Deepwoods (Book 1) (37 page)

Fei and Beirly, both sopping wet, raised their hands. Oh, of
course. She should have figured that. They were the strongest swimmers in the
guild, after all. “Thank you,” she said to them sincerely, or tried to through
her chattering teeth.

Wolf put both arms underneath her and rose to his feet. “We
can talk about it later, after you are warm and dry.”

Wonderful plan.

After hearing what had happened, Jarnsmor and Darrens wasted
no time in sending guards. Jarnsmor’s men, having a ready path to travel,
arrived first, with the Blackstone men due in two days later. Siobhan and Markl
spent the next day in bed, as neither of them had escaped the explosion
completely unscathed. Markl’s quick reflexes had saved them from being burned,
but chunks of stone had still impacted the water hard enough to hit them as
well, leaving behind bruises and one fractured wrist. Markl was good-natured
about his injury, claiming it was a privilege to be wounded in defense of a
pretty woman. Siobhan, feeling equal parts guilty and thankful, determined that
she’d find the perfect moment in the future to pay him back the debt.

A soft knock came at the door before Wolf put his head into
the room. “You awake?”

She had spent most of the morning sleeping, still recovering
from her near-death experience of the night before. She waved him inside. “How
is everything?”

“It’s fine,” he assured her as he fully entered, taking the
small wooden chair next to her bed and moving it around to where he could face
her comfortably and talk. “Iron Dragain’s guildsmen are arranged all around the
bridge and I coached them what to look out for. Ardin said that while the explosion
did do significant damage to that portion of the bridge, it didn’t shake the
overall frame of it, so he thinks small parties can cross without danger.”

She breathed out a sigh of relief. “So we can pass over it
and go home.”

Wolf nodded confirmation. “And trade won’t stop completely,
it’ll just be bogged up a bit as people try to enter and exit Quigg. They’ll
manage a way around that until the repairs are complete.”

“They’d have to think of some sort of system anyway,” she
mused aloud, sitting up more comfortably in bed. “After all, the bridges are
going to be under renovations for years to come. We’re all going to have to
manage travel on it despite that.”

He shrugged, hand splayed in silent agreement. “And you? How
are you feeling?”

“Sore, a little tired still,” she admitted frankly. “But I’m
also ready to be home, I think. How is Markl?”

“I’m not…actually sure,” Wolf said with an odd smile on his
face.

She turned his words over, but if there was a deeper meaning
behind them, she didn’t get it. “And why wouldn’t you be?” she asked slowly,
studying his expression.

“Well, Conli said that aside from being tired, and that
fractured wrist, Markl was in good condition. And yet I haven’t seen the man
peek a toe out from underneath his covers yet.” There was a light of devilry
sparkling in Wolf’s eyes. “Sylvie’s been perched on the edge of his bed all
this while.”

“Sylvie’s playing nursemaid,” Siobhan said in enlightenment.
“Ahhh. Well, if I were Markl, I wouldn’t be moving either.”

“He’s a smart man,” Wolf agreed mock-somberly. “If I were
him, I’d do the same.”

She couldn’t help but chuckle softly, a hand lifted over her
mouth to try to stifle the sound less it be heard in Markl’s room next door.
“Wolf, tell me,” she leaned forward to ask him in a confidential tone, “how
serious is it between those two? Do you know?”

He splayed his hands out in an uncertain shrug. “I don’t
think even they know, yet. Sylvie’s attracted to him simply because he’s a kind
man, and she’s met few of those in her life. Markl’s attracted because he’s not
blind nor an idiot. You’d have to be both to not want Sylvie.”

“You never were,” she pointed out archly. “Nor Tran. Or
Fei.”

“That’s because she’s our guild-sister, and we’ve always
seen her that way. I think we all recognized from our first meeting that what
Sylvie needed was a pack of protective brothers, not more lecherous men. Markl
is seeing her as a woman, one who’s been protected for many years, and that’s a
different thing entirely from the Sylvie of seven years ago.”

Truly. Sylvie had been very nervous, wary even, of being too
close to men when she’d first joined the guild. A woman of her beauty had to
be, in order to avoid dangerous situations. She had relaxed considerably after
being so fiercely protected in Deepwoods.

Wolf watched her for a long moment before stating, “You’re
hoping that Markl’s attachment to Sylvie will make him stay in Deepwoods.”

“I am,” she admitted frankly. “The longer I’m around Markl,
the more I hope for that. Where would I have been, if not for him?”

He shook his head grimly. “I don’t even want to imagine
that.”

“But it’s not even his actions last night that make me think
so. Think how many times Markl’s knowledge, his empathy with people, his quiet
charm, has opened doors for us where there were no doors to open? He’s become
an amazing asset to the guild, one that I didn’t realize was missing. More, I
think he’s becoming at home with us. No offense to his father, or the family
that raised him, but I don’t think he ever felt he really belonged with them.
If he had, he’d have accepted his position as heir instead of running away from
it.”

