On Fallen Wings (10 page)

Leila closed the door behind her, allowing it to shake the walls. “What did the note say, Rhiannon?” she said, turning to confront me. Her cheeks were red.

“Yes, dear,” added Mother, “What did you write for Abigail?”

Expecting the question, I latched the brass lock on the door and dried my eyes with the sleeve of my gown. “I asked her to come to the house in the morning,” I said. “Tomorrow, we’ll search for Sean’s armor.”

Into the Darkness

I didn’t sleep much that night, if at all. I sobbed until my head hurt, and when I finally closed my eyes, my memory flashed images of Sean walking into the darkness. He had been noble and was honoring the challenge that I had given him, but I wasn’t ready for him to leave. The loneliness hurt already. I still lay in bed, watching sun as it arched through the morning clouds, when the knocker on our front door pounded. No one answered it, forcing me to leave the sanctuary of my room and wander downstairs.

“Nia, Abigail, come inside, where it’s warm.” I held the door wide and my shivering friends, bundled in thick wool, swept past me toward the kitchen and dining room.

“Rhiannon, you’re crazy to go out in this weather,” said Abigail. She grabbed a blanket from the corner of the dining room and huddled close to the fireplace. “We could freeze out there.”

Nia chose a spot behind my mother in the kitchen, and watched her with interest.

“What do you think, Nia?” I teased. “Should we abandon our adventure? We could cancel my wedding when I don’t have Sean’s gift.”

Abigail turned. “I’m sorry, Rhiannon,” she said. Her face was red. “I didn’t mean to sound rude. It’s just an awful cold day to go exploring. I am here, though. That means I want to help you.”

Kneeling beside my friend, I hugged her around the waist. “Thank you for coming,” I whispered. “And thank you for telling Nia. It’s going to be a fun day, even in the cold.”

Mother moved to another spot on the counter and deftly sliced several apples into a bowl. Nia followed behind her.

“How is Sean?” asked Nia, mimicking my mother’s strokes with her own hand. “I see Cael at the house a lot, but he’s always working with my father. He never mentions his brother.”

“Sean left this morning,” I answered, holding back my emotion. I had wasted the night with my sorrow and didn’t want to start the day with a somber fair of tears. “He wanted to leave before the weather changed.”

Abigail gasped and pulled me closer in consolation.

“That’s a good plan,” said Nia, without turning. Her eyes followed Mother’s hand with intensity. “My father says it will be a difficult season.”

“I hope it isn’t terrible for him to travel,” I said. I stood, rubbed Abigail’s back gently, and then walked into the kitchen. “He’s going east over Taylor’s Ridge. That’s the direction I want to go today. I know a good place to look.”

Mother stopped cutting.

“It’s near your home, Nia,” I continued. “Eldon Bauer told me about a cave on the north slope of the mountain. He said that, inside, there’s ancient armor from the last war with Morgan.”

“What about Morgan?” Father thundered through the back door as I finished my sentence. His cheeks and forehead were bright red, and his steaming breath twisted and spiraled into the air, only to yield to the cold above.

Leila followed him. She was shivering with emphasis. Mother had assigned her my portion of the chores, and I was certain that she wasn’t happy about it. She thanked me with a glare before slamming the back door.

“Nothing, Father,” I said, grinning. “There’s no problem with Morgan.”

Mother saved me by greeting him with a soft hug and a peck on the cheek above his beard. “Rhiannon was telling us where she plans to search for armor,” she said. “Near the mountains.”

Father rubbed his thick hands and ambled to the end of the table. He pulled out his chair and sat while Mother rushed back into the kitchen, emerging a moment later with a steaming goblet for Father.

“Drink something,” she ordered my father. “Ladies, would you like some warm apple cider?”

“Yes!” Abigail and Leila answered in unison.

While we enjoyed the steaming juice—apple cider can never be too hot—I told my friends about Sean’s visit the day prior. Leila and Mother joined us, and Father shared the story about Cael getting tangled in Avalon’s reins. While we sat in the dining room, laughing and drinking, Ethan stomped into the room. He glared and pointed, as if to protest the weather, or the fact that he had been working in it, but stopped once he noticed Father.

