Orphan's Blade (24 page)

Amok clucked his tongue. “You’ll be seeing your sweetheart soon.”

Nathaniel massaged his forehead. He still didn’t know what he’d say to Blanca. Earlier in the boat, he’d said too much to Valoria when she’d spoken out about true love. How could he tell her
she
was the reason why the mermaids hadn’t attacked him? It was impossible. But, how could he refuse Blanca after revealing there was a deep love in his heart?

It wasn’t that Blanca was so unbearably dreadful or unsightly. She was a pleasant woman. But, he’d spent his whole life trying to forget about his past, and Blanca tied him right down to it. And he couldn’t marry a girl who’d picked on him as a boy and pulled his hair. To her he’d always be that little rascal waiting outside the pastry shop for handouts.

What he wouldn’t admit to himself was the real truth that ranked high above all others; Blanca wasn’t Valoria. If he accepted that, he wouldn’t be able to find anyone who would compare, and that thought made his chest ache.

“Know why I wasn’t killed when the wyverns came to Shaletown?” Amok leaned over, narrowing his eyes against the horizon.

Nathaniel shrugged. It wasn’t a subject he cared to talk about.

“I was in the sea, collecting conch shells for a local merchant who sold them at the market up north.” Amok pursed his lips. “Saw them coming, I did. Like ribbons in the sky. First a few, and then a horde, flying right over my boat.”

Nathaniel shifted uncomfortably. “What happened when you came to shore?”

“Everything was blackened ash. Not a soul in sight.”

Nathaniel’s stomach hollowed. The queen had found him in that pile of ash. “Did you have family in Shaletown?”

Amok shook his head. “I haven’t had family in many years. But that didn’t take away any of the heartache. I knew everyone in that village, watched the wee ones grow up and take on their own shops, like Blanca. The village was my family.”

“And is it now?”

Amok shrugged. “I make do. They are all affable people. But, I miss the ones who came first, the ones who I had history with.” He sighed. “’Tis not the same.”

Nathaniel would have to make do with someone who was not Valoria. But, Amok was right, it would not be the same.

Sharpened Blade

New Shaletown filled the morning light with tidy brick buildings and slate roofs. Valoria soaked in the familiar sight, eager to walk on land.

As Amok steered to their mooring, a young woman with a basket of chickens on her back sauntered across the dock. An older man smoked a pipe, and a young boy threw bread crumbs to the pigeons. It was hard to imagine such a horrible scene of tragedy had occurred so many years ago.

A woman in veils standing at the end of the dock caught her attention. Blanca. Had she been standing there every day waiting for Nathaniel’s return? Valoria’s stomach sickened, and this time it wasn’t from the rock of the sea.

“There you are. Twice what we promised to cover the damage to your ship.” Nathaniel handed Amok two bags of gold.

Amok shook his head in wonder. “I don’t know how such a young man as you came about all this fortune, but I thank you all the same.”

“We thank you for your silence on the matter.” Nathaniel gave Amok a hard stare.

“Of course. Won’t utter a word to a seagull.” Amok pocketed the gold. “Glad to be of service.”

Valoria approached the two men. When she caught Nathaniel’s attention, she gestured toward the dock. “Someone’s glad to see you.”

He stiffened and his lips thinned into a firm line. “Wait for me a moment. There’s something I need to attend to.” With determination, he pushed by Amok and jumped onto the dock.

Amok clucked his tongue. “I’d look after my heart if I was her.”

“Why do you say that?” Valoria’s stomach was tied in knots. She tried not to watch, but she couldn’t take her eyes off Nathaniel as he approached the innkeeper. She lowered her veil and reached out with her arms. Nathaniel stood apart, refusing to embrace her.

“There’s something off about him. Something he’s hiding.”

Valoria turned back to the old man, studying his sharp blue eyes. Could he sense Nathaniel was hiding their true identities? Nathaniel hadn’t been good at keeping secrets.

Blanca took a step back, covering her heart with her hand. She looked down, teetering as if she’d fall. Nathaniel did nothing to help her. He stood rigid as a dock mooring.

Valoria stepped forward and used her hand to shield her eyes from the sun. “What is he telling her?”

“What I suspected all this journey.” Amok spit into the sea. “The lad’s not taking her.”

