On the Edge Part 27

Rose looked at her, wide-eyed. A terrible fear clamped her.

aDeclan?a aAlive. Barely, but heas eaten some chicken soup this morning, so I do believe heall make it.a aThe boys?a aFine. Theyare fine. Thad died. Tom Buckwellas leg had to be cut off. Jennifer and Ru didnat make it, but other than that, weave survived the storm.a Rose breathed.

Tears swelled in Grandmaas blue eyes. aNever again, you hear me? Never again. Next time something like this happens, you go into the Broken and let somebody else fight it out!a aOkay.a Rose reached and touched her hand. aItas okay.a aYou were almost dead, baby. Your blueblood dragged you back from the dead, kicking and screaming.a aWhat happened to William?a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) aHeas gone. Didnat say a word. Just vanished after everything was over.a Declan loomed in the doorway. He saw her and swallowed.

Quietly Grandma rose and stepped aside. Rose held out her arms. He staggered in, slowly, and lowered himself on the floor near her. She took his hand in hers and fell asleep.

ROSE awoke in her bed. The light coming through the window meant late morning. She had woken up several times during the night, terrified that she had only dreamed being alive and having Declan near.

Head slept by her bed on the floor, on a stack of blankets, and every time she panicked, he was there, until finally she crawled off the bed and lay on the floor next to him, drifting off in his arms. The next time she had shrugged off sleep, she found Jack curled up on their feet and George out cold in her bed.

Declan and the boys were gone now, and she was back in her bed. She didnat worry. She knew he wouldnat leave without her.

It didnat seem real. She lay for a long time feeling the texture of the sheets under her fingers and trying to convince herself that this was real, that it wasnat some hallucination flas.h.i.+ng before her mind as she lay dying on the church floor. She failed and finally pushed herself upright. If it was a hallucination, she might as well enjoy it while it lasted.

The muscles in her legs felt soft, like wet cotton, but she managed to make it to the bathroom and then to the kitchen before her legs gave out.

aRose!a Grandma dropped the steaming kettle back on the stove and caught her, sliding her into the chair.

aWhere are they?a aOutside. He went walking. He canat run yet, but he wouldnat stay in bed. I sent the hooligans with him in Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) case he topples over. Here.a Grandma put a bowl of Cocoa Puffs in front of her.

Rose put a spoonful into her mouth. aOh, my G.o.d. Thish ish the besht thing I ever tashted.a aThatas because you havenat eaten in four days.a The cereal crunched in her mouth. She emptied the bowl and instantly felt sick.

aMore?a Grandmaas eyes twinkled.

aIad better not. Itas trying to come back up.a aDrink some tea, it will help.a She sipped the hot, fragrant brew. aWhat happened to the device?a aJeremiah and the rest dragged it out into the Broken, chainsawing whatever came out of it. The d.a.m.n thing stopped right away past the boundary. They poured concrete on it, drove it to the coast, and dumped it off into the ocean. I saw it with my own eyes. Your blueblood wouldnat shut up until I went with them.

Would you stop staring out the window? He will be back soon enough.a Rose looked into her tea.

aWhere does this leave the two of you?a Grandma asked softly.

aIam not sure,a Rose said.

aHeas been making plans to leave for the Weird as soon as he can. Heas determined to take you with him.a aDo you think I should go?a A troubled expression flickered over Grandmaas face. aThis is one of those times ageas wisdom meets youthas pa.s.sion. Do you know what usually happens?a Rose sighed. aIam about to find out?a aWisdom dashes pa.s.sionas hopes and you stop speaking to your grandmother.a Grandma lonore clenched her hands. aYou know I love you, Rose. I have to tell you this, even if you shall Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) hate me for it. I was not lucky in love. I loved madly.

Pa.s.sionately. Mine was the kind of love that burned so brightly, it made me blind. When the fire finally dimmed enough for me to see clearly, I found out that what I wanted most of all was a man I could depend on. A man who would be by my side, come h.e.l.l or high water. And that was the only thing Cletus denied me. He loved me. He yearned for me. He set our bed on fire. But when I needed him, Iad turn around and head be gone, chasing off after some swamp light. So when I say this, you must take into account that I speak from a lifetime of bitter disappointment.a Rose blinked.

aYour Declan, heas a dream. Courageous, a.s.sertive, strong, kind. Letas not forget rich and of n.o.ble blood.a aAlso arrogant, condescending, high-handed, and snooty.a Rose smiled.

aShush. You wanted my opinion, now youare getting it.

