Extol of Agnatic Dreams (The Extol Series Book 1) (17 page)

“Eva,” Baxter shouted, waving his arm and she almost fell over because Tempest threw her head back as he approached. Evangeline tugged the horse sharply. She didn’t try it again and Evangeline continued to approach Baxter as he came jogging down the grounds to meet her.

“Did you get hurt?” Baxter asked, and his touch was gentle on her chin as he studied her face.

Evangeline quickly pulled herself out of his touch. She fought the blush that threatened, embarrassed by the attention. “I am fine,” she assured Baxter and tried to move past him, Baxter blocking her path as she did. “Baxter, let me past.” She frowned. At the distance she could see Glais, a blaze of power in his steps, and Baxter grinning like an idiot and unaware.

“Not until I have seen that you are indeed ok. Did you fall off your horse?” he asked her.

“No. I chose to get down.” Evangeline sighed. “Please, I just want to get Tempest back to the stables.” She watched as Baxter studied her and she was prepared for him to deny her again when instead he stepped to the side, but effortlessly took the reins from her hand as he did.

Walking beside her, Baxter lead the horse back while Evangeline concentrated on not falling. “I am not sure what spooked her.” Baxter said and Evangeline rejected the urge to slap him. Surely he had an idea that it was his behaviour that had kick-started a chain of events that had ended with her horse jumping a fence that was designed to keep her in.

“I think I would do better with a different teacher.” Evangeline said and she knew she sounded harsh but Baxter did deserve it. His words she could forgive as a childish insistence, however, his actions had proven that he was no better than his brother. While Glais was cold, Baxter was hot. Both had no care for her personal opinion on the matter.

Baxter stumbled as he walked, not surprised by her rejection but rather a tone of her voice as she said it. She sounded so serious. “You do not think I am a good instructor? I did not make the horse run off.” He tried to remind her but Evangeline fell silent. She would not discuss this further with him. In truth, she never wanted Baxter to teach her just for this reason. He tried to speak several times but quickly realised that she was not going to talk about it and so fell into silence beside her.

Of course, his attitude did not say sober for long and as they reached the stables he handed her horses reins to the nearest stable boy. “Evangeline?”

She considered continuing to ignore him but she couldn’t. She just wasn’t that kind of person, and while she knew it was a bad idea, she turned to Baxter. “Yes?”

He paused, looking down at his hands before Baxter spoke. “Please do not retire me out of your life.” His voice was so low that his words had been a brief mumble. Evangeline could not be certain she heard him correctly at all.

Evangeline instantly felt terrible. Baxter who was commonly so forward and cheeky, who could come up with a retort to every word that passed her lips looked ashamed. Had she finally made him realise that she was serious about rejecting him? She looked at him and Baxter offered a small smile that seemed to only ghost over his features before he withdrew again. “I will not retire you.”

He opened his arms for an embrace and she nodded before hugging him in return. Instantly she wished she hadn’t. His hands locked around her form, trapping her against him. Evangeline tried to pull back but Baxter held her. His hand started at her back and even through the layers of garments she felt his fingers trail down her spine, leaving their marks on her as they followed the curve of her body, and over the swell of her derriere.

Groaning in her ear and apparently aroused even as she fought him as best she could, Baxter thrust his hips forward and pinned her pelvis against his groin. “Baxter!” Evangeline looked around frantically for the source of the voice and found Glais standing in the doorway of the barn. The appearance of his brother made Baxter let her go and when given the options she went to her future husband. There was no contest in her decision, although Evangeline was too bewildered to do more than stumble in Glais’ direction.

She looked up him, expecting Glais to show some concern at what he had witnessed. Evangeline wanted Glais to be looking at her and nothing else and yet clearly his attention was on the other person in the room. He had no eyes for her, but a glaring power that was directed on Baxter that could not be shifted since he spoke. Preparing for a confrontation, Evangeline watched on.

