Glissanda Read online

  “Not ready for what?” Tui’s voice. He and Leif have seemingly appeared out of nowhere right behind me. Leif places a larger piece of wood on the fire and settles himself next to me. Tui sits on the log next to Catriona. He places a large hand on her shoulder, attempts to smooth down his disheveled hair with the other.

  Catriona looks at me with pleading eyes.

  I won’t give her away. This is something she needs to take up with Tui directly. I flash a big smile at Tui. “Girl stuff,” I say.

  His brows go up and his face turns a little red. “Never mind then,” he chokes out.

  Catriona mouths me a silent thank you, and I wink at her in return.

  This is not the end of our conversation, though. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let her break my best friend’s heart. I know for a fact that Tui is utterly in love with her: he told me as much. I’m sure she adores him, but clearly, she doesn’t feel quite the same about him. Maybe she would be a more efficient tracker on her own. But I won’t let her do that to Tui.

  All that night, I dream of Baldachin. I am standing on the center platform, where so many feasts and jubilees and full-moon parties have been held. Everybody I love is there. There is laughter and music and joy. It all seems perfect, until the flames appear, licking up the tree trunks. Everybody is screaming. We can’t escape—there are too many flames. The ladders have burned and we can’t get down. I cling to my mum, my papa, Miss Lilith, but one by one they disappear into flame. Then the only one that’s left is me, and the flames are getting closer …

  I wake, gasping for air and dripping with sweat.

  “Raven, what is it? Are you okay?” Leif is wiping my forehead with his hand.

  I sit up, throwing the wool blanket off. I’m so hot I can’t stand it: my shirt is soaking through. The cool night air is a relief. “I dreamed about Baldachin … burning. My family was there. It was terrible.”

  Leif is smoothing down my hair, damp with sweat. “I wish I could say it was just a dream, but obviously it’s not.”

  “No, it’s real. Too real. My family was there, they must have seen it—being destroyed.”

  “They must have gotten away, somehow.”

  “I think so. I wish I knew where though …”

  “We’ll find something out in Greenhollow. I’m certain of it.”

  Now that I’m cooled off, but still damp, I start to shiver. Uncontrollably.

  “Lay down, Raven. Let me warm you.” Leif holds the blanket up and I accept his offer, burying myself in the crook of his arm. He tucks the blanket snugly around us.

  Eventually the shivering subsides, and with Leif’s breath against the back of my neck, I fall into a light, dreamless sleep.

  Although it’s mid-morning when we depart our camp, to ride the final few hours to Greenhollow, I can’t shake the groggy feeling from my night of poor sleep. Then I think about the last time I was there, when we’d stopped by the Willows’ bakery. Mrs. Willow was warm enough, but she’d hurried me on my way before Mr. Willow knew I was there, telling me he wasn’t one of my supporters.

  A spike of nerves causes my heart to thump in my chest. I wonder how many are like him in Greenhollow now. I suppose I’ll know soon enough …

  When we arrive at the tidy town nestled in a green valley, I slow as we pass the Willows’ shop. It’s only early afternoon, but the curtains are drawn and the “CLOSED” sign is hanging on the front door.

  I keep riding.

  My friends don’t urge me to stop, and we continue on to the Hollyhock Inn, at the other end of town. We tie the horses to the posts out front, and go inside.

  Catriona rings the small bell sitting atop the vacant counter. We wait. My nervousness grows by the second. I look around the small front room: it’s the same as I remember it from all the times I’ve stayed here with Papa, and the last time with Tui. There are several old wooden tables and chairs; a large stone fireplace, clean and swept, with a fresh pile of wood ready for the evening chill; a pair of worn upholstered chairs set before it. For a moment, it’s as if nothing’s changed at all. But the voice that comes booming down the stairs makes it clear that everything has.

  “You shouldn’t be here.” Mr. Murphy stomps down the last steps, taking his place behind the tall wooden counter.

  “Wh—why not?” I ask him. Out of the corner of my eye, I spot Mrs. Murphy peering out of the doorway to the back kitchen.