Declan is everything a woman could want. And he looks . . .a Grandma sighed in resignation. aYou know the way he looks. Iam over a century old, and my heart hammers faster when he walks by. You must ask yourself, what would a man like this want with a woman like you?a aI think he wants to marry me. I made it plain that being his girl toy was out of the question.a aYou asked for my honesty.a lonore twisted her hands again. aYouare my granddaughter, Rose. There is no girl brighter or prettier. You deserve all the best in the world, and if it was in my power, Iad give it to you.

But you and Declan arenat on the same footing. I think you love him. And I think he loves you very much.

Right now. But does he love you deeply enough to spend a lifetime with you? So much has happened. Both Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) of you got caught up in this life-and-death excitement. But eventually he has to go home, where heas a n.o.ble and you are what? Even if he thinks heall marry you right now, what will happen when he returns to his life and his friends and family see you? Theyare n.o.bles, Rose.

Theyare born into the life of privilege, and they donat know what itas like to sc.r.a.pe and scrounge for change so you can buy bread for the kids. He might understand it now, but what about his parents? What if heas determined enough to marry you against all odds, and they shun him for it? It could make him a bitter, hard man. He might always blame you for it. He wonat ever let you forget that he threw away everything for you.a Rose looked into her cup.

aIf you go with him, you must go knowing that you might end up a rich manas mistress or that you could cost him everything,a Grandma said. aI donat think thatas what you want. I think you love him too much. Iam afraid heall break your heart. There, I said it. Think about it, Rose. Think long and hard before you let him shatter you to pieces.a ROSE sat on the porch. She supposed she should have stood, but she felt queasy. Declan waited on the gra.s.s before her. She was aware of Grandmother behind her and the kids perched on the rail to the left.

It had taken her three days to finally recover to the point that she could travel. Three days of Declan by her side showing her how it could be. This was going to be a very difficult conversation.

aSo the third challenge,a she said.

Declan smiled, and her heart jumped. aYou could give me something easy. Ask me to pick you some flowers.a aI canat do that.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) The smile slid off his face. aVery well.a Rose took a deep breath. aI want you to trust me.a She was hot and cold at the same time. Anxiety p.r.i.c.kled her skin, as if she were a kid who had just broken some prized trinket and expected her parents to yell at her.

aWinning the challenges gives you the right to own me. I would belong to you completely. Iad be your possession.a aI simply phrased the oath in a way most advantageous to me at the time,a he said. aI donat want to own you, Rose. I want you to want me. And I think you do.a She couldnat let him derail her. aI understand why youave done it that way. But the fact remains that I have to trust you completely to let you win.a He raised his arms. His tone grew cold. aDo you want me to marry you right now, is that it? If thatas the only way Iall have you, Iall do it.a She winced. aThatas exactly what I donat want.a aWhat do you want?a She held herself straight. aI want you to sign three writs of citizens.h.i.+p for myself and the kids. Iall go with you into the Weird. Youall introduce me to your family and friends. If in one monthas time you still want to go through with the wedding, Iall marry you.a He stared at her. aWhat would be the purpose of that?a aYouare giving me the power to take the writs and vanish once we reach the Weird.a aAre you afraid Iall mistreat you?a aItas about trust, Declan. I will trust you to take me to the Weird, to not kill the children, to not sell me to the highest bidder, to not turn me into your mistress only to be abandoned when some n.o.blewoman catches your eye. And you will trust me to come with you and marry you of my own free will, not because of some dumb challenge.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) His face snapped into glacial calm. aIs that what you think of me? You think me the kind of man who would murder children and take advantage of you?a aNo,a she said. aI donat. I want to be with you, Declan. I love you very much. But your family might hate me, and you might change your mind. If you do it my way, youall have an out. Youall lose nothing.a aSo you want me to trust you, but you donat trust me,a he said.

aThis is the challenge,a she said. aThree writs, thirty days. I wonat back away from it.a His expression didnat change. aGeorge, there is a wooden box in my room. Fetch it. Youall have your writs,a he said. aStart packing.a IT took them the whole day to pack what little belongings they had. They had to travel light, no more than they could carry. Rose packed a couple of changes of clothes for everyone. The kids took their toys and the three volumes of InuYasha. The Broken money would be useless in the Weird, and Rose handed it all over to her grandmother. She would go into the Weird without a single cent to her name.