“It’s cold,” he grumbled instead, wiggling his fingers. “Rhiannon, next time you go to a council, ask the Fae to cancel Moon Season. I like it when it’s warm.”

His comment and his bright red face brought an eruption of laughter from all of us, which lasted until we finished drinking.

“Thank you for the cider, Keelia.” Nia handed her empty goblet to my mother. “And thank you for letting me to watch you cook.”

“You’re always welcome, dear,” said Mother, as she hugged Nia tight. “If Owen didn’t need you around, you could stay with us for the season. I could mold you into the best cook on your side of the horse meadow.”

“Thank you,” said Nia. She turned to me. “We should leave soon. I’m afraid the cold is here to stay.”

“Right.” I rubbed my hands together, excused myself, and rushed up to my bedroom. I put on my warmest clothes and then added a second pair of wool leggings, for extra comfort. I wrapped myself tight while returning back down the steps.

My brother sat with Abigail, covered in the blanket near the fireplace. His face wasn’t as bright as before, and he looked comfortable.

I grinned and turned to Father, who was enjoying a smoke from his favorite long pipe. “May I take some canvas bags from the stable? I’ll need something to carry what we find.”

Father puffed a yes and leaned back in his chair to inhale his tobacco.

“Would you like some food to take with you?” asked Mother from the kitchen. “I have several strips of smoked pork ready.”

“No thank you, Mother,” I answered. I hugged her. “We’ll take some good apples from the stable.”

“Be careful, dear.” She squeezed me tight.

I enjoyed her warmth, then turned to Leila and hugged her with good intention. “Goodbye, I’ll return after dusk.”

“Come back before dusk!” Father pounded his fist on the table. Dust sprinkled from the rafters. “I don’t want you girls out in the dark. There’s a bandit out there.”

“Oh, we’ll be careful,” said Nia, offering an innocent grin. “Don’t worry.”

“I won’t,” retorted my father. “Because, you’ll all return before the sun goes down.” He started to get up from his chair.

I released Leila and drifted toward him; it was always best to appease him when he acted this way. I reached around his neck, wrinkling my nose at the tobacco weed, and squeezed him tight. “I promise, I’ll return before dusk.” I kissed him on the cheek and then turned to my friends. “Follow me, ladies.”While I waited at the back door, Abigail tousled Ethan’s hair goodbye and Nia waved to my mother.

Outside, the sky was thinly gray and the cold air hung low and still. I pulled my cloak tight with one arm, pushed into the surge of icy discomfort, and headed to the stable.

“Why did you send a note?” asked Abigail, as I selected a pair of burlap bags from the wall. “Sean could have told me your message.”

I threw the bags over my shoulder and grabbed some apples from the fruit barrel, stuffing them into the pockets of my cloak. I bundled a bridle and tossed it at Abigail. “I didn’t want Cael to know where we’re going.” I shoved Leila’s saddle into Nia’s arms. “Can you handle this?”

“Of course,” said Nia, sagging from its weight. “I’m not helpless. Why didn’t you want Cael to come? I think he’d be very useful if we run into trouble.” She heaved the saddle onto the top fence rail, then skirted to the other side. “Besides, he’s cute.”

I released my frustration with a loud exhale while gathering my own riding supplies. “You’ve said that about every boy in the village.”

“I have not,” Nia protested.

“Name me one you find unattractive.”

“Weston, the tanner’s son.”

I slapped my friend in jest. “Nia, he’s thirteen and pimply. He doesn’t count yet.”

Abigail chimed in. “But give him a few years and you’ll think he’s cute too.”

The three of us bantered back and forth on the way to the horse meadow. Once there, I whistled softly. Ginger and Kiefer met me near the fence. I set down my saddle and bridle and leaned over Kiefer’s back, patting him along the neck while whispering into his ear. “Be nice,” I said to him. “I’ll make it up to you.”

