Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (27 page)

I scratched the back of my head. “I told you I had you.”

“Well, now that that’s over with. We can move on.” She readjusted her shirt and smoothed out her hair. She passed Derrick and mouthed a thank you. He nodded.

The wooden door had one lock, old and intricate. Raven slipped out a metal tool from her pocket. She knelt in front of the door, inserted it into the lock, and twisted. The lock clicked, and she opened the door.

We slowly walked into a small alcove. Raven pressed against the brick wall in front of us and entered a wine cellar. I followed her to the bottom of the cellar stairs and waited. When we didn’t hear any footsteps, we tiptoed up.

The cellar opened into an enormous room with pots and pans of all sizes, hanging from large metal racks. I knew the servants must have cooked in here because of the two black stoves between the tables pressed against the far wall. My home seemed poor and feeble compared to this. We didn’t have a separate room for cooking, and definitely not this big. The candles were doused, which meant the servants wouldn’t be returning until morning.

Footsteps sounded from the stairwell to our left.

“Hide!” I hissed and grabbed Raven’s arm, dragging her under one of the tables while Derrick hid by the cellar doors.

No, no.
I unsheathed my sword. Raven crouched next to me, a dagger drawn in each hand. I didn’t want her fighting. I had to make the first strike.

The footsteps came closer and the glow of candlelight bounced across the walls. I thanked The Creator it was night and we were somewhat hidden.

“Jeslyn?”

I heard Derrick say it, but I couldn’t move. Raven’s eyes went wide and she stepped out from under the table.

“Derrick?”

It
is
her!
Jeslyn stood by the stairwell, holding a candle.

Derrick dropped his sword and rushed to her. “I can’t believe it’s you.” He hugged and kissed her.

Her eyes met mine and I saw in them an emptiness. “Jeslyn.” I walked over, staring at her. “Are you all right?”

Her eyes watered. She pulled away from Derrick and ran to me. “Avikar!” She wrapped her arms around me, crushing my chest. “I can’t believe you’re here.” Her hands rubbed my face and she shook her head. “You’re alive.”

She looked at Derrick then. “This must be a dream. Lucino told me you were both dead.”

“Dead?” Derrick said.

“He must have thought we died during the attack on Crain Village,” I said, letting Jeslyn go.

“Just a misunderstanding,” she said. “He’ll be so happy you’re both alive.”

Derrick and I looked at each other, then back at Jeslyn who seemed creepily happy.

Derrick moved towards her. “He tried to kill us.”

“No, he sent his men to look for you, but he was too late.”

“He’s fooled you then,” I said, staring into her wide eyes and watching them tear.

She shook her head. “I don’t understand. Why would he lie?”

Another set of footsteps sounded from the stairs.

Derrick reached for his sword and took Jeslyn’s arm. “We need to get you out of here,” Derrick said as we started moving toward the cellar.

“No.”

All three of us looked at her like she’d gone mad. “Jeslyn, we need to go,
now
,” Derrick said.

“I must speak with Lucino. If you’re telling me the truth, then you’re still in danger and if I leave with you, you’ll be hunted.”

“Jeslyn, we’ll be fine,” I said. “We have friends here.”

“I can come meet you tomorrow in the gardens,” she explained in a rush. “I’ll find a way to sneak out. I won’t risk your lives again.”

The heavy footsteps were getting closer. “Lady Jeslyn?” A man’s voice said.

Her eyes darted to the stairs. “That’s the guard. Go, before you’re caught.” She whispered and rushed to the bottom of the stairs. “I’m here.” She called to the guard.

“I’m not leaving you!” Derrick hissed.

“I’m not either,” I said, pulling out my sword and readying it.

“Go,” she said and before we could move, she ran up the stairwell.

“What do we do?” Raven whispered.

I kept my hand on my sword. “We’re getting her out tonight. Who knows what Lucino will do to her? I’m not taking any chances.” I moved past Derrick to the stairwell and listened. “Do you know what’s up these stairs?”

“Follow me,” Raven said, and with her daggers still drawn, crept upstairs.

At the top of the stairs, Raven held up her hand, stopping us then peered around the wall with a mirror. She held out one finger.

One guard. We couldn’t afford a fight, not with Jeslyn so close. I pointed to the mirror and she handed it over. I positioned it and saw a guard standing at the middle of a long hallway. Besides a few fancy decorated tables with sculptures, the area was empty—no doors, except the one he guarded. I returned her mirror

‘We need a distraction’, Raven mouthed.

I reached into my pocket and grabbed a marble.

This better work.

I looked around the corner. On one of those tables, past the guard, sat a porcelain bird. If I could get it to break, he’d run to check it out. If I missed, he’d look this way.

One … two … three! I launched the marble, and the bird cracked in two. The guard turned his head and walked towards it. Raven stepped into the hallway and blew into a long thin tube. A second later, the guard toppled to the floor.

