The scout, p.7
The Scout, page 7
“You care,” Mother said, reaching around and placing a hand on my arm. “That is a strength that one day will serve you well.”
I nodded, my throat tight as I finished with the last of the pins. Grabbing a bone comb off the vanity, I began to untangle her hair, the once bright red strands now closer to a pale blond.
“I just fear that he will wait too long to do the right thing,” I said. “And I feel like I’m running out of ways to force his hand.”
“You will find a way. You always have.” She paused and our gazes caught as we both stared into the mirror at one another. “I haven’t told you like I should have, but I’ve always been proud of you for that. You found a way to do what was right during the Purge. I know you’ll find a way again.”
I blinked rapidly, moisture stinging my eyes. She had been so absent for so much of my life. For the longest time, I’d wondered if she’d ever even loved me. And then something had changed when I had been kidnapped by Lorcan. Since I’d returned home, Mother had become a woman who, many days, I almost didn’t recognize, but in the best of ways. She’d seemed to be slowly shedding the shell she’d worn for so long. Sioned had hinted at it for years, but something had to have happened after Mother had married Father, something that had changed her irrevocably and turned her into the indifferent ghost of a woman I’d known for most of my life. But that was changing.
“Your father spoke of rumors that have been circulating the castle today,” Mother said. “About you and Bran.”
I almost dropped the comb, the back of my neck heating.
“What sort of rumors?” I asked, clearing my throat.
Mother didn’t answer immediately, instead turning in her chair. I let go of the few strands of her hair I’d been combing, stepping back slightly.
“You love him, don’t you?” she asked.
“Yes,” I answered, holding her gaze. “I know what others say of him, but they don’t know him. Not really.”
Mother’s gaze drifted to the hearth where the wolves lay, a pained expression briefly flitting across her face. “There was once a time where I made the mistake of listening to others instead of the man who held my heart. Jealousy and fear can make people do and say all manner of things.” She took in a deep breath before looking back at me. “Do not make that same mistake.”
My chest hitched at her unexpected words. I knew the man she was speaking of wasn’t Father. There had to have been someone else in Mother’s life, someone no one had ever spoken of before—not in my presence, at least. The blood of the line of Blaidd. My stomach tightened as my thoughts raced, and yet it didn’t entirely make sense. Mother didn’t carry the blood of the Wolf Spirit’s line of Ris. That blood could only come from Father or his brother, Fionn. And as far as I knew, my uncle had only had eyes for his wife, having known her since they were children.
“I know I haven’t given you much motherly advice,” Mother said, putting her back to me once more. “But do be careful. There are certain things that can have unintended consequences… such as children.”
I could feel my face heat and I noticed Mother looked slightly uncomfortable herself. She hadn’t given me much in the way of motherly advice, but Sioned had and I’d made a point to discuss such things with Bran last night. I wasn’t opposed to children one day, but not any time soon.
“I can promise you that I am being as careful as possible about such matters,” I told her, gathering her hair again and working it into a simple plait for the night.
A more comfortable silence fell between us as I finished with her hair and then helped her into bed.
“Do you need anything else?” I asked as she got settled under the blankets.
“No,” she replied. “Thank you. Have a good night, Seren. I haven’t told you like I should have, but I love you.”
“I love you,” I said, my throat tight with emotion. I’d waited so long to hear those words from her.
I stepped back from the bed, calling Awyr and Cryfder to me. When I let myself out of the bedchamber and into the common room, I came to an abrupt halt as I found myself face to face with Father. We both tensed at the sight of one another and I could feel my jaw tighten. He’d been going out of his way to avoid me these last few weeks and what interactions we’d had hadn’t been particularly pleasant ones.
Though night had fallen outside, torches on the wall lit the room and despite Father’s fine clothes and gold and silver jewelry, I could see the strain in his features. On some level, I suspected he knew the depths of the danger we faced. His pride, however, wouldn’t let him admit it.
