Chapter Text
“Willow, if you bitch one more gods-damned time about riding in that basket I’m going to put a lid on it and nail it shut!”
Kit wheeled her horse and galloped ahead in the grey drizzle, leaving Boorman and Willow staring after her. Willow shook his head, lips pressed into a frown.
“Give her a break, mate. She’s sick with worry over her husband and her brother.” Boorman gave the sorcerer a wry smile. “Complain to me all you want while she’s… scouting ahead.”
“Pouting ahead, more like.”
“She’s young.”
Willow paused. He hadn’t been much older than Kit when he struggled through the Daikini lands with a crying baby in one ear and Madmartigan yapping in the other. They’d been at each other’s throats half the time, come to think of it.
“She’s her father’s daughter,” Willow said, finally. “I’ll leave it at that.”
Boorman hummed in response, seeming lost in his own thoughts as he watched Kit ride ahead.
Willow caught sight of the former crying baby, riding a short distance away. Elora had laughed a lot more than she’d cried, really. She’d also looked on him fondly and almost knowingly; she had an undeniable aura even as a tiny child.
The last few days of struggle to teach her any kind of magic while she variously sulked, went off on dramatic tangents, or goofed around made him wonder if they hadn’t started too late after all. She had her moments where there was a hint of something more, but she largely seemed much like any other young woman of that age, far more concerned with the boy she professed to love.
Elora had insisted on coming with the rescue party despite the objections of every single other member. Daring them to try and stop her, she threatened to follow them, or perhaps whip up a magical spell that would transport her directly to her love, because love was the most powerful force in the universe and—
Well, there had been more but Willow had to admit he’d tuned out for a bit at that point. He thought she had a better point when she said that someone had to cook.
“Fine, whatever!” Kit had finally snarled. “I have more important things to worry about than whether you get your ass handed to you. Keep up if you can, and go crying home when you can’t.”
Elora had lifted her chin defiantly. “Deal.”
Pulled up alongside them, Ballantine interrupted his reverie. “Ufgood, you still have the same heading?”
Willow looked down at the flute and the bracelet, one in each hand. “Yes, and they’re still together.”
Ballantine nodded. He was a man of few words, and exceedingly careful not to step on Kit’s toes. Sorsha had insisted they bring him, in lieu of the squad of Pacalcade she’d originally proposed.
Kit and Boorman had protested the Pacalcade, almost in unison. Boorman had opined that if they were unfortunate enough to run into any forces from Galladoorn, even a squad would prove insufficient. Time was of the essence; better to move quickly and inconspicuously.
Sorsha had finally been persuaded, but Kit made it quite clear that if Ballantine was coming, it was strictly in an advisory capacity as she was leading this mission with Boorman as her second. Circumspectly, Ballantine had quickly agreed.
He also conceded the importance of subtlety, trading his customary armor for the more common garb favored by wandering hedge knights and would-be treasure hunters like Boorman. It lessened his imposing bearing not one whit, however. Willow rather thought if they encountered any authorities they’d quickly figure Ballantine was no run-of-the-mill citizen.
Still, he was glad to have the commander along. If a conflict came down to calling on his own power... he wasn’t sure how much he had to give. Every able-bodied fighter would make a difference, if they had to make a stand.
-----
Jade peered out at the fishermen again from behind the screen of bushes. They hadn’t realized anyone was by this little inlet when they’d set out this morning. The sound of laughter had sent them all into a panic.
She’d left the boys further back, doing their best to cover tracks and keep the horses quiet, while she crept up to assess the situation. No doubt two random fishermen were no threat, but if soldiers came sniffing up their trail asking questions, better to have remained unseen.
They were packing up now, no doubt due to the persistent drizzle worsening. Jade blinking a rivulet of rainwater out of her eyes, watching them carefully. As they headed off south, the direction from which she and the boys had come, she breathed a sigh of relief.
There’d be no fire again tonight, with such a close call, not that a fire would be easy to keep going in this weather. One more cold night, huddled together for warmth, jumping at every noise.
One more night, and another, and however many it took to get the princes home and safe again.
She could do that much, at least. She owed them that much.
-----
“We need to head west from here.” Boorman said, finishing the last of his lunch.
“What? The charms are indicating due south, Boorman.” Willow looked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
“Right, absolutely.” Boorman smiled. “Only problem is, the Great River crossing due south of here is the most popular, heavily guarded crossing. Do you really want to see if we pass the scrutiny of the Shining Legion? They’re bound to recognize Ballantine if not Kit herself. We don’t know how deep this runs, how far Hastur’s nasty, slimy, little tentacles reach.”
