27

Secret Observers

ANABELLE

“I could swear I recognized that girl.” I whispered to Kurrick, clutching the belts of his scabbards while he led us back to our inn. “The one he carried. She almost looked like Myra, I could swear.”

Kurrick grunted softly, keeping his amber eyes forward. “It has been some time since Myra left us. Perhaps your memory has dwindled.”

I murmured absently, “Perhaps…”

“I don’t understand this boy,” he rumbled, suspicious. “All this observation and we’ve yet to find answers. Our monitoring has offered naught, there has been no sign of the second brother. You’re certain you haven’t made a mistake?”

I nodded, gripping his scabbard’s straps tight. “Dream was certain. They are the ones we seek.”

“Oracles have known to be wrong. Even Dream.”

“Yes… but we’d observed the two in their youth. Dream showed us.”

“Yes, I recall the pampered misfits,” he muttered, unimpressed. “They were a strange pair, even then. Your sister was run ragged from chasing after them, dragging her daughter into their mischief.”

I paused, pressing a ponderous knuckle to my lips. “My sister’s daughter…” I drew in a surprised breath. “That’s it. That’s why I recognized the girl. I’d forgotten Dream had sent Myra’s daughter after them as well.”

Kurrick halted abruptly, shock wrenching his scarred features. “Land’s Blade! That was she?”

“I’m sure of it,” I said. “Dream mentioned his plan to send her, but I hadn’t expected her to arrive so soon.”

Kurrick’s throat vibrated. “It’s likely the Fera chased her to this location… This changes plans. Safeguarding the daughter of Myra exceeds all other priorities. Those twins can take care of themselves for all I care, Shadowblood or not.”

“What’s this?” I hid a giggle behind a hand. “Why Kurrick, could you be taking the role of a concerned uncle?”

He snorted. “Hardly. I fear if anything befalls the girl, your sister will hang my balls on her fir tree next Rebirth Day.”

I chuckled. “Yes, that sounds likely. And she would do so with a smile, I’d imagine.” I gave a nostalgic sigh. “My, it’s been some time since we’ve seen her… And the Artist bless her, her daughter is as stunning as she, when Myra was that age. She’s inherited her Hallows as well, it seems.”

“Yes,” he murmured, pensive. His lion tail twitched behind him. “While I understand her need to hide herself, one must wonder why she’d worn prisoner garb… Something must have happened before our charge found her. I pray her identity was not compromised.”

My lion ears folded in a shudder. “That would make matters difficult, for all of us. Not a soul must learn of her whereabouts. Shel forbid her father discovers she has left Grim.”

“It is not her father who worries me.” Kurrick’s lion ears began to sprout, curling back in a snarl. “It is the cobra I fear.”

My gaze fell to the stones. I took a breath to reply—

Clattering sounded behind the corner building.

Startled, Kurrick swept his arm over me, ducking into an alley and crouched behind a stack of crates. I peeked round to look, one lion ear perked.

Two Footrunners strode past us, their lances resting lazily on their shoulders and Shotri holstered at their belts.

“Hold, Ana,” he hushed, drawing one of the shortened claymores at his back with a quiet scrape. He pressed the Sealing Rune on the hilt, causing the blade to radiate with golden light and extend to its full length, ready to strike if the need came.

The Runners crossed the alley and fell out of sight, proceeding with their nightly route. Kurrick loosened his lungs and had his blade shorten in a golden gleam once more, sheathing them as we snuck away in the opposite direction.

We were in sight of the inn… But more clatters came behind. I stole a glance over my shoulder, whispering to Kurrick. “Rockraiders.”

He stiffened slightly, but kept an even pace. “Do not acknowledge them. Do not run. You will draw suspicion.”

We reached the Stonebed Pub and Inn, and Kurrick shoved open the door. I clung to his leather scabbards, hiding behind him while we made our way through the smoke-peppered pub toward the stairway in the back corner.

The rickety tables were thinly filled tonight, the pub dim with flickering lamps. One table kept a scrutinizing eye on Kurrick: Bounty Hunters. Their stares followed us as we crossed, and I tensed.

