Chapter 61
Lena walked just beside me, her hands clutching tightly around my own. The smithy was just ahead, yet the further we went, the more tense I felt. Something about the streets felt… barren. It wasn’t that there weren’t others around. We’d passed one or two by on our way. Yet something was off; we just weren’t sure what.
Lena met my gaze, and I knew for certain that she felt it too—like a strange sense of trepidation in the air. I squeezed her hand, both of us staying silent, as we approached the smith’s home. I didn’t think I’d ever been here before, despite having visited most places in town throughout my many years growing up here.
It wasn’t until we were approaching the familiar door that I saw them, coming around from the back.
“Good morning, ladies.” The sentinel gave us a nod, stopping just in our path.
I recognized him—the larger fellow who’d entered the library so many days ago. How long had it been now? Over a week? Almost two, maybe? It felt more like months.
Lena released my hand, her head tilted up proudly as she stepped forward.
“Good morning, kind sir,” she greeted. Despite the situation, she sounded surprisingly calm. “Was there something I could do for you?” An ounce of humor found its way in her tone, as though she were truly asmused at the thought of us being able to help him somehow. Realizing that she was playing the part of a lady out on an excursion through town, I did as was expected of my part and stayed silent, keeping my gaze focused elsewhere.
“I’m under orders to ask about the business of anyone approaching the smith’s home,” he spoke calmly and then gestured, as though it were unclear where exactly we were. “So I’ll need to ask you why you’re here.”
Lena frowned. “That’s a rather private matter, if you don’t mind.”
Facing away from us, I just barely caught the other sentinel as he rolled his eyes.
“My apologies. These are orders from the Praevus himself. Though if it’s preferable, I can take you to inform him directly.” The commanding sentinel then stepped to the side and gestured for us to follow his lead toward the barrack.
Lena let out a sigh. “Fine. If it is so important that you must know—I’m here to pick up an order for my sword. My father doesn’t exactly approve of my hobby, you understand. I’m trying to be discreet,” she said pointedly.
He gave a slight smile. “I believe I do understand, yes. I’d be nervous about my own daughter dabbling with it as well,” the man commented, before giving a small chuckle. “Though she’s much too young for such things. Right this way, if you would,” he gestured again. The man took a step, only to stop as it became clear we weren’t intending to follow.
“Perhaps you misunderstand,” Lena said, frowning. “My father knows that I’m learning to use a blade. He merely doesn’t want a public scandal. I’m not doing anything untoward or beyond his will, and I’ve already done as you’ve asked. If you wouldn’t mind, we’ll both be on our way now.”
“My apologies again, Lady Dyere. I believe I’ve been unclear. I’m under order to question and then apprehend anyone who approaches the smith’s home. I hope you can forgive the inconvenience, but I intend to bring you both to speak with the Praevus on the matter. As much as I’d prefer to let you both go, it is, unfortunately, rather out of my hands.”
Lena spluttered in offense. “You can’t just—just order me around like some—”
From around the corners of the buildings on the opposite side of the street, several sentinels approached, hands on their spears, as though expecting trouble. Or perhaps to just make an intimidating display, I hoped. The man who’d rolled his eyes before now stepped forward in front of me, placing a hand along my shoulder.
“If you would, young miss,” he said, though to which of us, I wasn’t sure.
Seeing that she wasn’t going to be able to talk our way out of this, Lena grumbled out a, “Fine,” before crossing her arms.
The one who appeared in charge, nodded apologetically once more before beginning the walk toward the barrack. Lena and I stepped just behind him, while two sentinels followed at our backs. If questioned, I was sure they’d claim it was for our own protection. Yet I was certain it was to keep us from attempting to run or slip away, should we become inclined.
As we walked, Lena kept up her act. To the extent that it was an act?
