Page 82 of The Fury She Holds
“What is it?” she asked when her friend turned and joined her. Wordlessly, Carrick handed Tal a small object wrapped in a thin cloth. Embroidered on a corner in maroon thread were the words, “I’m sorry.” She pulled the cloth open and frowned at the sugared pastry.
Carrick clapped a hand on her shoulder. Since the night on the pier, he began inviting Tal to his bounties like they were kids again. They didn’t talk about Faron, and Tal was grateful her friend always knew what she needed. She shoved the pastry into her mouth in two bites and let the cloth napkin fall to the tunnel floor.
They had discussed at length the new information Egan provided. Rainier reminded them of Sybil’s vision taking place in the palace, and Tal’s mistrust grew further. Tal wouldn’t openly connect the faceless royal with the man she’d spent half the summer with. And, while she insisted they couldn’t trust the king, Rainier disagreed. “We can be cautious, but one rumor ofa meeting at the palace isn’t enough to prove Faron is involved, especially given who the rumor is coming from.”
Tal flinched at the use of his name.
Rain’s dagger picked at something under his nail. “Honestly, it’s more possible that someone else at the palace is sneaking behind Faron’s back and trying to usurp power. Remember the falsified ledgers? Syb even said her visions of Faron have all proven he’s on our side. Trust him, Tal.”
Tal glared at the seer. “What visions?” Her friend hadn’t mentioned seeing anything regarding the noble—royal, she mentally corrected herself.
Sybil threw her shoulders back and narrowed her eyes. She threw her hair behind her shoulder as if this new information wasn’t important. “Since the night at the incinerator, I’ve been trying to force visions like you asked. Sometimes he’s in them. Anything involving the mages shows him fighting on our side,againstthem,” she added.
“Are these visions of the future or symbolic fights?” Carrick joined the conversation.
“It’s hard to tell. My guess is both, given what we’ve seen in the past and the fuzzy details.”
“What fuzzy details, Syb?” She hated how cryptic the woman could be. Tal suspected she knew more than she let on but could never get clear answers.
Sybil waved her hand dismissively. “Just my understanding of it all, maybe something about a building, or who is there. I can’t say for sure.”
Tal crossed her arms, but Rain interjected before she could say anything. “We need to be diligent, get information, and look at the facts objectively. Nobody goes barreling into a situation without all of us discussing it first, got it?” Everyone except Tal nodded. “Right, Tal?”
She grumbled out an affirmative and stormed off to her room.
22
For the next two weeks, Tal tried to keep busy by taking on as many bounties as possible, but she still brooded over her conflicting thoughts. Madge hired her to gather a few different herbs that could only be found a few hours' ride outside the kingdom. It would have been a good day away from life at the docks. It should have been, but Tal was a glutton for punishment. While packing her weapons, her eyes brushed past the two battle axes laid out before her. She considered chucking them into the river, but it would have been an insult to the talented blacksmith who crafted them.
“Where did you get those?” Sybil stood in the opening, curiosity filling her features.
“They were a gift.” Tal eyed the design stamped into the metal. “From F—”
“I could take them off your hands if you don’t want them.”
“You can take them off my dead body.” Tal grabbed the axes and strapped them onto her back. She hefted her satchel, filled with enough food for the day, and faced Sybil. “What’s with the face?”
Sybil’s eyes shifted from a glazed stare at the wall to focus on Tal. She blinked, like she hadn’t been paying attention. “If you want to chat, you know where to find me.” She lingered, blocking Tal’s exit.
“Thanks, but I’m fine.”
Sybil waited a moment longer then stepped aside. She watched silently as her friend passed.
Tal ignored Sybil’s odd stare and left the tunnels. The weight of the axes pressed against her back, and she vowed to find some beast to sink the blades into. Perhaps the fight would calm her fury a bit.
Madge had already paid for her to rent a horse from a nearby stable, but Tal had other plans. Adrenaline rushed through her system when she snuck into the palace grounds. She’d done it plenty of times to meet Daire. The palace stable was relatively quiet aside from the horses left in their stalls. She snagged a bridle, saddle and reins and found the gray speckled mare. Pepper recognized her and snuffed out a greeting. Quietly, Tal prepared the horse who nuzzled her playfully. When she mounted the saddle, a pang of disappointment clawed at her stomach at the ease of her escape.
She urged Pepper forward, and Eddard stepped out from the side of the stables, blocking her path. Tal pulled on the reins and slouched in the saddle. “Move aside, Ed. I’m going for a ride.”
His finger tapped on the handle of his sword, his palm resting on the pommel. “You know I can’t let you go alone, Tal.”
“He can’t stop me from fulfilling my bounties.” She narrowed her eyes.
“I won’t interfere. I could use a little fresh air.” If his reason for stopping her had been anything other than Faron’s orders, Tal may have considered allowing him to join. But she needed to get away from the constant reminders. She needed to free her mind.
“I just need a moment, Ed, a quick ride north. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
His finger drummed along in the waiting silence.Tap. Tap. Tap.
