Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(10)

I found a large red-tail. It was a nice one, good eyes. I thought of having it come with us, in case I wasn’t able to find one when the urge struck, but there seemed to be plenty available.

We continued riding casually for days, turning as we entered the valley to follow the more passable ground on our way down. Twice I’d spotted the wolves. It made me feel more secure but I still did a quick sweep from above at least three times a day, as I became more paranoid the further from the castle we were. And the closer to our destination, wherever that was.

It was then Ruby decided to start telling her fairy stories, which, now that I knew they were probably all true, I didn’t like to hear. I was trying to ignore her by flying over the valley, gliding and enjoying the view.

It wasn’t as rocky here and the vegetation was coming back. The trees were a deep green and appearing more and more frequently. I realized I was subconsciously counting them in their patches, dark green, dark green, dark green.

“Does that not tire you?”

I almost jumped but surprise didn’t have the expected reactions in this body. Instead, it pulled me back to myself. I opened my eyes to find Anvil riding beside me, watching.

I smiled at him but he appeared to be waiting on something. I remembered he had asked me a question. “Oh, uh… I guess no, not really.”

This pleased him but when he smiled back I had to hold myself from reacting to the thought of his burning tongue. So strange that he would bring out such a pleasant feeling and the simple dreams of his tongue called up such a severe one. I forced it back.

I thought of his special talent, how it exhausted him of strength. “The lightning does, huh?” Sometimes, I thought I sounded like a dork. Mostly, it was when I wanted to impress someone.

He didn’t seem to notice. “Yes. But it’s worth it, I think.”

“How did you think to try?”

He laughed lightly. I apparently didn’t get the joke.

I found myself wondering if I could do it. I concentrated on my hands as we rode, willing electricity through them.

Nothing happened, not that I really expected it to. I saw Anvil’s cheeks tighten in a smile and I grimaced at forgetting he was beside me. Yep, usually just people I wanted to like me.

But he did like me. He was part of my guard…

I lowered my voice. “Anvil?”

He turned toward me more.

Ugh, how to ask? “What do you know about me?”

He was silent as he stared at me. I was waiting for his answer when I was thrown forward in the saddle as my horse stopped instantly. Chevelle’s was suddenly standing in front of mine, blocking us. “Frey, we’ve been neglecting your training. You should work with Anvil as you ride.”

I tried to hide my reaction but it was too late.

Anvil laughed. “Don’t think she relishes the shock.”

Chevelle was undeterred. “Well, Grey, then.”

Anvil smiled as he continued on and Grey fell in beside me, our horses joining the group’s pace automatically as he began his version of training. “You know what I find helpful?”

“Being able to practically disappear and reappear?” Irritation brought out sarcasm. But he laughed and I softened.

His eyes glinted as he grinned conspiratorially. “Distraction.”

Our lesson continued through the day and he was good at it, the teaching and distraction. I’d forgotten most of what had been worrying me and was concentrating on retaining what I was learning.

I kept silent the next morning, hoping no one volunteered to teach me about a new weapon or something equally painful. But Ruby had taken to telling stories again and no one mentioned my practice. I smiled, returning to the sky to hide from the terrible fairy tales and the constant looming threat of practice.

It was warmer today, the haze was clearer. I examined our new surroundings; the sun warmed the colors of a patch of dormant weeds to almost golden. The new color was a change to the scenery and I kept looking, trying to pick out more, when something caught my eye.

I felt pressure on my arm and realized I had gasped. Someone was talking to me so I pulled back and opened my own eyes to find Ruby.

She was grasping my arm tight, her face worried. “What is it Frey?”

“I don’t know.” I tried to sort my thoughts, place what I saw. And then I knew what was wrong with the picture. “Blonde hair.”

Their faces reflected mine, I was sure. It wasn't a dark elf.

“Was it a council member?” Ruby asked.

“I don’t think so, she, well, she didn’t look like it. And he had a dark cloak with a hood.”

Chevelle spoke from my other side, his voice urgent. “Where?”

I hadn’t noticed how close he was and it took a moment to find the answer. “About two miles.” I pointed out the direction and he was gone. I kicked up my horse, racing behind him, trying to keep up, but the others were faster.

They were surrounding the strangers before I got a chance to see anything. I threw myself off the side of my horse, leaving him where a couple of the other horses stood, and stumbled blindly toward the group. I pushed through where they had gathered, determined to not be kept out of another… well, whatever this was. Chevelle’s hand flew up to block me, keep me back. I pressed but his open palm was strong on my chest, restraining me. Rhys and Rider were already there. The plain black cloak was a pile on the ground and I realized a moment later that the man I had seen was crumpled beneath it, motionless. I looked to the girl and suddenly knew she was next.