Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Danger at Dusk
A Selfless Act
The day had slipped by far too quickly. The air had grown colder with the fading light that stretched long shadows across the snow. Any colder and snow would fall again.
Dravic did not want more snow. He wanted to start his journey further into Driochmor. Something Tavish would protest but would have little choice but to obey his command.
A command he had to see reached Tavish safely.
“The message is meant for Tavish alone. Make sure only the two of you are present when you deliver it. No one else,” Dravic ordered, standing not far from the horses where no one could hear them.
He cast a quick glance to Adira exploring just a few paces from the edge of the forest. He had thought to stop her when he felt her leave his side, but she had patiently remained there all day.
She deserved the few moments of peace the forest brought her.
That she was deaf was terrible but at the moment it was a gift since Fiora sat on her shoulder chatting away as if she could hear every word.
At least the annoying fairy could alert him if necessary.
“Won’t Tavish expect Turcan to return with your response, my king?” Percy asked.
“And he will. But this one I have given you does not exist. Understood?”
“Aye, my king.”
“You will leave at first light and take Turcan with you.”
Percy bobbed his head.
He glanced again at Adira. Her steps had slowed and there was a weariness to her face, he just now noticed.
The long day had demanded much of her, though she had not complained once.
She had remained by his side, gently squeezing his hand whenever she sensed the weight of the day pressing too heavily upon him… or simply because she wished to.
And the look in her eyes… he chased the thought away. He could not allow himself to think about it.
“They have returned.”
Percy’s announcement had Dravic turning to see that Seger and his Hunters had entered the village. Once Seger spotted him, he veered off from his men and headed to Dravic.
“Nothing?” Dravic asked when the Hunter reached him, though the answer was obvious, since no woman was with the group.
“Nay, my king. The forest is silent. Even the animals were nowhere to be seen.”
“You will prepare your men. Tomorrow, we leave to travel deeper into Driochmor.”
Seger did not hide his surprise, though he voiced a concern. “As you say, my king, but I worry we do not have enough warriors to protect you sufficiently… or the abilities to combat those we may face.”
Dravic cast a quick glance at Fiora. “Many of the magical creatures have been made aware of my presence. We should do fine.”
“As you say, my king,” Seger said, though the doubt in his eyes said otherwise.
“One more task left to see to… the prisoner. Time to question him.”
After that, he and Adira would retire to the cottage for the night, though whether it would be wise of him to remain there the entire night was a question he had yet to deal with.
“Fiora, bring Adira to me,” Dravic called out and thought the annoying little creature was finally useful.
Adira was pleased that the king allowed her to walk in the forest though it was only a few paces in. It helped her to learn that the whispers in the forest were different from the whispers she heard outside the forest, though this time some of them mingled. She just wished she could understand why.
Fiora suddenly flitted in front of her face, pointing.
Adira did not need to look where, she knew it was the king. She turned and he snapped his hand for her to join him.
She went to him, Fiora following along. She reminded herself not to take his hand when she reached him. She had to wait for him to take her hand, though she wished she could take hold of it whenever she liked. It brought her a strange comfort. One she had never felt before. One she quite favored.
Dravic took her hand and a small smile surfaced, though she quickly extinguished it before anyone saw it.
But Fiora saw and grinned as she flew ahead of the couple as they walked.
“Oh, how the mighty king is about to fall,” —she chuckled— “in love.”
The small clearing behind an abandoned cottage sat in deepening shadow, sheltered from the village by a ring of bare oaks. It was an ideal place to keep a prisoner away from curious eyes and loose tongues.
Dravic spotted it as soon as they closed the distance. The rope that had secured the man to the tree stirred lightly in the evening breeze.
The prisoner was gone.
Percy and Segar were already running toward the two guards on the ground. Blood had matted the one man’s hair where a vicious blow had split the back of his head. A second guard lay several paces away, his fingers still curled around the hilt of the sword he had never managed to draw.
It took only a moment to tell…
“They are alive,” Percy called out.
“Barely,” Seger added.
Dravic’s eyes searched the shadows surrounding the clearing.
Percy glanced at the king. “The wounds are fresh.”
Dravic did not hesitate, he shouted, “Find him!”
The command rang through the trees.
Seger sprang to his feet, summoning his Hunters with a roar. They all scattered in different directions when they saw what happened. The king’s guard did the same, Fiora joining them. Seger rushed off to get a healer and Percy remained with the wounded men, one man beginning to stir.
Adira stood quietly beside the king as he kept focused on the area, searching as if certain the prisoner was near.
Her ears suddenly caught something. Not the gentle whispers that drifted among the trees, or the strange murmurs that had followed her since entering Driochmor.
This was a sharper sound that grew steadily faster and drew disturbingly closer.
She grew anxious, her heart beating faster, and her eyes searching the area with the same intense scrutiny as the king.
Nothing. She saw nothing.
And yet the sound grew louder. Closer.
An overwhelming urgency seized her and before she could think or question… she spun and threw herself against Dravic, pressing herself tightly against him.
Her fright hit him like a punch to his gut and instinctively his arms wrapped around her hugging her tight.
Cadby’s head snapped toward the far corner of the cottage.
A man exploded from behind it, his face streaked with blood, fury twisting every feature.
The dagger left his hand almost the instant he appeared. It spun through the fading light, straight for the king.
Cadby’s sword flashed free. Steel met steel with a sharp crack that echoed through the clearing. The dagger shot sideways, disappearing into the snow.
