Unicorn Keep (18 page)

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She was surprised when the herd didn’t immediately move off after Herrick’s presence faded. But they didn’t seem concerned now that he was gone. She fidgeted on her blanket, wanting to break camp. The tree ring no longer felt safe.

You are safe
. Bai said.

“He knows where to find me now,” she protested.

We are not worried about your Herrick.
Gwyn interjected.

She
pursed her lips to keep from snapping at the mare that he wasn’t her Herrick.

We all need to rest.

“We have. You don’t need to stay on our account.”

The unicorns were quiet for a moment.

Gwyn stepped closer to her.
Come with me.

Jiline hesitated a moment before scrambling up and following the unicorn mare through the dozing unicorn herd to another forest ring. She stepped between two smaller trees and stopped in horror.

A unicorn lay in the center of the ring. Her coat was dingy and stained with blood. Two unicorns stood over her and turned to stare at Jiline. For a moment, she wondered if their gaze was accusing.

You are not the only one who needs rest.
Gwyn’s voice was soft.
Genna needs time to recuperate.

Jiline took an unconscious step forward, wanting to help the injured unicorn. “I didn’t know. She’ll be all right?”

Gwyn didn’t answer for a few seconds.
We believe so. She suffered several injuries from the orfeos. The poison is working its way through her. Her magic should expel it by tomorrow night. She will be able to travel then.

“Can I help?” It seemed silly to ask. What could she d
o that the unicorns weren’t already doing?

Gwyn’s muzzle brushed her arm.
If you wish to help, you may.

“What can I do?”

But Gwyn didn’t answer her. Cautiously, she walked slowly toward Genna. The two guarding unicorns didn’t challenge her and she knelt down next to the unicorn mare. Genna didn’t so much as flick an ear to acknowledge her presence. Tears backed up in her eyes. The mare was very ill.

She brushed at some dried blood on Genna’s coat. The sight offend
ed her. Unicorns glowed and glistened. They should never look dirty. She rubbed softly, flaking the dirt and blood from the fur. The spot cleaned, she moved on to the mare’s mane and slowly began the arduous task of untangling twigs and leaves from the silky strands.

18. JILINE NOT MADELEN

The ocean stretched out below.
Jiline couldn’t believe how it went on forever to the horizon. The hill where the unicorns had stopped gave a perfect view of the sea though they were still half a day’s travel from the coast. The unicorn herd was going slower and stopping more frequently in concession to the still healing Genna.

Despite the slower speed, Bai still
insisted she ride him until they reached the unicorns’ new home. It was easier for Ginger to keep up with the herd without having to carry Jiline.

It was hard to
tell from this distance, but Jiline was fairly certain she could see several villages dotting the coastline. Only one appeared to be bigger than the others and shapes moved out on the ocean just off the largest village.

She watched the boats
wondering at their size. She had only seen small boats used for river travel before and these must be massive if she could see them from where she sat on a rock perched on top of the hill.

She dragged her gaze away from the ocean to focus more on her surroundings. The herd was at ease, but she should have been more cautious. There was no sign of human life below the hill or in the brushy shrub dotting the landscape
as the hills continued toward the ocean.

So focused on what was in front of her
, she didn’t notice the herd had drifted some distance away until she heard the sound of a horse galloping. Thinking the herd was starting to move off, she turned and frowned as they stood at attention looking to her left. She spun in that direction and jumped off the rock as a horse galloped up the short hill toward her.

She started to run toward the herd, but she
wouldn’t reach them in time. How had she not noticed them drifting so far from her? She pulled her sword from its sheath and turned to face the rider. The horse slid to a stop a few feet from her.

“
Herrick!” she said in surprise, stepping back and glancing over her shoulder uncertainly.

Gwyn stood the closest
. The rest of the herd had gone back to grazing. She glared at Gwyn. Had they stopped so Herrick could catch them?

Better to control the greeting which was coming.

Gwyn turned around and nudged Ginger away who had started to amble toward her.

She glanced back at
Herrick and his horse. It appeared to be the same gelding he had ridden so many months ago. Herrick looked the same as she remembered if a little grungy. His chin and cheeks were lined with beard stubble and his eyes held a tiredness that hadn’t been there before. He didn’t move to dismount.

