Empire of Night

Chapter Seven

Pinpricks

Had Inerys known Dravas was as skilled with a needle as he was with a bow and skinning knife, she would have taken his offer to tutor her for another season. She’d never met a man so skilled in the finer points of needlework, but she supposed everyone had their hidden talents. If they were useful, all the better. Of course, she would have preferred her flesh not be the subject of his ministrations during this demonstration, but she appreciated the expertise nonetheless.

She’d spent the better part of an hour doing her best to ignore the pricks and tugging of her skin, but her patience was beginning to wane. Thankfully, the tavern was cleared shortly after the brawl and the purebloods had long since taken their leave. Her fellow Hounds hadn’t been particularly charitable after the whole affair and she didn’t blame them. Brawls were one thing, but it was another to eagerly draw blood.

What had the fool planned on doing with that broken bottle in the first place? Had she not stepped in, he would have likely driven it into Alaric’s back, if not his neck. He’d had every intention of harming him and hadn’t stopped to spare a thought of consideration. She shuddered to think about what would have happened, had he succeeded.

Through increasingly heavy lids, she spared Alaric a glance. He was seated beside Dravas, silently monitoring the man’s work as he leaned forward in his chair. The liquor bottle held idly between his fingers was nearly empty, having been passed periodically between the three after Inerys had been coaxed into dulling her pain early on. When he noticed her gaze, he offered a small, reassuring smile.

“Almost done,” he said.

“You’re not just saying that to make me feel better, are you?”

“Two or three more stitches and you’ll be back in one piece,” Dravas assured, “You’ll have a proper scar soon enough.”

“From a bar fight, not a mauling,” she muttered.

With a shake of his head, the older man chuckled. “You still fought off a beast. Just not one you’re used to.”

“You’re not the one who ran away with their tail between their legs, either.” Alaric said.

Inerys’s lips quirked.

“Bastards got off light,” Kardin said bitterly, nursing his own bottle nearby.

He sat slumped over the counter of the main bar with a cool towel pressed against his puffy cheek. The skin was flush, with the first hints of purple blooming around his left eye. His cheek didn’t appear much better, but the hit he had taken to his nose had finally stopped bleeding. By the look of it, he’d been lucky it hadn’t broken.

“Light or not, he won’t be able to hunt with a hand like that. If he’s smart, he’ll stay in the city where he belongs. Our little huntress here may very well have saved the fool’s life in the long run,” Dravas said.

Inerys wasn’t sure she agreed, but she saw his point. Crippled hands were a liability hunters couldn’t afford. Regardless, it didn’t make her feel any less guilty. She’d ruined the man’s hand. Through no small fault of his own, sure, but the fact remained. A sorcerer may be able to mend it, but from her experience, their prices were steep and those men hadn’t appeared to be particularly well off. She imagined it was part of the reason they’d resorted to taking their chances hunting the forest. Under the right conditions, it could be lucrative, but it wasn’t the wealth spring it was made out to be.

“Prat,” Kardin mumbled, mostly to himself.

He hadn’t been sober to begin with and his latest beverage wasn’t doing much to improve his mood.

With a satisfied hum, Dravas sat back. “There. Good as new. It’ll sting for a few days, but if you keep it clean and dry, you’ll have nothing to fret over.”

“Thank you, Dravas,” she murmured.

Grimacing, she flexed her stiff shoulder. After so long spent in the same position, the entire limb was all but dead weight. Though, truth be told, her head was beginning to feel the same. The dulled ache in her forearm was the only consolation, even if she could still feel the stitches pull tight whenever she bent her right arm at the elbow or flexed her wrist.

The elder hunter nodded. “Make sure you treat it right and come see me if any of the stitches come loose.”

“I will,” she said.

“Good. Now, off with you. Best you get home and get some rest. It’s been a long night for all of us.”

She had half a mind to curl up under one of the tables and simply return home in the morning. The thought of riding back now was a daunting one. She knew it was for the best, though. Her own bed was far more comfortable than a hard floor and after the night she’d had, she needed a good night’s sleep.

“You don’t have to tell me twice.”

“I’ll see to it she gets there safe,” Alaric said.

Dravas gave a grunt of approval. “Good. Kardin and I will tail you. Just in case.”