  The man sighs. “Too many idiots in this town. I’m not one of them, mind you,” he adds hastily. I know he’s referring to Loyalists, those in support of the Prince’s right to the throne. He pauses to light his ever-present cigar, puffing at it until the end glows red, then blows a small cloud of smoke up toward the ceiling. “But it’s up to you—you all are welcome to stay. If you dare.”

  I look at Tui, Catriona, Leif. I swear the three of them shrug in unison. Clearly they are leaving the decision up to me.

  I direct my question back to Mr. Murphy. “How many are there here? Loyalists?”

  He takes another puff of his cigar before answering. “Who can say? Except too many. But there was hardly a one, not long ago—they’d all left.”

  My heart begins hammering again and my mouth has filled with chalk. My voice is hoarse when I ask him my next question. “Where did they go?”

  Mr. Murphy takes the cigar from his mouth, leans toward me, answers slowly. “They left a few weeks ago to burn Baldachin, Raven. They’re the bastards who’ve destroyed your home.”

  Chapter 2

  I’m speechless for a full minute. My heart continues to thud in my chest, but it’s not from fear any longer; now it’s from rage.

  The room has faded from my vision. All I see is red. I sense Leif and Tui stepping up next to me, poised as if to catch me should I fall down.

  But I’ve never felt more steady.

  I slam my hands down on the counter and lean in toward Mr. Murphy. A bit of ash from his smoldering cigar falls to the wood surface.

  “What did you say?”

  He shrugs, palms up. “I’m sorry. I tried to convince them not to, a lot of us did. But they were determined.”

  “Did King Araroa order them to do this?”

  He nods his head. “As far as I know, he did. And those loyal to him were eager to follow through. Idiots.”

  I take a deep, calming breath, then grit my teeth so I don’t say something I’ll regret later. “Where are they now? These Loyalists?”

  Mr. Murphy shrugs. “Don’t know. Most of them didn’t come back.”

  “But some of them did?”

  He nods, nervously taking a puff from the cigar, then taps a bit of ash into a small pewter bowl.

  “Who? Tell me.” I lean even closer to him. I can tell he wants to look away, but I’ve got his eyes locked to mine.

  “The only one you know well is Mr. Willow, the baker’s husband—wait, where are you going?”

  But I’m already halfway to the door by the time his question reaches my ears.

  I don’t even bother to untie Pearl. I storm down the middle of the street on foot, toward the Willows’ bakery.

  I can hear three sets of footsteps behind me, but none of their owners dares beg me to stop.

  A few minutes later, I’m pounding on the bakery door. “Willow! Open up! It’s Raven Araroa!” And then before I can stop myself, I add: “I command you to open this door and answer me!”

  I listen. There’s rustling inside—they are definitely home. Mrs. Willow’s face peers around the curtain. But the door does not open.

  “Mrs. Willow, open the door!” Her face bears an anxious grimace; it disappears, and I hear her fiddling with the lock. The door opens only a crack.

  “Raven, dear, you should leave. You should leave Greenhollow at once. This town is no longer safe—”

  “Who’s there?” Mr. Willow’s voice booms behind her, and a look of terror crosses her face. Then she’s pushed aside.

  The man flings the door wide open and steps closer unti
l he towers over me.

  “Where’s my family?” I spit up at him. I pull Fortissima a quarter of the way from her sheath. The afternoon sun reflects off her ornate blade, scattering rays all around us.

  His eyes glance down at my sword. “Well, well. I’m surprised to see you’ve returned,” he sneers. He looks back up at me with one corner of his mouth pulls up, in a sort of forced grin.

  I ignore all that. “Where are they?” I ask again. “I know you were involved—with destroying the homes of innocents. Where did everyone go?”

  He shakes his head. “They are anything but innocent. Quite the opposite, they’re guilty of treason to our King for having harbored you illegally all these years. And they will be punished.”

  “Where—are—they?” I take a step closer to him. He won’t intimidate me.

  He hesitates before answering, his eyes narrowing. “They are with my fellow Loyalists. I’m sure they are being … taken care of.” He takes a step back, starts to close the door.