“I can’t argue that.” Wolf leaned back in the chair, making
the wood creak dangerously under his weight. “Well, I have no doubt you’ll
sweet talk him into staying eventually. If you can do it with a former dark
guild mercenary, then anything is possible.”

Siobhan snorted. “You weren’t a hard sale at all. You were
so deprived of kindness and acceptance that all I had to do was feed you and
give you a smile and you were ready to stay.”

He opened his mouth, paused, then snorted. “Was I really
that pitiful?” he muttered to himself, eyes on the ceiling as if pondering
this.

“Yes,” she answered wryly. “You were. Fortunately, you grew
out of that. But onto other matters: so, Iron Dragain’s men are here. Guards
are set up. Markl and I are healthy enough to travel. Any sign of my swords?”

Wolf shook his head. “Lost to the bottom of the sea, most likely.”

Rain and drought, she’d been afraid of that. She’d have to
commission a new pair once she got back to Goldschmidt. In the meantime, she’d
have to rely on her long daggers and make do. Great wind and stars, but she
hated walking around half-armed!

Heaving a gusty sigh, she set the worry aside, to when she
would actually need to do something about it. “I feel terrible about leaving at
the moment, like I’m leaving a job half done.”

“Well, it
is
half done, but there’s nothing we can do
about that.” He gave an easy shrug. “We don’t have the skills, time, or money to
finish this task. We’re through with what we were asked to do.”

“Yes,” she nodded, but still felt unsatisfied even though he
was right. “It’s just…something tells me that this situation is far from
resolved. We don’t even know who’s really behind all these attacks. We suspect
Fallen Ward, but really, do they have the resources to reach this far and do as
much damage as what’s been done?”

“I wouldn’t have thought so.” Wolf rubbed at his chin
thoughtfully. “But there’s much about all of this that’s in want of an
explanation.”

Siobhan couldn’t have agreed more. “I don’t think we’re done
with this, Wolf. I think we’re going to be pulled back into this mess somehow.”

He grimaced. “I’m afraid you’re right. But let’s not focus
on future trouble, eh? Not until we need to.”

“You’re right.” Pushing back the covers, she swung her feet
out of the bed. “Spread the word to get ready. We’re going home.”

Island Pass, at last. Siobhan felt that the journey here had
taken at least three times longer than it really needed to. And yet, she
couldn’t help but wish it had taken even longer still, for just one reason.

Rune.

In the past hectic days and crazy nights of fending off
saboteurs, she hadn’t had a chance to really talk to Rune about his future. Now
that they had arrived on the island, the moment was upon them, and if she
didn’t say something right now then she might lose all of her chances with him.
And yet it didn’t feel right to start such a heavy, important conversation
right here in the middle of the road, either.

Taking a deep breath, she looked at the sky. They had
perhaps an hour left of daylight. So she could talk to him about it over
dinner. Right, that was a good plan. No, wait, no it wasn’t! That was assuming
he would stay with them for dinner, and stay at the same inn, and he might
think that he should go his own way now that they were on the island. She
really couldn’t wait.

Whether or not this was the appropriate place to speak to
him, she had to say something
now
.

They were all riding on the cart, piled up on top of each
other, with Rune on the opposite side of where Siobhan sat. She tucked her
knees up against her chest and spun about in a tight turn so that she could hop
off the side.

“Siobhan?” Wolf asked in bewilderment, lifting up to watch
her land. “What are you doing…? Hey!”

She ignored him and quickly walked around and to the other
side, grabbing Rune’s wrist and tugging at him insistently. “Rune, get down. I
need to talk to you.”

Rune’s eyes narrowed, questioning, but he slowly complied
and got down.

Beirly called back from the driver’s seat, “What,
now
?”

“Stop the cart, Beirly!” she ordered firmly.

He muttered something about ‘crazy woman’ and ‘no patience
sometimes’ but he pulled the cart more off to the side of the bridge before
stopping it completely. Most of the guild studied her in blatant confusion,
except Markl and Grae, who knew good and well what she would say next.

“Grae, you too,” she ordered, although her eyes never left
Rune. “I know that I said you could go wherever you wanted when we reached this
point, but there’s two things I need to tell you first.”

Rune swallowed hard. “I’m listeni’n.”

“First thing.” She paused, searching for the right words and
fumbling. “You remember when you helped Grae build the path to Quigg? You remember
what he said?”

Rune’s eyes darted to Grae and back again. “He said I was
good at it.”

“He said it took
talent
to do what you did,” she
corrected. “Rune. You are a Pathmaker.”

His jaw dropped so hard it was a wonder it didn’t crack the
stones under their feet. “C-can’t be!” he protested, his denial instinctive and
disbelieving.

“You are.” Grae came to stand at Siobhan’s side, voice not
just persuasive but intense. “You are. I saw the potential in you when you
started picking out the right stones for the stepping stone. But only a
Pathmaker could have understood the pattern like you did and laid it out so
perfectly. You have enormous talent, Rune. It surprised us as well to see it.”

His eyes went blind, staring off into the north as if he
simply couldn’t believe what he was being told.

