We had to be getting close to the meeting point at the river crossing, but this rider was an unexpected surprise.
I had no idea what was happening out there, only that we’d slowed.
I gripped my sword, signaling to Eleanor to stay covered from where she was peeping out on the other side of the wagon under a pile of bedrolls.
Bastian didn’t realize his stowaway had hidden a stowaway of her own. I’d smuggled Eleanor out at the last minute while he was getting his men ready, determined not to leave her to the mercy of the king. It might have been our only chance to get her out and find her a boat to Ocracoke. She deserved to live somewhere she wouldn’t be treated like an object.
“They’re riding hard from the castle,” said Bastian, obviously for my benefit. “But just a single rider.”
Had they discovered my absence?
“It’s Captain Elric!” one of the soldiers called.
Fuck.
If we were being pursued because I’d absconded with Eleanor, Bastian was going to be insufferable.
Eleanor’s panicked eyes made the tense quiet even worse. I eventually heard hoofbeats and strained to listen. I managed to lift the fabric of the wagon cover enough to see a sliver of what was happening.
Bastian had gone to meet Elric, placing his horse between the approaching Captain and where I was in the wagon. The noble bastard couldn’t seem to help himself.
My heart thundered uncertainly, feeling things for him that were only going to make it harder to do what was necessary. The king hadn’t been lying about being unable to release my berserker. I’d sensed it when I opened the bond between us. The magical leash that tethered us was as solid as a life force, forged to join us permanently. Even if I hadn’t been determined to kill the king to avenge Axel, I wouldn’t have been willing to live like that forever, bonded to him and separated from an essential part of myself.
There was now no question I’d have to die to be free of him and to save Axel. If I killed the king, it would kill my berserker, and there was no surviving that. But first, I’d make sure Bastiandefeated these bandits so he’d inherit a stable kingdom where he’d be safe.
“What are you doing?” Bastian said to Elric. “The king said nothing of you coming.”
We’d grown to respect his actions in the battle with the Banamaðr and his behavior in the aftermath, but that was all thrown into question when his betrothal was announced. He knew something he was willing to hide for the king. And he could be bought for the price of an unwilling, beautiful bride. Which meant he wasn’t quite the morally upright captain he wanted us to believe he was.
Elric’s horse stomped, agitated from being pushed so hard to catch us. “The king changed his mind. Ride on!” he barked at the men in the front, glancing back over his shoulder, like he was in just as much of a hurry to be clear of pursuit.
Bastian continued to block Elric’s path. “I’m in command here, Captain.”
Elric rolled his eyes. “Then give the command, Your Highness.”
Bastian signaled to increase our pace once more, but he was sure to be melting down over what to do about Elric’s presence. Perhaps it was better he’d come to us. Out here, we could extract information from him more easily. He couldn’t marry Eleanor if we kept him tied up in the woods somewhere. The other soldiers might not betray their captain willingly, but at least we had more choices away from the castle.
Under the cover of the sounds of the wagon and riders, Eleanor and I were able to have a whispered conversation as we continued getting jostled along. It wasn’t enough to distract from the misery of the stifling wagon, but it was better than counting the moments in silence.
“I won’t let him take you,” I reminded her, reaching out to grasp her fingers across the wagon.
“I don’t want it to come to bloodshed,” she said, her eyes boring into mine. “I could do a lot worse than Captain Elric. At least he’s not ancient and isn’t bad to look at. He’s the gruff soldierly sort, but he’s always seemed like a good man.”
I squeezed her fingers. “Don’t care what sort of man he is. Your life should be your choice. You decide who you want to be with or if you even want to be with anyone. That’s worth fighting for.”
She was quiet a moment, thinking. “What will I do on Ocracoke? Will I have somewhere to live?” she said softly. I’d only had time to explain that we could smuggle her out and get her to the neutral island where she’d be controlled by no one. She’d been desperate enough to agree with no further questions, but I could almost see her mind spinning now that we’d actually gotten out.
Was the future I promised worth openly defying Elric for? Or should she settle for a man who might stifle her forever rather than risking the unknown.
“I thought you could live with my friend Layla for a time. She has spare rooms for lodging on one floor of her brothel where she lives too.” Assuming Thorin has gotten her out by then.
“A brothel?” Eleanor’s eyes were huge. “Will I be a…you know?”
I snorted a laugh. “Not unless you want to be. There are plenty of other jobs in Ocracoke you might be suited to.”
“The women there choose to be…you know?”
“Sex workers? Sure they do. To my brother’s chagrin, Layla loves her job. People are more comfortable with sex there. You don’t have to be married. Hel, you don’t even have to be with just one partner.”
