Broken Promise (The Broken Ones Book 3) (12 page)

"I can feel him," she
whispered. "He's in pain. I can feel his pain."

Kei is strong. He will survive and
return to you.

"I know." She did, but the
knowledge didn't help to heal her wounded heart. What she didn't know was how
damaged he would be. Damon had left her mind a wreck after only a brief
invasion. He'd been torturing Kei for almost three weeks now, and Kei didn't
have the mental barriers and walls that she did. Yet, he also wouldn't fight
him. Feeling his pain day after day didn't give her much hope.

Come with me tomorrow. We'll visit a few
taverns and seek word of your brothers. Only for a little while. A few a day.
You need to think of more than just revenge. Remember the hope you hold in your
heart.

Garen wasn't an easy person to argue
with. Giving him a tentative nod, she relented. It wasn't that she didn't want
to search for her brothers. She just knew it would likely be a futile search. With
Westport being so far south, she doubted many would have sailed far enough
north in the west to hear anything.

As for hope, it had been chipped away
day by day. In its place had grown an angry bitterness toward the world.
Unfortunately, it appeared she'd finally grown up.

Chapter 12

The Search Begins

Garen did not let her wiggle out of her
agreement. Bright and early, he and Bo got her up, dressed, and out the door.

She stomped through the slushy streets
between them, irritable and cold. While the two discussed their plans, she
muttered vague agreement when expected but didn't pay attention.

Westport was the largest human city on
the eastern continent and also had the largest port. The city itself, like most
others, was broken into various general districts. Longer than it was wide, the
north third held the walled Upper City housing the prince and nobles in the
west, with the east part consisting of administrative buildings, barracks, warehouses,
and barns. These were also guarded, containing the food crops and animals that
fed the city's many inhabitants. They would not find any information there.

The southern-most third contained more
barracks and warehouses for the quarried stone, with the west section being the
squalid slums Bo firmly declared she wouldn't be entering at all. Ever.

This left their search area to the center
strip of the city that contained the lower and middle classed homes and
workplaces, the market, shops, and inns. They would begin their search in the
eastern area today. She didn't see the point. It was the docks, whose area also
contained numerous taverns full of gossiping sailors, which likely held the
information they searched for. If it existed at all.

The day dragged on as they wandered up
and down streets, she and Bo speaking to tavern keepers, shop owners, and
anyone who might listen.

Few had ever heard of Kingsport. Fewer
still knew what had befallen it over a year ago.

As they left yet another tavern with
nothing, Aro kicked at a clump of snow and cursed under her breath.

"It's the first day. Be
patient," Bo admonished her.

She frowned over at Garen.
I thought
you said we'd only do this for a while. It's almost dark.

Yet we've covered much ground today.

"And found nothing."

There was a chance we would. A few more days
and we can cross this area off our list and move on.

She grimaced and Bo chuckled. "Come
on, pup. You're just hungry. Let's head back and eat. The days not over yet,
you can still get some practice in. That will make you feel better."

Sometimes it shocked her how very well the
boys knew her. With a nod and small smile, she tried to push away the
irritation and dark thoughts surrounding her. Still, guilt settled around her.
Kei suffered, alone, and she chased a dream from the past.

∞ ∞ ∞

After two more days of walking the
streets, the weather gave them a brief respite from failure. They awoke to
blasting cold wind and snow. Bo did not argue when she refused to go out in the
wintery mess. She wasn't overly surprised. After three days of barely seeing
his sweetheart, he'd begun to get a bit morose himself. When he left for the
tavern to see if he could "help out," she forced a smile. It grew
when Garen decided to accompany him.

After practicing with her bow for a
while, she tended the fires, and then practiced some more. Her thoughts strangely
drifted to Bo and Elaina.