Jiline
stared back. Uncertain of what to do, she took a tiny step back. He hadn’t tried to get around her to the unicorns, not that she could have stopped him. He was much bigger and probably a lot better trained at hand to hand combat. But she didn’t lower the sword. She didn’t understand why he had pursued her.

Now is your chance to find out.

Herrick hadn’t made a move. His horse stood tensely, ears pricked, focused on the herd of unicorns, but Herrick’s gaze was focused on her.

“Hello
Herrick,” she broke the silence.

Her words seemed to rouse him and
he swung his leg to slide off his horse. She raised her sword slightly at his movement and he walked up to just a few inches from the point of it.

“Hello
Madelen,” his voice was rougher than she remembered.

And the
Madelen thing...she had grown used to being Jiline again. She took a tiny step back. He was within range to disarm her according to Eli’s drills. You didn’t move close until you were ready to strike. In a stand off, he had taught, always keep some distance between you and your target.

He
rrick didn’t follow her, but remained where he was. “I’m relieved to see you well.”

“You’ve been seeing me well almost every night.”

His head inclined. His gaze finally flowed passed her to the unicorns. She tensed, but his eyes came back to her and he didn’t move. “Your unicorn friends don’t like me much.”

“You’re a mage. You’re lucky to be breathing right now.”

His lips curved. “You’re a mage and don’t appear to have any problem in their presence.”

“I’m not a mage,” she protested.

She glanced over his shoulder wondering how far behind him his mother would be. She didn’t understand why the unicorns hadn’t run away or act more concerned. But the herd continued to graze.

“I’m alone,”
he said.

She narrowed her eyes. “Sure you are.”

“It’s the truth. I defied my mother as much as you did. I’m probably right next to you on her most wanted list. They search for the herd and you.”

“If you could find me
—”

He held up a hand and shook his head. “I had an advantage my mother did not. The unicorns are hidden from her and from me.”

“That’s why you’ve looked for me.”

“I would have searched for you whether you were with the unicorns or not.
If you had returned to Ainsley, I would have searched for you there.”

“Why?” The single word held so much importance.

His gaze skittered away for a moment, before finding hers again. “It’s difficult to explain.”

“Try.”

“When you left, I couldn’t not search for you, I had to know you were okay.” He shrugged. “It would be hard to explain to someone who isn’t a mage.”

“You just said I was a mage.”

“You said you weren’t.” He gave her a small smile and ran his hand through his hair. “I tracked you through the connection the draw gave me. I’m not working for my mother. Do you honestly believe your unicorns would allow me here if I was?”

She glanced over her shoulder. The herd remained unconcerned by his presence. She supposed he had a point. It was his feelings toward her which were making her so uncomfortable.
He had found her every night through this connection he spoke of. As much as she might want him to go away, it appeared he planned on staying on her trail.

He cleared his throat and she pulled her gaze back to him. “I won’t harm them, Madelen, or you. But my mother is searching for them. I can be of assistance in case she does find them.”

“Wait here,” she demanded and turned to walk the short distance to the herd.

Gwyn raised her head as she approached. She glanced toward the
middle of the herd to where Genna lay in the high grass, resting. Her coat had lost its dingy undertone and was beginning to shine again.

Turning her attention back to Gwen, she asked the question which had been nagging at her since Herrick rode up. “Why did you allow him to catch us?”

Why put off what would happen eventually? We do not fear him. We are close to our new home and don’t want him searching for you there.

She looked past the herd toward the sea. “Where?”

Our forest is just past that hill.

Thick
woods stretched out north of the fishing village along the coastline as far as she could see.

“It’s so close to people,”
she worried. The sun was beginning to set. Pinks streaked the sky above the ocean and the unicorns’ forest.

It calls to us. Our new home. The other reason we waited. We shall make the last leg of our journey under the cover of night.

Jiline nodded. She didn’t have to look to feel Herrick’s gaze on her. It hadn’t left since he joined them. He hadn’t approached the herd with her. Self-preservation held him back.

We do not fear him.
Gwyn assured her.
His intentions are true.

“His intentions to do what?”
Jiline whispered, glancing over her shoulder at him.

He looked even older with his beard
stubble. Somehow that made her more nervous. She wasn’t stupid. The kiss back at the Keep had told her his intentions. She wrapped her arms around her middle as her stomach flipped.

