wolf, who trotted over. “Come, Jessamine. You and Tessa must ride. We are running the rest of the way.”
Rather than question me, she joined me at Wolf’s side.
I took great pleasure in wrapping my hands around her waist and pulling her close before I lifted her onto Wolf’s back.
He still carried a heavy load of grain, but he was strong.
Even more so, he was devoted to Jessamine.
He would welcome her slight weight, glad to carry her the rest of our journey.
I simply needed us to be there, among my clansmen and my warriors. The need to warn them and ensure we were protected and on guard for these grimlocks drove me to act quickly.
Within minutes, the women were secure on Wolf and Mishka, wrapped well in their cloaks.
I headed out first, setting the pace. It was fortunate that Tylok’s home in the old oak wasn’t far from Ghasta Vale.
I skirted the woodlands, choosing the open valley floor instead, not wanting any more surprises.
The gray skies grew heavier. I was determined to reach the camp before the snow began to fall.
We entered the communal cave to find most of the clan there.
For our winter camp, we set up tents for sleeping between the two mountains called The Sisters, which flanked Ghasta Vale and blocked the harsher winds.
But this cave had always served as our gathering place for meals and fellowship, and even for shelter if a blizzard hit.
This cave was a wide, hollow opening at the base of one of the two mountains called The Sisters, which flanked Ghasta Vale. The smoke filtered through a tight channel carved by snow melting over centuries, and eventually escaped outside.
The fire pit was a long oval encircled by stones, large enough for cooking on one side and to heat the cave entirely for communal gatherings. We draped hides along the cave entrance to keep the winds out and the cave warm.
Some of my warriors were unloading the saddlebags of grain from the wolves outside and bringing them inside to store. I’d told them to gather all of the males except those currently on watch to meet me here when they were done.
“Thank the gods,” said Lorelyn, the first to greet us when we entered the cave. “I saw a dark omen this morning in the skies, and I feared the worst.”
“What did you see?” I asked, shaking the snow from my head and horns as we joined her and others around the fire.
“An injured raven,” said Lorelyn solemnly. “He’d broken a wing and fallen into the woods. When I looked, I couldn’t find him. I realized it must’ve been a vision. Sometimes I can’t tell which is real and which is from the gods.”
Lorelyn was a young seer, but she had always been right.
“Do not go into the woods alone anymore. For I can tell you what the bad omen was warning you about.”
I stared around the cave, noting that council members Wyzel, Melgar, and Bowden were present, currently sitting along the wooden benches we’d built for this space. Good.
Everyone had already gathered closer, greeting us after our travels, glad to see we’d accomplished our mission in getting provisions to last the winter.
But the smiling faces dimmed in hearing my voice, everyone silent and waiting for me to speak.
Jessamine had remained close to the flap at the entrance, which I didn’t like.
I wanted her near me, but I’d have to remedy that later.
“On our journey, we met with Prince Torvyn of the shadow fae and two priests with him.” I didn’t want to upset them more by telling them Tylok had been killed, and his family was missing.
Many of my men had met and admired Tylok.
“There has been a sighting of dangerous creatures called grimlocks. They are killing our kind. They are abducting others.”
“Grimlocks?” Wyzel stood, using her cane, sidling toward the fire. “The evil monsters from fairy tales? The shadow fae prince must be mistaken.”
“He is not. We saw proof of their existence, I assure you. We will double our guards on watch. Though we are in a place more easily defended, we are still vulnerable to attack. Keep the children close to the center of camp at all times. All trips into the woods for kindling and other supplies must be with a minimum of four guards. I will speak to the warriors about watch detail.”
“Are we safe here?” asked Bowden, standing near his wife who was delicate and small for a beast fae female.
“We are just as safe here as we would be in Vanglosa. The creatures have come south out of the mountains. Perhaps this is even safer with mountains surrounding us.”
Bowden nodded, the others murmuring to one another as my warriors returned from storing the grain. I pointed to the benches lining the inner curve of the back wall. It was where we could have a bit of privacy to speak.
Leifkyn murmured something to them and they followed him to the back of the cave, while I walked to Jessamine still standing there looking exhausted, bewildered, and anxious.
“Dayn,” I called out—he had entered through the flap last. “Take Jessamine to my tent and start a fire for her.”
“Yes, my lord.”
“You’re sending me away?” Her cheeks flared pink with anger.
I slid my hands to cradle her face, pressing my body close to hers. “No. I’m sending you to my tent where you can rest and get warm and wait for me.” I pressed my forehead to hers for a brief moment. “You’re exhausted. Go with Dayn. Don’t argue.”
Her fingers curled around my wrists, squeezing gently, her anger fading.
She pulled away, glancing over my shoulder.
I didn’t have to look to know that we had an audience for that small embrace.
There would be questions, and yes, likely some protests.
I’d deal with that later. Right now, I simply wanted my woman safe and warm.
And ready for me when I returned to her.
“Dayn,” I called. “Keep watch over her until I come.”
“Of course, my lord.”
Once they’d left, I turned toward the fire.
Yes, there were many eyes on me now, most of them confused and some of them angry.
Wyzel and Sorka were among the confused, Velga among the angry.
I stared them all down until they lowered their gazes.
There was only one lord here. And they must remember that.
When I felt sufficiently satisfied that they’d keep their opinions to themselves, at least until I left the cave, I joined my warriors to prepare them for the defense of our camp so that I could quickly return to Jessamine.