Owe You My Sins [GxG]

Chapter 9

The wheels shuddered and groaned as they ploughed through the snow. Trees loomed all around them and cast long shadows over the snow. Maeven rode Fen at the front, with Illythia alongside her. The mare they had given her had a beautiful, dappled coat, grey and fierce like storm clouds. Behind them lumbered the wagon, pulled by two chestnut geldings whose thick coats rippled with muscle. They were stockier than Fen, heavy-set with wide chests and powerful lungs built for endurance. Two guards sat on the wagon; the reins grasped tightly between numbing fingers. Maeven had known Conan and Brighton since she was small, often joking that it was she who prompted the budding love between the two. On the left and right of the wagon rode Una and Saibh. Saibh was a spitfire of a woman built primarily of shoulders and biceps, her skin marred in a dusting of freckles. Una was a petite woman, and at first glance one wouldn't assume much of her at all. But in truth, she was the only one able to wrangle Saibh back to normal when she inevitably got pissed off.

They'd been riding for just shy of an hour, having left early that morning in hopes of beating the snow. They'd succeeded for the most part, as the snow barely fell and the winds had grown tired overnight. They planned to reach Elsbury by nightfall. While everything was bathed in a crisp white, there was still a heavy gloom hovering all around them. The forests of Windermere were known to be endlessly disorientating, every tree and snowbank merging together to lead travellers astray. Even their escorts were peering around inquisitively, murmuring softly amongst themselves. Maeven wasn't concerned, however, as she'd braved the woods countless times and always found her way home. Illythia didn't seem bothered either, examining each snow-laden branch with equally invigorated curiosity.

After spending the evening in the library, something had changed between the two. They both sensed the change, and they subtly exchanged glances when they thought the other wasn't looking. Still, the journey was silent between the two. Both could hear the chatter of conversation at their backs and the forest itself wasn't at all quiet, but the two women didn't utter a word. Maeven ensured that they rode a decent distance apart, but Fen, feeling particularly fresh, kept veering closer. Maeven was growing frustrated, biting her lip to contain her complaints. She could feel her mount rebelling against her.

Maeven jolted when she felt something brush against her shin, whipping around to stare at the offender indignantly. Illythia had pulled the reins until Seeka, her mare, brushed gently against Fen's side. The stallion snorted in response, turning his lumbering head around to nip at her shoulder amicably. Illythia levelled her with a pointed stare, peering out under her lashes as she pursed her lips. Maeven swallowed harshly, feigning ignorance.

She quickly averted her eyes, smoothing her clammy hands on Fen's thick coat, who flicked his ears back at her, "did you need something?"

Illythia tutted, turning forward and allowing her hair to fly back over her shoulders, "no, I suppose not."

"Alright," Maeven drew her lip between her teeth, wondering how many times she'd done so over the last week.

She subconsciously counted each step Fen took—ten, eleven—before she couldn't take the silence any longer and spoke up, "have you been to Elsbury before?"

Illythia peered back at her curiously, "no, I've actually not been anywhere in the North besides Stonehearth."

"Well, there's a festival," she started, fiddling with the reins. "They host it every year in the first week or so of winter. It's dedicated to the frost spirits."

"Frost spirits?" Illythia quirked a brow sceptically.

"You're a vampire. Are you telling me frost spirits are where you draw the line?" Maeven stared at her incredulously. "Besides, they're called the Friesvaka. They guide the people south and bless them with safe passage and light snows. Apparently, they look after their land while they're gone, but I'm not too sure about that one."