From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [140]
Angry thoughts surfaced in Averella’s mind. “Gren, Harnu left his father for us. Risked his life. Fought in a battle. Mainly because of his affection for you. Have you so small a heart that you would leave him to die?”
“Harnu is tough. And now he can go back to his father.”
“You must know that he will not. He will do all he can to keep you safe. He said he will see us in Armonguard.”
Gren snorted a laugh. “As if Harnu could offer more protection than these knights.”
Averella scowled. “Of all the self-absorbed things to say. These men have more important matters at hand than escorting two women around. I blame myself. Why I ever agreed to leave Carmine, I shall never understand.”
“To serve Prince Oren as a healer,” Gren said.
“Then why not travel with the soldiers?”
Her father answered. “Because Prince Oren, Sir Jax, Master Rennan, and your mother forbade you to come.”
Averella’s eyes widened. “Really?”
“You have become quite stubborn, my lady.” Bran’s voice floated up to the bow and startled her.
His tone brought more angry thoughts to mind, but she did not let her pride overtake her. She twisted around and addressed everyone in the boat. “Forgive me then, for I have caused you all much grief.” Averella paused, confused, and looked to Gren. “But why did you come, Gren?”
The water lapped. Silence. “I will tell you later.”
Sir Rigil leaned around Jax. “Tell us now, Madam Hoff, for—”
A horrible screech silenced Sir Rigil’s demand. The boat drifted past an intersecting canal, giving Averella a glimpse of a distant platform at the western Reshon Gate. A half dozen enemy soldiers stood on the platform, pulling ropes that were attached to a massive snake that had raised up from the water. The creature screeched again, then swerved from the platform and dove under the water, causing two black knights to fall off the platform.
Sir Rigil whistled low. “I must confess, Lady Averella, regardless of how or why you came to Mahanaim, I am glad you did. For you have saved dozens from such a fate.”
The boat passed into a deep canal and they lost sight of the platform. Darkness closed in again. “What supplies did you take from the keep?” Averella asked her father. “For I am hungry.”
Sir Eagan reached for a pack on the floor between his boots. “I have dried fish, flatbread, an apple…”
Averella took the apple and held the fruit under her nose. Its faint smell was sweet. She inhaled deeply, wishing Darkness smelled of fresh apples rather than spoiled ones. She bit down and the sound brought a memory to mind.
Achan’s voice. “And some apples. Crunchy ones!”
Followed by a thrill in her heart and the remembered knowledge that she would find Achan an apple no matter what.
The memory warmed her cheeks. Merciful heart! She did not understand why these memories brought on such reactions. And in them he was always Achan, not Your Highness nor Prince Gidon nor even Master Cham. Mother said no one knew he was the real Prince Gidon Hadar when Averella had first met him. And since she had been dressed as a stray, she would have had no reason to speak formally.
See? There was nothing scandalous to these memories.
Water splashed over the side of the boat, bringing Averella back to reality.
They were approaching the end of the canal. Though it was too dark to see, she knew that Arok Lake lay to the right and that going left would take them to the inner Reshon Gate. “How will we pass the gate with the soldiers there?”
“We will not pass through the Reshon Gate,” Jax said. “Even if we managed to get through the gate, there will be too many of Esek’s men on the King’s Road. There is an underground river not far from here that comes out in one of the Nahar caves. From there we’ll go on foot to Xulon, get supplies and horses, then decide how to continue on to Armonguard.”
It sounded like a wise plan. They soon exited the canal and swept into the dark waters of the eastern end of Arok Lake. Stone houses edged the southern shore, their windows flecks of light in the Darkness. Jax steered the boat toward two cottages built