“What in the blazes are you doing here?” he asked gruffly.
“Helping Mother to bed,” I answered. “Since Olwen is ill.”
Father muttered a curse under his breath, disgust in his voice. “As if that woman is some child who can’t even care for her own needs.”
“She’s been in pain today.”
“You’re as weak as she is,” Father snapped. “Though arguably more of a disgrace than her. I do not want to hear any more rumors of you inviting a shifter to your bed. What you did during the Purge was insult enough. Sleeping with one of them is inexcusable.”
“I am twenty years old,” I retorted, my body heating at his callous words. “That is my decision. Not yours.”
I brushed past him, fixing my gaze on the door, though I heard him whirl around after me.
“Keep this ridiculous defiance up and I will make certain that you are never Ri,” he yelled after me. “I will not leave this clan in the hands of someone who will bring it to ruin!”
I stopped with a hand on the door, my shoulders taut as I looked back at him, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “You have already brought this clan to ruin. I am only seeking to make sure it doesn’t pass away into nothing more than memory at Fianna’s hands.”
His face scrunched in anger and his hands clenched into fists, but I turned away and let myself out. I could hear him bellowing but I ignored him, letting the door slam shut behind me with a bang before stepping past the warriors standing guard.
As I strode down the hallway, the wolves keeping pace with me, I rolled my shoulders, trying to release some of the tension in them. Father’s threats were empty ones. When I had made my vow to the The Wolf Spirit, that I would cleanse the clan from Fianna and protect the shifters, it had told me I would become Ri one day. I believed the word of a Spirit far more than I did the word of my father. He was not as powerful as he deluded himself that he was.
Don’t lose sight of the real enemy, I reminded myself, letting out a long, low breath. As much damage as Father had caused, he was nothing compared to Fianna. I had to discover the mystery behind the blood of the line of Blaidd. Mother’s strange confession had only added to my confusion around that mystery. I’d always been told my father had been the only man she’d ever cared for. Some had even gone as far as to hint that she’d tried to trap him in some way, a castle servant bent on catching herself a Ri. And yet what she’d said tonight cast doubt on such stories. Clearly, there were things in our family history that had been omitted.
Sioned, I thought, nodding as I walked the dimly lit hallways. I would speak to her and see what I could get her to tell me of not only Mother, but Fionn as well. There were secrets in this castle, ones that I was beginning to suspect had been hidden for some time now, but the clan couldn’t afford for them not to be uncovered. Not with Fianna on the loose.
Chapter 9
Darkness Brewing
Bran
As always, the warriors of Blaidd were frustratingly slow when it came to navigating the forest behind Clogwyn. Like I had done for a better part of the night, I forced myself to slow my pace as we made our way through the underbrush, heading back toward the walls of the granite keep. I was in my wolf form, having spent the evening tracking a goat and two chickens through the dense forest. It was yet another one of Drystan’s insulting training exercises, treating me like I didn’t know how to use my highly attuned senses of smell and hearing.
The night’s activities had been child’s play for me and by the time I’d tracked down the last chicken, it was taking everything within me to keep a tight lid on my mounting frustration. These tasks were a waste of time when I could be out hunting Lorcan and putting an end to him. I’d been a key part of Lorcan getting the upper hand on Drystan and his warriors multiple times and the warrior chief knew it, but still he insisted on making me practice these ridiculous games.
The warriors trailing behind me were in no better mood than I was. Led by Seachnall, they grumbled and cursed under their breath about getting dragged out after dark to go traipsing through the forest. Drystan had instructed them to assist me, but really, they were with me to make sure I didn’t step a paw out of line. Really, they’ve been a nuisance, I thought. None of them seemed to have mastered traversing the forest without being noticed. I swore they’d made enough noise that every creature in the forest must have known of our presence tonight.
Moonlight lit our way as we stepped out of the trees. I trotted over to the dirt path that led up to one of the castle gates, eager to get back inside and be done for the night. I’d promised Seren that I’d join her in her chambers, something that had become a habit of ours over the last few days, and tonight’s ridiculous display of training had taken longer than I expected.
