The Lords of Valdeon (16 page)

"Where are you going this early, Emma?"

"I've a bouquet for your dear mother’s grave." She pulled out the heather. It was tied with white ribbon as was islander custom for a mother who had lost her daughter.

"Will you come with me today?"

The raw wound his mother's death had carved out in his heart opened again as he looked upon the white ribbon. Its purity, simple and honest, seemed unfitting for his mother or the woman gifting it to her. Lies upon lies. He no longer trusted his memories of home and family.

"I'll be late for class."

Seth slammed the front door and hurried into the square. White row houses with their tiny yards towered over him. His chest tightened. He was suffocating here. Many of the women stepped out on their porches to eye him as he ran by. They flew to each other in a frenzy of whispers and shaking heads. Seth ignored them, setting his attention on the towering school down the row.

Several of the students, friends he'd known his entire life, turned away and began their whispering. He wasn't in the mood to endure their curious looks or the sympathetic postulations from his professors. Passing by the gate at a fast clip, he headed for the fields to the north.

The Marianna countryside was a friendlier place in the daylight. Wet grass clung unnoticed to his boots as he hiked through the fields. His mind considered the possibilities as he walked. Sandor had to be someone familiar with Marianna. The villain had chosen the ideal location to ambush his victim, catching him upon a lonely road with no moon for a guide. Sandor had also mentioned he'd been watching Seth and his mother for years. The killer had to be someone who came to the island regularly. A sailor from a merchant ship or one of the Grey Cliff Island Revenue Men who came to Haven Bay twice a year, perhaps? Seth made it a point to speak with visitors. He'd met only a handful of Tslavians. None of them had been overly friendly.

Mind whirring with possibilities, Seth's feet took him to the charred field where the ambush had taken place. The fire had seemed more destructive during his fight with the raiders. Retracing his footing as best he could, Seth came across the cut ropes once binding Alice. He took a few paces forward to the spot he'd last seen the Amity raider. Kneeling down for a better look, he searched the area. Scorched earth and trampled grass were all that remained.

Then a sudden flash of sunlight on metal caught his eye. A golden coin was pressed into the ground within someone's muddy boot imprint. Seth plucked it from the dirt and wiped off the image minted into the gold. Great wings blanketed a creature with giant teeth and a misshapen snout. It appeared to be some sort of a monster. He rubbed the palm-sized coin against his coat, but the image was still encased in dirt. This coin wasn't from the Grey Cliff Isles. The Amity raider must have dropped it as they fought.

"Aren't you supposed to be in school, young master McCloud?"

Constable McTavish stood at the edge of the burned section of grass watching him. His uniform was pressed and neat. Boots shined under the morning sun. The constable's clean appearance didn't hide the red of his eyes or the pale face telling of many a sleepless night. Seth tucked the coin in his pocket. Standing, he brushed off his trousers and joined him.

"There are better ways to spend my time, sir."

"Like looking for your mother's killer?" The constable shook his head. "I know how you feel, Seth. You want to know the who and the why. I understand. I felt the same after my wife was killed. Her death is why I joined the constabulary."

The worn and solemn face looked out over the fields toward Haven Bay. He wiped at his tired eyes and gave Seth a patient smile. "These are hard men. It's dangerous for you to go hunting about on your own. They may find you. Next time luck won't be on your side. Do you understand?"

Seth nodded. He understood and knew the constable was likely right. It was foolhardy to investigate Sandor on his own, but even the risk of danger couldn't deter him. Nothing would stop him from finding his mother's killer.

"I'd better get to class, Constable."

Classes were in session when he entered the school. The double wooden doors of the library stood like guardians at the end of the empty hall. Seth had spent so much time reading the books within, the staff had given him a key. He hurried through the doors and locked them again. A cup with the shallow remains of the librarian's tea rested upon the desk. He dipped the coin inside and swirled it about until the dirt washed away.

Seth lit the fireplace and began wandering the shelves. He gathered all the books he could find on Tslavia. There weren't many. Islanders didn't bother with the other nations in Andara unless it directly impacted their industry. Most of the books were at least twenty years old and focused on economics or agriculture. He'd found a few pages about Tslavia's eternal war with its greatest enemy, Valdeon. Writings about the bloody wars didn't tell much about the people, rather they focused on loss of riches.

