“Love birds? That’s probably an offense to the princess. She could do much better than me.” Aldrich chuckled and ran his hand over his dirty blond hair. “Nice fight by the way. You sure can swing a sword.” He patted his side where she cut him.
Layala caught the quick subject change which meant she might be on the right track. “So can you. Sorry about that.”
Talon cut her a glare. “Well, if it isn’t the wayward low-born again. How did you enjoy the festival? It looked like you had such a good time with your adoring devotees. It was so nice of you to give them pieces of your hair.”
Wench. “I did have a good time, actually. Aldrich is a good bodyguard.”
The princess tightened her grip on her horse’s reins. “I’ll be sure to pass on to my brother that you have a thing for Aldrich and your body. Maybe you want him to touch it.”
“Woah, woah,” Sunshine said, holding up a palm giving her a confused look. “Don’t pass anything remotely close to that to your brother. That’s not—just no. Hard no.”
Poor Sunshine had to be wrapped up in the squabble. “She won’t because she knows it’s not true. She’s just angry I outrank her now. Poor princess.”
“You should learn to keep your mouth shut, Layala, or you might find yourself in a shallow grave.”
Does she know that her brother’s life and mine are linked? She wasn’t afraid of Talon either way, but the princess might be crazy enough to try if she didn’t know.
“Princess,” Sunshine snapped. “Do not threaten her. She is under our protection, my protection. She is set to be your queen in but weeks.”
“Maybe yours.” She kicked her horse and rode ahead. “Not mine.”
When the troop moved on, Layala found her place in the center. She’d tugged her hair loose from the braid and let it flow freely to cover the injury near her temple. Since Piper didn’t believe the story, she didn’t know if anyone else would and she didn’t want to tell the lie over and over again anyway.
Although she was safe in the center of hundreds of elven soldiers, she found herself searching for pale ones among them. Scanning the outskirts for them lurking among the shadows of trees or hiding in the tall grass for an ambush. She found none but it didn’t mean they weren’t there, waiting—watching. Was Mathekis near? Even his name forced a chill down her spine. Did he not want her turned? She assumed she couldn’t be a pale one for their purposes or that creep would have bitten her. They would have turned her to get her on their side. At least she lucked out where that was concerned.
Thane rode close beside her, looking over frequently as if he worried she might suddenly vanish. Now that she could distinguish his emotions and allowed them through their connection, she knew his anxiety.
She watched Thane for a moment, admiring the profile of his beautiful masculine features, and she thought of the way the pale one screamed out of nowhere, crying out in pain and threw herself into the wall so hard, it might have killed her. Did he do that? If anyone could save the whole of Adalon it had to be him. He was a strong leader, and he knew what he wanted. Perhaps it was his magic that could destroy the Void, not hers. What if she was the darkness and he was the light? What a cruel act it was for fate to have bound them together.
Thane peeked over again, worry etched in his face.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Layala said with a half-smile. “You can stop worrying.” It would have scared her too if Thane had been captured. If he died, she died. It was strange to think that her life was tied literally in the body of another elf.
His face smoothed out and he relaxed his tense posture. “I’m not worried. You’re so beautiful I can’t seem to look away.”
“Liar.” She pulled her boot from the stirrup and gave him a little shove on the thigh with her foot. Phantom looked back and whinnied as if to tell them to stop messing around.
“Must I hand you a mirror so you can see yourself properly?”
“You’re dodging.”
“Maybe I learned that from you.”
“Sire,” one of the soldiers called back. “We have a rider approaching. Looks to be one of ours.”
“I’ll be back.” Thane nudged Phantom into a trot and made his way to the front. Layala tried to sit taller to see who it was, tried to listen for what message was brought, but the clop of hundreds of horse hooves, and wagons shifting and creaking, and chatter from all around prevented that. She couldn’t even see Thane over all the soldiers ahead of her.
Thane didn’t return. She and Piper and Tif speculated on what news kept Thane. Had the pale ones overrun Doonafell? Had the city been burned down? Were there refugees on the road trying to get away? Layala wanted to ride ahead and find out.
“When Thane wants us to know, he’ll tell us,” Piper said. She was better at following orders than Layala.
Nightfall came and the Ravens stopped. Tents went up and the aroma of cooking food filled the air. It smelled of ham this time and seasoned vegetables. Probably more bread if it hadn’t gone stale. Although they only got one meal a day, besides nuts or other small snacks they brought with them, she couldn’t think about her stomach.
Layala paced by the fire, waiting for Thane. He had to come to his tent to sleep at least, didn’t he? “Where is he? Did he leave?”
“I don’t think so,” Piper answered. “You’re awfully nervous for someone who claims to dislike him.”
“I’m worried about the city and the people there.”
“Uh huh,” Piper said, leaning back into her rolled up sleeping bag.
Fennan and Sunshine were nowhere to be found so she assumed they joined him. If he went ahead and didn’t tell her—“You know our lives are linked right? If something were to happen to him…” Layala drug her thumb across her neck.
“You sure that’s what you’re worried about?” Piper pulled the plaits of her braid loose. “He’s fine. He’s fought many battles and is still alive, isn’t he?”
“So, you think he went ahead and is fighting?”
Piper sighed. “No, he would have told us, or someone would have. I’m fourth in command here, you know, after Fennan.”
Layala dipped her hand into her pouch of nuts and grabbed a handful. “Then why weren’t you invited to do whatever it is he is doing? And where am I in this chain of command?”
“Because my first assignment is to watch you.” Piper crossed her ankles. “You’re second.”
Layala froze and slowly turned on her heel to face Piper. Second? Second! No, that must be a mistake. “That doesn’t make sense. Wouldn’t it be some general or Fennan or something?”
