The League of Illusion: Destiny (6 page)

Chapter Eleven

He covered her mouth with his hand. “Shh.” She struggled against him but he held her firm. “I heard something in the other room.”

Drea stopped struggling and he took his hand away from her mouth. Despite the imminent danger, he was acutely aware of her body pressed to his. The wildflower scent she always carried on her skin and hair. The light sprinkling of freckles across the bridge of her dainty nose. And—most affecting—the firm swell of her breasts pressed intimately against his chest. If he didn’t suspect that the elves were outside looking for a way in, he might have given in to his rising feelings again.

As it was, he gently pushed her away. “Get dressed.”

She reached for her smallclothes and dress. “Maybe it’s just John or Lottie,” she whispered.

“Maybe, but I’m going to find out.” He quickly pulled on his trousers and shirt.

It was hard to hear anything over the persistent plinking of rain and the occasional wall-shaking clap of thunder but he knew he’d heard glass breaking. Whoever it was had broken the window in the next room and climbed inside. His bet was on the elves. Who else would have cause to sneak up on them? Any person without nefarious doings would’ve walked through the front door, especially on a night like this.

“I’m going to check on the situation.” He drew his short sword. “You stay here.”

She grabbed onto his arm. “I’m not staying here by myself.”

“I’ll take you down to John and Lottie. We need to warn them.”

Together, Drea pressed against him, they crept out of the room. There was no one waiting for them on the landing. Slowly, quietly, they made it down the stairs to the main room. John and Lottie were still asleep at the table, their heads down.

“You wake them and get out.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Confront our guests.”

“I’m coming.”

He sighed. “Drea, it’s too dangerous.”

“Stop. I’m tired of hearing that. What would you know is too dangerous for me?”

There was another flash of lightning coming from upstairs. It was enough light to see a streak of movement on the landing.

“We need to get out of here.”

“What about John and Lottie?”

The couple hadn’t moved. Surely the noise of their movements and the thunder would’ve woken them up. Sebastian stared hard at them and noticed a dark pool beneath the table. Blood.

“There’s nothing we can do for them.”

Eyes wide, she turned her head and looked at the couple. Tears formed in her eyes. “They’re dead because of us.”

Sebastian wrapped his arms around Drea and took her down to the floor just as an arrow zipped by. It imbedded into the side of the table with an audible thunk.

“Follow me. Stay low to the ground.”

He started across the tavern, Drea close behind him. Another arrow flew overhead. It stuck in the door with a resounding
thrang
just as Sebastian pushed it open. They rushed outside. Sebastian shut the door behind them and dragged the water trough over to block it. It wouldn’t stop their pursuers for long, but might allot them a few extra moments to find an escape route.

He grabbed Drea’s hand, and together they dashed into the barn to find the horse was gone.

“We need to find a way out of here,” he said.

“There’s a boat. On the river.”

Sebastian looked up at the dark sky. Rain still poured down, lightning still flashed across the black clouds. Being on a boat was going to be dangerous in this weather. But he didn’t see any other options. There was no way they could outrun the elves in the woods. He suspected they had their horses tethered nearby.

He took her hand again and squeezed. “Don’t let go of me.”

“I won’t.”

Together they ran back out into the rain. The ground was slippery as they crossed the back yard toward the river. It was pitch black out but Sebastian couldn’t risk making a witchlight to guide them. The elves would see the light. He had to rely on Drea’s knowledge of the place and the occasional flash of lightning from the sky.

“Which way?” he asked.

She led him through the trees. They had to stop every once in a while so they didn’t trip over a tangle of bushes or a rotten log. Eventually, he could hear the rush of the river over the roar of the rain.

She tugged his hand and pointed. “There.”

Tied up to what he thought might be a dock was a small vessel. More a barge than a boat, but it would have to do. They made a run for it, just as an arrow zipped through the air, narrowly missing Sebastian’s ear. He felt the air move as it whizzed by.

“Go!” he shouted.

