Page 52 of The Huntsman's Heart
Alaric stretches his shoulders and twists his neck from side to side. “Fine. Do not take too long. Bring a weapon.”
I’m about to retort that he does not need to explain everything to me like I’m four summers old again, but he’s already stalked away toward the gates.
I turn back to my gargoyles, unexpectedly teary. Bending, I caress the hounds, stroking behind their ears in the way they like while I struggle to regain control of my emotions. When I stand I have almost managed it.
“Be careful, princess.” Évandre hands me my sword. “We will look for your return.”
I close my hands over his for a long moment, unwilling to let go. I hope I am able to return. “Thank you for all your help. There is no way I could have gotten to this point without you all. And you especially.” I think of the hours of training and long nights of lifting weighted bags and swinging my sword at straw men.
Then I have to look away, only to encounter Corvin’s serious expression. “Do not turn your back on him,” he says. “You are too precious to lose.” He straps a scabbard to my back—the sword is too long for me to wear on my hip. I lift up on my toes to throw my arms around his neck for a fierce embrace.
“Thank you.” I kiss his cheek as I pull away and catch his grin.
Then I turn to Raban who has waited patiently; the last of all, and hardest of all the goodbyes I have to make. My throat is too tight and achy for a moment, and I simply press my lips together. How I’ll miss him and his tender touches and eager smiles.
“I have something for you.” He holds out his hand, unfolding it to reveal a small package wrapped in cloth.
I take it and unwrap a small smooth stone, worked into the shape of a heart. It has a hole at the top where a piece of leather is threaded through like a necklace. “What is this?”
“I made it for you,” he says shyly. “From my stone. So you can know that you carry my heart with you always.”
My eyes widen, and I slip the leather over my head, pressing the stone heart to my chest. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
“It should be a precious jewel for our princess, but that would not have meant as much. So I hope you’ll accept this humble gift.”
I cup his face with my hands and look into his eyes. “It is more precious than any jewel. You all are. I wish I had something to give you in return.”
“Believe me, princess, you’ve given us more than you know. You woke us up and gave us life again.”
I throw my arms around his neck and hold him for a long time, thinking of their frozen companion. I hate to think of my sweet gargoyles ending up like that.
When he finally sets me on my feet again, my cheeks are wet with tears. “I might not have a heart to give to you any longer, but you are my soul. And I will miss you bitterly.”
We all embrace one more time. When I finally drag myself away, the tiny weight of the stone rests beneath my chemise and against my chest, and I cling to the reminder of my beautiful gargoyles.
Alaric is sour faced and sullen. “Are you sure you would not like to leave them a nursemaid while you’re gone? Someone to tuck them into bed.”
“If you are volunteering for the role, I am certain we could find you a pretty dress,” I snap.
Honestly, there is no need for him to make me feel worse. What would he know about tender feelings? All he knows is lust. What kind of man would give up his soul to possess a beautiful woman without any understanding of how rotten her heart is?
I conveniently forget that Melantha seduced my own sweet father in the same way she clearly did to Alaric.
We walk in stiff silence through the woods until the dark of the forest closes us in and blocks out the view of the castle walls when I turn back.
Eventually Alaric sighs. “It has been a long time since anyone cried so sweetly over me.”
I stare at him, stunned. As an apology it stinks, but I think perhaps it was more than that. He says no more, and I’m too unsettled by his admission to press him further.
Instead I try to match the way he moves effortlessly through the woods, hardly making any sound at all. Is there something human left inside him after all?
It is hard to believe, but if so, then perhaps there is hope for me yet. Perhaps I will not be transformed completely into a monster.
Alaric
I keep a close watch on the princess as we move through the woods. The changes in her strike me anew at seeing her move gracefully across uneven surfaces, hardly making a sound. She keeps up too, which I wasn’t certain she would. I was worried it could take days to cross the ground we must cross without a horse.
I hope Tharrok made it out of the woods safely. He knows the way, and he’s smart enough to avoid most of the monsters here. There’s a very real chance he didn’t, though.
