Diviner's Fate by Nicolette Andrews

Author:Nicolette Andrews [Andrews, Nicolette]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-07-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

We left Blackthorn a fortnight later. The duke, my father, kept me at a distance so as to not reveal our relationship. None but Elenna, Beau and me knew the truth. It was a small mercy. The night I shared with Johai would be a secret I kept to myself, as well. Though I think Elenna knew. She did not say anything in so many words, but her secret smile spoke volumes. As the day to leave Blackthorn drew closer, I felt my destiny weighing heavy upon my shoulders. Elenna was also withdrawn. Most days she slipped out into the forest and would be gone from dawn until dusk. When I asked her what she was doing, she would smile and avoid the question. The day we left, the sky was gray and threatened rain. I was wrapped in a fur cloak and shivering despite it. I had awoken with a vague nauseous feeling that I blamed on my nerves. I am heading to my death, I thought as I dressed that morning. I took comfort in knowing that my life would save many and Johai would be free at last.

Aland and Johai were mounted by the time I reached the courtyard. Duke Wodell was saying his good-byes. He was wearing his travelling cloak. It was sable, trimmed in fur, and pinned together with a bronze clasp shaped like a tangle of thorns. Aland, Johai, and the remainder of the Stone Clan would be heading northwest, under the pretense of going to meet Neaux in battle. In truth, they were to join the two halves of the Stone Clan together along with the Neaux army. Duke Wodell had assigned several hundred men-at-arms to join the Stone Clan. Each one was handpicked and loyal to the duke. I am sending those men to their deaths, I thought as I looked upon their faces. I had wanted to stop the war, but it was moving faster than I could hope to keep up. The best I could do was to keep the casualties to a minimum. The sooner the specter is destroyed, the sooner this war ends. Winter was moving apace and soon would come spring and, with it, the day of promise when the moon swallowed the sun.

The wind was whipping through the trees and howling against the stone walls of Blackthorn as we waited in the courtyard, making our good-byes. Johai came over to me. I looked up at him in the saddle. He smiled down at me as he reached out to brush a hair from my cheek. I shivered; even now I felt the pull to him.

“We will be parted for a time, but I will see you again soon.”

I bowed my head. I will see you next when I bring you to the underworld. I looked up at him and smiled. “I will await our next meeting with great anticipation.”

He smirked, then wheeled his mount around. “We must ride. We have a long journey ahead of us.

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