Orphan's Blade (17 page)

Nathaniel sat up, trying to shed the haunting feeling clinging to him from his dream. Brax prepared the horses while Ardent lifted a bowl of soup to his lips. His hands were still tied, but enough slack was given to feed himself. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Most of the day.”

“In Horred’s name, why didn’t you wake me?”

“I’ve only just woken up myself.” Valoria offered him a bowl of soup. “Axel made dinner.”

“He cooked?” Nathaniel took the bowl and his fingers brushed against hers. His skin tingled where she’d touched.

Valoria smiled. “’Tis not tavern fare, but ’tis edible.”

Nathaniel brought the wooden spoon to his lips with hesitation. He sipped a light chicken broth. Large chunks of meat sat at the bottom of his bowl and a few leaves and herbs floated at the top. It was crude, but reminded him so much of Brax—simple, meaty, and to the point with no nonsense. He had to give Brax some credit.

“What were you dreaming of?” She dragged her spoon around, but her bowl was empty.

Nathaniel breathed heavily as the image of his father’s face resurfaced in his memory. “The past.”

Valoria raised an eyebrow as if intrigued. “What about the past?”

He didn’t want to delve into his tragic story, so he spoke in general terms. “How fate can take away everything you hold dear in a matter of seconds.”

Valoria nodded. “I know what you speak of. I lost my mother when I was a child.”

Nathaniel’s voice grew soft, so only she could hear him. “My apologies. I had heard something about the ruler of the House of Song joining Lyric in—what do you say—the rhythm of the world.”

“That’s correct.” She studied him. “Not many warriors know of the minstrels’ religious beliefs. But, you are not a warrior by birth are you?”

“No.” Nathaniel sipped another spoonful. Every turn of conversation led him back to his dream. “I’m not.”

Valoria placed her soup bowl in a bucket of water and washed it with her hands. “My mother died long before her time.”

“If you do not mind me asking, what did she die of? No one ever said.”

Valoria’s face turned solemn with a hint of anger, or was it bitterness? “A starved heart.”

“A starved heart? How does one die of such a thing?”

She glanced back at Brax as if she’d already stayed too long. “When there is not enough love.”

Before Nathaniel could reply, Valoria stood and walked over to where Brax packed the wagon.

Nathaniel placed the bowl in the water and washed it with both hands. His eyes never left the princess as unease stirred in his gut. Was she anything like her mother?

Ifs

“Break from the path here.” Ardent pointed to a ridge up ahead. “Best to be on higher ground. They tend to wait in the valley.”

Valoria nodded at Nathaniel. “Go ahead.”

Nathaniel raised both eyebrows. “Are you certain he’s telling the truth?”

Valoria had already tested Ardent with a slumbering
awaken thee liar
lullaby, but she didn’t want to give up all of the secrets of her trade. She strummed her harp. “Want me to sing the song of truth?”

Nathaniel shifted uneasily. “If you think it’s necessary.”

His unease piqued her attention. What secret was he hiding? Perhaps it was better she not know. It would go against the minstrel code to lure it out. “’Tis not necessary.”

Nathaniel breathed with relief. He spurred the horses up the incline. Whatever secrets he held dear, she wouldn’t know. It surprised her how much she wanted to.

Ardent threw a rock on the side of the road. A puff of soot and ash came up when it hit. “Go ahead. Try your song on me. You already know enough to imprison me until Helena and Horred walk again on this earth.”

“You will not spend your life in prison.” Valoria threw her own rock, stirring up another cloud of ash. “You’re to make something of yourself.” She couldn’t save everyone. At least not yet, but she could make a difference in one life. That’s if he’d let her.

“Tell that to the lumbering ox snoring back there.” Ardent raised his chin, gesturing toward the back of the wagon where Brax slept.

Valoria’s lips curled despite her attempt to hold a serious expression.

Beside her, Nathaniel gave Ardent a chastising glare. “Excuse me, that is no way to address the…man who spared your life.”