Declan had transformed back into the Weird blueblood. The gray leather armor, the sword, the pack, and the wolf mantle were back. So was the haughty expression.

He hadnat said more than two words to her.

They said their tear-soaked good-byes to Grandma.

aCome with me,a Rose asked. aPlease.a lonore just hugged her. aI couldnat have left Cletus even if I wanted to. I had no place to go and no means to cross the ocean. But you will have a choice. If it doesnat work out, you can always come back here.

Always, Rose. No matter what, no questions asked. Let me do this thing for you. Iall sleep better at night.a aWeall come back to visit next summer,a Rose promised.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) As they headed down the path into the Wood, Rose looked back and saw Grandma on the porch, a lost expression on her face.

George sniffled.

aNext summer weall talk her into coming back with us,a she told him.

They walked for the better part of the day. The Wood grew darker and stranger with each step, the trees becoming thicker, branches more twisted. Odd creatures skittered among the canopy and bizarre flowers bloomed among the roots, like beacons of white and orange.

Finally Declan stopped. aThe boundary,a he said.

The moment of truth. Either they had enough magic to cross or they didnat. Rose held the boys by the hand and took a step. Pressure clutched her. She gasped at the sudden weight and took another step, then another and another, and then they were through.

An incredible lightness filled her. The magic pulsed within her, vibrant, strong, and she laughed softly at the simple happiness of it.

Declan reached into his leather and produced a small whistle. A shrill sound sliced through the Wood.

Magic pulsed from the whistle. A rapid thudding of a horse answered, and a large animal pushed through the underbrush. Thick, stocky across the shoulders, with a deep chest and powerful legs, it looked like a cross between a Budweiser stallion and a wild ram. It dipped its head, crowned with two steel-capped horns, and nuzzled at Declan.

aHis name is Grunt,a Declan said.

The mount grunted in reply. They packed their belongings into saddlebags, loaded Jack and George onto Gruntas back, and set off.

Two days later, they finally made it out of the woods and onto the road. Declan pushed them, and by Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) nightfall, they came upon a settlement.

It was a small town, poised about a paved road running up a hill. Two- and three-story houses climbed up the slope, cus.h.i.+oned in greenery. Some were whitewashed, some built of pink and yellow stone, most roofed with reddish orange s.h.i.+ngles. Here and there streetlamps sparked with magic. Some buildings showed odd cupolas; others had peculiar hieroglyphs scrawled on their walls in flowing script.

A small carriage slid by them, heading up the hill. It had no horse.

Declan led them up the road to a wide blocky building, marked by a tall post with a glowing green lantern atop it.

A dark-haired boy ran out to take Gruntas reins and bowed deeply. aMy lord!a aQuiet,a Declan told him, pointing at the two boys pa.s.sed out on Gruntas back. He tossed a coin to the boy.

It looked a lot smaller than the doubloons with which head paid her. aFamily suite, top floor. And a dinner for four.a They had two adjoining rooms connected with a door and situated on the end of the second-floor hallway.

The rooms were clean and beautiful. For some reason she had expected a smoky medieval tavern, but instead the rooms were almost modern, except for the absence of electric outlets, TVs, or anything else that was meant to plug in. The walls were a gentle peach, the floors golden hardwood. Each bedroom came equipped with a canopied bed and soft dark red chairs.

Cl.u.s.ters of elegant gla.s.s bellflowers mounted on the walls spilled soothing light.

The innkeeper deposited Jack onto the bed in the right room and withdrew. Declan placed George next to Jack.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) Rose went into the bathroom and saw a toilet, a double sink, and a shower with a huge bathtub sunken deep into the floor. A robe hung on the hook, so ordinary she nearly laughed. Suddenly she realized she stank.

She stripped and climbed in, wanting nothing more than to wash off three days in the forest. It took her a little while to figure out the contents of the twisted green and blue gla.s.s bottles, but in the end, she emerged, clean, smelling like tangerines, and wrapped in a fluffy cream-colored towel.