“By law, as his mate and betrothed, even if you are not yet wed, you’re higher ranked than any of us. Even above Talon which is why she hates you so much. In the line of succession, she’s fourth, and when it comes to military movements, she has no say in what goes on here while you and he are alive.”
“But—but…” Layala couldn’t even come up with words. That couldn’t be correct. Everything in Palenor was done officially. If they weren’t married, then she wasn’t technically queen. Thane even said that himself. “We aren’t married.”
“No but most would agree that being bound as mates is more official than a wedding. With marriage the only thing that shows you are together is a signed document. Mates are just as legally binding. You aren’t the only two to ever be bound, Layala. Mage Vesstan secured many with mate runes on their wedding day in his years. It became the fashion, if you will, after you, the magic child, and Thane the Prince of Palenor. It is seen as a true commitment since it can’t be undone. They even think it’s poetic because if their mate dies so will they.”
Anxiety welled up in her. Why wasn’t she told this before? “But the spell hasn’t been completed for us.”
Piper rolled onto her side and stared into the fire. “As we all well know.”
Layala rubbed her forehead, struggling to comprehend that she was second in command and in the line of succession for the throne of Palenor. “And what happens when it is completed? What else is there?”
“For you two? I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Everyone else is bound on their wedding day; you two were children so it could only be partially done because you must both agree. Maybe nothing will change. Maybe all that’s left is the time limit.”
Breaking the tension, Tif showed up dragging a canvas bag of goods larger than her with a huge smile. “I got snacks.”
They ate while Tif prattled on about her run-in with a pixie who tried to steal the sack of berries she picked. Always with the dramatics and this tale wasn’t lacking. “She punched me straight in the face!” Tif crooned. “I bet I’ll have a purple shiner here soon. Battle wounds for the prize. I hope you two are happy I’m willing to share the spoils. These berries be blood berries.”
“You’re not even bleeding,” Piper said.
“She was,” Tif said with a wicked grin.
Layala popped one of the berries in her mouth and nodded but her mind was elsewhere. She watched every soldier who appeared in the firelight hoping it was Thane or someone coming to bring news. Why wasn’t Piper more concerned? Even when a light drizzle of rain dampened her clothes and hair, she waited outside. The fire still burned but the wetness brought it to near embers. When Piper and Tif both moved inside the tent and fell asleep—Tif’s snores were proof—Layala walked back and forth between her tent and Thane’s. The clouds above blocked the stars and moons, creating an eerie black night. Every movement, every snap of a branch or deep voice nearby brought out instincts to pull her sword. Only the very wisps of her magic came back and the lack of it put her on edge.
A tall, cloaked figure appeared in the glow of the barely visible orange light. Before she even saw his face, before he even spoke, she knew it was Thane. Something in her recognized the essence of him. “Thane,” she tried not to sound too desperate with relief, but she failed. Layala darted in front of him before he could enter his tent. “What happened?”
He tugged his hood back revealing the dark circles under his eyes. He pushed his hand through his hair and stepped around her and into his tent. She followed without being invited. It must be bad. While he rummaged through his trunk of belongings she waited quietly by the exit. He took out a bottle of wine and pulled the cork. It must be really bad.
“Half of Doonafell burns. They’re trying to evacuate the city and save as many ladies and children as possible, but they also have to make sure that the innocent aren’t being followed to be slaughtered on the road.” A low growl rumbled in his chest. “The fact that we even must do that is disgusting. They would kill our children and eat them.” He shuddered.
Her stomach ached at the thought. “Have the pale ones’ numbers suddenly grown? Are we lacking soldiers? I don’t understand why they’re breaking into Palenor now when they haven’t before. Palenor has held them at bay for hundreds of years.”
“They have broken through plenty of times but not for long and not far. They’ve never reached Doonafell in any large number. As you know some stragglers get through from time to time but they aren’t a huge threat.” Thane dropped into his chair and took a big gulp of wine. “Their numbers have grown but that’s not what drives them now. I suspect it’s because now they know where you are, and they are fighting harder. I sent some of the Ravens ahead. If they ride through the night, they should be there in the morning.”
“Shouldn’t we all ride through the night then? How many soldiers have been lost? How many civilians? The children on the road…” Images of small children screaming and running, of their mothers dying to protect them flashed across her mind. She shook her head trying to clear those horrible thoughts.
Thane gave her a long look; she couldn’t quite read his expression. “I’m surprised you care so much,” he finally said.
That stung a little. She didn’t believe he meant it as a dig at her character but after the way she treated him, she deserved that comment. Truthfully, she didn’t realize she cared so much either, but how could any person with a heart not care about dying children?
He went on, “And we need some fresh fighters when the others are tired. As far as numbers lost go, too many.” He tilted his head slightly to the side and held out the bottle. “You want some? I’m sorry I don’t have a glass for you.”
“This is all because of me,” Layala whispered. She gripped the handle of her dagger on her belt for something to take the brunt of outrage and fear and anxiety pulsing through her. “They’re dying because of me. If I didn’t exist, then—”
“Don’t. Don’t go there.” He rose up and in two strides was in front of her. “The pale ones existed to slaughter before you were even a thought. This is the Black Mage’s fault, not yours. This is what he and they want you to think. Mathekis and the pale ones want you to doubt. They want you to fear them because they know you don’t know how strong you really are yet. But when you find out and let go of thinking you’re but a pawn in this game to be used—when you realize you are the queen, the most powerful chess piece on the board, they will fear you.” He shoved the bottle into her hand. “Now have a drink.”
Layala gulped and brought the bottle to her lips. After a slug of wine, she murmured, “Thank you,” and she didn’t know if she was thanking him for the speech or the wine, but both warmed her chest.