“Slow down, shifter,” Seachnall snapped.
I growled but did as I was told, slowing my steps and waiting for the three men to catch up with me. The guards at the gate on the back side of the castle let us in without question upon seeing Seachnall. Cool air ruffled my fur as we crossed the courtyard, a gentle breeze keeping the night comfortable. We walked to the training grounds and then entered the castle through the armory.
Once we were inside the large room, I shifted back into my human form. The warriors eyed me with distrust as I did so and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. I was weary of them all acting like I would attack them at any moment.
“I’ll get the report on how the shifter did tonight to Pennathe Drystan in the morning,” Seachnall said. “You’re all dismissed.”
The other two men told him goodnight, both of them pointedly ignoring me before leaving the armory.
“After you, shifter,” Seachnall said, nodding his head toward the door. “Pennathe Drystan doesn’t want me locking things up for the night until you’re safely on your way.”
I snorted. Safely. That was a joke. More than likely, the warrior chief didn’t want me stealing a blade or a dagger and coming and stabbing him in his sleep. Not that I would, but I hadn’t exactly hidden my dislike for the man who made my life living misery. Ignoring Seachnall’s dark looks, I strode out of the armory with him following behind me.
Once in the hallway, I left Seachnall to lock up and strolled off toward the opposite wing of the castle. I was more than ready to see Seren. Drystan had kept me busy today, and outside of sharing the midday meal together, we’d barely seen each other. I yawned as I reached the bottom of the castle steps, fatigue setting in after my long day. I had just taken the last step when a voice stopped me cold.
The servants’ door, Son of Blaidd. By the Ri’s study.
I jerked my head back at the Wolf Spirit’s words, my muscles tensing.
Go, it said. Trouble is brewing.
The Spirit’s presence faded and though I didn’t entirely understand what all was transpiring, I turned on my heel and bolted back down the stairs. My heart pounded as I ran down the hallway. I saw no signs of danger, but I knew the Wolf Spirit didn’t pass on warnings for no reason.
When I reached the servants’ door closest to the Ri’s study, I skidded to a stop. The hallway was empty and I heard nothing save for my own loud breathing. Still, my body was tense as I pushed open the door and stepped outside, moving as cautiously and as quietly as possible.
I lingered just outside the doorway, scanning my surroundings. The moon had been hidden behind clouds, but the torches on the castle wall kept me from being completely blinded by darkness. I could see warriors standing guard on top of the wall in the distance, though they showed no signs of any alarm. My gaze flitted to a row of bushes a few feet away. The clouds rolled past and the moon revealed itself once more. That was when I saw her.
Even in the dark, I recognized Alannah’s shadowed form. She was hidden among the bushes, pressed up against the wall, but the darkness wasn’t cloaking her any longer. I shifted into my wolf form at once. Teeth bared, I took off to the bushes, lunging at her just as she shifted into her own hawk form.
I silently cursed as she flapped her wings and darted out of my reach. Barreling through the bushes, I leapt up at her, but my teeth snapped at nothing but air. A growl ripped from my throat as I landed back on all fours. She swooped down at me, striking out with her talons and attempting to blind me by flapping her broad wings at my face, but I darted out of her reach. I let out a bark, hoping to draw the attention of the guards on the wall, but in our dueling, we had moved even farther away from the servants’ entrance and the noise wasn’t loud enough.
Alannah swooped at me again, clearly intent on either running me off or killing me. I jumped again, twisting in midair. For a moment, I thought I had her by the wing, but she fought me and I came away with only a mouthful of feathers. I spat them out, shaking my head. My bite had at least done some damage. Alannah was awkwardly flapping her right wing, not quite as high in the air as she’d been moments ago. I rocked back on my haunches, preparing to leap up at her again, but a loud bang distracted us both.
