Rise of the Seven (The Frey Saga, #3)(14)

A short strangled laugh escaped him, the kind mingled with relief and disbelief. We sat in silence for a few moments, recalling Asher’s last words. The words that would release the bindings. The words that would direct his power to me. If it hadn’t been for some messed-up sense of pride on his part, I’d still be bound. Trapped in my own mind. Or dead.

“There is something you should know, Frey.”

I waited.

“Junnie saved your life. She protected you. She fought for you.”

“But?”

“We are not certain she meant to keep Asher alive long enough to unbind you.”

I nodded, forcing myself to ignore the tightness in my chest. “All right.” I took a deep breath. “But she’s still done nothing to warrant my enmity.” There was no way to prove she had intended to keep me bound now. Though it was possible. If nothing else, she might have only been trying to keep her family alive. How many of the council members who were slaughtered had been her blood?

Fannie had been responsible for many of those deaths. Junnie had saved her, and Fannie, as she escaped her bonds and regained pieces of her old self, had slipped into madness, reaping revenge on those who had trapped her. She had cut down her own family, Junnie’s family. My family. A small voice whispered that council’s resistance to Junnie was now shrunk by half, but I choked it off. Fannie was dead. Asher was dead. Junnie was all that was left.

I sighed and turned from Chevelle’s embrace to face him, handing his cloak back. “I’d like to meet with the guard in the morning.”

He stepped back, straight and dignified, and gave a curt, acquiescent nod. I felt like such an ass.





Chapter Eight


Excursion





They were scattered about the study, patiently waiting for me. It still annoyed me I was the only one who needed so much rest. Ruby’s hair was pulled back, exposing the points of her ears. Not entirely fey, but close enough.

“What news?” I asked before they had a chance to take their places at the table.

Anvil reported. “Word has already flooded the valleys. There were but a few minor protests south of Camber. No news of the reaction of the rogues.”

“We will ride out today. Silence the dissidents.” A few eyebrows rose. “Grey, Chevelle, Rhys, with me.” I glanced at Steed. “Ruby will need to lay low for at least three days. Please attend her.” I wasn’t finished, but Ruby was bloodying her lip waiting to respond. I let her.

“Three days?”

“One for word to reach the outlying camps. One for them to form a plan. One to implement it. If they do not strike by then, they will not bother. At which point, and only then, will you be allowed free rein.”

Her eyes narrowed on me and I decided to nip the rest of my fairy problems in the bud.

I turned to Grey. “Until the fourth day, she will be Steed’s charge.” He looked like I’d slapped him. “You put us all at risk last night, but none more than Ruby. Had you stepped in to protect her, she would have no power under the sign of the guard.

“When we return,” I continued, “Grey will lead a scouting mission for information on the boy. Someone will have seen him or his silver.” And I would need to find the wolves.

Mention of the assassin had brought a stillness to the room. I struggled for a way to express my thanks to this group that meant so much to me. They had brought me back from nothing, had risked their lives for this. Everything seemed inadequate, but the silence was growing too loud.

“You have done us proud.”





Grey and Rhys were mounted and waiting at the gate when I reached the stable. Chevelle stood outside, holding the reins of both horses. It seemed like people were always waiting on me. I picked up my pace.

Chevelle handed my reins over with a wry smile. “Your Steed.”

I bit my cheek and swung up into the saddle as quick as he. Side by side, I replied in a hushed tone, “I am surprised you’ve let me keep him.”

The smile dropped from his face. “Yes. Well, I considered replacing him. But, in truth, he is one of the nicest mounts in the land.” He winced at his own words and kicked his horse up to gallop.

I swallowed a giggle and joined him.

We were quiet as we made our way from the castle. When we’d cleared any foot traffic, Grey and Rhys rode ahead as sentry.

I still felt guilty about berating Grey so publicly.

Chevelle saw me watching. “You wounded his honor.”

“It was right.”

He eyed me knowingly before returning his gaze to the mountain. “I heard what Dagan said.”

I flinched. “That doesn’t mean I wasn’t wrong.”

He didn’t respond.

Leave it to Chevelle to stand up for him. It was hardly the same thing.

It was my first outing since our return from Asher’s lair. Any of the guard could have made this showing, but I’d wanted to see the mountain myself. The dark rock had been my home, these pathways my playground. I wanted to see what had changed, what had been lost. I needed to know how I would be received by the all, not just the clan leaders.

After the massacre, there had been no one in control. It had been known Asher had lived and though he had been in hiding, I supposed fear of his return had been heavy in the minds of those who might take advantage. I, as his second, would have been regent if not in a sort of hiding of my own. As it was, neither of us ruling but neither confirmed dead, the goings-on continued day by day. The staff cared for the castle, the grounds, completed their tasks as usual. It was not as if anyone wanted to lose their positions or honor, let alone their lives if Asher were to reappear.