Page 137 of Faeling
Looking up, she gravely nodded. “She’ll meet with you.”
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From her higher vantage atop the basilica steps, Ravenna watched as three pairs of spelled manacles, bundled safely in layers of cloth and tied up in a discreet sack, were loaded into one of the side baskets of a waiting takin. It wasn’t a vision that compelled her to take them along but instinct. Perhaps, if their first plan of a dirk to Amaranthe’s heart didn’t come to pass, the manacles could be of use.
As Ravenna slipped her leather gloves on, she felt a gentle movement of air beside her. Looking up, she beheld Eydis grinning kindly down at her.
“Good luck,tristah. I fear you’ll need it.”
“Thank you, Eydis. For everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet. And don’t say it like you aren’t coming back.”
Ravenna smiled stiffly. She hadn’t let herself dwell on her lack of visions past Amaranthe’s fall. Oh, she still had plenty of visions, but they were the same strange, unsettling images againand again. White lashes. A white unicorn. Amaranthe falling. The burn of saltwater in her eyes. Vallek in irons…
Stomach clenching, she pushed those thoughts aside. Today wasn’t the day for worries.
No, today was a show of confidence and strength.
Although the berserkers knew only that they headed for the western coast—the rest of the populace told simply that they went to negotiate with the fae—it was clear that this was no normal mission. Even when escorting Hrothgar’s party back to Innrinhom, there hadn’t been so much fanfare.
Atop their usual armor, all the berserkers wore burgundy surcoats with golden trim and the crossed axe emblem of Vallek Far-Sight. Every other warrior at the edge of the column, alternating rows, held a banner that flapped in the gentle autumn breeze. Even the takin and onagers were swathed in burgundy cloth, their halters and bridles inlaid with golden axes.
At the far side of the courtyard stood Vallek, resplendent in his regalia. He too wore a long surcoat, trimmed in gold. A heavy gold gorget hung round his neck, the leather strap hidden by his mating torque, and a circlet of gold sat round his head, a ruby as large as an egg inset at the center. Ears and tusks capped in gold, with a dozen hoops dangling from his ears, and Hormhím strapped to his wide leather belt, he was every inch the conquering king.
Ravenna herself wore similar attire, Hilde delighting in playing with the form of the surcoat to make something for her. And it wasn’t just Hilde and her seamstresses working long hours to prepare—the smiths and tanners were set to work on creating a suit of light, flexible leather armor for Ravenna, plated strategically in steel.
It was perhaps the most comfortable thing Ravenna had everworn. So many brilliant craftspeople had poured hours and hours of work into her kit, from her leather boots, cuisse-plated trou, fitted silk gambeson, etched leather-and-plate greaves, her own gorget with a unicorn engraved on its face, as well as her own circlet with a matching ruby. The craftspeople had thought of everything, even hidden slits at the back to allow her wings through, if needed.
She didn’t plan on getting thrown off a cliff this time, though. Of course, she hadn’t planned on it the first time, either. So better to be prepared.
Ravenna and Eydis watched as Asta bounded up the steps. She, too, was outfitted in finery, a golden armband on her right bicep denoting her rank as the king’s sister. Vallek had asked her to personally guard Ravenna and help her with whatever she might need to prepare for the ambush.
Winking beneath the visor of her helm, she asked, “Ready?”
“No, but let’s go, all the same.” Turning to Eydis, Ravenna said, “Until we see each other again,tristah.”
In a rare show of affection, Eydis wrapped her up in a fierce embrace. “It’ll be so quiet without all of you.”
When Eydis released Ravenna, Asta leaned in to peck her sister’s cheek. “Will you miss me too,tristah?”
“Just barely.” Eydis kissed both her cheeks. Squeezing Asta’s shoulders, Eydis commanded, “Run swift, be safe, return soon.”
“If you insist.”
With final farewells, Ravenna and Asta descended into the courtyard to take their places at the front of the column.
Nerves fluttered in Ravenna’s belly at the sight they made. Warriors bobbed their heads in respect as she walked up the line, some greeting her,my queen, my lady, Your Majesty.Ravenna returned their greetings, still not quite sure if this was real.
Her plans to move against Amaranthe had been barely more than ideas for so long. Even with Vallek’s help, with messengers sent, there wasn’t truly anything for her todoto further the plan. Now, though…Now, it was the beginning of the end.
What would that little halfling girl, hidden away by the sea with her mother, think of all this? Striding down the line of warriors, crown atop her head, Ravenna looked like the warrior queen she might have read about with her mother in one of their storybooks. With every step, she convinced herself she was such a queen.
It was surreal. Unbelievable. And yet, as she made the front of the column, it was she who took the offered hand of the king. It was she who received his kiss to the back of her hand and his rumbled, “My queen.”
It was more than her warrior’s attire that matched his own. It was more than the crown on her head and the emblems emblazoned across her chest.
Today, for the first time, Ravenna felt at the beginning of something great. Like running down a hill, legs wheeling to keep upright, she sped onwards, careening toward destiny.
