The Assassin's Destiny (Isle of Dreams) (66 page)

Tears of shame at her own
weakness blinded her as they galloped through the trees.  Giving Cirrus
his head, Mistral closed her eyes and buried her face into his mane, sobbing
mindless words of encouragement to him, begging him to go faster. 

In less than half the time it had
taken them to travel into the forest Cirrus was bursting out into the open
grassland again, galloping wildly into the startling bright sunshine. 
Mistral felt the cool air on her face and looked up, staring around desperately
for the face that she so longed to see.  Wild sobs wracked her, fear and
desperation making her frantic.  The sight of a lone figure on a burnished
gold horse bought her senses to a crashing halt.  Hauling Cirrus to a
jerky standstill, Mistral threw herself from the saddle and landed in a heap on
the ground.  Staggering to her feet she began to run towards Fabian,
crying and calling his name in a hoarse voice.

And then he was there, gentle
hands holding her face, forcing her to meet his panic-filled eyes. 

‘What is it?’  he demanded
urgently.  ‘Where are you injured?’

‘I’m n-not,’ she sobbed. 
‘But, I’m so sorry –’

‘For what?’ his black gaze
travelling quickly over her, frowning at her torn clothes and scratched arms.

‘Please … please, forgive me
Fabian!’

‘Mistral, I want you to calm down
and tell me what has happened.’

‘I-I let you down Fabian … you
were so right not to believe a word I said this morning!  I couldn’t help
myself … the hunt … I –’ she trailed off and gazed tearfully up at him.

‘Ah, and now I understand.’
 Fabian smiled, his eyes softening to deepest black velvet, filled with
such love that it made her cry even harder.

‘Don’t … I don’t deserve for you
to l-look at me like that!’

‘How can I not?’ still smiling,
he kissed her tear-streaked face.  ‘You are safe, almost in one piece, and
back where you belong.’

‘How can you not be angry with
me?’  Mistral whispered, twisting in his arms to gaze up at him. 
‘I’m angry with me!’

‘Mistral, when will you realise
that I love you?  There are no exceptions to how I feel.  I love all
of you, unconditionally.’ 

Closing her eyes, Mistral sighed
and let her head sink against his chest, ‘I really don’t deserve you.’

‘I agree.  You deserve
someone far more respectable.’

Mistral looked up, her eyes
blazing with emotion, ‘Never say that!  You are everything to me Fabian.
 I love you with my heart and my soul.’

‘Then I am the one who does not
deserve such love.’ he lifted a hand to brush a leaf from her hair.

‘I swear –’

‘Hush.’ Fabian pressed a finger
to her lips and smiled.  ‘Make me no more promises today.’

Bending his head to kiss her,
Fabian vanquished all her guilt and remorse with an ease that left her sinking
with relief into his arms.

A hunting horn sounded loudly in
three short blasts.  The two hours were up.  Fabian released her and
looked up at the sound of approaching hooves.  Mistral followed his gaze
to see the rest of the Ri warriors riding towards them to greet their returning
hunting party.

‘Oh no,’ she groaned, dreading
explaining her lone appearance.

‘Let me deal with this.’
 Fabian strode to meet the warriors.

‘Mistral!  What happened to
you?’

‘Where are the others?’

‘Did Columbine attack you?’

Mistral blinked under the hail of
questions … Columbine … she hadn’t even given her a second thought.

‘There is no cause for alarm.’
Fabian called in a clear voice.  ‘Mistral became separated from the rest
of the party during the course of hunt and thought it safest to return here and
wait.’

Her brothers regarded her with
openly dubious expressions but said nothing.  The rest of the warriors
seemed to accept Fabian’s simple explanation and immediately began talking
amongst themselves again, turning to watch the treeline for the first glimpse
of the hunting party.

Relieved to have been let off so
lightly, Mistral avoided the questioning look Saul was giving by bending to
fuss Prospero. 

‘Here they come!’ 

Mistral looked up; apprehension
and guilt mixing on her face when she saw Samson cantering towards them flanked
by the twins.  They were too far away for Mistral to see their faces but
their auras were like thunderclouds above their heads.  Grendel followed
at a slower pace, weighed down by the bag of harpies.

‘Looks like it was a good
hunt!’  Xerxes grinned.  ‘How many harpies did you all get Mistral?’
he called, reaching automatically for the tatty piece of parchment in his top
pocket.

