AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“What comes of him now? Times have changed since he was… alive? Here? I don’t even fucking know the term, but I’d hate to see Amira sweep him into something if she ever caught wind of what transpired here.”
“Ye heard him. He only wants to be reunited with his lady. So I imagine he’ll do some soul searchin’ and then do just that—become reunited with his love.”
The thought was darkly poetic. Cabro should’ve turned to dust by now, so his desire to go to the Beyond wasn’t a shock. Not that the dwarves had modernized that much in a century, but being in a land filled with people you didn’t know, constantly reminded that everyone you’ve ever loved had died centuries ago, would probably drive me to my death as well.
We remained in this cocoon of life and accomplishment for the night. Traveling would have been futile with dusk so close anyway. We told Cabro tales about life now, about Amira, and Argen spent hours telling him all about what had transpired with the dwarves over the last century. Autumn and I listened with avid interest.
I hadn’t realized until in that chamber that Autumn was dwarven blood. I guess she had known and traveled through the Whispering Wood with me despite her ability to have traveled with Argen through the tunnels and avoid the terrifying forest. I could never show her the gratitude I felt for that act of kindness. I would never have survived that place alone. Without her strength, I would have gone mad in there.
I would throw myself at her feet and grovel with gratitude and admiration for all she did and all she was, but now was not the time. She had deserved to know the entirety of the contract before I’d allowed our relations to get that far. It had been clear after the things we did that she would want more, thatIwould want more. I was a useless asshole for allowing things to spark between us just for me to drop the proverbial ax on all of it.
Stupid. I was a damn fool and made matters worse. But my heart told me that no matter my idiotic fuckups, I was right where I needed to be and doing the right thing. I had heard Cabro’s speech to Autumn, and he was right. My allegiance was to her despite the queen’s contract. Autumn’s life was worth more than that, and I would fight with my one last gasping breath to ensure her heart continued to beat.
Argen and Cabro were in a heated debate about some stone game I’d never heard of when I realized something was amiss. I was polishing my sword with my back to them, their raised broguish voices washing over me. When Argen first came into our journey, I’d had a tough time understanding him, but it was like second nature now. Cabro’s speech was even rougher, but I quickly sank into the peacefulness of their arguing. That was my life now—enjoying dwarf banter. A wide smile enveloped my face with the thought when I looked them over to realize Autumn was no longer there. I looked around but didn’t see her where our firelight would grace her lithe form.
Quickly, I stood. Assuming Autumn went to the bathroom, I looked for a lantern she may have taken. The lady was fearless, so she’d likely not brought one, but here’s to hoping. When several moments clicked by and still no flash of light or sound, I decided a quick walk around wouldn’t hurt anything. I’d disturbed her pissing before; I could do it again.
Our camp was at the cave entrance outside Mondu, and our firelight just captured the bronze dwarven statues, sending their shadows flickering like giants over the fire. At first, it was disconcerting, but now it seemed oddly profound.
As I made it thoroughly around the first fifteen feet out of our camp, my eyes drifted up to the huge boulders on the ridge above Mondu and a figure cut against the moonglow and starlight.
My heart tripped in my chest as Autumn’s figure stood stark with tendrils of hair billowing from her braid. She’d not redone the plait since the morning, and it was now a loose mess.
As I watched her, I almost turned around. She had been through so much today and deserved solitude to collect her thoughts. I could only imagine the weight she felt on her shoulders, the insanity of all that had transpired today. Even though Cabro was a lighthearted soul, he was still a legend that should have perished centuries ago, yetshehad saved him. She had understood him for what he was, accepted that death was not the answer, and had taken the time and energy to break his curse. Few others would have bothered.
That was what stood her apart.Thatwas what made her a hero.
I had discovered during this insane journey that my heart wanted to love—the kind my parents had. My body craved passion and sex from a monogamous relationship. My soul wanted peace. The blood on my hands battered my soul. I needed something to cleanse the stain. Not that my soul would ever be spotless; my past and the things I had done would forever haunt me, but I wanted to move forward. I would rise and make a change. Autumn made me see something inside myself I had forgotten was there. She made me see that my soul needed reconciliation that I denied it thinking I was unworthy.
“Star song, star song for what art thou, O star song? Will thou sing me a lyric and grant me a wish?”
Autumn didn’t even startle at my voice but slowly glanced at me when I stood at her side.
“Where is that from?”
“A sailor’s song that my mother used to sing to us. We often went out to the shore and stared at the stars. It has several other verses that I don’t remember.”
She smiled. “It’s lovely.”
“I used to want to be a pirate.” Autumn glanced at me again, and I turned to meet her eyes. “The captain of a ship. My father is a fisherman with a little vessel. When I was fourteen, he let me and my brother go out on it alone while he was ill.” I shook my head with a wry grin. “Sander and I realized very quickly that what my father made look easy every day was anythingbut.”
Her lips kicked up into a wry grin. “Catch any fish?”
“Underworld, I thought we’d captured a whale with the heaviness of that net, but six mid-size fish were all we caught.”
Her soft laugh whipped in the breeze and settled into my bones. Goddess, I would do anything to hear that laugh. I realized her power over me was more than the queens. With Autumn, I wanted all that she had to offer. I would tie myself to her in any way she would have me and be pleased with it.
“It sounds like you had a wonderful childhood.”
I glanced away with a storm of great memories. It proved that upbringing wasn't all that determined our fates; our decisions did. My brother had followed in my father’s footsteps, but I had always longed for something more. As I got older, I became more interested in swordplay and adventure than fishing and boats. Gone went my dreams of a future on the water. If only I had stuck with my childhood dreams… Then I’d have never met Autumn. I’m unsure I could be distraught with how my life was because it had brought her and me together—in whatever capacity we may be.
“It was humbling and wonderful. My parents deeply love each other and my brother and me.” I took a shaky breath. “That love is something deeper and farther than the Beyond. Something I’m sure you understand with your own family.”
She nodded with a smile. “I do indeed. I’d not change it for anything.”
“Either would I. I wish…” I bit the corner of my lip as sorrow swept through me. “I wish I could have that someday—what they have. That soul-shattering bond with another, and children to share that love. I’d never considered—” I shook myself, not ready to delve into self-pity.
When I glanced at her, her eyes held mine with an unreadable, desperate emotion. I swallowed. “I was an asshole for not explaining the entire contract to you, Autumn. I’ll never be able to—”