They didnat appear to have electricity, but the water pressure was excellent and the water was hot. Shead have to ask Declan about it.

She tiptoed past the sleeping children into the second room and gasped when Declan pounced on her, sweeping her off her feet. His lips touched hers, and she melted. She missed him so much, she almost cried.

His voice was a husky growl knitted with need. aI missed you.a She put her fingers on his lips. aQuiet, the kids . . .a He glanced at the door and roared at the top of his lungs, aKids?a She gasped, expecting Jack or George to fly through the door.

Declan reached over, swung the door open, and showed her the boys asleep in their room.

aSoundproof sigil,a he said, shutting the door. aWe can hear them, but they canat hear us. You can scream all you want.a aSo Iam completely at your mercy?a Rose laughed.

He carried her to the bed. aYou will be . . .a MUCH later, warm and ridiculously happy, she lay on her side, her head on his arm, his body pressed against her. aSo this is your idea of slow and sensuous?a aPretty much,a he said. aExplain the thirty days to me.a Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) aItas your chance to change your mind,a she told him. aIam scared youall fall out of love with me. Iam scared your family will hate me, and then youall marry me anyway to rescue me, but youall become a pariah and blame me for the rest of your life for being disowned.a His chest shook, and she realized he was trying to hold in laughter. She stared at him, indignant. aI want to give you a choice, you idiot. I donat want to make you feel like you have to do it.a He broke into laughter. She groaned and curled into a ball.

aIave made my choice,a he said. aIn fact, Iave done everything in my power to get you right here into my bed, and I had to work very hard for it. I gave you no reason to believe that Iall abandon you. Or murder the children and leave them on the side of the road. Really, that was priceless. I was a bit put out.a She glared at him. aA bit put outa apparently meant three days of the silent treatment.

He pulled her close. aIam not doing this to rescue you. Iam doing this for entirely selfish reasonsa"I love you, and I donat want to be without you.a aI love you, too,a she told him.

aLetas get married now,a he offered. aWeall go down to the magistrate in the morning . . .a aThirty days,a she said firmly. aAfter your parents meet me.a aYouare an impossible woman,a he said mournfully.

aYou wouldnat love me if I wasnat,a she said.

aTrue.a She kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her, and she smiled. Tomorrow would bring new troubles, but for now she was perfectly and completely happy.

THE castle was enormous. It spread atop a hill like a crouching dragon: at the front, heavily fortified entrance, like a mouth, followed by the stretch of the walla"

the beastas neck. Next a round tall tower stabbed Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) the skya"the dragonas leg, followed by a cl.u.s.ter of fortified buildings surrounded by a high wall with a spiked parapet curling on the edge of a cliff, like a ma.s.sive ridged tail around hindquarters. The brown stone, darkened with age, intensified the illusion. Rose gaped at it.

aIt only looks severe,a Declan informed her. aInside, itas very open. The d.u.c.h.ess of the Southern Provinces has a fondness for natural light and gauzy curtains. It will be quick, I promise. We go in, I report to the Duke, and then we depart for Camarine Keep. Weall be home by tomorrow night.a Rose shrugged, trying to get rid of the tension sitting between her shoulder blades. Her horse, a smaller version of Declanas Grunt, immediately reacted by dancing in place. He had bought it for her in that first town. The kids each got a mount of their own. George rode like a natural, with almost Declan-like elegance, while Jack mostly clung to the horse, clawing at it at every b.u.mp, until both he and his horse dashed about in blind panic.

The trip across Adrianglia had taken almost a week. Both she and the kids had ended up with raw thighs after the first day of riding, and after that, theyad taken it slow and easy. It was an odd place, clean and beautiful in some areas, stark in others. Ruins dotted the countryside here and there, scars of old wars. She had tried to prepare herself for the possibility that she might dislike the Weird, but it grew on her, with its patches of forest and horseless carriages, and children playing with magic on the sides of the roads.

She had been completely blindsided by Declanas status. She had known he was a Marshal, but shead never quite realized what it entailed. People bowed. When he pa.s.sed through a town, a report was brought, Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) usually by a commander of the local militia. Every stop was a working stop. The first time someone called her amy lady,a it zoomed right over her head. She had tried her best not to embarra.s.s him. Unfortunately, she knew this would last only until she came into contact with other n.o.bles.

