CH21

The chimes rang as heavy footsteps tramped into the store. May recoiled at the sound. Her hands stalled over the herbs ceasing their rustling. It was too late for the usual customer. Before Albin could say anything a pair of hands landed on the counter and interrupted.

"Where is she?"

She jumped up crushing the herbs she was sorting as she walked to the front room. She stopped in the doorway and sighed. Bran wasn't hurt. He did look tired. He was doing his best to be intimidating and sinister, but she could hear the desperate edge in his voice. He was too fixated on Albin to notice her come out.

"Please, just let me know. If she isn't here I need to look somewhere else."

She continued out and a squeaking floorboard finally caught his attention. He turned and it took him a long time to register who he saw. May didn't know what to say, but she didn't have to. He rushed across the distance between them and pulled her into a tight hug. He let out a long breath and softened his grasp as May leaned into him as if only now he believed she was real. May pressed her face into his chest suddenly needing his warmth.

"When I saw the warehouse I…"

"I'm alright."

"Who did this?"

She pushed him away gently, "There is a lot you need to know."

He took her hand and laced their fingers together as she led them to the back alley. Sitting on the doorstep she explained everything that transpired in the last forty eight hours.

"I still can't believe he found us."

"Magic?"

"Maybe, but I have no idea even what type of magic could do that."

"Do you think he can find you again?"

"I don't know."

"Tomorrow I will get Tam. He was fine outside the walls, then we can figure out what to do."

"If anyone sees the mark of the storm they will sell you to Tiernan." She grabbed his wrist.

"I will be fine."

"Please."

He raised his hand to her face brushing her cheek. The last light of day lit his eyes. She thought about what would have happened if the fight had gone on. He would have still been there when the raid came. He could have died. Tears slipped down out of her unwilling eyes. Bran pulled her to him and she wept. She cried till she ran out of tears. Something about the idea that Bran could have died, that Tam and Ruth could have died, that they all could have. She didn't want to be alone. She was terrified of feeling the void of loneliness that had built up over the years locked in that tower again. Here she had almost forgotten that feeling. She never felt afraid to lose something till now. Her body shook as she cried and Bran pulled her closer. She eventually calmed. She tried to sit up but Bran wouldn't let her go. She looked up to see tears in his eyes.

"How did things get so out of hand?" she whispered, resting her head back on his shoulder.

"I don't know, but we will get through."

"I hope so."

"We'll get through."

They sat in silence together till it grew dark.

"You wouldn't happen to have some food, I'm starving."

"I think we can find something." She smiled and stood shaking off the streets' dust.

As she reached for the doorknob Bran pressed his forehead to hers. She stepped back into his arms, closing her eyes briefly before they went inside. She walked through the stacks to Albin's living quarters. They passed Rhys now completely passed out with a sword resting beside him. Bran stopped in front of him.

"Do you have anything to do with this?"

"The sleeping no, but he is here to help. He wants to stop Tiernan too."

"Really?" he gave a mischievous smile and slunk closer. She shook her head vigorously, but his ginn just widened. He reached for Rhys' sword. As soon as he had touched her hilt a hand snapped up and batted him away.

"Sorry," she blurted before Bran said something.

"Why, it's not every day you can mess with a city guard and get off scot free," Rhys said looking at Bran's tattoo, "Especially you."

"Not every day," Bran said crossing his arms "But more than you would think. That's not a standard issue weapon."

"No it's a family sword, I am assuming he is with you?"

"Yes," she said and Rhys offered the sword to Bran who readily took it.

"Yeah," Bran swung it in a loose arch away from the group, "So when did you join the group."

"It was a fairly recent development."

He gave Rhys his sword back, "So you are going to help me keep May away from Tiernan."

"I guess so."

"Why do you care?" asked Reah walking down the stairs.

"I want to protect the king and stop the killings and … I want to ruin the wizard."

"Do you know any of the dead?" asked Bran.

"Yes…"

The next morning she woke stiff from sleeping on the floor. Reah sprawled out over most of the tiny room's floor space. She rolled away from her feet stopping inches from Bran's face. She sat up quickly but looked back down at him. His chest rose and fell slowly, evenly. Even in sleep he had a slight smile on his face. A cut across the bridge of his nose was almost healed. His brown hair flopped across his face not tamed by his hat. A smudge of ash still lingered on his jaw. She wiped it away. He covered her hand and held it to his face as he sat up but let it drop.

He ran his fingers through a loose strand of her hair tucking it behind her ear then letting his fingers trace the curve of her neck. The soft touch sent shivers through her skin. Abruptly he stood.

"I'm going to get Tam."

She followed. "Be careful," she rolled down his sleeves. She paused to fix her hair to cover her pointed ears again before going down stairs. She heard Bran and Rhys talking by the back door.

"I still don't get why a city guard is helping."

"For the king."