Valoria breathed in relief. Nathaniel had almost said
the prince
. She was sure of it. If they were ever to pull off this disguise, then they had to act the part better than they were. None of them would be cast in a Temple Day play, that’s for certain. She turned to Ardent. “
You
speak with Axel. Tell him you only want to have food and shelter, that you’d do honest work. Unless you wish to spend your days working for Gibson.”

Ardent picked at his dirty fingernail. “I don’t know any other life.”

“You will.” Valoria patted his arm, then snapped her hand back just in case he was still the wild animal Nathaniel had captured. “If you want it badly enough.”

They reached the zenith of the ridge by midday and stopped to give the horses water. Brax came out to eat with them. After a short rest, Brax took the reins while Nathaniel and Ardent moved to the back of the wagon. Despite her longing to discover Nathaniel’s secrets, Valoria chose to stay with Brax. She had to convince him of a great many things. So many it overwhelmed her. So she started with the easiest matter on her list.

“As you can see, Ardent has stayed true to his word.”

“So far,” Brax grumbled. Was he annoyed she’d decided to stay with him instead of following Nathaniel and Ardent?

Valoria shifted on the bench to study his profile. With his blunt nose and large forehead, he looked like an impassable mountain. Stubble darkened his jaw, but his head was slick as if he’d shaved it that morning. Interesting priorities. If only she could read him better. “What will you do with him once we reach New Shaletown, if he keeps his word?”

“I do not live my life building plans around
ifs
.” He spoke as if she had suggested he knit dollies in his spare time.

“I see.” Valoria resisted the urge to grin. “I like
ifs
. They bring with them numerous possibilities.”

Brax glanced at her as if she were mad. “Possibilities are fantasies that waste time.”

Her whimsical streak rose up, and there was nothing she could do to contain it. “Come now, you’ve never fantasized about anything in your life?”

“No.” He stared straight ahead. “Unless you count reaching goals through hard work.”

Valoria sighed. Could he be any more tedious? “That’s a start.”

* * * *

After two more days, the ash and soot gave way to green growth. Barren lands became meadows, and the trees turned from scraggly, bare limbs to small leaves and white buds. The smell of fresh rain and the sea wafted on the breeze. They passed a few small barns, cottages, and a wayside tavern.

Valoria’s nerves tingled. She swung her legs and kicked her boots on the back of the bench. They were close.

Beside her, Nathaniel squinted at the horizon. Dread had crept in his gaze. What did he expect to see?

They crested a hill, and the pinkish and grey roofs of shale filled the valley below. Every building stood in perfect lines along clean streets of cobblestone. Valoria admired the perfection until she remembered it had been rebuilt only fifteen years back. The shiny new city rested on a graveyard.

Nathaniel breathed deeply beside her as if gazing upon it gave him unbearable pain.

“What troubles you?” Valoria longed to trace the line from his ear down his chin and run her hands through the curls in his hair. She wove her fingers together and held her hands firmly in her lap.

He gestured toward the western part of the city. “There. That was where my father’s shop was. And beside it, the cottage where I was born.”

Reality chastened her, stilling her swinging legs. She’d remembered him telling her he was from Shaletown, but to see the ruin firsthand brought a fresh pain to her chest. “Were you here when they attacked?”

“Aye.” Nathaniel swallowed hard.

His dream, the way he spoke of loss, it all made sense. How horrible it must have been to be orphaned as a child. Thank Lyric the king and queen took him in. But, to grow up with such a debt knowing you could never be the rightful heir must have been heartbreaking. How could she have spoken of losing one person as if it were the same as losing an entire village? If only she’d known more about him. Compassion overwhelmed her. “I’m so sorry.”

“’Tis fate.” He urged the horses forward.

An entire brigade of soldiers stood at watch atop the gate to the city, examining everyone who passed. With Brax and Ardent in the back, Valoria and Nathaniel looked like a young couple bringing goods from the north.

Valoria kept her gaze down, trying to look submissive when she’d been taught her whole life to hold her head high and stare at each person with confidence. Brax could always flash his royal seal and declare himself the prince. They were clear of the raiders, but that still left the castle vulnerable without its rulers, and they’d have to make their way back through the raiders’ lands, whether they were successful in securing the blue fire or not. The less people who knew about the quest, the less trouble they’d stir up.

