Pieces of Eight (The Frey Saga, #2)(50)

She smiled, delighted. She had no idea. I relaxed and released my breath. Chevelle must have prepared things before his meeting, thank decency.

I watched Ruby choose clothes from my wardrobe, cheerily packing in the case that we would finally depart as she'd been hoping. I was still overwhelmed with contented satisfaction from the previous night and couldn't help but feel grateful that she'd shared the story of our past with me. I didn't exactly owe her, but I wanted to help her somehow, help her reach the joy I had.

"Ruby?" I asked, tentatively.

She turned to me smiling. I hesitated and she stepped closer, stopping near the edge of the bed.

I started to flush but steeled myself. "Don't you want to... be with Grey?"

She looked startled for one moment and then laughed a loud, barking laugh at me. I didn't see what was funny. "You were so serious, Frey. I thought you had some significant dilemma."

"Is it not significant?" I replied, defensive.

She was still smiling as she sat lithely on the bed. "Do you mean is Grey significant? Of course."

I waited.

"Frey," she explained in a light, carefree tone, "we have been together for ages."

"But not together," I remarked.

She nodded. "There are many reasons for that, none of which are so solemn as you imply." She could see that I intended to ask so she stopped me. "I do enjoy his company, and have nearly always. But I do not enter into a union lightly."

"But Ruby, what happened to you before..." I was still uneasy talking of her poisoning her own mother. "It won't happen now. You know how to prevent it."

She shook her head. "Silly Freya. I know that. He is as safe from my venom as my whip."

I didn't think anyone was entirely safe from Ruby's whip, but I ignored the urge to argue that point. "Then why, Ruby?" I pleaded.

"The bond is not so simple among us, Frey. If I were wholly fay, a union would be uncomplicated." I stared at her vacantly and she explained further. "The fairy joining is easy, unattached, nonpermanent. Many find themselves with more partners than adversaries at the end of the day." She laughed. "They are a lusty, uncommitted people and are therefore free with such actions." I still didn't get it. She gave me an admonishing smile. "You'll make me spell it out then." She sighed. "It is different with the elf blood, Frey. Coupling among us would be a strong, enduring bond."

"So?" I asked plainly.

"It is not something taken into casually, Frey. A tie is formed that can take a hard toll," she said seriously. "It is an attachment, a responsibility, that could persist a lifetime. Even if you wanted it broken."

I felt my stomach twist. I'd known those that coupled were together for centuries, but I'd never considered that it wasn't by choice.

She saw the distress on my face and mistook it. "I guess you must have lost the memory of those lessons as well," she said. She patted my hand. "Your Vita was a victim of that bond."

And Vita had died of grief.

Ruby considered. "Though, her bond was weightier. Union with a lord and all." And then she unexpectedly perked up and smiled. "Not to worry, plenty of time to decide."

I thought for an instant I might be sick.

But then Grey appeared in the doorway from nowhere and gave a slight nod to Ruby before he disappeared just as quickly. She grasped my arm and pulled me out of the trance to face her.

"Now, Frey," she demanded, "let's go."

Her tone spoke of the seriousness of the situation so I followed her direction as she jumped up to throw shoes at me and pull my cloak from the wardrobe. My pack was over her shoulder when she grabbed my wrist and pulled me from the room to running behind her. We hurried down the corridors to a hidden entrance and as soon as we stepped outside, I could see that the others were mounted, waiting on us, each in their own dark cloaks.

When Rhys and Rider saw us, they kicked up their horses and sped from the group to ride the lead with the wolves. I found Chevelle and he acknowledged me with his eyes but his face was severe. Ruby was throwing me on my horse and as soon as I'd mounted, all of the horses were moving, Chevelle to my right, Ruby the left. Anvil was slightly ahead and I could hear the hooves of Steed and Grey's horses following closely behind.





We rode hard without interruption across the craggy rocks and away from the safety of the castle walls. The group was silent and alert. I was terrified.

Chevelle stayed near me as we rode and when we finally did stop, he stepped from his horse and in one fluid movement, pulled me from my own and to standing beside him. His face was hard and I didn't ask the questions that were swimming through my mind, I was sure I didn't want the answers anyway.

I'd thought we were taking a break but when I realized that Steed was directing the horses back the way we had just come, my optimism sank. Chevelle led me to the cover of a few small, bushy trees and gave me one slight nod before Ruby stepped beside me and took his place. I watched him walk to where Anvil and the others stood, the wolves pacing restlessly around them. I could not hear a word of their discussion.

"What's going on, Ruby?" I whispered.

She responded in kind. "We had received word of Brahn but the delay in our departure will mean some searching. They will split on short excursions to hunt without losing the group, while keeping you center." My stomach tightened.