Gwyn’s eyes were soft as she lowered her head.
To protect you. To care for you.

“I’m not ready for that.”

He will not act on his own desires unless you welcome him.

Gwyn bumped her with her shoulder and guided her away from the herd and toward
Herrick. Herrick rose from sitting on the grass as they approached. His unease with Gwyn being so close bolstered Jiline’s own courage.

But Gwyn didn’t threaten him in any
way.
You must tell him how you feel. He has pledged himself as your protector. You wish to see your friends, your family, we can not help you, but he could.

Jiline
bit her lip. “Herrick,” she paused, “I don’t have feelings for you.”

“I know
.” His voice was soft and understanding. “I don’t expect you to.”

The pinks faded to grayness. Gwyn moved away and Ginger trotted up.

It is time to go.

Ginger bumped her nose against
Jiline’s hand and nickered to Herrick’s horse. His horse returned the greeting with a nicker of his own. Ginger preened.

Jiline
looked down at the ground. “I don’t understand.”

He nodded. “I didn’t either. The connection we feel is tied to
our magic. When you’re in danger, I feel it. The farther away you are from me the more my magic demands I find you. The mages call it a draw. A magical connection to another person. Their well-being is more important than anything else. I can’t
not
protect you.” He glanced away and then back. “There’s no condition to my protection.”

“Why does everyone think I need to be protected and cared for?”

His lips curved. “You’ve ticked off an entire legion of mages. They won’t forgive and forget. They will eventually come after you. My mother’s focus is to find the unicorns right now. How she expects to catch them is beyond me. But sooner rather than later she will focus on you.”

His words were true and she trembled at the thought of them coming after her. The unicorns had said as much
. That was why they insisted on her joining them in their protected woods. She looked toward the dark shadow where she knew the woods lay. Once the herd moved out, they would reach them within a few hours.

T
he fishing village below the woods was probably large enough to have messenger pigeons for hire. She could warn her family. Warn Madelen and Wilm of what she had done. They wouldn’t be able to return to Ainsley either.

Come.
Bai’s voice was a command.

She turned away from
Herrick to tighten Ginger’s girth. Herrick matched her movements and had his horse alongside Ginger as she mounted. She almost smiled at the irritation she felt flowing from Bai. They were closer to the herd than to her, but none of the unicorns made any move to stop Herrick from following.

Nothing would stop him ex
cept death.
Gwyn said.

Her
amusement faded and she looked up at Herrick. Already taller than her, he was even bigger when you added in the size difference between Ginger and his own horse. Ginger stepped eagerly forward, a spring in her step and her neck curved, to follow the unicorns.

“Gwyn says,” she hesitated. “Only death could keep you away from me.”

He didn’t answer her question but posed his own. “Who’s Gwyn?”

“One of the unicorns.”

His gaze was steady on hers. “You can speak with them? I wondered how they communicated with you.”

“They speak to me, but I have to speak to them as I speak with you. I told you, I’m not a mage.”

“I can’t speak with them and they have never spoken to me. I would say you’re more of a mage than I. You’ve befriended unicorns. The one creature closest to pure magic than any other.”

She shrugged. She was glad for the friendship Bai and Gwyn offered her, but she didn’t believe it was more than it was. She had been able to assist them with something they had been wanting to do for a long time and they
were grateful to her for her help. Of course, now they felt responsible for her and wouldn’t allow her to leave them.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she said.

He
glanced away. “I told you. I can’t not protect you.”

“Of course you can
. You turn your horse and ride back to the Keep.”

He made a noise, but she wasn’t sure if it could be described as a laugh. “If it was only that simple.”

Jiline bit her lip thinking of the draw he described. She didn’t understand it, but she remembered the look of misery on Madelen’s face over being separated from Wilm for the rest of her life. They hadn’t gone to quite the extreme that Herrick had to be with each other, but many people would probably think they had taken it too far for her to defy the mages even if it was Jiline’s suggestion.

“Will your mother really come looking for me?”

He nodded. “She wanted to look for you the moment she learned you were gone. Bringing your pony was a nice touch. I was able to plant a seed of doubt on whether you had actually helped the unicorns escape or had rather taken advantage of a situation to run away as the storm started.”