Chapter 14
Fourteen
Samaria
“We’re staying behind to look after some fucking puppies?” Jarek slinks into our small bed at the Jade Guild. Tallulah, a fellow Enchantress I was surprised to meet, was kind enough to show us the way. She insisted we take the larger of the three spare rooms but even as the largest, it’s tiny. Jarek’s body takes up most of the space, but I can’t say I mind having a room with walls detached from my mother and Sorin. A bit more privacy than we’ve had in a long time.
“Only for a little while,” I say through a laugh. “We’ll meet up with them at the Onyx Guild after the Autumn Moon.”
Jarek grumbles something, running a hand through his beard.
“Besides, they’re not just any puppies.” I join him on the bed and tangle my arms around his. “Wolf puppies. Alaric and Ruse’s puppies.”
The rigid corners of his face go slack. He has a soft spot for Ruse after we helped her heal, and I knew he wouldn’t be able to deny helping her again.
“Sorin’s worried that if the royal guard catches wind of the wolves being near Valebridge, they'll try and trap them again and use them against Elora, so to be as discreet as possible, the puppies will need to stay.”
Jarek leans back on the bed and the mattress gives way with a loud squeak. Sighing, I discard any hope of being together tonight without waking the entire Keep. Jarek may be the most gentle-natured man I’ve ever met, but he sure as hell doesn’t make love like it.
“And he thinks Ruse is going to willingly leave her litter?” He shakes his head. “Your brother really is a cocky bastard.”
Shrugging, I gesture for him to lay back farther. When he does, I curl into his side and rest my head on his chest. He’s not wrong about Sorin, but despite his arrogance, he has a gift. He could talk his way out of any corner.
“If there’s anyone to convince two wolves to follow him, it’s Sorin.” Yawning, I reach across him and twist his long, blonde locks through my fingers as we drift off to sleep. “We’ll find a way. We always do.”
The ivy that covers the walls of the Jade Guild brushes against my arm as I walk the hall to the main room where we’re meeting the rest of the crew.
I run my hand along the wall, letting the leaves tickle my fingers. The small round window at the end gives away how gray it is outside today. Not unusual for this time of year, but the dreary clouds and thick droplets of rain against the windowpane signal just how much time has passed since Elora and Galen were taken.
“Ready for this?” Jarek asks, taking my hand.
I stare at the window a bit longer, a part of me wistful and dreaming about just a few weeks ago when the forest was soaked in sunlight. When we were all together. Jarek squeezes my hand, so I peel my eyes from the window and look at him.
“Ready.”
Voices compete with each other as Jarek and I enter the meeting room. The walls here are covered in ivy as well, but not as dense as the halls, leaving tiny splinters of the limestone underneath.
“This is a terrible plan,” Agnes says, her hands held firmly on her hips.
Sorin’s face is just as stern as our mother’s. “Well, it’s the only one we have.”
“What are we walking into?” Jarek whispers.
I disregard his question and head straight into the chaos. Even though Agnes and Sorin are not blood, they’ve always argued as such, and I, as the oldest sister, have grown quite accustomed to playing mediator.
“Fighting already?” I pour myself a cup of hot tea, I settle into a wooden chair and watch as the two of them glare at each other.
“Mum thinks me sneaking into Valebridge is a terrible plan.” Sorin turns to me, clearly looking for some sort of sibling comradery. Typically, I’d be more than happy to side with him. That’s what siblings do. Look after each other. But sometimes it’s too tempting to ruffle his perfect feathers every once in a while.
“Perhaps she isn’t wrong.” I take a slow sip of tea as the rising anger reaches Sorin’s face, tinting it red.
Hit my target.
Jarek pulls up a chair across from me, kicking me lightly under the table.
“Really, Sam?” Sorin mumbles, pushing past me toward the table with tea and a few meager platters of bread and fruit. I laugh, taking another sip of tea.
“All I’m suggesting is you don’t go alone,” Agnes says.
“He won’t be.” The four of us turn to find Thaddeus, Evren, and Tallulah at the entrance of the main room. “I’ll be going, Agnes,” Thaddeus says.
The three of them join us at the table. “Good morning,” Tallulah says quietly enough that only I respond with a smile. Her dark hair is braided, a few wisps brushing her defined cheekbones.
“Of course, Thaddeus.” Agnes’ voice and eyes soften, but her hands grip tightly to her skirts. “You understand a mother’s need to protect her son.”
My eyes drift back and forth between Agnes and Thaddeus. He nods, making his understanding clear.
“We leave in two days,” Thaddeus says. The seven of us cram around the small table, sipping tea and pretending like our plan isn’t absolutely impossible. “After the Autumn Moon, we’ll head to the Onyx Guild. You all may meet us there if you’d like. I have business with the Lord there and it will give us time to form yet another plan. ”
Agnes crosses her arms, nodding slightly.
“And which plan is that?” Evren asks, his voice is low and gravelly. The pinch between his brow lessens only when Tallulah takes his hand.
“The plan to get that imposter off the throne.” Thaddeus scoffs. “The Lord of the Onyx Guild is a trusted ally whose political views align with our own. He’s been informed of our arrival and looks forward to meeting the true heir.” He shoots Sorin a grin, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from making a snide remark.