Harried voices filled the air, causing Alannah to give a frustrated shriek before taking off into the sky out of my reach. I curled my lips back and snarled, anger and frustration filling me as I watched her disappear into the star-filled sky. I shifted back into my human form, cursing under my breath the moment speech was once again granted to me. Not only had she gotten away, I didn’t know what in the blazes she’d even been here for. But the sheer fact that she had evaded all of Clogwyn’s defenses spelled trouble.
“Bran!”
I whirled around at Seren’s voice to see three figures scrambling through the bushes toward me. Seren was in the lead with Emer and Lewella flanking her, all three of them breathing hard as they skidded to a stop in front of me. Seren’s eyes widened as she focused on the few feathers still stuck to my clothing.
“She was here?” Seren asked, pressing her lips into a thin line.
I nodded. I didn’t need to tell her more. She was well acquainted with Alannah after our escape from Ogof.
“What happened?” Lewella asked, her brow furrowing as she looked between the two of us.
“Lorcan’s shifter was here,” I answered. “I don’t know what she was after, but she got inside the castle walls without anyone knowing.”
Lewella let out a curse, both she and Emer tensing at my news.
“She’s gone now?” Emer asked.
“Unfortunately.” I grimaced. “She takes the form of a hawk. She’s not an easy foe to contain.”
“Drystan will need to know about this,” Lewella said. “And the guards will need to be on high alert.” She paused, her gaze flicking to me. “Drystan will need a full report in the morning.”
“I will give it,” I replied.
“We’ll see to alerting him and the guards,” Lewella said with a slight nod.
Seren and I thanked them and she came to stand beside me while Lewella and Emer strode off into the castle.
“You’re unharmed?” Seren gently took hold of my arm, scanning my body.
“Yes,” I replied. “How did you know she was here?”
“The Wolf Spirit. It came to me in a vision. I got to Lewella and Emer as soon as I could. Did she give any indication as to why she was here?”
I shook my head. “She was skulking outside the door here, I assume to try and get inside. But I don’t know what her end game was.”
“I don’t like any of this.” She let out a long, low breath. “Fianna never had one of her kind at its disposal during the Purge. Not that I’m aware of, at least. I only recall reports of wolf shifters, nothing else. It’s far easier for a bird to slip in unnoticed than a wolf.”
“I’ve warned Drystan that he and Cadfael need to strengthen their defenses, including here at the castle, but I can’t say they’ve heeded that advice.”
“Maybe this will get them to listen.” She glanced up at the sky before releasing a shaky breath.
“We can only hope.” I slipped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her to me and lightly kissing her head. “Are you still up for company tonight?”
“I will never not be up for your company,” she replied, leaning up and brushing a soft kiss over my lips. “Especially not on a night like this one.”
I took her hand in mine and the two of us pushed our way back through the bushes before re-entering the castle. As we walked back toward the main staircase, I couldn’t rid myself of my unease. It was extremely concerning that Alannah had gotten inside the keep so easily. I didn’t want to think what all could have happened if the Wolf Spirit hadn’t warned us. If this wouldn’t make Cadfael take the threat of Fianna and its darkness seriously, I didn’t know what would.
Chapter 10
Reckless Danger
Bran
Neither Seren nor I slept well that night, both of us on edge after Alannah’s appearance. The following morning, Emer came to Seren’s chambers while the two of us were readying for the day, informing me that Drystan had sent for me. My chest was tight as I closed the door behind Emer and I rolled my shoulders, trying to relieve some of the tension in my body as I walked back into Seren’s bedchamber.
She was finishing braiding her hair, Cryfder and Awyr lying at her feet. A few days ago, I had taken to keeping a stash of fresh clothing in her room and like her, I was already dressed for the day. I’d tried my best not to be bothered by it, but it was hard not to notice just how worn and threadbare my clothing was compared to hers. I knew the way the rest of the castle judged such things; her the Ri’s daughter and me, the worthless and dangerous son of a stablehand with no clear place within these walls.
