Page 10

Gavin

G avin held a hand up as he approached the guards. “There’s someone on the estate that shouldn’t be.”

“What do you mean, Your Grace?”

“The barrier. Someone’s entered bearing their own ill ambitions,” he explained, studying the darkness beyond the glow of the torches’ licking flames. “I’m going to investigate.”

“Your Grace, we can’t allow you to—”

Gavin’s lips quirked in a bemused smile. “Please go on. I’d like to hear what you cannot allow me to do.”

“What he meant, Your Grace, was that we would be honored to help in your search of the grounds.”

Before Gavin could remind them of his combat skills, his ears pricked at the sound of metal clattering against the gravel path leading to the estate.

“Do you think that’s the intruder?”

Gavin shushed them and stepped cautiously through the gate, straining to hear if there was anything more. The rustling of bushes met his ears. Crouching down, Gavin laid a hand flat against the ground. Sending a ripple of magic down the lane, he let it fan out to canvass their surroundings. Nothing but empty air or the fuzzy sensation of the woodland met his magic. Furrowing his brow, Gavin concentrated harder, searching for the wall of warmth that indicated living things. He pushed his magic farther out into the woods and down the lane.

His mind sparked. His magic met a wall of warmth with a narrow gap of cold air between it. It was likely that meant that there were two people, or three at the most. Gavin doubted it. The force of their presence disturbing the wards around Castle Belmont’s estate was small. He already knew the intruder didn’t possess magic, for if they had, they wouldn’t have entered his lands so cavalierly, so whoever they were, they were here for something else.

Withdrawing his magic, Gavin stood and addressed the guards, Dame Beatrix and Sir Aiden. “They’re a little way into the woods. One assailant. We’ll need to be careful because it seems they’ve taken someone from the path.”

“Do you think it’s a robbery?” Sir Aiden asked.

Gavin considered the possibility. “Perhaps.”

Perhaps it was as simple as that. His gut nagged at him, knowing exactly what he’d brought to his home two weeks ago. It was too coincidental.

“Standing here won’t tell us anything.” he said decisively. “I’ll lead.”

Silently, the trio stalked down the lane. Gavin listened for anything, the telltale rattle of the bushes, of groans, shouts, raised voices, anything that would indicate a fight. But there was nothing. And thanks to the wind, he couldn’t even make out the low tones of conspiratorial conversation.

If it wasn’t for his magic, they wouldn’t have any idea who they would find lurking in these woods.

Dame Beatrix signaled for them to stop. Gavin narrowed his eyes, curious as to what had drawn her attention. Had she seen something in the woods?

She pointed. Gavin’s eyes made out a rectangular shape on the ground. He nodded in acknowledgement and approached it cautiously. Stooping to get a better look at it, Gavin’s blood cooled. A lantern?

Without much thought, Gavin jumped to his feet and strode toward the wood. A fizzle of magical current rippled through the air as he sent it out in search of his adversary.

The figures hadn’t moved. Silently, Gavin wove between the trees. The two guards trailed behind him. A film flicked over Gavin’s eyes as he willed himself to give into the magic that granted him sight. Some said humans shouldn’t have such abilities. Gavin knew it was the only reason they still had a kingdom. If they hadn’t been able to see through the dark nights ruled by Penumbra, Kordouva would have fallen to the shadows.

As it was, he could feel that inky plague roiling in the undercurrent once more. It had to be related to Mistress Scrabs’s Den of Thieves and the impending eclipse. It was the only explanation. Penumbra would rise again—with or without the Darshovians to worship it.

Gavin quickly adjusted to the muted hues of green and deep blue as his magic granted him the ability to see in the dark. He halted as two shapes—two people—pressed up against a tree some way ahead of him came into sight. Neither had heard their approach, too engaged in their conversation to notice.

Gavin didn’t dare to draw any closer. Even though he didn’t know whether it was a robbery for certain, it was still clear to him that the woman was in danger from the pair’s posture. Raising a hand, Gavin drew on his magic. A sharp arrow of magic blasted from his hand, knocking the assailant back and onto the forest floor. The guards rushed forward. Watching the scene unfold, Gavin found himself hesitating. He watched as the assailant scrambled to his feet and fled, chased after by the guards.

With their departure, Gavin’s gaze flicked to the woman. Though he fully intended to see after her wellbeing, shock flooded Gavin’s bloodstream. He recognized Adelaide despite the distorted colors of his nocturnal sight and was unable to explain the anger that simmered in his gut. He didn’t know whether his anger stemmed from the danger he’d found her in, or the fact that it might not have been a dangerous situation for her at all. But upon a closer look, Gavin realized she was trembling.

Adelaide’s chest rose and fell as she looked around. He clenched his teeth. He had half a mind to follow after the guards and the man who’d fled. Gavin knew it wouldn’t change anything, though. Breaking himself from the spell that had captured his mind, Gavin made his way to her.

Fear and apprehension glowed in her green eyes as they landed on him. She looked stricken, but only for a moment. Any trace of her fear, of her bewilderment, fled as she saw his approach, replaced instead by weariness as she masked any expression. Whether by habit or intention, Gavin couldn’t explain the change in her demeanor.

Certain there was more to Adelaide than any of them knew, he became even more determined to find out.

The sting in his eyes fled. Plunged into darkness once more as he let his nocturnal sight fade, Gavin raised a hand. His magic danced on his fingertips like flames so he and Adelaide could see each other. Examining her closely for visible injuries, Gavin tried to keep the suspicions from his voice.

“It seems I keep finding you in predicaments,” he tried to tease, but he’d failed to sound humorous. Laying a hand on her shoulder, he asked, “Are you all right, Adelaide?”

