And he saved my life by not revealing my presence. Don’t forget that, because I haven’t.”
Rink gasped. “But how’d you know? I never told no one.”
“Sometimes it is helpful to have spirits whispering in your ears. Carah told me. She was there, watching over my mother and she saw...” Emariya trailed off, not wanting to think about her mother.
Rink straightened himself up, stretching as tall as his knobby legs would allow. “Raina likes an extra handful of grain. And she hates carrots, just like me,” he said seriously. “You’ll take good care of her, right?”
“I promise,” Emariya said. “I’ll take good care of her. And don’t you worry, she and I will both see you soon.”
Exhausted, Emariya trudged back from the bluff. Remembering her earlier conversation with Jessa, she paused before lifting the flap.
Perhaps she should go check on the horses. She wanted to make sure Drea accompanied them in the morning with their regular mounts.
It wasn’t hard for her to recognize she was stalling. Even though their wedding had been several days before, it would be their first night sharing a tent as a married couple. The previous nights she had spent by her father’s bedside, unwilling to leave him.
If you can stand strong when negotiating treaties with estranged family, you can manage to face
your husband. Get in there,
she scolded herself.
Torian had a map unrolled in his hands, but he looked up as she entered. “Hello.” He kept his voice low, and the huskiness of it sent a thrill along her spine. Perhaps sharing his tent, now as his wife, would not be so bad.
Without taking his eyes from hers, he set the map aside and crossed the tent in two easy strides. It seemed only a brief moment more and then his arms surrounded her.
His head tipped low and his lips were soft yet insistent as they met hers. His hand wandered to her cheek where his thumb gently stroked her jaw. Emariya sighed, melting into him. If kissing him was this enjoyable...
Torian pulled away and with her mouth now freed, Emariya tried to stifle a yawn. Blushing, she smiled. “Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I know the last few days have been quite hard on you. But...” He paused, and took a deep breath. “I’ve missed you by my side at night. Let me put the map away, and then we can lie down.”
Emariya scanned his eyes, looking for hidden meaning.
Torian must have seen a hint of the question in her gaze because he sighed and said, “It’s fine. We can sleep. Unless, of course, you are in a hurry for...more.” His grin remained lighthearted and teasing, but she couldn’t ignore the hope in his concession.
She took a moment to search for the right words. “Torian... It’s not that I don’t want... I mean you are...we...we are married now, I know what you expect.”
His eyes hardened. “What I expect?”
“Well...yes. But also, what I want...just...” another yawn interrupted her. Embarrassment and exhaustion joined together to assault her, and tears sprung to her eyes.
Torian hugged her against him, tucking her head under his chin. “Don’t fret. You’ve just lost your father. We’ve waited this long. What’s another day?”
“Thank you,” she mumbled.
“But Emariya, it isn’t about what I expect. Nothing about us so far has been traditional. Between your brother shoving us together, and the pull of the Stones keeping us there... In this, I want...no, I
need
you to come to me willingly. Not because you think you have no choice, or because of my expectations. We deserve one, perfect night. I’ll accept no less.”
There were no words adequate to respond. She pressed firmly against him, drawing comfort in being close. When her tears were dried, she smiled up at him gratefully. “Even if our being together has never been a matter of choice, I wouldn’t change it. I love you, Torian.”
He looked away, but she saw him swallow hard and bob his head. That was enough.
She crossed the room and indicated the map. “What were you thinking as far as a route? I think our only choice is to cross here.”
“I’m not sure the ice is strong enough. Not since you melted it. It’s begun to reform since it’s been so cold, but the new ice will be thin.”
“I could—”
Torian interrupted her. “No. It drained you too much last time. Look how exhausted you still are!
Absolutely not.”
Emariya sighed, realizing it was no use trying to argue with him over it. “What if we go north a little farther then and cross there? I don’t want to go all the way up and around. We’re about four days from the Rest if we crossed here and traveled conservatively. Going around would take us weeks.”
“I don’t like it either, but I won’t put you in jeopardy.”