“Well, I’ll be Lyric’s teacher.” A guilty wash of relief came over Valoria. She didn’t like Blanca, but that shouldn’t mean she shouldn’t want her to be happy. And she did want her to be happy, just not with Nathaniel. Because he deserved someone who admired him for who he truly was, not because of his past. But who would that someone be? It couldn’t possibly be her, even if she wanted it to.

Blanca dropped her arms by her sides and walked away, leaving Nathaniel standing alone. He waited a few heartbeats, then turned back to the boat. A calm, solemn expression stretched across his face.

But, he had a true love. The mermaids had sensed it. Valoria blinked in shock as he returned to the ship. Who had his heart?

“Better tend to your friend.” Amok muttered under his breath.

At first Valoria thought he meant Nathaniel, but Brax had risen from below deck dressed in his traveling cloak and leather pants. Although he’d prepared for travel, his face was still pale and he moved with a slow hesitation, as if he didn’t trust the deck to hold his feet.

Even though Valoria had a thousand questions to ask Nathaniel, she turned to Brax and met him at the railing. “Are you feeling better?”

“Well enough to travel,” he grumbled, glancing at her with a cursory nod.

She moved to touch his arm and he swatted her back. “I can manage.”

“I had no doubt of it.” She pulled away as embarrassment and hurt burned in her neck and cheeks.

Nathaniel reached them as they walked the plank Amok had placed connecting the ship to the deck. “Blanca says a stable boy will bring our wagon. We can start our journey back.”

“You do not want to say farewell?” Brax must have missed their recent exchange.

“I already have.” Nathaniel’s tone was curt and final.

Brax raised both eyebrows, but did not pursue the matter further.

“That you did.” Amok wiped his dusty hands on his trousers.

Nathaniel clapped the man on the shoulder. “I did all I could, and I thank you for everything you’ve done for us. Watch over Blanca for me, watch over the town.”

Amok nodded. “No need to ask.”

By the time they reached the end of the dock, a small boy had pulled their wagon up with the horses well rested and fed. Nathaniel handed him a piece of silver and they climbed aboard, Brax in the back, and Nathaniel in the front. Valoria once again had to choose between them.

She climbed in the back where Brax had already begun sharpening his dagger, his favorite task. He glanced up and grumbled, “I wish to be alone.”

Valoria ignored him and sat on the bench across from him. “Do you think Ardent’s still here, working for that fisherman you set him up with?” Perhaps if she talked of what he’d done and not what he failed to do, he’d come around.

Brax shrugged. “Hard to tell.”

“I bet Lyric’s lyre he is.” Valoria smiled and glanced around the wagon, imagining Ardent working on a fishing boat. “I bet he’ll own his own boat someday, just like Amok.”

“If you’ve come to talk of fantasies, then I’m not in the mood.” Brax returned to sharpening his dagger.

She reached over and put her hand on his, stopping him. “Isn’t it sharp enough?”

He gave her a warning look. Valoria did not take her hand back. What would he do? Stab her with the dagger? She knew him well enough to know he wouldn’t hurt her, even if he didn’t love her.

Brax pulled away, letting her hand fall, then returned to sharpening with a vengeance. “It will never be sharp enough for what’s to come.”

* * * *

Nathaniel whipped the reins, guiding the horses through streets that should have been familiar, but were not. His conversation with Blanca still weighed heavy on his shoulders, but it was something that had to be done. He couldn’t marry her if he didn’t love her. He owed her the truth, and the truth was what he’d given her.

Almost all of it.

He breathed deeply, taking in the briny sea scent and listened to the gulls cawing above him. He’d told Blanca he couldn’t live in New Shaletown. She was brave where he was not. He had responsibilities elsewhere, and a life he’d made for himself that he could not turn his back on. All of it was true. But, what he didn’t tell her was his heart belonged to someone else. The mermaids had only confirmed what he’d known ever since he saw Valoria’s silver eyes.

If he could not have her for his own, then he’d lend his aid to her kingdom, fulfilling his promise to the late king. The path was so clear, yet to walk it took more strength and conviction then he’d ever known.

The leather parted behind him, and Valoria climbed out. She joined him on the bench. She’d braided her hair in a complex pattern down her back in tiny, amber rivulets. She’d tied a gold cord around the waist of her simple servant tunic, showing her tiny figure.

Nathaniel kept his eyes on the road, mostly. “How is Brax?”