They dashed the last few yards to the river’s edge. The dock was merely five planks of wood hammered together. It looked barely able to hold a person’s weight. As he stepped on it, it cracked. He had to make a dive for the barge before the wood broke under his weight. He barely made it, but turned immediately to catch Drea, who was right on his heels.

She leaped just as he had, but wasn’t as lucky. He saw it happen in his mind seconds before it happened. One foot reached the boat, but the other didn’t. She fell backward into the water.

Sebastian reached over the edge to grab her. He managed to snag her arm before she went under. The river wasn’t that deep but with the storm and the waves the wind was making, a person would definitely get pulled under the swells and not come up. He dragged her up onto the ship. She was shivering violently. But there was nothing he could do about that now. They had to get downstream before the elves caught up to them.

The pole the barge was tied to leaned to the side, breaking under the strain of the wind and rain. Sebastian grabbed the rope and yanked on it. It didn’t take much for the wood to break and they were free from the dock. The water eagerly swept them along, as if ecstatic to finally have a toy to play with.

As they rolled along the river, he watched the shore. It wasn’t long before arrows sailed through the air toward them. Thankfully the wind made it difficult for the elves to find their marks, but he had to duck to avoid one well-aimed missile fired at his head. A wave knocked the barge toward the rocks. Sebastian pushed them away with the pole. It was going to be difficult to steer and dodge arrows.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Drea on her side, shivering. She was in no shape to be dodging arrows. Still holding onto the pole, he grabbed her arm and dragged her into the wheelhouse. The elves’ arrows wouldn’t be able to get her there. At least the roof and three walls prevented most of the rain from pelting her as well. He rubbed at her arms.

“We’re going to be all right.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, her teeth chattering.

“Yes,” he said, although he wasn’t too sure. The arrows were still coming. One had nearly speared him in the foot. He had to pilot them farther down the river and away from the shore. He also had to do something for her or she was going to get sick. There was a heat spell he could perform, but he wasn’t sure how effective it would be in the rain. But first he had to deter the elves from firing at them.

Sebastian came out of the wheelhouse and stood in the center of the vessel, positioning the pole in the water to steer them down the river. Another arrow flew over his head, just missing him. He closed his eyes and pictured the rocky shore, shaping a large boulder in his mind. When he opened his eyes again, the rock was floating in front of him. With all his energy he tossed the boulder toward the elves. His aim was better than theirs and it landed right in front of them, scattering them, and the elves fell back. He suspected they’d be off to get their horses and find a road that led them along the river. For now, they were safe.

He checked on Drea again. Her shivers were more pronounced, and he could hear her teeth chattering even over the rush of water all around them. He had to warm her.

Concentrating on her, on the air around her, Sebastian pushed and slammed the particles together. Over and over he did this. Until finally he could feel a warmth spreading through the air around Drea. Pushing on his magic even harder, the temperature increased. While he knelt beside her he could feel it getting hotter and hotter. Steam wafted off her wet clothing.

She stopped shivered and her teeth were no longer chattering together. Blinking back the raindrops on her eyelashes, she looked at him and smiled. “I feel warmer.”

“Good.”

She reached for him. “Come here. We can warm each other.”

“I can’t. I have to steer the barge.”

But even as he did that, he continued to work the spell. It put a strain on him. He could feel it in his head. After not using his magic, it was a lot harder to use and control now. He didn’t know how much longer he could keep the warmth coming, but he didn’t let up. It had to be enough for them to get to safety. It had to be enough for Drea to get home.

He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if anything more happened to her. Knowing it was his fault. That he had brought the danger to her.

Chapter Twelve

Although the storm rocked the barge as they swept down the river, Drea fell asleep. The heat from Sebastian’s spell lulled her into a dreamless slumber. When she woke, she was surprised to see the rain and wind gone and the stars in the sky.

She sat up to see Sebastian using a pole to pull them to shore. “Did we make it?”

He swiveled around to look at her. “I think so. We definitely came a long way downstream.”

“And the elves?”