“So you’d leave your sister in jeopardy with my brother for another two weeks?”
Torian glared. “She could have come with your father.”
“And then neither of them would have made it. You know it as well as I do. She bravely stayed to give my father a chance to get to us. I...I can never repay her for that.”
Torian put his arms around her. “I know,” he said into her hair. “I just wish I could have you both with me, and safe.” He stood quietly, holding her for several minutes before he said, “We will go a bit north, as you suggested, and look for a place to cross. There is another spot not far that is a bit narrowed; we should be able to reach it by early tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully we can cross there.”
As they lay side by side under the heavy blankets that evening, she barely registered Torian whispering in her ear. "But please, come to me soon."
A gentle fog cloaked the bank of the fjord as they prepared to set out the next morning.
“Are you ready?” Torian asked Emariya.
“Almost,” Emariya whispered. She pulled her cloak tighter around herself to ward off the wind as she walked back onto the bluff. Over the last week she’d stood on this bluff to eternally join herself to Torian, and she’d stood on it again to bid her father goodbye. The thought of leaving it felt like leaving a part of herself behind.
The sound of Torian’s footsteps followed her onto the rocky outcropping. She stared down at the fresh mound of dirt. “I can’t stand the thought of leaving him here alone.”
“He won’t be alone, Milady,” Rink said, coming to stand beside her.
Emariya turned and looked down at the boy. She hadn’t realized he’d come with her too. “I suppose not.”
“He’ll watch over us as we build your outpost. We’ll make him proud.”
“That you will, Rink. That you will.” Emariya forced a small smile, but emotion still welled in her throat.
Do not cry for me, little Palomino. I may rest here, but I go with you. I will never be far. Just a
thought away.
Emariya gasped as her father’s voice wafted into her thoughts.
It is time. Dry your eyes and let them see you as the leader you’ve become instead of the innocent
daughter I left behind.
“I am not as strong as they think I am,” Emariya whispered.
Nor are you as weak as you believe, either. I have faith in you. Let us go together, we must hurry
home.
“Riya, it’s time.” Torian gently took her hand. “They are waiting.”
With a last look at her father’s final resting spot, she allowed her prince to lead her down the slope to where their royal army waited, mounted and ready.
In addition to the entire force of Thalmas, the men of Eltar would also be accompanying her back to Warren’s Rest. At her brother’s orders, they’d come to guard the fjord against Sheas’ advances, but now they were anxious to return to their homes and fields. A few would remain behind to assist her uncle’s men in building the outpost. They would send more to assist in the process as they were able, but for the time being, they wanted to take as many as they could with them to face her brother and retake Eltar.
“Farewell, Uncle.” Emariya gave Rees Hendel a warm smile as she clutched Raina’s reins in her hand.
“Fair skies and fast seas, Your Highness. If you need additional men, send word.”
“We can hope we won’t need them, but I will remember your offer.”
“Try not to kill my son. I know he can be...difficult...but if this peace of yours is to work, the two of you are going to need to find common ground.”
“True enough. I will try.” Emariya winked, and then allowed Torian to help her onto her horse.
Once he, too, was mounted, Torian nodded to Garith, who gave the order to ride out.
Just before she put her heels to the white filly’s flank, Emariya glanced back over her shoulder.
Afraid she might never make it back to see him again, she worked to imprint every detail upon her mind. Rink stood pressed between her uncle and Commander Plank as the fog swirled around them.
She suspected this would not be the last of her goodbyes.
After a morning of riding through the forested Borderlands, their intended crossing loomed ahead.
The narrowing section of the river meandered through the forest like a butterfly wobbling on the breeze. Ice slicked between the banks, unmarred by man—or magic. In harsh contrast to the calm river, the forest displayed the remnants of a chaotic storm. Several tall trees lay toppled, blocking their way for as far as Emariya could see.
Desperation to arrive at Warren’s Rest as soon as possible churned within her as she glared at the fallen frees. “If we don’t cross here, we’ll have to go around to the east, adding even more time to our journey. We must cross.”
