Nightshade (36 page)

Vhaelin Star bolted past them and Darry’s heart jumped into her throat as the cloak was thrown and the heavy garment hit her in the chest and face. Talon skidded to the side and kicked out as Darry yanked at the garment. “
Jessa
!”

Vhaelin Star was racing toward the trees.

“Damn you to all seven hells!” Darry shouted, shoving the cloak against the saddle and kicking Talon into action. “
Hiyah
!”

Jessa did not look back as she guided the filly into the grove, letting the animal slow as she sat back in the saddle. She was breathing quick and resting the reins on the filly’s neck. Talon thundered past them, terribly close, and Vhaelin Star reared and turned on her hind legs. Jessa was forced to grab the saddle.

Talon turned hard once again and Darry brought him around. “Are you
mad
?” Darry threw the cloak as they neared.

Jessa caught it and dropped it across the filly’s shoulders. “You’ll kill your plough horse, Darry. I would rather not watch that.”

“Then go back.”

“I didn’t know you were cruel.” Jessa’s words cut through the haze of confusion in Darry’s expression. Jessa saw a surge of pain in Darry’s eyes and her heart ached for her. “I would not have thought you were cruel.” She spoke with some effort, trying to gauge the effect of her words.
Give her back to me, Hinsa.

Darry looked away as Talon stepped to the side and waited for a command. When Darry looked back, Jessa saw within her eyes the woman she loved.

“I’m not,”
Darry said, and pulled on the reins. Talon stepped to the left and moved away.

Jessa clicked her tongue and Vhaelin Star followed, weaving through the trees after them. Darry’s shoulders fell a little and her head lowered as she gave Talon his head. The war-horse trotted for a time and the filly followed at a distance.

When the stallion stopped and lowered his face into the grass, Darry swung her right leg over his neck and jumped from the saddle. Jessa pulled the filly up as Darry approached. Jessa leaned down as strong hands took possession of her waist. She grabbed Darry’s shoulders and slid from the saddle, her body descending along Darry’s until her boots touched the ground.

Jessa’s heart beat fast as their bodies pressed close and Darry held her firmly. Jessa found it hard to breathe and wanted very much to put her arms about Darry’s neck.

“He’s not a plough horse,” Darry said in a quiet breath, and released her.

Jessa let her go and Darry moved beneath the massive maples, the savageness still within her body but not as it had been. Tamed somewhat by their wild ride, Darry’s shoulders were not so tight nor her gait so fierce. Jessa followed at a distance, waiting until Darry stopped and touched the weathered bark of an ancient maple.

Jessa brushed past her and spun smoothly, then sat neatly in the grass. “You’re right,” she said. “He is made for more than farm work.”

Darry lowered her face and Jessa thought she saw a smile.

“Come sit beside me, Darry.”

“I cannot be your friend anymore,” Darry said, stepping away from the maple and shoving her hands into her pockets. She pulled her shoulders in as if to protect herself. “I can’t.”

“As I said, that is your choice.” A surge of frustration washed through Jessa that somehow their relationship was no longer within their control. Had it ever been? She wanted desperately to ask what had happened and to know the great wrong that Bentley had spoken of. “Come and sit.”

“It’s not my choice!” Darry raised her voice. “I can’t be responsible.” She swallowed awkwardly. “You cannot be near me anymore, do you hear?”

“I may do as I wish, Darry. I wish to remain your friend,” she replied.
I wish to be so much more, do you not see?
“But if you cannot do that, for whatever reason, I trust your judgment.” She ached for her, ached for Darry’s touch again. She wanted that moment back when her entire world had hung in the balance.

“But someone I cared for was made to suffer. Someone I used to love…because she loved me in return. They hurt her. Because of me, Jess. It was my fault, my mistake.”

“No, not because of you,” Jessa said, certain of her words despite her lack of information. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“But if they…” Darry struggled with her words. From the moment she had seen Jessa in the stables, she had not thought only of Aidan. She had thought of Jessa, and all of the feelings Darry had for her swarmed up in her rage. “…if they…you and I.”

