“I’m sure they are. But I need to be able to look my brother officers in the eye.”
“Ah, yes. Can’t upset the dignity of the Red Guard,” she said with another quick smile.
“We’re supposed to be dignified; we’re royal guards,” he pointed out.
“I know,” she said. “But don’t you find the court a bit . . . stifling at times? All that protocol and rules and having to find three servants and two page boys just to organize an impromptu afternoon tea.”
“You don’t like being at court?”
“Sometimes. I love the princess—she’s been very kind to me—and there are so many things to do and see, but sometimes I’d just like to be home, where I can run around and do what I want and be with my family and not worry every other second whether my hem is one inch too long or if I’m going to say the wrong thing to someone.”
“I can understand that,” he said. “My family has spent part of the year at court all my life, so I’m more used to it, I suppose, but there are definitely moments when I’d just like to be home again.” Particularly when his father had remained at court and there was no one bellowing at him and his brothers every few minutes that they weren’t behaving as Mackenzies should.
Whatever that meant.
These days, however, being away from court would mean being away from Elly. Though perhaps that would be a good thing. There was no future in what they shared, so a separation would bring an ending of his folly.
Of course, right now he had no idea if there was even a court to return to. And if that were true, he really had no idea what to do next. He went to the door and peered out. Rain still streamed from the sky like someone had opened a sluice above them.
He turned back to Sophie. “I think we’re here for the night.”
Sophie looked up. “Tomorrow’s my birthday.”
“I know. We’ll start early and get to the portal, and then we’ll be all right.”
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going yet?”
There was little point keeping her in the dark. It seemed unlikely that anyone would stumble over them in this hut in the next twelve hours or so. “If all goes well, my brother’s estate.”
“Carnarvon?”
“Yes. Way up north. From there, if we need to, we have other options. But if we have to keep going, we need money and supplies, and Alec will give us those.” Presuming that whoever had attacked the capital hadn’t gone after any other members of the nobility. But Alec was second son. Liam was the eldest. He lived on the main estate. Alec’s property was miles away from there, and the portal path there was a minor one. It was the safer option.
Sophie looked pensive.
“Don’t worry. It may yet be good news. Now, build up that fire a little. I’m going to check on the horses.”
CHAPTER FIVE
Sophie woke to the sound of Cameron stirring the fire. The air was cool—though not as bitterly cold as it had been overnight—and she curled deeper into her cloak for a moment before she forced herself to open her eyes.
How would she know if her power had manifested? She didn’t think she felt any different. Should she feel different?
Cameron smiled at her. “Good morning. And happy birthday.”
She thanked him and pushed to her feet, moving to the door. “Has it stopped raining?”
Gingerly, stiffness making the movement an exercise in discomfort, she pushed open the half-ruined door and peered outside. The sky was a deep, clear blue—a summery shade that belied the cold. No sign of the storm remained. Which meant they could keep moving. Maybe even get to go home to the court today. She stepped through the door. Then stopped with a jolt. Beyond the center of the little field where the hut stood, a line of sparkling light bisected the grass. It glittered: first gold, then silver, then some strange color that shimmered on the edge of sight. It was bright enough to hurt her eyes, and she lifted a hand to shield them. “What is that?” she asked.
Cameron looked over his shoulder at her. “What?”
She pointed to the line. “That.”
He got up from his spot by the fire and joined her in the doorway. He frowned as he looked in the direction she pointed, and then his face cleared. “The ley line?”
“That’s a ley line?” She moved her hand to take a better look, then froze again. “Great goddess, I can see the ley line.”
“Happy birthday,” Cameron said again. “I guess that answers one question.”
“It’s bright.” She lifted a hand to shield her eyes against the dazzle. “No one ever said a ley line was so bright.”
“Everyone sees them differently.” He looked at her curiously. “What does it look like?”
“A line of light. Bright, sparkly light. What do you see?”
“Only a reddish shimmer. Not terribly bright. This isn’t a major line.”
Sophie squinted her eyes at the shimmering length. If this one wasn’t a major line, then she wasn’t sure she wanted to see a stronger one. The light was near blinding. And more than that, it called to her. She wanted to go over and roll around in the light, let it coat her skin and—
“Whoa, there,” Cameron said, grabbing her arm.
Sophie started. She hadn’t even noticed him move over to her. “What?” she said irritably. Then realized she was standing almost on top of the line. And had no knowledge of having moved.
“You don’t know what you’re doing.”
“I just want to touch it.”
“No.”
“Why not?” She could feel the line tugging at her—warm and tempting. It felt good. What harm could it possibly do?