Abigail slipped gracefully over the fence, still holding the straps I had given to her. I knew she couldn’t ride, which was why I had chosen Kiefer as their mount; he was as kind and clever as any horse I had known. While Nia fastened the saddle, I helped Abigail work the halter and bit. Then I rushed back to address Ginger. Once finished, I helped them both onto Kiefer from the near side. Nia climbed up awkwardly, although better than Abigail, who fell twice on me while I lifted her feet. Once my friends were secure on Kiefer, I leapt onto Ginger.

“Kiefer knows to follow,” I told them. “So hold on, and trust him. You’ll be all right.”

Abigail looked terrified; wide-eyed, she gripped Nia like an eagle to its prey.

I waved to Mother and Leila—they stood behind the dining room window, then aimed Ginger across the meadow. Once I felt we were far enough from earshot of my father, who had wandered outside to resume his work at the barn, I answered Nia’s original question. “Sean appointed Cael as a protector,” I said. “He wants Cael with me wherever I go.”

“Oh, that’s nice of him,” said Abigail. “Cael should have come.”

“It felt weird,” I said, scowling, “the way Sean asked him to watch me. I’m not a child. I only agreed so that he wouldn’t worry.”

“Why?” asked Nia, wrestling between Abigail’s grip and Kiefer’s mane. “Cael is strong. And I’ve seen some of his friends—they’ve been working with my father. You’ll have nothing to worry about with them looking after you.”

I nodded reluctantly. “I know. But the armor needs to be a gift from me. It wouldn’t feel right if Sean’s brother helped us find it. I want my endowment to be special—and a complete surprise when I offer it.”

“If we
find
anything,” said Abigail. “Do you know where the cave is?”

“It can’t be tough to spot,” answered Nia for me. “The Bauer land is next to ours, and there isn’t much.”

I looked back at her. “Have you explored it?”

Nia shook her head. “No, but my father mentions it a lot. I think he’d like to trade for it.”

“That won’t happen,” I said. “That’s where Sean wants to build us a home—on the north side of the mountain.”

“Oh, you’ll be so far away from me.” Abigail wrenched her face and pouted. “When will I visit you?”

“It’s closer to me,” said Nia, smiling. “I won’t have to cross the field to come visit.”

“Wait—wait,” I said, hoping to calm Abigail. “Don’t make your plans yet. First, I need to get married, and then we can build a home to live in.”

“No.” Nia shook her head. “First, Sean needs to get you a white horse.”

“That’s right,” said Abigail, joining Nia’s despair. “I don’t think he’ll find one.”

With another sigh, I gave up on the conversation. The day was gloomy without Sean, and I didn’t want my friends to darken it more. I allowed the gray to envelop me and continued my lead east, in silence, until we arrived at the meadow’s eastern fence.

I jumped off Ginger. “He’ll find my horse,” I said, finally challenging the shadow of my friends’ words. “I know it.” I helped Abigail off Kiefer’s back.

“How do you know?” asked Nia, sliding to the ground. “I’ve never seen a white horse before. Have you?”

I pulled two apples from my cloak pockets and offered them to the horses; they devoured them eagerly. “No, I haven’t seen a white horse, but he’ll find one for me. Once he decides to do something, he never gives up until he succeeds. That’s the man Sean is—and that’s why he’s perfect.”

I slapped Ginger and Kiefer on their rumps and sent them trotting back home, and then turned to follow Nia and Abigail toward the lake. We walked in silence. The weather seemed to match our mood. Small spirals of steam rose from the lake, covering it in gray light and low fog. We walked side-by-side along the gravel shore, traveling east, toward the mountain, each lost in our own thoughts. When we arrived at the dock owned by Nia’s father, it was deserted.

“Where is everyone?” I asked her. “Is your father done trading for the season?”

Nia grabbed an errant oar that lay strewn on the ground and leaned it against a pile of nets. “No, he never stops trading. There’s always someone to do business with.” She wiped her hands on her cloak and cupped them together, blowing into them for warmth. “He might have sent the men to guard a wagon load to DarMattey. There have been problems with the bandit.”

Abigail shivered. “This is so frightening,” she said, pulling herself close to me. She reached around my waist. “Armed men traveling the road, escorts required after dusk; it’s like a war, or something.”