“Darry,” Jessa said, her tone unyielding.

Darry stepped close and dropped to her knees beside her. Jessa took hold of her uniform at the collar. “I don’t know much, Darry. Not much of anything, actually, but I do know that at least. It was not because of you. Whatever you’re thinking you’re wrong.”

Darry lowered her face and her shoulders jerked. Jessa pulled gently at the jacket and reached out with her other hand. Darry stumbled and Jessa caught her, pulling her near and wrapping her arms about her.

Jessa closed her eyes. “And if you don’t believe me,” she whispered, her heart breaking a little, “then I forgive you in her stead. Do you hear me, Darry? She forgives you. You are forgiven.”

Darry shook within the embrace, a strangled sob slipping past her lips. Her arms slid around Jessa’s lower back. “
Essa lana allah patrice ma
,
Akasha
.” Jessa touched her lips to Darry’s cheek in a supple kiss.
Do not hide so, Akasha, do not hide.

The kiss broke her at last and Darry cried, giving in to her grief.

*

Darry wiped again at her face and opened her eyes, feeling almost peaceful in the darkness. She had not expected to find such solace in being held.

Jessa’s touch was like a whisper as she pushed a pale curl from Darry’s face. She traced her fingertip along her temple and down her jaw, coming to rest on Darry’s throat where she felt the slow and steady beat of her heart. “Did you damn me to your seven hells?” Jessa asked.

Darry took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “You threw your cloak in my face and then rode away on a faster horse.”

The urge to claim Darry’s mouth was close to overpowering, but Jessa knew it was not what was needed and had no idea if that was how to go about getting what she desired. It seemed to be, but she was not willing to ask just yet. “Ah, that.”

“I wasn’t intending to return.”

“Then we shall keep riding,” Jessa said.

“We’ll go back,” Darry whispered, a curious look in her eyes that Jessa did not understand. “It’s all…everything is as it was meant to be.”

Jessa moved her hand beneath Darry’s chin. She turned her hand, tracing her fingertips along Darry’s jaw once again. “Do you think so now?”

Darry swallowed and stared at Jessa’s lips.
Do you know how beautiful you are? You should be told every day, until your eyes finally close a thousand years from now.

“Do you think so?” Jessa asked again.

I would taste your lips just once before then
. “Perhaps, but I’m very tired, Jess.”

“Then sleep. I don’t mind.”

“Are you not tired as well?”

Jessa smiled. “No.”

“Why do you always smell so sweetly of jasmine?” Darry asked, Jessa’s fingers burning along her neck. “Do you wash your hair with it?”

Jessa’s smile deepened. “Are you asking for my most well-guarded secret?”

“Is it a secret?”

“Why do you always smell of musk and of the sea?”

“I forget to bathe.”

Jessa chuckled. “Yes, well, that probably isn’t a secret you can keep then, is it?”

“Probably not.” Darry sighed, shifting to rise.

Jessa lowered her leg and helped Darry sit up, her right hand lingering in Darry’s hair before letting her go.

Darry wiped at her face again. “I’m sorry.”

“For what? Things deserve their proper respect, yes? No matter the price. Tears are a better payment than most, Darry.”

Darry accepted the words and then rose to her feet, offering both her hands. “Come now, my Lady. Let me take you home.”

Home, yes.
Jessa accepted the help and Darry pulled her up. Jessa stepped close as Darry grasped her waist. “We can still keep riding.”

“I’m better now, Jess, truly.”

“We can keep riding anyway.”

Darry’s smile was almost timid as she stepped back, but not before she wrapped her fingers about Jessa’s hand again and held it tight.

Their return seemed to take no time at all despite the distance. They did not speak much as they rode. The silence between them was not strained or uncomfortable, but filled instead with a strange sort of promise, and when Darry would glance at her, Jessa’s eyes would find her. It was Darry who would turn away and Jessa smiled when she did, happy for the darkness around them that hid her blush. When they rode at a gallop they did so with ease, both animals content to keep apace until one of them would settle and they would slow to a walk once more.

