Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (20 page)

I sat by the window, staring out. Emptiness shrouded me, and I couldn’t feel anything other than heartache.

Avikar and Derrick … both of them … dead. Cold crept into my dress, and I hugged myself trying to remove the chill.
How could this happen? They were there because of me, and now they’re dead.
Tears streamed down my face. I should have sent word to Mother and Poppa but I couldn’t. The loss would kill them both. Another son gone.

And Derrick, sweet, charming Derrick. The only boy who flustered when I whispered in his ear, and the only boy to ever kiss me. He may not have been a dashing lord or one of the king’s knights, but he had protected me since we were little. Our friendship grew and one day, maybe we would have married. Derrick would have been a kind husband and a loving father. Instead, Avikar and he would rot away in the ground, leaving nothing but dust and bones.

I looked to the door as Lucino entered the room, then returned to staring out the window.

“How are you feeling?” he asked. He’d moved so quickly, I was shocked to see him at my side.

There were no words to describe how I felt, only tears.

“I am sorry, Jeslyn. Would you like to see more of Daath?”

I sniffled and wiped my eyes. “Can you take me where there’s no pain?” My words came out raspy and hoarse.

“That I can do,” he said, taking my hand.

We were far in Daath’s woods. Lucino allowed me to ride with him. I didn’t have the strength to ride a horse. We rode past a few awkwardly bent trees covered in green moss. I hugged Lucino’s waist tighter, waiting for the scenery to change, and it did.

Massive white-flowered willows arched above us, a canopy of sleeping leaves. Bushes filled with red and violet specks of color surrounded the ancient trees, leaving me breathless with their beauty. The air grew hazier the deeper we went. A low rhythmic humming replaced the silence. I searched for the noise, wondering what natural thing could be creating such a beautiful harmony of harmonic sound.

Hummingbirds dotted around bushes, almost invisible. Their gossamer wings flapped rapidly, carrying their delicate green bodies from bush to bush. The sight both wowed and pained me because it made me think of Calli and how much she loved hummingbirds.

The horse trotted down a slight incline into an enclosed garden.

“We’re here,” Lucino said, and stopped the horse.

We were in a secret place hidden in the middle of the forest. A small waterfall fell from a high ridge, pouring into a clear pool. A tree with gnarled roots reached into the pool, almost like steps, and a thin mist hovered over everything.

Lucino dismounted and then helped me off.

“What is this place?” I asked, entranced by the magnetic beauty. I could feel the sorrow lighten as I breathed in the fresh air.

Lucino took my hand as we walked. “A sacred grotto. These waters hold power.”

“Power?” I found a spot on the mossy floor, right by the edge of the hypnotizing pool, and sat.

“Healing power.”

Could it be possible? I dipped my hand into the water, expecting to feel a sense of magic but only felt the cool liquid.

“You look disappointed.” Lucino leaned against the tree, arms folded.

I patted the ground next to me. He raised an eyebrow. I patted again.

“Very well,” he said, a little begrudgingly.

I smiled at the annoyance on his face as he tried to clear a space free of dirt. “Afraid to get those regal clothes of yours stained?”

His mouth hung open for a moment as if he had an excellent response, but he said nothing. Instead, he muttered a word I didn’t quite catch.

Satisfied he was a bit more relaxed, I went back to admiring the enchanted pool. “To think water could hold such a quality,” I said and dipped my hand back in, letting it wash over my nails and fingers. “Think of all the people it could help.”

Past the pool, where the beginning of a grotto jutted out, I saw a flash of blue. Vibrant blue. Then another. Then three more. A mass of blue, more brilliant than the blue jays back home, swirled toward me.

The closer the mass came, the better I could see. Butterflies. A single swarm of them. Lucino scoffed as the butterflies flew around me.

“Disgusting things,” he said and went to flick one.

“Don’t!” I grabbed his hand. My eyes widened as the butterflies flew in a singular motion and landed on my arms. Suddenly, a warm sensation fluttered in my body and joy burst through my chest. I didn’t dare move, afraid to scare the magical creatures away. Whatever they were doing to me, I didn’t want it to stop.

“That’s strange,” Lucino said. “They’ve never touched anyone before.” Lucino’s forehead scrunched together as he glanced at the creatures decorating me.

Then as fast as they came, they left. I watched them fly away, taking with them a sense of longing. “They’re beautiful.” I turned to Lucino, who still looked a bit perplexed. “What do you know about them?”

Lucino’s brows narrowed, his gaze followed the disappearing blue. “We believe they are the keepers of this grotto, old spirits watching over the waters.”