“The Autumn Moon is quite the spectacle in Valebridge,” Thaddeus continues. “But because our presence has been lacking the last four years”—he cuts a glance to Tallulah who smiles—“it will be extremely important to get our story straight. I don’t know King Roman as well as I knew Silas, but from what I’ve heard, he can be a bit temperamental.”
Before I can think better of it, the chuckle is out of my mouth.
“Something funny, Sam?” Sorin asks, his eyes like daggers. Still bitter about earlier, I see. Perhaps it’s time to cut him some slack. Shaking my head, I fake a cough before reaching for my tea.
What’s funny, of course, is how similar Roman and Sorin truly sound.
“How can you be certain you can trust the Lord of the Onyx Guild?” I pour another cup of tea. I take a small sip, hiding my curling lip behind my cup. Mother, I wish we had some coffee.
“Well.” Thaddeus stretches his long, thin fingers. “When he heard of the mistreatment of Enchantresses in Valebridge, he locked up his doors just as we did.”
“Technically,” Evren interjects, “you waited an entire year before locking up.”
“And so, you pride yourself on hiding here safely?” I glance between Evren and Thaddeus. Heat rising to my cheeks and the tips of my ears. “Locking your doors and turning an eye to what’s been happening in Valebridge seemed like the best thing to do?”
The men before me share a glance, their eyes casting downward.
“And what is it that you’ve done?” Tallulah sets her cup on the table a bit harshly; it rattles against the wood top. “Have you been to Valebridge to fight against these injustices?”
I bite my tongue, the anger flooding my cheeks quickly turning to shame.
“I didn’t think so.” Her voice softens, but her stare is hardened as she keeps her sapphire eyes on Sorin and I. She pushes her dark braid over her shoulder. “Maybe it was cowardly for us to lock up, but when you’ve been beaten and shackled like an animal, you tend to have some reservations about taking a stand.”
“Tallulah, I’m sorry?—”
“We’re on the same side, Sam.” She cuts me off, but I don’t mind because she’s right. I did nothing to stop this because I kept my eyes on what was right in front of me. Loxley. “And it seems like we share the same regrets of not helping sooner.”
I glance at Sorin, his chin resting on his knuckles. He’s watching her but his eyes are so distant.
“Let’s not turn on one another now,” Tallulah says. “Not when we finally have found the courage to do something important.” She grabs Evren’s hand. “Everyone had difficult choices to make when King Silas died. What matters now is that we are all in agreement on making the right choice.”
“The right choice,” Sorin mimics, his eyes completely glazed over. Is he even awake? I nudge him under the table, and he shoots me a scowl which I return with vigor.
“Sorin will pose as Evren,” Thaddeus continues. Oblivious to mine and my brother’s silent, ridiculous war. “As long as we don’t run into any Royal Hunters as the ball?—”
“You shouldn’t,” Evren says. “Hunters aren’t allowed at the balls. Only Lords and Ladies and specifically chosen guards. Besides, you’ll be in a mask.” His green eyes meet mine for a moment.
“A mask?” Jarek asks, his hand clasped tightly to mine.
Evren nods. “Everyone will be. It’s traditionally a masquerade. A way to contain anonymity during the night's debauchery.”
“And how do you know so much about this event, Evren?” Agnes asks, her amber eyes scouring his face.
“I was a guard,” Evren says, his voice lowering. “And after that, a hunter.”
Tallulah tucks a piece of fallen hair behind his ear, and as she begins to pull her hand away, he catches it. Placing a delicate kiss to her knuckles. “Clearly, much has changed.” His smile is faint and no one else speaks on the subject for the rest of the morning.
“Cora!” Jarek screams, waking me from my sleep. His eyes are still pressed tight, fingers clenching around our sheets.
“Cora!” he screams again, this time bolting upright.
“Shh,” I whisper, running my fingers down his arms. “It was only a nightmare, Jarek.” I sit up behind him, wrapping my arms around his chest. His breathing is strained, skin damp with sweat. “Only a nightmare, my love.”
His breathing begins to steady, his shaking body slowly calming. It’s been a long time since he’s been plagued by nightmares of his home, but I run light kisses down his back until I feel his muscles relax.
“Thank you,” he says, as we both lay back down. He rests his head on my chest, his arm draped around my middle.
I stroke his blonde hair, not missing the slight tremble of his shoulders. “Do you want to tell me about it?”
“The same as the last,” he says against my skin. “Cora and Helen and Ma, their bodies and blood and—” He presses his face deeper into my chest.
“It’s all right,” I say. “I’m here. It was only a nightmare.” But the truth of the matter is, there’s no way of knowing just what waits for Jarek in Scandavi. When he was forced upon a ship four years ago, his family was alive.
But we know all too well how quickly things can change.
His breathing becomes heavy, his arm still tucked around my middle, pinning me in place. I relax my shoulders but my mind is racing. Too occupied thinking of this man who has wandered so far from home. Who has been forced to stay in Teravie during the blight. The seas overturned with storms, too deadly to sail.
He has so many unanswered questions about his family and the fate of his home. Just how long will he stay before he goes searching for answers?