Riven (The Arinthian Line Book 2) (29 page)

Leera shook her head. “No way—”

Erika’s arm shot out like a viper. “Dreadus Terrablus.”

Bridget dropped to her knees, a look of sheer horror on her face. Her mouth opened wide as she stared at Erika with watering eyes. Suddenly she let loose a blood-curdling scream that raised every single hair on Augum’s body.

Leera rushed to Bridget and held her, crying apologies.

“Auntie Erika, stop!” he shouted.

Leera dropped to her knees and began gobbling one of the slices, making sure Erika saw.

Erika gave a nod and made as if swatting a bothersome fly. Bridget fell into Leera’s arms, weeping and shaking.

“Shall I eat the other one, m’lady?” Leera asked through grated teeth, tears rolling down her cheeks. She held onto Bridget tightly.

Erika’s foot reached out and ground the other slice into the floor. “Yes, Freckles. Please do.”

If he had the power to strike someone down then and there …

Leera ate the other slice off the floor while still holding Bridget, eyeing Erika with a loathing he had never seen in a person before.

“And you. You sit.”

He hesitantly did so.

Erika gave him a sweet smile. “Eat, Nephew, eat,” and took a long sip of wine. “You know, you’re lucky I haven’t lost my temper yet. I’ve been known to do some … uncomfortable things. One of my servants … oh, what was the wretched child’s name again? Never mind. She had quite the tongue on her. I had her cut it out.” Erika watched his expression as she took another sip of wine.

Augum picked up the fork and held it, doing his best to look unperturbed. His mind, however, buzzed with crazier and crazier ideas on how to set them free, yet he was acutely conscious he was dealing with an insane warlock of the 10th degree who was as suspicious as a thief-in-hiding and now probably drunk too.

They’d have to be creative to get out of this bind.

“When you come of age, my darling, you’re going to be a very handsome man. I can see these things, you know. I’m sure you’ll find yourself some pretty noble woman with a pretty nose and pretty hair. You just make sure she knows her place, sweetie.” She glanced at the girls huddled on the floor, who quickly lowered their eyes. “Women need to know their place.” She swirled the goblet’s contents while glaring at them.

“This wine is quite delicious, my dear boy. Would you like to try some?”

“No, thank you.” All wine did was remind him of Mr. Penderson. Besides, he needed his wits.

“A man must learn how to drink, nephew.” She sighed. “A pity, but more for me.” When she noticed he was still not eating, she made an impatient gesture. “Come, come, we can’t let it get cold now, can we?”

He forced himself to eat. After all, he’d need energy for tonight if they were going to attempt an escape. Here and there, he surreptitiously wrapped a portion of his lamb, mushrooms, and potatoes in a finely embroidered serviette, before stuffing the bundle in his pocket. He put away as much as he dared, making sure that when Erika looked up she saw him chewing.

“Mmm, delicious,” he said, playing it up during a particularly close call when she happened to glance over at him just as he took his hand from the table. A brief look came over her face, but he managed to distract her by quickly asking where she had acquired her ingredients.

“Oh, dear nephew, you are so naive. Teleport is such a wonderful spell, it really is. When you reach your 9th degree, you’ll know exactly what I mean.”

He gave an eager nod, thinking he should eat slower, keep her drinking. He hoped she drank so much she passed out, as Mr. Penderson used to. Then they could sneak by her.

Erika was halfway done with her meal when she picked up her glass of wine and leaned back, drumming the table with her other hand. A permanent sneer had attached itself to her face by now, like a foul odor. He decided to keep his head down and concentrate on eating, not daring to put aside any more food.

“You must be quite hungry, my dear nephew.”

“I am, Auntie Erika.” Her pungent flowery perfume seemed to have somehow strengthened, filling his nostrils and contaminating the taste of the food.

“Squirrel!” she called, not taking her eyes off him.

Bridget instantly appeared by her side, curtseying. “M’lady?”

“Gods, girl, you’re filthy! When was the last time you washed that long hair of yours? Never mind, I don’t want to hear anymore whining. Put the rest of my food in a bowl for my pet. And fetch dessert, would you?”

Bridget curtseyed and quietly did as she was told.

“Sugared strawberries, dear nephew. Do you know how hard these were to come by?”

