Fall

Piper

Reine took the lead in their troupe, with Piper falling in second and Finch behind. They rested when the horses rested, and spoke little.

At night, they ate and slept in the frigid darkness. They didn’t know where Tennyson and Taft were. A fire would act as a beacon to not just their pursuers, but also any other curious travelers.

A cold emotion bit Piper from the inside just like the winter nipping their faces. It threatened to stop her heart that beat so fast, and freeze her soul solid. Fear made her pause.

Reine anger was a fiery coal during this time, melting her indecisiveness and reminding her of their purpose. Your parents, Piper. Don’t you want to find them?

I do, Piper said through chattering teeth and hunger as their provisions waned. Stopping at towns was risky, as it added another breadcrumb to their trail. Piper and Finch rationed and bided their time as they raced across the plains, but it soon became clear the horses were faring better than them.

“We need to stop and restock.” Finch dumped out their food in their camp one night. It was even more reduced than Piper had thought, and she cringed.

“I can go alone,” he offered.

“No.” Piper shook her head. “Last time…” Last time they met Tennyson and Taft.

I could fight them again, Reine growled. The big brute lacks wits!

He has brawn, though.

Reine sunk to her haunches. That’s irrelevant.

You’re being delusional. Piper braided her hair, and tucked it in her hood to preserve heat. She had forgotten what it was like to be warm, except through the thick-furred Reine. Her veins were icicles, and her skin snow.

Reine sniffed the air. Speaking of such, we should be getting our first snowfall soon.

Piper watched the sky above them. It appeared to defy Reine’s prediction with a show of bright, clear stars. Was it the season that made them brighter, or the fact they were in the middle of nowhere?

Curling up beside Reine, Piper tucked her blanket close and shivered. Each breath she had announced itself in a cloud.

“My father used to tell me stories,” Finch said on the other side of Reine. Chip was inside his coat, peering out inquisitively. “Stories of cloud people that lived in the mountains. They were mute and mischievous. They fed off the cold breath of us Northerners, and stole our words to speak. If you spoke loud enough, they would have to echo it back…” Finch gave a soft laugh, “I won’t say how many nights I spent yelling at the mountains just to hear my echo.”

Piper laughed with him. She thought for a moment, then said, “Lucy told us there were trolls under the docks. She claimed to pay them enough for us to pass each day, but at night they would snatch children if they couldn’t pay the toll. I believed it for probably longer than I should have, and was nervous even the night I went to get Reine.”

“How much did she have to pay the trolls?” Finch said.

“You know, I never asked,” Piper laughed again.

They sat with the backs on either side of Reine, and looked at the stars.

Finch wrapped his blanket closer. “So tomorrow, we’ll make a run and risk seeing Tennyson for food?”

Piper smiled. “Sounds like a plan.”

Kane

Either his bluff had caught the king’s concern or the meetings were too trivial for his attendance, that Kane was not called to the throne room for three days.

It was peaceful, to be woken by his own internal clock rather than an urgent servant. The first day, Kane cautiously crept around the palace, waiting for his freedom to be snatched at any moment by a passing soldier. But he was left alone, and he dined with Thea for lunch and supper.

She had been grateful for his time away from royal duties, and asked him a great many questions that Kane was sure even King Asher was still figuring out.

The second day, Kane grew restless. He read for a while in the king’s study, then paced the palace some more. By noon, his chances of being called to a meeting appeared slim, so he took a risk.

Bishop had become a near-permanent fixture in his trio of guards. He was sensible, and knew his role well. Which was why he was understandably pale when Kane told him his request.

“I think I already know his answer,” Bishop said.

Kane was adamant. “Ask him anyway.”

Bishop frowned, and sent one of his guards away to the throne room. They waited in the hallway for several minutes.

“Aren’t you in the least bit afraid?” Bishop asked. “It wasn’t too long ago you were hit by our own weapon.” His raccoon chittered in concern at his human’s feet.

If we have fear, there is no room for bravery, Flint said. Kane repeated his words.

Bishop paused. “Well, I don’t know if I would do the same in your position.”

“Do you ever get to leave the palace?” Kane said.

Bishop looked to the ceiling, knowing where this was going. “Yes.”

“I haven’t since the attack. As you know,” Kane added.

That was the end of the conversation until Kane’s third guard returned. His message was surprising. “King Asher says you can leave with a double guard.”

The rest of his second free day and into his third resulted in nothing but Kane walking through the city and ambassador ring around it. He stopped to talk to people, stopped to listen, hoping on hope that something new would come to him that wasn’t already circulating in the king’s halls.

From those that talked to him, he gathered baskets of rumors and bushels of theories from the grapevine of Elbe. They ranged from the conservative to fanciful, and with this information Kane was able to gauge the temperament of the city. These facts he brought to King Asher’s table when he was called in after his three-day hiatus.

“Elbe is with us,” Kane decided. He was alone with the king.

From his throne, King Asher gave a grim smile. “I should hope so.”

“I mean, they think we’re doing the right thing. They’re ready to protect their homes and families, and end this once and for all.”

Kane was happy with this news, along with Flint. However, the king only looked tired.

“I wouldn’t speak to them once their sons and daughters and husbands and wives are on the other side of the mountains. This is the calm before the storm. All of our planning and preparation will come to a head shortly. When we strike, we will pour all our energy into it. Casualties,” King Asher finished, “are a necessity.”

Kane fidgeted nervously. “Do you know when we will fight?”

“While you’ve been on vacation, banners from the East and West have been seen with Nora clusters. They’re now openly supporting them. And I’ve sent scouts as far as Trene to see what the rest of Eden is up to. I expect a full report from them in the next few days. From this report, we will act.”

What can we do? Flint wondered.

“Is everything ready? Troops? Tactics? Weapons? Rations?” Kane asked.

“All we are waiting on,” King Asher said gravely, “is that report.”