Chapter 8
Josette knew when to run. She knew when her chances were not in her favor and when to run.
The only trouble was, she was surrounded. Ten against one to start with, she had whittled their numbers down to four against one.
She had hoped so dearly that Paige wouldn't have to enact their plan so soon but she was obviously not so lucky.
There was a knife through her left shoulder and that arm was useless. She was panting hard and her hair was a sticky mess.
"Give us what you have and you can leave," a bearded man said. They stood in the shadow of the tavern and though Josette was sure that most everyone knew what was going on, they made no move to help her. She did not expect otherwise.
"I have nothing," Josette said and spread her hands wide.
"Liar. We have heard of a woman with red hair that rides a war horse from De Loughrey castle. She has a companion, young and even more beautiful than her," another man accused.
They did not know about Kane, Josette thought.
"You are wrong. I walked here. Do you see any companion? Any war horse? And I have not even been south to De Loughrey castle," Josette sneered. She reached into her boot for her last knife.
As one, the group heard the growl, rising low and threatening from the trees just behind them.
The men closest to the trees scrambled away, clearly terrified. Josette prayed to every single god that she had ever come across that it was Kane at her back.
All the men were distracted by the terrifying growl just behind Josette and did not see the looming figure behind them, just stepped out of the bar. One thick hand wrapped around one man's neck and then Kane was there, snarling and snapping at the men that tried to descend on Josette and get away from the looming figure.
Josette must have fainted because when she opened her eyes, Kane was at her side and the man from the bar, the one that tried to warn her away, was attempting to approach Josette, hopefully to help, but Kane was keeping him away. The wolf stood over Josette's body, teeth bared and she could swear that the ground below her was rattling with the force of his warning growl.
"Kane, enough," Josette whispered.
Kane took a step back but as the man hunkered down, Kane came nose to nose with him, the growl and the teeth suddenly very real.
"Can you calm him down?"
"I don't know how," Josette admitted.
"But he is yours?" The man asked and slipped one arm under Josette, while Kane kept a close watch.
"No. Kane belongs to no one you would know."
Then the man was lifting her and the darkness descended once more.
"I hope you know where you are going, you tyrant. If she dies before we get there, it will be all your fault," the man was saying when Josette opened her eyes again. She could hear shouts, far away, but Josette couldn't find it in herself to be concerned.
When she opened her eyes, there was firelight. And Paige. And Eros.
"I don't know how to do this," Paige was whispering.
The man was pacing the length of their campsite and in his hands was a mighty sword. It was large enough to cut Kane in half, it seemed.
"We haven't time, child. Wrap the wound," the man ordered.
Paige met Josette's eyes and then Josette was gone once more.
When Josette came to again, someone was tying her hands.
"No," she moaned and tried to struggle but Paige's voice was in her ear.
"It's okay. Col is tying your hands around me so that you don't fall off Eros. We are fine. We are leaving," she whispered.
"Go. Head straight for Prince Alik in the north. It will take you all night and most of the morning, but go. Do not look back," Col ordered from the shadows and then Eros was running and they were flying away from the village.
"Who was he?" Josette asked.
"Col. He was very nice, once Kane was no longer trying to kill him," Paige said.
∞∞∞
The first thing that Paige saw were soldiers. Their capes were black or navy blue. They were lined with fur and she was so envious, though Josette was very warm against her.
Too warm.
But Paige refused to think about that.
The long ride had exhausted her and Josette hadn't woken up in a very long time.
"Whoa, there, girl!" One man said and reached out to for Eros's reigns.
She snapped and reared at him. Paige was used to her outbursts though, and leaned with her, desperately clinging to the pommel for leverage.
All four soldiers stepped back.
"That's a mighty beast for such a small girl. And who is this here with you?" Another soldier reached for Josette and this time, when Eros reared, the warning growl from the shadow of the trees was clear.
"I am the ward of King Alyx, of the Cerith Kingdom. I am here on important business. Business that has almost killed my companion," Paige said and her voice was steadier than she felt.
The men looked at one another and then laughed.
"You stole that horse from some poor soldier and your companion is no doubt part of your trouble. Give the horse to us, call off your dog, and you can go," the first man said.
