Shattered Souls (Guardians of the Maiden Book 3)

Beryl Coast rested on a rocky rise, looking like a jagged tooth against the storm clouds. A deluge beat down on the steep roofs as wind blew mercilessly from the east. It tugged at Von’s thick cloak where he and Elon observed the quiet city, torches flickering from the outside walls. It was too dark to see anything past the rain, but he could smell the ocean in the air. Their horses nickered, his hooves stomping in the mud. Von had found them a day after escaping the Black Woods.

Len, Novo, and Bouvier rode out of the dark to join them. At Von’s nod, they took the road into the city. They kept their heads low against the rainfall until they reached the entrance. The drunk guards manning the gates looked the other way when Bouvier tossed them a bag of coins, and they cantered in.

Oil lamppost lined the dark streets, but not a soul was in sight. All doors and shutters were closed against the storm.

Von signaled Bouvier to take the lead since he knew the city. The quicker they were finished here, the better. The trip back to Indigo Bay where Tarn’s ship was docked would take them a little less than fortnight, if it didn’t snow first. They had to set sail for Dwarf Shoe before the Sax Sea froze.

Von was impatient to see Yavi again, and to bring her the good news that Dyna had survived after all. If she even allowed him to speak to her.

The clomp of hooves beat on cobblestone as they rode through the quiet streets. Bouvier eventually stopped in front of an old tavern. It was a modest, building of three floors, with a crooked roof, and wedged between two tall structures. But the windows were lit and voices filtered from inside. Above it was a wooden carved sign reading: The Wench’s Hole.

A young boy stepped out of the stable beside it. He pipped from behind layers of scarves and an oversized cloak, “I’ll take your horses, sirs.”

“There’s a good, lad.” Von dismounted and tossed the boy a russet.

His companions did the same and handed him their reins before going inside the tavern. It was warm and bright with lanterns hanging from the bare beams on the ceiling. Patrons filled nearly every table, laughing and talking over warm meals. Most turned to stare at them suspiciously from their corner of their peripherals.

Len’s dark eyes examined the room beneath her hood as did Elon, perhaps listening to every possible sound. They were already staking the area.

“This is a good place to lodge for the night,” Bouvier said, raking his wet hair over his head. “We won’t find another place tonight.”

Von glanced at the others and met their weary faces flushed and wet from the cold. They were visibly exhausted. After days of traveling, they deserved the rest.

“Very well.” Von nodded reluctantly.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Novo hurried off to speak to the tavern keeper with Len. Removing his cloak, Von sat at a dirty table, with Elon and Bouvier following him.

“Where is the location?” Von asked.

The spy had been scouting the area for weeks now, carefully noting the progressing of the excavation of the ruins—an ancient temple dedicated to the worship of Jökull. It was the reason why they were so sure it held the Scroll of the Unending.

Bouvier laid out a map of northern Azure on the table. They leaned over it to study the roads, and he pointed out an old dirt path leading out of the city. “The temple ruins lay fifteen miles east, less than an hour’s ride by horse.”

“And the asset?” Von asked.

“The Relic Hunter on site was close to discovering the location of the scroll. He would have stopped the excavation in this weather.”

“How many are on site?”

“He only had three people on his team. One historian and two ex-soldiers that used to serve in the Azure army as hired protection. No one we can’t handle.” Bouvier folded the map and returned it to his coat. “If they did find it and already left, it should be easy to track them.”

Von rubbed the scruff on his jaw. Sounded like an easy score. They could probably do this without killing any one as well if they can sneak in without being noticed. “Good. We’ll set out in the morning.”

Novo returned and removed his cavalier hat as he handed them keys. “You’re on the second floor, Commander. I ordered meals for us as well.”

Von brushed his thumb over the numbers embossed on the iron key. But he noticed they were short one. “Where’s Len’s key?”

“Right, you’re on the third floor,” he said, casually sliding a key across the table to her.

Len’s quick fingers slipped it under her cloak. She leaned back in her seat, her expression fixed with careful disinterest and boredom.

Bouvier snorted. “And where are you staying, lad?”

Novo fluttered his lashes. “Shall I spend the night with you, love?”

“You’re not pretty enough.”

“After a couple of pints, you may change your mind and think me a pretty wench with a hole.”

Bouvier threw a stale piece of bread at his head, making Len snicker.

A barmaid came by and poured them some ale, then she returned with steaming bowls of mutton stew and bread. Von ignored their ongoing banter as he ate, enjoying the warmth the food brought to his bones. But every once in a while, he caught Novo and Len exchanging looks across the table, and he wasn’t sure if it meant anything until they finished eating. Elon silently departed for his room first, then Bouvier. When Len stood to leave, Novo’s heated stare followed her from the corner of his peripherals all the way to the stairs.

Best to nip that now.

Von set down his mug. “Watch yourself.”

Novo glanced at him and grinned. “Commander, we have been love-mates almost as long as you have been with Yavi.” Chuckling at his staggered expression, he crossed his feet up on the table. “You forget that I’m a spy. It does me good to know everyone’s secrets.”

