Frey Saga Book II: Pieces of Eight Page 9

  I was flying when I was attacked. Large hooks tore into my back, taking feathers with them when they pulled away a second later. I could see the weathered yellow curve of a beak as I was assaulted again, talons tearing into my wings this time. I tried to maneuver clear of my aggressor but it was futile, I was struck again and again, each time the sharp claws tearing out my feathers. I fought to no avail. Somehow I knew it was the loss of my feathers so I relaxed just enough to let the bird have its control, hoping its instincts would guide us better than my efforts. We were being thrashed by the attacker and nothing I could do seemed to be working.

  And then I remembered myself. It wasn't my body being assailed. The realization eased the alarm that was building and a new plan formed. I jumped to the mind of the other bird but the second I hit, the tension increased tenfold. The shock threw me back to my mind and my own body jerked in response. I was just trying to breathe but I drew in a gasp as my head snapped up to find her in the sky.

  "Frey!" I heard Ruby and I was instantly annoyed. The moment the anger had switched to irritation, I realized I wasn't actually in danger.

  I was incensed, however. My eyes narrowed on her in the blue but before I could pluck her head from her neck, both birds dropped from the sky. I watched them as they plummeted, finally landing with a dry thud on the ground. I had expected a softer landing somehow.

  I shook my head as I turned to look at the others, who were waiting for an explanation.

  "Frey?" Chevelle asked.

  I sighed. "I was just up there," I pointed to the sky for unnecessary emphasis, "and I was flipping mugged."

  "That's all?"

  "No." I hesitated but it was almost pointless now, they knew so much. "There was someone there. Fannie, I think."

  The group was suddenly in an uproar, confusion and anger eddied around me. I was bewildered. I interrupted the commotion. "Wait, if you didn't know it was her, why did you drop them?" I asked, indicating the lifeless bodies on the ground.

  "I told you, all of them," Anvil directed at Chevelle, almost with a grin, I was sure.

  Chevelle nodded in assent as he looked at me. "No more birds."

  He was telling me I couldn't fly? I was beside myself. "Why?"

  "We only left them for you," he said with a hint of regret in his voice. It took a moment before I understood. They had been killing all the animals, left nothing but the birds. He wasn't asking me to give up them up, he was informing the others to destroy them.

  Fannie hadn't hurt me, she'd only really irritated me. But now, she'd gotten my birds taken away. I suppressed a growl.

  I saw Chevelle and the others visually sweep our surroundings as they set off again. I just sat, staring at them. One of them must have noticed because my horse unexpectedly took off, nearly tossing me from my saddle with an abrupt start before joining the group. I had to restrain myself from riding with my arms crossed in a defiant glower.

  Anvil was riding beside me, very nearly smiling at my scowl, and by some means I felt slightly less irritated. I couldn't fathom his effect on me. He was in some of the few memories I had recovered after the battle with council. I could see him there, his magnetism strong even in a faded recollection.

  "You feel familiar with the hawk?"

  The question threw me, I found myself stuttering out a nod. He smiled and I tried not to think of the dreams I'd had, burning his tongue, the hawk tearing it out.

  "You will be with him again." He inclined his head slightly as he clicked his heels and joined the front of the pack.

  I was weirded out the rest of the day. It was still bothering me when I fell asleep, which was probably what brought on the dream.

  I was engulfed in blackness again, my memories not clear enough for details like walls and temperature. It was as if a light were emanating from the center of my focus. Only that small space was comprehensible, the rest only vague outlines and sensations. I could see the large dark man with the scar and I could feel my hatred toward him. He was focused not on me, but on something else, a strange shapeless lump just beyond my clarity. I didn't know why, but the lump meant something to me. I concentrated on the dark man's face, the way only a dream can manipulate your attention, and grasped the detail that made the difference: there was no scar, not yet. I knew it was coming though, the source of the wound, when out of the periphery came a blinding strike. The shot was partially deflected by the large man but caught his brow and his previously smug face became enraged. I felt my chest swell just as I heard the laughing response and, though I woke before I could see his massive frame, I knew it came from Anvil.

