Chapter no 21

One Dark Window (The Shepherd King, 1)

A man is not measured by magic alone. His

scruples must extend beyond infection, beyond Providence Cards. Rather, how he wields

magic shall determine his character. Does he keep our words? Does he bear his seal with loyal intent? Or is his heart overgrown as the depths of the woodโ€”full of darkness and

thorns?

A man is not measured by magic alone.

 

Ione looped her arm in mine as we stepped into the midday light, trailing behind Ravyn and Elm on our way to the yard. โ€œDid you hear?โ€ she said. โ€œA group of highwaymen attacked Hauth on the road last night.โ€

I tried not to squirm. โ€œHow would I have heard that, Ione?โ€ โ€œI assumed your new suitor told you.โ€

There it was againโ€”the edge in her lullaby-soft voice. โ€œWhatโ€™s the matter, Ione?โ€

She bit the inside of her cheek and did not look at me. โ€œNothing. I was simply surprised when Father told me Morette Yew had made a match between you and her son, and that youโ€™d been invited here to court him.โ€ A low laugh rumbled in her chest. โ€œI hardly believed it.โ€

โ€œNo more than I was surprised to hear you were betrothed to Hauth Rowan.โ€

โ€œDark horses, the pair of us,โ€ she said, the midday light casting a glow along the apples of her cheeks. โ€œBe careful, Elspeth. Donโ€™t let yourself be swayed by a handsome face. There is so much you donโ€™t know about the

world. About powerful men. I worry for you. Truly, I do.โ€ But she didnโ€™t sound worried. She sounded cold.

I slipped my arm out of her grasp. โ€œYou neednโ€™t bother,โ€ I said. โ€œI can handle myself.โ€

Darkness plumed ahead. We stepped through the broad gate into the yard. There, ten men-at-arms waited, their Black Horses darkening the sky, their tunics bearing no insignia.

Destriers.

My cousin pressed a finger into her bottom lip. โ€œSpeaking of powerful men, Hauth was furious when the highwaymen got away last night.โ€ A smile I was unfamiliar with crossed her lips. Almost wicked. โ€œHe was injured quite grotesquely by the cutpurses, you know.โ€

My eyes shot to the High Prince. โ€œHow terrible.โ€

Hauth Rowan stood with the other Destriers, his Scythe and Black Horse Cards in his pocket. Four lines of scabbing red flesh trailed down his neck, disappearing just below the collar of his tunic. It looked as if a giant cat had swiped at him, the claw marks distinct.

But it hadnโ€™t been a cat. Not by a long shot.

I stared at the High Princeโ€™s neck. Did Iโ€ฆ did I really do that?

The Nightmareโ€™s laughter filled my head, echoing eerily in the cavernous black. If you have to ask, youโ€™re not ready to know.

Ravyn and Elm waited at the lip of the yard. Ione and I came up next to them. Ravyn said nothing, keeping his eyes on the Destriers. But he lowered his hand to his side, his knuckles dragging against mine, answering my unspoken question. โ€œI called them,โ€ he said.

I looked up. โ€œOh?โ€

โ€œWe train here when weโ€™re away from Stone. Clearly, weโ€™re in need of training. It seems four of my men, including the High Prince, defied my orders and, instead of returning to town, prolonged their stay at Stone. They were ambushed in the Black Forest.โ€ His lips curled. โ€œHauth is ratherโ€ฆ unnerved.โ€

โ€œAs he should be,โ€ Elm said, picking dirt from beneath his fingernails. โ€œLooks like something took a piece out of him in the wood last night.โ€

Hauth crossed the yard to us. With him came Royce Linden, a broad, muscular Destrier with cropped brown hair and a stern brow bone. Iโ€™d seem them together many times, Hauth and Linden, alike in their severity and

loud, crude voices.

Hauthโ€™s green eyes jumped between Ravyn and Elm. โ€œWhereโ€™s Jespyr?โ€

Ravyn tilted his head, smooth as stone. โ€œSick in bed,โ€ he said. โ€œI gave her the morning off.โ€

โ€œGet her up,โ€ Hauth demanded. โ€œWe need everyone here.โ€ Ravyn did not move. โ€œWeโ€™re fine as we are.โ€

Ione peered over my shoulder, drawn by the tension between the Captain of the Destriers and her future husband. When her gaze landed on Hauth, I thought I caught a glimpse of something in her narrowed hazel eyesโ€” something more than coldness.

Something that looked a great deal like hatred.

But a moment later, it was gone, her eyes the shape of waning moons, eclipsed by her dark, full lashes.

Hauth barely glanced at her, his eyes lowering to me.

โ€œDarling,โ€ Ione said, her voice swelling like music. โ€œYou remember my cousin Elspeth. Sheโ€™s visiting the Yews.โ€

My heart drummed in my ears. I slid my swollen wrist into my cloak and fixed my face with a vague, demure expression. I had worn a mask. Still, there was keenness behind the Princeโ€™s green eyesโ€”sharp, violent, intelligent.

