Elf Sight (13 page)

“You think I should listen to that? A man’s got a right to discipline his kids,” Gil growled.

“She’s no longer a kid. She’s a woman who doesn’t have to answer to you,” Carson warned.

“Then if she wants to be treated as one, she should act like one. Not running around the countryside with shorn hair and wearing her brother’s clothes.” Gil pulled away from Carson.

“I don’t care if she wants to run around the countryside naked. You’ll treat her respectfully,” Carson said.

Thornton grinned. “That’s something I’d want to see.”

Carson ignored his brother. “Do you understand, Gil?”

“Forget about him,” Shadow said. “He’s not worth the effort. He’s whining about loosing an arm. What about Roper and Wardell? And the other soldiers that started out with us, the ones who lost their lives. I bet they would have loved to have only lost an arm. Come on. I’ll lead you through. Even if it takes the rest of the day.” Shadow turned her back on her Pa.

“Do you want to go first, General?” Shadow asked.

Farnell nodded and dismounted. He led his horse over to Shadow. “The princes next,” he ordered.

“Yes, sir,” Shadow saluted.

“Don’t get cocky,” Farnell warned.

Shadow grinned. She felt extremely good after finally telling her Pa how she felt. Like a massive weight had been lifted. “Take my hand, sir. It might be easier if you close your eyes. That way what your eyes see and what your body feels doesn’t confuse you.”

Farnell took Shadow’s hand and closed his eyes. He let Shadow lead him into the water, listening to her as she told him where to step and what to avoid.

Before they entered the tunnel, Gil called out, “Shadow!”

Shadow turned. “What?”

“Don’t let them walk over the cliff at the other end. The illusion begins again out there,” Gil said.

Shadow stared at her Pa for a moment. “Thank you.” She turned back to Farnell and explained to him where he was to step next. Once they were past the illusion, Shadow said. “All right. Head towards the other end. Not too far though. You heard my Pa, you’ll fall over the cliff. Just go far enough to give the rest of them room to get in.”

As Shadow stepped outside, her Pa walked past her, leading Irlan. She looked towards Thornton. “You’re next. Come to the edge of the stream and close your eyes.”

Thornton willingly followed, teasing her the whole time. Laughing, Shadow finally told him he could open his eyes. Expecting to lead Carson through next, Shadow was surprised to see Perrun there with Gwyn supporting him. Not having time to argue, Shadow led them through. It was more difficult to direct two men.

She came back out to find another soldier ready to go in. She looked at Carson. “I was told to bring the princes through first.”

Carson looked around. “Nope, no prince around here. You must have already taken him through. I’m a captain, remember?”

“The General didn’t want you going through last,” Shadow said.

“We’re wasting time. My men go first,” Carson said firmly.

“You won’t change his mind, ma’am,” the soldier waiting for her said. “He’s always last out of any trouble.”

“Fine.” Shadow turned back to the waiting soldier. “Close your eyes.” She took his hand and led him through the opening. When she had taken all the men through, she glared at Carson waiting there for her. “Close your eyes.”

“Shadow.”

“What?”

Carson stepped close. His lips curved momentarily before he dipped his head to press them against hers.

Shadow’s hands went to his chest as the kiss deepened. When she finally pulled away, she said, “I thought you weren’t going to lay a hand on me.”

Carson held up his hands, the reins of his horse dangling from one of them. He grinned. “Nowhere near you.”

“I don’t think that’s exactly what Pa meant.” Shadow fought back her own smile.

“Shall we find out?” Carson put his hands behind his back. He leaned forward.

“What’s taking so long?” Gil demanded from the mouth of the tunnel. “What do you think you’re doing?” He strode forward. “I told you to keep your hands off her.”

Carson pulled his hands from behind his back, still grinning. “Not a single hand on her, Gil.”

“You think you’re funny, don’t you? Come on. I’ll take you through and we’ll see how funny you are,” Gil said.

“No. I’ll take him through. Close your eyes, Carson.” Shadow took one of his hands. He closed his eyes. “There’s a step down into the water.”

“You’re a fool, Shadow. He’s playing with you,” Gil warned.

