I didn't think anyone was entirely safe from Ruby's whip, but I ignored the urge to argue that point. "Then why, Ruby?" I pleaded.
"The bond is not so simple among us, Frey. If I were wholly fay, a union would be uncomplicated." I stared at her vacantly and she explained further. "The fairy joining is easy, unattached, nonpermanent. Many find themselves with more partners than adversaries at the end of the day." She laughed. "They are a lusty, uncommitted people and are therefore free with such actions." I still didn't get it. She gave me an admonishing smile. "You'll make me spell it out then." She sighed. "It is different with the elf blood, Frey. Coupling among us would be a strong, enduring bond."
"So?" I asked plainly.
"It is not something taken into casually, Frey. A tie is formed that can take a hard toll," she said seriously. "It is an attachment, a responsibility, that could persist a lifetime. Even if you wanted it broken."
I felt my stomach twist. I'd known those that coupled were together for centuries, but I'd never considered that it wasn't by choice.
She saw the distress on my face and mistook it. "I guess you must have lost the memory of those lessons as well," she said. She patted my hand. "Your Vita was a victim of that bond."
And Vita had died of grief.
Ruby considered. "Though, her bond was weightier. Union with a lord and all." And then she unexpectedly perked up and smiled. "Not to worry, plenty of time to decide."
I thought for an instant I might be sick.
But then Grey appeared in the doorway from nowhere and gave a slight nod to Ruby before he disappeared just as quickly. She grasped my arm and pulled me out of the trance to face her.
"Now, Frey," she demanded, "let's go."
Her tone spoke of the seriousness of the situation so I followed her direction as she jumped up to throw shoes at me and pull my cloak from the wardrobe. My pack was over her shoulder when she grabbed my wrist and pulled me from the room to running behind her. We hurried down the corridors to a hidden entrance and as soon as we stepped outside, I could see that the others were mounted, waiting on us, each in their own dark cloaks.
When Rhys and Rider saw us, they kicked up their horses and sped from the group to ride the lead with the wolves. I found Chevelle and he acknowledged me with his eyes but his face was severe. Ruby was throwing me on my horse and as soon as I'd mounted, all of the horses were moving, Chevelle to my right, Ruby the left. Anvil was slightly ahead and I could hear the hooves of Steed and Grey's horses following closely behind.
We rode hard without interruption across the craggy rocks and away from the safety of the castle walls. The group was silent and alert. I was terrified.
Chevelle stayed near me as we rode and when we finally did stop, he stepped from his horse and in one fluid movement, pulled me from my own and to standing beside him. His face was hard and I didn't ask the questions that were swimming through my mind, I was sure I didn't want the answers anyway.
I'd thought we were taking a break but when I realized that Steed was directing the horses back the way we had just come, my optimism sank. Chevelle led me to the cover of a few small, bushy trees and gave me one slight nod before Ruby stepped beside me and took his place. I watched him walk to where Anvil and the others stood, the wolves pacing restlessly around them. I could not hear a word of their discussion.
"What's going on, Ruby?" I whispered.
She responded in kind. "We had received word of Brahn but the delay in our departure will mean some searching. They will split on short excursions to hunt without losing the group, while keeping you center." My stomach tightened.
"Won't they need the horses?" I asked, as quiet as I could manage.
She shook her head. "From here, we keep on foot for speed and stealth."
I bit down hard as we sat, silently watching two sets of two rotate on searches while the remaining three remained near me. The center.
Occasionally, the core of the group would move as well, allowing new territory to be scanned, and after a while with no encounters or signs or anything to speak of, my muscles began to relax and I settled in to a long, uncomfortable resignation.
Once the rotation worked out for Chevelle to be with me, Ruby and Grey nearby but watching outward, I leaned into him, finally calm enough to rest. As we sat on the cool stone, my back against the side of his chest, his arm partially around me but still in readiness, the tightness that had remained in my chest released and I almost dozed off as my mind wandered idly.