Why were men so thick? Paige thought.
"This war horse belonged to King Evander, and only few can ride her. Take us to Prince Alik and my wolf will not kill you all," Paige announced through clenched teeth. They were at the gatehouse, the castle was so close Paige felt like she could touch it, and she was so, so tired.
And Josette hadn't moved or said anything in such a long time.
"Come girl- Off!" The man shouted.
Then Kane was there, snapping at the man, Eros was rearing and the hand that was reaching for her reigns was impaled with an arrow.
From the other side of the guardhouse, opposite from where Kane was hiding, a woman with a bow and arrow appeared. She was dressed in dark green, with a wide belt around her waist and a dark cloak over her head. It also seemed lined with a thick fur.
"Kane, that's quite enough," the woman said quietly. Kane fell silent and sat. Paige wondered if she was hallucinating, if too much time running made her mad.
"Lady Issat-" the third man said and fell to his knee.
She studied him and then turned back to the forest behind her.
A man was following her, with a pale face and eyes so blue, they rivaled even Kane's. He did not look kind or even welcoming. He was more like the snow around them than any human that Paige knew. His hair was long enough to be pulled back into a low ponytail and his hands were folded neatly behind him.
"That is indeed King Evander's horse. And that is one of the barbarian's wolves. I believe that to be one of my good friends, dying on that poor girl's shoulder. Tell me, what is your thought process when greeting someone with a signet ring, claiming to be a ward of King Alyx, whose country is in such dire straits? Were you truly going to turn her away?" The man approached the other three slowly.
The other two men knelt slowly, though the one with the arrow in his hand was much slower than the others.
The woman with the bow approached Paige, who was desperately clutching Josette now.
"When you calm, so will your horse," she said but stayed a safe distance away. "Breathe slowly. Is that Josette?"
Paige fought to control her breathing and nodded.
"We grew up in the same place, her and I. It must have been quite the fight to take her down," Issat said and mimed breathing in and out for Paige to follow.
"Ten of them against her. I had a bad feeling and sent Kane for her. When Kane came back, there was a man with them that was carrying her. He helped to wrap her wound and put her on the horse for me," Paige whispered and she could feel her demeanor cracking.
"Good man," Issat said.
She was beautiful like Josette was beautiful. She was calm and strong and approached them warily. Her hair and eyes were dark and her skin was smooth.
"So when a ward of one of our allies approaches your thought was to... what? Take her horse and all her belongings and send her away?" The man asked, somewhere behind Issat.
"Alik," Issat murmured and glanced over her shoulder.
"Please, give me an answer," Alik said.
The three uninjured men looked to each other but none of them seemed willing to say anything.
"Answer me!" Alik demanded, his voice filled with fury.
"She is but a girl- how were we supposed to know?" One man whispered.
"You use your eyes,” Alik strode over to one man and grabbed him by his hair, forced him to look at Paige, “She rides a war horse with a wolf at her side and signet ring on her finger. She is dressed in fine riding clothes. She asked to see me by name and you deny her?" Alik scoffed.
"Finish your games, I need your help," Issat hissed.
"No, I will leave them to my cousin. He will give them a proper punishment, one that will help them realize the error of their ways," Alik said softly.
"Your Highness-" one man whispered.
"Please-" the one with the arrow said.
"Send for replacements and if you blunder this order, it will be your head," Alik hissed.
The three stood and hurried for the gatehouse.
"Cut Josette free, I will catch her on this side. Watch the girl," Issat ordered.
Paige forced herself to remain calm as Issat cut Josette's wrists free so that Eros would not trample them all.
"Do you wish to remain up there or would you like to come down here?" Alik asked and looked up at Paige. His tone was much more gentle than moments earlier.
"My name is Paige. I am a ward of King Alyx's," Paige murmured.
"Paige, it is my pleasure," Alik said and bowed. "Any ward or family or friend of Alyx's has sanctuary and safety here, I swear it."
"What will happen to Kane? And Eros?" Paige asked.
"Eros will be treated like the royalty she is. I believe Kane has gone to feast in the forest, but if you call him, he will return to your side," Issat said.
