Chapter 30
The man who had so graciously invited me to his home in Bru stood leaning against the large oak tree I’d slept against.
And the bag with my knife, my only weapon, lay open at his feet.
“You ran off so fast yesterday, there wasn’t time for us to be properly acquainted.” The smirk on his face was laced with pure malice as he took a step forward.
I bit my lip, looking left and right for anything—desperate for any option that would help me out of here unharmed.
“Hey now, I don’t want to hurt you, I only want to have a nice little chat in the comfort of my home.”
I couldn’t stop the scoff that fell from my lips. Even if I couldn’t read his emotions, I wasn’t stupid enough to believe that.
Not finding any other solution, or any way for me to mount the horse, her saddle sitting on the ground by my feet, I dropped the reins and ran.
It certainly wasn’t the best plan I’d ever had, and while it went well for a few moments, the element of surprise on my side as my feet pounded the ground and my arms pumped at my side, my elation was short-lived as I was tackled to the ground from behind.
I didn’t stop fighting though, swinging my fists and kicking the man on my back. It was difficult, however, to land any blow that would hurt without being able to see him.
His arm latched itself around my waist, his fist grabbing my braid as he pulled me into a standing position. “Now, that wasn’t very polite, was it? To run off while a man was talking to you?”
I continued to struggle, ensuring every step for him was a challenge, in hopes he would be tired—too tired to hurt me—by the time we arrived wherever he was attempting to drag me.
Despite everything I tried, he still managed to make progress with our motions, his grip too strong. He dragged me back toward where I’d camped, then through it, Nala’s dark eyes watching as we emerged from the shelter of the trees into the open.
He adjusted his grip on me, moving his arm higher, and I saw my chance, jabbing my elbow into the soft flesh of his stomach.
He grunted, his arm on my torso loosening, but his grip on my hair was firm enough that he held me in place through my feeble escape attempt.
“You’re a feisty thing. I like it,” he hissed in my ear as I fought not to vomit.
Although his arm was locked around my midsection, my arms now pressed to my side to prevent me from elbowing him again, there was no way for him to restrain his legs, making it easy for me to stomp on his feet, one after the other.
He snarled in disdain, but still, his hold didn’t loosen enough for me to run. Instead, he seemed unperturbed as he kicked my legs forward one at a time, forcing me to walk onward.
Despite our slow pace, with my struggling every step, trying to hurt him as much as possible, we made progress, a cabin coming into sight.
That’s when I realized my mistake. I hadn’t made it as far from Bru as I thought, sleeping only a short walk from his home. I swallowed my groan.
We approached the building, the door swinging open. He forced me through, practically throwing me to the floor. By the time I stood, his large body was blocking the door, his arms pressed to both sides of the doorframe.
“I told you I only wanted to talk. I’m not going to hurt you. Now, if you’ll listen—”
I tried to tune him out as I scoured the cabin for a way out, but his words continued to filter through my desperate search of his derisory dwelling.
“I know you’ve got magic, I can see it your eyes.”
I scoffed, eyeing the window to his right. While the cabin didn’t offer any other doors, I calculated if I could open the window and climb through before he could stop me. We were both panting heavily, but I knew he would tire of fighting me sooner or later.
“I want one of the books,” he demanded. “Don’t care which one, but I searched your bags and didn’t see one.
” I eyed his stomach, wondering if I could use my head to ram him hard enough to knock him off balance.
“You’re going to tell me where I can find one of those books.
Then you’re going to help me read the magic. ”
I scoffed. The irony that I was once again picked up against my will because of a stupid magic book and my ability to read was not lost on me. “I burned the last ones I saw. Not sure where any more are.”
He scowled. “Well, you better find me one.”
Ah, he wasn’t very smart. I motioned to the four walls of the cabin. “Can’t do that when I’m trapped in here.”
“You’re going to take me with you, and I’m not going to release you until I have a magic book.”
It was a marginally better idea for him, but it still didn’t protect him from being stabbed in his sleep.
Regardless, it was better than being held here against my will, so I agreed.
“Fine.” I was also certain I could ask Friar to toss him in a dungeon cell when we got to Malheim, but he didn’t need to know that.
Plus, I hadn’t had time to swallow the belladonna that morning, meaning my powers should be surfacing soon, a factor he’d overlooked during my capture.
He stepped aside but didn’t leave the doorframe. “You’re going to tie yourself to me with that rope.” He pointed to the coil of thick rope on one of the chairs.
The rope looked strong, but I knew I’d be able to take a knife to it no problem, so I picked it up, carrying it over to him.
Before I could hand it off, the sound of metal on metal reached my ears—like a sword being drawn.
I didn’t have time to shout before there was a squelching sound and a pool of blood spread across the floorboards.
This time, I couldn’t stop the bile and I turned and retched, fighting to keep my mind on the present and not the last time I’d seen the grisly sight of a man stabbed clear through.
“Sorry about that.”
I couldn’t believe my ears, and a smile spread across my face as my gaze found none other than Askel standing in the doorway, wiping his bloodied sword on the dead man’s shirt.
“Askel!” I shouted as he stepped over the body and pulled me into a hug.
“Runa. I’m so glad you’re okay.”
My body caught up with my mind then, and I frowned, peering over Askel’s shoulder, but there was no one there. “How are you here?”
He sighed, motioning to the door. “I promised him I wouldn’t tell.”
