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“I've been told to be on the lookout for you.”
My heart tripped. Here we go. Cover blown.
“Why?” She seemed calm, but I heard her voice wobble.
“Ativan. He sent word to me. We… Leisa is my aunt, and Ativan and I grew close while you were in Demora. Ativan didn't handle the healer’s quarters very well, so my auntie enlisted my help to keep him entertained.”
Autumn smiled, and I eased in my saddle. That sounded like a damn true statement if I ever heard one.
“What are you doing out here, Autumn? Ativan said you'd told him a story, but he checked into it to find it a lie. He's franticly worried about you but trying not to worry your family.”
Autumn's face fell. “Please tell him I'm okay. There's… I must complete something before I go home.”
“I'll send word to my aunt, but… Autumn, let me come with you.” The guardsmen’s deep brown eyes flickered over Argen and me thoroughly before settling back on Autumn.
“No,” she said quickly.
“Autumn, please. As a favor to my aunt who raised me. When my guard contract is up for renewal in a few months, I'm requesting a transfer to Geva. I can't begin a new chapter in my life by letting something happen to a woman who will undoubtedly be part of my life.”
Jealous swept through me so thoroughly that I fidgeted from the intensity of it.
“Deven, I cannot ask you to put your life in danger—"
“So it is dangerous!” A smirk broke apart his face. He was youthful, but his form seemed well trained and severe.
Autumn shifted and let out a long sigh. “Damn it, Deven! I can't let anyone else I care about into this!”
Wait. Care about?How close were she and this patrolman?
“Autumn, I'm capable. You know it.”
Deven’s eyes swept Argen and me again, imploring us for assistance. I shrugged, but Argen said, “It can’t hurt to have another tall one around, girlie. But make no mistake, whippersnapper, I'll feed ye to the wolves if ye prove to be more trouble than your worth.”
The young man's throat bobbed, and his face went pale, but he gave one curt nod. I'll give him credit, though; he didn't balk.
Autumn sighed and caught my eye. She silently asked what I thought of this. I didn’t want to admit that my feelings for her swayed everything I did, every judgment I rendered, and every move I made. However, I tried not to let it influence me in this instance. I had no idea where this Cashore patrolman’s loyalty truly was, but if Ativan trusted him and connected to Ativan's lady, he wouldn't make a horrible addition.
I nodded but still let the shadow of doubt plague my features—to show her I wasn’t thrilled about this, but I had already told her at the water’s edge that the more people at our back, the better. A large party infiltrating the palace was impossible, but a small, well-trained party might work.
At least I knew this guardsman was trained; otherwise, Ativan would have never sanctioned his move to Geva.
“Alright, Deven, but remember what Argen said about the wolves,” she pointed to the dwarf, then back to the young patrolman, who snapped up straighter in his saddle, “And first, you must secure some horses for my friends.”
Soon we entered the borders of the kingdom of Savine, making much better time with everyone on horseback thanks to Autumn's guard friend. Deven wasn’t a bad fellow, and Autumn explained her entire interaction with the guard starting with his kindness in Cashore with Ativan and allowing her to travel with them to the wood border. I respected the young man simply for how kindly he treated her, but I also wanted to snap his neck with how warmly he spoke to her.
I touched her every chance I got to lay a claim I had no right to, but she allowed it, even if in front of the guard, which made me feel more confident about their platonic acquaintance.
Our party got a whole lot more severe as the castle grew closer. We had spent each night around a fire telling ghost stories and swapping boastful tales, but that was gone now. Nerves frayed, and whispers of conspiracies about the queen swept through us. I had given all the insight I could garner useful that the contract allowed me to say. But, if I got too close to saying something against me and the queen’s written deal, my throat closed up. I could feel the fingers of magic against my windpipe, and if I didn’t stop speaking, I would suffocate. Autumn always knew when that time came and would lay a gentle hand on my knee—snapping me from my words and the oppressive feeling. The woman really knew how to sing straight to my soul. It tightened everything in my chest in a way I had never before experienced. Not something to dwell on in a time like this, though.
Soon the time came, and a rough, hasty infiltration plan would have to be enough. Autumn tried to keep Esme and Deven from the program, but they wouldn't have it. Both had proven their loyalty and value and would not be pacified.
But I would get them in, and I prayed I didn't fuck it all up.
“Alright then, Huntsman, your time to shine,” Argen said with a grin. The dwarf was itching for a fight; I could see it in every formidable inch of him. He would go berserk if Autumn were in danger, which made leaving her behind to enter the castle by myself just a little bit easier. Argen was sometimes a pain in the ass, but the dwarf was a fearsome warrior. One I now considered an ally, a comrade, a friend, a brother. What a strange turn of events this all was.
I clapped the dwarf on the shoulder, and we exchanged a male hug that sounded good but was a little less manly and a little more difficult with a dwarf. Either way, we respected each other, and I didn't care how foolish I looked. His friendship with Autumn and me meant a great deal.
When my eyes went to Autumn, the rest of the world slipped away. Her golden eyes were bright with anticipation, but a shiver of fear and dread skated over her; I watched the intensity and swallowed.