  I block it with my boot.

  “Where?”

  He sighs, resigning to himself that he’s not going to be rid of me so easily. “Most of your lot got away and I don’t know where they went. The others are with my comrades. I expect they’ll be presenting your people to King Araroa within the week … to be punished severely.”

  “My family is innocent. And everyone else who lived in Baldachin, especially so. They must be released.”

  He shakes his head. “None of that is for me to decide. Now if you’ll excuse me …” He pushes the door again, against my foot. This time I remove it. There’s no need to draw this out; clearly he’s not going to be of any help to me.

  He shuts the door in my face and I hear the lock click.

  I can’t move for a long moment as I process what I’ve just learned: everyone has been separated. I don’t know who the Loyalists have captured and who’s gotten away. I don’t know where anyone is.

  I slide Fortissima back into her sheath and step away from the door. I turn and Leif is there, catching me as—this time—I stumble.

  Leif keeps his arm tightly around me as we walk back to the inn. While Catriona and Tui stable the horses, Leif and I carry the bags up to our rooms.

  I unstrap the leather swordbelt that the Nuimanians made and Sufa gifted to me before I departed to return to Nadir, and lean Fortissima against the wall in a corner of our room. As I sink down into a soft upholstered chair, Leif peers outside, then he closes the curtains. He lays back onto the bed, his arms behind his head, then kicks off his boots. I startle as they clomp onto the floor.

  “Now what?” I say with a sigh.

  Leif smiles over at me. “Excellent question.”

  There’s a knock and I jump up. But Leif beats me to the door.

  “Who is it?” he asks.

  “Just us.” Tui’s voice.

  Leif unlocks, then opens the door. Catriona enters, followed by Tui bearing a tray with tea and sandwiches; he sets it down on the small table between the chairs. Leif shuts the door behind them and locks it again.

  “You’ve been busy in the kitchen, Tui,” I tease.

  “Ha ha. Mrs. Murphy prepared this while we were down talking with Willow.” He stuffs what’s nearly an entire tea sandwich into his mouth. Still chewing, he says, “Good thing too, ‘cause I’m starving.”

  I have to admit I am too, and take one of the sandwiches for myself. The four of us inhale the rest within minutes.

  We sit back with our tea. Not that we’re at all relaxed—the air in the room is heavy with unspoken words. Catriona’s sitting in the chair next to mine and Tui’s on the floor, his back leaning against the bed. The room’s not large; he’s stretched his legs out and is rubbing one of Catriona’s feet with his own. She pulls her legs up and tucks them underneath her so he can’t reach. I pretend not to notice.

  I take the opportunity to distract them by getting on with the topic at hand. “What do you think, Catriona? Where do we start looking?”

  “I haven’t changed my mind. I think you three need to make your way back to the Treasoners, and I need to scout out where the Baldachin people are.”

  I look at Tui, hating to have to say what I know I must. “I think we need to let her go.”

  He shakes his head. “I don’t like this. It’s a terrible idea. Catriona, I can’t stomach the thought of you out there on your own. Especially looking for the very people—Loyalists—who’d be happy to kill any of us. Or worse.”

  I watch Leif still reclining on the bed: he’s studying a hangnail on his thumb. No help.

  “I’m sorry, Tui, but I think she’s right,” I say with what I hope is a placating tone. “She’ll be much faster on her own, and be able to travel in stealth. She’ll find everyone quickly and bring them to meet up with us. Or, at least she’ll bring us … news.”

  Tui’s mouth is a straight line, but he doesn’t argue. I can tell he’s crushed, though. I know the last thing in the world he wants is for her to be out of his sight again. But I know she is skilled and will be fine on her own.

  He looks at Catriona. “You have three weeks. If you’re not back at the camp—with or without the Baldachin folks—I’m coming to find you.”

  A small smile forms on her lips, and she nods her head. “Deal. I’ll be there. With everyone else too.”

  Tui stands and offers his hand to her. She takes it, uncurling herself from the chair, and he leads her toward the door. They unlock it and go into the hallway. Tui’s head appears once more before he shuts it behind them. “See yas in the morning,” he says with a wink, and the door closes.

