Page 34 of The Beginning (Covert Moon, #1)

Eamonn

The Fae Realm

* * *

"Y ou didn't have to hit me," Gavin said, his words slightly muffled by the cloth pressed to his nose. Blood had splattered across his fine traveling shirt.

He held his nose gingerly, as though testing to see if it was still attached to his face. There was something deeply satisfying about seeing him disheveled and bloodied.

"Yes, I did," I said, surprised by how calm my voice sounded. The anger was still there, but it had crystallized into something colder and more focused. "You do realize that you left me to take all of the blame for your actions?"

Lady Annaliese started to speak, her mouth opening with what was probably going to be some imperious demand or complaint, but Gavin held up a hand to stop her.

It was a good thing because I would hate to be rude to a lady, but my patience was worn thin as parchment.

She was as responsible for this as Gavin was.

If it weren't for the two of them, I wouldn't have found myself in this outpost, at the end of civilization, my life's plans in tatters and unsure of myself as I hadn't been since I was a boy.

Annaliese stopped whatever it was she’d been about to say.

"I didn't think—" Gavin began, his voice nasal from the blood and swelling.

"No, Gavin, neither you nor your lady thought," I snapped.

At that moment, I felt much older than he was, though I knew we were the same age.

We'd grown up together, trained together, served together.

But something about him, something still remained soft.

He didn't seem hardened by experience, or aware of how the real world actually worked beyond the bubble of court life. Older, yes. But grown? I wasn’t seeing it.

Maybe I just didn’t want to.

I wondered where they'd been hiding for two months.

They'd come through the Goblin Realm gate, but that didn't mean they'd been staying there.

King Brennan was too honorable to harbor fugitives from his father's justice.

I almost asked, then decided I didn't want to know. Their adventures weren't my concern.

"You didn't think at all," I said again, letting each word fall like a stone into still water, "And I'm here as a result. The King suspects that I was helping you, that I was part of your little romantic escapade. We all know that’s not the truth.

However, there's nothing that can change that now.

" I held up a hand as Gavin opened his mouth to speak again.

"You've come here for a reason. Tell me why you are here. "

I couldn't be his friend at this moment. The easy camaraderie we'd once shared was gone, burned away by his betrayal and my consequences for his choices.

After I'd hit Gavin—and the satisfying crunch of cartilage under my knuckles would stay with me for years—he'd fallen back with blood spurting from his nose like a fountain in a garden.

Lady Annaliese had immediately gone into hysterics, shrieking about violence and barbarism and the decline of civilized society. It was quite a performance.

I'd sent Gerald to fetch some cloth to staunch the bleeding, trying to maintain some semblance of professional dignity despite having just assaulted a guest. I'd invited them into the manse, to care for Gavin properly.

It would be more comfortable for any discussions that would follow, and it would keep the spectacle away from the other guards.

The pair had walked arm in arm, steadfastly ignoring me until we reached the manse. Lady Annaliese whispered consolations and endearments to Gavin while shooting venomous looks in my direction. I deposited them into the sitting room, one that was kept for visitors we wanted to impress.

The sitting room had been furnished with more care than the rest of the compound. There were actual cushions on the chairs, tapestries on the walls, and a small table set with decent crockery. It was meant to show that we weren't complete barbarians out here at the edge of the world.

Once inside, I'd gestured for Tobias, who was lurking nearby with barely contained curiosity.

I'd had him send word to King Jharak through the mirror in my office.

I told Tobias to make sure he told the king only the facts, only what happened, and maybe not mention that I'd punched Gavin in the nose.

The instruction had made me feel slightly ashamed. A captain shouldn't lose his temper, shouldn't resort to violence when diplomacy would serve. But damn it, seeing Gavin's face had brought back every moment of frustration and humiliation I'd endured.

Tobias had grinned at that instruction, and his reaction gave me hope to think that perhaps, just perhaps, I might be making some headway with the men here.

So the king would soon know that those who'd run away had returned, at least temporarily.