Carson opened his eyes and looked at Gil. “I’m not.”

“You mean you’d marry some tavern keeper’s daughter?” Gil gestured towards Shadow. “You’re second in line for the throne if anything happens to your brother. I’m not a fool.”

“I’m not a liar. I’d marry your daughter tomorrow,” Carson said.

“You barely know me. You can’t talk about marriage after so little time,” Shadow protested.

Carson smiled down at her, his hand tightening on hers. “I do know you. And I know my own mind.”

“Well I’m not marrying anyone. I’m too young.” Shadow ignored the fact she’d been willing to marry Elrick to escape the tavern and turned to her Pa. “Now you get back to the rest of them.” She turned to Carson, “And you close your eyes.”

“Your Ma was only a year older than you when we married,” Gil said.

“Go!” Shadow pointed towards the tunnel.

“This matter isn’t over.” Gil turned and headed into the tunnel.

At the other end Shadow found Gil had left Irlan near the edge of the cliff so he could prevent the men from falling over. Once Carson was through the tunnel, Farnell ordered them all to mount up and head down the narrow trail.

Shadow travelled alone on a horse towards the front of the column, directly behind Carson and the General. All down the narrow trail Shadow kept glancing over her shoulder. It wasn’t until they’d left the narrow trail well behind she noticed a glow filled the sky behind them.

She slowed her mount and moved to the side of the track so she could ride beside her Pa. “It’s an army, isn’t it?” She nodded to the glow behind them.

Gil didn’t answer. Instead he looked past her to where Carson dropped back to join them. “Looks like the wrong person was called Shadow.”

“The glow?” Shadow persisted.

“An army. At least a couple of hundred hidden men,” Gil said. “I don’t know why they’ve bothered to hide them so soon. That many will make plenty of noise and leave tracks a blind man could follow.”

Carson didn’t bother to look behind them. “How far back?”

“Half a day,” Gil said.

“Two hundred! We can’t fight that many.” Shadow cast another glance behind, her eyes drawn to the glow of magic.

“A few miles ahead there’s a shortcut,” Gil said to Carson.

“How much of a shortcut?” Carson asked.

“You could be with your men that are camped in the foothills in a day,” Gil said.

“How will an extra fifteen men help?” Shadow asked.

“What’s to stop the army from following?” Carson asked.

“I’ll lay a false trail after I show you where the shortcut starts,” Gil said.

“Is anyone listening to me?” Shadow asked.

Carson turned to her and smiled. “Haven’t you learned yet? A good soldier never questions their superior officers.”

“Haven’t you learned? I’m not a good soldier and never likely to be. What’s the plan?” Shadow asked.

“I won’t leave behind any men if I can help it. We’ll collect the men from the foothills and take it from there,” Carson said.

“So in other words, you don’t have a plan,” Shadow said.

Carson turned to Gil. “Can you let the General know?” He waited until Gil rode ahead with a curt nod then turned to Shadow. “I do have a plan. To get you and my brother back to the castle in one piece.”

“That’s not a plan, that’s a wish.”

“As far as I’m concerned it’s a plan. I need to discuss this with the General. Don’t stay at the back of the line.”

Shadow glared after Carson, frustrated by their conversation.

Thornton rode over to her, Irlan on the horse with him. “He makes you want to throw something at him sometimes, doesn’t he?”

“What are you thinking of, getting mixed up with him?” Irlan demanded.

“There’s nothing wrong with him,” Thornton said.

“Go away the both of you,” Shadow said. “Or I’ll be throwing something at you. Something sharp.” Her hand momentarily rested on her dagger. When they had ridden ahead, Shadow looked towards the glow in the sky. She shuddered as she thought of what an army of two hundred men on horses would look like. An army of thirty archers had been frightening enough.

Shadow sat away from the fire and watched as Carson, Farnell and Gil discussed their plan. As Gil had promised, it had taken nearly a full day to make it to the camp the soldiers had made in the foothills. He’d joined them an hour ago, having spent the rest of his time laying a false trail for the army to follow. The sky was clear of the glow of magic, but Shadow couldn’t resist checking regularly. They couldn’t face an army that size. They’d be slaughtered.