“Grumpy as always.” She crossed her arms over her chest and sulked. “I tried to cheer his spirits, but it’s clear I have no effect on him.”

Nathaniel shifted in his seat. She had an effect on
him
, that was certain. “He is a stranger to failure.”

“Not one of us is perfect.” Valoria plucked an idle note on her harp and the sound resonated like a bell. “The sooner he understands that, the better.”

“He will always strive for perfection.” Nathaniel turned the corner and the city gates loomed above them. The guards only inspected the people coming in, and the line of departing travelers only stretched to the first shop. They’d be in the countryside soon.

“Well, if I cannot bring him out of his gloom, maybe the raiders will.” Valoria’s hands tightened around her harp.

Nathaniel nodded, whipping the reins as the line moved through the gates. “He does thrive on battle.”

Valoria suddenly looked small and vulnerable in the shadow of the gate. “Do you think they will attack us again?”

Nathaniel pursed his lips. The mermaids had bent to their cause once they were shown the alternative. He’d already seen how one raider could change. All they needed was a push in the right direction, and he had a few tricks up his sleeve. “I’m planning on it.”

Risky Venture

It didn’t take long for the countryside to turn from green meadows to ash. The sun had disappeared behind the horizon, and twilight gave way to darkness. Nathaniel goaded the horses to increase their pace, searching for a decent place in the barren landscape to make camp.

Beside him, Valoria hummed and plucked her harp in a soothing rhythm. Her delicate fingers danced nimbly, deftly choosing strings to fulfill the tinkling melody. He never grew tired of hearing her play.

The leather moved behind them, and Brax poked his head through. “Why haven’t we made camp?”

Valoria glared, but kept humming.

A current of anger rose inside Nathaniel. Brax was never one for polite conversation. “There hasn’t been a decent place to rest.”

Brax’s eyes searched the gray twilight around them. “In this darkness, we could be riding into a trap and we wouldn’t know it until it was too late.”

“I’m well aware of that.” Nathaniel gave Brax a stern glance. If the warrior hadn’t sulked all day, perhaps he could have spotted something Nathaniel had missed. But, he wasn’t about to start an argument in front of Valoria.

“There.” Valoria pointed to a copse of bare trees with scraggly limbs reaching to the sky.

Brax stepped forward and leaned over Nathaniel’s shoulder. “It will not cover the wagon completely.”

Valoria’s fingers swiped over the strings and the tune changed from calm to mysterious. “I’ll sing the song of concealment and weave shadows through the branches.”

Brax eyed her as if he didn’t trust minstrel’s music.

“’Tis our best choice.” Nathaniel pulled the right side of the reins and the horses turned to the east.

Barren limbs scratched the sides of the wagon as they entered the dead grove. The horses balked, and Nathaniel spoke in soothing tones to calm them.

“Bluewood.” Valoria studied the trunks. “Like in the Forest of Song.”

“They’re deadwood now.” Brax reached up and snapped a branch with his fingers. He brought the end down and dug his nail into the dead bark.

Valoria gave him a tired, exasperated look. “Bluewood are more resilient than you think.” She reached out her hand. “Give me the branch.”

Brax hesitated. Nathaniel gave him a look of warning, and Brax handed her the branch.

Valoria dug her fingernail deep into the bark.

“It’s dead. Nothing could survive the wyverns’ fire,” Brax grumbled.

Valoria frowned, picking at the bark. “Lyric’s lyre!” She broke a fingernail and shook her hand, then stuck the finger in her mouth.

“We have to give the land more time to heal.” Nathaniel didn’t like seeing her disappointed. “Then, you’ll see new growth.”

“Stop!” Valoria stood, and she had to brace herself against Nathaniel to keep steady as he pulled on the reins and the wagon slowed.

She reached up and pulled on a branch over her head. The limb bent, but did not break. At the end, a tiny, white flower sprouted from the dead bark. It was so small it could have been a snowflake.

“Well, I’ll be Horred’s mother.” Nathaniel marveled at the blossom, then he locked eyes with Valoria and smiled, joy radiating in the air between them. “They’re coming back.”

Brax also stood, but he didn’t look at the blossom. He raised his hand and shushed them. “Someone is watching us.”

Nathaniel jerked to attention. The dead branches reached all around him, pressing in. His hand moved to the hilt of his sword. “Which direction?”