“Yes.” His eyes glitter. “Oh.”
“And Onyx?”
“Feasting on hay in my stables.”
“Where are my clothes?”
“Being laundered by my staff. They were covered in blood and soaked from the river.”
I nod, accepting this. I attempt to keep my voice level. “And I assume I also have you to thank for this”—I gesture down at myself—“garment I am wearing?”
He does not respond. He is staring at the aforementioned garment as though his eyes have followed my gesture and gottenstuck there. It is not a lascivious gaze, but one of undisguised fascination. For, in the slant of sunlight, the dark whorls of my Remnant are plainly evident beneath the gauzy fabric gathered at my breasts.
When he steps toward me, my whole body tenses with fear.
He halts instantly. His eyes flicker back to mine. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
To this, I say nothing. Words are only worth as much as the actions behind them.
Lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender, he takes a purposeful stride backward. My audible exhale of relief seems to amuse him.
“You have nothing to fear from me. I merely wanted a closer look. It is not every day you see a Remnant standing before you.”
So, he knows what I am. Then again, even without the mark, he would’ve known. He’d seen me cast an air shield on the mountain.
My shoulders stiffen as wariness tiptoes in. “And what is it you want from me?”
“Perhaps I desired a glimpse at Prince Pendefyre’s new pet.”
Hope and fear stir within me when he speaks Penn’s name. Hope that he might still be alive and, even now, on his way here to find me; fear because this stranger, whoever he is, does not sound like he much cares for the Crown Prince of Dyved.
“If a glimpse were all you wanted,” I whisper softly, “I doubt you would’ve brought me here.”
“Historically speaking, Pendefyre isn’t fond of sharing his toys.” His lips twist up at one side. “I wanted us to have a chance to get to know each other. Uninterrupted.”
“For what purpose?”
“Call it…curiosity.”
“About me.”
“About you,” he agrees. His eyes search mine. “Your presence at the Vintare inn was noted far and wide—and not only by my scouts. For days, ravens have been busy flying to every corner of the Northlands, spreading the news from crofters to courtiers.” His voice gains a mocking edge. “The long-awaited Dyved heir has finally returned to the north. He does not come alone, but with a fae girl in tow. Slip of a thing, with strange silver eyes.”
My breath catches.
“Chased into the mountains together, according to the rumormongers. And by Efnysien’s men, no less,” he continues. His head cants to one side as he stares at me. “Normally, I am not one for idle gossip—especially where Pendefyre is concerned. But I must admit, this particular tale piqued my interest.”
The men in red and black.Efnysien’smen. I’ve heard that name before. I still recall Jac’s shocked question to Penn back at the summit—This far north? What in the skies are they doing all the way up here?—but I’m hesitant to reveal as much to this stranger. Instead, I shrug with the same airy nonchalance he’s adopted to counterbalance the sharpness of his gaze.
“Well, now you’ve seen me.” I swallow hard. “I assume your interest is sated and you will send me on my way.”
“To Dyved.”
I say nothing.
“With Pendefyre.”
The silence lingers.