When Hauth spoke, his voice was distant, coldโ€”so different from his Equinox charm. โ€œWe met at Stone.โ€ He glanced at Ravyn. โ€œIโ€™ve heard sheโ€™s the reason youโ€™ve been so difficult to find of late.โ€

Ravynโ€™s composure was unflinching. โ€œI donโ€™t owe you a reason, cousin.โ€

The muscles beneath Hauthโ€™s scabs flexed. โ€œYou heard whatโ€™s happened?โ€

โ€œThat four Destriers and a handful of men couldnโ€™t withstand a pack of ruddy highwaymen?โ€ Elm winked. โ€œI wouldnโ€™t broadcast that too loudly, brother. Doesnโ€™t exactly look Princely.โ€

โ€œIt was an ambush,โ€ Hauth snapped. โ€œWayland Pine and Erik Spindle were traveling from Stone. We happened upon them on our way to town. It was them the highwaymen were after. Three men were injured and Pineโ€™s Iron Gate stolen.โ€ He ran a hand up the cuts on his jaw. โ€œOne of them did this to me,โ€ he said.

Hauthโ€™s jaw was lined with stubble, the skin too raw to shave. I traced

the injury, the memory of him catching my arm, my scream, the Nightmareโ€™s fury flashing across my mind.

He had felt my wristโ€”heard the cry of my voice. Strange, that he did not tell them it was a woman who had attacked him.

The Nightmareโ€™s laugh was like a match struck in the dark, nearly making me jump. Pride, he said. A foolโ€™s pride at that.

Ravyn and Elm stared at Hauthโ€™s injury. โ€œGet a look at who did it?โ€ Elm said.

โ€œI caught him in the wood,โ€ Hauth said. โ€œThe rest were gone, but he was lost, stupid bastard.โ€ He puffed his chest. โ€œI broke his wrist.โ€

The air turned hot in my lungs, the Nightmareโ€™s hate melding with mine.

Next to me, Ravyn and Elm had gone still. The only one who moved was Ione. Her head turned a fraction, her hazel eyes leaving her betrothed, falling to my sleeve, just above my broken wrist.

I did nothing. I didnโ€™t even breathe. โ€œDid you arrest him?โ€ Ravyn asked, his voice laden with frost.

โ€œNo,โ€ Hauth said. โ€œHe must have had blades in his gloves because the next minute he was slashing my face.โ€

Elm toyed with his Scythe Card, flipping it between his fingers. โ€œIโ€™m surprised you let someone get the best of you. And ruin your pretty face, at that.โ€

Ione covered her mouth, but not before I caught the edge of a smile dancing along her lips. Elm noticed, too, and his own smiled widened.

Hauthโ€™s neck reddened. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms. โ€œIโ€™ll have my fun when we catch them and string them up in the square. The highwayman meets the hangman. If they meet him in pieces, so be it.โ€

The Destriers muttered their agreement. Ravyn watched them, his face unreadable but for a flex of muscle along his jaw. For the first time, I considered Ravyn Yew more than disliked pretending to uphold the Kingโ€™s laws as Captain of the Destriers.

He loathed it.

โ€œLetโ€™s begin the training,โ€ Ravyn said, brushing past Hauth into the yard. โ€œHow about you and I demonstrate how best to thwart a highwayman, cousin?โ€ he called. โ€œUnless youโ€™re worried Iโ€™ll mark up more of that pretty face.โ€

Hauth hesitated. โ€œLinden will demonstrate.โ€

Lindenโ€™s nostrils flared. โ€œIโ€™m not sparring him.โ€ He lowered his voice. โ€œInfected bastard.โ€

Elmโ€™s hand closed in a fist around his Scythe. โ€œWhat did you say?โ€ Linden stepped back, his eyes lowering to the red Card in Elmโ€™s hand.

โ€œNothing.โ€

Hot air shot out Elmโ€™s nose. He crossed his arms over his chest, his gaze turning to his brother. โ€œYouโ€™re not scared to spar him, are you?โ€

Corralled once more by his own pride, Hauth gritted his teeth, shot his younger brother a murderous glance, and tromped into the yard after Ravyn. The Destriers circled their Captain and the High Prince. I stood between Elm and Ione, my wrist burning and my muscles tight. Members of the Yew

household gathered, drawn by the Kingโ€™s men and the promise of violence. โ€œRemember,โ€ Ravyn called to the Destriers, โ€œa highwayman does not

bear the law in mind. Heโ€”or sheโ€”may even carry the infection. You cannot be too careful.โ€ He eyed me briefly over his cousinโ€™s shoulder. โ€œHighwaymen can be far more formidable than the mask shows.โ€

โ€œGet on with it,โ€ Elm called.

