“They can?” Quinn is startled alongside the rest of them.
“Hunter’s Hamlet is attacked most full moons,” I say, remembering Ruvan’s and my conversation before we fell through the ceiling. Ruvan had been surprised by the information; it seems sensible the rest of them are as well.
“How are they getting out of the castle?” Winny asks.
“There’s the old portcullis.” Lavenzia’s mind goes right to where mine first went. “By the sea.”
Callos considers this and arrives at the same conclusion I did. “It always seemed shut tight. Though, I’m not sure where else they could be getting out from. The full moon strengthens even the Succumbed. Perhaps they can sense the blood on the other side of the Fade? Or perhaps it’s some old habits that draw them across; maybe they’re old vampir going back to the summer castle before the land was torn up. Either way, if they can do it, we should be able to find a way while our powers are heightened as well.”
“It’ll take a lot of magic, which means a lot of blood.” Lavenzia puts her hands on her hips.
“We have rations,” Ruvan says.
“Which we don’t want to dip too deeply into. It’s a long time until the next Blood Moon,” Quinn cautions.
“It’ll be enough if all the rations go to one person.” The rest of them still at Ruvan’s words. “Worse comes to worst, we’ll leave finding the curse’s anchor to the next lord or lady and their covenant. We’ll sustain only one of us, until the time comes to wake the next group. It wouldn’t be the first time it’s come to that in our history.”
Only one of us… That means only one of them would be awake, and the rest would go off and end themselves before the curse could. That person would wait, alone, counting the days until they wake the next lord or lady and their covenant. Locked away in some safe corner of the castle, no doubt. Not daring to venture too far.
Their lives are hard and lonely enough as they are. But they at least have each other. What Ruvan is suggesting sounds almost too heartbreaking to bear. And yet, they all seem convinced it’s the right path. They’re all willing to make that sacrifice.
“It won’t come to that.” I stand as well. “We will break the curse. While I’m off getting the elixir, you and Callos can look through the information we got from the workshop. I’m certain there will be something useful there,” I say to Ruvan.
His lips quirk upward slightly in a grin. “When did the human find the bravery to give orders to the vampir lord?”
I roll my eyes and ignore the remark. Though it lingers with me even as I ask, “Who’s coming with me to Hunter’s Hamlet?”
“Ventos will go,” Ruvan decrees.
“What?” Ventos and I say in almost perfect unison. He’s the absolute last person I would want to join me.
“You were worried about her not coming back,” Ruvan says to Ventos. “What better way to ensure that she does than going yourself? Besides, I don’t want to deal with your griping and grumbling if you’re left here. Having you here disparaging her the entire time would wear my patience very,verythin.” There’s a whisper of murder in Ruvan’s voice. A not-so-subtle threat that even I can hear.
“So you’d rather him disparage me to my face?” I fold my arms and look pointedly at Ruvan.
“If he does, tell me so when you return and it will be dealt with,” Ruvan says casually. As if I’m not going to be putting up with him in the meantime. But his movements have a grace to them that promises violence should his clear wishes be denied or ignored.
“IfI return.” I glance at Ventos from the corner of my eye. He looks less and less happy by the minute. I’m not sure I like my odds of going off with him. For all I know he’d find the first opportunity or excuse to leave me helpless, trapped in the Fade.
“Ventos wouldn’t dare return without you.” Ruvan clasps my shoulder, bringing my attention solely back to him. “I would go with you if I could. But I can’t. So we must divide and conquer. While you go on this excursion, we’ll continue searching for any useful information on the anchor here. I know you won’t let me down.”
I want to object further, but not with everyone present. The last thing I want to do is say or do something that would offend Ventos and make my travels worse.
“The next full moon isn’t for two weeks yet,” Callos observes. “We have time to prepare.”
“Good, we’ll use every moment of it.” Ruvan sounds so sure, so confident, but my stomach is knotting with worry and apprehension. I know I suggested this plan of attack…but I’m already having second thoughts. “Callos, go and collect all the information we presently have on Hunter’s Hamlet. The rest of you go and help him. We’ll begin our planning promptly.”
“You should rest,” I say, placing a hand on Ruvan’s shoulder. I notice how Lavenzia focuses intensely on the gesture and I resist the urge to pull away. I don’t want to retreat from Ruvan. I am not simply the forge maiden any longer—I’m not forbidden to touch and be touched—and I will not allow myself to feel guilty.
“I’m inclined to agree,” Quinn says.
“It doesn’t need to be tonight, my lord. We can have these discussions in the coming weeks,” Callos says.
“The idea is fresh and we are committed to it—there is no time like the present.” Ruvan is insistent. There’s a sturdy resoluteness to his shoulders and jaw. No one is going to be shaking him from this decision. “Moreover, I want to have time to sleep on, challenge, and debate our plans before finalizing them. We will not let this lie.”
“Very well. I will do as you bid.” Callos bows his head and starts from the room.
The rest of them exchange wary glances, but all reluctantly agree. Quinn is the last one out. I can feel his questions about my lingering presence—my hand still on his lord’s person—but he doesn’t voice them. I wonder what the rest of them will say. My ears burn with everything I can’t hear…