The purebloods weren’t foolish enough to follow her home, were they? A shiver traced the length of her spine at the thought. She could potentially fend off one or two on her own, if she were lucky, but all six? She swallowed the lump in her throat. Perhaps she hadn’t fully realized just how dangerous the situation had become. Not only would the purebloods be hunting alongside them, they’d be passing through the outer villages. What was stopping them from picking off competition or settling grudges all on their own?

Of course, there was a chance she was overreacting. If she viewed every pureblood through the same lens, she’d be no better than them. Someone had to bridge the gap between their people eventually.

Alaric laid a hand on her shoulder, reading the concern etched into her face.

“It’ll be all right,” he promised.

“We can stay the night, keep watch 'til morning,” Dravas offered, crossing his arms.

Kardin didn’t appear particularly thrilled, but he didn’t argue. The man was still itching for a fight. Drunk or no.

Inerys looked between them a moment, considering. Some stubborn part of her wanted to decline. After all, it was her job to protect the family. She was the eldest. And yet at the same time . . . she wasn’t invincible. She knew that. If she thought she was, she wouldn’t have the trust in place with the Guild. Her lips thinned. If those men chose to make trouble, they likely could.

“If you could, just for a night or two,” she said at length, fidgeting with the torn fabric of her sleeve.

Dravas nodded. “Course. I’ve spent the last few weeks under the stars. What’s a few more days?”

“I can sneak you some of Nan’s muffins?” She offered.

“You know I’d never say no to sweets. Especially those that come from your dear old Nan,” he said with a wink.

Inerys chuckled to herself as her gaze fell to her lap.

“Considering the events of the past few hours, I think it’s best we start hunting in pairs again,” Alaric said.

He sat back as he spoke, crossing his arms.

The older hunter let out a breath, rubbing at his beard a moment.

“Couldn’t hurt. Profits don’t mean much when you’re dead.”

Kardin begrudgingly grunted his agreement.

“Larger groups wouldn’t hurt either, especially in the deepwoods,” Alaric said. “Ozkar and Arjan left as a pair and they never came back.”

“Damn shame, that,” Dravas said, “I mentored those boys.”

“Which is why partnering is in all our best interests. More bodies means more eyes. We could take on larger prey too, pack out more resources.”

It would be nice not to pack out an entire stag by herself again, Inerys thought.

“Less chance of scavengers sniffing about too,” Kardin said.

Dravas gave him the side eye. “They’d be fools to try.”

“Doesn’t mean they won’t. They were bold enough to challenge us in our own tavern, weren’t they?”

“He’s right,” Alaric sighed.

Dravas’ expression darkened.

“I’d like to think one bad encounter isn't enough to ruin relations indefinitely,” Inerys said, sitting up in her chair.

Kardin watched her in disbelief. “You’re still defending them after everything they’ve done?”

"I'm not defending anyone," she said, "But I wasn't lying when I said we'd all have to learn to get along eventually. They may be the first we’ve encountered, but they won’t be the last. The rumors from the south are more than just whispers now."

Kardin snorted. “You plannin' on inviting them over for a roll in the hay too or is that only reserved for Alaric?”

“I-” She stammered, her cheeks burning.

“Drop it, Kardin,” Alaric warned, voice low, “You’re drunk.”

Even Dravas cast him a subtle glare.

The man muttered. “You all can play pretend, but I’m not sparing the extra breath.”

Inerys recovered enough to say, “We don’t have to befriend them, only tolerate them. If we view them all the same, we’re no better than they are.”

“Forgive us if that first encounter put a bad taste in our mouths,” Dravas said.

“I’m not a fool, Dravas,” she said as she raised her freshly stitched arm as high as she dared, “I don’t plan on trusting them outright, but I’m willing to keep an open mind. I think we could all benefit from a little perspective.”

Dravas shook his head. “We’ll see. Come, we best get you home before Nan comes looking.”

~*~

Inerys winced and sucked in a breath.

“Sorry,” Alaric said with an apologetic grin.

“It’s all right. Just stings a bit.”

The two sat at the edge of her bed as he carefully bound her wounded arm in fresh linen, so close the huntress could feel his breath along her skin. Any other night, it would have been difficult to sway her wayward thoughts. After all, they were alone in her room and both Nan and Soren had long since gone to sleep. Falling into bed with him would be easy. Tonight, however, she was merely content in his company, in his gentle tending.

“I never thanked you,” he murmured.

