“As long as you believe it, then I do too.”
That was a strange answer to give.
She took his hand and pulled him back toward the mansion.
“Let’s go inside and see if we can make a fire. We’ll leave at dawn, but until then... maybe you’ll kiss me again.”
“Seraphina...” It sounded like a warning.
“I won’t make you,” she said. “Only if you want to.”
Their boots left dark imprints in the snow that would be gone by morning.
Chapter Thirty-Two
If she went down this path, there was no going back.
The man lowered the musket and fell to his knees. There was horror in his eyes. They were light green, the pupils blown wide, and a single tear rolled down his cheek as he slowly turned the musket in his hands and pushed the barrel under his chin. His hands were shaking. He opened his mouth to say something, beg maybe, but nothing came out. Behind him, the fire roared in the fireplace, throwing soft shadows over the walls, the floor, and the table that was laden with unfinished food. The red wine sparkled in the crystal glasses. The man wore a uniform in iron gray and black. He was out of place among the warm colors of the dining room, all tans and russets, and he looked young, younger than a few minutes before, when his eyes had been hardened by hate. Terror gave his features a childlike softness. He didn’t want to do it. He pulled the trigger.
Seraphina jolted awake. Panting, sweating, she scrambled to get her bearings, to remember where she was, and she nearly fell off the divan. The room came into focus in grays and blacks. She turned her head toward the spot in front of the fireplace. She could’ve sworn the man from her dream had knelt right there. There was no one, not a single shadow. The fireplace was cold after the little fire they’d made a few hours ago, and the temperature in the room had dropped significantly.
“What happened?” Rune asked, sitting up in the armchair he’d fallen asleep in.
“Nothing. It was just a bad dream.” She ran a hand over her face and adjusted her scarf. Every time she dreamed, it unsettled her that she dreamed in color. It was more disturbing when it was a nightmare. “Is it light yet? We should go.”
“It’s still dark,” he said.
She nodded. “Better get a headstart.”
Seraphina felt restless. They’d spent too many days in Langenbach and had almost forgotten again what their mission was. Every time they reached an inn or a tavern, and every time they found a warm bed to sleep in, she was lulled by the promise of a peaceful life. Which didn’t exist, she had to remind herself. She would not stop again, not rest again before she got her hands on either Eisengrau or one of his men. She got up, found her walking stick, and checked the pockets of her cloak to make sure everything was where it was supposed to be.
Matteo’s journal rested against her ribs, and the relic they’d found was at the bottom of a pocket, within reach if she wanted to feel it in her hand and remind herself that it was real and she owned an apex relic now.
Outside, it was freezing. They wrapped their cloaks tightly around them, pulled up their hoods, and made their way to the stable, where they’d taken the horses the night before. They didn’t mount them at once. They took the reins and walked beside them, so both humans and horses would warm up a little before they set to cover hours of travel.
Rune led them around the town of Langenbach and through the forest, southwest. It wasn’t long to Freising now, but they had to stay out of sight, especially as they were about to cross into enemy territory. They had to be on high alert because they wouldn’t know when it happened.
The fresh layers of snow crunched under the horses’ hooves. The animals found their way carefully, and neither Seraphina nor Rune hurried them. Seraphina held her walking stick close, at her side as she held the reins, and focused on the smallest noises around them. She ducked her head to avoid tree branches and noticed that Rune was doing it more often than her. Atop his horse, he looked huge. His wide frame covered by his cloakfrom head to toe made him look imposing, even scary. Anyone would think twice before crossing him, and that made Seraphina feel safe letting him lead. Usually, she was the one who led, and she’d done it in Ingolstadt, but now Rune was sure of himself and confident in his strength, and that made her think that he was finally starting to inhabit his own body.
They must’ve ridden for two hours when they heard footsteps approaching. Two men, as far as Seraphina could tell, and they were walking cautiously, trying to make as little noise as possible, which told her that they’d spotted her and Rune already.
They stopped the horses and jumped down. If the men were ill-intentioned, Seraphina had her daggers, and Rune had his bare hands. They waited for them to show themselves.
There were two soldiers, dressed in the iron gray and black uniforms of the High Harvester’s army, with tall, cylindrical shakos on their heads, and black leather belts that crossed their chests in an X pattern. All this, Rune described to her as the soldiers approached them. He also noted the muskets they had pointed at them.
“Halt,” one of them commanded. “Who are you and where are you going?”
“We’re travelers–” Seraphina started, but she was interrupted unceremoniously.
“Hoods down, let me see your faces,” the second soldier said.
Seraphina inclined her head. She felt Rune looking at her from the corner of his eye, and she nodded. They weren’t going to be impressed by a blind woman, but certainly Rune’s visage was going to have an impact. If nothing else, it would work as a distraction. In her mind, she was already going through the motions of disarming the man nearest to her. Rune could’ve taken them both, of course, but she didn’t want him fighting all her fights.
He revealed himself to them, and the soldiers’ reaction was something to behold. Seraphina grinned when they both lowered their muskets and took a few steps back. Then her grin turned into a frown when they spoke.
“Revenant,” the first man said.
“You’re one of those who got away,” the second man whispered.