Just as quickly, the glare was gone and Glais was acting like he had seen nothing. Evangeline watched as he approached his brother with a casual step, his cold exterior once again taking over and Evangeline was left alone, confused. Did Glais really not care about her that much? Even Baxter seemed confused by Glais’ attitude but he recovered faster than Evangeline did.

“Brother, I didn’t think I would see you down in the stables.” Baxter’s eyes moved from Glais to Evangeline but she offered him nothing and would give no excuses for his behaviour. Secretly she was hoping that Glais would somehow defend her honour. Evangeline could still feel the imprint of Baxter’s hands on her, the pressure of his hips against hers. She shivered and wished to be cleaned.

“Evangeline, you are dismissed.” Glais even took the time to look over his shoulder at her.

“I am dismissed?” she asked, not believing him.

Glais turned on his heel to face her fully. “Do not make me repeat myself, Evangeline. You are dismissed.” He was forceful in his statement and Evangeline was taken back by it.

She grabbed the sides of her skirts and curtseyed to him. “As you wish.” It took far more control than she dared admit to walking away. Believing Glais meant to speak to Baxter about his behaviour she paused just outside the door and held her breath steady to listen in.

“Glais, why do you treat her so poorly?” Baxter asked his brother, Glais watching the doorway and counting to ten before he answered. He was giving her time to be out of earshot of the door, and time for himself to calm his warring inner feelings and speak to Baxter on the matter that had brought him to the stables in the first place.

“How I treat my wife is of no one's concern but my own. Father has been on my case since her arrival to be nicer to her and even Mother had decided I need to change my approach. You need not worry. Everyone seems to have an opinion and yours has been noted. Like theirs, it will be swiftly ignored.”

Baxter sighed. “Since you seem so disenchanted with her then why not give us your blessing?”

Glais let out a barking laugh. “I am not sure what kind of tonics you are on little brother but she wants nothing to do with you.”

Baxter pouted, puffing up his chest with false bravado as he faced his brother. “At least, I want her around. It is only a matter of time before she sees that I am a far better candidate.”

Glais said nothing, merely looked his brother over with a critical eye until he became uncomfortable. “I didn’t come here to discuss Evangeline.”

Baxter rose an eyebrow at the news. “I was assuming after what you saw this would be the big speech on how to leave your lady alone.”

“And why would I do that?” Glais seemed generally curious.

“Well, you saw us.” Baxter smirked, feeling like what Glais had witnessed was something to peacock over.

Glais watched his brothers’ smug reaction, and just shook his head in reply. “I saw her. I saw the horror and disgust, I saw her fighting and I saw her hating every part of you that was pressed against her.” Baxter grumbled in response to the retelling of what was intimacy in his own memory. “I watched her struggle in your grasp Baxter and I know she will never allow you the chance to attempt such a thing again. I do not need to warn you away because she will never let you get close enough again.” Glais smiled, enjoying to see Baxter struggle.

“I am not certain what you thought was going to happen Bax. How such an action could actually turn a woman into yours when she clearly has it in her mind that her duty to her family is far more important than any other contact she could make here. She had chosen me even if it kills her, and she will never stop trying. Sad perhaps, but true to her character.” Glais shrugged, turned swiftly to the door and feeling that he saw some nothing from the corner of his eye but dismissed it.

“Now if you are done with discussing women, I would like to tell you that you will be leading the next hunting party against those who attacked the carriage. The rebels have an insider, which means they are getting information out and back to base. You need to find this individual.” Glais instructed his brother who was frowning at him.

“Isn’t that something you should be sending one of the lesser ranking officers out to do?” It did not sound like something he should be doing. His rank was far more important than a little mystery such as this. “I should be leading the attack on the rebellion’s home turf and their main camp if indeed they have one.”

Glais smiled and shrugged. “Maybe you will consider this before you lay your hands on what is mine.” He patted his brother’s cheek before leaving Baxter to the stables. Glais half expected to see Evangeline on the other side of the door but when he came to inspect, there was no one there. Not caring enough to wonder where she had run off to, he returned to the castle.