  I woke short of breath, the way I felt when I was violently roused from the battle dreams. I immediately surveyed my surroundings, not surprised to find them looking at me with concern. I attempted a weak smile and most of them returned to their tasks.

  I wasn't usually awake as early as they were, so breakfast generally came just before I jumped on my horse to catch up and sometimes even after we were riding, but the dream had given me freshly cooked meat. We sat scattered on the rocks surrounding the camp when Ruby inquired about my start.

  "A dream," I answered. I watched Anvil, only a few feet away, as I recalled the dream and almost without realizing it, I remembered the dark man's name.

  I was speaking before I was entirely aware of what I was saying. "It was Anvil. And Rune." I heard a peculiar noise and my eyes flicked to Chevelle, whose face had drained of all color. My chest constricted, though I wasn't sure exactly what I'd said wrong. No one spoke.

  I could feel the flush in my cheeks, I opened my mouth but nothing came out. There was nothing to say, I didn't know why he was staring at me like... like what?

  Finally, Anvil broke the silence. "Ah, my little Freya has been dreaming of me." It was apparent he was going for humor but no one laughed. He cautiously stood and after a moment Chevelle turned and left the group. My eyes shifted to Anvil, questioning. He forced a smile but said nothing as he walked past me to his horse. I followed as the others mounted their own.

  It was a quiet ride throughout the day. Once, I heard something pass between Ruby and Chevelle but, despite the fact that my hearing was better than before, I couldn't understand the whisper. I was afraid to speak again so I merely watched our surroundings, studied the passing rocks, said goodbye to the greens and trees.

  I missed my birds.

  We finally stopped for the evening and it was much later than usual. I was paranoid it was because of something I'd said and I had trouble stopping the images of the dream from making a continuous circuit through my thoughts. Steed brought an elk in though and I managed distraction for the entire time it cooked and the few short minutes it took me to devour my portion.

  After dinner, Chevelle was nowhere to be seen. I was surprised when the wolves showed up after dark. I lay waiting for sleep when the flicker of the firelight caught their silver fur as they sauntered into the camp. Their eyes roamed over each of us before their massive frames settled onto the ground and they relaxed into sleep. I found myself falling with them, more secure in their presence.

  Consequently, when the dreams came they didn't have the mood of nightmares. I was assured, the strong, certain Elfreda that I sometimes knew. She smiled as the cloaks circled, beckoned them on. She faced the panther with courage, defied her lord. And she laughed at Rune, fearless in the face of his force. Until the dream focused again on the mass he concentrated on, the vague figure that lay on the floor. She was powerless to act, suddenly weak. She stared fixedly and the shape took form. I could see him now, his face contorted in agony. In answer to my wordless plea, there was a flash of light, a surge of electricity, and the torture ceased momentarily. I could see his rigid body ease a fraction and I was grateful. Grateful for Anvil having intervened and grateful for the broken entity that lay so near to me, he who signified so much...

  I almost choked on the breath I sucked in. My eyes darted around the camp, seeking him out, but he was nowhere to be found. It was as i
f I needed to see him, look upon his face here, not in the dream, to be positive it was real. But I knew, even without seeing, I knew.

  Someone approached and I sat up, shaken, to find it was Anvil. He knelt beside me as he inquired on my condition and I surprised us both by wrapping my arms around his massive chest in a hug. "Anvil," I gushed, the appreciation pouring through me even now. He patted my back and then I felt his shoulders come up in a shrug. I looked behind me to see who he was gesturing to and found Ruby and Chevelle were approaching the camp. I awkwardly pulled my still trembling arms loose and wrapped them around myself. I should have realized Ruby was gone when Anvil had come to me.

