I look doubtfully at him. “Card tricks?”
“Among other things.” He lifts a hand, stroking the wooden bars. “It’s been a long, long time. But there are some things I haven’t forgotten.”
Suddenly, there’s a flash of blinding, white light, and a puff of smoke. I cough, blocking the bright light with my arm. “The cage!” I shout, smoke filling my lungs. “Circle the cage!”
There’s a chorus of confusion and as the smoke clears, the cage comes into view. The door swings open, creaking on its hinges. I grit my teeth furiously, twisting in my saddle to search for the lithe Fae man across the landscape. I hear a wicked cackle and see Cleo gallop off towards the south.
“Cleo!” I shout, urging my horse after her.
When I clear the smoke, I see her query. Sadal is sprinting down a gentle slope, glancing nervously over his shoulder from time to time. He’s quick, as all Fae are, but on her horse Cleo is faster. I watch as she catches up to him and he lashes out at her horse. She swerves to the side and leaps nimbly from the saddle to the ground. I force my horse faster, eyes locked onto the two Fae wrestling in the grass.
When I slip off my mount, Cleo is straddling Sadal. Her hand is raised above his head, a dagger poised to plunge straight into his neck. Sadal laughs, his eyes wide with mania. He doesn’t even bother to try to wrestle the blade from her. Cleo trembles, her face and lips white. I can see the strain in her, her desperate need to drive that blade into him and be done with it.
“Cleo,” I whisper, holding out a steadying hand. “Drop the knife.”
Sadal laughs. “You think she can do it?” Spittle flies from his lips. “She can’t – she’s still mine even if my immortality has been stripped from me.”
His words strike true and Cleo grimaces with pain. “Did you know?” Cleo hisses. “Did you know she was my daughter? The one you forced me to hide?”
Sadal’s smile broadens. “Of course I did.”
Cleo howls, rolling off of him into the grass. She plunges the dagger into the soil again and again while Sadal chuckles gleefully. I stare, eyes wide with shock as the scene unfolds before me. A woman, crippled with anger and hurt, and a man losing himself to his own mania and evil nature. My stomach turns and I force myself forward.
I hoist Sadal to his feet and drive my fist into his jaw. I may not be able to kill him, but that won’t stop me from giving him half of what he deserves. Blood flies from his split lips as I feel bone crunch under my knuckles. He almost drops, but I squeeze his arm tighter, holding him in place. He turns furious eyes on me, but I stare coldly at him. Sadal is quiet as I force him back into the wooden cage. I bind it with a chain and tie his wrists together.
“A nice parlor trick,” I say, mocking him.
Sadal glowers at me but stays silent, nursing his swollen lip. Cleo joins us again, quiet. Her eyes are red, making the pale blue an even more vibrant shade. She doesn’t shed a tear, I didn’t expect her to. But she keeps her distance from her groom as we get started again.
Exhaustion already weighs heavily on me, and it’s only the first day. I glance between the different members of my little troupe and grimace. I couldn’t have banded together a more unconventional, contentious group if I had tried. I sigh. And this is only the beginning.
As the sun starts to set, I call to make camp. We tie our horses to nearby trees and pitch tents, keeping Sadal in the middle and within view. I don’t bother joining the others for dinner, at this point, I can hardly stand to be around any of them. I want peace and quiet and dreams of Verity. Waving over my shoulder, I crawl into my small tent and onto the sleeping mat. Crickets chirp outside, night birds chorusing with them. If I didn’t know Sadal and Erzur were outside the thin canvas walls I might even call it peaceful.
I nestle into the pillow, thoughts drifting to Verity. I think of all the times I found her reading in the gardens, dressed in over-sized tunics and trousers, her hair pulled into a simple braid. A smile creeps to my lips. She was always so beautiful, and she was witty without ulterior motives. Verity was simply Verity. I would give almost anything to go back to those first weeks after the curse was broken and find a way to make her happy. To stop her from falling for Sadal’s illusions.
Suddenly, the door to the tent rustles and I feel the mat shift as Erzur puts her weight on it. I turn, narrowing my eyes but she only smirks. Her long fingers play over my hip and I feel a thrill of electricity at her light, playful touch. I scowl, trying to drive it away.
“What are you doing here, Erzur?” I growl.
“I thought you might enjoy more intimate company,” she purrs, almond eyes flashing with a wicked promise.
I swallow hard. “No,” I say firmly. “I want to sleep. Please go.”
“I haven’t a tent of my own,” she pouts.
“I don’t care. Sleep anywhere but here.” I turn my back on her and close my eyes.
Erzur doesn’t budge and I sigh, frustration building in my gut. Her presence drives away the comforting thoughts of Verity, my precious memories with her. I don’t want Erzur to contaminate them. I ignore her, hoping she’ll leave eventually. But even when sleep takes me, I can still feel her eyes on me.
Watching.
Chapter 10
Verity
“This,” Serus says, his voice as silky as always, “Is a bad idea.”
“I agree with the cat,” Thal mutters, shifting in his saddle.
I eye