Derrick ran into the hallway first.

Raven followed and pulled the dart out of the man’s neck. “He’ll be out for a few hours, but we need to hide his body.”

I grabbed the guard’s legs and Derrick lifted the torso. Then we carried him back down the stairs, tied him in case he woke, and hid him in the pantry.

The door he guarded led to the guest wing. Raven began using her tool to unlock any doors we passed. I hoped Jeslyn was in one of them.

Raven unlocked the next door and peeked in. “Just a study,” she whispered, and closed it.

“Wait.” I stopped her. I don’t know why, but I wanted to go in there. I needed to know more about Lucino, and the answer might be inside that room.

I walked in and they followed, shutting the door after they entered. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary: large bookcases, a massive desk, usual stuff.

“Look around,” I told them, and headed to the desk. My stomach twisted with nerves. A part of me wanted to ignore the sinking feeling in my gut, but I couldn’t.

“Why are we wasting time in here?” Derrick hissed. “We should be searching for Jeslyn.”

“Just do it,” I said and Raven hushed Derrick before he could argue with me.

The desk had a few rolled parchments. I gently unfurled one. Sprawling the page were words written in an unknown script. I put it down and opened one of the drawers. Nice knife. The dagger had a jagged edge. I picked it up, examining the unique curve of the blade.

Derrick glared at me. “We don’t have time for this,”

I needed to find something and quick. A large landscape painting hung crooked on the wall behind the desk. I touched the side, fixing it back into place.

Click
.

The painting moved down, revealing a map.

Is that … ?

It was. It was a map of Tarrtainya and right in the center, a diagram of a red star. Belfur, Thebas, Jehoia, Esdrastas, Thummin, all five lands connected
.
I pointed to the middle of the star. Reading the name there made me want to puke. Tyre. Whatever he was planning, my home was smack in the middle of it.

“He’s invading.”

I heard Derrick say it, but I refused to believe it. “How can you be sure?”

Derrick’s eyes glazed over the map. “They’re strategic points. If he has control over these lands …” he pointed while he spoke. “… he has control over the trade routes.”

I rubbed my forehead, trying to take it all in. “Why? Why would he care about the rest of the world? He lives in Daath.”

Raven tugged on my arm. “We can discuss this later, we need to keep moving.”

I looked at the map once more, fear and anger colliding in my chest.

I don’t know what you’re planning,
I thought,
but I’m going to stop it, no matter what.

They’re alive. I can’t believe they’re alive.

Derrick and Avikar. My heart raced wildly. I sat on the chaise, running the brush through my hair and staring at the door. Tears rolled down my cheeks. I never thought I’d see either of them again. I had accepted this new life. Now, everything has changed, and I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t think Lucino would let me just leave and if he really did try to kill them, he was not the lord I thought he was.

Knock. Knock.

“Yes?” I said, continuing to brush my hair.

“I’ve come to see if you’re feeling well. Reginald said you weren’t.”

I wiped my face and prayed to The Creator Lucino didn’t notice. If he caught Avikar and Derrick in his home … .

He opened the door and stepped inside. “What’s wrong? Shall I fetch a doctor?”

In my haste, I’d told Reginald I felt queasy and needed to lie down in order to get him away from the kitchen. “No, I’m feeling better now.”

Wearing just a plain black shirt and breeches, Lucino glided to me. He placed his hand on my forehead. “You feel very warm.”

“Oh?”

His hand slipped to my chest.

“What are you doing?” I gasped. No man had ever touched me there.

He ignored my embarrassment. “Your heart beat is out of rhythm.”

“My what? How do …”

He ignored me, again, and went to one of the bureaus. “I’m bringing you to Abigail. She’ll see that you’re given the right tonic to fix whatever ails you.” He removed a lilac robe from the bureau and handed it to me. “Put this on, and I’ll take you there.”

I slipped the robe over my night chemise and fastened it closed.

“What were you doing tonight?”

I focused on the remaining buttons.

“Jeslyn.” His tone changed, deeper and I was afraid to look at him. Afraid my eyes would give away the truth. “When I left earlier, you had fallen asleep.”

“I woke and needed water and something to eat. I didn’t want to bother the servants. They deserved a rest after the ball.”

He stared at me and my chest tightened.

I placed my hand on my head. “I think you’re right, Lucino … I don’t feel …” I wobbled and leaned on the top of the chaise, pretending to be ill.

His hands steadied me, and I rested my hand on his arm. “I don’t think I’ll be able to walk. Maybe I should lie down.”

“No, I’ll carry you.” He gently lifted me into his arms, holding me as if I weighed no more than a flower.

I put my arm around his neck and leaned into his chest. “Whatever you think is best, my lord.”

I closed my eyes, praying he didn’t ask any more questions.