Wonder swelled in my chest.
This place is magical.

“Thank you, Lucino. Everything you’ve shown me here, it’s all breathtaking.”

The blue in Lucino’s eyes shined, and I dared to move closer until my dress brushed the side of his outstretched leg. The medallion he wore around his neck sparkled under the waning light. I reached out to touch it. “May I?”

He nodded.

I lifted the heavy necklace and rubbed my thumb across the snake emblem. “What is this? You’re never without it.”

“It is called the ouroboros. It means eternity.” He lifted the chain around his neck and held up the symbol. “This is the spiral of life.”

“It’s a bit dark.”

He smiled. “Would you rather I wear a butterfly around my neck, my lady?”

I laughed. “That would be very interesting. I can imagine all your guards wearing butterflies on their armor.”

Lucino laughed, and for the first time, his face brightened. Since we’d met, Lucino had always acted proper and very formal. I’d never seen him relax or enjoy himself. Seeing this side of him opened a flurry of different emotions. In this place, he wasn’t a lord, and I wasn’t a peasant. We were simply two people lost in the magic.

“Thank you for bringing me here,” I said, and reached for his hand.

His eyes searched mine. He grabbed my hand, sending my heart into a whirlwind. “You may come here anytime you like.”

“I’d like that, very much.”

The next day, Raven showed me around town, Bruno trailing behind us. His dumb, dopey smile made me smile. Derrick went with Jericho to follow a lead. Apparently, Jericho’s good buddy had overhead another guard talk about Lucino’s betrothed while visiting the “tunnels”—no idea what those were, but I knew Derrick would bug Jericho for a deeper explanation. I wanted to go, but Jericho couldn’t take both of us. Too risky. Derrick argued with me for a good portion of the morning, and I finally gave in.

Back to the market we went. With Derrick, I hadn’t paid attention to any of the vendors or wares. We were too busy scouting. Even with an escort, I felt a little uneasy. I kept thinking a local would notice me. They’d scream OUTSIDER and then I’d have to fight my way out. Luckily, nothing like that happened.

Raven talked about Daath. She was clueless to the rest of the world. She thought Daath more advanced than the primitive lands surrounding it. She described Lucino as god-like both in stature and appearance. I wondered if she knew he could shapeshift into a reptile.

“You ever wonder why people think Lucino is a god?” I watched her face, waiting to see if she knew anything more than she claimed.

“Well, there are stories, but they’re old fables. None of them are true.”

If she only knew. “Tell me one.”

We passed by a vendor selling smoked meat. My stomach growled.

Her eyes darted to the right and left, just like the other day.

“Don’t worry, you can trust me,” I said, nudging her shoulder with mine. “They’re not true anyway, right?”

“He’s been ruling for longer than anyone can remember, and yet, hasn’t aged a day. Some think he wields powerful magic, but I don’t believe it. Daath has powerful herbs. I know because I collect them for coin. I’ve heard the herbalist in town talk about a mandrake that can renew the skin to younger years. I bet Lucino found it.”

She stopped in front of a weapon merchant. A gleaming rapier caught my eye.
That is true beauty.
 

“Excuse me,” I said. I squeezed past her to pick up the blade.

Iron.

It made sense that Daath would have iron weapons. There had to be mines on this side of the mountains. The merchant had a table full of daggers, short swords, throwing knives, spiked maces and even a doubled headed axe. It was a shame Derrick wasn’t here to see the collection.

Placing the blade back on the pile, I searched for Raven.

She’d walked over to a nearby fruit merchant who was talking to a man in an oversized hat. She strolled by, and when the two men began arguing, she flicked her wrist, grabbed an apple and shoved it in her pocket.

That little thief.

She walked by a few more carts before heading back to me. “Find anything you like?” she asked.

“He’s got a nice collection.” I gestured at the weapons merchant.

We started walking again. Once we bended the corner, she took the apple out of her pocket.

“Can I have some? I’m starving.” I rubbed my belly and winced.

“Sure.” She tossed the apple to me, and I shoved it into my cape.

Without giving her an explanation, I turned around and headed to the fruit merchant.

“Where are you going?” She asked while following me.

I grinned and kept walking.

She ran in front of me, pressing her palms against my chest. “Avikar, what are you doing? You’re not going to tattle are you?”

I winked and walked to the fruit merchant.

“Hello, good sir.” The fruit merchant nodded, and I pointed to a bunch of apples. “I’ll have two of those and one of those oranges in the back.” When he turned around, I took out the apple. “And this one too.”

He nodded, and since I didn’t have a basket, he dumped them in my arms.