Von narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean by that?”

“It isn’t a threat. I simply thought you would sympathize with my situation. I’m mad for her, and I’m willing to risk my neck to be with her.”

The barefaced honesty caught Von off guard. “You need to improve your discretion. You’re too conspicuous.”

Instead, he should’ve told him that to court Len was to court death. She was the only one Tarn showed any favor to.

Novo shrugged. “Bouvier suspects, but he doesn’t care. I have saved his life twice already. He’s in my debt. Captain won’t say anything either.”

Von’s mug halted halfway to his mouth. “Elon knows?”

“Aye, he’s got good ears, Commander.” Novo grinned sheepishly. “Len can be a bit loud.”

Von groaned in disgust and waved him off. “Keep that to yourself. How do you know he won’t say anything?”

“Elon knows what it’s like to be with someone he shouldn’t.”

His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“You haven’t figured out why he joined Tarn, yet?” Novo smirked. “His Red Highland tattoo was burned off. That only happens when an elf has committed treason against his kingdom. If his crime was spying for Greenwood, Elon would have lost his head. Instead, he was exiled. The only reason for that is because he loved a Green Elf.”

Von sat up straight in his chair. He’d always wondered what happened for Elon to leave his homeland.

“Captain always deposits his earnings after he’s paid. Where did you think the money was going? He could only be sending it to his family.”

Von had noticed whenever they were in a town, Elon would stop by the banks, but he hadn’t given it much thought. The exile must have stripped him of his wealth, so he came into Tarn’s service nearly two years ago to earn a living. The elf was always quiet and kept to himself. Von didn’t know anything about him, let alone that he had a family, yet Novo figured him out simply by watching him.

“Elon knows about you and Yavi, too.”

Von nearly spat out his ale. “What?”

Novo chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “He’s our leader for a reason, Commander. I believe he has known since last winter. If Elon was going to report it to Tarn, he would have done so by now.”

All this time Von thought he had been careful. He felt like an idiot. Now two of Tarn’s spies knew along with Sorren, Geon and Dyna. His secret was fast losing its undisclosed value.

And it put Yavi in danger.

He eyed the young spy warily, not sure if he could trust him. But Novo only looked happy to be able to discuss his own secret.

“I’ve been saving my earnings to buy Len’s freedom,” Novo said as he flipped a coin in his hand. “Tarn bought her for a thousand gold pieces. I have nearly fifty thousand. Once we return from this mission, I’m going to make him an offer.”

Again, Von gawked at him in bewilderment. Why had it not occurred to him to buy their freedom? Probably because Tarn would never allow him to go. But Novo worked for pay and could leave when he wished. Would Tarn let him buy Len and walk away freely?

Von didn’t think so, but he didn’t want to diminish the confidence radiating off the young man. Novo was happy with Len and didn’t care what others thought of it. It made him yearn for Yavi and how much he wanted to go back to how things were between them. But all of that was slipping through his fingers faster than he could grasp it.

Maybe it was the drink, but he felt so despicable for loving her and making her suffer as his wife. It was his doing for reaching for something he never once deserved.

Von poured himself more ale. “You’re living in a dream, Novo. Created by a faulty wish.”

“What else is there to strive for in life but wishes and dreams? I, for one, mean to have mine fulfilled.” Novo grinned and stood. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, my lady is waiting for me.”

Von had made a wish on the stars once. It had yet to be answered, and he didn’t think it ever would be.

Looking at the young man before him, so hopelessly in love, worry and dread rooted in his chest that they would not have a happy ending either.

Von was aware of the thick scars covering his back, a sign of his many failures. But defiance received another sort of punishment. He sighed into his mug, and the froth swirled with the image of Dalton.

“Don’t underestimate him,” he said. “Tarn can be merciless when angered.”

“Aye, Commander.” The low light from the lantern glinted off Novo’s dark eyes. “The same could be said of you.”

Yes, he could be. Especially when it came to his wife.

Von continued drinking long after he was gone. He drowned himself with the memory of how Yavi’s skin felt in his hands, her lips on his, and her hazel eyes gazing back at him. He craved to inhale the scent of her soft curls when they brushed against his face.

Gods, he needed to sober up. Von trudged outside into the cold rain. It felt good against his flushed face. He leaned against the tavern and breathed in the fresh air until he felt his mind clear. Their marriage was unraveling because of who he was and the decisions he had made. But he couldn’t wait around for a wish anymore.

He needed to tell her the truth.

A distant rumble of beating hooves and neighing horses cut into Von’s thoughts. Glancing up the road, he spotted a unit of armed men galloping in his direction. He withdrew into the shadows of the tavern’s alleyway and let the dark envelop him. The men galloped past. Dim moonlight glinted over their armor, highlighting the kingdom’s sigil on their shoulders.

There could only be two reasons for the Azure Knights arrival. Either they somehow tracked them down—or the Azure King also had business in Beryl Coast.