Page 56 of Raven Rebel (Sablewood #1)

Meara

A fter a long evening spent with the king and the three princes, Meara slipped away from their meeting room.

Rydan walked her to the gate. His quiet companionship was a balm over the heaviness weighing her down.

It was not just exhaustion, but the ache from knowing there were few options available to help these people.

There was no way to stop this war. She had been foolish to think she could somehow stop the coming battle. The most she could hope for was stemming the death on the horizon.

Her mother was waiting for her, and they sat at the kitchen table as Meara relayed the evening. She brushed her fingers through Meara’s hair as she stewed, until she was ready to crawl into the shared bed and finally sleep.

Everything seemed brighter in the morning.

Meara enjoyed falling back into the rhythm of preparing salves and prepping ingredients for teas and tonics.

Her mother stayed busy with the front of the shop, but even with her dark hair over her pointed ears, Meara tried to not be seen.

There was too much beauty in her features to pass as human if someone looked closely.

She waited to hear from Rydan or Emeric, but the day passed without any contact. Frustrated, she considered writing to Brenna, but she did not want to give away her location or put her sister under suspicion.

As night fell, she sat with her mother by candlelight and told her everything else she could remember of their time in Court Tara and the Summer Court. Eventually, they were too tired to continue, and she slept curled up beside her mother for a second night.

Rydan came for her the following morning.

“Lady Meara, are you ready to make yourself useful?” he said, his rugged face bright with a teasing smile.

Bristling, she pulled a spare cloak over the simple work dress she borrowed from her mother, pulled the hood over her hair, and stepped out the front door.

“Just Meara, please. I am not nobility.”

To his credit, Rydan did not argue or attempt to mollify her. She was content with her status and had no desire to continue playing at nobility. She fell into step beside him, soaking in his confident and relaxed energy. “So what are we doing today? Training? Strategizing?”

“Later. This morning we are meeting a contact.”

She frowned, turning to check his expression for sobriety. “A contact? ”

Nodding, he continued, “Yes, a friend within the courts who has been aiding us. Perhaps the last friend that remains, it seems, aside from you.” He paused and looked her over.

“I believe you are trustworthy, but do you want to know who has been helping us? It is a risk to you both, but I feel you deserve to know you are not alone in this.”

Meara swallowed and nodded. “I will join you.”

“Good.”

As they descended the mountainside toward the marshes, they were met by Eladin and Emeric on horseback, a smoke-coated Kemuri trailing behind them. Rydan swung up to sit atop his favorite mare. The princes looked between themselves, a silent discussion happening before her eyes.

“Lady Meara, you can join me in my saddle,” Eladin said with a flirtatious grin. Memories of him in a dark hallway, Tayen kissing him, popped into her thoughts.

“No, thank you,” she said, crossing her arms. “I can walk.”

Rydan turned his horse back. “Here, sit behind me. It will be far more comfortable than the front of a saddle.”

She muttered her gratitude and allowed him to pull her up to settle behind him. Her arms went around his middle and she leaned against his leather cuirass as the horses broke into a trot.

They crossed the marshland and into the trees, and her apprehension grew. Surely it was Tayen working to protect his lover. Or perhaps Cerne had a sense of loyalty after all. She chewed her lip, impatient to learn who they were meeting.

Once within the fringe of Sablewood, they slowed the horses and dismounted. Rydan tethered their horses, turning back to the trees with an expectant look.

Meara’s heart raced, thudding against her breastbone hard enough she was worried it would burst. A flash of motion between the trees drew her attention.

“I wonder if he is late,” Emeric grumbled.

She searched the landscape, and saw another movement. “Someone is out there.”

All three princes turned, following her gaze. A figure covered in a dark cloak emerged. He was tall and broad, and Meara’s heart sank when she realized it was not Tayen’s slim frame.

The hood fell back, and angry mismatched eyes of gold and azure glared at her. “What is she doing here?”

“You?” she growled.

Luce stalked forward, jabbing an accusatory finger at her. “This female is loyal to Cerne, and her sister is in bed with the king’s closest advisor.”

He grabbed her forearm and she twisted, wrenching it free. “You are the heir to the Summer Court! Your mother speaks of slaughtering entire kingdoms of humans,” she shot back.

The human princes looked between them, an infuriating expression of amusement forming.

“Why else do you think I want to help the humans my mother so callously dismisses?” Luce said, pressing forward into her space. “You are the one to not be trusted.”

“My mother lives here!” Meara yelped, leaping back. “You are the one leading an army against us!”

“Stop yelling,” he commanded. Light emanated from his skin in his anger, making him a beacon. He reached for her again, and she dodged, bringing her hands up and clenching them into fists.

When he came closer, she threw a punch, landing a blow to his cheek. He stepped back, surprise in his eyes as he lifted a hand to touch his face. Looking at his clean fingertips, his lips spread into a smile that chilled her. When his eyes rose, they promised violence.

She wanted to turn and run, but she gritted her teeth and readied herself, calling shadows up around her.

He moved far too quickly for such a large male.

She twisted to escape, but he pulled her against himself, so her back pressed into his chest. His voice was against her hair.

“This is not a safe place for you to work out whatever guilt you have.”

“I can keep myself safe,” she hissed.

She dragged her shadows around them, but the glow of his magic held them at bay. Snarling in frustration, she increased her effort. She would drown them in darkness if that was what it took, but his light would not fade no matter how hard she tried.