She held her breath as the guards’ gaze fell over them. Nathaniel spurred the horses forward and nodded to the guards as if they had nothing to hide.

The guards stopped the caravan before them, peering under the leather tarp. Valoria’s heart quickened. What if they recognized the prince? What would they do with Ardent?

She remembered Brax’s words;
I do not live my life building plans around ifs.
If only she had his cool, logical nature.

Nathaniel reached over and put his hand over hers. “It will be all right.”

The guards nodded, and the caravan before them moved on, entering the city. An older guard with gray in his beard and a broken nose approached them.

Nathaniel’s hand remained on hers as a steady presence.

The guard’s gaze dropped to their hands together. He studied their faces as if determining their relationship. He nodded, allowing them to pass.

Valoria breathed with relief as they entered the city. “We convinced them.”

Nathaniel took his hand back. “I must be a great actor.” He avoided her gaze.

A great actor? Valoria scoffed. He couldn’t even remember his alias. No, the guard must have seen the natural ease they had with each other. It had only grown stronger each day they spent together despite her efforts to subdue it. So strong she could feel him near her.

People carrying baskets full of laundry, apples, fish, and other goods walked on either side of the road in an endless tide. The air smelled of fish, cooking, perfumes, and horses, each change of the wind bringing with it something different.

“I do not remember this town being so big, so crowded.” Sad confusion spread across his face.

Valoria gave him a sympathetic smile. “Perhaps that is a good thing.” She couldn’t imagine coming back to a blackened ruin, or even another town built just like the first. Too many ghosts. “I’m glad it’s different. They have said farewell to the past, something I must remind myself to do at times.”

Nathaniel’s face softened and grew warmer as he studied her. “You are wise beyond your years.”

They traveled across the city to the harbor. Valoria peered between the buildings at the crisp blue waves.

“Have you ever seen the sea?” Nathaniel smiled, but it was sad. A dark cloud had hung over him since they’d arrived, and Valoria wished she could blow it away. But, she knew better. She had the same cloud over her head whenever she walked into her mother’s sitting room at the House of Song.

“No. Before I came to Ebonvale, I’d never left the bluewood forest.” She’d been naive and selfish about so many things. All she’d wanted to do was return home and play her music. But, the world needed her, and she would not let it fall to pieces. She cared about the people of Ebonvale as much as they hated her, and now about Ardent and the raiders as well. Lyric knew how much she cared about Nathaniel, and she was even growing to care for Brax in an odd sort of way.

“What do you think?” Nathaniel turned the wagon, and they passed an open space where the horizon sprang up in a carpet of shimmering blue. Seagulls dove to the water, and boats rocked with the tide.

Valoria sniffed the sea air and soaked in the wide openness. “I never thought anything could be more beautiful than the midday sun as it filtered down through the glass dome of the House of Song. I was wrong.”

“You were not wrong. I have seen the sun light the House of Song and heard the minstrels play. Indeed, it is just as beautiful as the sight before us now.” His gaze grew distant as if remembering.

“Where was I?” She would have certainly remembered such a face.

Nathaniel smiled as if he had a secret he could tease her with. “You were not yet born.”

Blueberry

Returning to Shaletown was more painful than Nathaniel could have imagined. The only bright light in the never-ending ache was Valoria’s presence. She was right; he had to bid farewell to the past if he was ever to carry on.

When Nathaniel came to Ebonvale and became the king and queen’s ward, he’d thought he had left it all behind. But, he could no more erase his origins than change his heritage. Trading ran in his blood, like his father before him. He’d watch his father barter with the soldiers and lords that came by the smithy. They took so many different forms of payment, from baskets of apples to loaves of fresh baked bread. His father knew the currency of life. He was good with people, and could make something of any deal.

The sights and smells of Shaletown awakened that talent in Nathaniel’s veins. This was why Brax had chosen him for this quest and why it was up to him to find a decent place to rest for the night, and then a decent captain and ship willing to go where no man had gone in a long, long time.

But so much of the city had changed. Nothing looked like it should. Stores had different names, and taverns stood where baker shops used to be. How was he supposed to use his skill when all of his knowledge was archaic?