AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stalk a white boar and thank nature as I take his life, releasing coils of power back into the earth, as is the way of the folk. Lucyan may not have raised me, but her little sister—my aunt Madryn—taught me many things when she used to visit court.
I owe much to her teaching; I wouldn’t be the man I am now without her sharing her wisdom. When she gave birth to a boy, I was overjoyed to give him a title, and a permanent place at my court if he wanted it. I never expected Alrion to become as useful as he is to the kingdom.
It pains me to see him suffer from Rhea’s rejection.
I head to my cousin when I reach the camp. A fragrant stew is already simmering in his pot.
“That’s one hell of a catch,” he says, tilting his chin to the boar I carry across my shoulders.
I shrug. "Nature gave and received.”
He inclines his head respectfully. “Well, I’m not about to stew such a beautiful beast. Vess, I’ll need a stand to roast it over the fire.”
Vessorian grumbles but retrieves his axe from his saddle and marches off toward the wood.
I ignore Rhea, though I’m aware of her, as always. She’s sitting under the canopy with Lark and Silver. My general’s chatting away, charming as she can be when she likes the company. I’m glad to see it. Silver’s more reserved, by nature suspicious. It’ll take a while for those two to get along.
Vess comes back with the wood he needs and sets up the stand, under Alrion’s supervision. My cousin artfully skins the beast I killed and sets it to roast, before hanging the hide to dry at a distance from the fire.
We rest for a while, dozing off in turns.
"The smell is killing me,” Lark shouts an hour later. “When are we eating?”
“In about six hours,” Alrion announces.
That follows a slew of insults from almost everyone, except Rhea, who settles for glaring at him, too prissy to address him directly.
Alrion chuckles. “Peace. We’re eating now. Just not the roast. Tell your king to catch something smaller if you wish for speed, next time. Rabbits, maybe." He plates his stew in the wooden bowls he packed for the journey.
When we travel together, we tend to divide the tasks. I’m carrying weapons, the heaviest charge; Alrion’s taking care of feeding us; Vess, the horses; Silver, shelter; and Lark, clothes. I didn’t assign anything to Rhea, who’s not truly part of us. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I didn’t want to count on her, in case she decides to run.
And she could, right now. She’s wearing her tracking anklets, but I wouldn’t waste the time to chase after her—at least not until after I’ve dealt with her precious king.
Alrion’s stew is excellent, and I eagerly go for seconds. If he weren’t such a gifted spy, I’d insist he take over as the royal cook. Or the royal tailor. Or the royal composer. He really is far too skilled for one person.
The snowflakes stop, but the air grows colder as our version of day gives way to our night. It doesn’t change anything in the darkness of the sky, but the temperature can drop drastically at this time. Everyone converges on the fire, eager for warmth.
None of us can be harmed by the weather, Rhea included. Starving, she would have frozen and died after a minute out here, but she’s now a very well-fed demon. She’ll live. Harmful or not, the bite of the icy temperature is not pleasant to any of us.
“Sing us a song, Al,” Lark beseeches, rubbing her hands over the naked flames.
My cousin’s eyes dance as he smiles and hums a melody I’ve never heard. Nevertheless, it feels familiar to my heart. Then he starts to sing. At the very first note, warmth spreads over me, a wave of power coming from nowhere and everywhere all at once. Unlike me, he’s a true fairy prince, and nature itself bows to his voice. He hits chords that ought to be impossible, too low or too high, or simply too unexpected. Silver is the first to fall asleep, followed by Lark.
Noticing he’s lost a third of his audience, Alrion chuckles. “Sorry, I overdid it.”
“Why did I never hear you sing?” Rhea asks.
The first words she’s said to him in a while, and they aren’t even laced with much anger.
He winces. “You would have had questions I couldn’t answer.”
There’s too much power in his voice. Anyone hearing it from a man posing as a simple peasant would have had been startled.
She nods, lowering her eyes. It’s almost impossible to be angry with Alrion when his songs heal hearts. “I think I’ll take a nap, too.”
Then she lowers herself on the snow, resting her head in my lap.
Mine.