“And if the ice is thick enough—without your interference—we will.” Torian’s voice remained even, but Emariya suspected his patience had worn thin.
So has mine,
Emariya thought. “It is foolish to go around when we can go across. What good are the gifts if we do not use them?”
“What good is using them if the cost is too much? Can you really blame me for wanting to keep you safe?”
“I blame you for attempting to coddle me. Go around if you want, I’m crossing.” She began to dismount, intending to go have a closer look at the ice on foot.
Torian landed on the ground before she even took a step. In an instant he towered over her, looming close while he spoke in a tone low enough for only her to hear. “If I have to tie you on that horse to go around, The Three help me I will do it if I feel I must. Quell your impatience and summon your wits, before you allow your hastiness to lead you into stupidity.”
Emariya’s jaw dropped as her eyes flashed with anger. How dare he speak to her that way!
Men do strange things when they feel helpless to protect the women they love. He already fears for
his sister, don’t make him fear for you too, my wild one.
Her father’s reasonable explanation did little to stem her annoyance, but she bit back her retort.
Torian’s eyes softened, though they remained the deep charcoal Emariya associated with his darker moods. “I am not your enemy. We’ll find a way, together.”
She nodded without a word. Torian stepped back, allowing her to pass. Side by side, they led their horses to the riverbank. “How should we test the ice for strength?”
“It looks thick. Can you ask someone, your grandmother perhaps?”
Again her father’s voice whispered in her ear.
We Warrens cannot see the future. Only you can
answer if it is safe or not.
She wondered if her father’s constant guidance would become habit. She smiled, remembering how as a child she never doubted that her father would be there for her. He often seemed distant, lost in his fog of grief, but he always had words of wisdom.
I cannot be here every
moment, but I’ll be with you often and I will never be far away.
What about mother? Have you seen her since you passed on?
Emariya mentally asked her father, though she wasn’t sure she wanted the answer. Perhaps it was best that her father remained silent.
“Father says we must find out for ourselves. He has no way of knowing or testing.”
“Then let me take the lead. If I am able to cross, you can follow. We’ll proceed one horse and rider at a time, so as to not stress the ice.”
“Let me try something first,” Emariya said.
Torian frowned. “I told you, I don’t want you to overexert yourself. That hasn’t changed.”
“I know, but at least let me probe it. I want to see if I can feel for any weaknesses. I won’t try to repair any faults I find, I swear.”
He didn’t look happy about it, but he nodded.
Handing him Raina’s reins, Emariya closed her eyes and turned her palms toward the ice. She could detect the exact moment her gift touched it. It felt solid and unforgiving, almost as if her thoughts were bumping into a wall. Once she’d found it, she reached carefully in each direction, pushing gently.
Emariya’s blue eyes opened and she gestured off to their left. “It’s a bit weaker there at the narrowest, but if we go that way we should be all right.”
When he handed her back her reins his fingers lingered, closing around hers for a brief moment.
His eyes promised to see her on the other side, and then with a quick nod he led his stallion onto the ice.
Boots crunched heavily on the snow-covered leaves and branches blanketing the ground, but Emariya didn’t turn to see who approached. She kept her eyes locked on Torian’s shrinking form.
“He doesn’t want you to use your gift.” Garith’s statement remained devoid of any judgment.
“And I won’t, unless the ice begins to crack. But I will not stand idly by and allow him to fall into the river, either. He can be as angry as he likes. Dry and angry.”
Garith laughed. “Well, let us hope it isn’t an issue. Do you want me to accompany you across?”
“Torian said we should go one at a time.” Emariya tried to keep the memory of the last time she crossed a frozen river at bay. That one had been significantly smaller. And the last time she’d stepped onto ice, she’d plunged into the frigid waters, which did nothing to allay her fears.
“I’m sure he did. You didn’t answer my question.”
Immense gratitude for Garith’s quiet and constant loyalty swelled within her. Being Torian’s bride hadn’t changed their friendship. Garith still knew her like no other. “I will manage. Help Jessa if she needs it.”