“This all really seems rather unnecessary,” she grumbled with a pout. “Praevus Emver had dinner at the estate just yesterday. If he wished to speak with me, I’m certain he’d have done so then, or would come by later. I’m a lady, not some harlot to be ordered around through the streets and dragged to a gentleman’s quarters. This is going to be a waste of both our time.”
The leading sentinel continued giving the occasional apology, seemingly both to humor her and assure us that his orders were given regardless of an individual’s status. He would apparently be treating her mother or father just the same, so he claimed.
As we made out way to the edge of town, I was surprised when I spotted the Praevus nearby and with a group of sentinels saddling horses—and even more surprised when the man met our gaze and began walking over. I could feel the rapid thump of my heart, worsening with each step closer he got.
“Ah, Lady Lena!” The Praevus exclaimed. His eyes met mine, and I had to stop myself from cowering back. “And Camilla’s lovely maid, Pearl, as well. What brings the two of you here?” The man came to a stop just a few feet away.
Then the commanding sentinel stepped forward, saluting. “It would seem that the young Lady here was intending to acquire a weapon she’d ordered from the smith.”
“Which, last I checked, was not a crime,” Lena said, giving the sentinel a meaningful stare.
“Yes, I do recall hearing something about your practice with the blade,” Emver said, rubbing his chin. “What’s the man’s name. Demetrios, was it? I believe he’s been giving you lessons?”
“He has been, yes,” she responded politely, the previous hostility vanishing as though it had never occured. “Demetrios has been quite generous with his time in teaching me. Though I don’t believe he originally expected me to stick with it beyond the first few sessions.”
The Praevus nodded with a smile. “Young noble girls do tend to be quite flighty about such things. You’re an the exceptional outlier, if you will. I find it rather intriguing.” The man paused, taking a moment to look us both over. “It is unfortunate that you would pick today of all days to pick it up, however. The smith and his wife, by all reports, appear to be missing.”
Missing?
That,” she paused, taken aback, “is rather troubling. They’re truly missing? We don’t know at all where they might be? No clues to their whereabouts from anyone?”
“Not much, though I’ve a few ideas,” Emver admitted. His eyes caught mine, before turning back to Lena. “I’m sure it won’t be too much trouble finding them. They’re presumably somewhere in town, after all.”
Did the man somehow know what we’d been up to?
I could tell by her expression that Lena wasn’t fully certain how to respond. “Well, that’s a relief, I suppose. I’m sure they’ll turn up before long.”
He gave a wide smile back. “Indeed. Though, I’ll admit, I find it strange that you wouldn’t simply send your maid to fetch your weapon.”
My body stiffened, and it was only by luck that the man was looking at Lena rather than at me. Luckily the girl already had an answer ready for him.
“She’s been quite busy of late, as I’m sure you can understand. There’s a lot of preparations to be done. Not to mention that I worry that she might hurt herself with it on the way back. And well, if I’m quite honest, I rather wanted to come get it myself. I’ve been a tad excited, enough so that I’ve dragged poor Pearl along with me as escort.”
I looked over at her. Had she had that whole response planned out? It made sense, I suppose, being the sort of thing she would think about.
The Praevus met my gaze, and I did my best to look less nervous. Still, it was normal to be a bit fearful in this sort of circumstance, wasn’t it? It was with much relief that his eyes left mine as Lena once more caught his attention.
“If it is not too rude of me, might I inquire into whether you had any other questions for me, Praevus Emver?”
“Ah, of course, of course. I do believe that’s all, yes. It’s clear you’ve nothing to do with the smith’s strange disappearance, after all. Do forgive me for holding you up for so long.”
Lena nodded. “I hesitate to waste your time any further, and well, I admittedly still have quite the number of preparations to attend to for my upcoming wedding. I do hope you’ll be attending?”
“Alas, I have duties elsewhere, I’m afraid,” he said with apparent remorse. “I’ll be gone by this evening, in fact.” He turned as though preparing to walk away, before pausing. “I suppose I’ll bid you both adeu. Although, I must admit that the two of you have excellent timing for the upcoming little show. It’d be a true shame if you left now. I do believe it’s just about to begin, in fact!”
