A Feast of Souls: Araneae Nation, Book 2 (35 page)

“Take it.” Vaughn retreated out of swiping distance. “Think on what I said.”

The older male glanced aside, and I accepted we had made our first enemies.

With Lleu and Bram at my sides, and Vaughn looking on, I went to Murdoch. His breathing was labored, but his eyes were clear. The wound was a neat if bloody cut in his side. Deverell’s aim was either off, or he hadn’t meant to do permanent damage. Friends up to the end, it seemed.

Pity Deverell had chosen this path. For him to have survived his wife, their life threads were not tied. Whether their union was too new or they were reluctant to commit their lives to one another, they had died together just the same. Now his family suffered another loss, a blow to their honor.

“It’s a flesh wound.” I wiped blood from Murdoch’s eyes. “I can heal you, if you’ll let me.”

“Do it.” He panted. “I trust you.”

Vaughn squatted beside me. “Is healing him a risk to you?”

“There’s too much negative emotion here.” Though I hated the idea of moving him. “I can’t risk opening myself to it. But if we can get him to a quiet place, I can manage…with your help.”

“My strength is yours.” Vaughn helped me rise. “Lleu, Bram, place him in a private room.”

They lifted Murdoch between them and carried him from the spectacle. Habit made us pause for Isolde to precede us, but she gave me a none-too-gentle shove forward and Vaughn followed.

I prayed between the two of us, three if Brynmor followed, that we could save Murdoch.

Chapter Nineteen

A warm breeze from an open window breathed fresh air into the room. Night sounds drifted to my ears, calm and restful. Stretching stiff muscles earned during my bedside vigil, I kneaded my lower back, hissing when my fingers probed a tender knot. That stolen nap was costing me.

Lleu roused when I stood, his jaw cracking in a wide yawn. “How is he?”

Murdoch snored deeper than a canis growled. His wound was mended, his sleep fitful.

“He’s well enough.” I kept my voice soft. “He’ll be sore tomorrow.”

Lleu crossed his legs. “Sore’s a sight better than dead.”

I couldn’t argue with him there.

Hinges groaned, and Lleu shot to his feet, feet braced and hand on his sword’s hilt.

“I’m surprised.” Vaughn leaned against the doorframe. “I expected to find you all asleep.”

Wiping crust from his eyes, Lleu yawned again. “Then you don’t know us very well.”

“Can you keep an eye on Murdoch for a while?” Vaughn held my gaze. “Until dawn?”

Spots of color blossomed in Lleu’s cheeks. “I—yeah—I can. Go on with you.”

Excitement tingled clear to my toes. “Where are we going?”

He offered me his hand. “Why don’t I show you?”

Murdoch snuffled in his sleep, and I hesitated.

“He’s fine.” Lleu reclined, settling in for the night. “I’m here if he needs anything.”

Rest was the best treatment for Murdoch, and I was curious what scheme of Vaughn’s had restored the calculating gleam to his eyes. He was up to something, but what? “If you’re sure…”

“I said I was, yeah?” After palming a dagger, Lleu’s eyes shut. “Be back before first meal.”

“We could stay in.” Vaughn tapped his fingers against the doorframe. “It’s your choice.”

Sweat dampened my palms. “You’ve made plans. I’m interested to see what they are.”

“In that case…” He stepped aside and gave me room to slip past him into the hall. He closed the door on his heels. Once our hands were linked, he twiddled my fingers. “You’re nervous.”

“No, I’m not.” I sighed when he tapped the side of his nose. “Cautious is a better word.”

“Don’t you trust me?” he teased. “As I said, we can always stay in. I’m sure we’ll find some way to occupy our time until dawn.” I kept my lips sealed. “Ah. I’ve made you uncomfortable.”

“As you no doubt intended.” I got the feeling he meant to distract me from our destination. I played along. It cost me nothing to let him enjoy his game, and yet, “Has it never occurred to you that if a person goes through the effort of appearing outwardly calm, that you might reciprocate a little by outwardly appearing as if you can’t read their emotions? Your natural talent shouldn’t be suppressed, your mouth on the other hand…” He frowned. “Let me have my secrets, Vaughn.”

