Nocturne by Kat Ross

Author:Kat Ross [Ross, Kat]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780999048122
Publisher: Acorn
Published: 2017-12-21T05:00:00+00:00

21

Culach’s Folly

Mina came to Culach’s chamber each day. She always brought a tray of food and sat quietly in her chair, but she never offered to try healing him again. And she didn’t speak a single word, no matter what he said to draw her out.

He tried apologizing innumerable times. He tried to make her laugh. He raged and begged. He deliberately showed off his scars, hoping it might elicit some sympathy. Nothing worked.

The situation made him increasingly desperate, but he didn’t return to his bed. Although he had no appetite, he forced himself to eat. Culach also began to rise early and practice with his sword. It was pointless, but the exercise kept him from descending any deeper into self-pity. When he wasn’t chewing over the nightmares, he waited with grim anticipation for news from House Dessarian. After two more days passed, he decided to seek out his father. He asked around until he found Eirik in the stables with the abbadax.

The stables were on a broad east-facing ledge of the holdfast. Culach smelled the pungent droppings of the creatures even before he heard their burbling cries. They kept a dozen abbadax at Val Moraine, all trained as hatchlings. They were indispensable in transporting minerals to the coast for trade with the Marakai, and also for scouting the near-impassable mountains.

Culach had loved nothing more than to ride out with Petur, the icy wind tangling in their hair, mist-wreathed peaks streaking by beneath. The abbadax sported stiff, razor sharp feathers, so you had to be very careful where you placed your hands and legs. Petur used to joke that one careless sneeze would leave him a eunuch, but he’d been the most skilled rider of them all, utterly fearless and graceful as an acrobat in the saddle.

“I wouldn’t come too close,” Eirik said. “We have some new hatchlings and the mothers are already testy from the molting season.”

Culach paused, then took three steps further so his father wouldn’t think him a coward.

“I thought you might call for me,” he said.

“Why?” Eirik sounded genuinely curious.

“To tell me if the chimera completed their task. Since you sought my approval, I thought you’d at least tell me the outcome.”

“Approval?” Eirik gave a dry chuckle. “I wouldn’t go that far. Frankly, I thought it might cheer you up to know your crippled state was being avenged.”

Culach gritted his teeth. His father only wanted to get a rise and he could at least deny him that.

“And?”

“As expected, the trail led straight to House Dessarian. Unfortunately, neither target was there.”

“What happened?”

“Six Danai are dead.” Eirik sighed. “I only know because Tethys complained to the other holdfasts. They weren’t happy we didn’t consult them.”

Culach felt sick. He should never have been part of this. “What do you mean, they weren’t happy?”

“I received nearly identical messages this morning. They say we’re on our own.”

There were three other Valkirin clans: Val Altair, Val Tourmaline and Val Petros. Since the Iron Wars, their allegiance to Val Moraine had been cemented by the holdfast’s indisputable military superiority.

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