Page 51 of A Storm Rises
“Please. My final wish and command is that you see after my family, especially my father, Manny, and my little sister, Floriana. They are not well.” Another tear spilled. With a quick swipe, he wiped it away. “Tell them I am sorry and that I love them.”
Lady Verona’s chin quivered as she stepped back. “Whatever we can do, we will. You have my word on that as a Sublander.”
Whatever she can do? She had no power. She could do nothing but talk. The carriage ride back to the Sublands would take three days. They would arrive on the day of his death. There would be no celebration in the Sublands, no parade greeting the carriage, no pan de volvo from big sister Camilla, and no piñata or painted flowers from little Floriana.
Lady Verona and Rhyka would deliver another cautionary tale to the people of the Sublanders. The tale had been told so many times it’d be another version of the same warning—never trust a highborn, especially if they happened to be a Stromm.
He didn’t want to sound ungrateful to Lady Verona. His father would not approve. “Thank you for your help. I couldn’t have gotten this far without you.”
As they walked away, he dropped back down onto his cot and took the cross out of his pocket. His grip dug the cross into his skin. He placed his shaky hand on his forehead, then on his chest, and moved it from shoulder to shoulder like his father taught him. If there was any time to call on the earthly God, this was it.
“If you’re up there, if you can hear me, please send help. I really need it right now.”
Avalynn took slow and steady steps away from the merry music and the bustling celebration. She left the garden far behind. Her muted mind found solace in the echoing silence. Nothing could dim that numbing ache in her soul. Or mend the scattered shards of her heart. Mateo was his name. Mateo Vela. He would be executed. It was her fault. She had no choice but to protect herself…and Lily.
“Avalynn! Avalynn!” Lily skipped toward her. Her little sister beamed with that familiar smile, bowed, and then curtsied. “My big sister did it!”
She forced a smile. The innocent child had no idea what Avalynn had really done. And she never would. “That I did. But now I must bathe and rest.” And cry a thousand tears.
Lily’s twinkle dulled. Her innocent face seemed to harden. “The way you betrayed the lovely lowborn, that was special.”
A dagger sunk deep inside Avalynn’s heart—not special, not by a long shot. Lily’s age meant she did not understand what she was saying. Or did she? That notion frightened her to her core. “It was not special, little princess. It was wretched. But it was necessary for many reasons.”
Lily twirled, as if not even hearing her. “Very special!” Then she held her nose. She waved her dainty hand in front of her face. “You need a bath. You smell like a troll!” She backed away with a giggle. “Come find me when you smell like a garden. I want to hear more about how you tricked the lowborn.”
Avalynn watched as Lily swayed her dress and skipped back to the celebration’s revelry. Her little sister could not know her words as she had not one care or concern in the world. Avalynn would never be carefree like that again. And she didn’t want to be.
She would never forgive herself for Mateo.
She sighed, and a flood of tears welled in her eyes. Her throat clogged, and she mumbled, “Do not lose it. Not here.” She picked up her pace toward the palace when she heard a whimper. She stopped dead in her tracks. She heard it again.
Her attention zipped to the far end of the palace. In the shadowy area lined with trees, she saw movement. She narrowed her gaze. A muzzle and then a thick paw. “Stormshroud?” She glanced about. Reassured she was alone, she hurried over to the wolf, who waited at a cluster of tall bushes. “Stormy, it’s you!”
The wolf’s eyes darted about as she backed further and further into the bushes.
“It’s me, girl. It’s Avalynn.”
From behind her, a hand slammed across Avalynn’s mouth. A cloth wad went between her teeth. A hood whooshed over her head, plunging her into darkness. A scream lodged in her throat. The taste of bitter herbs flooded her mouth. A sharp chill coursed throughout her body. Toxin. Someone poisoned her. They were taking her, and Stormy did nothing.
Her abductor swept her off her feet. He cradled her and spoke in a pressing tone. “You will be okay, Princess.”
Her head buzzed as her energy drained. She knew that voice. But for the life of her, she could not place it. “Who are you?” Her slurred words sounded unlike her. She was fading…
Her abductor’s tone softened. “You are safe, Princess. Sleep now.”
Sleep? She didn’t want to sleep. She wanted to fight her abductor. Yet, her mind and body disagreed. Her breathing slowed. Her muscles relaxed. No matter how hard she fought closing her eyes, she dropped into a dark slumber.
Tickling her cheek like a butterfly’s kiss, a tiny ray of sunshine warmed Avalynn’s face. But she wanted more sleep. Her mind and body were that tired. She flipped on her side and pulled the silk sheets over her face. Her questioning hand lingered on the fabric. Stiff and scratchy did not equal silk. Someone was having a bit of fun at her expense while she slept. Everyone in the palace knew her sheets were made of silk only.
A flood of events exploded in her mind—the hunt, Mateo, the finish line, the poison in her mouth.
Her eyes snapped open. She sat up. She lay on a simple, narrow bed in the corner of a small room with thick, beige stone walls. This place was no palace. Surely, she was still dreaming. Sunlight shone through a narrow window. The smells of soil, pine, and burning wood drifted about. Awake, she had no clue where she had ended up. Yet, she sensed peace, calm, and cleanliness. She touched her smooth and washed face. Her hands and arms showed that someone had scrubbed away the hunt’s grime.
A soft rap sounded on the door. She had been taken. She looked for a weapon but found none. She grabbed the small pillow, held it up, and jumped into a fighting stance. As if the soft square could do anything. “Uh, you can come in, but I must warn you that I have a weapon.”
The door swung open. Stormshroud darted in and tackled her with a wet kiss to her face. Behind Stormy came Maid Nia. “Nia!” She hugged her so tight it squeezed a grunt out of the petite maidservant.
Nia squeezed back with a laugh. “My lady, it is so wonderful to see you awake.”