‘Four,’ she responded
distractedly, her anxious gaze not leaving the approaching party.

‘Four!  Good haul!’ 
Xerxes exclaimed and traced a finger down the piece of parchment.  ‘Ah!
 Brutus, my favourite brother –’

‘Oh
favourite
now am
I?  Try
only
!’  Brutus responded sourly.  ‘That’s means I
won the sweepstake and you don’t want to pay me!’

‘I was actually going to suggest
an off-set against your next bet!’  Xerxes said in wounded tone. 

‘Hail brothers!’

The Ri warriors swiftly gathered
around Samson in response to his greeting, all eager to hear about the hunt and
examine the slain harpies.

The twins halted and swung
themselves down from their saddles, leaving their docile horses to graze they
slipped through the crowd of warriors and walked quickly towards Mistral. 
Their abrupt exit unnoticed thanks to Grendel opening the bag of harpies and
pulling one out to be passed around and examined.  Leaving the warriors
exclaiming over the lifeless creature, Samson dismounted and strode over to
greet Fabian.  They turned away from the rest of the warriors and began
walk slowly together, talking in low voices.

Mistral watched Fabian walking
away with a sinking feeling.  Turning back to meet Phantasm’s stony look
she realised that she would have to deal with his anger on her own.

‘What the hell did you think you
were doing riding off like that?’  Phantasm immediately snapped.

Mistral sighed and swiftly
revised anger up to fury.

‘Reckless … stupid … none of it
quite covers what you did this time!  You have absolutely no thought for
the consequences of your actions do you?’

Suddenly exhausted, Mistral had
no fight left and hung her head dejectedly.

‘What if Columbine had attacked
you?  What if you had fallen and broken your neck riding like that? 
After everything my brother and I have done to try and protect you during this
festival!  Not least of all giving up a place in the final just for you to
go and pull a ridiculous stunt like that!  Sometimes, Mistral, I almost
wish I’d never met you!  You’re more trouble than I can take!’

Mistral looked up to meet his
furious green eyes and felt tears sliding down her face again.

‘Don’t be so harsh brother.’
 Phantom moved quickly to Mistral’s side.  ‘She probably saved my
life today.’

Phantasm glared at his brother,
‘That may be so, but it doesn’t excuse her behaviour!  Riding off like
that was –’

‘Ill-advised, I agree.’
 Fabian cut in quietly.  ‘However, I would appreciate it if you did
not cause my wife any further distress.’

‘Distress?  Have you any
idea how much distress your wife just caused us?’

Fabian stiffened.  Mistral
turned quickly to catch his hands, the action more than one of comfort, she was
preventing him from reaching for his sword or Phantasm’s throat.

‘He’s right to be angry with
me.  Please Fabian – just give me a moment to explain myself.’

Fabian held her beseeching look
for a long moment then gave a tense nod, ‘Two minutes.’

She reached up and kissed him,
letting her lips linger against his to breathe words no-one but he could
hear.  Then, sliding her hands from his, she quickly turned and strode
past Phantasm without speaking to him.

He watched her go and turned to
give Fabian an astounded look, ‘She expects me to chase after her again?’

Fabian returned his look
expressionlessly and shrugged.

Inhaling sharply, Phantasm shook
his head and abruptly strode after Mistral, catching her up to walk beside her
in icy silence.

Mistral stood his disapproval for
what felt like forever before trying a hesitant, ‘Brother –’

‘I am not sure I want you to call
me that anymore!’ 

‘Oh Phantasm!  Please don’t!’ 
Mistral stopped and turned to face him, tears filling her eyes once more. 
‘I’m really sorry!’

Phantasm made a derisive noise
and looked away.

‘Don’t turn away from me!’ 
Mistral begged.  ‘I – I know I’m impulsive … reckless … and so ungrateful
it astounds even me!’

Phantasm flicked his gaze back to
meet hers, his eyes giving their silent verdict.  Guilty as charged.

‘And … and I know I don’t deserve
to have brothers like you and Phantom –’

Phantasm snorted. 

‘Today, on the hunt … I didn’t just
let Fabian down did I?  I let you down too.’  

Mistral dropped her gaze from his
and hesitated for a moment before reaching out to take hold of his hands. 
Phantasm stared at her in stunned silence while she interlaced their fingers.