Lena’s eyes met my own, each of our thoughts reflecting the other’s. Show? What show?
“A show, Praevus Emver?” the red headed girl asked, her confusion plainly heard. “I’m not quite sure what you mean. So far as I know, there aren’t any circus troupes passing through?”
“A different sort of excitement entirely,” Emver replied. He stepped over to us, and I had to do my best to fight the instinct to back away. “Why I imagine it’s something you’ve never witnessed before in your life.” The man stopped just between us.
I flinched as he wrapped an arm around each of our shoulders. Even I—ignorant of noble decorum as I was—knew the gesture was incredibly inappropriate, especially coming from a man like him toward a Lady about to marry. Lena gave a brief verbal protest, both of us stiffening beneath the man’s grasp. Yet we knew there was little we could actually do. I stared out across the many sentinels around us. Most pointedly looked away. The few that did glance in our direction clearly thought little of the taboo interaction.
As though it were perfectly normal.
The Praevus slowly twisted us around, until we all faced the small barrack ahead. He stared forward, standing tall and confidently. The strange thing was that the building was far enough away that I wasn’t sure we’d be able to even see much of whatever was about to happen, at least not particularly well. Wouldn’t we want to be closer?
“Just a few seconds more, I believe, if I’ve gotten the timing right.”
I glanced briefly past him, to Lena. Her previous confidence had fallen away, replaced with a pale disquiet, as she too stared nervously at the building. Did she have any idea what was going on? Or was she as much in the dark as I was?
The seconds ticked past as I stared forward, biting my lip. I could feel every shift of the man’s heavy arm, his hand casually gripping my shoulder.
A massive flash of light blinded my eyes, followed by a deafening roar through my ears. I squinted as a physical force shoved into me, threatening to throw me to the ground. The Praevus’s arm dug into my shoulder, holding me upright. As my eyes reopened, debris fell to the ground not far ahead of us. Somehow, a sentinel with a shield had found his way between us and the building during the blast. Had he been standing nearby, waiting? I wasn’t sure.
“Well done, Thanlen. I believe we should be fine, now,” the Praevus said.
I looked up and over at him to see the Praevus smiling madly. He slipped his arm from around us, as the sentinel, Thanlen, moved to the side.
The barrack was… gone. Or at least most of it was. Flames flickered up into an increasing blaze, taking what was left of the mostly-wooden structure. I stared, frozen before the remnants of the large explosion, eyes wide and dazed.
“Nothing like a bit of excitement to get your day going, hmm?” The Praevus stepped forward, pulling out a pocket watch. “Normally around this time I’d be sitting down with a bit of tea and reading through the morning reports and letters.” He looked at each of us, giving us a grin. “This was admittedly quite a bit more fun. Wouldn’t you agree?”
Still in a state of shock, staring at the flaming rubble ahead, I forced my head to move up and down in an uncomfortable nod.
“Thanlen, go make sure the culprit is properly apprehended, if you would.”
The sentinel gave a silent salute before strutting off, the metal of his armor clinking into the distance.
The Praevus continued, “I would hazard to say it has become a tad too unsafe for the both of you to be wandering about the town on your own right now.” From the edge of my vision, several sentinels walked up, dragging skittish horses with them. “Alas, I’ll have to insist you come along with me,” he said with a frown, as though actually contrite about it.
With heavy reluctance, I turned to meet the man’s gaze, finding him no longer at our side, but instead a few feet away. As I stared, a sentinel approached with another horse. Lena’s hand found my own, and I looked over. Our eyes met briefly, each reflecting the tense fear of the other, before we both looked back.
Emver placed his foot into a stirrup and gracefully hopped up onto the large dark-brown horse. “Well, girls?” He smiled down at us, hands loosely gripping the reins.
“Let’s go find us some rebels, shall we?”