  I'd desperately wanted to find him moments ago and now that he was only feet from me, I couldn't bring myself to meet Chevelle's eyes. The rush of emotion I had felt in the dream was swimming through me, the image of his pained face, his besieged body, stealing my focus. I forced my mind to accept them into the jumble of memories and thought and fix them in place so I could function again. I felt a tear roll down my cheek and Ruby was there, brushing it away. She didn't ask this time, she just sat beside me and waited. I was overwhelmed for an instant and found myself clinging to her as I had Anvil but eventually the chaos settled.

  It was dawn by that point and I found myself sharing breakfast with them once more, though not fully enjoying it as I had the previous morning because of the ill feeling in the pit of my stomach.

  We were back on the horses in short order and I felt we must have been close to the castle now. Dark gray rocks spotted the mountain and the haze was beginning to thicken. And while I felt we were close, I really had no idea, so it was strange to me when we rode through a familiar pass. I slowed as I surveyed the land, trying to shake that eerie feeling that I'd been there before, but it didn't shake. In fact, it only worsened. I found that I knew what was coming, how the path would curve just so past the tall jagged rock that slanted toward us, how the shadows fell in the crevices where the rocks met, all of it. But I had no memory here, I was not even sure where here was.

  I'd started to turn, almost automatically, off our path when Chevelle called to me, requesting that I please pay attention. I stared back at him blank-faced, not wanting to argue that I had been paying attention, and he explained that we were nearing the castle and I would need to ride amid the group. That bit of information was enough to derail me from wherever the impulse had been taking me, but upon seeing Ruby cut off from the group, even the idea of the unknown route had been forgotten.

  Per Chevelle's instruction, Anvil and Grey had fallen behind me, leaving Steed and Chevelle to the front. Anvil was closest to me, near my side, so I turned to him. "Where's Ruby going?"

  "The castle, same as we."

  Confusion was plain on my face, I didn't have to ask why she'd left us.

  "She is taking an alternate pass, as it is midday."

  My expression didn't clear with understanding but apparently he didn't feel the need to clarify further. "Anvil, why is Ruby taking a different way because it's the middle of the day?"

  This time, he uncharacteristically used a low tone as his lips twisted into a mocking smile. "Truth be told, Elfreda, your previous self was not so keen on fairies."

  "What do you mean?" I asked.

  "It is unfair to place my rendering of the events upon you, but suffice it to say, you dealt with them quite sportingly." His laugh was almost wicked.

  And then the memory that came to mind was not my own, but that of my mother's, her telling in the diary of her father, Asher, killing the fairies for fun. I felt the blood drain from my face. Surely, though, I'd not his inclination. Surely.

  He could see my concern and offered comfort. "Do not fret, you have treated Ruby well. It was merely the nefarious that you disciplined."

  "How?" I asked.

  He smiled again. "Rather publically."

  I didn't know whether that was reassuring or not, but I didn't think public discipline implied execution. "Does Ruby know?"

  He laughed. "Everyone knows."

  Ugh. She couldn't be seen with me, with the old Elfreda.

  And then Grey threw in from behind us. "You know, Freya, Ruby is not the only of us affected by your... aversion."

  I spun in my saddle to see him, positive I'd not want to hear what he was telling me but unable to resist. He smirked at Anvil as he began to reply but Chevelle cut him off. "Silence until we are inside the walls."

  And it was silent, until late afternoon when we arrived at the castle. Dree escorted me to my room, where I fell fast asleep.

  Chapter Eight

  Disclosure

  When I woke, I was famished. I strode from my room and down the corridors, directly into the dining area. I had no idea how I'd found it.

  I was surprised to see Anvil, Grey, Rhys and Rider there. "Don't you ever sleep?" I asked. That was amusing for some reason.

  They beckoned to me to join them, which I did as soon as I spotted the display of food. They had already eaten and were enjoying drink, the roar of their laughter increasing with each swig.

  The food smelled delicious and, as I selected a piece of meat from one of the trays, I asked, "What are we having?"

  "Mountain lion."

