Rise by Andrea Cremer

Author:Andrea Cremer [Cremer, Andrea]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: (¯`'•.¸//(*_*)\\¸.•'´¯)
Publisher: Philomel
Published: 2013-02-27T13:00:00+00:00

ALISTAIR SLIPPED THE IRON key into his pocket, but he didn’t return to the stairs. He stood in front of the door to Agnes’s chamber for a long while, unmoving.

Why did she return?

Alistair had imagined Ember coming back to him too many times to count. Now that she was here, real, he was stricken with doubt. Tugging his hands through his dark curls, Alistair resisted the urge to unlock the door and take Ember from her sister so he could demand the answers he wanted.

But Agnes was the reason Ember was here. It had to be. As much as Alistair coveted the thought that Ember came to him, it was the letter that had brought her to Tearmunn.

And yet. And yet.

Ember had gone to Château de Lusignan, as Alistair had asked. She’d returned to Tearmunn and had given testament to those gathered in the armory that her decision to leave had been misguided.

And she’d come alone.

Where are the others?

To hope for even a moment that Ember had come back to him and not simply for Agnes’s sake seemed too great a risk. Forcing himself away from the door, though unconvinced he’d accomplish anything else of worth that day due to the distraction of his mind, Alistair returned to the manor’s ground floor.

When he reached the bottom of the stairs, he was surprised to find Bosque waiting for him.

“Would you be inclined toward a hunt, Lord Hart?” Bosque asked.

“When?” Alistair found it strange that Bosque would suggest a hunt amid so much activity in the keep.

“Now.” Bosque took a few steps toward the manor door, then turned, waiting for Alistair to follow. “If you’ll join me, we’ll find special prey. Our bounty will aid your work immensely.”

Bosque exited the manor, and Alistair hurried to catch him.

“My work?” Alistair asked when he reached Bosque.

“You will have your prisoners for trials tomorrow morning.” Bosque kept up his swift, long strides toward the stables. “But they alone will not be enough.”

“No.” Alistair had to jog to keep up with the taller man. “You’re taking me to hunt wolves, then?”

Bosque cast an amused glance at him. “How else did you think to procure the animals?”

“I was going to send woodsmen out to set snares,” Alistair answered.

“This task is too important for servants,” Bosque said when they were just outside the stables. “Ready your horse.”

“Will you bring the hounds?” Alistair tossed the question over his shoulder as he went to gather Alkippe’s tack.

Bosque called to him, “We’ll have no need of hounds whose only hope is the destruction of our quarry.”

Alistair grimaced at the foolishness of his question. To begin his trials, he needed wolves whole and alive, not torn to pieces by a pack of hunting dogs. When Alkippe was saddled and bridled, Alistair led his mare from the stable. Bosque had already mounted the shadow steed. Alkippe balked, snorting, but Alistair hadn’t expected the mare to behave otherwise. No matter how many times Alistair rode out with Bosque, Alkippe wouldn’t settle with the shadow mount near.

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