A soldier brought mugs of ale over to the fire, gave one first to Farnell and then to Carson. Shadow held her breath as the soldier held out the last mug to Gil. He started to reach for it and then dropped his hand, shaking his head. The soldier moved away and Shadow began to breathe again. He still might be moody and short tempered, but Shadow was finally starting to like the man her Pa was when he wasn’t drunk. It had been far too many years since she’d seen him sober. Shadow glanced up as a soldier came to stand beside her.

“Iain.” Shadow nodded as he sat down.

“What are ya doing here? It was bad enough when we thought ya were a young lad. But a lass should be at home. Not risking her life.”

“Not you too,” Shadow complained.

Iain grinned at her. “It’s only because we care, lass. If my girl wanted to join the army I’d drag her home and chain her up till she came to her senses.”

“And if she never came to her senses?”

Iain looked startled.

“It’s not the life I’d have willingly chosen. But at least there’s meaning to it. More meaning than keeping some man’s tankard filled.”

“Then find yourself a young man and get married. Have a heap of kids and wait for the grandkids to come along to spoil,” Iain said.

“Would you do that?”

“What?” Iain looked confused by her question.

“Sit around home waiting for grandkids after you’ve raised your kids.”

“Well, no, but-” Iain started to say.

“Then why should I be expected to?”

“So you’re saying you’re never going to marry. That you’re going to stick with the army,” Iain said.

“No.” Shadow glanced towards Carson. “Maybe one day I’ll marry, but for now, I want to do something important. When I do have those children and grandchildren I want to be able to tell them tales of what I did when I was younger. Tales that’ll make them sit mesmerised and half disbelieving as they listen.”

“Well, I reckon you’ll be able to do that. If we ever live long enough for ya to have those kids.”

“I reckon I will too,” Shadow said thoughtfully.

“Will what?” Carson joined them.

“Plans made yet?” Shadow asked.

Carson draped an arm around Shadow. “None that you’ll like.”

“I’ll leave ya to it,” Iain said hastily. They barely noticed him leave.

“What are they?” Shadow demanded.

“I need you to see Thornton safely back to the castle.”

“No.” Shadow pushed his arm away.

“Your father will stay and help us if we send you and Irlan to safety. Someone has to get Thornton back to the castle. Someone who can see magic. Your father won’t do it and leave you here to face the army. So it’ll have to be you.”

“No.” Shadow shook her head. “You have to come too.”

“I can’t desert my men. They’re my men, not General Farnell’s. Only a few of them were his. He came along because of the importance of the mission. You can take any two men with you, your choice, and Perrun too. He needs a healer. That leg of his is looking pretty bad. Thornton knows of a healer about half a day from here.”

“Farnell can take care of your men,” Shadow protested.

“Please, Shadow. Help me complete this mission.”

“That’s not fair,” Shadow wailed.

“Come for a walk.” Carson rose and held out his hand.

Shadow hesitated then took his hand and let him help her rise. She walked with him to the edge of the camp where they stood in the privacy created by the darkness. Carson wrapped his arms around her and his eyes met hers before he lowered his head. His lips were gentle on hers until Shadow’s own arms wrapped around him and her body moulded to his.

Minutes passed before Carson reluctantly pulled away slightly. “I need you to do this. Do you know what’ll happen if there’s no heir?”

Shadow sighed. “You could take him back.”

“You know better than that.”

Shadow rested her head against Carson’s chest. His arms tightened. “Promise to be careful?”

Carson’s hand stroked her short hair. “I promise.”

“When do we have to leave?”

“Before daybreak. I don’t want too many people to watch you go. Who do you want to take with you?”

“Iain and Gwyn. I know them,” Shadow said.

“I hope we can trust them.”

“So do I.”

“You be careful and wait for me.” He reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a folded parchment. “Here. Give this to my parents for me.”

“Why can’t Thornton take it?”

“He’ll read it. I trust you not to.”

“You didn’t always trust me. I had to hear from your brother who you are. All you told me was the prince had been like a brother to you.” Shadow took the parchment.

“You knew who I was without him telling you all that rot. That isn’t me. I’m a captain. I’ve been part of the army since I was five, remember?”

