Fear of Fire and Shadow (The Fade #1) - Samantha Young Page 0,76

neighbor Dru regaled me with the story of Brint, who organized a search party for a little girl who’d been kidnapped by the Iavii.

“We were lucky that the group who’d taken wee Amelia were few, because no matter what, Brint would be ah takin’ us into the woods to fight the buggers and bring her back.”

I stared at Brint who looked marginally embarrassed by the story. “And did you?”

“Oh, indeed,” Dru went on. “We snuck up on the buggers and dealt them out a booting they wouldn’t forget. We got wee Amelia and brung her home to her folks. The Iavii departed the mountain no’ too long after that.”

“You were very brave.” I lifted my cup to them.

“Are ye brave?” A girl appeared at my side, swishing her dirty skirts and smiling at me, her teeth yellowed. I squinted, feeling warm and fuzzy from the ale. She would have been pretty had she been given the comforts of Silveran living.

“No,” I replied promptly.

“Ye’ve come into the mountains by yer lonesome. There’s a certain amount of bravery to be said for that.” She brushed her fingers down my face before dropping into my lap.

Bewildered by her sudden proximity, it took me a minute to realize she was reaching to kiss me. I squealed under my breath and jerked back, thankful when her weight was lifted from me.

Brint gave her a look and patted her bottom. “Be on with ye, lass. This one is shy.”

The girl huffed in disappointment, striding off before throwing me one more longing look over her shoulder. My cheeks felt hot and Brint laughed again.

“Tera is a bit free with her favors.” He shook his head. “Gotten worse since the Iavii have gone. Everyone be a bit more relaxed these days.”

“I can’t believe the gypsies were that awful to their own.” I bit my lip. Up here, Haydyn’s evocation did not reach, up here where life was hard enough as it was.

Brint glowered now, looking as fierce as I first imagined him to be. “We weren’t their own. You never knew which hill they’d come barrelin’ into next, takin’ that which wasn’t theirs to take.”

“Then I’m glad they’ve left you alone.”

“Me too, son. I pity the buggers who they be botherin’ now, though.”

I grunted. I would be one of those buggers.

I shook off my memories and smiled, looking around me. “The mountains aren’t anything like I was told they’d be. Everyone is so friendly and nice.”

Once again, Brint’s lips thinned and he leaned in. “In Hill o’ Hope, we are. We be good people. But don’t ye be gettin’ all mistaken, son. There are folks in these here mountains who’ve gone crazy with the isolation. Ye watch yerself in this journey o’ yers. Stick to the trails. There’s a place one hill from here called Shadow Hill. Ye be bypassin’ around the outskirts o’ Shadow, ye hear? No’ nothing there for strangers but a world o’ suspicion and sorrow. And the closer to the Pool ye reach, be warier. There be dogs in packs up that way, hungry and feral as any an animal starvin’ and uncontrolled.”

I gulped.

My fear returned.

I should have known it couldn’t be as easy as I’d begun to hope.

Hah, I snorted inwardly. Hill o’ Hope. It was really called so because it gave hope that the mountains were as kind and easygoing as the people here.

“Thank you,” I replied softly, grateful for the warning.

Brint nodded grimly, as if seeing past my deception and into the truth of me. He seemed concerned.

“Come.” He stood. “Let us get ye home and to some sleep.”

It was even colder out now.

I thought about the nights ahead. I wouldn’t have a home to sleep in, a roof to shelter me, to give at least the pretense of safety. I thought of Brint’s caution. The thought of sleeping under the stars was nothing compared to the thought of facing the horror in his eyes when he issued his warning.

Chapter 23

Brint’s wife, Anna, was just as friendly as her husband.

She laid out blankets by the fire and stoked the flames to life to keep me warm. She insisted I stay for breakfast in the morning, but I explained I had to leave extremely early. I was afraid of Wolfe and the Guard catching up to me. Anna ignored my protests, insisting she and Brint were early risers. But I knew I couldn’t stay. However, I told them I would, and made sure I thanked them so they’d know, when they found