‘I know what you and Phantom go
through for me.’  she looked up and smiled briefly at his astonished
expression.  ‘Without you two keeping me on the straight and narrow I’m
sure I would have been mauled to death long ago by something with more claws
than that bag of harpies.  But you do more than that.  I want … no,
that’s not right.  I
have
to let you know that I need you, both of
you, so much.’  Mistral paused and drew in a deep breath, holding his gaze
steadily.  ‘What I’m trying to say is that you mean a lot to me brother.’

A silence fell while Phantasm
gazed at her speechlessly.

‘You know what I’m trying to tell
you don’t you?’  she asked, frowning at him a little uncertainly.

‘I think so –’

‘Good.’  Mistral suddenly
grinned.  ‘Because I’ve said it twice already today and that’s probably a
record for me.’

‘We were so worried about
you!’  Phantasm exclaimed and abruptly pulled her into a tight hug.

‘Yes, well, you can see I’m fine
– so you can let me go now!’  Mistral muttered, squirming uncomfortably
from his arms.

‘Did I miss something or did the
iceberg just succumb to physical contact?’  Phantom enquired, strolling
over with a wide grin on his face.

Mistral glared at him, ‘Not
willingly I assure you!’   

‘Ah, normal service has resumed I
see.’  Phantom sighed theatrically.  ‘But I’ve really interrupted
this touching moment to tell you that one of Bryden’s tribe is here to tally
up.  We may have three Ri warriors in the final yet!  Are you coming
to find out?’

‘Yes brother.’  Phantasm
turned to follow his twin back towards the rest of the warriors.  After a
pace he looked over his shoulder at Mistral, his bright green eyes continuing
to hold hers while he walked away.

Fabian was waiting for her,
holding Spirit and Cirrus.  He smiled as she approached.  Meeting his
amused gaze Mistral gave half-shrug.

‘Killing stuff is easier than
apologising.’

‘Always.’  Fabian laughed
softly and held Cirrus steady while she mounted.

‘One more event to go, then we’re
going home.’  Mistral glanced down at her dishevelled state and sighed
longingly.  ‘I’ve missed that bath.’

Fabian swung into his saddle and
looked across at her enquiringly, ‘Would you like to have a swim before the
last event?  We do have quite a bit of time.’

‘Really?’  Mistral looked at
him, a wicked grin spreading across her face.  ‘You’re coming with me?’

Fabian gave her a half-smile and
kicked Spirit into a trot, ‘Perhaps I should clarify my intentions.  I
will only be accompanying you to and from your swim, not in the water.’

‘Too bad,’ she murmured, giving
him a long look. 

Fabian met her frank look and
smiled before returning his attention to controlling his excitable mare. 
They were nearing the party of Ri, all gathered around a harassed looking elf
from Bryden’s tribe.

‘So let me get this
straight.  None of these harpies were actually shot using the coloured
dye?’  the elf prodded one of the harpies with his boot. 

‘No.’ Samson replied through
gritted teeth.  ‘For the third time, we killed them with swords.’

‘Hmm, so you say.’ The elf made a
note on his parchment before giving Samson a suspicious look.  ‘But what
you are actually telling me is that you have no proof that you killed these
harpies.’

Samson fixed the elf with an icy
glare, ‘Would you like me to stab you with my sword so that you can compare the
wounds?’ 

‘There’s no need to threaten
me!’  the elf snapped.  ‘I’m merely trying to ensure that no cheating
has taken place!  I personally can’t see why you didn’t use
crossbows.  Then we wouldn’t be wasting time having this discussion!’

‘Have you ever shot a harpy with
a crossbow?’  Samson asked coldly.

The elf snorted and gave Samson a
condescending look, ‘Why would I use a Ri weapon?  I’m a pure-blooded
forest elf!  Our skill with the bow is legendary!’

‘And so is your ignorance!’ 
Samson snarled.  ‘Bolts are useless on harpy skin!  In fact, tickling
them with a peacock feather would have been more effective!’

The elf bristled, ‘I dislike your
tone!’

‘And I dislike you.’ 
Samson’s took a step closer, his scarred face twisted into a frightening mask
of anger.  Around him the Ri stirred, their hands moving instinctively for
their sword hilts.

The elf shrank back, ‘Er, I think
our business is concluded.  Four it is then.’  he made a quick note
and hurried away, nearly tripping over his own feet in his haste.

‘Wait!’  Xerxes shouted over
the noise of the other warriors laughing.  ‘How did we fare against the
other tallies?’