"I think I would like to come down now," Paige said. Her head felt strange, like there was an ocean inside of her and her vision was blurry. She was shivering.
"Very well," Alik said and helped her down. Once on her feet, she swayed. Alik took his cloak off and wrapped it around her. "You southerners are so delicate," he whispered. Then he bent down and picked her up off her feet and caught Eros's reigns in his hand. She saw that Issat was already hurrying for the castle, Josette in her arms much the way she was being carried by the Prince.
"Alyx-" she murmured.
"Rest, then tell me what you must," Alik said.
The last thing she saw was a huge castle, rising up against the afternoon sky, the spires seeming to pierce the clouds.
∞∞∞
When Paige counted the days, she realized that she and Josette must have been riding and searching for close to a month. It had been just as hard as Josette promised; often there was little food, it was always cold, and there was very little comforts to be taken out on the road. Paige was hungry more often than not, ached in places she did not know, but refused to utter a complaint.
She made Josette a deal, after all.
That deal said that Paige could go with Josette, but the moment it became too hard, Paige would go back to De Loughrey castle. That was their promise.
So when she came to, the first thing she noted was the warmth and the weight of many blankets upon her. There was something else, food, warm bread baking nearby, and soft voices.
Her first thought was that she had been taken by the fairies of the forest and she would never again see her home or her family.
When she finally opened her eyes to fight the fairies that had taken her, she was confronted instead by the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. She had waves and waves of red hair, emerald green eyes, and flawless skin. Her neck was decorated with jewels that Paige had only ever heard of and her mouth was painted a beautiful shade of pink.
"Did I die? Are you the goddess?" Paige whispered and her voice cracked.
Behind the woman, someone snorted.
A man, half his face viciously scarred and the other half almost as beautiful as the woman came into view. He wore a dark cape and there was the slightest limp to his walk and a sneer on the unmarred part of his face.
"Are you the god below? Are you here to fight for my soul?" Paige asked.
The woman turned back to the man and the man shook his head.
"No, child. I am Lady Emelina. This is the Prince's cousin, Lord Margrave. He has tasked us with watching over you," Emelina said.
Paige blinked and her memories came back to her. The guardhouse, Eros, Alik carrying her inside, and then darkness.
"Josette-" Paige said and struggled to sit up.
"Is being watched over by Lady Issat. I dare anyone to try to harm her while the Lady watches her," Emelina said and with almost no effort on her part at all, she pushed Paige back into bed.
"Have I been asleep long?" Paige asked.
"Two days. You had a fever, our healers saw to you. Our servants bathed you. Your riding clothes will be replaced as it seems like yours had seen better days. Now what is it that you were so desperate to tell our Prince, little maid?" Margrave asked as he stood over Emelina's shoulder.
Emelina shot him a look of utter disgust.
"What? She rode here all this way, with a dying spy on her shoulder, it must be important. Tell me what it is and I will go to the Prince straightaway," Margrave bargained.
That court is filled with liars that will try to win you over, but do not trust them.
Josette's voice was loud and clear in her mind and she did not trust Margrave. His demeanor was that of someone who knew too much and used it as a bargaining chip.
"I was given specific instructions to speak to the Prince alone," Paige said quietly.
The half of Margrave's face that was not scarred feigned surprise. "You do not trust me, little maid?"
"I do not trust anyone but my Kings and Josette, my Lord," Paige said.
Emelina held a cup out for her and Paige struggled to sit up and take it from her.
"Smart girl. I will see if the Prince is available. Until then-" Margrave headed for the door and lifted the thick wood that locked them in. "Emelina, please do not let her out of your sight."
"I would never," Emelina said.
There was something on Margrave's face that Paige had only seen once, a fleeting look between Alyx and Evander.
"I will return with His Highness," Margrave promised.
When the door opened, Paige felt her stomach drop.
Outside, the door was guarded by men and women in purple cloaks.
Just like Thomas' men wore.
Margrave shut the door and Emelina struggled to bar it again, but once that was accomplished, she returned to Paige's side.
The concern on her face was fake and Paige knew that this would be the place that she died in.
"Now," Emelina said. "What is it you can tell me?"