They are focused on Kurrick, I assured myself, my eyes plastered to his muscular back, biting the panic spiking my lungs and threatening to squeeze them shut. Kurrick draws their attention. Not I. Not I.

My pulse calmed, gripping Kurrick’s scabbards and resting my brow on his back as we strode toward the stairs. Nearly safe… nearly alone.

Squeee!

The pub door swung open.

The troupe of Rockraiders had followed us inside. One knight stomped toward us, his gauntleted hand reaching out.

No! I released a frightened squeak and wheeled around Kurrick to shield myself from the stranger’s fingers, my chest thumping as I pressed against my warrior’s chest.

The knight clasped Kurrick’s shoulder.

“Hang on there, mate.” The man said. He had more detail to his armor than the rest of his company, a purple stripe adorning his chainmail. He must have been their captain. “Ye two were out there pretty late, and I didn’t see anyone escortin’ ye. Had some errands to run?”

Kurrick grunted and drew away from the captain, starting up the stairs with me trailing behind—

I gasped when the captain snagged my wrist.

“Breakin’ curfew’s a crime here,” he growled, his leaden fingers crushing my skin. “If ye don’t have an escort, either pay the fine or be brought in.”

Kurrick didn’t face the man, but paused on the steps. “Return my companion. She does not like to be touched.”

Chair legs scuffed the floors suddenly, the Bounty Hunters rising from their seats. The barmaid stiffened behind the counter, carefully setting down the glass she had been drying.

The Raider yanked me closer, causing me to stumble. “Don’t like bein’ touched, hm?” His hawkish gaze drifted over me, hot breath brushing my neck as he pulled back my curly hair and laughed in my lion ear. “Maybe ye just haven’t been touched by the right man… Eh, pretty one? What d’you say to that?”

I flushed, my throat cinching closed. I stared at the fingers clutching my wrist like snakes, my breath straining into rapid wheezes, the world shrinking away and focused only on the intruding hand burning my skin.

“Well, lass?” he barked. “Ye going t’ say something when spoken to?”

I trembled under his hold, producing naught but a whimper.

“She does not speak with unfamiliars.” Kurrick climbed down the stairs, his glare fixed on the captain. “I will ask again: restrain your hand. Else I remove it from your wrist.”

The captain grinned a laugh along with his men. “Oh, ye will, eh? And I s’pose ye have permits for those swords as well?”

“Let the lass go,” one of the Bounty Hunters spat behind him.

The captain whirled, and I peeked around him to see there were four Hunters, fully armed and stacked with muscle, coming to surround the captain and his men. The lead Hunter rapped his fingers along his sword’s grip, but kept it sheathed. An intimidating gesture.

“They showed us their permits last mornin’,” the lead Hunter explained. “An’ they’re Hunters. Hunters be excluded from curfew, so’s they can catch their targets in the act.”

I blinked at them. We hadn’t shown them anything—not even spoken with these men. Though we did indeed have forged permits and Hunter’s licenses, they wouldn’t have known of those. Why were they lying for us?

The captain hesitated, but after Kurrick produced our forged licenses, the Raider grudgingly released me. I scuttled behind Kurrick, pressing against his back and fighting to regain control of my breathing.

The captain muttered an insincere apology, and the tension lessened as the Raiders went to the bar to order whiskey and ale. The Hunters who’d assisted us tipped their heads to me before returning to their seats.

We hurried to our room upstairs, and Kurrick bolted the door.

I calmed now that we were alone in the safety of these solitary walls, and removed my cloak and boots. I found an oil lamp by the bedside table with a box of matches beside it. Striking one ablaze, the acrid smell of sulfur swelled as I lit the wick and adjusted the flame.

The orange glow danced in the darkness as Kurrick slid off his swords, armor and numerous daggers hidden underneath.

“Why had they lied for us, do you think?” I asked, lowering to the ratty mattress, its worn springs squealing under my weight.