Now she had to face the Duke of the Southern Provinces. He was the man to whom Declan answered. The man she desperately needed to impress, even more so than Declanas parents. She still wore her jeans and a T-s.h.i.+rt. Her hair was still a short mess. She was still unrefined. She was Rose. And Declan was determined to drag her into the castle.

They rode up the road. This was so not going to end well.

They pa.s.sed under the portcullis. Declan merely nodded at the guards, dressed in gray and blue. Everybody bowed. He jumped off Grunt and helped her down off her mount. The kids dismounted, and Declan started toward the doors.

aI was thinking, we might just stay here,a Rose said. aWe can wait for you.a a aDear Declan, where is your bride?a aOh, I left her outside, Your Grace.a a Declan shook his head. aI donat think so.a He took her by the hand, gently, but she knew with absolute certainty that she wouldnat be able to get away, and guided her inside into the lobby. A wide room stretched before her, terminating in a staircase leading up. On both sides of the staircase she saw arched entrances opening into a vast hall. The floor was old worn stone. Tapestries decorated the walls. Small trees and bright flowers grew in huge pots along the walls.

Bathed in the light of numerous windows, the hall looked surprisingly cheery.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) A man appeared. His hair was silver, his clothes black leather, his face grim. He looked like he could kill people with his stare alone. aHeas waiting for you, my lord,a he said.

Declan nodded and glanced at her. aWait for me, please,a he said, aIall be right back.a He ran up the stairway. The man followed him. They were alone.

George looked at his shoes. Jack reached over, plucked a small leaf from the nearest tree, and nervously chewed on it.

aJack, donat do that,a she murmured.

A woman emerged from one of the entrances on the right.

Jack swallowed the leaf.

She was older, tall, dark-haired, very beautiful, and dressed in a ragged s.h.i.+rt smeared with cream-colored paint. They looked at each other.

aWho are you?a the woman asked. A frosty sheen crossed her eyes and melted into their dark depths.

Oh G.o.d. A blueblood.

aIam here with Declan,a Rose said. aThese are my brothers.

Weare just here for a minute.a The woman pursed her lips. aAre you from the Broken?a aActually, Iam from the Edge,a Rose said carefully.

aCan you paint walls?a Rose blinked. aYes.a aWould you mind helping me? Iave been painting non-stop, and my back really hurts.a There was only one answer to that. aNot at all.a The woman smiled. She had a very warm smile, and Rose relaxed a little. aCome with me!a They followed her into a side hallway, up a window stairway to the second floor and into a room layered with cloth. Half of one wall was cream. The rest was steel gray.

Create PDF files without this message by purchasing novaPDF printer (http://www.novapdf.com) aI think it looks better with cream, donat you?a the woman said.

aIt looks brighter.a The woman handed her a roller. In a few minutes all three of them were painting.

aWhen I become worried, I paint the walls,a the woman said.

aIave done four rooms so far. Well, six, actually, since I changed my mind several times on the color.

Your brothers are adorable.a aThank you. Why were you worried?a Rose asked.

aBecause of Declan, of course. The whole mess with Ca.s.shorn nearly brought me to an early grave. I realize we won, but would you mind filling in the details?a Rose bit her lip. aIam not sure I should tell you.a The woman smiled. aI know most of the story: Ca.s.shorn had stolen a device from the Duke of the Southern Provinces that feeds on magic and makes hounds. He took it across the country into the Edge. Declan left to retrieve it and save William, who managed to entangle himself in this mess. So how did it end?a aDeclan was flas.h.i.+ng and Rose almost died, because she flashed to kill Ca.s.shorn and she had no flash left, and then Declan flashed at Rose to save her,a Jack said.

aJack!a Rose snapped.

The womanas eyes widened. aReally?a Jack nodded. aGrandma said Roseas mouth and her eyes were bleeding.a George dug his elbow into Jackas side. aShut up.a aI have to know the whole story now,a the woman said aIad rather not,a Rose said.

aPlease, I insist.a Twenty minutes and two walls later, she had the whole story, and Rose wasnat quite sure how shead gotten it.