Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
An Unexpected Arrival
A Gathering Storm
The lead Hunter pulled back on the reins. The stallion fought the command, its front legs lifting as it skidded through the snow.
A gust of cold wind had Adira turning. Her eyes went wide with fright seeing the horse ready to trample her, and she froze.
Dravic threw himself at her, his arms locking around her, yanking her hard against his solid chest. The force of his body ripped her off her feet, and he twisted to take the brunt of the fall as they went flying into a towering snowdrift.
The thunder of pounding hooves roared past so close that it sent more snow exploding over them.
For one terrifying heartbeat, neither of them moved.
Dravic remained as he was, his arms locked around her, feeling her body tremble against him, and her face buried in his shoulder.
He thought he felt her heart pounding against his…
though perhaps it was only his own. He had never known such fear.
Not true. He had felt such fear when she had been abducted. When he thought he might lose her.
Adira lifted her head slowly to look at him. It was her fault. She had left his side without permission. She had not paid heed to her surroundings.
Fear rippled through her as her eyes finally met his. Relief and anger sparked in them and the only thing she could think to do, the only way to take responsibility for her actions, to let him know she was sorry, was to lower her head.
She never got the chance.
His hand gripped the back of her head, holding it firm as his lips landed on hers. His kiss was fierce, leaving her breathless… and wanting nothing more than to remain in his arms. And she returned it with a strength of her own.
“MY KING!”
The shout tore their lips apart. If it had not been for the snow covering them everyone would have been witness to their kiss.
Dravic had them on their feet before the Hunters and his guard reached them.
The kiss lingered on his lips. He had not known what possessed him to kiss her.
Maybe it was that he needed to taste her, prove he had not lost her, that she was very much alive.
Whatever it was, he was unable to resist it.
And that was a problem.
Adira avoided his eyes, not sure what to make of the unexpected kiss, especially the strength of it.
It was as if he could not resist. He had to kiss her, wanted to, and nothing would stop him.
A change in the air had her looking up to see a Hunter running toward them.
It had taken time, but Feena had finally taught her who the Hunters were…
and that it was wise to keep her distance from them.
“Forgive me, my king,” a Hunter said, stopping in front of him. “I called out but she paid my shouts no mind.”
Dravic scowled. “Adira cannot hear nor speak.”
The Hunter cast a quick glance at her. “I did not know. Our concern was for our king, duty-bound to protect. But we also bring important news.”
That got Dravic’s attention but so did the way Adira shivered beside him and how cold her hand felt in his.
“I will hear it,” Dravic said, “but first—” He summoned Ernach, standing nearby with the snap of his hand. “Take Adira to your cottage where she can get warm.”
“Aye, my king,” Ernach said. “A cottage is being made ready for you since I am sure there is more you wish to discuss with me, and this snow may prevent travel.”
Dravic was surprised to see it snowing. He had not even noticed it.
“See Adira settled in the cottage once it is made ready and see she has food and drink as well.”
If the two men were surprised at his command, neither showed it and Dravic cared not if they did. Adira would stay with him, and he would have no one question it.
Dravic released Adira’s hand as he turned to her. He tapped her shoulder, pointed to Ernach, then his cottage.
“You go with Ernach,” he said.
Adira shook her head and stepped closer to him. She did not dare take hold of his hand though she wanted to. She would not leave his side. She was safe with him. She could trust him. He had proven it time and again.
Dravic saw in her eyes her fear of being separated from him.
He disliked sending her away as much as she disliked leaving him.
But she needed to get warm and his guards knew they were to keep watch on her.
She would be safe and he would not be away from her for long.
However, he could not allow her to refuse to obey the king in front of others.
Dravic lifted his chin and with a deep scowl, pointed to Ernach’s cottage.
Realizing her mistake, Adira bobbed her head and turned to Ernach.
The old man smiled and slipped his arm around hers as they headed to his cottage.
Ernach slowed as they approached Vachel’s cottage. Villagers had gathered outside, speaking in hushed voices or standing in silent prayer.
“A moment,” he said, stopping. “Vachel and his family need all the comfort they can get.”
Ernach knew she could not hear, but he had come to believe in the short time since meeting her that she understood far more than anyone realized.
Ernach headed to the door and Adira followed him inside.
The warmth of the hearth did little to chase away the sorrow that clung to the small space.
A woman knelt beside the bed, her tear-streaked face buried against the small hand she held so carefully.
A man stood behind her, one hand resting on her shoulder though his own grief bowed his head.
Neighbors filled the room, some whispering prayers, others simply standing near, offering the only comfort they could.
Adira stepped to the side and remained in the shadows near the wall.
Ernach went directly to Vachel and his wife, resting a gentle hand on the father’s shoulder. He spoke softly to them, then guided them a few steps away from the bedside. Neighbors immediately gathered around the grieving couple, offering quiet words of comfort and prayer.
Living with Feena, a healer, Adira was no stranger to seeing sickness and pain. But she had never seen hope slipping away quite like this.
The young lass lay still beneath a patchwork quilt. A bandage wrapped around her head, blood staining the linen. Her breathing came slow and shallow, each breath seeming to ask more of her than the one before.
No one needed to tell Adira the child would not survive the night, the grief already settling over the room told her.
Her gaze lingered on the little lass.
Help.