Kit looked from Willow to Boorman, and gave him a curt nod. “Fine, lead the way.”
She turned and walked away, remounting her horse before Willow could continue to protest. If she let him keep talking she’d just snap at him again. She’d snapped at every single person in the party over the course of a single morning, and nobody snapped back — not even Elora.
Seeing the patient forbearance on their face was frankly more irritating than whatever it was that made her want to snap in the first place.
Better to just stuff it all down, for now. Focus on what was to come.
-----
The crossing, when they arrived at it, was ill-maintained; rickety, even. It groaned just from the wind blowing, and had numerous spots where planks had rotted away. The river below was high from the recent rains and rushing furiously. Kit looked on it with dismay.
“Boorman, your crossing’s a bit shit,” she remarked, glancing up at him. She was finally past the point of snapping about it. What good would it even do?
He rubbed the back of his neck. “Yeah,” he agreed, quietly. “No question of crossing on foot, either. Suicide.”
“Are there any others?”
“Next one I know of is a half-day’s ride, Your Highness.” Ballantine had come up beside them. “Should we head for it?”
Kit sighed. There was no good answer here. Lose more time going further inland and risk not getting to them in time, or risk all their lives crossing a derelict bridge. Why had she wanted to be in charge again?
“Boorman, try crossing on foot. You’re not as heavy as a horse, but it might give us a better idea if it’ll hold.”
“Mm. And I’m such a good swimmer, too.”
“We’ll rope you. I’m not a monster.”
He grinned at her. “You’re no wererat, that’s for sure.”
She blinked at him and decided to ignore that.
They tied Boorman securely around the waist with a long length of rope, bracing it around a tree and anchoring it with his horse. He edged out slowly, picking his way across the damaged planks. The boards creaked ominously several times, and he’d pause before moving again.
Finally he made it to the other side, waved at them, and crossed back without incident. Leading his horse across, with Willow riding, was much the same. The horse was steady of nerves as Boorman was, stopping at his signals and continuing on with slow deliberation at his encouragement until they were safely on the other side.
Elora followed next, moving carefully. She was visibly nervous but lifted her chin and glared when she saw Kit watching.
Kit smiled to herself. She had to grudgingly admit that the mouthy kitchen girl was trying to live up to her attitude, at least.
Elora uttered a little shriek halfway across when the bridge made a particularly loud noise, but she made it safely to the other side. Stepping down onto the bank she wobbled, letting her horse hold her up for a moment. Boorman clapped her on the back and said something that was probably encouraging, judging by his face.
Ballantine was next, stoic as always. He moved with great deliberation and paused frequently. If he was nervous, Kit couldn’t tell. She envied him that equipoise at this point. She’d give anything to stop telegraphing all her feelings with her face, at least until this was over.
When Ballantine stepped off the bridge, Kit led Eclipse forward. She danced nervously on the end of her lead, disliking the rushing water and creaking wood. Kit stopped and held her muzzle in both hands.
“Shhhh, girl. Shhhhh.” She petted her nose, pressing her forehead briefly against it. “We can do it. We gotta do it.”
They stood together until Eclipse settled. Kit started forward again, and Eclipse followed her mistress onto the boards, snorting mistrustfully as the structure swayed. Kit swallowed around the lump of fear in her throat
They were halfway across when the groaning increased in volume, and something cracked with a great shudder under their feet.
“Damn,” Kit muttered, tugging on Eclipse’s reins and urging her into a run. As she broke forward Kit leapt and swung herself up, one foot in a stirrup, clinging to the pommel. The others were yelling, and she heard boards behind her dropping into the fast-moving water.
“You can do it, girl! Go!” Kit encouraged, as Eclipse dug down and leapt.
She easily cleared the last of the bridge as it shattered apart and dissolved into the hungry current below. Kit jumped off just before they landed, tucking and rolling on the bank. Eclipse skidded in the mud, scrambling forward to get her hindquarters out of the river.
After checking that Eclipse wasn’t injured, Kit bent over, hands on her knees, and panted for breath. Her heart was suddenly thudding harder than it had been trying to get over the bridge, and she felt dizzy.
“Kit?”
Boorman’s voice was concerned but she couldn’t respond. Her vision was dancing with dark spots and if she tried to speak she thought she might end up face down in the mud. She swayed.
Suddenly she was in the air, belatedly realizing that Boorman had picked her up and put her down on her ass on a mossy patch. He was rubbing her back, which was just fucking embarrassing.
