Out of the Mountain (14 page)

“Stop!” I repeated much louder, and his eyes met mine in confusion.

“It’s not my blood.” I pointed at the dagger on the ground where it had fallen out of the creature. His eyes widened, and he stepped back, seeming to realize that he was crossing some sort of line. With a wave of his hand I was wearing clean clothes; Big and baggy clothes that smelled like him. He also conjured a cloth and handed it to me. I pressed it to my lip and winced at the sting.

“My apologies,” he replied, stepping away from me with relief clear in the sag of his shoulders.

“What were those things?” Luca asked, turning to Silas.

“I cannot say for sure. Hopefully someone will be able to tell from the two I killed. They mostly remain intact, unlike the others.” He gestured at the body parts flung across the field. The novices were managing to stay alive against the creatures, but Rowan had demolished them. My stomach churned at the sight.

“These were created by dark magic. I could taste it,” Rowan said, addressing the group.

“They are like the creatures I saw through Master Liung,” I murmured, mostly to myself.

“Yes, and I felt the Shade near as well. I warded against them,” Farran added.

“This is nothing like we have ever seen,” Malachi said taking a closer look at the creatures. I thought that he was both right and wrong. The creatures had the same eyes and fangs that I had seen inside the Shade, but I kept that to myself to ponder later when my head was clear.

“Tamora, Felix, Willa, Marlowe,” Silas said, calling one familiar face and three new ones. Felix was pale in every way; skin, hair, eyes. Willa was brown haired and green eyed with a small frame that boasted a muscular build. Marlowe was an oddity. Dark purple hair wasn’t something I was used to seeing. He was lanky with bright green eyes and dressed in floral pants. Fancy.

“Go find some way for us to transport these creatures and see that no one else was harmed. The rest of you try not to cause a panic but make sure all are escorted out of the palace gates. We need to figure out how these creatures got in,” Silas barked out his orders and sent everyone into action.

“Come, Princess,” Rowan beckoned, walking away. I kept my feet planted.

“I don’t want to go back to the palace.” I slurred a bit, adrenaline wearing off and exhaustion setting in, none of which helped with how much I had to drink earlier. His eyes narrowed at me. He scanned the area before he saw the bottles and let out a groan.

“You will follow me,” he growled, and I backed away stumbling.

Someone caught me, and I smiled when Luca said, “I got you.” I patted his cheek before turning on Rowan again.

“I would be safer surrounded by people who care about me.” I provoked him, unable to stop myself from taking a dig at him for kissing Adelaide on my birthday.

“You barely survived an attack surrounded by these novices and most certainly would have died if I hadn’t arrived when I did.”

“We had it handled,” I said indignantly. Neither of us believed me, we had barely made it as long as we had.

“You most certainly did not, and the proof is in the call your very own friend made to me for help with the whistle I supplied to her.”

“Wait, w-what?” I stuttered in disbelief. When had Rowan talked to Briony? Why hadn’t she told me so?

“Would you prefer I threw you over my shoulder and carried you kicking and screaming?” he threatened.

“You wouldn’t dare,” I gasped, but I jumped behind Luca when he moved forward. I regretted it instantly, popping out from behind him again and trying not to notice the relief on Luca’s face when I did.

“I order you to leave me alone.” I tried to sound commanding, and he flinched. I put my hands on my hips, attempting to stand firm, and he held my gaze for what felt like a solid minute.

“As you wish, Princess,” he finally said, walking away and leaving me blinking.

“Hey, wait!” I yelled, running after him in confusion, head spinning. I jumped in front of him, barely keeping my balance as I put my hands out to stop him.

“How may I be of service, Princess?” He sneered, not looking me in the eyes.

“I . . .uh . . .” I wasn’t sure, but I thought I might have hurt his feelings.

“I’m sorry?” I tried, unsure of what I meant and he looked at me with confusion once again.

“I do not understand you.” He stated it as a fact.

“You went from dragging me kicking and screaming to agreeing that I could stay. I’m kind of drunk, and I don’t understand why, but I felt like I offended you. I thought you would laugh at me at worst. I never imagined you would agree so easily. What gives?” I asked, feeling suddenly queasy. I put my hand to my stomach. It reminded me of the way I had felt seeing him with Adelaide.