  I froze mid-bite until Grey chuckled and offered me a glass of wine. I joined them because I was thirsty, but it wasn't long before I found myself matching their pace.

  Anvil and Grey began an intense conversation to one end of the table and so I took the opportunity to speak with Rhys and Rider. I didn't have much to talk about but the wine had loosened me up. "Where are the wolves?"

  They smiled in unison and for a brief moment I was afraid that was how they would reply. But they did not. Only Rhys answered. "They are enjoying the mountains tonight, searching."

  I wanted to question them more about the wolves, I had ever since I'd been unable to slip into their minds, but I was certain I could not walk that line in my condition, not without giving away too much of my own. I settled for a general inquiry. "Tell me about them?"

  Rider spoke up now. "Ahh, they are incredible beasts. But beasts, we do not know. It is said the wolves instead are ancients, some of the very first."

  "Ancients? I thought they were all gone." I had read so many accounts of the ancients in the village during my studies with Junnie but thankfully his words stopped me from going down that path.

  "So it is told. Yet you can see their form is not of our own."

  "They're elves?"

  He smiled gently. "We cannot know. Legend tells the ancients were more powerful than any of record. It is said that upon their thousandth year, they, being too powerful to pass, merely shifted into the minds of the wolves. Others tell that they share the form with the creatures, each together as one."

  I felt a crushing pressure on my chest and yet knew it was dulled by wine. "How?"

  "It is said they were twin." He had misunderstood my question of course, not known that I spoke of the sharing, the animal mind. But the new information was heady. No twins had been born in the elf nations for generations, yet the power of such a thing was known by all.

  "And you believe it, you followed them."

  "We do not know, Elfreda. We only accept as truth what can be proven. We are loyal to the wolves because they once did us a great deed. And we are loyal to you because the wolves are so."

  The conversation had taken such a bizarre turn, I was self-conscious, embarrassed at their declaration. "But why be loyal to me? You don't even know me, I don't even know me."

  Rhys' smile was reassuring. "We do not pledge ourselves blindly, Elfreda."

  I fluttered. "Wait, you do know me?"

  "We... found out."

  "Found out?"

  Rider spoke. "While we are faithful to the wolves, we do not offer our lives without certainty. It was a small matter of research."

  My head spun. "What do you know?"

  "We know of you, Elfreda. We know of your family."

  "My family?"

>   They nodded.

  "My mother?" I nearly whispered.

  "And the others."

  The others. "Fannie?"

  "Yes."

  The expression on their faces was so disdainful I had to ask. "What about Fannie?"

  Rhys answered. "She had been difficult since birth, we are told, a concern from day one. Though her mother tried to care for her, she was a constant disturbance and grew to a troublesome child. Rumors flourished that the lord would give up his plan for union with a light one. But upon the birth of the second child, their father merely exacerbated the problem with Francine, showing undoubted preference for Eliza. After a series of regrettable events and a show of your mother's superior power, Francine was passed over for the line, her sister chosen as secondary. Certainly this enflamed her wrath and after a time, she began to detach from even their mother, Vita."

  I was speechless, numb, at the easy flow of words describing the horror, though a similar version I had read gradually in my mother's diary.

  "Her mother's death was pivotal, though, and it is thought that she meant to resurface, return as a proper lord's daughter. And it seems likely given that upon finding her sister's plan to destroy him, she went to their father, exposing the entire plot. At first he did not trust in Francine, but when confronted with Eliza's journal detailing the plan, he'd no choice but to see it as truth. However, he did not do as she'd expected. Instead of being horrified with his successor's plan to destroy him, he was overjoyed at her power, a matchless power said to be described in her writings. Francine was confounded as he quickly began to form his own plan, which ultimately skipped over his only remaining daughter. She became incensed. She'd not the power to destroy him and his guard alone, no more than her sister did. But Francine knew Eliza would not accept her now, would not have joined her in his defeat, for she'd warned him. He'd be expecting Eliza, was aware of her entire design. Francine could only think of one other option. Grand Council."