Lacuna - N.R. Walker Page 0,47

touch, that was unexpected. If they did manoeuvre us into their game, this birthmark bond was a blindsiding. The looks on their faces . . .” He smiled. “They didn’t plan for that. It wasn’t surprise on Adelais face. It was outrage.”

“Did you see Aelfflaed’s face?” Kohaku asked. “For a seer of truth, it was a revelation she didn’t foresee, and one she didn’t like.”

The reality was, Tancho hadn’t seen anyone else’s face in that moment but Maghdlm’s and Crow’s. And of course, there was the burn under his skin and up his arm. Nothing and no one else in that moment existed.

But maybe Soko was right. The realisation that their birthmarks were bonded had changed the mood of Adelais. Her façade of the calm and collected Grand Speaker had slipped after that. And maybe, if it was a move the elders had not counted on, then maybe—just possibly—the bond between himself and Crow wasn’t such a curse after all.

“So many questions,” Tancho whispered.

“Maghdlm will talk more tomorrow,” Crow said. “And hopefully provide more answers. But tonight we should sleep.” He lay down on his mat, folded his arm under his head as a pillow, and closed his eyes.

He had such long lashes, and his stubble was dark against his pale skin. He was disturbingly handsome, in that rough mountain-man way that Tancho had never considered handsome before. But for all his temper when awake, his usual glower was gone when he slept. He even looked peaceful. Beautiful.

The sound of Soko’s laughter made Tancho look over, and he found Karasu, Soko, and Kohaku all staring at him and grinning. “I’ve been trying to get your attention for two minutes,” Karasu said. “You called him beautiful.”

Tancho growled at them. “I did not.”

They all scoffed and Karasu rolled her eyes. “Okay then.” She lay down, still smiling. “Good night.”

Soko lay down as well. “Good night . . . beautiful.”

They all laughed, and even one of the guards in the corner snorted. Tancho threw himself down on the mat and rolled over so they couldn’t see the blush on his cheeks. “How long has it been in the Westlands’ history since someone received fifty lashes for mocking the king?”

They stopped laughing.

“That’s what I thought.”

They were back on the road with the rising sun the next morning. They were so close to home Tancho could almost taste it. The townsfolk cheered as they rode through, welcoming their king home. No one had seen anything or anyone untoward, no unsightly creatures, anyway, though they mostly stared at Crow and Soko, giving them a wide berth.

Soko smiled and waved at the children. His demeanour was always cheerful and it was hard not to like him. Maybe the local people could warm to him, given the chance, even though he wore royal colours of the Northlands. Karasu and Kohaku certainly appeared to like him.

Crow, on the other hand, wasn’t exactly welcoming. He kept his horse close to Tancho’s, putting himself between Tancho and the crowds of people. He was being overprotective, a trait of their birthmark bond, and as much as it infuriated Tancho, he reminded himself that it wasn’t Crow’s fault. He couldn’t help it.

But that was why the people looked at him warily. He was an imposing form, dressed in his black king’s cloak, with a gleaming broadsword sheathed at his side. That, and the fact he scowled at almost everyone.

But they were offered baskets of fruit and breads, and as they continued west, Tancho wanted to pick up the pace.

“We’re a day’s full ride from home,” he said. “No one has seen anyone come from the castle. No invading armies, no creatures. Nothing. That means they haven’t left the castle, surely. They’re not invading, they’re waiting. We must ride on through the night without rest. We must get there as fast as we can.”

“Have you lost your mind?” Crow said flatly. “You would ride into an unknown scenario without sleep and on weary horses when the enemy is six days’ rested? If they’re prepared for battle, you wouldn’t stand a chance. We must rest and plan how we approach your home tomorrow. We have to be prepared.”

Tancho glowered at him as they rode. He hated that Crow was right. “Then we ride as far as we dare tonight, and rest. Then we can approach earlier than would be expected, hopefully catch them unawares.”

Crow’s eyes hardened, but he pushed his horse to go a little faster. “Agreed.”

The inn Tancho chose was off the main roads,