“I didn’t see them. Hopefully that means they didn’t have a chance to follow us.”

She rubbed her face, trying to scrub away the dirt and grime she knew must be coating her skin. Her hair must be a crazy tangle around her face. She must look a mess. What she wouldn’t give for a bath and a clean change of clothes.

Sebastian jumped ashore and pulled the barge onto the rocks. He tied it up to a tree nearby. She came to the edge and jumped. He caught her and together they started back to the village.

“Are we going the right way?” he asked.

“Don’t know. It’s too dark to see much of anything. Once we hit a trail or road, I should be able to tell.”

He rubbed his hands together frantically. Within seconds a glowing green mass emanated from between his fingers. He opened his hands and a ball of light floated into the air beside him.

“Does that help?”

She smiled, charmed by the small magic. “It does.”

They walked through the trees, with the orb lighting their way. After about fifteen minutes they came to a road. It looked heavily traveled. She pointed to the east.

“It’s this way.”

“Are you sure?”

“No.”

They walked in silence down the middle of the road. She glanced at him every once in a while, but had no idea what to say to him. She was unsure of what he was thinking or feeling. Although they’d shared one another in the most intimate way, she felt further away from him than before. She wondered if he was embarrassed for confessing everything to her. Wondering if he thought himself weak to succumb to her.

She wanted to tell him she thought him the strongest man she’d ever known. She looked at him and was about to speak when she heard horse hoofs and a wagon coming up behind them.

“Off the road.” Sebastian snuffed out the orb of light with a flick of his fingers, then grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bushes.

They watched as an old horse came into view, driven by an equally elderly woman, and a rickety cart with wobbly wheels. Drea recognized that woman.

“I know her.” Drea stood from her hiding spot and went out onto the road before Sebastian could stop her.

The horse whinnied and shied away when she stepped in front of it. “Whoa, there,” the driver said, pulling the cart to a stop.

“Aunty,” she said.

Blythe squinted down at her, then smiled, revealing one missing front tooth. “Drea, girl. What on earth are you doing out here?”

“We need a ride to the village.”

“We?”

Sebastian came out of the bushes to stand beside her. He nodded to Blythe. “Ma’am.”

“Hop on,” Blythe said.

Sebastian helped Drea up, then climbed in next to her. They had to move a few things to find a spot next to the chicken cages.

“Why do you have chickens, Aunty? I thought you were going to Berit.”

“Just doing a favor for a friend, delivering these birds.”

“How far are we away from home?” she asked.

“Not far. An hour at most. It will be dawn soon.” She clicked to the horse and they were off. “Does your father know you’re out here?” Her gaze was penetrating and Drea looking away. “I’ll take that as a no.” She chuckled.

As the cart rumbled down the road, made uneven by the wind and rain of the storm, Drea worried. Everything had changed and she wasn’t sure how to deal with it. She’d wished for adventure and she’d definitely gotten it. But she’d also gotten so much more. Her heart swelled with the possibilities. And her belly clenched at the inevitability. They were on the road to her home, but ultimately it was the path to his, to him leaving this world, and her.

“Do you think your brother has found his way to the village?”

“I don’t know. He’s a smart man so I would hope so.”

“Tell me about him. Were you close?”

He looked down at his feet as he spoke. “Rhys was always the serious one in the family. Everyone thought him cold, but I knew better. He had a playful side.” He chuckled a little. “We were close when we were little, but grew apart as brothers do when they grow. But we always kept in contact. He was really the only one I talked to.”

“Why do you think it’s taken him all these years to finally come?”

He shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe something’s happened that’s forced him to come.”

“Like what?”

But he didn’t answer her. Instead he took her hand and pressed a kiss to the palm. “It doesn’t matter. What matters now is getting you home. Keeping you safe.”

He put an arm around her, and she set her head on his shoulder. They rode the rest of the way in silence.

When they came around the last corner before entering the village, Drea sensed something was amiss. She didn’t know exactly what, but shivers rushed up and down her back. Sebastian cuddled her closer.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Is that smoke?” Blythe asked.