“I don’t, Auntie Erika.”

She watched him continue to fiddle with the last of his supper. “I’m not going to wait around forever to move on to dessert while you chew that cud slower than a cow, child. Squirrel! Take his supper and put it in the bowl for my pet. And don’t even
think
about sneaking a bite.”

He watched the remainder leave the table with a pang. He was still hungry. Bridget brought a bowl of strawberries. They were sweetly delicious and he even managed to snag a couple for the girls. It was risky as Erika had stopped eating, paying more attention to him and the wine now.

“Let me tell you, my little sugarplum, it sure is nice to have visitors for a change. Sometimes I feel like I’m in a tomb.” She sighed, propping her chin with her hand. “Sometimes I don’t hear my own voice for days at a time, and now that winter has come it can get quite … boring around here. What sheer luck to have company in such dull times.”

He couldn’t think of anything to say as he ate the last strawberry on his plate. Leera and Bridget silently watched from the corner. He wondered if they saw him sneak food for them.

The goblet teetered in Erika’s hand. She burped, held her chest, and gestured for Bridget to pour another. After staring at her unfinished strawberries for a long time, her head tilted forward a little and her eyes drooped.

Augum stole a hopeful glance at the girls.

Suddenly Erika’s head snapped up. “Well, I suppose it’s time for the children to go to bed.” She licked her lips and flexed her jaw. “Squirrel, Freckles—clear the table.”

They quickly followed her orders, being particularly quiet.

“What are you looking at, Squirrel?”

Augum was sure, however, that Bridget was not even looking in her direction.

“Were you just staring at my nose? Think it ugly, do you!”

Bridget took a step back, bowl of strawberries in hand. “M’lady, I wasn’t—”

“You dare talk back to me?”

“Auntie Erika, this food really was—”

“—shut it, boy!” She leapt to her feet, the chair tilting back and falling to the ground. Her arm ruptured with rings. She pointed it at Bridget, who hurriedly retreated, bumped into the counter, and dropped the bowl. It smashed on the floor, the strawberries rolling this way and that.

“You little wretch, look what you’ve done! I could roast you here and now, girl …”

Leera jumped in front of Bridget. “You’ll have to kill us both—”

Erika’s eyes glimmered as her hand rose.

“Auntie Erika, please don’t—!” Augum blurted in his most innocent voice. She turned to stare at him before suddenly giggling like a schoolgirl, extinguishing her arm. “Stupid, silly girls, I was only jesting! So naive …”

Bridget stood there, breathing fast, while Leera arcanely repaired the bowl and picked up the strawberries.

Erika shook her head. “Really now, such saps …” and laughed until she began coughing. She got control of herself, downed the wine, and jovially announced, “Welcome to Evergray Tower, where all the fashionable ladies are banished to!”

When they didn’t respond, she scowled and waved her hands dismissively. “Fine, off with you then. I’m taking you upstairs to your room. You’re going to bed and that’s that. I’m sick of looking at your gutterborn faces. We have a lifetime together anyway. First, we’re going to get my orb. Squirrel, Freckles—in front, and leave your aprons. Go. NOW!”

The girls folded their aprons onto the counter. Augum didn’t need to be told to do the same with the tunic she had supplied him.

He followed the girls out the door. Erika took up the rear, resentment etched all over her face like a bad painting. When they reached the bedroom, Erika snatched the key from the desk, slamming the drawer shut. She unlocked the chest, kicked it open, and picked up the globe, all the while watching them suspiciously, as if they were going to try anything. He
might
have attempted something if she had been drunk out of her mind. Unfortunately, she was either an accomplished drinker or a good actor, appearing alert and as dangerous as ever. He had absolutely no doubt that she would kill them with the slightest provocation.

No, any attempt at escape had to be well thought out.

Erika herded them up the curving stairs and finally to a hallway door, the other side of which howled with wind. Recalling their approach to the tower, Augum suspected the portion above this section was ruined.

She nodded at the door. “In there.” When Leera opened it, they received a blast of freezing wind.

“You want us to sleep in there—?” he asked.

Erika kicked him, sending him tumbling forward into Bridget and Leera. She stood in the doorway, orb in one hand, empty goblet in the other, hair flailing in the wind. “You aren’t my nephew, boy, and don’t you ever forget it!”