I huffed, careful not to glance down as I stepped over the body in the doorway and back into the fresh air. Using my hand to shield my eyes I scoured the horizon, taking notice of a shadowed figure seated on a horse a ways off.
Otho.
Or Prince Otho, whatever I was supposed to call him now. Still, the title tasted sour on my tongue.
“He figured you wouldn’t want to see him,” Askel said from behind me.
“He’s right.” As much as part of me was aching to see him, I was still too angry to forgive.
We stood in silence as I struggled to find something to say. But I didn’t know how much Askel knew, and I wasn’t ready to talk about how betrayed I felt . . . with anyone.
“Well, I’ll be going then.” He turned to glance one more time at the body. “Think I should bury him?”
I shrugged. “Probably.” I didn’t wait to see if Askel did so, instead wandering back to my pack and Nala. I couldn’t bear to look at the body again. Even though he’d tried to kidnap me, that didn’t mean I loved seeing his blood and guts on the floor.
And I didn’t know what to make of Askel coming to my rescue.
Or how to explain that I couldn’t go with him because I didn’t want to talk to him.
Instead, I focused on the tangible things I could control.
I set the saddle on Nala’s back. I repacked the few things that had fallen from my pack.
And I tucked my only weapon, the knife gifted to me, into my belt loop, careful to avoid glancing in the direction of the dark eyes that followed my every movement.
The rest of the ride to Malheim was uneventful, though I still couldn’t shake the unease that threaded through me, a feeling that only grew the closer I drew to Malheim.
A man I didn’t know had been willing to drag me to his home, just so he could have magic.
While I would never know if he would have gone further than kidnapping, it still made me nauseous to know the lengths people were willing to go through for magic that wasn’t guaranteed to be that powerful.
All I could think about was the anger and beating I’d experienced when I’d read Adis the empathy gift.
The citizens of Heimland didn’t understand the range and variability of the magic in the books.
And I didn’t know how to explain it to them, nor how to spread the information quickly and safely enough that I wouldn’t be the victim of a similar kidnapping over and over again.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, a headache blooming behind my eyes. I was starting to think that maybe Otho was right not to want magic around at all.
Although the creators of the Seid books had meant for magic to be an equalizer, human greed was too strong.
But that still didn’t explain what had become of the books he’d had in Shianp, though.
The city of Malheim was mostly unchanged from the day Ena and I had escaped into the mountains, and I was glad that war hadn’t destroyed the quaint winding streets, other than a few walls stained with blood. The palace stood out in the distance, beckoning me back into its depths.
Just the image alone made my chest tighten, stealing my breath, but I nudged Nala forward regardless.
I had to do this.
The iron gates of the keep were wide open, much different from when I’d lived here, and I was able to ride Nala right in.
It wasn’t until I dismounted that I took notice of the few guards lined against the wall of the palace.
One of them stepped forward, and it wasn’t until he was reaching for Nala’s reins that I recognized him.
“Derek?”
“Welcome back, Ms. Runa.” He smiled, his eyes crinkling in the corners. “I’ll set her up in the barn for you?”
“Okay,” I breathed, unsure what I should say to the man who was once my escort. “Um . . . Is Collum around?”
He pointed. “She was in the courtyard when I last saw her, but she may have been called into a meeting. Check the library if you don’t find her there.”
I nodded and walked in the direction he’d pointed.
Though this had once been my home, it felt surreal to wander the halls now, knowing that I could leave whenever I wanted.
I wasn’t a prisoner anymore.
The courtyard was devoid of people, though there were several wicker chairs situated in a circle—a new addition to the space.
I’d often questioned why Hansen and Adis maintained such spaces within their homes when they barely used them.
I’d theorized that the courtyards were a thing of the past—back when the viscounts had wives and children—but now I wondered if they hadn’t known how to use them.
I didn’t rush to the library, knowing if Collum was in a meeting that she probably didn’t want to be interrupted. When I arrived at the large door, I pressed my ear to it, wondering if I should wait when I heard the low murmur of voices from the other side of the oak.
In the end, I decided not to, pushing open the door enough to slip through, using my hands to ease it closed. The voices didn’t stop, or even pause. I crept closer.
“So far we have a merchant, a guard, myself, and a healer on the panel, but what we really need is someone with a family, and maybe a teacher?” It was Collum’s voice, and I inched closer, trying to make out who she was speaking with.
“I agree. It would also be a good idea to have a farmer who can speak for those who rely on the land for their labor. That would bring us to seven. I’m sure we could add one or two more.”
“Well, I’d like a Seid coven leader to join, as well as a fisherman, though I know there aren’t many of those left.” She released a breath. “Most of them ended up as soldiers in the war.”
It was odd hearing Collum talk so calmly about political matters, and for a moment she was the woman who raised me again, not the one I’d fought in a stone cell over whether or not I should escape forced servitude with Leif.
Not wanting to make things too awkward, I decided it was time to announce my presence, and I cleared my throat before stepping out from behind the bookcase into the area where they were talking.
My cousin spun to look at me, and I smiled at how healthy she appeared compared to the last time I’d seen her.
She was back to her normal weight, her figure once again filling out in the way I knew caused men and women alike to turn their heads. “Runa.”
I smiled. “Collum.”
She rose, pulling me into a hug. This gave me the opportunity to take in the man who sat at the table, my smile falling as I recognized him.
It was Ryle.