She worried he'd get his heart broken. She
didn't doubt Elaina was good for him, and even returned his affections, having
seen the way they looked at each other. Yet Bo hadn't told her of their past,
of their unheard of connections to Fey, Were, and Elves. As far as she knew, he
hadn't mentioned he'd be leaving in the spring either. Seeming a normal girl, she
wasn't sure how Elaina would react to the first, the second…well the barmaid
certainly wouldn't be happy.

She didn't want to get involved in Bo's
love life, knowing firsthand how irritating and heart breaking it could be when
others gave unwanted advice.

Which sent her thoughts to Prince. She'd
still had no word from him. His absence hurt. His lack of communication hurt
more. For some stupid reason, she'd thought he would send word somehow,
someway. She'd thought he cared for her as much as she did for him.

Clearly, she'd been mistaken.

Riding fast, a messenger could reach
Westport from the gates to Rivenward easily in three or four days. Even if one had
to search Westport for her, they'd made no secret of where they lived.

"Rotting Elf." She threw a
dagger with extra force. "I love you." She threw another. "Why
aren't you here?" And another. "Why–" Her voice cracked, and her
hand dropped mid-throw. "I need you," she whispered into the empty
room.

Closing her eyes, she whipped the dagger
in her hand at the target. It missed the center and she grimaced. "Off balance.
I really need to get a new pair."

∞ ∞ ∞

The snow continued the next day, and
after she saw Bo and Garen out, she stopped holding in her smile.

The weather wasn't as bad as the day
before, and her destination wasn't far. Picking out new daggers without the
boys would be so much easier.

She didn't rush right out, but did her
morning chores first and dressed for the cold. Collecting the off-balance pair,
maybe she could offer them as partial trade. She bundled up and set off down
the street.

Despite the weather, a number of people
still came out to do their business. Stomping her way through the snow, she
hurried past the tavern and continued up the road. The wind bit at her face,
though at least this time she remembered a hat and gloves. It didn't take long
for her to reach her destination, but still she paused outside.

She'd made enough mistakes in the past. Worry
gnawed her stomach as she debated turning around and going home. Gathering her
courage, she finally moved toward the door to the blacksmith's small shop.
Unsurprisingly, they weren't out working today, which worked in her favor.

Local gossip told her the pair of blacksmiths
were brothers. Both in their early twenties, they did not socialize much or
frequent any of the local meeting spots or taverns. She wished she'd paid
attention to the man who'd helped her home.

She guessed they supplied the Were with
goods and information. Since Rhee-En hadn't mentioned them, and they hadn't
known who she was, she assumed they were part of the neighboring pack led by
the alpha Alar-En.

The small shop was empty when she
entered. Looking around, she pushed back the hood of her cloak. Everything from
pots to horseshoes hung from walls or sat on shelves. She saw only a few
weapons, which drew her immediately. The simple design disappointed her.

"Wither me," she grumbled.

The creak of a back door opening
startled her and she whirled around to face the counter.

"Can I help you?"

The youngest, the one she'd apparently
met, stood behind the counter.

Forcing a small smile, she stepped
forward and pulled out the pair of unbalanced daggers. Setting them on the
counter, she looked up to meet the Were's eyes. "I'd like to get these
fixed, or get a better pair. The balance is off."

As his eyes stared into hers for a long
moment she held her breath. He had lovely eyes, deep and brown. Finally, he
dropped his gaze and picked up one of the daggers, twirling it in his fingers
and testing the balance.

"You're right. It is off. I could
try to adjust it." His eyes flicked up to hers once more. "We do have
better ones, if you'd like to see them. We don't keep them out here
though."

She hesitated and then nodded. "I
would."

Cocking his head to the side, he
gestured her to come around the counter. She followed him into another small
room, noting another door at the back of it, which she assumed went to their
living quarters.

"What kind are you looking
for?"

"Throwing," she said simply,
wondering why he asked considering she'd just brought him a pair.

Leading her to a long table against the
wall, he pointed out a few and their features. Listening quietly, she pulled
off her gloves and stuck them in a pocket. She had to admit these were what she'd
hoped to find. Taking her time, she picked them up one at a time, testing their
weight and feel.