His stride faltered. “I’m not a fan of secrets between wives and their husbands.”

No. I suppose he wouldn’t be, and with good reason.

“Let me have my dignity,” I clarified. “It’s a small thing to let me put on a brave face.”

Now that I thought about it, there must be tricks to masking such scents. Isolde knew the value of such a skill. Gods knew what she would want in exchange for teaching me, but it would be worth the cost to know my emotions remained a mystery to this city filled with clever noses.

He studied me for a long moment. “Fine. I’ll keep my observations to myself, up to a point.”

“That’s all I ask of you.” The relieved breath of air I inhaled tasted of rot. I coughed and saw we had stopped near the west tower, in sight of the garden. “You never said… How bad was it?”

Once I had stabilized Murdoch, Vaughn had overseen the removal of the bodies.

“It was no worse than expected. The only issue was Nerys’s count. She marked a few names as being deceased, but the bodies weren’t in the rows she’d indicated or in the garden at all.” His gaze traced the archway. “Bram is organizing a search. Today’s announcements stirred panic. If those missing are…” He didn’t finish. He didn’t have to. “I hope we recover the corpses, intact.”

“I’m sure they’ll be found. With as many people in the towers as there were today, someone would have noticed bodies being carted off before the council meeting convened.” Whether they came forward would be the issue. “Murdoch should remain on bed rest for a few days. Once he’s fully recovered, if you still have no leads, we can set him to the task and see what he turns up.”

“I have a secondary task for him after he recovers.” Vaughn sounded pleased our interests aligned. “I’d like him to investigate the missing males. There have been bodies found at each city infected with the plague—deaths that can’t be blamed on sickness or the severance of life threads. A few of the dead males found in Cathis are from known nested pairs. Their deaths are not suspect since their passing coincided with that of their wives. That we found so few bodies compared to other clans… I would rather Murdoch discover any nasty surprises that might be waiting for us. I can’t believe so many males deserted their families, which means whoever unleashed the plague wizened up.”

“You mean they realized their error in leaving bodies to be found.” I would rather the males be proven cowards than confirmed dead, but I knew the sentiment wasn’t one Vaughn would share.

His tone was grave. “This break in the plague’s pattern must be resolved before others think to question it.”

“I agree.” I paused. “If it’s not too much trouble, while he’s making his rounds, I’d like him to investigate another, minor matter. I was told Cleit turned aside a youth seeking asylum in the towers. The night you found me in the city center, I saw a shadow that might have been female.”

“Why would a female roam the city streets so late at night?” His gaze admonished me.

I tapped his forearm, ignoring his chastisement. “That’s what I would like to know.”

“And so it begins.” Vaughn’s laugh sounded tired. “I wanted us to have an evening together, free from somber discussion. Yet here we are, standing before the garden, debating the best way to handle this newest issue. We’re settling into our roles.” He smiled. “We work well together.”

“We do.” But I wanted the spark back in his eyes. “Speaking of our plans this evening…”

“Are you sure you’re still up for it?” Eagerness crept into his tone. “It’s a far walk.”

“My legs could use a good stretching.” I took his hands and pulled him down the hall before he noticed what I had done. “Do I get a hint? If we’re not staying in, are we going out? Where?”

“Let me show you,” he said again, smiling brighter. “The fastest way is through the grotto.”

I stiffened, and he must have anticipated my reaction.

“I’ll be fine.” He soothed me. “I’ll even let you walk me down the stairs.”

For that, I would too, at the same doddering pace I’d use if he’d been Old Father.

Pondering our destination kept me occupied until we reached the south tower stairs. The massive door gave me shivers as it swung open once more. This time, torches had been lit—in preparation? Vaughn lifted his arm, ready for me to make good on his offer to let me escort him.

It was worth passing him by to see his flash of surprise turn to admiration.

Isolde’s advice had proven sound yet again.