A
fter the events of the stables, Evangeline had started spending more time on her own, partaking in general activities that required no assistance. Avoiding both Glais and Baxter, and Quintus because she did not wish to explain to the King why she was avoiding his sons, left her very few places free to roam. Knowing that either of them could find her and corner her, Evangeline had taken recently to venturing through the open gardens. Many exit points and very few corners made the location preferable.

Walking through the gardens and appreciating their fresh and healthy look, Evangeline came to sit on a bench. On top of ignoring the royals, she was also avoiding the staff in an effort to stop their gossiping ways. It was far easier to ignore the glances of the servants when she met less of them. Evangeline was embarrassed to admit how long it took for her to learn that lesson. If her heritage and planned future did not get people talking, her eating habits surely did. Once again she had not eaten breakfast that morning. She simply could not settle her stomach. That unease and build of anxiety made her feel like she could not keep any food down. The flip-flop twisting of her stomach hadn’t settled much since she first got here and Baxter’s attack in the barn had only intensified it. With all of her support stolen from her, Evangeline’s anxiety was out of control.

She needed a friend. Deprived of both Teagan and Viviana since coming to Braykith, Evangeline had suffered through the week of being locked inside her own head. She felt like a dog chasing her own tail, yet she was aware enough to realise it was a madly driven hunt. Wick said nothing still and Glais was worse than distant. Kyleigh spoke to her during meals and seemed pleasant but the conversations were never mentally stimulating, and, of course, Baxter’s attempts to woo her had forced Evangeline to avoid him as much as possible. Quintus was King of the land and, therefore, no friendship could be cultivated, and Adeline was too young.

Even if the Princess was closer to Evangeline’s age, she doubted that she could find the kind of support that Evangeline was accustomed too. Adeline would have established friendships of her own and would not need her sister in law ruining her childish fun. Evangeline remembered her own desires to run lose from the watchful eye of her tutors and parents. Adeline seemed to have her same wandering spirit.

Every day was like the day before it and Glais was only putting more space between them. Evangeline was lost, homesick and with no guidance. She had done all that had been asked of her and yet it seemed that this life would sooner kill her than give her the new start she had imagined. It was not just going to work itself out. To make it all worse, Evangeline had never been in this situation before and so whenever she attempted new plans, the reality worked out much differently to her fantasy conclusions. Before, if she needed anything she would speak to Viviana and she would then have it as soon as it was possible. There were no such luxuries here as far as Evangeline could see.

Rising from her seat, Evangeline started going through the names of all the people she knew here in Braykith and recounted all of the interactions with staff looking for any small hope she could cling to. Suddenly she remembered there was one person she knew who could not be written off too quickly.

Sigourney was advisor and negotiator for Quintus.

In her position as his negotiator, she was often trusted with some of the most valuable information of the Kingdom. Sigourney had seemed friendly enough when they had first met, and she didn’t instantly make Evangeline want to roll her eyes like some of the conversation she endured with Kyleigh.

Evangeline headed back into the castle proper. Seeing one of the maids, she steadied her nerves and approached the young man.

“Hello?”

The boy stopped and looked first one way and then another before he realised it was indeed him that she was addressing. “Lady Evangeline.” He bowed to her and Evangeline was quick to motion for him to rise.

“I am looking for Sigourney, and I am still not familiar enough with her routine to make a judgement.” She prompted him to give her the answers she needed.

“Of course. The library is the best bet. She is still learning the King’s trade.”

Evangeline nodded. “Yes, of course. Thankyou.” She moved off before the interaction got awkward. It seemed that the locals of Braykith were still uncertain on how best to interact with her. She wondered if they had their own rumours about Crimah just as she had been raised on legends of dragons and demons.