When he leaned in closer, she glanced toward
him and stiffened when she saw his nostrils flare as he inhaled.

His eyes met hers again and he smiled
easily as he leaned away. "It's Aro, yes?"

"I… Yes?"

He chuckled. "We have heard of the
brother and sister down the street named Bo and Aro."

A flush spread across her cheeks as she
grimaced.

"How have you been?"

The question took her by surprise.
Apparently, he hadn't forgotten. "I…I've been well enough." Looking
away, she set the dagger she'd been holding down gently. "Why did you help
me that day?"

His eyebrows rose, and then he shrugged.
"You looked so hopelessly lost." He paused for a moment. "Did he
mean so much to you?"

"He does," she answered
quietly.

"He is–" The Were stopped
abruptly and frowned.

A sudden laugh escaped her and she
turned to face him fully. "He is Fey. I know." His shocked expression
amused her. "And you are Were."

His eyes widened further, then his brows
drew together in confusion.

"What is your name?" She
diverted the questions forming on his lips.

"I…Hale." He jerked his head
in the direction of the living quarters. "My brother, Laek."

"Thank you, for walking me home
that day."

The confusion hadn't left his face.
"How do you…How could you…"

She smiled wryly at him and went back to
testing the daggers before her. "My best friend is Fey. I returned an
Elven prince to his home and am welcome in Rhee-En's land."

Understanding dawned on his face.
"You are the girl in the cave. That the dragon came for. The one who will
heal the Fey." He hesitated again. "I have heard the king wishes to
speak with you."

She nodded. "Yes." Pausing, she
considered her next words carefully. "Does he know I'm here?"

Hale's lips quirked into a smile.
"If Rhee-En knows, then yes, he does."

The answer wasn't one she wanted to
hear, yet she wasn't surprised. "I figured as much."

He must have sensed her unease, as he
rested a hand gently on her arm. "I don't know the details of why he is
looking for you, but you needn't worry. He is a good and fair king to us."

Easy for him to say. "I'm not
Were," she muttered.

"Even so. Should you heal the Fey
they could fight alongside us once more. This is no small thing."

Shrugging a shoulder, she tried to keep
her emotions hidden. It wouldn't do for the Were to see how terrified she was
of meeting his king.

"He won't harm you here. We have
laws even he won't break when it comes to humans in their cities."

Apparently, she wasn't that great at
keeping her fear hidden.

She met his eyes once again. The feeling
in them both surprised and confused her. Why did he tell her such things now?
Looking back to the table before her, she picked out a pair and held them up
between them. "I'll take these."

He glanced at them briefly and nodded.
"A good choice." Turning, he led her back to the counter and their
conversation turned to bargaining over the price and trading in her unwanted
pair. Finally, they reached an agreement and she paid.

"Will you…will you tell him I was
here?" She tucked her new blades into her belt and pulled out her gloves.

His head tilted slightly to the side as
he regarded her. "Only if he asks," he said finally.

She nodded and then smiled. "Thank
you."

Heading for the door, he surprised her
yet again.

"Please come back again. I'd… I'd
like to talk some more. Sometime. If you like."

Looking over her shoulder, she couldn't
help but smile again at his flustered earnestness. "I will."

With a last smile, she pulled up her
hood and headed back home. The short walk didn't give her enough time to figure
out why she told so much to the Were.

As to why she'd agreed to see him again,
perhaps he could make her something to kill a dragon.

∞ ∞ ∞

After returning home, she checked the
fires and warmed up in front of them for a bit before eagerly returning to her
practice room to try out her new purchases.

She couldn't keep a giant grin from her
face when they flew straight and true. After throwing for a while, she checked
and cleaned the blades before once again bundling up to head out.

There was a bounce to her step as she
hurried to the tavern to meet the boys for lunch. Being barely noon, she wasn't
surprised to find the tavern empty of customers.