Chapter 80: Late to His Own Funeral

Chapter 80: Late to His Own Funeral

Aaron arrived at Salts Mane rather behind the news of his own death. Which made for an awkwardly pointed conversation with the guards, whod watched a lone traveler approachingsuspicious enough, thatonly to have him introduce himself as a dead boy.

They were of the opinion that he should spend a little time in those cells theyd kept the suspected dragon doppels in. Either that, or significantly more time dead. Aaron was of the opinion that hed rather decline either offer, thanks much, and could they please get someone sensible down to sort this out, like his sister or Lieutenant Lochlann or the Lady?

Turning into a deer mid-refusal had, perhaps, not helped his case. It had definitely helped his land speed, though.

So. He was staying very much out of shooting range, helping himself to a few tender spring leaves at the edge of their nice non-sacred forest when they got around to fulfilling his request. More or less. Read latest chapters at novelhall.com Only

Which is to say: they sent a hunting squad after him. But it included Rose and Lochlann, and their borrowed horses of debatably horsey nature, which made him far less inclined to just bolt all the way back to Onekin and hope Prince Connor hadnt heard of his death yet.

Seventh Down, nominally under the control of Lochlann, snorted down at him. Aaron held his antlers proud and tall as any horse, and didnt put up with bullying from the pooka-blooded mare.

Aaron, Rose said. You

He wasnt sure she knew how to finish that, in light of current circumstances. But she drew her spine up straight, and found a way.

We expected you days ago. I sat your wake, which was terribly depressing, and then we had to ride out to check on a sighting the next day and I was so tired I ran into a tree branch

With some help from her own pooka-blooded horse, no doubt. The Ladys mare certainly came off as more dignified than Aarons, but one did not get the name Shenanigans for no reason.

and I would have fallen straight off if I hadnt the good sense to cling to it as my horse rode out from under me and now my squad wont stop calling me Princess Dryad, which is entirely your fault. I expect you to take full responsibility. She ended with a haughty tilt of her chin.

Lochlann was a bit more concise in his welcome: Are you riding back with us, or are you trotting?

The rest of their squad was a little farther back. And spread out, in a rather encircling fashion. At least they were polite enough to keep their crossbows lowered, though that might have had more to do with the lieutenant and their tree fairy being in the way. In any case: Aaron unclasped the stag cloak. Rose made as if to offer him a hand up onto her horse, but Lochlann intercepted Aarons own hand, pulling him up behind him. Reasonable, that the good lieutenant wouldnt trust Aaron with his princess. Though he apparently trusted Aaron with his own back, which was certainly something.

Aaron ended up in the cells, after all, with the princess and lieutenant sitting outside. He could have tried running again, but. He supposed this was his own display of trust. And it felt oddly safe, sitting with the carved rock to his back and forged bars to his front, inside a human stronghold. He fell asleep sometime after Rose ran off, promising to be right back with food. He woke up to his sister come to assess his identity.

Of all people, he trusted Adelaide to tell if a brother of hers had been replaced.

Your horse ran all the way back to Helland, she said. Without you.

Aaron didnt want to get himself killed fighting children, dragons or otherwise. Didnt want to help redcoats kill more of his own. Couldnt join a caravan and disappear off somewhere else on Last o the Isles, because they were mostly running militia supplies this time of year. Couldnt wander off into the wilderness and forget about all this, because hed had a few days taste of that and was lucky nothing had gotten a taste of him. Racing between towns carrying mail was about as good as it got.

Just stay here, his princess said.

I dont think I can do that, Aaron said.

* * *

The Lady was far less concerned.

Well done, not being dead, she greeted him.

Its a state I enjoy, he replied.

Have you practiced much?

Youve no idea, he said, to which she snorted.

Weve a meeting, she said, and named a date in the late spring; a time when the dragon attacks would normally have settled down. The Late Wakes spring meet, when their spies came in from the field. Normally reserved for their senior members, but she would rather like him to attend, lest her subordinates try finding her new student on their own. Best to get introductions out of the way, rather than having him get pounced on the road.

He was unclear how literally the pouncing would be.

Lana will still be off somewhere, unfortunately, the Lady said, dropping a name hed never before heard. Ugly cloak business, I suspect; you know your old teacher.

Well. that was a fear he hadnt known hed needed to have. But given that the Lady was his new teacher, it stood to reason that Markus the Late Wake apprentice had indeed had an old teacher. May she take as much time away as she pleased.

Try not to be late, the Lady said. In any of its definitions, if you please.

She plucked a twig from his hair on her way out. A twig Rose and Lochlann and his sister had decidedly abstained from pointing out.

The Lady had no business being his favorite, even for a moment.