Page 5 of Burn Bright
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Ididn't know how to tell my father and sisters I'd had no luck hunting—I always brought something home with me—and the failure sat rank upon mygut.
But it turned out I had noneed.
Densby was in an uproar. An enormous bonfire burned merrily in the center of the village as I slipped from the woods, and laughter echoed. Shadows reared across the walls of nearby houses, far too many to count. There were men everywhere in the early twilight, bedecked in hunting leathers and wearing vambraces with steel inserts. Not the Twilight Company, the mercenaries who roamed out of nearby Marietta, by the look of them. These men were clean-shaven and every boot I laid eyes upongleamed.
I stowed my bow and quiver in the house, finding it empty. Whatever excitement filled the village had also drawn the attention of my sisters, and presumably my father, so I went to find them. It was rare he left home thesedays.
Averill leaned against the wall of the inn, her long silky dark hair bound into a plait. She watched the newcomers with jaded eyes, though her gaze lingered on the one in the red brocade, with his shining goldhair.
"Who are they?" I asked, coalescing out of theshadows.
Averill started. "Vashta's tits, could you grant me a littlewarning?"
"But where would the fun be in that?" Igrinned.
She punched me in thearm.
Normally this would be the start of a glorious wrestling match, but I couldn't contain my curiosity. "Flaxen hair, polished steel, and... is that a velvet cloak?" My gaze caressed the handsome stranger. "Clearly from the south, and wearing a sad attempt at court attire. Looks like he came straight from somebordello."
Averill snorted. "I daresay he did, though not in the way you meanit."
"He has gemstones on his sword," I mocked, waggling my eyebrows at her. "I won't believe he's any experience with actualfighting."
"That's because he's the prince," Averill said. "He doesn't have to fight. Everyone else does it forhim."
"Theprince?"
The prince ofCymberlon?
"Prince Evaron," Averill replied, and I couldn't stop my jaw from dropping open. "Clearly he's wearingactualcourt attire, you uncouth brat. You should go and kiss his boots, and beg hisforgiveness."
"I'd rather roll in Tolbert'spigsty."
The king was not a name to be revered around here. Every year the taxes went up. Too many northerners had starved so the king could fight his precious wars down south. The recent treaty with the Varian Empire had brought an end to the fighting, but I daresay it wouldn't bring a lowering of thetaxes.
We were far to the north of Caskill, the capital city. Evaron was the Crown Prince, and first in line to the throne; the older brother of Prince Rygil. Rumors came out of Caskill that neither prince was cold and ruthless like their father, King Euric, but he showed little sign of dying anytime soon. Indeed, Prince Evaron had gotten in a great deal of trouble the previous summer for offering a favor to the princessa of Lydes, which lined out borders, instead of the duchess he was supposed to bemarrying.
I could believe that, staring now at his prettyface.
Vashta's fires, what was he doinghere?
Densby and Marietta were the last hints of civilization before one hit the great forest. There was nothing but mountains on the other side of the Gravenwold Woods, though some said the ruins of the long-shattered Empire of Velide lingered high in the mountains. Great forts lingered there in unkempt piles. They'd been overrun centuries ago, when darkness crept out of Gravenwold and slowly overtook the Empire'sborders.
"If he's here, then he's bringing trouble with him," Isaid.
"Tolbert’s pigsty might be the only safe place," Averill said, eyeing the prince with a considering eye. "They say he’s a liking for thelasses."
"It sounds like you want to kiss something other than his boots," Isuggested.
"I’drather—"
"Aye, he's the prince," said a cold voice behind me, "and the pair of you should be showing him somerespect."
A flinch of surprise ran through me. I hadn't heard anyone moving behind us, which was rare indeed. The same gifts that made the forest my home, and my body come alive there, also granted me exceptional sight andhearing.
Averill gasped, and we both spunaround.
