Brightly Woven(42)

“He’d follow us to the seven hells if he knew it would prevent us from getting to Provincia,” North said.

“Is he still working with the hedges?” I pressed.

“Even they couldn’t stand him.” North made a slicing motion with his fingers. “Who do you think took his eye and ear?”

I shuddered.

“The Wizard Guard needs to do something about him,” I said.

“He’s unranked,” North said. “There was never a trace spell put on him because the Guard refused to admit him.”

“Because he didn’t have the proper schooling?” I asked.

“Because he had dangerous schooling,” North corrected me. “I think he once really did want to prove himself everyone’s equal, but now I think he wants Auster to destroy the wizards.”

“What will he do?” I asked. “Won’t he be destroyed along with the rest?”

North took my hand in his own and helped me navigate the rocky path. “Let’s not find out, shall we?”

We heard the groan of the wagon’s wheels long before we saw the two boys come around the bend in the mountain path. They were wearing plain clothing and their faces were surprisingly young. North held out an arm and drew me closer to him as the wagon slowed. The horses still had snow in their manes, but it was the word carved into the side of the wagon itself that caught my attention: ARCADIA.

North brought a hand up to his eyes, squinting against the setting sun’s light. “Well, if it isn’t little James and little Peter, all grown up and making the deliveries!”

The young man with blond hair waved, a huge smile on his face. “Mr. North! Didn’t realize you’d left!”

“Just an hour or so ago,” he said. “Where are you headed?”

“Mariton,” the other boy said. “If you’re going our way, we’d be happy to take you.”

North looked at me, and I looked at our map. “Are you taking this path down to Mariton Pass, by any chance?”

We would be able to pick up Prima Road from there, and then it would be about a week until Provincia came into sight. North must have been thinking the same thing, because he favored me with a smile.

“We sure are,” James said. “Hop in back. You might need to do some rearranging.”

I saw what he meant. The wagon was filled with burlap sacks of apples and bundles of newly sheared wool. North pulled himself up first, piling the bags of fruit onto one another until there was enough room for both of us to sit. The wagon trembled to life, and while it felt good to be off my feet, I doubted we were moving any faster than before.

In front of us, the two boys chatted amiably, looking back every once in a while when they thought North or I might not notice. They quieted down as night came and the chill settled in, but I could still hear them whispering about us. I almost wished we were walking, both to get away from them and to warm my stiff, cold limbs.

“I was thinking,” North whispered. I blinked my eyes open, rubbing them tiredly. He was looking at the half-eaten apple in his hand. “That once we got to Provincia, I would find you a nice place to stay while I take care of things.”

“You don’t have to do that for me,” I said, sitting back up. “I want to be with you. This is really important to me.”

“I can tell you’re unhappy, you know,” he said. “Please, I just want to do something nice for you.”

“You did something very nice for me the other night, remember?” I said pointedly. The two boys chuckled.

“Oh, grow up!” I said. They simply waved me off, not even bothering to turn around.

North snorted with laughter, letting his heavy arm fall around my shoulders.

“You should rest,” he said, his fingers threading through my hair. “We have a very long day tomorrow.”

“I’m not tired,” I said stubbornly, trying to shake off his arm.

“Well, I am!” North said, removing his arm. Before I could say a word, he had his head resting in my lap and his eyes squeezed shut. I wondered if he was waiting for me to hit him.

One of my hands came down to rest on his forehead, and all the lines of worry and tension seemed to give way. He was warm to the touch, as always.

“Gonna sing him a lullaby, now?” James asked.

North’s foot lashed out, missing the younger man’s back by mere inches.

“Oi!” North growled. “You’re wrecking my peace! Just be quiet and drive!”

I swatted him on the forehead.

“You’re being ridiculous,” I sighed.

He turned slightly, as if trying to get more comfortable. “I need to feed you more, you’re awfully bony.”

“Go to sleep,” I warned him, “before you say anything else and I decide to drop you off the side of the wagon.”

He grasped the hand resting on his forehead and entwined his fingers with mine, pulling them down to his chest.

“What were you and your magister fighting about?” I whispered. “You were so upset.”

“About whether,” North said, “any man or wizard has the right to be selfish enough to want to save his life.”

“Of course they do,” I said. “It’s only human to want to save your own life.”