Adelaide seemed to shake herself from her daze. She dropped her gaze. “Thank you, Your Grace.”

His lips pressed into a thin line. Studying her closely in the light of his magic, Gavin reached for the clasp of his cloak and undid it. He shifted its weight from his shoulders and said, “Let’s get back to the estate. I’ll have Thomas bring us some warm mahlder.”

Wide-eyed, Adelaide glanced up. Her eyes finally met his as he settled his cloak around her shoulders. “I hope you don’t mind answering some questions about what happened?”

She shook her head. “I’ll try. It happened so quickly, Your Grace. I don’t know how much help I’ll be.” She glanced in the direction her assailant had fled. “Will they catch him?”

“I hope so.” For several reasons, Gavin hoped so. He needed to speak with the would-be assailant and find out if there was any connection between him and Mistress Scrabs. He was also hoping to corroborate whatever story Adelaide told him of the ordeal.

Adelaide nodded. Worry gleamed in her eyes but flickered out as soon as it had come. “I hope so too,” she said quietly.

Gavin raised a brow. He couldn’t say if Adelaide was lying or if she really wanted him to be caught. There was too much Gavin didn’t know, and it drove him to the edge of insanity. Every scrap of information he and William had unearthed was like a puzzle piece. He wished he knew if Adelaide’s belonged to the same picture or if she was something else entirely. Perhaps he’d know more if he could question the assailant.

Swallowing, Gavin took a step away. “We should return to Castle Belmont, before it starts to pour.”

“I would like that, Your Grace. It drizzled a little on my way back and rained for a bit before, but I was lucky that it didn’t storm.”

Keeping pace with Adelaide as he illuminated more of the space around them so they could pick their way back to the path without incident, Gavin latched on to the chance to learn where she’d truly come from.

“Did you go a long way?” Gavin tried to sound curious, fearing his voice would give away the fact that he already knew the answer to his inquiry.

Adelaide didn’t respond right away. “I suppose. To me it wasn’t such a long way. Home is a lot closer than it’s been, so I didn’t mind the walk, Your Grace.”

“And your mother? How is she?” Gavin asked thoughtlessly. As his own words landed on his ears, Gavin’s heart clenched. Quickly, he added, “I apologize. I shouldn’t have assumed that home meant you saw…or even that I was at liberty to ask about—”

Adelaide laughed, but not nearly long enough for Gavin’s heart as he realized how much he liked it. It was mesmerizing, just as rich and lyrical as her singing voice. People didn’t usually laugh so freely around him. He was the White Hawk of Kordouva. People tended to assume he was someone to be feared. He never corrected them, wondering if the reputation helped him more than hindered him.

Gavin wanted to make her laugh, just so he could hear it again.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh, Your Grace,” Adelaide said breathlessly, a weak attempt to stifle her amusement. “I just didn’t expect you to remember…” She trailed off. Gavin snuck a glance at her. Her face was shadowed by the surrounding night and the glow of his magic. When she spoke again, Adelaide’s voice had sobered. “My mother is doing well, better than I expected actually.”

“But?” Gavin found himself prompting.

Adelaide didn’t answer. Gavin chastised himself, realizing more and more that he was overstepping boundaries he wouldn’t ordinarily overlook.

“I’m worried,” Adelaide admitted quietly. After what Gavin had witnessed this afternoon, Adelaide had every right to be concerned about her mother’s health. Severillik wasn’t so easily cured or treated. It was nothing short of a miracle that Adelaide’s mother hadn’t succumbed to the illness, given how much of her body it had settled into. It made him wonder once more how she could even be alive. “I don’t know how much more I can do for her before…before it finally takes her.”

Gavin hummed. Sentiments of sympathy and the urge to offer what little help he could fought against each other in his mind. In the end he said, “I’m sorry.”

There truly wasn’t much Gavin could do, despite how many throughout Kordouva suffered from severillik. The only known treatment that could curb—if not heal—severillik came from Darshovi. To make matters worse, it was widely known that the medicine had been developed using Penumbra’s dark magic and by stealing souls. His cousin wouldn’t hear of trading with Darshovi due to the unethical nature of the medication, even in spite of how their people suffered. Instead, the king had made it his top priority to fund research into an alternate treatment option.

But Gavin knew time and money were running out. Too many of their efforts had ended in failure or were diverted away to combat the flux in illegal activities.

“Thank you, Your Grace,” Adelaide whispered, her voice tense. Pausing in the hall, she slipped his cloak from her shoulders and offered it to him. “If you’ll excuse me, Your Grace, I’d like to retire for the night.”

Gavin’s lips threatened to frown. He needed to ask her about the would-be thief. Straightening his shoulders, the archduke studied Adelaide’s drawn face. In this moment, she seemed truly delicate. Gone was the poised composure she carried herself with, and in its place was unguarded emotion. Strands of her wavy hair framed her round face. He wanted to twirl the loose ringlet around his finger and tell her she was safe.

Gavin shook his head. What was he thinking? He couldn’t afford to have such thoughts. He couldn’t be swayed by whatever irrational feelings Adelaide was stirring within him.

“Of course. Come to my office in the morning. We’ll talk about what happened then.”

Adelaide nodded, offering him a curtsy, and left without another word.

Gavin watched after her for a moment before turning away. Sleep would elude him tonight. Worry, irritation, and curiosity plagued his mind. Rather than head for his bedroom, Gavin donned his cloak once more and stalked through the estate and out into the rear courtyard. Rain pitter-pattered against the leaves of the prized fruit trees. The barracks were alight with torches.

“I was just about to summon you, Gavin.” William stopped before him, waiting for Gavin to catch up to him before he swiveled on his heel and matched his pace.

“Has he been detained?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’d like to question him myself.”