When they reached Blackstone Keep the postern gate had been left open for them. Darry thanked the guard as they passed beneath the arch, whereupon he saluted her. “Who won, my Lady?”

“She did,” Darry answered with a grudging smile, and Jessa laughed with delight when the man chuckled and returned to the guardhouse. He announced the result to his comrades and their surprised laughter lifted into the night.

“I think you’re not used to losing,” Jessa said as Vhaelin Star walked with a high step as if she knew she were the victor.

Darry looked past the stables to the torches of the residence, a shrouded look on her face. “I don’t mind this time.”

Jessa glanced at the high walls of the keep. Did Hinsa wait in the maze, and would Darry go to her?

They dismounted at the stables and a groomsman came out and took their mounts, though Jessa was reluctant to relinquish the reins. Darry smiled a little when she saw this and retrieved Jessa’s cloak from the saddle, then shook it open and held it out. Jessa stepped close, allowing Darry to lay the garment about her shoulders. She closed her eyes when Darry’s fingers moved against her neck and her hair was lifted free of the hood. Darry carefully laid the curls and braids about Jessa’s shoulders.

They walked down the wide boards of the stables and eventually along the path that took them to the residence. They moved along the stones in an easy walk, unhurried and quiet. When they reached her rooms Jessa opened the door and turned to speak, but Darry silenced her with a touch, taking Jessa’s hand.

She brought her other hand forward as well and rubbed her thumbs on the soft skin of Jessa’s fingers. Jessa’s heart beat wildly at the caress and the hairs rose on the back of her neck.

Darry stepped forward and bowed her head, placing the back of Jessa’s hand against her forehead. The quiet song of Jessa’s bracelets filled the air between them as she let out a slow breath and closed her eyes.

Jessa reached out with her left hand but then hesitated, wanting to touch Darry’s hair again but uncertain.
Oh, Darry, I love you, I do…but I don’t know how to help. You must tell me if you can because, because I don’t know how to do this.

Darry lowered Jessa’s hand and turned it over. Her fingertips skated lightly over the skin before she leaned close. Jessa’s heart skipped as Darry kissed the center of her palm, her lips slow and lingering until etiquette no longer existed.

“Jessa,” she whispered simply, then turned away and moved down the terrace.

Jessa closed her eyes, unmoving as she listened to the sound of Darry’s boots fading into the distance.
Vhaelin essa.

“Close the door, you foolish child,” Radha said, though her voice held no reprimand. “You’re late.” Radha was in her favorite chair beside the small fire of the hearth.

“Mind your tongue, old woman.”

Radha laughed. “Her attentions suit you.”

“It wasn’t like that,” Jessa said, stepping away from the door and whipping off her cloak. She threw it onto the foot of the bed. “I must see to the Queen.”

“She is well,” Radha said. “She sleeps soundly with the Lady Emmalyn by her side to watch over her. She was given a draught of valerian root. Her heart beats strong and without pain, and her blood runs clean. She could not catch her breath. Part of her world came crashing down, yes?”

“I’m not sure.” Jessa sat on the heavy lid of the trunk at the end of the bed. “But I felt a great fear within her, and sorrow.”

“Not an easy spell to weave,” Radha said.
Not even for me, my child. You weave spirit majik as if it were a trivial thing. Those runes can destroy as easily as they heal.

Jessa gave an absent wave of her hand. “It was needed.”

“Your Princess had a lover once, when she was younger.”

“What do you know?”

“A girl named Aidan. The King and his Prince did not like it and so they threatened to ruin her family if she did not spurn the young Darrius. She did as was ordered out of fear for her family. The girl’s father was given much gold and land titles, no doubt to soothe someone’s conscience. They disappeared from the city one night never to be seen again.” Radha watched Jessa’s face as she spoke. “It was just today that your Princess finally found out the truth, that her father and his heir did such harm to—”