The library was one of the rooms that she as quite good at finding regardless of her position in the castle. She was unsure why, but her feet simply found the heavy doors without much determination to set them in motion. She was confident that she could find it again now armed with the directions from the young boy.

Turning down the now familiar hallway, Evangeline was practising a mental introduction. She was trying to find the right way to start this friendship and did not want to sound desperate or as sad as she actually felt. Was this how life usually worked? Evangeline did not think it was usual for her. She never knew loneliness before coming to Braykith and it tainted all that she did now. Repeating the introduction for Sigourney in her head, Glais’ bedroom door opened.

She froze mid-step and came face to face with the girl who was sneaking out. She jumped when she recognised who Evangeline was and bowed her head.

“I’m sorry.” The girl whispered, but it seemed so loud to Evangeline as she struggled to try to breathe, let alone find an appropriate response to her.

Quickly her hand snapped out and Evangeline was surprised that she had the girl by the jaw and forced her to look up and meet her eyes to eye. “What is your name?” Evangeline demanded. Not yet strong enough in her own voice Evangeline was still doing mimics of her mother during times like this. The intimidation worked surprisingly well on Braykith servants, but also gave them gossip.

“Mary.” She looked everywhere but at Evangeline. She could force her head up but she couldn’t force Mary’s eyes to stop darting around the hallway and looking anywhere but directly at her. Evangeline stayed silent, letting it work its magic on the girl until she started speaking. “I didn’t think.”

“You didn’t think.” Evangeline sneered and shoved her away with such force that Mary stumbled and only just managed to stay standing.

“It isn’t what you think it is.” Mary attempted to clear her name and reputation. Evangeline paused and took a deep breath to steady herself. It would do no one any good for people to find their future queen in a brawl with a servant girl. She was also quite aware that all the pain of the past weeks was coming down on this one girl, but secretly Evangeline felt she deserved it.

Mary stammered over her words, her hands planted against the wall beside the door as she dared not move after almost falling backwards by Evangeline’s shove. Mary was trying to find the words to explain what she was doing sneaking out of Glais’ room. That was not an easy task when the threat of her own death loomed over her if Mary dared speak out loud. She was quick to stop when Evangeline silenced her with a single gesture.

“Mary, if you felt the need to apologise upon seeing who I was then you were not in the room changing my husband’s sheets.” Mary lowered her head in shame and Evangeline enjoyed her victory for just moments before the door opened again and Glais appeared.

“Evangeline.” He addressed her by her full name with the same indifference as every other time he had seen her. It was all a grand disguise, Glais such a master of the art he was sure that Evangeline could not even guess at his real feelings. Since the stables, he had been more careful about the women. In truth, this was not a deliberate show of his activities, but rather an accidental run-in. She may not believe it but he did not mean for Evangeline to see Mary, or any of them really. Evangeline seemed to be a creature of habit with her daily activities not differing much over time. She shouldn’t have been in the hallway at this time of day.

He was not a cruel man but Glais was hoping that if he showed her short attention then perhaps in some way she would find a way to live on without him. All Glais wanted for Evangeline was for her to find some kind of peace in Braykith and yet it seemed that all he did was bring her pain. There were facts about him that she couldn’t know and so this was his solution. His mother had told him it would only hurt her further but Glais felt better having a plan, even if it was obviously flawed. He was hoping if perhaps Evangeline could find it in her heart to hate him, then Glais would not need to see her hurt.

“Mary, come back.” Glais forced himself to say it even though he no appetite for anything she could offer him.

Evangeline felt cold, but she would not force herself to watch Glais take another woman over her, or give him the opportunity to make her more of a fool. “One day Glais we need to talk.” She had been trying to talk to him for days but he was avoiding her and seemed three steps ahead at all times. This couldn’t continue, not like this but it seemed Glais didn’t even care enough for that small decency.

“One day, we might. But not today.” Glais offered Mary his hand but she gently refused. Evangeline wasn’t sure if it was because she was standing right there or not. She would not ask to find out. Stepping past Mary, she resumed her mission for the library.

