Rise of the Seven (The Frey Saga, #3)(29)

Laying down intensified the fatigue tenfold, but I didn’t sleep. I searched the mountains, reaching for the minds of Finn and Keaton. I wasn’t able to find them, so I moved ahead to my next task and located my hawk. He had fled the castle in the raid, but was perched nearby one of the gates. I set him to flight and circled the grounds.

Apparently, the fey had been warned to come in stealth, because nothing outside of the yards was damaged. I could see the staff now, annoyed at the mess, but relieved to be unharmed as they tried to set things to rights. I had a feeling it was going to take them a while. I continued my inspection, checking the roofs, crevices, anywhere the fey might be hiding or might have left a snare.

Eventually, I came to the stables, leaving my most dreaded chore for last. I really didn’t want to see what they’d done there this time. The hawk alighted on a post outside the stable and I was surprised to see Steed walking a mare into the yard. He must have come straight to check on his stock as soon as Grey had relieved him of his charge. I hopped to a nearer post.

The poor beast was covered in a shimmering violet dust and Steed stood beside her, humming while he gently brushed it away. I bounced to the post closest to them, and saw the ground was littered with various shades of the stuff. He must have brought each one out and swept them clean by hand. The way he looked, I was curious if he did this for the animals or himself. Surely, he could have been done much quicker by other means. His hum broke into song then, and I felt the corner of my mouth draw up back in the bed.

Steed was so engrossed in his work, he had only glanced at the bird when it landed near him. It wouldn’t have seemed unusual, after all, because it lived in the castle. But as I watched him, he began to glance more frequently at the hawk. Apparently it didn’t normally stalk him.

The mare purred and Steed answered in a low tone. “Yes, darling.” She rolled a shudder down her back, shaking out more dust. “There’s a girl,” he murmured.

I cocked the head of my host sideways just as Steed flicked another glance at it. His eyes narrowed infinitesimally. I wasn’t certain it was his audience that had him unnerved, but it sure seemed that way. I thought I’d check. As he moved to work the dust from the mane of the mare, rubbing between her ears, he glanced over again. I raised one clawed foot from the post and held it forward in salute.

Yep, it was the bird. His face twisted into an unease I’d never before seen on him. Singing stopped, he stared straight ahead, over the mare’s back.

I sprang to the mare’s rump, landing lightly about a foot from his face. He jumped.

I felt myself chuckle back in my bed and then was startled out of the hawk by a familiar voice.

“Freya.”

I didn’t know why I felt guilty, but I bolted upright, and then winced at the pain in my side from the sudden move. Chevelle wore a “that’s what I thought” look. He handed me a cup, and I took it without thinking. It was warm against my hand and smelled wonderful. One sip and I was choking and spitting uncontrollably.

“Ruby prepared a blend for your rib.”

I wheezed.

“She mentioned it might be strong.”

I looked up at him, completely unable to form a response.

He smiled. “Rest, Freya.”

It must have worked, because the next thing I knew, Ruby was waking me for our meeting. She seemed well, considering the fey had apparently placed a bounty on her. I took a breath before questioning her, realized it didn’t hurt, and took several long, deep lungfuls of air.

“Ruby, what did you give me?”

She shrugged. “Tea. Now, come on.” She threw clothes at me, impatiently moving about the room while I put myself in order.

“You’re kind of keyed up,” I mentioned casually as I walked toward the door.

“Maybe I just don’t like waiting,” she huffed. She walked two paces in front of me all the way to the study, clearly not wanting to discuss whatever had her edgy. It definitely wasn’t fear, though.

When we entered, she pointedly did not look at Grey, which of course caused me to. He was staring at her with an intensity that would have caught a normal woman on fire. Ruby, however, had been born of fire.

I shook my head. This was just what we needed.

All eyes fell on me as I stepped to the head of the table. I threw the pendant down, the twisted strands landing with a clanging thump on the wood surface.

“Ice, silver, blood, and bone. Our gift.”





Chapter Fifteen


Gift





They stared at the pendant, the spike formed from four intertwined strands. There was no question in my mind whether the ice and silver were related to my attacks, especially since Veil had mentioned my safety. How they were related was another matter entirely. They were cold to the touch, while the blood and bone were warm, and further warning. A gift, our prisoner had insisted. Leave it to the fey to offer a puzzle instead of a clear message.

“It’s the same,” Ruby said, wide-eyed. She hadn’t had a chance to examine the pendant yet, to see the thin thread of ice, frozen solid even now.

“I suspected as much.” I glanced at Chevelle. “And the silver?”

“It appears so,” he answered, none too pleased with the revelation.

“The question remains,” I offered, “is this admission of their involvement, a threat of further attacks? Or is this truly a gift, answer to our search?”