Chapter 25
It took an entire day of non-stop riding to get to the camp where Cillian and Bethel waited.
I was barely off my horse before Cillian had his arms wrapped around me. His comfort engulfed me instantly. Cillian lowered his mouth to mine, giving me a soft, lingering kiss that had my toes curling. When I came up for air, I saw Torgrin watching us. Cillian turned his head to look at him too.
‘Thank you,’ Cillian said to him, throat tight.
Torgrin nodded. Then without a word, he took Nightmare’s reins and left to take care of the horses.
Cillian led me to a small pond to bathe and fill my empty water pouch.
We made love in the long grass. He was unhurried and adoring, making me cry out in pleasure, the sound scattering the birds from nearby trees.
When I came down from the bliss of our lovemaking, he held me and whispered, ‘I’m sorry for leaving you. ’
‘I ordered you to go. I wanted to give you and Bethel a chance to escape.’
‘As soon as we left, I wanted to return for you.’ He sat up and threw a pebble into the water.
I sat up beside him and rubbed my cheek across the smooth skin of his bare shoulder. ‘I made an oath to protect Bethel, Cillian – and when I couldn’t do that, I asked you to do it for me. You did exactly what I needed you to do, and I love you for that.’
Cillian’s eyes shone. ‘You love me?’
I nodded, then pressed my lips to his astounded smile.
‘I never thought I would find love after Hannah. The thought of losing someone I love again because I wasn’t there nearly killed me.’
‘You didn’t lose me,’ I soothed, running the back of my hand over his bristly cheek. ‘You have changed me,’ I admitted. ‘I’ve spent my life pushing people away.’ I had even resisted my parents’ affections, but just like Cillian, they would not allow me to do so for long.
I felt unworthy of love, but I craved it too. ‘You made me feel safe enough to ask for comfort and love. Something I felt I would never deserve.’
‘You deserve love, Caris.’ He cupped my face with call used blacksmith’s hands and gazed into my eyes. ‘You know he’s in love with you, too, don’t you?’
I shook my head, my face reddening with guilt as I remembered how I woke up in Torgrin’s arms at dawn.
‘I’m glad of it. It means he will keep you safe when I can’t.’ Cillian released my face and reclined on the grass, his fingers locking behind his head.
‘I can look after myself!’
‘Says the woman who was kidnapped yesterday.’
I punched him lightly in the chest, and he laughed. This is why I love him, I thought, as I drowned in his honey-brown eyes. He made it so easy.
The cold soon forced us back into our clothes, and we returned to camp.
I ate and drank so much that it garnered the attention of everyone around me.
Sitting a little too close to Torgrin for my liking, Bethel – for once – did not remark on my ferocious appetite.
But when she placed a delicate hand on his knee, the Darkness rose and pushed against the door I tried to keep firmly locked.
As I sat and watched them together, the image of a dark-haired woman weeping over a man’s dead body rose.
I had almost told Torgrin about the dream during our ride back, but I decided it was too strange, even for me.
I smiled when I saw Torgrin shake Bethel’s hand off his knee, and the Darkness retreated. I happily returned to my meal with gusto.
?
We reached the edge of Danu Woods, only days away from Capita. Towering ancient trees filled the forest, casting long shadows that swallowed the feeble winter sun. I was up early on an especially chilly morning, leaving Cillian and Torgrin, who had both moved close to keep me warm during the night.
While relieving myself, I saw that the morning frost had enclosed the plants around us in ice crystals. I’d never seen something so beautiful. Watching my breath hang in the cold air captivated me. Soon, I was puffing out air like a chimney for my amusement.
Walking a short distance from the camp, I found myself in a meadow where the blades of grass had turned white and crunched under my boots. I crouched to watch a majestic stag rub his impressive antlers on a twisted tree.
He came looking for me. I didn’t need to see to know it was Torgrin beside me – the humming in my chest told me he was near. We watched the stag together in silence.
With the rising sun, the frost soon transformed into tiny droplets, shimmering like diamonds before evaporating. I looked around sadly as all that was frosty became green once more.
Torgrin’s deep voice broke the silence. ‘In Ephemeros, it gets so cold in winter, entire lakes freeze over.’
‘Really?’ I turned to find his hair messy from sleep, and I had to resist the urge to reach out and tame his inky locks.
