Page 192 of Eldritch
Father turned back to the map, probably dismissing the dragon as a figment of his imagination, as calm as he seemed about it. “We were discussing the safest route to the mountains.”
“We’ll be taking the other path.” The sharp edge of Zevander’s tone left little room for dispute. “Unless there’s more than ghosts that consume churches and people?”
“You’re not exactly fit to denounce the supernatural, with your spectral creatures and whims of witchcraft.”
“Spectral.” Zevander sneered. “And you hardly seem fit for travel, so I’m recommending you stay back.”
Father squared his shoulders against the much bigger man. “If you think I’m letting you skip off to those mountains alone with my two daughters, you are sorely mistaken.”
“It’s safe here. With plenty of food. You’ll slow us down.” While there may have been a kernel of truth to his words, I winced at their painfully cold delivery. “Aleysia can stay with you.”
Aleysia scoffed from where she sat raking the brush through her hair. “I am not staying here in the temple where I was almost burned at the stake.”
Palms planted on the table, Zevander hung his head, clearly growing impatient. “The bigger our group, the longer it’ll take to get there.”
Aleysia lowered her brush and crossed her arms. “Is Maevyth going?”
“Yes,” I said, before Zevander had the opportunity to say otherwise.
“Then, I’m going, as well.”
Zevander groaned, running his hand down his face.
“I know where there are horses,” Corwin added quietly. “At least a dozen or so. Well, last I knew, anyway. I was in charge of feeding them at one time.”
“Where?” Zevander’s eyes narrowed on him.
“Below. There’s a stable that was built after the Scallym plague a little over two centuries ago. It can house up to two dozen livestock. Sacton Crain had the pigs and goats slaughtered for meat, so only the horses remain. He felt it was imperative to keep them alive, in the event we had to escape quickly.”
“An entire village and only a dozen horses?” Zevander raised a brow, voicing the same question burning through my mind. “Doesn’t sound like he planned for everyone’s escape.”
Corwin shrugged. “I suppose not.”
“Show me this stable.” The skepticism weighed thick in Zevander’s tone, but when he shot me a quick glance, I was the one who turned suspicious of the assassin’s sudden curiosity.
“I’m going with you.” I stepped toward them as if they might try to run off. How easy it would’ve been for him to slip away with one of the horses and head to the mountains himself.
Zevander’s eyes were on me then, his argument already forming in that resistant gaze. “We’ll need supplies for our travels. Blankets. Any weapons you can scrounge.”
“I’m certain Father and Aleysia can manage that,” I battled back.
“You’re concerned I’m going to leave without you.”
“Aren’t you?”
“And risk that you’ll foolishly come after me, anyway? No. I’d rather spare myself the headache.” He languidly crossed the room toward me with a slow, smoldering confidence and a look of amusement in his eyes. “I’m in no mood to stoke your scheming.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Well, at least you’re beginning to recognize how foolishly defiant I can be.”
“Indeed.” He bowed toward me and pressed a kiss to my lips. “I’m enchanted by your defiance.”
Corwin cleared his throat. “So…shall we, then?”
Zevander didn’t bother to break his gaze from mine, but a tic beneath his eye hinted at his annoyance, before he strode from the room with Corwin following after him.
Aleysia crossed her arms and tipped her head. “I dunno. I think I see the three of you getting along swimmingly in a relationship.”
“Aleysia Bronwick. We’ll have none of that talk,” Father warned.