They both looked up at the dark swirls in the pinkened sky just over the treetops. As they passed the last of the trees and could see the village, the dark swirls were thick. It was indeed smoke. Now they could see people running about, confused and scared. And they could hear the screams that came from the burning houses.

Before Blythe stopped the cart, Drea jumped out and ran into the village. Sebastian was right behind her.

“Drea! Stop!”

“My father. Something’s happened. I can feel it.”

She ran down the street, through the main square. People rushed by her, men carrying buckets of water, women cradling crying children. She saw the miller’s daughter run by. “Rosa! What’s happening?”

“Some strange men came. Started asking questions about the morrigan. And about you.”

“Me?”

Rosa nodded, then kept on going. Drea continued on until she reached the other end of town and her house. Or where her house should’ve been.

It was the smell that hit her first and dropped her to her knees. Burned wood, and grass, and all the herbs she’d grown in the garden. On top of all that was a sickly sour stench, which she didn’t even want to consider.

Tears blinded her and a sob stuck in her throat, choking her. But she scrambled to her feet and rushed toward the house, screaming, “Papa!”

Before she could reach the ashes in the yard, Sebastian grabbed her around the waist and lifted her up, preventing her from going forward. “Drea, stop. You don’t want to go in there.”

She struggled in his arms, flung her arms and legs, trying to get free. “Let me go! I have to help him.”

“You can’t. He’s already gone.”

She didn’t want to hear his words; she didn’t want to believe them. She continued to struggle, slapping at his arm that encircled her waist. “Papa!”

He smoothed a hand over her head. “He’s gone, Drea. He’s gone.” He pressed his lips to her cheek. “Take a deep breath, my darling. Breathe.”

She didn’t want to breathe. Not if it meant her father was dead.

But she did calm a bit, as she was too tired to fight. Her arms and legs she could hardly lift any longer. She just wanted to melt into his arms, wanted to melt into oblivion where she wouldn’t have to face the horror that lay before her.

He brought her down to the ground and cradled her in his lap, rocking her, stroking her hair. And the sobs came. Gut-wrenching, heart-twisting sobs that nearly ripped her apart.

“Shh, darling,” he whispered into her hair.

But she was beyond listening, and his words fell on deaf ears. The only thing in her head was a buzzing sound. A muddled amalgamation of every word, every thought ever spoken to her by her father. It swirled around in her mind, pushing on her. The pressure in her mind was almost unbearable.

When she became aware of movement around where they sat on the cold muddy ground, she looked up to see the elves surrounding them, bows raised.

“Stand up,” Acari said.

Sebastian tensed, and the muscles along his jawline twitched. “You did this.”

“I said get up, or I’ll put an arrow through your skull.”

Sebastian did, dragging Drea to her feet. “You can have me, just let her go.”

Acari glanced at the other two elves positioned behind them then back to Sebastian. “We don’t want you, sorcerer. We want the girl.”

“Why? What use is she to you?” Sebastian growled.

“Arrogant, just like all sorcerers,” Acari sniffed. “You think the entire world revolves around you.” He nodded to one of the other elves. “Take her.”

“No!” Sebastian held on to Drea but the elf already had a hold of her other arm. She felt like a wishbone being torn in half.

“Stop!” she yelled. “Tell me why you want me.”

“Drea, no. They will hurt you without a second thought to get what they want. Look what they did here. Remember what they did to John and Lottie.”

Acari pointed his crossbow at Drea. “Best
you
remember that, sorcerer. We need her alive but she can live without a few limbs.”

Sebastian let go of her arm and the elf tugged her toward him. She looked at him, wondering if he’d rescue her, although she was almost too tired to care at this point.

“You should be happy,” Acari said. “You’ll be reunited with your brother.”

Drea’s eyes bulged. “My brother? Impossible. He’s dead.”

“I know, and you’re going to take us to where he died. Where the morrigan killed him.”

“Acari, I beg you not to do this.” Sebastian flexed his fingers.

