Jewel and the Mares of Fantasy [A Fantasy Novel]

C H A P T E R |10|

           

| The A U T H O R Rights a Wrong and Frees the Girl |

Evander stared at the Lord, watching him with a fear that threatened to swallow him whole. He'd known this day was dawning, had known this day would snatch him up after what happened a year ago. He'd just hoped that it was only his imagination. That the signs he was seeing weren't actually there. But Anakin kept his promises, and revenge wasn't going to slip past him. Revenge wasn't going to slip past Nyt either and the tall frost-headed boy stood strong to make the point.

There was a ranger behind them, female as far as Evander could tell, but the cape and cowl kept most features hidden. He knew Nyt and Anakin's abilities to skin him alive, and he feared them, but the unknown party had him concerned the most.

Was she there to make sure his death happened? Rangers were trained in the art of slow torture; what some did with a knife, they did with their fingernails. The more pain, the more promise in information. The strongest willed man lost his composure in their presence.

Evander squared up, remembering who he was and how much power he had, even if it was nothing compared to the Lords and Ranger before him.

"Can't kill me yourself, Ani?" Evander goaded. To his credit, his voice was strong.

Nyt scoffed, crossing his arms. "He's not here to kill you, Evander."

The lord swallowed.

|/A\|

Nyt gesture for Anakin to speak, but the Lord wasn't paying attention. He was watching his fingers play with the blade of his knife. Spinning it around and around, the sunlight catching and throwing off shadows. In his mind's eye he could see the memories he'd locked away. The sound of Hal screaming was very dominate. He could see the house burning, smell the wood as it popped and sizzled, there was a downpour of harsh rain, but it did nothing against the flames destroying the home of Lord Evander with his wife Iba and her best friend Hal inside.

The Lord glanced up, his gaze hard. Evander flinched, fear making him shake. Anakin held his glare for a moment longer. Evander had been his friend before the fire. They'd fought in the War way before they'd even gotten married. And now... Now, Evander was a murderer. Anakin's jaw tightened and he turned to the silent presence of the Ranger behind them. He didn't know her name, didn't know what made her join the Guard, but Smoke trusted her like she trusted all her Rangers, and so he breathed evenly and gave a nod to the mysterious woman.

The Ranger moved forward, quieter than a leaf falling and more graceful than a dancing flame. Everything about her covered but the powerful gaze of green eyes. The long, slender blade strapped to her back was the only noticeable weapon; for some Rangers it was the only weapon.

The little lord had half a foot on her, but she was undeterred and grabbed Evander, one hand to his neck in case he resisted, the other around his bicep to guide him from the room. Nyt and Anakin followed as she towed Evander through the hallways and out the front doors. They stopped on the steps, in front of a crowd of servants and citizens.

"The council has found Evander Jak guilty of the murder of Iba Jak and Hal Drennan and therefore unfit to be ruling lord of Garden City." The Ranger's voice was strong as she spoke to the mass, it echoed from her hood and around the court yard. "He will be tried and given the sentence worthy of his crime. Until the council finds a fit lord to take his place, Prince Lord Anakin Drennan will rule over Garden City."

Anakin choked and looked to Nyt, surprised. His brother shrugged, but was smirking. Oh the sly dogs.

As the shock of the Ranger's words settled, the crowd began to murmur and create a hissing of words that brushed Anakin's ears but he did not try to comprehend whether people were glad or upset.

There was a change in the air as Cor showed up with her pink hair and cat-like pale eyes. The Vin'tery acknowledged Nyt and Anakin with a respectful nod, then she took the arm of the Ranger, and the two disappeared, taking the captive ex-lord with them. Barely a pause later and the steps were empty of anyone as Nyt and Anakin reappeared back at the cabin.

|/J\|

Jewel jumped, slapping a hand to her out of control heart as Ani appeared in front of her, his arms crossed and a smirk playing with his lips.

"What are you doing?" He asked, eyeing the butter knife in her right hand still over a pounding heart and the stick of butter in her left. The smell of freshly baked bread hovered in the kitchen, but the cookies in the oven smelled even better.

Jewel maneuvered around the man to the slice of bread on the counter. Ani turned with her, still looking in a good mood. "Eating."

"Hmm..." Ani moved forward quickly as she finished lathering butter onto the slice. He nearly stole it from her, but Jewel had a talent of keeping her food and slapped his hand away.

She pointed at the island while biting into the bread like nothing had happened. "Knife. Bread." She handed him the butter. "Butter." She pointed at his hands. "Do it yourself."

From the living room, Nyt's humorous chuckle spread through the house. He walked into the kitchen grinning. "She's got a backbone."

Jewel didn't know what to think of the frost-headed boy, so she didn't acknowledge his compliment. He'd showed up that morning, said good-morning and then he and Ani left without an explanation, leaving her to her thoughts, which wasn't good. Not with spring rolling closer, along with unwanted memories.

"Do I smell cookies?" Nyt asked, swinging around the island bar and toward the oven. Jewel stepped forward with a snarl when he opened the door. She snapped it shut and shoved in front of him, taking another bite of bread.

"They're not ready." She said around the bite. Nyt looked offended, but was still grinning. She eyed the two boys. They were being so weird and making her uncomfortable. She didn't like it. Her gaze narrowed on Ani. He was gnawing on his lip and staring out the window. "Spit it out." She commanded.

|/A\|

Anakin sighed internally. She'd gotten persistent lately. Seemed like getting a new name changed her attitude. She was suddenly demanding and... motherly? He shook his head. Women.

Moving his gaze from the window to the red-head in his kitchen, he sighed aloud. "I'm leaving the farm for a little while."

Jewel didn't react. He'd told her of his adventures before the War and after. He'd explained that he never stayed in one place for long. She even knew that he was only staying near Garden City because he wanted Evander to pay for his crimes and being close by kept the man on his toes. She also knew that as soon as Evander was disposed of, he was leaving.

Anakin didn't have to read her thoughts to know that she'd put that all together. Her name changing didn't change her cleverness.

Her arms crossed. It was a defensive gesture she wasn't in a habit of using. Something was bothering her. "And..." Her tone was tight. Anakin eyed the cookies, remembering the last time she'd made them. Something really was bugging her, and it wasn't Nyt staring her down.

Anakin leaned against the counter. Nyt finally backed away from Jewel and slide easily onto the island bar, snatching an apple. He eyed them like a kid watching his favorite movie.

Anakin ignored him. "You can come." Watching her face, he added, "You can stay." And then again, he said, "Or you can go your own separate way." Her shoulder moved to suppress a shiver of excitement.

"Can I?" Jewel's voice was soft, a hint of fear along with contained joy making it hard for her to get words together.

Anakin smiled. "You're free, Jewel. You'll always be free."

Jewel smiled back and then stepped away from the stove, her arms falling free. "You can have cookies now."

©JJHays2017

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Thanks,

JJ

06.02.17