Orval stomped up to him as best he could given the footing, shivering with what he hoped was anger. Ussin stared at him in shock, but could not be half as shocked as Orval himself as he felt himself glaring at the man. “If you’re going to kill us, do it now and spare us any more torture in that carriage.”
Orval heard the others exclaim with half an ear; he was focused on Ussin, who seemed honestly horrified.
“What?” Ussin gaped as every one of his men watched. “No! Those are not my orders.”
“Do I see supplies in those carts? Do I see a contingent of guards under Captain Roth’s command?” Orval demanded. “I don’t. We are being sent to our deaths.”
“There are supplies,” Ussin said weakly, spreading his hands wide.
“Doubtful. So if you are going to kill us, do it now.” Orval crossed his arms over his chest.
“None of that,” Ussin growled, his face reddening. “My orders are to deliver you all to the Keep of the Black Hills and return to Edenrich.” But we needs be back to where we arrived, for when the portal opens,” Ussin looked about, “to get my men safe home.
“There’s no welcome here for us,” he said, scanning the horizon. Then he caught himself and gave a big, false grin. “You’ll be fine, once we get you to the Keep. So hurry up with that,” he yelled at the soldier tending the stove. The water was boiling.
The guards all turned back to their tasks as Ussin stomped off between the carriages.
Orval huffed a breath as Amari came up behind him, pressing her shoulder to his. “Orval,” she whispered, and he heard horror and fear in her voice.
“Sorry,” he put his head toward hers.
“Kavage,” Roth said as he thrust a rough clay mug at Amari.
“Wait,” Rosalind reached over and took the mug before Amari could. She smelled the mug, took a sip, then nodded and handed it back to Amari.
“The men are drinking,” Orval said. “Ussin wouldn’t poison his own men.”
“Satia would,” Rosalind said quietly as she, Roth, and Yfin drank.
The pit in Orval’s stomach grew even as he gulped down his own kavage. His fear rose but he fought it down. “We would be warmer with us all together,” he said loudly. “And we could keep an eye on my Aunt.”
“Good idea,” Roth agreed. “I’ll fetch her.”
It wasn’t that easy, of course, but thankfully Ussin agreed with Orval’s decision. The guards help shift the boxes and Roth carried Xydell over, still wrapped in her blankets.
Orval stood and watched, knowing he’d be more hindrance than help. Amari was directing the guards and keeping them away from the babes.
Ussin came up beside Orval and stood beside him in awkward silence, shifting his weight from foot to foot. In the past, Orval might have said something to ease the man, but he remembered the fear in Amari’s eyes.
Ussin broke first. “Not that much longer now,” he muttered. “A few hours at most.”
Orval drew in air and let it out slowly, watching as his breath formed a cloud in the cold.
“You can see it there.” Ussin pointed. “Just the towers, on the horizon.”
The carriages were ready. Orval left Ussin standing there as he walked to his place.
Just before he climbed in, Orval turned to look where Ussin had pointed. He could just make out the tops of the towers against the glare of the snow.
The Keep of the Black Hills.
Chapter Twenty-Six
The carriage started with a lurch, jerking Orval almost from his seat. He and Roth both braced Aunt Xydell, propped between them on the bench. Amari, Rosalind, and the babes had the opposite bench. Yfin was on the floor between all their knees. One fur cape wrapped around them all, the other draped over their laps, almost burying the boy.
“Safe to talk now,” Roth said as the carriage rumbled on.
“What did they do to her?” Orval took his Aunt’s cold hands in his own and tried to warm them. She wasn’t his favorite person, but to see her so frail—
