Page 92 of Magick and Lead
And more than that, Essa had sent Clua to save her, sparing a valuable sword even as her kingdom fell around her. She could easily have written her poor sprite servant off as a loss. But she hadn’t, and Rohree would never forget that. Once they were reunited, Rohree promised herself that she’d serve Essa for the rest of her days, a vow she’d fulfill with a grateful heart.
But the reunion would also mean Rohree would have to tell Essa how she had been captured. That her trusted Torouman, Ollie, had been the betrayer. At the thought of telling that tale, a painful knot rose in Rohree’s throat.
Still, they pressed on, the trees around them and the stars above and the broad path under their feet passing in a blur until at last they were stumbling into a village. After the past two towns they’d visited and the trauma they’d experienced there, just the sight of the little farm huts made Rohree’s heart beat faster. And it only got worse when a man in armor and a cloak stepped out of the shadows of a barn to greet them with a drawn sword. Rohree crouched, ready to dart back to the safety of the forest, but Clua put a calming hand on her forearm.
“It’s okay. He’s one of ours,” she said.
As the man approached, Rohree saw the blue of his surcoat and the star insignia on it. He was a royal guard. She didn’t know his name, but she recognized his face. And he must have recognized her too, even in the dim moonlight, because he lowered his sword.
“Rohree? The queen’s sprite?”
Normally, she would have bristled at being described in that way, as Essaphine’s possession, but she was so tired and relieved that all she could do was call back, “yes!”
“The queen bade us keep a lookout for you.” The guard sheathed his blade.
“Can you take us to her?” Clua asked.
The man’s expression darkened. “I’m afraid not. She left some days ago for Admar and hasn’t returned.”
Rohree was sure she must have heard him wrong. “For Admar? Essa’s in Admar?”
“Why?” Clua asked.
“It’s not my place to explain the queen’s actions,” the guard said. “But come. I’ll take you to the others.”
They followed the guard through the sleeping village to the door of an old-fashioned longhouse.
“Rohree the Sprite and Clua of Issastar,” he announced as they entered.
A fire burned low in a broad hearth near the door. Beyond it were many long dining tables and, on the other side of the building, row upon row of beds. There came a general commotion as the sleepers rose and came to greet the new arrivals. Candles were lit, and Rohree saw a parade of welcome faces. There was Dagar, grinning his goofy grin. Lure pumping a fist in triumph. Pocha sweeping them into her usual ferocious hug. A dozen other loyalists from the palace appeared as well, but in a second Rohree’s eyes were too filled with tears for her to recognize them. And she realized that at the worst moments of her captivity, she’d been sure she would never see these dear people again.
Relief flooded her, and with it a wave of exhaustion that nearly brought her to her knees. But as much as she wanted to put her feet up before the fire and eat and drink and stretch out and sleep in one of these beds, she had to remember her mission. She unslung the bag she’d carried all the way from the tower, the one that held the witch’s letters.
“We come bearing intelligence,” Rohree started.
“But we heard Essa’s gone,” Clua said.
“So, who’s in charge?” Rohree finished.
“I am,” a smooth, familiar voice responded. The crush of people parted, and Rohree felt her blood run cold. She took him in. The blue robe. The long braid atop the mostly shaved head. The sharp blue eyes. A face she’d prayed she’d never see again.
It was Ollie.
For a long moment, he stared at Rohree, the color draining from his face. Then he gave her a pointed, wide-eyed glare that said:keep quiet if you know what’s good for you.
But even if Rohree had been inclined to keep the Torouman’s secret, she’d already told Clua the truth, and the dwarf stepped protectively in front of her now, yanking the mace from her belt.
“Clua,” Rohree warned—for Torouman, despite being generally peaceful, were also renowned warriors and magick users. Dangerous men. They had to be thoughtful about how to expose him as a traitor, especially without Essa here to shield them from his ire.
But Clua shrugged off the restraining hand Rohree put on her shoulder.
“No,” she growled. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since the moment you told me…”
“Told you what?” Pocha said, frowning and looking from Clua to Ollie and back again.
Before Clua could answer, the blast of a horn sounded in the night, followed by the roar of a dragon. All heads snapped in the direction of the sound.
“The alarm,” Pocha whispered, already rushing for the door. Ollie gave Rohree and Clua one more warning glance, then followed her out, one hand on the hilt of his sword. Everyone else fell in behind them.