He pushed the books away and sunk down on the tabletop. Nothing. He'd found a clue, but had no way to interpret its meaning. A loud smack shook him from his morose thoughts. One of the books had fallen from the table. He picked it up and fingered absently through the pages. Then he saw it. The book's author had included an image of a monster matching the one on the coin.

Under the illustration was the notation, "The Gargoyle, symbol of the Von Wolkhurst Family."

He found their family name under the index. Fingers swiftly turning the pages, he came to the spot. Several pages were missing. Seth ran a fingertip along the rough stumps of paper. Someone had hastily ripped them out. Grabbing the next book and the next, he searched intently for signs of the Gargoyle and its family. Any reference to the Von Wolkhursts or the beast's image had been ripped from every one of the books in the school's library. He gripped the golden piece tightly in his hand. Who were these Von Wolkhursts and how did an Amity raider obtain one of their coins? One person could shed light upon its purpose, but Pavel Sandor was as much a mystery as the Von Wolkhursts.

Chapter Eleven

Seth joined the rest of the students returning home along the Main Row. Many a cheery greeting from passersby came their way. The citizens of Haven Bay were anxious to enjoy their week’s end. Town had resumed its normal, ordinary routine despite the killing a week prior. Annoyed by their short memory, he left the Main Row to cross the small plot of land separating it from Farm Row.

Stopping to lean on the stone wall along the roadside, he brought the golden coin into his hand. His finger traced along the gargoyle's body. The hideous face snarled up at him in mockery. Humiliation and fury returned as his memory added more detail to the night Sandor had so easily defeated him. He shook his head with gritted teeth. If Seth were to stand a chance against the villain, then he'd have to learn how to fight with sword and fist.

"Ho, Seth!"

The Logan boys, sporting their finest togs, walked in a line upon the Farm Row from eldest to youngest. They were ready for a free night off the farm. Though the Haven Bay Pub was bound to be a little wild tonight, few were willing to start trouble with the Logan boys. They worked together, drank together, and fought together. Seth was glad he was a friend of the family.

Riley brought up the rear of their company. Hands stuffed in the pockets of his trousers, he stared at the back of the brother directly before him. He was markedly shorter than his siblings. Seth and everyone who'd ever met Riley were careful to avoid the topic. His brothers weren't as concerned about stirring his temper. They never let Riley forget he was the baby of the family.

Seth returned their greeting with a wave. A welcome face was with them. Tom, their eldest, had returned home from his service in the UR Army a few days before. He looked so different from the last time Seth had laid eyes upon him. Tom's straight auburn hair was cut short against his head in the military fashion. A well-trimmed mustache hung beneath his nose. Perhaps it was the way Tom carried himself or the worldly look in his eyes, which marked the biggest change.

"You’ve been busy while I’ve been away, Seth. I heard you took on raiders." Tom took his hand and shook it warmly.

"Seth rescued the McKenzie girl too." Patrick winked at Seth with a little grin while the others smacked their lips and laughed.

They quieted down when Tom gave them a sour look. A sad smile, genuine and regretful, dimmed the happiness in his green eyes. The eldest of the Logan boys had seen his own tragedy while he was away from them. Seth wondered if any of them would get a glimpse into Tom Logan's secret pain.

"I was sorry to hear about your mother. She was a kind woman."

He nodded and stuffed the gold coin into his trouser pocket. Somehow it had become a talisman, focusing his anger and will. It was his new constant reminder to never trust blindly again.

"Thank you, Tom. It’s good to have you home."

"There’s a tail on the dog." George motioned behind them with a mischievous wink at Riley.

Seth glanced over his shoulder. Beatrice McFadden, the doctor’s daughter, was clearly following them. Strawberry hair bounced upon her shoulders. Her ruffled green dress rustled fiercely against her legs as she sprinted to keep their pace.

"What’s she doing?"

"The pest has been following me for a month now. She pops up every time I come to town." Riley rounded on the girl. "Go home, Beatrice!"

She gave Riley a haughty look, much older than her fifteen years. "What do you think I’m doing? My house is this way. I should think you'd remember since you like peeking through our windows after sunset."