  The room has grown dim; through a crack between the curtains, I can see the sky outside is nearly dark. Leif moves closer to the wall and pats the bed in invitation.

  I kick off my boots and peel off my leather jacket, draping it on the arm of the chair. I cross the room in two strides and throw myself on the bed next to him.

  He grabs my head with both hands and kisses me urgently on the mouth. Even after all this time, the sensation and the taste and the warmth of his lips make me melt into a puddle. I grasp at him, untucking his shirt from his breeches. I reach my hand underneath, touching his bare chest, warm and hard. His own hand caresses my bare stomach, leaving tingles in its wake as he ever so slowly slides it upward.

  He rolls over so he’s on top of me and brushes his mouth across my jaw, leaving featherlight kisses. Both our shirts have made their way up; my skin feels like it’s on fire where our stomachs are pressed together. I reach up and bite his neck, gently. He moans and I feel him press against me, harder. The fire spreads down, down into my thighs …

  Leif groans, and rolls back toward the wall. He runs a hand through his hair in clear agitation. “This is no good.”

  “What do you mean? This is amazing. We haven’t slept in a real bed for weeks.” But I know exactly what he means, and that’s not it.

  He props his head up with one hand and reaches over to stroke my cheek with the other. “I sure hope Catriona finds everyone, and soon. We’ve got a wedding to plan …” His eyes close and his mouth curls up in a naughty grin. It’s clear he’s thinking about after our wedding.

  Then what he’s just said fully registers. I sit up straight. “How can you possibly say that? The very last reason I want her to find my family, Tui’s family, and her own is so we can … truly sleep together.” Leif had told me he’d wanted to wait until we were married, that he didn’t want to dishonor a Woman King, and I agreed, but now I can’t help wondering if that’s the main reason he’s so eager for our big day ... although I must admit I’m looking forward to all of it just as much. But that’s certainly not my motivation for wanting to find my family, and quickly.

  His face turns serious. “I’m sorry, I really am. You’re absolutely right. This is no joke.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  He reaches over and grasps onto my hand with his. “I’m just glad it’s not you who’s leaving. I’d never allow it.
Not again.” His face is so sincere, my irritation fades as suddenly as it flared up. “Besides, I’d marry you, my raven Woman King, anywhere, anytime, either alone or with a crowd of thousands watching.” He pulls my hand to his mouth and places a gentle kiss atop it.

  “I do have to admit I’m looking forward to our wedding too … and after,” I tell him as I lay down. Now that the flames have died down a little, I curl up snugly against him, my head tucked under his chin. I can feel a smile spread across his face again.

  I tilt my head to look up at him, reaching up to stroke some strands of his hair, silver in the twilight. “We don’t have to … wait you know.”

  Just then, there’s some unmistakable sounds coming from the room next door, and I desperately wish Mr. Murphy had given Catriona and Tui a room farther down the hall.

  Leif laughs, then shakes his head. “No, I want to. I mean, I don’t—but I do. You’re a Woman King and I want it to be perfect. For both of us. You deserve nothing less.” A corner of his mouth curls up, and he presses a hand to my cheek, softly.

  I can’t help a small smile forming on my lips as I watch his emerald eyes glint, even in the dim light. My stomach does a slow flip as I imagine, for a moment, what it will be like when Leif is really and truly mine.

  I wake to the sound of glass crashing into the room. With a lightening reflex, Leif jumps on top of me, protecting me with his body from the flying shards. When it’s quiet, he slowly sits up, bits of glass falling down from his back to the floor.

  “Are you okay?” He plucks a piece from my hair.

  “I—I think so. Are you?” It’s still dark, but I can see a bead of blood running down the side of his face. “You’re hurt!” I sit up, pushing him off me, and dabbing the blood with the edge of my shirt.

  “I’m fine, it’s just a scratch—” Something flies through the balcony window, something on fire.

  The room lights up with a flash and we both jump up, grabbing for our boots at the same time. The flame has caught the curtains and the room fills with orange light.