From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [86]
“We could take her to Carmine,” Harnu said.
“No!” Gren’s urgent tone suggested some secret knowledge. “She does not want to go back there. She wants to follow Achan.”
Averella frowned. It seemed very unlike her to follow a man anywhere. Especially a man she did not know. Although hadn’t Gren told the old man that Averella was betrothed to this Master Cham? None of this made any sense.
“The cabin is close,” Harnu said. “I say we stick to our plan.”
“You mean stay in Darkness?” Gren said. “Harnu, do you know what people say about this place?”
“I’ve met people who lived here,” Noam said. “They train themselves to stay calm. Not let it get to them.”
“It’s already getting to me,” Gren said.
“Well, I can’t think of anything else,” Harnu said. “At least let’s go to the cabin to talk about it. This forest is unnerving.”
“Agreed.” Noam cracked the reins and the horses lurched forward.
The horses moved faster than Averella would have liked. Perhaps they could see better than she could. The lantern cast so little light. But the idea of losing sight of it kept her moving.
“There!” Harnu shouted.
A dark structure built of logs loomed into sight. It was bigger than the cottages in Sitna Manor. Lantern light glinted off the iron hinges on the shuttered windows on either side of the front door.
Noam stopped the cart in front of the cabin and climbed down. “I’ll take care of the horses if you and Gren will unload the cart.”
Harnu jumped down. “There’s a shed ’round to the left. You can put the horses there.”
Noam unhooked Kopay first and led him away. Averella loathed to see Kopay go, but she did not want to leave the lantern. Harnu hung it on a post outside the door. He and Gren began to carry things into the cabin. Averella wanted to go in but stayed with the wagon until Harnu carried her body inside.
The musty smell grabbed her as she followed Harnu through the door. Inside, Gren had lit another lantern, which hung on a hook over a square table in the middle of a timber room. Gren stood there, taking things out of a crate and piling them on the table.
Harnu carried Averella’s body to a small room. He settled her on a pallet and left. Averella could see nothing in the darkness except the end of a sideboard lit dimly by the light from the lantern coming through the door. The air felt damp, as if Darkness carried moisture. She stood with her body for a long while, then explored the small cottage and wandered out to where Noam had stabled Kopay. When she returned, Harnu and Gren were engaged in a heated discussion.
Harnu stood halfway between the entrance and the table. “It would solve everything. Why can’t you see that?”
“Because I don’t think of you like that,” Gren said, standing at the table, her voice thick with tears. “I can’t. The things you did.”
Averella drifted inside the cottage.
“You forgave me.” Harnu’s voice held a tinge of exasperation. “Said it didn’t matter.”
Gren twirled a bundle of linen in her hands. “It doesn’t matter because there’s no future for us.”
“But you came back.”
“Only for help. I’m not going to live in Sitna.”
“You plan to stay in Armonguard for good?”
“Perhaps. It depends.”
“On what?”
Gren set down the bundle and met Harnu’s gaze. “On who.”
“Achan? You think he still wants you?”
Gren clicked her tongue. “Achan loves Lady Averella, Harnu. He and I will only ever be good friends.”
“You worry for Lady Averella, then,” Harnu said. “Gren, I’m sure she’ll wake soon and then—”
“His name is Bran Rennan.” Gren lifted her chin. “He’s a squire, due to be knighted any day. I think he means to marry me. After the war, of course.”
Averella gasped and drifted toward the table, examining Gren anew. Bran Rennan marry Gren? Merciful heart! Of all the ridiculous notions. For Master Rennan was secretly engaged to Averella. Wasn’t he?
Harnu’s eyes swelled. “A knight? Marry you?”
“And why not?”
“Because he is betrothed to me,” Averella said, though no one heard her.
“I—” Harnu closed his mouth. A smart move, for Averella was certain nothing he could say would please Gren. He sighed.