Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(37)

Steed held his hand out to the side, palm up, and shrugged loosely. "I don't know. I wasn't around then." He grinned with only one side of his mouth and added, "I fancy that he wasn't handsome enough for you."

I ignored his sarcasm and, suddenly, I wanted nothing more than a subject change. "Where were you?" I asked.

He forced a smile. "I don't know exactly when it took place, but I recall hearing about it upon my return." I hadn't realized my eyes had narrowed until I heard his quiet laugh. "You always have been the best gossip, Elfreda." I'd forgotten my first question when he finally answered it. "I was with Grey, I believe."

"Grey?" I asked, completely sidetracked again.

"Yes." He smiled, more genuine this time. "I have known Grey for longer than I care to admit. And he has been smitten with Red for nearly as long."

I felt my eyes widen and he chuckled. "It must be so strange for you," he said.

I didn't want to think about it. "Where were you and Grey?"

"With my father," he answered, a fondness of the memory plain in his tone. "Grey had shown some interest in the horse trade then."

"He doesn't anymore?" I asked.

"Not since he's found Ruby." He sighed. "He was lost at his first look into her deep emerald eyes." He peered into mine as he spoke and I couldn't be sure whether he was taunting me. "So rare," he almost purred.

"Are they?" I asked without meaning to. I'd never seen another besides Ruby's but I'd just assumed I couldn't remember seeing others. No one in the village had my now dark, jeweled eyes but they hadn't had dark hair either, everything about them seemed to shine brightly. But I thought the color could have been common here.

"I've never seen another pair," he said plainly, "aside from her... and you." And then, as an afterthought, he added, "But I'd never met your mother."

I nodded automatically before I'd examined what he'd said. And then I realized what we'd all had in common. Half-breeds. All the elves I'd seen here had brown or black eyes and dark hair. It made me wonder how Fannie had changed but then I remembered my mother's description of her in the diary, her light features. I was unintentionally thinking out loud when I said, "So, when they bound me, they matched me to Fannie."

"Horrible decision if you ask me," Steed said. I glanced up at him, surprised, and he smiled. "I'm sure I much prefer you raven than hen."

I flushed but quickly recovered. "Steed, the next time Junnie is here, please help me see her. She's all I have." His face changed and he looked as if he wanted to say something. "Well, except for you guys, of course," I amended, worried I'd hurt his feelings.

He began to speak but the door opened and we both turned to see who was entering.

"Don’t trust me alone with her, then?" Steed teased when he saw it was Ruby.

"You should know by now," she joked back, but her humor was only half-hearted.

She pulled up a chair to join us but merely stood beside it. "How do you feel, Frey?"

"Super," I lied. She glared at me. "Did you find Storm?" I asked flatly.

She hesitated for a moment and then shrugged, deciding it was my own fault if I lost it again, I was sure. "Yes."

"Ruby." I looked her straight in the eye. "Why was she watching us?"

"Maybe she was wondering why you haven't brushed your hair in days," she replied sarcastically.

I jerked back self-consciously, as if Ruby could have somehow read my thoughts from earlier with Steed. And then I realized. "She was watching me with Steed, too. Before, when we talked, and we trained."

Ruby's mouth became a mean grimace and I was pretty sure she cursed under her breath but her face was smooth again as she looked to Steed. "Anything of consequence?"

Steed shook his head but I didn't agree, everything we'd talked about was significant. My memory loss, my issue with fairies, Anvil, the hawk, and Chevelle. I swallowed hard, forgetting momentarily about my mental argument. And then I was back, because what I'd discussed with Chevelle was far worse than my conversation with Steed. "Ruby, why was she watching me?" When she didn't answer, I realized the more important issue. "Who is she reporting to?"

She sighed, expecting me to faint when she replied, "Asher."

Asher. And we'd been speaking of Junnie, her issues with council, my concealment in the village, combined with what she'd heard earlier. "Ruby, is Junnie in danger?" I asked.

She smiled. "No, Freya, be assured she is not."

"But Asher knows she's protecting me," I argued.

"How would he know that?" she chided.

"Because Chevelle and I were-" and then I stopped, because I knew what she'd meant. They had found Storm. I suddenly understood her comment to Steed earlier, she'd been asking if I had learned anything of consequence, not Storm. Storm was no longer an issue.

When I heard a clamor in the corridor outside, my gaze nervously found Ruby, but she just stood there as if she didn't hear it. "Ruby," I said.

"They are simply taking care of a little problem, Frey."

And then I heard a thick, solid thump that resembled the one I'd heard earlier, when Grey had hit the block wall, and I knew it was a body. I automatically started to get up but Ruby put a hand on my shoulder and pushed me back down. "I promise you, they do not need your help."