Winterskin (Book One of Wrath & Winter)

What Lies in Wait: Part One

"I don't know what you are,"

Back at Eastpost, Hagen paced through mud and snow, her arms secured behind her back. She was a barrier between me and the others. The others who foamed at a chance to get back at me for what I'd done.

Even though I hadn't done anything. It showed up. Again.

"Are you listening, Maeva?" Hagen kneeled down. Snapped her fingers at me. "Shieldsiblings don't watch as their partners are sucked dry. You froze! Shieldmaidens do not freeze in the face of danger!"

Blood still dripped from Noel's nostrils. He leaned on the youngling with the horse pendant, his pockmarked face uglied by a gaptoothed sneer.

"I apologize, ma'am-but there was something...a wisp or a fae or something-wrapped around him like a sheet!" my explanation only served to make her face fall farther. Those eyes blaze brighter. "I...," didn't know what else to do? I've seen it. Two times now. And every time it vanishes when someone-like you-walks through it.

But those words died the moment she turned on her heel. Stepping away from me.

"An example," she said, pointing to me, then at Noel, "at what fear can do. At what cowardice can do," her eyes cut toward me, "You're off for the rest of the day, Maeva. Noel, you're going to the healer-,"

"I don't need no witch touching me."

"You'll do as I say!" she thundered, ripping his forearm toward her, then leaving him to stumble after her. "The rest of you, report to the guardhouse and wait. Sure the commander can think up something painful for you all to do."

Her lingering glare struck me down to the bone. Why was I being given the rest of the day off? Did this mean she was cutting me from training?

I couldn't let that happen. Maddy and Eva loved vegetables and Gram deserved to eat something other than herbal based soups. She deserved pastries and freshly baked bread. Not the bark from an ash oak every night.

No. She could cut me, but no one could make me leave. If I've got to prove all over again that I deserve this chance, then I'll do it.

I followed them to the guardhouse.

The sparring grounds were vacant. By the time noon came around, Hagen still hadn't come back with Noel. Whatever that blanket-wisp had done to him, it must have done it well. Why did I freeze? Why did I just let it happen?

In these times, I'd talk to Elisedd or Gram, if she was around. But neither could help right now as I waited with the others for Hagen to return.

The youngling with the horse pendant eyed me, as did three others that didn't like the fact I had followed. Talking loudly about how Hagen didn't want me here, especially after what my curse had done to Noel's body.

I let myself into the guardhouse, tired of hearing them. Of feeling their eyes on me and found myself wandering into a vacant room adjacent to the armory. One that touted a massive tower shield placed over a window, golden rays slithering in between splintered cracks in the wood. Garlands hung from the bare walls, white on rose on bright green vines that seemed more lively than they should have been.

I shouldn't have let him go. Maybe it wasn't Elisedd that would be my counterbalance. Maybe Noel was. And my own inaction.

Maybe I really am a coward.

The door flew open, groaning as three men stepped in.

Horse pendant headed the group. At his right, stood the youngling with the gold-dusted hair and another with spider stubble on his head.

There were no weapons. They must have left them in the courtyard out back.

"What do you want?" I snapped, knowing well what their expressions meant. Knowing too that I had weapons. But the true problem was was how fast I'd be able to take them out. Use them without killing people who might be my shieldbrothers in the coming days.

"Hagen might not know about you-might not care what you've sworn to-but we do." Horse Pendant said, stepping closer. Balling up his fists. "You ain't supposed to be a part of the Guard, Maeva."

"Your curse killed Noel." Spider Stubble spoke up.

"He's not dead!" I spat back, "We saw him leave!"

"Yeah, well, have they come back?" Horse Pendant narrowed his eyes, "It shouldn't take this long to get patched up. You watched as some Scyllah knife-ear did their work. Just let it happen!"

There were a thousand things I wanted to scream. Hundreds of things I wanted to say-to make them realize that the words of a dead person aren't worth much when you're living and dying because of their promise. That just because I feel wrong killing some Scyllah member in cold blood doesn't mean I wouldn't do it for the good of the town.

But I don't get the chance.

One swift punch to my gut and I can't breathe. Everything becomes muddled and the world looks like it isn't real. Like I've been submerged underwater and I'm looking at this room through a thick shelf of ice. A kick and I'm down. Coughing. Sputtering. Something warm and running trickling from my nose. The side of my mouth.

It's done in a flash, but to me, it goes on and on and on.

"If you know what's good for you," Horse Pendant hissed, kneeling down. Lips hovering near my ear, "you won't be here tomorrow."