“Never mind. You know what? I don’t care if I did offend you. I forgot, but I’m mad at you! Go away!” I growled, trying to force the memory from my foggy brain.

“You are angry with me? I have done nothing but protect and serve you as was asked of me!”

A sweat broke out across my scalp, cold and clammy. I tried to take deep breaths. “I didn’t ask anything of you . . .” Dark spots started filling my vision. I was going to faint.

“Are you all right?” Concern filled his voice, and I looked up into his beautiful eyes, right before I promptly vomited the entire contents of my stomach onto his shoes. Then I passed out.

My hearing was fuzzing in and out. My head felt like it might explode at any second, and my ribs felt like they would break if I breathed any deeper. I kept my eyes closed when I heard voices, giving myself a moment to gather my wits.

“Have you ever seen him so off balance?” I heard a deep whisper.

“I honestly didn’t think he was human up to this point. He has always been so controlled, so otherworldly. I don’t think I have ever seen him so involved with anything,” a female voice whispered in return.

“I think I saw him smile at her, though I can’t be sure. He could have any girl, but he gets the one the rest of us want. It’s hardly fair,” the male I now recognized as Malachi grumbled.

“Is it because she’s a princess? That’s what it is for me, I think . . .” I heard Tamora sigh and Malachi laughed.

“Among other things . . .” He chuckled, and she joined in. That was enough of that. I opened my eyes and winced, immediately closing them again.

“Ow,” I whined, and then winced further when my lip split once more and a throbbing pain went through me.

“Well, well, look who finally decided to wake up. Our naughty princess,” Malachi said loudly, and I flinched as my head pounded. He snickered.

“Head hurts,” I complained, squinting at him and his grin.

“That tends to happen when you drink half a quart of the hard stuff on an empty stomach with zero tolerance. I’m just guessing at that last part, but I doubt the monks played drinking games.” They laughed loudly again, and I groaned grabbing my head. They laughed harder.

“Here drink this.” My eyes shot open at Rowan’s voice and I quickly closed them again and turned away from him. I muffled a cry of pain as my ribs protested and memories from last night began racing through my head. I had made a move on him, been rejected, yelled at him after he saved my life, and worst of all, vomited on him! In front of everyone. I was going to die of embarrassment.

“Leave us,” he barked, and the others shuffled out of the room. I heard the door close, and I groaned again. He was going to make me face him.

“Just leave it on the table,” I said, finally noticing I was back in my room. The guards must have been keeping watch over me until I woke.

“I would rather you drink it immediately. It is a tonic brewed by our healer. It will alleviate the symptoms and your pain,” he said softly. I sighed and grimaced at the pain in my head.

“Give it to me,” I grumbled, sitting up slowly and facing him. He placed the cup in my hand, and I gulped the sweet liquid down.

“Not bad,” I said, feeling relief as soon as it hit my stomach. Much more manageable pain. Rowan stood over me, concern on his face.

“I’m fine,” I said, blushing and looking away.

“Vinnie I . . .”

“Vinnie? You called me that before . . .” I recalled, and he seemed frazzled.

“Sorry, I did not mean to say that. It slipped,” he apologized.

“Why did you call me that?” I asked, and he looked at me ruefully. It took me by surprise.

“I used to call you that as a child when you were being particularly unreasonable.” His lips quirked up at a memory, and I wished I could remember it too. I watched as he conjured a small metal tin into his hand.

“You were a child then too, you know,” I replied, hating the way he seemed to think of me.

“I was and I wasn’t,” he replied, eyes distant. He opened the tin and held it out to me.

“What does that even mean?” I grumbled, agitation coating my words as I dipped a finger into the salve.

“I’ll tell you someday . . . now apply that to your lip,” he rumbled, and I felt immediate and numbing relief when I did.

“About last night . . .” I started awkwardly, and he looked away grinning.

“Sorry for, ya know, ruining your shoes . . .” I was an idiot. I thought I heard him chuckle.

“It’s quite all right,” he said, and I grinned at him. The door burst open and Adelaide and Tasmin piled in. My eyes narrowed on them. Calm, stay calm.

“You should probably knock before entering someone’s bedroom,” I snapped, drawing their eyes to mine and trying to hide a wince of pain from my ribs. OK, that wasn’t calm.