The prisoner never slowed.
With a savage cry he lunged for Dravic.
Cadby met him halfway and with one powerful thrust drove the blade deep into the man’s belly.
The prisoner’s eyes widened in disbelief. A gasp escaped him as blood spilled over Cadby’s sword. His knees buckled and he collapsed into the snow only a few strides from the king.
Silence swept over the clearing, no one moving.
Dravic looked not at Cadby or the dead man… but at Adira.
She was still pressed tightly against him, and he still hugged her close.
Adira no longer heard it. The strange sound had vanished as suddenly as it had come. In its place settled an eerie silence. Not the peaceful silence she had always known. The same unsettling silence that had come before the whispers first found her.
She slowly lifted her head.
Dravic looked down at her. Concern filled her soft green eyes, though not for herself.
She turned carefully in his arms, almost afraid to look,
Cadby stood over the fallen prisoner, his bloodied sword still buried in the man’s belly. Percy had risen from beside the wounded guards, while Seger came racing back with the healer and others who offered their help.
The danger was over.
Adira felt the tightness leave her body.
Dravic felt it too.
The rigid fear that had seized her only moments before eased from her as she looked upon the dead prisoner with relief.
She had been afraid, but of what? She could not have heard anything. So, what made her press herself against him when she knew full well not to touch him other than when they were alone? What had caused her such fright that she had shielded him?
Shielded him.
She had not feared for herself. If she had she would have run. Instead… she had turned to him. She had thrown herself against him. Not to seek protection but to become it.
The realization struck him with startling force. She had sensed the danger before any of them. And her first instinct had been to shield him.
Dravic’s hands came down hard on her shoulders, and he pushed her back an arm’s length.
Adira stared at him.
His eyes burned with anger.
She had seen him angry before. At stubborn councilmen, reckless warriors, enemies, but never at her.
Confusion gripped her. What had she done wrong?
The answer came fast. She had pressed herself against him. She should not have done that, not in front of others.
His fingers remained firm on her shoulders, almost painful, as his eyes searched her face demanding an answer she could not give.
His chest rose and fell with several hard breaths before he released her shoulders only to seize her arm.
“Come.”
She could not hear him, but the single word carried the force of such a strong command that she felt its power.
“See to this, Percy,” he commanded as he set across the village.
He walked so quickly Adira struggled to keep pace, nearly losing her footing more than once. Each time, his grip tightened just enough to keep her upright, never once slowing his stride.
Villagers stepped quickly aside, no one dared to say a word.
The king’s anger was plain for all to see.
He never once looked back. His destination had already been decided… the cottage.
The moment they entered the cottage, Dravic released her arm only long enough to shove the door closed behind them.
The heavy wood slammed against the frame with a crack that shook the room.
Adira startled, feeling its vibration.
He turned on her, his voice thundering through the small cottage. “What possessed you to do something so foolish?” He took one step toward her. “You threw yourself in front of me.” Then another step. “Shielded me.”
The words struck one after another like blows.
Outside, the wind rattled the shutters.
Inside… the whispers began but this time Adira ignored them.
Her eyes never left him. His hands cut sharply through the air as he spoke. His jaw set hard. His eyes blazed. She watched every movement, every breath, every gesture.
At first, she thought he was angry because she had thrown herself against him, clung to him, pressed herself tightly against him before everyone.
Her stomach tightened. She had forgotten herself but at that moment nothing else had mattered. She had to keep him safe.
Then he struck his chest with the flat of his hand, pointed at her, then raised his hand as if keeping her back, then struck his stomach as if piercing it with a sword, then raising his hand again as if not letting her near him.
His movements were fierce, demanding.
Understanding came all at once. He was not angry because she had touched him.
He was angry… because she had shielded him.
Her eyes widened, then narrowed, a spark flaring in them, and, not thinking, she took a step toward him.
Her hand rose and she jabbed a finger at his chest, hard enough that it stopped him for a heartbeat. Then her hands flew, one movement after another. Faster than he had ever seen. Her face tightened. Her brows drew low. Her nostrils flared.
Dravic stared. He had never seen her like this. Never had she shown him anger. She had always been gentle, patient, understanding.
Now… she burned with fury.
“What?” The word escaped him, trying to make sense of her gestures.
She only moved faster.
He thought he caught fragments, but he couldn’t be sure.
Her hands trembled with the force of what she wanted him to understand.
Then she struck her fist hard against her own chest, nodding, then again and again, then she pressed her hand to her chest, patting it before pointing to him.
The realization shocked him so hard that he froze.
She was telling him she would do it again, shield him again with her body, and die if necessary. And she did not do it because duty to the king demanded it.
She had done so because she loved him enough to give her own life without a single thought for herself.
He could easily love her. Or did he already?
The thought kept him frozen in place, though only for a moment. He did the only thing he could.
He turned and walked out the door.
He took barely two steps when he stopped abruptly.
He felt the pain of losing her. It struck like a dagger to his heart.
If he walked away now, it would be forever.
He would have no choice but to send her away.
He would never see her again. Never feel her hand in his, warm and welcoming.
Never know the pleasure of her kisses. Never talk endlessly with her.
Never wake to see her snuggled beneath the blankets in her bed.
Never again see the love she felt for him in her eyes.
But there was one thing he would feel again.
The loneliness that had plagued him before Adira had entered his life.
“Bloody hell,” he mumbled, and turned and entered the cottage.