Glais watched her leave. He had the unfortunate pleasure of watching her retreat often and had an excellent appreciation for her backside. He knew when she walked angrily she had an extra sway to her hips, the garments that had been made for her exaggerated the shapes of her body and only made her more appealing. Glais sighed, crossing his arms over his chest and shaking his head gently. It was a cruel trick from Xado himself that she should be blessed with such a woman and yet could not have her in fear of the eventual outcome.

“Sir?” Mary asked and interrupted him. She wasn’t quite sure what was going on but she needed to know if Glais did need her again or was she truly free to go as he had promised.

“No. Go.” Glais waved her off. “I was only looking to save you from her further torment.”

Mary nodded but she didn’t walk away like she knew she should. Mary pulled her dark hair forward over her shoulder, twisting it in her hands before she realised it violated the hair ruling of Braykith and quickly she dropped it back like a curtain. “She needs to know about you, sir. It would be better for us all.” Mary’s voice stumbled over itself as she forced herself to finish what she had started. She was afraid to express her opinions, wondering if anything she said would put her in the grave before her time. It was a tricky thing, to know a secret and never knowing what was safe and what wasn’t.

Mary had never spoken to Glais about this before, and she wasn’t sure if anyone else had been brave enough to bring it up either. Often when they were alone, they did not spend time on speaking. After the act, Glais was quick to clean her up and let her leave. She had never said so many words at once to him before, and Mary was not sure on how well Glais could take her criticism. Looking at him now, Mary knew she shouldn’t have said a thing.

“I will decide what my wife needs to know.” Mary’s advice echoed inside his head, though, affecting him more than she would realise and he would never give her credit for it. What she had said was very close to what his father had told him, and yet Glais still ignored the advice because he believed that he knew better. Glais certainly knew himself better and sharing this part of his life with Evangeline was not something either of them would survive. How could she accept it?

If she struggled with what she thought was the truth now, how could she react to knowing the curse that had befallen his family? Being forced into a betrothal was a mistake his parents had made, but no one could force him to move through the motions as they dictated. He would marry Evangeline because it was his duty, and he would spend his lifetime keeping her from ever discovering the truth. It was the only way to ensured that she survived Braykith. Glais cleared his throat gently, running his hand back through his hair. The action smoothed it out as his fingers pulled the strands back. “Do you want to be removed from my menu?” Glais asked Mary.

Mary hesitated for a brief moment before she finally shook her head now. “It is an honour that you have chosen me my liege.” Her curtsey deep, she held the posture until Glais indicated for her to stand. Glais retreated back into his own rooms and left Mary to do whatever it was she did aftyer their time together. He was aware that each girl had their own rituals. Each girl had a way of dealing with his perversions, and Glais did his best not to interrupt them. He was glad that Mary didn’t take him up on his offer to dismiss her permanently. He liked her.

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Evangeline, in her rush to escape the trauma in the hallway, had gone straight by the library doors. When she realised what she had done, doubling back she somehow managed to miss them again. Glais as playing on her mind and affecting her more than he deserved to. His actions since the barn had just proceeded to get worse and more distant. What he was doing now felt so far out of character, which in itself was madness because how well did she know Glais beyond one meeting on her arrival and a handful of non-committal letters exchanged? She was hardly the best judge of what was to be considered normal for him.

She had continued to wear the ring made of gold and onyx that he had presented her with at their first meeting because it seemed disrespectful to his family. Very quickly it had become a daily reminder of that first man who had walked her to her door on that first night. That man looked just like Glais, but he was not the man she had heard such stories about. His wit, his strength of character and with a sword were the stories she had been raised on, and comforted with when she did have doubts. Glais was a brave soul who had the blood of a leader in his veins. Once she had been proud of him. Now Evangeline struggled as that imaginary Glais that lived in her imagination and battled against the truth regularly.