To be strong enough to stand beside Vaughn, I had to let him stand on his own two feet.

If I took the stairs first and tested them for slickness as I went, well, he might buy that I was worried for myself. Let this be a test, his first, to see if he scented my worry and if he ignored it.

Halfway to the bottom, a masculine sigh drove me to hasten my descent into the grotto. The last stair was hardest. My foot dangled above that final step before strong hands on my shoulders gave me courage to move. I suspected I’d struggle with memories of this place as long as I lived.

Despite the negative series of events, the cells ahead of us retained positive, healing energy. Beyond them, I saw tunnel mouths I hadn’t noticed on my first visit. “What else is down here?”

“You mean besides these lavish accommodations?” He strode toward a tunnel. “Not much.”

Out of sight of the cells and possible prisoners, he flipped aside a chunk of rock and yanked a corroded handle set in the stone. I had seen something similar in Erania, a new hatch Henri had designed. His led up to the surface. If this was a secret hatch as well, where could it possibly go?

When Vaughn hefted a vaulted door open, I supposed I was about to find out.

“I haven’t used this tunnel in years, but it should be sound. Mother’s good about maintaining them.” He tested the latch, then strode to the wall and plucked a torch from its sconce. “Ready?”

Eyeing the tunnel warily, I stepped inside. Slimy and dank, it resembled the rest of the keep. An odd scent lingered in the air, crisp and clean. Here and gone before I could pinpoint its location.

I exhaled. “Let’s go before I lose my nerve.”

He laughed, but I was perfectly serious.

Once the hatch was sealed behind us, Vaughn stalked me until my back hit metal. “Trust me.”

Unsure whether he meant it as a question or command, I managed to say, “I do.”

His smile was blinding as he grabbed my hand and tugged me through the twisting corridor. The scent I’d noticed grew stronger, and my steps grew faster. Soon, Vaughn hurried to catch up. Pale light, moonlight, glittered up ahead. I broke into a run, laughing as I wove left to right and blocked Vaughn from beating me to the finish. He growled a warning, and I gasped with delight.

I charged through the exit and into dense forest. I paused, undecided which direction to turn. I toppled when Vaughn plowed into me. We crashed to the ground. He absorbed the impact with a grunt, then rolled me beneath him. Vaughn’s grin was too smug, his prey captured.

“Is this it?” I forced my gaze beyond him, to the stars. They were a marvelous sight.

“You mean
is this all
, and no, it isn’t.” His chest expanded as he inhaled short, quick breaths that told me he was checking the area for unexpected company. “The canis pack is close by, but I doubt they mean us any harm.” Another sniff before he said, “Your friend has found his way out too. I smell Deverell’s blood on him. If he values his pelt, he’ll stay clear of the city for a while.”

“He’s a stubborn creature.” Like his son. “He found a way to sneak from the kitchens to the north tower. I don’t doubt he has all manner of hideaways and cubbyholes like the one we used.”

“If the pack remains, we’ll have to canis-proof the city.” He frowned. “Steal from the wrong merchant, and they’ll become hunted. I don’t want that. I don’t want our clan or his pack hurt.”

“If we stop up all their holes,” I said, “they’ll be forced to hunt instead of scavenge.”

“After today’s mishap…the missing bodies…” He sighed. “We don’t need further conflict.”

“I agree.” I put my hands on his thighs, and he fell silent. Rushing noise filled my ears. They rang a moment, kept ringing. I jiggled a finger in my ear. “What’s that sound? Do you hear it?”

“That is the sound of your surprise.” He peeled my remaining hand from his thigh and stood. He left me lying in the grass and staring at the stars, which seemed brighter tonight. “Wait here.”

I shut my eyes. “Gladly.”

“No sleeping.” He nudged my toe with his. “This won’t take but a moment.”

“I’m not sleepy.” I stretched. “I’m preparing for your big reveal.”

His snort followed him into the forest.

While I listened to the droning rush and tried matching it to other sounds I knew, a cold, wet nose smeared across my lips. I jerked upright, spitting drool and wiping my mouth with my shirt.