Hauthโ€™s Black Horse darkened the yard. He tapped it three times, then placed it back in his pocket. The Scythe he did not touch. Ravynโ€™s mouth twisted into a knowing grin. โ€œFocus on his hands,โ€ he called. โ€œA highwayman may have a knife at your throat with one hand, but you can be sure heโ€™s picking your pocket with the other.โ€

He slapped Hauthโ€™s hand. Elm snickered under his breath. Before Hauth could skirt away, Ravyn landed another slap across his face, splitting one of his scabs.

โ€œUse your Black Horse well,โ€ Hauth instructed the Destriers, wiping the blood from his scabs onto his sleeve. โ€œSpeed and accuracy are your greatest attack.โ€

The High Prince moved with unearthly quickness, jolting across the yard, striking Ravyn in the stomach with his fist.

โ€œI thought most Providence Cards could not be used against Ravyn,โ€ I whispered to Elm.

โ€œHauth can still use the Black Horse to enhance his own speed,โ€ Elm said under his breath. โ€œBut see how he doesnโ€™t touch his Scythe? He knows it wonโ€™t work on Ravyn.โ€

โ€œHighwaymen are most lethal in packs, like wolves,โ€ Ravyn called to

the Destriers. โ€œSeparate them and theyโ€™re nothing more than rabid dogs that stalk the forest road.โ€ He closed his eyes, and this time, when Hauth moved with unearthly speed, he reached out and caught his cousinโ€™s cloak, slamming the High Prince onto cold dirt.

Hauth rolled before Ravynโ€™s boot could collide with his shoulder. A moment later he was on his feet, a snarl on his lips.

โ€œWhat did he look like?โ€ Ravyn asked, thwarting a brutal jab. โ€œThe man who tore up your face.โ€

โ€œCouldnโ€™t tell, could I?โ€ Hauth said, blocking Ravynโ€™s slap. โ€œHe wore a mask.โ€

โ€œAnonymity,โ€ Ravyn called to the Destriers, landing hits along Hauthโ€™s ear. โ€œAnonymity is the highwaymanโ€™s greatest advantage. Tear it away, and youโ€™ve already killed him.โ€

โ€œOr her,โ€ Ione whispered, her voice so quiet I might have imagined it.

Hauth took a dagger from his belt. Ravyn narrowed his eyes and bent his knees, moving in rotation with the High Princeโ€™s steps. He stepped on light feet, as if walking on glass, and when Hauth slashed his dagger, Ravyn dodged it.

They moved about the yard in a river of steps, dodges, and clashes. โ€œStop playing around,โ€ Elm heckled from the sideline. โ€œWe came to see

a proper thrashing.โ€

Hauth spat blood and toppled over in a failed attempt to clip Ravynโ€™s legs. Next to me, neither Ione nor Elm bothered to hide their smiles as they watched the Captain of the Destriers make a spectacle of the High Prince.

When Hauth missed another jab, he swore, the veins in his neck bulging. โ€œYou broke a wrist,โ€ Ravyn said to his cousin. โ€œYou should at least be

able to make me bleed.โ€

Hauth launched the dagger through the air, clipping Ravynโ€™s jerkin just shy of the collar. I flinched, searching Ravynโ€™s tunic for blood. But the Captain of the Destriers pivoted, his foot loud as it landed on Hauthโ€™s ribs and sent the heir to the throne back into the dirt.

Then Ravyn stomped, full force, on the High Princeโ€™s hand.

A sickening snap echoed through the yard, followed by Hauthโ€™s brutal scream. I flinched and looked away. Elm leaned in with wide eyes. The Nightmare hissed with gratification.

Ione merely laughed.

It took three Destriers to peel Ravyn away from the High Prince. โ€œGet off me,โ€ Ravyn barked, pushing his way out of the yard, his smooth control cracked by anger. โ€œTraining concluded.โ€

I watched the Destriers escort the High Prince out of the yard. Hauth swore mercilessly, cradling his bloody hand as he and the Destriers disappeared into the castle under a plume of darkness.

โ€œHeโ€™ll live,โ€ Ione said, her voice flat. She turned her heel and sauntered out of the yard, her long yellow hair catching the fading light.

My heartbeat did not slow until the yard was quiet once more. Only Elm and I remained. โ€œWhat just happened?โ€

The Prince shrugged, his green eyes lingering on Ioneโ€™s shape in the distance. โ€œHauth broke your wrist, Ravyn mangled his hand. Balance.โ€

 

 

I searched for Ione, but I heard the low rumbles of Hauthโ€™s voice coming from her room and quickly steered myself in the opposite direction. Her gaze along my arm in the yard had shaken me. And though she had no way of knowing what had happened in the wood last night, wariness dogged me. There was so much I did not understand about this new version of Ione.