Her lips edged to one side. “You would have done the same for me.”

“I would,” he said, “and yet right now, you’re the one in stitches.”

“That’s hardly your fault.”

“Maybe not, but it doesn’t change what happened.”

She brushed a few stray locks from her face with her free hand. “No, but neither does brooding over it. What’s done is done.”

“Fair enough,” he sighed.

“I know the purebloods throw a lot into question, but we’ll get through it.”

“I wish I shared your optimism.”

“Weren’t you boasting about that just the other night?” She teased.

His chuckle was light. “I suppose I was.”

“So long as we have each other’s back, we’ll be fine.”

“I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have guarding mine,” he said, pinning the edge of her binding before tucking it between the folds to keep from catching.

She wiggled her fingers, admiring his bandage work. “I do a pretty good job, don’t I?”

“Better than Kardin.”

Inerys resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “He was drunk, you know how he gets.”

“I do. But we weren’t sober out in the woods when things went south, were we?”

She pursed her lips. “I suppose we weren’t.”

His fingers brushed her chin as he tilted her gaze up to meet his. “You give yourself too little credit.”

Her own fell to his lips for a heartbeat. “Does it bother you? What he said, I mean.”

His jaw flexed, but his expression softened around the edges.

“I’ve learned to take everything Kardin says with a grain of salt,” he said, “Doesn’t mean I don’t want to knock him senseless for being an ass, though."

Her laugh was light. “Sometimes I envision myself doing just that.”

He stole a quick kiss. “Mmm, you’d be doing us all a favor. The man needs to be put in his place from time to time.”

Heat crept up the back of her neck and rosied her cheeks. “And you think I’m the one to do it?”

“You’ve whipped Dravas and I into shape, haven’t you?”

“Now you’re giving me too much credit.”

“Only the truth,” he cooed.

She shoved him lightly. “Oh hush. You’re terrible.”

“Only a little,” he grinned.

“Well, now that you’ve convinced us all to ride together, when are we planning our next hunt?” She asked.

“I was hoping to discuss it once we were all sober again. A few days from now, maybe?”

“Even with the forest acting up?”

Perhaps that was a bit hypocritical to ask, given her own plans.

“The forest has always been a strange place. The change is troubling, but what can we do about it? We either hunt or try our luck out in the cities. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather be claimed by the deepwoods than live in the slums.”

“You and I both,” she said.

He shook his head.

“Once Kardin comes to his senses, we’ll plan a proper route.”

She nodded, but hesitated when she said. “I came across a new stream during my last outing. I was planning on exploring it tomorrow before the purebloods have a chance to scour it.”

Alaric paused. “Inerys-”

She held up her good hand, gently silencing him.

“I don’t plan on being out there long and I don’t intend on hunting, so my arm should be fine,” she said, having anticipated the push back.

In her mind, it was perfectly reasonable. A short excursion wouldn’t hurt, especially if she were only out for a few hours. If she left early enough, no one would know she was gone at all.

“I still don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Alaric, this isn’t my first outing. I was practically raised in the woods. I’ll be fine.”

He searched her face and appeared disappointed by what he found, “There’s no changing your mind, is there?”

She didn’t exactly need his permission to do anything, let alone travel out on her own, but his worry struck a chord. She supposed she could simply stay home, but her Sense told her the spring was worth investigating. It had never led her astray in the past, so there was no point in ignoring it now. Her quick venture could prove more fruitful than her last hunt. She bit her lip, having realized her decision.

“I won’t be gone long, I promise,” she said.

He sighed. “At least let me come with you?”

“I need you to stay and watch over Soren and Nan while I’m gone. If those men come back, I’m not sure if Dravas and Kardin would be enough.”

“I’m beginning to think you’re just stroking my ego,” he sighed.

“I can slip out unnoticed easily enough.”

After a moment spent looking as though he was prepared to argue further, he relented.

“All right. I’ll keep Soren company while you’re gone, but you best be back before sundown.”

Smiling, she kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Alaric.”

“You can thank me when I master blueberry muffins the way your Nan has,” he said as he rose, “In the meantime, sleep. You need it.”

“I’ve been dying to hit the pillow all day,” she hummed, leaning into him.

He placed a gentle kiss upon her brow. “I’ll leave you to it. Good night, Inerys.”

She breathed in his scent before he stepped away. “Good night.”