Riley muttered curses under his breath and turned his back to the girl. Red rushed from under his collar to invade the curly head of hair. His brothers burst into poorly contained snickers. Aching to join them in the first laugh he'd had in several weeks, Seth kept a tight hold upon his amusement.

Tom smiled gently at Beatrice. "You’ve missed the footpath. It’s just there."

He pointed to a small, worn path winding across the field toward town. Beatrice gave Tom a quick smile and burst down the path with her strawberry braids trailing behind. Seth regarded Tom as he waited for her to run toward home. Time away from Marianna had changed him. This wasn’t the Tom Logan who used to chase him and Riley around the farm with a rake.

Tom cuffed Riley gently on the head. "Somebody has a crush on you, little Whiskers."

"It's his charm!" Patrick's eyes watered as the pent-up laughter exploded onto the row.

Riley stomped toward Haven Bay. Colorful language spouted from his grumbling mouth. Seth hurried to catch his fast-moving friend. The stream of constant expressions about Beatrice and his brothers continued to bubble from Riley's lips in a rush. Seth hid his smile when he noticed Riley sneak a quick look at Beatrice hurrying toward town.

"They love to tease you because you get so angry."

Seth tugged at the hem of his waistcoat to straighten the garment. He winced a little as the fabric of his shirt caught upon his cut. It was healing without comment from anyone. Perhaps it would leave at least a small scar.

"Does it still hurt? Let me see."

Seth puffed up and stood a little straighter. Fumbling with the buttons of his waistcoat, he was anxious for the chance to finally show someone his battle wounds. He was pleased when the dark red line on his chest brought a gasp from Riley.

"Great gulls! How did you fight him off?"

"The raider gave me this cut. He would’ve slit my throat, but I was able to get his knife away from him."

New memories came back to him. He'd forgotten the euphoria surging through his body during the fighting. His mind began to conjure up more details from the battle, like golden rings set within black tattoos. The smell of burning grass and the feel of the man’s sweaty hands on his throat. Then a name came to him.

"He called me D’Antoiné."

Funny. He'd forgotten the raider’s look of terror and his strange words. More memories tried to come into focus. Words they'd exchanged. Details of the battle. Seth put a hand to his head. They weren't quite ready to come to light yet. One new memory, however, stayed with him. The raider had promised to remember Seth’s face.

"Hated you, did he? What do you think D’Antoiné means? Some Amity Island curse, I’ll wager."

"It's a name."

Sandor had called him a D'Antoiné too. He'd said Seth's house would die with him. The intensity of the man's hatred betrayed him. The mark on Seth's head wasn't just about his payment. It was personal for Sandor.

"What are you two girls giggling about?" Patrick marched over and pushed Riley out of the way. "Come look at this cut, gents!"

They gathered around Seth, whistling at the scars. A few of them touched the sensitive skin. Seth winced a little, but didn’t draw away. It was a rare occasion when he could impress the Logan boys.

"I’ve seen worse scraps during boot camp." Tom shook his head at the pink line upon Seth's skin. Then he rolled up his sleeve and showed them a dark, ragged scar. It began at his wrist, twisting in an awkward arch to his elbow. The ghastly mark made the wound on Seth's chest look like a paper cut. Tom Logan had seen real combat in the army and it had changed him.

"Have you ever heard of D’Antoiné, Tom?"

"D’Antoiné?" Tom gave him a frown. "Course I have. The question is how did you come to hear of them?"

"One of the raiders said it."

Tom shrugged and began walking toward Haven Bay once again. Even talk of a mystery wouldn’t curb his appetite for a pint. His brothers followed behind him, a new respect for the eldest in their eyes. Tom shook his head with a grin as they impatiently waited for his answer.

"D’Antoiné is the surname of two brothers — Edmund and Esteban — from Valdeon who became rangers together. They were both high up in the ranks of their legion until one of them disappeared." Tom kicked at a stone with the toe of his boot. "Never found him. It’s quite the mystery."

Edmund. Was it possible this ranger from Valdeon was his father? Sandor had claimed Seth's mother had married outside her race. Could she have been part of the Tslavian family whose symbol was embedded upon the gold coin? If Sandor was telling the truth, then Seth was a child of two hated enemies.