Kurrick moved to the window, drawing back a small corner of the curtains to peer outside. “They’re not Hunters either,” he said. “They are with the rebellion… I heard them through the walls last night. It would seem this whole establishment is dedicated to hiding those who follow the rebel leader—the one they call ‘Land’s Servant’. I suspect they only helped us because of their vehemence for the Raiders harassing us.”

“Should we say anything? Perhaps they will aid us further if they know our goals intertwine?”

“No.” His answer was definite, declining to pry his gaze from the window. He was always this way, when we’d leave Aspirre. Always alert, always awake in case we ran into danger… Or if someone discovered us. That was his greatest fear.

“We both may wish to see the Old Kingdom restored,” he said, “but they follow a different path toward it. If we involve them, we may change the outcome of Dream’s prediction.”

Though he’d discarded his swords and armor, Kurrick was still cautious, ever attentive. I admired his sense of duty, but Bloods was it frustrating. We were alone here. Finally alone, away from eavesdroppers and unwanted eyes. That was a rarity for us. I always looked forward to time outside Aspirre, but this time was different. He was spending more time fussing over danger than enjoying time in the sun—the real sun. The danger was gone for now, would there be no time for leisure, this trip?

I sighed. There was at least some celebration due. The Necrofera had gone, and we’d survived again. Though, we hadn’t come out unscathed. I’d finished healing my wounds, but Kurrick had yet to let me mend his own.

I slid off the bed and went to join him by the window, my lion ears flicking back. “Kurrick.” I lightly touched his shoulder. “Your cut is bleeding again.”

He drew a finger over the slice on his cheek, streaking the blood. “It will not end me.”

“Please.” I reached for the cut, evoking my golden Hallows. “For me?”

He hesitated, but eventually conceded, glancing away as I sealed the wound. Another scar appeared on his face, accompanying the many others he’d garnered over the years. A sadness came as my fingers traced the lines over his broad, stubbled jaw.

He was not what many considered a handsome man, even before the scars. His brow was naturally set in a scowl, his nose was long and crooked from beatings, his ears were proportionally too small for his skull… but he was still beautiful.

As my Hallows finished its work on his wound, I found my lips drifting to his…

He seized my hand, stopping me. “That is enough.”

He turned back to the window to ignore me as he often did of late.

I bristled. “You cannot stay awake until sunrise. We can survey tomorrow.”

“I do not trust this place,” he rumbled. “Everland has become a dry wasteland, whose self-acclaimed ‘ruler’ is keeping the people ignorant and spiteful toward the other nations. That was not the way of the Old Kingdom. These people could be capable of anything—or perhaps the Necrofera will decide to strike again?”

“Then you should be well rested to better prepare for battle. Please, if you fear an invasion, I will stand watch tonight. You have yet to sleep in two days. How do you expect to observe the Shadowblood if you collapse from exhaustion?”

“The Shadowblood.” He gave a scoffing laugh, lion tail swishing. “I am still skeptical of the choice. The legend says the champion was to be one wolf. Not two. Will their chances not be fractured, with the split?”

“You must have faith in them.”

“Forgive me if my faith is overshadowed by fact. And currently, I see no evidence pointing to them having influence over anything.”

“That is why we must guide them. You must trust in Dream’s prediction, Kurrick.”

“Those two are as vulnerable to corruption and death as we are. Even if they live long enough to see their fate—as they have done so terribly in the past, since one of them was thought dead for years—how will we know they will not turn against us? What if they become an even worse threat? Who is to save us from them?”

“The Gods would have considered this…”

He laughed. “Gods? If they even exist, why should we trust Their decision? Many say Everland’s new ruler was chosen by the Gods. And look what happened. I have said it once, Ana, and I will say it again: trust only in yourself. Place too much faith in others, and it will only hurt more when they betray you.”

“Then should I not place trust in you? Is that what you’re implying?”

He kept his eyes on the window. “Go and sleep, Ana. I will keep watch.”

I shrank away, lowering back to the bed. He would not join me tonight, it seemed. Or, I feared, any night from this day on. I’d known it would happen someday, but I’d hoped that… in the end, he would ignore our differing classes and…

“Yes, Kurrick,” I whispered hollowly, sinking into the raggedy blanket. “Good night…”