"Then why not tell your buddies and guard him?"

"Don't you want my help?"

"Only if it really is help."

"It is, you can trust me."

"Swear on your Smith Lord's name."

"You never swear on Gorbind's name, But I have promise I will help you stop this."

"Alright."

"Then we have an understanding?"

"We will protect her."

"As much as I can considering the powers she and Tiernan have."

"I think we are all committed to protecting our little caster." this time it was Albin's voice

"And I am going to get a few more to help."

"I guess it is a good thing I am going to get more food."

The stairs creaked above her and Reah came down to stand next to her. "What do you think lies in store for us today?"

"Who knows?"

"With any luck my contacts will have a response soon."

"I thought the storm was in shambles?" Rhys said as both Albin and Bran had left.

"Reah is a lady, sort of."

"I am a lady, I just happen to be a lady who worked for an illicit organization."

"Doesn't that stop you from being noble?" said Rhys

"I don't think you can stop being a noble." May said

Reah snorted "Trust me most have done far worse than me."

"Really."

"Tiernan and his accomplices are highborn," said May.

"They are an exception."

"Sadly not," said Reah, "If they had access to what the ambassador does, many would use it without hesitation."

"Why aren't the checks on the tower working to stop this?" asked May.

"The highlords are too busy in their own petty struggles for power and as for the current king, well he has a very hands off ruling style," said Reah.

"Don't criticize the king."

"It was merely an observation," said Reah but Rhys continued scowling. She asked Rhys,"Have you ever met the king?"

"Yes."

"What was it like?" asked May curiously.

"I will never forget it. It was the day I was raised to captain. I got to go to the throne room. The floor was so polished it was like water and I had never seen so many windows behind the throne. They seemed to amplify the sun."

"There are witch lights in the room behind," commented Reah.

He continued unfazed, "We were each given medallions by the king himself. I was the youngest in the group and I was so nervous. I dropped my sword when I went to kneel. I couldn't even look up. I was so embarrassed, But he picked it up without a thought. Then he put his hand on my shoulder and told me 'don't worry son, I am glad to have you.' He must have looked at my sword because he said ' it is an honor to have a child of the forge in my service.' I was so amazed he would even notice the seal. And when he did the ceremony he used this sword. When I swore my oath that day I meant it."

"One act of kindness does not make a good king," said Reah.

"Then what does make a good ruler?" May asked

"Not someone who is a puppet for others."

"So you would be one of the nobles that would want the throne?" said Rhys.

"No."

"Then what do you have against him?" asked Rhys.

"Let's just say my royal encounter was not as positive."

"What happened?" May knew she had many resentments for the king and the high class but she would never say what founded these feelings.

"It doesn't matter. Albin is back so we can have breakfast at least," said Rhys.

"At least we can all agree the ambassador would make a worse king," said Reah.

We ate a simple breakfast. May missed the porridge pot as she swallowed the overboiled oats devoid of butter or cream. Not that she expected fine cooking from Albin. A host of people had been thrust upon him with no warning. She lost most of her money in the fire but she still had some funds and made sure to give Albin some for taking care of them all. It was still early when the meal was finished, even so Albin had to go up front to man the store. Reah returned upstairs to write more letters and watch for couriers from the front window.

May continued to crack Tiernan's notebook. It was difficult slow work but the farther along she got the better she understood its workings and the more confidence she gained to brute force the park she couldn't unravel. Soon she was peeling back the many layers of protections. She took off spell after spell, till its magical presence began to fade. She stopped when she finally stopped, she excitedly opened the book to discover its contents. It was still blank she flipped through hoping it was just the page she saw, but the book was empty as before. She looked through fey's eyes, but the spells were wrong. Was the book an elaborate red herring? She couldn't imagine that even Tiernan would have enough spare resources to put so much energy into a ruse. Discouraged, she put the book aside and started to prepare herbs.

Only then when her concentration was disrupted did she notice Rhys "guarding" her. May felt uncomfortable under his scanning gaze that traveled the room in steady intervals, "If you aren't doing anything you can help me."

"I'm on lookout."

"I doubt Tiernan is going to come barging in right now, and if he does I'll forgive you for not staring at the door."

"Fine," he sat down next to her and she set him to work removing dried leaves from stems.

They sat working quietly for a while "what's a child of the forge?"

"You mean what the king called me?"

"Yeah."

"Have you seen the iron workers?"

"It was mesmerizing."

"That's what he was referring to when he called me that."

"You are a blacksmith?"

"Our family and I used to be."

"Why aren't you now?"

"I am a guard now. Anyways most of the family are witches but we still follow Gorbind. The sword is a family heirloom."

"How old is it?"

"Four generations."

The pommel had the anvil and togs of the forge lord but there was a flame motif and geometric runes on the blade's face, "what does it say?"

"Through destruction I create."