Chapter 35

35

D amon

Several hours earlier…

It has taken me a long time to get down the mountain. The alternate route was treacherous. I almost lost Ranger down the side of a cliff. Thankfully, Missy was able to drag him to safety. I came close to cutting the tether between the two animals. Luckily, it wasn’t necessary in the end.

It is by the grace of Kakara that we made it down relatively unscathed. Poor Ranger is limping slightly on his right fore, which is puffy on the fetlock joint.

It’s risky, but I have no choice but to go back to Grigor to swap horses. I can only hope that the searching groups of fae have either been and left or that they don’t come through this valley at all.

At least the snow cover is at a minimum at the base of the mountain. I should reach Grigor soon.

At the last moment, I decide to tie the horses to a nearby tree and go the rest of the way on foot. I need to take extra precautions. After the beasts are secured, I make my way through the forest, careful not to make a sound.

As I approach Grigor’s homestead, I see figures moving around outside. There are more inside. My blood runs cold – fae guards. They must be. They are here for me. I move as far as I can toward the cabin and then duck behind a large snow-covered boulder, trying to gather my thoughts.

“Speak to us, old man,” one shouts. “We know they were here…four of them.”

“I sent them away,” he says, sounding frail. “I didn’t even get a proper look at them because I was hiding. Just like I hid from you.”

“You’re lying. The four newly finished bottles of wine on the table tell a different tale.”

“I’m old and don’t have much to live for. I drink sometimes…so what?” He laughs; the sound is cut short with a thud and an “oomph.” I think that one of the bastards punched poor Grigor in the stomach.

Grigor groans softly. “Why did you have to do that?”

“Because you are lying. We talked to the others in this hamlet, and many of them saw you meet with the four travelers.”

“It wasn’t me. They are mistaken.” Grigor sounds like he is in pain; his voice is strained.

I peek over the boulder. I need to get closer. I need to know how many there are. I need to help poor Grigor. He’s in this mess because of us…because of me.

I take a deep breath and run for a water trough, sliding behind it silently. It’s a better vantage point. From here, I can make out three of them. They are all armed and towering over the old man.

One of them reaches down and grabs Grigor by the front of his tunic, lifting him off the ground effortlessly. “You will tell us where they went,” the fae snarls, his grip tightening on Grigor’s shirt.

Grigor gasps for air, struggling against the fae’s hold. “I swear, I don’t know! They left. I didn’t see them or speak to them.”

The fae growls in frustration and tosses Grigor to the ground like a rag doll. The other guards surround him.

A fourth guard steps outside through the front door, and my blood runs cold. I know him. I recognize that face. I would know it anywhere.

“All the beds have been slept in,” he says, smirking. “They were here.”

Another of the guards pulls his sword. “It’s your last chance to talk. I don’t have time for this.” He looks down at Grigor’s prone form lying in a heap on the ground.

“Okay, okay. I’ll talk, I’ll talk. What was the question again?”

The guard growls in anger and frustration. He is reaching forward to pick the old man up when I cleave his head from his shoulders. All of their focus is on Grigor and not on me. Not on protecting their backs, which serves me well when the first head rolls.

By the time they draw their swords, a second guard is dead, his leg twitching. His head is next to his body.

The other two turn to face me. “It’s you,” the emptyfae says.

The other one growls and leaps at me. “Don’t kill him,” he yells. The queen’s order not to kill but to capture puts me in a better position to win this skirmish.

Grigor scrabbles away to get out from underfoot.

I face the charging guard head-on, duck under his swinging sword, and deliver a swift kick to his midsection, causing him to stumble back. The other guard lunges toward me, but I sidestep his attack and counter with a powerful slash of my blade to his chest. Cleaving skin and bone, I send him crashing to the ground, screaming. Blood spatters, hitting my oilskin.

The first guard is already back on his feet and coming at me. Our swords clash together. He’s stronger than he looks, but his movements are clumsy and predictable. I dodge his wild swings and strike him across the forearm, causing him to drop his sword. Then I dispatch him quickly, showing no mercy. I can’t have word of this getting back to the castle.

Grigor has a sword to the remaining guard’s neck. His chest is bleeding. It isn’t a mortal wound. The sword point is touching his neck; blood trickles down from the spot.

“Don’t kill him,” I say as I walk over there, my bloody sword still in my hand.

“Please, Taylor, I was always good to you at the mine. You know I was.” His eyes are big and filled with fear.

“Why are you here?” I growl.

“I was sent to find you and to bring you to the Ice Court.”

“That’s not what I mean. Why are you in the icefae kingdom? What are you doing here, Zeegar? You are far from both the salt mine and the emptyfae kingdom.”

“She sent for us.” He swallows thickly. “Queen Snow. She wanted the longer-standing guards, the ones who know you, the ones who were there when the snowstorm hit. She wanted us at the Ice Court. She summoned us and questioned us herself. She wanted to know all the details about you, about Kyrie. Your likes, dislikes, and then a blow-by-blow retelling of your escape. I had to tell her. I had no choice.”

“Who else is in icefae territory?” I growl.

“Hali, Simone, and me. We made the journey and arrived at the court yesterday. She questioned us immediately. I was sent with this party since I know you well.” He shrugs.

“What of the other two?”

“They were to remain at the Ice Court with strict instructions to search for both you and Kyrie. They are patrolling the Ice Court as we speak.”

My heart beats almost out of my chest, and despite the sweat on my brow, I feel chilled to my bones.

“I’m sorry,” I say before removing his head.

Grigor makes a face and looks away. “I never had much of a stomach for violence.”

“It had to be done. He would have brought more guards. As it stands, you are in grave danger, Grigor.” I help the old man to his feet. “These fae would have killed you. You should consider relocating for a while.”

Grigor shakes his head. “This is my home. I am not leaving. If I die, then it is my time. I miss my dear wife. I’ve lived a full life.”

“You weren’t going to talk, my friend. Even after we told you to tell the truth if your life depended on it.” I shake my head, looking at him with disapproval.

“I would never talk. I would rather die than help that tyrant.”

I pat him on the shoulder. “You are a good man. I must take my leave. Will you get rid of the bodies?”

He nods. “Of course, Sire.”

“Ranger and Missy are tied up in the forest just behind your cabin. Ranger hurt his right fore.”

“I will attend to them.”

I turn to the string of fae steeds tied to the wooden corral fencing. “I’m going to take one of their beasts.” It should be quicker that way. I need to make serious haste. “Make sure that the other horses are not here when the next group of fae arrives. And for the love of the gods, get rid of any evidence we were here.”

Grigor nods. “I certainly will. Truth be told, I was a touch sore-headed this morning. Nothing like a group of brutes to cure a man.” He belly-laughs. “I feel right as rain and up for the task, even though night shall be falling soon.”

“I need to go,” I tell him, running to the nearest fae steed. I grab the reins and leap onto the beast, who is already moving.

I crouch low and kick the horse into a full gallop. I need to warn Kyrie. I pray that I am not too late.