He'd be expecting a more detailed report from me about their condition, their intentions, their story of the past two months.

What happened to them after this, I didn't care.

I would take no further responsibility for them or anything else concerning these two selfish children.

I'd told my former commander that I would indeed let them know should Gavin contact me.

I was keeping to my end of the bargain, maintaining my honor even if others had abandoned theirs.

Perhaps fulfilling this obligation would get me out of here, though I had to admit my desire to leave was far less than it'd been even a month ago.

The work might not be the most interesting, but my men were good men, albeit perpetually lax by court standards, and there was something to be said for being judged on merit rather than court connections.

That realization was odd but given the letter burning a hole through my trousers, perhaps not that surprising.

What was there for me back at court anyway?

Tobias returned within minutes, and when I looked at him questioningly, he nodded once. He'd been able to contact the king successfully. Excellent. I turned back to Gavin and Lady Annaliese.

Lady Annaliese had been fussing over Gavin's nose, dabbing at the blood with a handkerchief and making small cooing sounds.

When she looked away from where she was patting Gavin on the shoulder, I wasn't surprised to see an edge of hostility in her gaze.

Her eyes were hard as flint, and her mouth was pressed into a thin line.

She felt hostile toward me, did she? How nice for her. She had no idea what actual hostility was. She'd never had her life turned upside down by someone else's selfish choices, never had to explain a disgrace she'd played no part in creating.

"We would like you to get in touch with King Jharak, and request an audience with him," Lady Annaliese said, her voice carrying all the imperious authority she'd probably used her entire life. Every word was precisely enunciated, as though she were addressing a child.

I wondered if this was how she talked to Gavin all the time, with that tone of absolute certainty that her wishes would be fulfilled. Then I decided that this was yet another thing I didn't want to know. If she did speak to him that way, it was Gavin's burden to bear. He'd chosen her, after all.

The thought made me smile, just a little. There was a certain justice in Gavin being married–if they were indeed married--they wore rings though I had no idea whether a ceremony had actually occurred–to someone who treated him like a subordinate.

"Of course, my lady. I'm sure he'll want to know that you're safe and well," I said, injecting just enough formality into my voice to be proper without being warm.

"I'll go now, to see if he can speak with me.

" I gave Tobias a meaningful glance, and he followed me out the door as I closed it behind us.

Once we were in the corridor, away from listening ears, I turned to him and lowered my voice. "Stand here. Do not leave this door. They're not to leave this room. Should they try to, you have my permission to insist—firmly if necessary—that they stay where they are. Am I understood?"

Tobias straightened, recognizing the seriousness in my tone. "Yes, sir. They won't get away this time."

I did a double take when he said that, then realized that the circumstances of my disgrace must be well known among the men.

Of course, they'd know—gossip traveled faster than official reports, and my sudden appearance here would've prompted questions.

I'd been so busy worrying about myself and meeting my new responsibilities that I hadn't thought to consider that other people might be discussing what brought me here in the first place.

I mentally shrugged. I couldn't do anything about it, and the men seemed to respect me regardless. "Good man," I said. Then I headed for my office.

The mirror was plain silver when inactive, reflecting my face with perfect clarity. I looked tired, I realized. Older than I felt. The past months had left their mark.

"His Majesty, King Jharak," I said clearly.

Within a moment, the silvered surface rippled like water, and the king's face appeared.

As always, I was struck by his dual-colored eyes—one blue, one green—a mark of his mixed heritage.

They were very piercing, and he had a slight smile on his face that suggested he was already aware of why I was calling.

"Eamonn, one of your Watchers just contacted me. Is it true? Have the runaways returned to us?" His voice carried a note of genuine curiosity, as though this were an interesting puzzle rather than a crisis.

"Yes, your Majesty, they have. They appeared at the gate from the Goblin Realm and asked for entrance.

" I paused, remembering the satisfying crunch of my fist meeting Gavin's nose.

"I granted it and... welcomed them. I wasn't sure of the protocol for handling returned fugitives, and that was why I had Tobias contact you immediately. "