And it frightened me, not trusting the person, nigh a fortnight ago, I had known best in the world.

Ravyn and Jespyr and Elm took dinner with the other Destriers. It was just me and Fenir and Morette seated at the long, crooked tree of a dinner table. When they decided to turn in early, I did not complain.

I walked the long corridor back to my room, humming one of the Nightmareโ€™s tunes to myself. The Cards. The mist. The blood, he called in the dark. Youโ€™re getting closer. Can you smell the salt?

Footsteps sounded up ahead, followed by low voices. I would have gone into my room, anxious not to be caught eavesdropping, if I hadnโ€™t heard one of the voices say my name.

Elmโ€™s words were half whispered, half hissed. โ€œWe have no idea what happened in the wood,โ€ he said. โ€œSpindleโ€”her abilitiesโ€”โ€

โ€œAre incredible. She saved your life. I think sheโ€™s earned a reprieve from

your usual hostility, donโ€™t you?โ€

โ€œIโ€™m not saying Iโ€™m not grateful to live another day at the edge of a sword, Ravyn. Only that we should be careful. Hauth looked like heโ€™d been attacked by an animal, not a woman. There is too much we donโ€™t know about her.โ€ Elm paused a moment. โ€œYour Nightmare Card could help with that.โ€

I felt myself go cold.

Ravynโ€™s voice was rough. โ€œNo. Iโ€™m not going to do that.โ€

โ€œYou donโ€™t have a problem using it on the rest of us. Why not her?โ€ โ€œThe rest of you have consented. She hasnโ€™t.โ€

โ€œAnd you donโ€™t think maybe thatโ€™s because she has something to hide?โ€ โ€œSheโ€™s had things to hide most of her life.โ€ Ravynโ€™s voice cut. โ€œCanโ€™t

you see that?โ€

โ€œNot as well as you, it seems.โ€ โ€œWhat does that mean?โ€

โ€œNothing,โ€ Elm said. โ€œBut we canโ€™t afford to make mistakes, not when weโ€™re this close. Breaking Hauthโ€™s handโ€”enjoyable as that was for meโ€” was reckless.โ€

Ravyn was quiet a moment. โ€œI know.โ€

โ€œYou shouldnโ€™t let your guard down, Ravyn. Especially not for her.โ€ โ€œDuly noted,โ€ the Captain said, frost in the low notes of his voice.

โ€œGood night, cousin.โ€

Footsteps sounded. I fumbled at my latch, making far too much noise. Iโ€™d hardly stepped into my room and shut the door behind me when three sharp knocks rattled against the wood.

The Nightmare sighed. You do make it hard for yourself, my dear. โ€œWho is it?โ€ I called, my voice pitching, too high and breathless. โ€œRavyn.โ€

When I pulled the door open, the knot in my stomach constricted, the Captain of the Destriers startlingly handsome in a deep green tunic. He leaned against the doorframe, his calloused fingers drumming a static rhythm on the old wood. He regarded me, tilting his head like an inquisitive bird of prey.

โ€œI thought youโ€™d still be at dinner.โ€

โ€œNone of us were very hungry. I just got back.โ€ โ€œYes. I heard you.โ€

He didnโ€™t ask if Iโ€™d been listening to his conversation. No doubt he already knew. He heaved a heavy breath. โ€œIโ€™m sorry about today,โ€ he said. โ€œIโ€™m sure it wasnโ€™t easy, seeing Hauth after last night.โ€

The Nightmareโ€™s claws clicked across my mind.

โ€œIt wasnโ€™t about you,โ€ Ravyn said, โ€œwhen I broke his hand. I mean, it

was about youโ€”but itโ€™s more than that.โ€ โ€œOh?โ€

โ€œWeโ€™ve a remarkably hostile relationship, my cousin and I.โ€ I snorted. โ€œIโ€™ve noticed.โ€

โ€œHauth hates the infection. More than most. And he hates that his father made me Captain.โ€ Ravyn bit his lip, his posture stiffening. โ€œHeโ€™s the one who told the King about my infection. Ten years later, he did the same when Emory caught the fever.โ€

I could almost feel the strain in his shoulders. I wanted to reach out and touch his handโ€”tell him I understood, better than perhaps anyone. But I didnโ€™t.

โ€œBut that isnโ€™t why I came to see you,โ€ Ravyn said. โ€œNo?โ€

โ€œThereโ€™s something I meant to show you yesterday, only there wasnโ€™t the time,โ€ he said. โ€œBut if youโ€™re tired, it can wait.โ€

I was tired. But something stirred in my stomachโ€”something without a name that, if ignored, would gnaw at me all night. I leaned up against the opposite side of the doorframe, my brows perked. โ€œWhat is it?โ€

The corner of Ravynโ€™s lips lifted. โ€œYouโ€™ll see.โ€

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