IN THE DARK
There is only one way to get there faster than Duncan. Alina packed her things in her bedchamber, throwing clothing into a satchel she could strap to the saddle. She would take only a spare cloak, and wear her warmest riding dress and boots. The only way was to go overland, not by road. And that meant she would have to ride.
Alina finished her packing and went down to the kitchens to fetch supplies. The midday meal was already almost finished. She could hear the laughter of the men-at-arms in the great hall and, if she breathed in, could smell the scent of grease and gruel, and, somewhere closer to the kitchen, fresh bread. The family was, no doubt, ensconced in the warm solar, probably wondering where she was.
She walked noiselessly into the kitchen, looking about. She would take a loaf of bread and perhaps a little cheese. She intended to spend no more than two days on the road. Any longer would be too long. She was reaching for a loaf when Patrice appeared at her shoulder.
“My lady! What do you need here at this time?”
Alina looked into her dark eyes, noting she was concerned, not inquisitive. “I am going on a ride, Patrice,” she said levelly. “I need to be away at short notice. I thought to take a loaf. Do you have cheese?”
Patrice nodded. She walked briskly across the kitchen, years of practice sending her through the crowd of pot-boys, past the dog, and to the pantry shelves without knocking into anyone. When she returned she had a small round cheese and a parcel that proved to contain hard-boiled eggs, wrapped in a scrap of cheesecloth.
Alina bit her lip, feeling touched. “Thank you, Patrice.”
Patrice curtsied. “Of course, ma'am.”
Alina patted her shoulder – a gesture that was utterly out-of-keeping with her rank, but she didn't care. She was grateful and wished to show it. Then she hurried out. She had not wanted to have to explain herself any further and, thanks to Patrice, she had the supplies with no questions asked. She packed them carefully into a pannier and headed to the stables.
Old Knox, the head of the stables, an old guardsman who had lost a leg, helped prepare her horse, a beautiful palfrey, and they headed out of the stables together.
“You should be using heartsease for that chest of yours,” she commented, hearing the old man give a wheezing cough.
“Aye, Milady,” he said, coughing again as he did so. “I will that. God go wi' ye.”
Alina swallowed. “Thank you. I pray so.”
She sat in the sidesaddle, taking the reins, and together she and Argent, her horse, rode through the gates.
Alina bit her lip. It was not that late in the afternoon, but already the mist was gathering, making the moors around the castle a dark, menacing place. The ground below her horse's hooves was wet and slick with droplets, making it dangerous to try any faster than a trot.
They headed down the slope towards the plain.
When we reach the plain, we should follow the road into the forest. The route towards Inverglass was perhaps two days' ride, though the way she chose would cut off half a day. That was why she had planned it. She shuddered. The one concern of the route she chose was that it would take her close to Gormond, the seat of Camry's father.
Whist! Stop being so foolish. The man could do nothing. All you do is ride past the fort. Besides, for all she could tell, Camry Blackwell was still away. The thought of Camry, and the fear he had induced in her, still made her shiver and draw her cloak closer. She did not like the thought of riding through woods under his family's control. She bit her lip. There was no other way.
She felt Argent slow as they reached the woodland, and made noises of approval. “Good. We need to slow now. We need to be careful.” They would ride some way through the woods and pass through into territory of the Blackwell, perhaps late that night.
Argent snorted and Alina patted her neck. “Good. We'll slow now.” They entered the woods.
The woods were silent. The last rain, dripping from long leaves, was the only sound. Below the leaves, the forest floor was bone dry, the leaf mold smelling of earth and ancient silence. Alina breathed deeply, feeling the strange wariness of being in an ancient forest descend on her. The place had the silence of the grave and, like the grave, a sense of waiting presences, moored on the other side of time.
“I ride to set right something badly done,” she said aloud.
The affirmation was for her as well as for the ancient presences that hovered in the chapel silence. If they were guarding the place – and she felt a sense of hostility, there was no doubt –that reason would surely make them tolerate her here.
There was pause, then there was a strange sigh, almost as if a wind blew, though no leaves stirred. The light brightened in the forest, as if a cloud moved away, temporarily letting sunshine in. It was a fractional moment, only, and then all returned to normal.
Alina felt the tension lessen fractionally, and she sighed as her heartbeat slowed again. Argent, below her, seemed to relax, too, for her ears moved from twitching to relaxed. Alina sat forward, relaxing herself for the first time since they left.
“Easy, now,” she said to Argent. “This is the longest part of it.” She half-closed her eyes, trusting Argent to follow the forester's tracks through the woodland. She was not sure how she would explain her presence in Blackmuir lands – trespassing was the domain of trappers and trapping was a crime. No huntsman would think she was there to steal his lordship's game!
As long as they did not ask Lord Camry.
She dug her nails into her palm, pulling her concentration back to the present moment. The woods were dark, the rain dripping onto the canopy but leaving them dry.
I will not worry about anything, she decided, but the present moment.
There were enough dangers to concern her – boars, bears, other wild animals. Outlaws. She did not need to concern herself with the nebulous danger of Lord Camry. She rode steadily on. At one point, where the road opened out, they went at a canter, making up time. Then, when they reached dense trees again, perhaps ten minutes later, they walked.
Alina rode on as the light faded in the forest, darkening to mauve and bronze and then, finally, to black. She felt her head droop forward and rode half asleep; the only thing keeping her upright was her saddle and her fingers on the reins.
Later, she came sharply awake. She had heard a noise.
She patted her horse's neck, but her horse seemed as nervous as she did. Alina's heart thumped.
Wolves. She was sure it was. Why else had Argent stopped so suddenly? She cursed herself. There is nothing I can do – I cannot light a torch. I will die here. She looked wildly round. There was nowhere to go. No way to escape from here.
She braced herself, waiting to see the shine of their eyes. However, nothing came.
Instead, there was a sound again. A crackle of the brush behind her. She felt her heart pound. She was almost too scared to turn round. Was it a bear? A wild man? Some hideous fiend of night?
She was too stiff to move. I don't want to see...She braced herself: she had to. Feeling her neck grate as she moved it, she turned round.
Found herself looking at a startled verderer and then at the man on horseback behind.
Lord Camry.