Frey (The Frey Saga, #1)(28)

“I, of course, am Ruby,” she said, introducing herself. “I’m pleased you’ll be staying with me during your visit."

Staying with her? This was her house? I was sure I was wearing the same irritated look as Chevelle. I was also certain, by the way she watched me, that she had seen me spying. Her mouth was twisted in a smile, loaded with false honey. I noticed her eyes then, looking past the heavy paint they wore, to dark green jewels… emeralds. They were so like those I had just examined in the mirror and I had to look away.

“Frey,” I replied softly. “Thank you for the room.”

She seemed disappointed I had no further comment. She flitted her hand in the air in dismissal as she swirled out of the room and back to Chevelle, the metal bracelets around her wrists clinking lightly.





“I’m off to town then. You know, a handsome hunk of horsemeat was asking about you this morning.”

My ears perked up. Someone was asking about him? And then I realized she had called someone a hunk of horsemeat and I had to stifle a giggle. Chevelle nodded at her but made no remark on the inquirer. She winked toward him on her way out and the gesture lit a burn in my chest. I turned back to my room and climbed into bed, covering my head with a corner of the blanket.





I woke later, unsure how long I’d slept. The house was quiet so I slipped from bed trying not to make a sound. I peeked into the main room from my door and found Chevelle sitting against the front wall by a small window. He was leaned over, working on something with both hands, making a light scratching noise. I started forward and my boot scuffed the floor, alerting him to my presence. As he turned, he slid whatever he’d been working into a pocket at his hip.

It dawned on me then that this room only had the entrance and two other doors. If we were staying with Ruby then the other door must lead to her room. I was ready to offer him my room to sleep but the look on his face was so devastating I could not stop myself from offering something else. “You don’t… you don’t have to protect me.” I hoped it was true. “I can turn myself in, take myself to the village, or…” I was trying to say Grand Council but the words were stuck in my throat. No part of me wanted to surrender to my mother’s killers but I could not make him suffer more than he had. My hands trembled. He was my watcher; he must have felt he needed to fulfill his duties, to keep his honor. He would finish our journey and return me to the village.

“Freya.” He said my name as if it were tearing at him and my chest ached. “You don’t understand.” He was searching for words again. “You can’t submit to Grand Council. You can never submit.”

He was right, I didn’t understand. Did he intend to return me to the village, to High Council?

“You remembered… what they did to your mother?”

I felt my face pale. Did he mean to submit was to accept her fate? The image of flames and a circle of cloaks surrounding her was there again and I had to force it away before it turned to an image of me. Protection, he’d kept saying as we worked on magic. They were going to burn me.

“They would… kill me… because of the pendant… the library?”

“No, Frey. You have broken some of your bonds. They will not risk trying to bind you again.”

I struggled with an intake of breath. He stood and started toward me, about to speak again, just as the door swung open and then his face flushed with anger.

“Elfreda!” Steed was through the door and to me in two long strides. He grabbed me at the waist, picking me up and spinning me like a child, my cloak swirling behind me. The shock and exuberance of his greeting was too much and I couldn’t help but let out a breathless laugh. He put me down but kept me close, his hands still at my waist.

“Steed.” I was almost winded. “What are you doing here?”

He glanced at Chevelle then, who still plainly wore irritation, and his carefree smile dissolved. “I was heading to Bray and ran across some trackers.” Chevelle’s eyes flicked to my face and then back to Steed. Steed dropped his hands from my waist as he looked back at me. “I saw the horses out front and couldn’t resist. Knew you’d be missing me.”

I tried to smile but the thought of trackers had taken the thrill of the unexpected visitor. The vision of flames was threatening again.

Chevelle threw on his cloak and hooded his head. “Stay here,” he ordered me, quite directly, as he gestured toward Steed, who turned and followed him outside.

I wasn’t sure how long they’d be gone. I went to one of the small windows on the front wall and peered cautiously out. They were nowhere to be seen but the sights of the village distracted me in just a few short moments. It was so unlike home.

Night gave the dark stones an even darker appearance and the light of the fires hit the moisture from the snow, making them look glossy. In the mist, it reminded me of polished onyx. Fires lit each walkway and building I could see. I wasn’t sure how late it was but several villagers outside were loud and boisterous. They seemed to all be dressed in black. A few of the men had large silver breastplates and wrist cuffs. Most wore leather, laced tight against their muscular bodies. Few of them were thin or petite as the elves I was used to seeing. These were strong, like Chevelle and Steed. All had dark hair as well. And then I saw red hair. Ruby.

I cursed. She was approaching the house and I was alone. Part of me wondered if I was fast enough to get to my room and close myself in before she came in. I hadn’t made up my mind before the door opened beside me.