“Sorry for not telling you before,” Siobhan apologized in
all sincerity. “I felt like I couldn’t, not until we got you out of Wynngaard.
If Jarnsmor had learned what you are, you’d never have been allowed to leave
Sateren. He would have kept a stranglehold on you and I think you deserve the
right to decide where to go. If you want to go back, I’ll help you do so, but
it should be your choice.”

“Your future is limitless once you’re trained. Markl said
you’re a quick study, and I saw that when you built the path with me earlier,
so I don’t think it’ll take you long to learn what you need to,” Grae assured
him. “I’ll teach you myself. Or, if you want to go somewhere else, I’ll
introduce you to another Pathmaker to be your master. I know all of them.”

Considering there was only about two dozen known Pathmakers
in the world, that wasn’t much of a feat.

Rune searched Grae’s face for a long moment. “Ya…yer willi’n
ta teach me.”

“Of course!” Grae seemed surprised that Rune even questioned
this. “You’re a good student and an easy man to work with. I’d think it’d be
quite fun to teach you.”

Siobhan had to bite back a smile. She knew good and well why
Rune had that poleaxed expression on his face right then. She’d told him Grae’s
reputation, so he knew that a master, a genius in his field, had just offered
to be Rune’s master. Only a fool would pass up that invitation.

“But that mean’s I’d…” he trailed off uncertainly, looking
at Siobhan.

Why was he hesitating? Oh. Oh, right, in order for him to be
Grae’s student, he’d have to stay in Deepwoods and she hadn’t made it clear yet
that he was welcome to stay.

Deep breath in. Right, here goes. “I know that our original
deal was that you could do whatever you wanted once we reached Island Pass. And
you’ve done a marvelous job holding up your end of the deal. I mean, you helped
me even when I didn’t know the right questions to ask! And you took us to
Sateren and made sure we were safe there the entire time—Tran told me about
your night patrols, thank you for that, I never said that before—but you helped
us even when we weren’t in Sateren, which wasn’t part of the deal at all—”

“Siobhan,” Wolf said patiently, laying a restraining hand on
her shoulder.

“Wait, I’m not finished, I have to say this right,” she
responded in irritation, shaking off his hand. “I didn’t get a chance to say
anything to him before, so don’t interrupt me! Rune, what I’m trying to say is
that I’ve come to really like you and respect your skills. The way that you’ve
watched out for my well-being has meant the world to me. And I don’t think it’s
wrong for me to say that the rest of the guild feels the same way—”

“Siobhan,” Conli interrupted.

“Will you both be quiet?” she demanded, exasperated. “I’ve
completely lost my thought now! Where was I?”

“That’s a good thing,” Denney assured her dryly. “Because
you’re babbling. You have a bad habit of doing that when you’re nervous.”
Squeezing around, she put a hand on Rune’s shoulder, who was watching the whole
group with wide, bewildered eyes. “Rune, what’s she trying to say, and is too
nervous to, is that she wants you to stay in the guild.”

Siobhan blinked at her. “Right. Didn’t I already say that?”

“No,” several voices chorused, all of them amused.

“Oh. Rain and drought, I meant to say that first thing.” She
reviewed the speech she had mentally prepared but couldn’t remember the right
order to say anything, so gave up on it with a shrug. “Rune, I want you to
stay. I don’t want you to feel pressured into staying, mind. If you feel like
going off and exploring the world for a while and thinking about joining us,
you’re welcome to do so. After all, I don’t think you’ve seen anything outside
of Sateren, much less outside of Wynngaard.”

Rune’s expression turned into one of lopsided bemusement as
he regarded her. “When we made our deal, ya said I could go wherever I wish
when we came ta this point.”

Had she really worded it that way? “Well, yes, that’s
right.”

His smile became mischievous. “Then I’ll go with all of ya.”

A worry that had been eating at her dropped away and she
openly beamed at him. Unable to resist, she threw her arms around his neck and
hugged him tight before bouncing back. “Good! That’s settled then. Will you
take Grae as your master, too? Should I find you someone else?”

Rune shook his head with a shy smile. “I’ll take him as my
master.”

Grae openly beamed.

She blew out a long breath. “Good. I’m glad that’s all
sorted. Let’s go to the inn. We’ll have a grand feast to welcome you officially
to the guild!”

Rune blinked at her and pointed to their spectators. “Wait!
Don’t they get a say in this? A chance ta agree or not?”

“Any objections are overruled,” she informed him cheerfully.
“It’s one of the perks of being guildmaster. They can’t nay-say me about who
joins.”

“Otherwise Tran would never have made it in,” Wolf muttered
under his breath.

“Otherwise
you
would never have made it in,” Grae
drawled with a pointed look. “I didn’t like you at first either.”

Wolf opened his mouth to protest that, thought about it,
then looked at Siobhan in a considering way. “Maybe it’s better she has the
final say.”

Siobhan patted him on the arm, gave him a winsome smile, and
started off for the inn with a bounce in her stride. “This way, everyone!”