Fracturing Fate by Sasha Alsberg

Author:Sasha Alsberg
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Published: 2023-06-14T14:35:26+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

CALLUM

It took some time for the laird’s men to make the preparations for the journey. The laird insisted on taking a carriage so that Klara could travel in comfort, though Callum suspected that his own comfort was also on his father’s mind. The “friend”—Thomas wouldn’t say who it was—who’d alerted him to Klara’s fate had drawn a detailed map to the keep and estimated that it was half a day’s ride, so they would be arriving at night—something Callum feared would work against them should they meet resistance. But he was afraid to mention it lest it dissuade his father from helping.

Besides, what Thomas had said was true—as the judge in all local criminal matters, the laird employed an abundance of guards; and the four he chose to accompany them were surefooted, strong, and well armed.

Thomas disappeared after breakfast and did not return until the horses had been saddled and brought out and the carriage readied. While he was gone, Callum found a simple scabbard for the sword, and wrapped its delicate jeweled pommel and hilt in thick, common leather. For some reason, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to tell anyone about the blade, and all he knew was that he trusted no one with so powerful an enchanted weapon. He took the job of disguising it seriously and slowly, and before he knew it, hours had passed before Thomas returned.

“Where were you?” Callum asked him.

“Just needed a couple things in town,” Thomas said shortly. His jovial mood seemed to have vanished, replaced with a brooding silence that reminded Callum of the weeks leading up to his near-death at Llaw’s hands. During that time, Thomas had vanished for hours and even days at a time, and talked of death and strange and violent visions. He prayed that whatever had plagued Thomas then had not returned.

But before he could figure out how to ask Thomas about it, the driver took his seat and the laird got into his carriage. The lead guard signaled the two of them to ride ahead, while the remaining men took up the rear.

Callum waited until they had entered the Elder Forest to bring the subject up again.

“I cannae tell you how much joy it brings me that you and Klara are both alive,” he began carefully.

“And you’re a wealthy man now, don’t forget.”

There was a familiar edge to Thomas’s voice, a sullen note that crept in whenever he felt passed over by good fortune. Callum considered and abandoned half a dozen things to say before he concluded it would be best to simply come out with it.

“In the weeks before the night you fought Llaw, you disappeared a lot, Thomas. It was clear that something was bothering you. You were not yourself—and now I know it was because of the terrible duty Arianrhod had given you.”

Thomas shot him a look, but said nothing.

“But Llaw is dead now, and you are free of the goddess. You and Klara didnae ask to be Pillars, true, but Arianrhod will not interfere again as long as you both live.

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