“Breathe, that’s it. Slower. In… out… in… out…”
Kit struggled to match his rhythm and the dark spots started to recede. As soon as the pounding in her ears quieted she shrugged him off, and he retreated.
When she finally looked up everyone was very studiously not looking at her, either attending to their horses or talking quietly. She scoffed… it felt like more of everyone’s patient expression when she was yelling.
Maddening, but… kind of nice.
-----
“Jade? I thought you said we’d follow the lake til we hit the river, why are we heading west?”
She looked to Graydon, riding double with Airk, leaning back into him. How he felt so comfortable with Airk after everything that happened, she couldn’t fathom, but neither would she deny either of them the solace they took in each other.
How Kit was going to feel about all that was another matter entirely, of course.
“I’d had that thought, but then I remembered the river crossing closest to the lake is a Shining Legion post. Doesn’t seem like a good idea right now, just in case. If we skirt those mountains to the west instead,” she pointed, “we can find a more inconspicuous way across.”
“Good thinking,” Airk said. “Last thing we need right now is to run into more of Hastur’s agents.”
“I’ll get you both back safe if it’s the last thing I do.”
Graydon’s brow pinched at her words, and he threw her a worried glance.
“We’ll do this together, Jade. We’re all going to get back safe.” His tone was firm but his eyes were searching, scrutinizing her reaction. She nodded stiffly.
“Of course,” she acceded, and kept further thoughts on the matter to herself.
-----
Willow had taken a bearing from the enchanted items again as they began to round the mountains, noting that the direction had changed slightly. As they adjusted their path, Kit dared to hope that was a good sign. The damnable charm only gave direction, unfortunately; distance was anyone’s best guess.
-----
They were almost past the mountain range, late afternoon sunlight starting to fade, when Boorman spotted riders ahead.
“Hold,” he called out. “Two riders heading this way.” He rose up in his saddle, shielding his eyes, and squinted. Hard to be certain in the gloom but he thought one of the horses was carrying double, and the other’s rider had what seemed to be distinctly red hair.
“Jade?” Kit breathed out, barely audible next to him, and then she was spurring her horse into a gallop.
“Damn it, Kit! Wait!” Boorman called out, but she was gone. Swearing, he set out after her.
“It’s them!” Willow yelled. “Boorman, it’s them!”
Glancing to the side, he saw Willow holding up the flute and the bracelet, both glowing with a strong blue light. Boorman stared at them and looked ahead again, to the horse carrying double. Blinking back a sudden rush of tears, he urged his own steed forward.
By the time he caught up, Kit had dismounted and run forward to meet the riders rushing toward her. Kit was hugging all three of them, and everyone was crying.
Boorman slid from his saddle, taking the reins of Kit’s horse as well, and stood by as Ballantine and Elora caught up, both dismounting and rushing forward. Elora peeled Airk off from the group and clutched him tight. He returned the embrace, slumping into her.
To Boorman’s surprise, Ballantine strode forward and pulled the redhead into a fierce hug. For a beat shock was written on her face, and then she smiled happily, closing her eyes and leaning in.
Kit and Graydon were still holding each other tight, and Boorman schooled his face though he couldn’t stop his eyes from tearing — both from relief that Graydon was standing there, whole and healthy, and frustration that he couldn’t rush forward and join in the reunion.
“Are you all right?” Boorman startled. He’d almost forgotten about Willow, still perched in the saddle basket.
“Mm. Yeah, glad we found them so easily. We’ll make good time back to Tir Asleen, now. Get them all safe again.”
He glanced sideways, mildly horrified to see he was being fixed him with a sympathetic look. “Of course,” Willow responded, his tone reassuring.
Face heating, Boorman turned back to the happy scene in front of them just in time to see Graydon raise his head from Kit’s shoulder and spot him. He squeezed her tight once more and let go, stumbling towards him.
Boorman steeled himself, preparing a calm and respectful set of words to utter, but Graydon was picking up speed. Graydon was running headlong at him, and before he could think of what to do Graydon had slammed into him, throwing both arms around his waist and unleashing a fresh torrent of tears against his chest.
He stood frozen for a moment, eyes flicking around. No one else was watching, except Kit. And Kit didn’t look pissed, remarkably. She was wiping her eyes, giving him a rueful smile.
His gaze darted back to Willow, and found Willow was giving him an expectant look. He nodded down at Graydon and frowned at Boorman as if he might be something of an idiot.
Huffing out something that was either a laugh or a sob, Boorman dropped the horses’ reins and hugged Graydon back.