The room was mostly destroyed. A large portion of the far wall was missing, a window into the blizzard. Snowdrifts piled up against rubble. The floor was made of sturdy wood planks, slippery with ice. There were no furnishings or decorations except for an ancient brazier on a rusted iron stand. A small pile of coal and wood sat inside, covered by a layer of frost.

When Augum peeked over the edge, he glimpsed a long sheer drop to a pile of jagged rocks. “We’ll die if we sleep here overnight!” he yelled over the wind.

“Yes, and then who’ll tend to your dishes and your cleaning?” Bridget added, a note of panic in her voice.

Erika, who had just finished placing the globe on a stone block by the door, glanced around. “Lazy brats. Well, I suppose I can light the brazier for you.” She flexed her arm and her rings flared up, even though she did not need to display them—it was done as a reminder. She opened her palm and sprayed the brazier with arcane fire for a while, watching them with distrustful eyes that mirrored the flames.

“I suppose you’ll whine if I don’t bring you some blankets as well.” She drifted to the door. “I’ll be watching, so don’t even
think
of trying anything. Oh, and just in case you get cheeky, the orb has been fixed in place.” She slammed the door, locking it from the other side with a key. The trio quickly huddled around the brazier, breath fogging, wind whipping through their dirty hair and ragged robes.

“Are you all right?” he whispered.

They only nodded, though neither met his eyes.

“I’m sorry for being useless—”

“Nothing you could have done,” Bridget said.

“Glad you didn’t try,” Leera added. “She would have killed us for sure.”

Nonetheless, he cursed himself for leaving Blackbite behind, though perhaps it was for the best. An attempt to escape was probably destined to fail.

The door opened and three blankets were tossed in. It slammed shut and the lock clicked. The frozen trio quickly retrieved the blankets and returned to the brazier, backs to the orb.

The wind howled, threatening to blow out the flames. Augum moved to try to block it. It was a constant battle to keep it from getting snuffed.

This was going to be a long night, he thought wearily, suddenly remembering he had food in his pocket for them. Careful to not be seen by the orb, he placed a finger to his lips and unwrapped the serviette, revealing a leg of lamb, lumps of cold potato, mushroom slices, and strawberries.

Apparently neither of them had seen him sneak the food, because they both stared slack-jawed.

“Aug … you daring, brilliant soul,” Leera mumbled, licking her lips.

“An awful risk,” Bridget said, shaking her head but smiling, unable to take her eyes off the food either. They each took a small portion. He insisted they have it all, however. Now if only he had nicked a tankard or a small pot so they could melt snow over the fire …

As it was, even with the brazier, the situation was perilous. It was even colder here than down with the palfreys, and they had fewer blankets. Peering at the missing wall, he thought they might as well be outside.

They needed to figure something out, and soon.

When the girls finished licking their fingers, the trio discussed the situation, timing their speech to coincide with the occasional loud gust.

“… no way, we’d get killed trying to climb down,” he said, teeth chattering. “Besides, there’s a blizzard out there. We just have to ride it out and escape when the storm passes.”

Leera rocked from foot to foot while rubbing her arms. “Why not try repairing the wall?”

He exchanged a look with Bridget. Why not indeed?

“Did I just have a brilliant idea there?” Leera asked, smirking.

Bridget gave her a wry smile. “Think you did,” and the trio got up and huddled near the edge, frozen hands open to the raw freeze of the night. He expected Erika to charge in there any moment, wondering what they were up to. They’d have to hurry.

“Prepare and concentrate!” Bridget said.

It was easy to envision the wall as complete because it was simply a continuation of what was already there. The challenge would come from the biting cold and the size of some of the stones. He remembered the last time they attempted a repair in such conditions, on the front doors of Castle Arinthian. It was a similar circumstance—strong freezing winds preceding a blizzard. Unfortunately, that particular repair failed miserably. Mrs. Stone had to step in to finish it for them, robe billowing, lecturing with words he remembered still: “Cold, hunger, wind, pain, attack—these are all things that you must learn to ignore as you focus. Even a momentary loss of concentration can result in spell failure!”

Luckily, they’ve had a lot more practice since then.

He steeled his mind.