“What as? The mascot?”

Carson grinned momentarily and his lips brushed against her forehead. “No. Learning how to look out for myself in case I was kidnapped. Thornton learned too.”

“Were either of you ever kidnapped?”

“You mean besides this time with Thornton?”

Shadow nodded.

“There were a few attempts.”

“Do they still try and kidnap you? Or just Thornton?”

“Let’s talk about more pleasant things,” Carson said.

“They do! And you want me to marry you. You’ve got to be kidding me,” Shadow exclaimed.

“I thought you turned me down.”

“I did.”

Carson laughed. “I’ll ask you again when I return to the castle.”

“I might not be there.”

“You will.” Carson kissed her again. “I hate that I’ve had to ask this of you. That I’m putting you in danger.”

“I could stay with you.”

He shook his head. “I guess either way you’d be in danger. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not. I’ve never felt more alive in my life as I have these past months.”

Carson slowly smiled. “I knew we’d make a soldier of you eventually.” He pressed his fingers to his chest. “When your heart is racing you know you can’t be anything other than alive.”

Shadow grinned. “Battle isn’t all that makes my heart race.” She moved his fingers to her heart before her lips met his again.

Carson held her close, eventually breaking off the kiss. “You’d better get some sleep. I’ll wake you. I’ve got last watch.”

“Who’ll organise the soldiers going with us?”

“I’ll take care of that. I’ll leave it till the last minute. I don’t want to risk too many people knowing.” He stared down at her for long moments before he took her hand and led her back to the fire.

“Where’ve you been?” Gil demanded when he saw them come towards him, holding hands.

“Goodnight.” Carson looked at Shadow, ignoring Gil. His fingers momentarily tightened on hers before he let go and strode away.

Shadow watched him leave before she turned to her Pa. “I’ll see you in the morning?”

Gil looked like he was about to say something and then changed his mind. He nodded.

Shadow was tempted to let the moment go, but she’d come too far for that. “What?”

“What do you mean?”

“You were going to say something.” The silence stretched out and Shadow began to think her Pa wasn’t going to answer.

“I woke up one morning to see your Ma packing her bag. I hadn’t even realised you two had left. She never told me.”

“Don’t you think it’s something you should have noticed?”

Gil shrugged. “She told me that since I couldn’t let go of the past she’d be the one doing the letting go. That the tavern wasn’t a home without her children and only a bitter old man. I need you to come back so she will.”

“I don’t think that’s what she meant. I think she was probably talking about the bitter old man part.”

“Watch your mouth, girl.”

“Why don’t you let her go? You hate everything and everyone. Why hold onto her?”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Then tell me. If I’m so clueless why don’t you explain it?” She met her Pa’s glare, refusing to lower her gaze as she had so many times before.

It was Gil who looked away. “Everyone said it was a miracle I survived. They all believed me dead. It wasn’t a miracle. It was the thought of Gennie. The promises I made her.” He met Shadow’s gaze again. “I never thought she’d leave me. She’s always been there for me. Always.”

“Maybe she was sick of waiting for you to be there for her too.”

Gil pointed a finger at her. “You don’t know nothin’. I’ve been there for her. Only one time I wasn’t and it was his fault.” His eyes were drawn to Farnell before they returned to Shadow. “They care nothing about us, only what we can do for them. You’re a fool for being here.”

“I’m not-”

Gil interrupted. “But it doesn’t matter. You will come home with me. I won’t lose Gennie over this. They’re not taking any more from me than they already have.”

Shadow shook her head. “I’m not the only one who knows nothing. Ma believed you’d change. That you’d be the man she kept telling me you were. She probably figured out she was wasting her time.” She turned away from Gil, ignoring his growl and crawled into her bedding, which was not far from the fire. Her Pa’s bedding was on one side of her, on the other side was her brother’s. She leaned on one elbow and gestured towards the bedding. “You can’t keep me from going my own way.”

“You’re still my girl,” Gil said possessively.

“I know,” Shadow said heavily. “But I’m also my own person. Just like Ma is.” She rolled over and, laying her head down, stared at the flames until she fell asleep.