‘The lakes become frozen enough to walk across them, although if it’s too soon or too late in winter, you can fall right through the ice.’
He turned his gaze from the stag to me. Seeing that he had gained my attention, he continued. ‘In the mountains, it snows so much that it can come up to a fully grown man’s waist.’
‘Are there snow-capped mountains? Like in your drawings?’
‘My drawings?’ He tilted his head in question.
‘Yes, I have them in my bags.’
‘Why?’
I shrugged. ‘I liked them.’
‘What else did you bring from our room?’
A warmth spread through me at the way he said our room. ‘A few things,’ I admitted, my face flushing.
The sight of his incredibly elusive dimples filled me with butterflies. Stars, he was breathtaking when he smiled.
When the sounds of the camp coming awake reached us, we hiked back and lit the morning fire together.
Over coffee, we discussed with the others what the plan would be now that we were close to Capita.
Everyone agreed to stop for one last night in the township of Danu, though its proximity to Capita – the king’s city – would mean we needed to be cautious.
I was to change into my lady-in-waiting clothing, and Cillian was to keep a low profile. Those tasked to rescue the queen needed to stay out of sight until we separated. My heart felt heavy at the thought of the farewell to come.
Cillian, Tomas and Tomas’s lover – Rhett – were to take up a place in Capita. They would wait until Torgrin gave them the signal to enter the castle’s dungeon to rescue Queen Yaris.
The rest of us would have rooms in the castle.
Due to her station, it would be appropriate for Bethel to have a personal guard, especially considering what happened to her mother in Capita Castle.
Having Torgrin and a few soldiers guarding her and her rooms wouldn’t raise any suspicions.
Torgrin would gather information at the castle, such as when the guard shifts changed over and who might look the other way for the right price.
We packed up camp and left woods for the nearby township of Danu.
The absence of a great wall or fortress made the town feel inviting.
The houses looked much grander than the grey stone houses of Murus.
White plastered walls reflected light in the streets, and flower boxes were filled with winter blooms under each leadlight window.
Like Murus, there was a gathering area in the city centre, and Danu was overflowing with people preparing for a celebration.
The townsfolk were brightly dressed, carrying trays of food and drink, laughing and chattering with excitement.
From his horse, Torgrin asked a local man what festivity was underway.
‘It’s a Danu tradition to observe a blue frost moon.
’ The man pointed to the darkening sky, where a blue moon was already showing.
‘It’s been twenty-one years since we saw one, and tonight, we will dance and feast to keep misfortune away!
’ he declared loudly. ‘Make sure you wear masks to trick the blue moon! You don’t want a year of bad luck, do you?
’ The man cackled as he pushed a cart laden with firewood across the cobblestones.
Visitors for the celebration made it challenging to find a place to stay, but with a generous amount of gold changing hands, Torgrin secured us three rooms in the historic district.
The entrance steps extended towards a cathedral adorned with old-fashioned carvings of gnarled trees and untamed woodland creatures.
Inside the dimly lit inn, tarnished iron candelabras cast a golden glow, illuminating the antiquated tapestry that adorned the main wall.
The tapestry depicted a regal red dragon, its scales shimmering in the light, fiercely battling a golden knight’s sword.
To my eyes, the scene evoked a sense of unease, as if the ancient tale depicted within the tapestry could come to life at any moment.
Torgrin led us past the peculiar tapestry to the empty corridors where our rooms were located. The air carried a subtle scent of candle wax, mingled with a hint of aged wood. Only the slap of our travel-worn boots on old wooden floors sounded through the empty hallway.
Tomas and Rhett were to have one room, and Cillian and I would be next door to them. Bethel and Torgrin were sharing the room at the end of the hallway.
I clenched my teeth, refraining from saying anything as I saw Torgrin slip Bethel a room key.
Our job was to guard Bethel, but surely a locked door and us filling the other rooms in this wing of the inn gave her enough protection?
I knew I was being unreasonably jealous, and shame forced me to look away from them.
Relaxing my jaw and taking a calming breath, I reminded myself to be thankful that I was getting to spend one last night with Cillian and not guarding Bethel.
The other soldiers had received coins from Torgrin to find whatever humble accommodation was left in Danu.
Many planned to spend the coins on drinks and perhaps find a free bed for the night with a special someone.
Torgrin had given his men a night of freedom, and then surprised us all by offering to escort us to the festival.