“Why ever not?” He took a step forward and nearly pressed the tip of his arrow into the hollow of her throat. It sent a jolt of pain through her. “Now, I suggest you raise your hands and don’t do anything stupid.”

“Do what they say, Sebastian.” Her voice trembled. “I’ll be all right.”

“I’ll find you. I swear to God, I will.”

She took in a quivering breath, then said in a rush, “I hit you over the head that night. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

“I know.”

“Humans.” Acari shook his head. “Your sentiment is sickening.” He nodded to the other elf behind Sebastian and he slammed the butt of his crossbow into the back of Sebastian’s head.

When Sebastian fell to the ground, Drea’s heart leaped into her throat. She struggled against the elf’s hold on her arm but it was futile. He was much too strong and his grip on her arm just hardened, his fingers digging into her flesh. She’d have bruises by morning.

“You killed him!” she shouted. “Just like you killed my father.”

“He’s not dead, but we can’t have him following us now, can we?” Acari slung his crossbow onto his back. “If he does, I will most definitely put an arrow through his throat.”

“I’m not going to make it easy.” Letting her knees go weak, she slumped forward. The elf was quick to catch her from smashing her knees on the ground.

“Don’t be stupid, woman,” Acari said. “Stand up.”

“No, you’ll have to kill me.”

He sighed, then signaled to the elf holding her up. With an ease she thought impossible, he squatted, flipped her over his shoulder and stood. He handled her as if she weighed no more than a sack of feathers.

She kicked and screamed as they carried her to the waiting horses outside. The elf slung her over the back of his horse. She immediately slid off, landing in a muddy puddle, then jumped to her feet and tried to make a run for it. She barely made it five feet before Acari threw something at her feet that tangled them up and brought her down. Into another puddle.

She sat up, spitting muddy water out of her mouth. Wet hair hung in her eyes and she wiped at it. Her wrist throbbed a little and she cradled it to her chest.

“I admire your spirit, somewhat,” he said. “But you are coming with us. It can either be riding on the horse or tethered behind.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” she sputtered.

“Wouldn’t I?” He unwound some rope.

Resigned to her fate, Drea pushed up to her feet. She was now soaking wet, her hair plastered to her face, and shivering violently. “Are you going to kill me?” She had to ask because what would be the point of her cooperation if they were just going to end her life.

“No. We need those memories of yours to guide us.”

Not that she truly believed him, but at least it was something she could cling to until she could figure out a way to escape and find her way back to Sebastian.

“Fine.” She sloshed back to the horse and let the elf help her up onto the back. She’d bide her time until she could find an opportunity to escape or to kill one of them. Hopefully both.

“Drea!”

She turned to see her aunt running toward the burned-down house and Sebastian’s prone form.

“Aunty!” She reached out a hand toward her, knowing there was nothing she could do for her, especially as all three elves kicked their horses and sent them galloping into the woods.

Drea kept watching over her shoulder until her village and the important people in it were obscured by the thick copse of trees. She feared she’d never see it or them again.

Drea didn’t know how long they’d been riding by the time she slumped against the elf in front of her and fell asleep. Exhaustion had kidnapped her. She dreamed while she slept. She dreamed of Sebastian and the first time they’d met...

It had been market day and she was in the village square picking up the week’s supply of produce and meat. The melons had been extra plump that day. She picked one up and rapped her knuckles against it, then put it to her nose. She could always smell a ripe one.

That was when she saw him across the square. He was speaking with Claude, the blacksmith. He was difficult not to look at, being so tall and lean, with silky dark hair that hung past his shoulders. She glanced around and saw all the other women noticing him as well. Young and old, it made no matter. The man possessed that kind of allure.

He looked up then, his gaze catching hers. It was so fierce and intense that it made Drea startle. Her hands flinched and she fumbled the melon, then dropped it. Right on top of the other melons. This in turn made all of those roll and drop to the ground. Two or three rolled out from under the tent and bounced across the cobblestone square.