So I Married a Sorcerer (The Embraced #2)

He gave her a wry look, then inclined his head. “You are too kind, Your Highness.”

“Yes, I know.” As she sauntered off, she heard Rupert telling his guard he needed to piss. No doubt he was seeking a moment of privacy to read the note. “Thank you, Lieutenant.” She waved a hand in the air without bothering to look back.

Sister Fallyn trailed along behind, playing the role of a devoted servant. When they reached the privacy of their tent, they both heaved huge sighs of relief.

“Oh, thank you.” Brigitta hugged the nun. “I couldn’t have managed without you.”

“What did the note say?” Sister Fallyn asked.

“It was short and simple. ‘After you cross the border, One and Two will try to kill you.’”

Sister Fallyn winced. “I suppose that is all we can do for now. I’ll go fetch us some dinner.”

“Thank you.” Alone in the tent, Brigitta resumed her pacing. Hopefully by now, Rupert would have read the note.

A bark sounded outside. Brigitta lifted the tent flap, and Brody, now in dog form, trotted inside.

“Here.” She set a pair of breeches on her cot, then stepped outside to let him shift in private.

The sun was lowering in the sky, so numerous torches were being lit around the camp. The scent of wood smoke and roasting meat was thick in the air.

Gunther’s tent was unmistakable, since it was huge and topped with a dozen banners in blue and gold. The sound of male laughter emanated from within. He was enjoying a meal with Captain Mador and General Tarvis. She’d been invited, but had declined, saying she was too tired from the day’s travel.

Her skin prickled as once again she had the odd feeling that she was being watched. She scanned the camp, but everyone seemed busy at their tasks.

“You can come in now,” Brody whispered, and she ducked back into the tent. “I have news. Stefan and the others have camped two miles from here.”

“That’s good. I managed to pass a note on to Seven.”

“Excellent.” Brody nodded. “Tomorrow when he leaves, I’ll follow him as a bird. Stefan will be able to see me, so he’ll follow on horseback. We’ll watch his back.”

“I’m coming with you.”

Brody stiffened. “No, you’re not. Seven will have my hide if I endanger you. Once we cross the border, we’ll be dragon bait.”

“I’m still going with you.”

“I’ve heard the mountains are treacherous, and snow can fall at any time, even in the summer. The forests are full of bears, wolves, and wildcats, and they’re actually tame compared with the Norveshki warriors. The valleys have bubbling cauldrons of mud and geysers that shoot hot steam. The land around them is barren and scattered with the bones of animals that ventured too far onto the hot surface.”

Brigitta took a deep breath. “No matter what you say, I am going. I can speak Norveshki. Can any of you?”

Brody winced.

“If we’re captured by the Norveshki warriors, you’ll need me.”

Brody heaved a sigh. “Fine. You make a good point. I’ll take you.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

With a groan, he shook his head. “You-know-who is going to be pissed.”

Her grin faded. “I can deal with his anger. What I can’t handle is the possibility of him being injured or killed.”

*

The next morning, Brigitta watched as One, Two, and Seven were lined up in front of Gunther’s tent. The three men sheathed the swords they were given, then soldiers handed each of them a bow, a quiver of arrows, and a spear.

Brigitta’s heart pounded, knowing that Captain Mador and General Tarvis planned to use those weapons on Rupert.

Gunther and a local nobleman strolled in front of the three men, inspecting them.

“You will follow the path along the stream,” the nobleman explained. “It will take you into Norveshka.”

“Yes, my lord,” all three men replied. The captain and the general shot an annoyed look at Rupert that he had dared to answer with them.

“One final note,” Gunther announced as he stared at the three contestants. “Don’t think you can weasel out of this quest by simply killing one of your companions. I have requested the head of a dragon, and you will deliver. If you’re too cowardly to kill a dragon, I’ll kill you myself!”

One and Two gulped. Seven’s eyes narrowed.

“You will avenge me for what those dragons did to me!” Gunther bellowed, his eyes seething with rage. “Do you hear me? I need revenge!”

Rupert’s hands fisted, and a strong gust of wind shot down the valley, shaking the tents and snapping the pennants.

Was Rupert causing this? Brigitta’s gown whipped against her legs, and her cloak billowed in the air. The wind kept coming, growing stronger and stronger.

Servants cried out in alarm as they stumbled against one another. Campfires blew out, cooking spits tumbled over, and large pots crashed to the ground. Dark clouds moved in, casting the valley into shadow. Horses whinnied as they trotted nervously about their enclosure.

As the wind grew more powerful, the soldiers’ tents began to uproot from the ground, and the objects inside flew into the air. The soldiers who tried to save their tents were blown into one another and pummeled with flying objects.

Thunder cracked overhead, and servants screamed, running for the nearby woods for shelter. Horses crashed through the makeshift fence and charged through the camp, causing more chaos.

Brigitta grabbed Sister Fallyn, and they hunched down as a tremendous gale-force wind struck Gunther’s tent.

He screamed in rage as his tent flapped about like a rag doll. “Save my tent!”

Soldiers rushed to help as One and Two grabbed on to Gunther’s tent.

Brigitta saw Rupert easing away, unnoticed in all the chaos. He jumped on a horse and charged away, headed on the path to Norveshka.

The dark clouds opened overhead, letting loose a deluge of rain. Brigitta and Sister Fallyn dashed for their tent, which was lopsided but still in place. She ran inside to gather the small bundle she intended to take with her.

“You’re soaked through,” Sister Fallyn said. “You should change.”

“There’s no time.” She slung the strap of the bundle over her shoulder. “He’s already left.”

“Goddesses be with you.” Sister Fallyn’s eyes filled with tears.

“When they notice I’m gone, tell them I was so afraid of the storm that I ran into the woods, and I must be lost.”

Sister Fallyn nodded. “I’ll be praying for you.”

Brigitta hugged her, then exited. One of the oilcloth tarps used to cover up supply carts had blown up against her tent. She draped it over her head to keep the rain off, then made a dash for the woods.

When Brody barked, she spotted him on top of a ridge. She scrambled up the hillside and found Stefan waiting there with two horses.

“He’s already gone!” She folded up the oilcloth, for it was barely raining on the ridge. “He took the path to Norveshka.”

“Then we need to go.” Stefan led her toward one of the horses and wedged the oilcloth between the saddlebags.

She gulped. “I don’t really know how to ride.”