“All of you. My guard,” I spat. They stared at me like I had lost it. Maybe I had, because I continued. “Training me at his command. Slaves to Asher. Your Lord Asher.”
I had directed that last part to Chevelle and his face went white. He wore an expression that I had never seen and, honestly, frightened me even in my anger. I tore from the hut, making a new door in the back wall, and ran from them as fast as I could.
Breathless, I had no idea where to go. I just kept running until my shaking legs would carry me no farther.
Apparently, it wasn’t far enough. When I’d finally risen up from the ground to look behind me, Ruby was already there. I was pretty sure she’d been right behind me the entire time, silent. She looked annoyed.
I turned my head away from her and dropped it to the ground.
Eventually, I gave up and followed her back to the temple. I was slightly embarrassed by my outburst, but no one had denied my accusations so I felt justified. And wronged. And bitter.
I continued to practice through my bitterness because, no matter their reasons for training me, I knew I’d not be able to face Grand Council without them.
A few nights later, I woke with a start, remembering that I had abandoned my plan of sweeping the area. I knew that Rhys and Rider were on guard, and the wolves, but I also remembered the last time, when council had gotten past them. I hoped I could locate a vessel as I closed my eyes and searched past the temple, past the pillars, into the surrounding trees.
I found an owl and decided, under the circumstances, he would suffice. I started to take him out of his tree to check the grounds when his keen eyes caught a group standing together not far from his perch. I focused and realized it was Anvil and Grey speaking close and Chevelle, facing away from them, his arms crossed, giving his stance an irritated feel.
I was afraid to get closer, sure the flap of wings would alert them. I started to check for other nearby animals but imagined Chevelle spotting a clumsy squirrel with his knowing eyes, catching me spying. The uncoordinated squirrel was taking over my thoughts and I had to focus (and try not to laugh at my sleepy efforts).
I concentrated, finally hearing their words but just as I caught them. “… Fannie’s doing our job…” Chevelle spun, facing them, his anger clear. Grey held up his hands as if to say “no harm,” but it didn’t matter, his face was beyond calming. And then his eyes scanned the clearing and I jumped back to my own mind, afraid somehow he’d know I was there.
I couldn’t fall back to sleep after that. I couldn’t understand what they’d meant. Why were they talking about Fannie now? And what was their “job”? Something they were doing for Asher? But how could Fannie be doing that? She wasn’t training me. Something else, then. They had more than one task?
“What is it?” Ruby asked from the corner. I hadn’t even noticed her. She was watching me sleep now? I started to answer that it was nothing but decided, after my previous outburst, I might as well ask.
“Fannie.”
She leaned toward me and I sat up to face her. “What about Fannie?”
I wasn’t sure how to respond. She didn’t know what I did or didn’t remember, what I did or didn’t know now. I wanted to find a way to lead her into answers.
“Frey, did you see Fannie?”
Apparently it was going to be easier than I thought. I remembered the dream and used that. She could decide what to do with it. “Destroying the village.”
In the dim light, I saw Ruby’s face and I knew. Knew that it hadn’t been a dream at all. I gasped.
She moved to sit beside me on the bed and in my shock I let her attempt to comfort me. “Freya, I’m sorry.”
My skin crawled at the endearment. “Don’t call me that.”
She was stunned at my response. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before. It’s just that I know what it does to you, when you get upset.”
“Like you care,” I spat.
Her face managed to twist the surprise to hurt and keep both as clear as water. “Frey…”
“Oh come on, Ruby. You work for Asher. You read the diary. You know…”
“You-" She stopped herself. “Elfreda, you are the most ridiculous…” I didn’t know what she intended to call me but she grabbed my arms tight and stared me straight in the eye before she started again. “I. Do. Not. Work. For. Anyone.” She released her grip just a fraction. “Is that clear?”
I had no idea what my face gave away but my mind was anything but clear.
She rumbled out an irritated growl. “Listen to me, if that is what you’re thinking then there is no danger of telling you now. I don’t see how it could possibly make things worse for you.”
With a frustrated, “Oh!” she took off on a side rant. “And all this time I thought you were upset about that stupid girl!”
I felt the guilt wash through me again as I remembered the human. Ruby went back to her explanation, calmer though she remained exasperated. “Frey, Fannie is after Grand Council.”
My mouth dropped at her casual revelation. “What?”