“I thought this place was meant to be exotic! Why is it bloody raining?”
Eden snorted at this outburst, but didn’t answer his guardsman. Aaron had been the most talkative of the five since they’d left Everfell, so it was only fitting that he’d be the first one to complain now they had finally landed on the shores of the island. The Sea of Sighs had been crossed without hindrance, and most of the sailors had adhered to the old wives’ tale that someone on the previous crossing had been killed; a sacrifice to appease the hungry spirits, for the time being, at least. The unlucky victim had been from Everfell, and Eden had been too scared to ask more questions. He hadn’t needed too, as no one on board considered his feelings when rumours ran rampant. Thankfully, through this Eden knew that Quinn wasn’t the dead one, nor was Maertn. The man had been described as tall and muscular, so that ruled out the healer in an instant. So that left Ross, and Eden didn’t want to think about that possibility. To have the mercenary die so easily on his crossing over to Sha’sek would have been heinous, and it would have left Quinn and Maertn without their protector.
They had disembarked on the docks outside Farn, declaring themselves to the harbour master. For now, they were setting up camp, and would approach Farn tomorrow. Eden had everything needed to officially approach the baron, and he didn’t think it was suitable to do so in the dead of night. No, better to make a camp and wait, than force an unwelcome entry.
Eden kept quiet as his men bickered among themselves. They probably thought he was a sour bastard, travelling across the provinces to bring back a strange foreigner who he loved, but couldn’t have. Eden didn’t want to be disliked, but he didn’t want to get close to these men either. He had left court at the worst—and only—possible time. Playing between Vance and his brother, Eden didn’t know which side he’d be on in six months’ time. If there was a chance of conflict, he didn’t want to be forced to raise a sword against men that had become friends. Better they thought him an arrogant lord, like all the rest.
“What do you think we’ll find in there, my lord?”
There was another thing Eden couldn’t get used to—another ruler’s men treating him with respect. Rowan had never given him any deference, and his father certainly never had. Under Vance his court standing had improved immeasurably, and Eden didn’t think he could go back to being a third son now. That would be an interesting conversation when he got home. Eden didn’t even want to begin thinking about what his mother would say.
“I’ve never been to Sha’sek: I don’t know what to expect. Just don’t panic. You all knew Maertn; he’s a Sha’sekian. They’re not all monsters like we were brought up to believe.”
“Are they all barbarians, my lord?”
“Does that look like a city built by barbarians to you, Aaron?”
Aaron had to shake his head. “No sir.”
“When we go in there, remember your manners. We’re treating them like you’d treat your own mother.”
“You haven’t met my mother, my lord.”
“Perhaps not your mother then, Aaron.”
This brought a titter from some of the men, and Eden felt more at ease. They trusted him as well as showing respect, and he felt settled in their camp. He issued their guards for the night, making sure they all took turns at watch, Eden taking the most disliked shift between midnight and early dawn. His men protested, but he insisted. He didn’t expect them to do things he wouldn’t be capable of doing himself.
* * *
The crescent moon didn’t yield much light on their camp, but as Eden looked up at the blanket of stars he couldn’t help but wonder how beautiful it was. Sure, he’d seen the stars before, but coupled with the gentle pulsing beat of the waves on the shore, they cocooned him in a serene calm. He’d never felt this peaceful, undoubtedly he never would again. He was nervous to seek Quinn again, he’d missed her—and his hated the fact that he was about to be paired up with some noble strumpet back in the castle. Lady Isabella had been circling him like a vulture. How would Quinn react to him? What kind of people had she met? Had she already found someone to take Eden’s place in her heart? Ice clutched him. He desperately hoped not.
“Did you really fall in love with her, my lord? Quinn?”
Eden had decided to pull watch with Aaron. The lad couldn’t shut up, but Eden found his company good.
“I did. Did you know Quinn?”
“No one really knew Quinn, we just knew of her. She’d always been there, in the background. Even if anyone had wanted to get to know her, they’d have needed to get past Baron Sammah first.”