“What will you do now?” he asked, his anger turning to mockery. “Turn into a raven and fly away?”

She let out a frustrated scream, held back behind her teeth. “I don’t think I can. It wasn’t intentional.”

“Like I said before, you need better control of your craft.” He spoke against her ear, and the skin on her arms pebbled.

Eladin cleared his throat. “If you two are done with your rather sensual display, we have business matters to attend to.”

Meara pushed away, expecting Luce to release her, but his hand closed around her wrist so she was able to unfurl from his hold only to be yanked back. Turning, she tugged her arm but he held fast.

His eyes darkened and he held up her hand. “What are these?”

She relaxed her fists and opened her fingers so the scars running down her hands were less noticeable. “Nothing. Old scratches from foraging.”

“Foraging?” he repeated dumbly.

“Yes,” she hissed, yanking her arm away. “I told you my mother was a human. She is an apothecary. I grew up hunting for medicinal plants in the forest.”

He assessed her, eyes roaming over her face, ears, throat. “You grew up among humans.”

“I thought I was one until a few weeks ago,” she said, rubbing her wrist.

“I don’t believe…” he started, and Meara threw her hands up.

“I don’t give a flying fuck if you believe me, as long as you leave me alone.” Spinning, she stalked into the trees and away from the summer heir that made her shadows seethe around her. She considered kicking a tree, but did not want to damage her mother’s boots.

A second set of footsteps crunched in the leaves. As she turned, it was Rydan who followed her.

“I was ten when I was adopted by the king,” he said. She was so taken aback by the change of topic, her mouth shut with a click of teeth. “My brothers had trained since birth, while I ran the streets as an orphan. They often reminded me of that fact as they beat me in our lessons. Over and over.”

He ran a hand over his locs. “It took two years to be able to defeat Eladin. Another two before I could best Emeric. No one can keep you from working hard and becoming better. ”

“So I simply must work harder?” she asked quietly. “Excuse me, but I feel as if I have done everything I can. I don’t think I can possibly do more.”

He frowned, his warm brown eyes connecting with her violet ones. “Meara, I felt the nightmares in your shadows. You are anything but weak, especially if you use that terrifying talent. I cannot imagine what you could accomplish given enough time.”

Rubbing her hands over her arms, she pursed her lips. “Time is something we lack.”

“True, but you can use the time that remains. And learning to shift into your raven at will would be useful as well, though that may be well beyond the time we have.”

Her hands curled into fists at her sides as her resolve hardened. “I suppose, I have my task.”

Meara looked through the trees to where Luce stood with Emeric and Eladin. The summer heir’s eyes rose to her, and her stomach flipped. Exhaling, she set her shoulders and strode back to the group.

Arms crossed, she listened as Luce detailed the size of the fae forces and the planned marching structure. Emeric took notes in a little book he kept in his vest. Rydan questioned Luce, and Luce answered most of them. Once their debrief was complete, Luce turned to leave.

“Wait!” she said. “How is my sister?”

Luce folded his arms. “Are you sure you want to know?”

Eyes narrowing, she mimicked his pose. “Of course I do!”

“She went to Court Tara and has been staying with Emrys.”

“With Emrys?” she echoed.

His eyes fell to the ground, and reluctantly, he added, “In his bedchamber. ”

Meara’s mouth fell open and she gaped at him. “Is she safe?”

“As safe as she can be with him. No one else will touch her, I can assure you of that. And I do not think he will let her near the battle to come, though she has been training as a healer.”

“A healer,” she echoed, running her fingers through her hair. “Thank you for telling me.” Her thoughts rushed over each other, and she hardly saw Luce’s retreating back.

Perched behind Rydan on Kemuri’s haunches, Meara turned over the information in her mind. Her sister as a healer. She wasn’t surprised at that decision, but she couldn’t reconcile Brenna growing that close with the blood-drinking fae, Emrys. How could she be so reckless?

When they returned to the king’s keep and dismounted, Eladin walked beside her. “How is Tayen?” he asked softly.

“I don’t know,” she answered honestly. “He did not attend Samhain with us, so I have not seen him in recent days. But I am sure he is concerned. He cares for you.” It felt like too much to share, but if Eladin was going into battle soon, she would rather risk Tayen’s anger than leave things unsaid and risk his regret.

Dark eyes stared into the distance, northward into Sablewood. “I miss him,” he finally muttered before moving to the horses.

“Do you want to train with us?” Emeric called to her.

Meara sighed. “I need to work on my shadows. Unless you want me terrifying your forces, I should find a private place to work.”

“I have a place for you,” Rydan said, jerking his head to indicate the direction.

While the princes walked through their exercises, she sat in an empty yard and gathered as many shadows as she could, exercising her control and stamina until she was sweaty and shaking.

She found the princes finishing their own training. They led her to a small fire, and Emeric produced a cold supper to be shared. The flames crackled merrily, and Meara stretched her sore limbs out.

The chilled night air nipped at her skin as her sweat dried, and she bundled her cloak over her arms. She ate the dense bread and salted meat happily, listening to the princes share stories of their childhood together.

Eladin leaned against the bench with a smirk on his handsome face. He told about the time Emeric challenged a full grown guard to a duel and got his ribs broken for his trouble. Emeric replied with a story about Eladin being chased from a brothel as a skulking teenager.

Their camaraderie warmed her, but left her heart aching for her sister. Growing up, they had shared the same loyalty. Becoming fae changed everything. After this war ended, they would repair things and return to the same. She promised herself that.