Adira’s eyes widened, the whisper faint though she was sure she heard it.
Help.
The whisper came again and this time the plea carried a heart-wrenching sorrow.
She found herself moving before she realized she had taken a step.
The villagers didn’t notice as she approached the bedside. They were too busy consoling the parents, offering kind words and a hot brew.
Adira slowly lowered herself into the chair beside the bed. She stared at the lass’s peaceful face, realizing the whisper had come from her. But how was it she heard it?
Without thinking, she rested her hand upon the quilt, only inches from the lass’s, and waited to see if she heard more.
A tiny movement caught her eye. The lass’s little finger twitched. Then slowly… her hand stretched across the blanket until her small fingers barely brushed against the side of Adira’s hand.
The touch was so slight it could easily have gone unnoticed, yet Adira felt it.
Once again, the whisper came.
Help.
The single word wrapped around her heart with such pleading that her breath caught. The room around her seemed to fade. There was only the lass. Only those tiny fingers that barely brushed against hers. Only that desperate plea echoing where no voice had spoken.
Dravic walked a short distance away from the cottages, motioning for the Hunter to join him. Once they were beyond curious ears, he turned to the barrel-chested man.
“Your name?”
“Seger, my king.”
“You said you bring important news.”
“Aye, my king.” Seger stood straight. “Percy found us shortly after we captured a Drogath spy.”
Dravic’s head snapped toward him. “A Drogath spy?”
“Aye. My men and I were preparing to bring him to Caerith when Percy arrived. He believed you would have reached Driochmor and having only one guard, he feared for your safety.”
Dravic frowned. “So, you abandoned the prisoner?”
“Nay, my king. Percy remained behind. I took only enough men to ride here at once. The rest continue here with the prisoner. Percy accompanies them.”
“When will they arrive?” Dravic asked, eager to question the man.
“If the weather does not worsen, tomorrow.”
Dravic folded his arms across his chest, his eyes narrowing. “No ships cross the Sea of Shadows in winter. He reached Scotara before the sea turned. Which means he has been here for some time and…” He let his words drift off not liking what he thought.
“There is a good chance he did not come alone,” Segar said.
“Aye.” Dravic nodded. “One spy gathers little. Several gather an army’s worth of knowledge. They will be watching our ports, our roads, our defenses, and seeking those willing to betray Scotara from within.”
Dravic said no more. He didn’t need to. They both knew the truth. The war had already begun.
Adira sat in a chair near the hearth, watching the king speak with the Hunter and his lone guard.
She had barely finished her warm brew when Ernach had gone to the door.
One of the Hunters had entered, bowed respectfully to Ernach, then motioned for her to follow.
Moments later, she had found herself in another cottage where the king was already deep in discussion with his guard and another Hunter.
The room was warm, yet a chill lingered within her that had little to do with the winter wind outside.
Her gaze settled on the king.
His scowl remained firmly in place, but she had come to know it did not always mean anger. Sometimes it meant determination. Other times deep thought. Now she saw concern shadowing his eyes.
He stood with his arms folded across his broad chest, listening while the Hunter spoke. His jaw remained set, his expression stern, yet every so often he gave a single nod, asked a question, or motioned with one sharp gesture that left no doubt he expected answers.
There was strength in him. Not merely the strength of a warrior, but the strength of a king.
Adira watched the three men carefully. Though she could not hear a word, she understood more than most would have guessed.
The Hunter spoke with urgency, his gestures broad and deliberate. The king’s guard occasionally added to the discussion, though she assumed his role was more to advise than persuade.
The king listened, questioned, then decided.
She could tell when one matter had been settled. Shoulders eased and heads nodded.
Then another matter arose.
The Hunter’s brow furrowed.
The king’s expression hardened and tension returned.
Whatever burden weighed upon him had not been lifted.
Adira wished she knew what troubled him. He had carried enough burdens already but then he was king… he had no choice.
He only had duty.
Her heart ached at the thought. There was no time he did not carry a burden. No time that he could be anything other than a king.
The thought lingered painfully within her. She wanted to ease the strain that never seemed to leave his face. She wanted to chase the worry from his eyes, to see him smile more than the bare glimpse he’d shared before the stern mask of a king settled firmly back in place.
A realization settled over her so quietly that it took her by surprise.
How and when had he come to matter so much to her? How was it that being at his side was where she wanted to be? And why had she refused to admit to herself how much his kisses meant to her?
His eyes caught hers then, and she could see he saw in them what she did not want him to see. What she did not even understand herself.
Somehow, he had worked his way into her heart.
The thought frightened her more than he ever had, and she quickly turned her head away.
Dravic stared, waiting, wanting Adira to look at him again. He had not imagined what he had seen in her eyes. He simply wanted to see it once more.
It was strong and fierce and meant for him.
“My king.”
Dravic turned his head slowly to Seger, forcing his attention back to matters at hand. Only when he made a final decision did he issue direct orders.
“See it done.”
The two men bowed and took their leave, a strong wind along with a flurry of snow whipping into the cottage as they hurried to close the door.
It caught Adira’s attention and she turned.
Silence settled over the cottage.
Beyond the frost-covered window, darkness had claimed the sky. Snow drifted steadily to the ground, softening the world beyond the glass.
Dravic looked at Adira.
Slowly, he lifted one hand and crooked a finger at her. “Come here.”