“She was mocked, wasn’t she?”
Aaron dropped his head. “She was my lord, though I can’t say I had any particular part in that myself.”
“You’d say that to me even if it wasn’t true.”
“Would you lie to someone about the woman he loved?”
“What if she were here, now, and could tell me if you were being honest?”
Aaron shuddered. “So the Satori stories were true? She can read minds?”
“No. She can’t. She can just sense emotions.”
“Isn’t that the same thing, my lord?”
“No. She is affected by certain emotions, and it means different things. If you’re lying, for example, she gets thirsty. She doesn’t know what you’ve lied about, just that you have.”
“I couldn’t fall in love with someone like that.”
“Why not? It was…liberating.”
“How?”
“You’ve been a guardsman in Everfell for long enough; you know what that court is like. Men will lie about anything if they think it will advance their position.”
“So you think that, because Quinn always knew when people were lying, that she’d always be honest herself? That’s not necessarily true, my lord, if you’ll pardon me for saying.”
Eden thought about this. “No, you’re right. But I trusted her.”
“Trusted my lord? Like you used to? Not anymore?”
“She’s not mine to trust right now, whether I’d like to or not. I’ll find out tomorrow, if she’s behind those walls still, just how she feels.”
“Are you nervous?”
“Of course I’m nervous.”
“I never met the Quinn you know. I’ll be honoured to meet her tomorrow, no matter where she’s from.”
Eden opened his mouth to respond, but hoof beats sounded in the distance.
“Who’s that?”
Eden swore. “Aaron, how by the spirits could I know who it is? We only just landed. Curse that harbour master.”
They rushed to the bedrolls, kicking the others awake. The men grumbled, but got to their feet quickly, understanding that they wouldn’t be woken for no reason. Eden was doubly glad for their presence then. He didn’t fancy facing down a Sha’sekian battalion on his own. His men rallied around him, hastily tugging on their kit and drawing their weapons.
“Are you ready my lord?”
“Aye. Weapons to bear, lads.”
Eden squinted at the shadows, realising that they weren’t coming from Farn. They sounded like they were coming from the shoreline. “Aaron, where do you think the horses are coming from?” Aaron cocked his head and pointed his hand down the shore. “Damn it.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Why would they be coming from there? If Baron Pax has sent someone, then they’d be coming from Farn. Farn is to our left.”
“I take it manners can be put to one side for now, my lord?”
“Be certain of it.”
Unable to see in the darkness, Eden formed his men in a rough triangle facing the direction he hoped the horses were coming in. Unless they were in a wide line, their unseen assailants shouldn’t be able to bear them all down in one go. Eden suddenly had a thought. “Here, get behind the embers. It’ll help obscure us.”
“I’ll be surprised if they can see us now, my lord.”
“That was an order, Aaron, move!”
Shifting quickly, they rearranged themselves behind the dying campfire. Eden threw in a log and gave it a kick, shielding his face as sparks flew into the air. It couldn’t stop the horses from charging them, but it might give the riders some pause. The shadows were getting larger now, and the hoofbeats louder.
“Have you last faced a cavalry charge before?”
There wasn’t a veteran amongst them.
As the first man came steaming into view, Eden felt like dropping his sword and running. He steeled himself, holding his ground. The first horse cleared the fire with an easy leap, splitting Eden and his men as they rolled to one side, avoiding the hooves of the beast. The other four horses followed, and they rolled straight over the camp. They had tried to trample the men to death in their bedrolls, though that tactic didn’t lend itself to a noisy approach. Eden’s men righted themselves, bracing for return attack. Instead of turning their mounts, the attackers dismounted. Five men came at them in the darkness, and Eden balked at their bulk. He also recognised the man at the front. It was Elias. As all five of them charged straight for Eden, he could only think that this was a trap, baited by both Sammah and Vance. Elias struck him. The world went black.