Of Thorn and Thread (Daughters of Eville #4) - Chanda Hahn Page 0,58
my skill. He became distant. Cold, even.
Then Liam announced we would stop in Briarwood, the last town, before we would reach the blight. That knowledge made me nervous and on edge.
Devin described Briarwood as a sleepy city compared to the bustling city of Thressia. Slow in pace and atmosphere. The shops were older with thatched roofs, and wooden shingles advertised the alchemy shops, local hedge witches, and even an acupuncturist.
We slowed as we navigated the narrow streets, falling in line, one behind the other, like a string threading its way through a needle. We poked and prodded our way toward our destination. Fae and human alike crowded the streets as they prepared to flee the oncoming darkness. I could feel the underlying fear that coated the air.
As we rode down the main road, I saw wagon after wagon being loaded with furniture and crates. Many of the people that had the means were leaving, trying to outrun the blight that was bearing down on their home.
City guards rode their horses up and down the street, trying to intimidate the townspeople into staying instead of running away. My heart lurched as a father loaded up his children into a cart and pulled them by hand toward the city gate.
One guard blocked his way, and the youngest child cried out in fear. Her tears left a white trail down her soot-stained face.
“Move out of the way,” the man yelled at the guard.
“The king needs you to stay and defend the city,” the guard ordered.
“I have children.” The man gestured to the wagon behind him. “Their mother’s gone. If something happens to me, they’ll starve.”
“If Somnielle falls, then it won’t matter where you run to, the blight will follow.” The guard puffed up his chest and stared down at the wavering father. “If you don’t stay, I’ll have you arrested.”
The father’s bottom lip trembled, and he lowered his head in shame. “I’m a coward,” he admitted.
The guard sneered in disdain and gave an ugly gesture. He spurred his horse onward, kicking up mud onto the wagon’s occupants. The father tried to wipe the offending mud from his youngest daughter’s face.
We watched the same scene play out with each street we passed. Only a few of the fae would stay behind, for other kingdoms weren’t as accepting of their kind. As afraid as they were to stay, they were even more terrified to leave.
There was hope. I could see it when the people looked toward Liam in his fur-trimmed red cloak, his head held high, his gold helm gleaming in the sunlight. He was a beacon in their worried hearts. A symbol much more powerful than I realized. When he passed, people paused, looked on with awe, and pointed. Some bowed, old women cried, and a few clutched their hearts.
I looked toward Devin, his own face was solemn, his lips pressed together and his chin high as he followed in a line behind his commander.
I gathered just as much attention from the crowd.
“Look, Mama, a princess.” A young girl with braids pointed and waved at me. My heart raced as I smiled and gave a small wave back. A completely different reception than the one I had back home.
“Yes, dear, she probably is.”
We stopped outside a small white stucco inn called the Sleepy Gnome. I hadn’t even dismounted when the front door burst open. A cute brunette with dimples and doe eyes rushed out and stopped awkwardly on the first step, her hands pinwheeling so she didn’t fall into the street.
She wagged her finger at Devin. “You sure took your time. You promised me a date when you passed through again.”
“Anna!” Devin flashed her his most debonair smile and straightened his shirt. “That I did, that I did. And I may very well still keep my promise if you can put us up for the night?”
She turned, smoothing back her hair, and glanced at our small troop. “Oh, and Sir Liam as well? We’d be honored. Come in, get settled. If I’d have known you were coming, I’d have baked you my famous sweet potato pie.”
“Oh, love. If you’d known I was coming, you would have baked so much food I’d have no choice but to marry you.” Devin chucked her under the chin, and she blushed prettily. As soon as Anna went inside, Devin held up six fingers and pointed to his toes.
“Liar,” I mouthed at the inside joke.
“Yeah, but I almost had you fooled.” He grinned cheekily.