“Sorry, we assumed you were still passed out,” Adelaide joked, and I felt like that was a lie, but I was probably biased in that opinion. She turned a smile on Rowan, and I bristled.

“You know what they say about people who assume things . . .” I muttered under my breath, and they both pretended to not to hear me.

“Silas sent us to retrieve you. Something interesting happened to the creatures when the sun came up.” She continued, and my anger vanished, quickly replaced by curiosity.

“We’ll be right down,” I said, jumping up from the bed while bracing my ribs and herding Adelaide and Tasmin out of my door before they realized what was happening. I shut the door in their faces and turned on Rowan.

“Please, please, please!” I begged quietly. He knew what I wanted and let out a long sigh before nodding.

“Thank you!” I jumped around happily before hissing and grabbing my jostled ribs more firmly.

“First, let me have a look at your ribs,” he said as his eyes narrowed at them.

“What? They’re fine, a lot better after that tonic you gave me. I just keep forgetting and stretching them too far.” I waved him off, but he glared and pointed at them.

“Humor me,” he grumbled and I sighed, lifting my shirt up and then gasping at the dark purple bruising spread across them from the creature who had dropped on top of me and my dagger. His frown deepened, and he conjured another tin and handed it to me.

“Rub this on the bruising. It will help it fade faster,” he said, and I nodded and ran for the bathroom.

“Just give me one minute, OK? Don’t leave,” I said forcefully to him, and he rolled his eyes sitting in the chair by my bed. I rubbed the salve on my bruised and sore skin and sat the tin on the counter as I sighed at the numbing relief it supplied. I pulled my long hair into a high ponytail and quickly did my morning routine. I glared at my unsightly swollen bottom lip, but there was nothing to be done about it, so I rushed out of the bathroom and was half surprised to see him still sitting there.

“OK, let’s go!” I said, but he stopped me by pointing to my clothes.

“Oops . . . someone has to teach me something soon,” I grumbled at having to rely on other people so often. How long had it been since I had dressed like a normal person? Conduits dressed on their own, and I should probably get out of the habit of making everyone use their magic on me.

I ran into the dressing room and let out a load groan. The clothing had multiplied substantially, I didn’t know where to begin. Rowan walked in and looked around quickly. He waved his hand at me as if it was no big deal, and I smiled at the way he dressed me. Black pants that fit like a second skin and an oversized, flowy maroon shirt that left a shoulder bare. I raised my eyebrows at him, and he shrugged. Over my head I slipped the necklace Briony had made me and pulled on my mother’s favorite boots, tucking the small dagger into sheath she had hidden in the left one. This time he raised his eyebrows at me, and I paid him in kind with a shrug.

“I should probably teach you how to use that soon,” he remarked as we walked down the steps.

“That’s the first thing you’ve said that I agree with,” I quipped, and he tried to hide his grin.

***

When we reached the lab that they were keeping the creatures in, I had a moment of confusion as my eyes took in the big room that seemed so odd and out of place in the elegant palace. It was tucked into the back corner and brightly lit with sleek metal surfaces. I would have never guessed that this room would have existed. I became instantly queasy when my eyes registered what was lying on the slabs in front of us.

I turned back toward the door, one hand on my stomach and the other on my heart. These weren’t creatures; these were men! I had stabbed a person—killed a man! My stomach churned, and my heart pounded in my ears. Rowan touched my arm, and slowly my pulse steadied. How odd it seemed that his touch could both steady my pulse and send it racing. I took a few deep breaths before I nodded that I was OK, and he walked to take a closer look.

“I wouldn’t have believed it myself if I hadn’t been standing here when they started to turn back.” Felix intoned while gesturing to the slabs. I took a deep breath and turned to look at them, prepared for what I would see this time. I stepped closer to the man in the center. His face was familiar.

“This man was at my party. The boring one in the ballroom,” I clarified, and Tamora snickered.

“That would explain how they entered the city’s gates,” Malachi said thoughtfully.

“It still doesn’t explain what they were . . .” Adelaide glared at the man Rowan was looking at as if he had personally offended her. I guess maybe he had when he pulled Rowan from her lips and to my side. I grinned.