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“I searched the next building, and it looked the same, the building scorched, but no signs of a struggle. It’s like the occupants just left.” I fingered the singed material of a curtain through the open window. “I’ve never seen fire act this way.”
“It was no ordinary fire,” Einri confessed. His shoulders drooped, “I shouldn’t have left.”
“Is there a safe place for people to go in case of an emergency?” I wondered. Seeing everything Einri had built here, having a safe place mapped out seemed like something he would have thought of.
“Yes, but they won’t be there.”
“How do you know?” I argued.
“This fire wasn’t meant to destroy. It’s a message. The Bruralian’s found this place.”
“How?” If I hadn’t been following Einri back here I don’t think I could have found it on my own.
With a snarl Einri’s fist went through the wood paneling. I jumped back, startled by the sound, while Einri continued to pummel the wood, and I had no doubt he would continue until it was splinters.
“Einri, stop!” Tuck grabbed his arm to stop him from destroying the whole thing. “Gertie will be angry if you tear up her house.”
“Her scent is everywhere.” Einri growled, his eyes glowing, his whole being shaking.
“Back up, Arrow.” Tuck ordered, but I was rooted to the spot, a spark of jealousy igniting in my chest. I was so startled by it that I could only stutter. Who was Tuck talking about?
Will grabbed my shoulders and pulled me back, but my eyes were fixed on Einri. I was intensely curious what he would say.
Einri’s arms flexed, his body seeming to grow in size as fur rippled over his skin.
“Do not shift.” Tuck warned, before he smacked Einri across the face. “You’re in a tree, dung-for-brains! You need arms to climb down.”
Einri huffed a very wolf-like thing to do.
“We need to think. You know they wouldn't kill them. They’re going to use them to get to you. You know this.” Tuck continued, each word he said seemed to calm Einri.
“What are you talking about?” Will asked the question for me.
Tuck bowed his head while Einri’s jaw flexed, his teeth grinding together. This was the most emotion I had seen from him except for anger and impatience. Now he was radiating fury and wariness but underneath that was guilt and shame.
“Tuck.” I prompted, raising my eyebrows in question.
“It’s not my story to tell.” He answered, eyes full of sorrow.
“Einri.” I spoke his name like an order which immediately got his attention. “I can’t help if I don’t know.”
“Come on,” Tuck said to Will, “let’s go find some food.”
They walked away leaving Einri and me alone. My lower belly clenched at our proximity, but I pushed the confusing emotion aside. I don’t know what had changed between us, something had, but I’d have to analyze it another time.
Einri turned around so he was facing the trees; he braced his arms on the railing, his fingers clenched around them. A breeze blew through the trees, rustling their leaves and dissipating the mist. Night was falling quickly, the stars appearing in the blanket of darkness while the moon illuminated everything in its silvery glow.
“You were right to call me a bastard.” He sighed then turned to face me. “I am a bastard. Most of my life I hated it and strove not to be. I made a name for myself and became someone important. Until the beast awoke inside of me and showed me a different way to live.”
“I was nine when Rusalko was born. Finally, my father had succeeded in having a legitimate son. He wasn’t a cruel man. He took care of my mother and me, but we would never have his full love or name. My mother was continent in that, but I wasn’t. I wanted his name. I wanted to be worthy and sought that end for years. When I was named general, I thought for sure my father would claim me as his, but he never did. He died shortly afterward which left my younger half-brother as king.”
“Given the station I was in and how hard I’d worked to get there, it stung when I was demoted to captain. Still, it was a title, and I was grateful to have it. It allowed me to take care of my mother, kept me close to my brother, and gave me and my future family a comfortable life. Then the war started. I marched to the border with orders to protect the village of Venzor. When we arrived, the village was under siege. We rushed in and pushed the enemy back when a woman appeared between us dragging her sister's limp body. She screamed and somehow the sound lashed at her sisters' murderers and killed them. It was terrifying yet beautiful.”
“I returned with her and introduced her to my brother. Anyone that met her was immediately enthralled. She was innocent, naive, and so mysterious. She had men following her around like dogs while women watched enviously, but she only had eyes for me. I loved her and swore to marry her first chance I could. She stayed in my brother's care while I was away. They devised a plan to turn ordinary men into something more. I couldn’t see it. Couldn’t fathom that her heart was blacker than tar until my beast awoke and showed me with new eyes what had been in front of me all along.”
He stopped talking and managed to meet my eyes before he held out his hands to either side. “That’s the story. The truth. Everything that’s happening has been my fault. I brought a witch to my brother, let her corrupt a nation, and gave her the power to do as she pleased. It’s my fault.”
Iresolutely ignored my jealousy as the strong, virile man in front of me allowed me to see his vulnerability. Einri was the brother of Rusalko.
