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To the left —the north—the forest floor was beginning to rise and I saw in the distance a craggy foothill that had to be close to the Eiralpine Line. We were nearing the lands of the People of the Winds.
Karehl turned onto a side road, leading me up an increasingly steep gradient. The path was slippery, and the snows to either side of the trail grew deeper and deeper. As we emerged from the Bramble Fel Forest, I could see the valley below. The forest stretched as far as I could see, the dark tops of the conifers laden with snow.
By early afternoon, as the light began to wane, we veered off on another side road, taking the left fork. I wondered where it was leading, but soon we rounded a curve on the hillside, and there, up ahead, I saw a four-story stone tower.
“Where are we?” I asked, not really expecting an answer.
Karehl turned to me. “This is your new home.”
Taken aback, I fell silent.
The tower was surrounded by snow, but the stairs leading to the door had been cleared. Karehl swung off of his horse, then reached up to help me down off of Yaran. My hands were still bound as he led me up the stone stairs.
Before we could reach the door, a low roar echoed from behind the tower. Karehl shoved me, whispering “Run,” but before we could reach the actual door, a large beast came racing around the side of the tower, leaping up the stairs toward us. It looked like a cross between a massive cat and a wolf, and it was pale yellow, the color of beaten eggs and milk. It had a large mane and curved fangs, and eyes the color of amber. The beast’s four massive feet ended with black talons, and its eyes gleamed as it growled.
Karehl jumped between me and the creature, and began to shimmer as he shifted form into a giant wolf. This was the first time I had ever seen a shifter change shape, and it was suddenand quick, and startling. I wondered where his clothes went, but then shook away the thought. Our lives were in danger.
I turned to the door and tried to open it, but there was a lock and I didn’t have the key. Frantic, I turned back around, wishing I held my weapons with me. But Karehl had taken them and stashed them in his gear.
As he met the giant beast, the fight began in earnest. Even though he was smaller, as a wolf, Karehl was strong—stronger than I would have thought. But still, he seemed no match for whatever this thing was.
The next thing I knew, arrows flew by from overhead. I turned to see an archer peering out of one of the barred windows above. From here, all I could see was flame rising from an arrow, and the next moment, the twang of the bowstring sounded and the arrow flew true to mark.
The beast caught fire and began to scream, shrieking so loudly that shivers raced down my spine. As it loped away, I grabbed up the end of my rope, intending to make a beeline for Yaran. But at that moment, the door opened and two guards appeared. They rushed out. One of them grabbed hold of me before I could run, holding me fast.
“I’m so glad I stationed you there,” Karehl said. He pointed to me. “Bring her in, and then fetch the gear from the horses. Kill the charimont if it returns.” He strode past us, into the tower. The guards took hold of me by the arms and carried me in before they returned outside.
The tower was the size of my house in Renmark, at least in diameter, and there was a center circular staircase. Karehl took me by the arm and dragged me over to the stairs, pushing me ahead of him. I thought about trying to fight, but with the guards outside, and potentially more hiding in the tower, I wouldn’t stand a chance. Even if I did get away, that creature—a charimont?—was still outside, probably lurking, waiting for dinner.
The first level was relatively empty, with several benches, a stone lavatory, and a stone pillar that stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Near the stone pillar was the circular staircase. Karehl pushed me up the stairs, leading to a door at the second floor. He leaned around me, opening it, then gave me a little shove.
“Inside,” he ordered.
I stepped through.
Inside, the second story consisted of a small kitchen, with a table, a fireplace, and a pantry that looked full of food. A sink stood next to a small well.
By my estimate, the well stood right where the pillar of stone was on the floor below. I peeked inside the well, but couldn’t see the bottom. It looked like it was built down through the first floor, deep into the ground. A bucket on a long rope sat to one side. The rope wound around a cross piece, attached to the handle. The circular stairwell continued upward.
“What is this place?”
“I told you, this is your new home. You’ll stay here and wait for me. My men will replenish your food and water every fortnight, so you won’t go hungry.” He motioned for me to follow him.
As it slowly dawned on me that I was truly being imprisoned, my alarm began to grow and I frantically looked around for another way out. There were a number of windows, but they were all barred, with shutters on the inside to keep out the snow and cold.
Trying to remain calm, I followed him up the staircase. The third level was a bedchamber, with a bathing area, a stone latrine, and another hearth. From what I could tell, thefireplaces were all connected by the same chimney against one wall.
We continued to the fourth level, which was a sitting room, with a library of books and paper. There was yet another fireplace, and what looked like a dumbwaiter down to the first floor. I assumed that it was to haul food and water up and down without having to maneuver the stairs.
“Why are you keeping me here?”
Karehl was silent for a moment, then he said, “My brother has broken out of the dungeon. Several of the Lorani managed to free him. I will not have him finding you. Nor do I consider it wise to kill you. You will stay here, and I’ll visit you when I have leave.” The latter was said with a veiled threat.
I held his gaze. “You’re keeping me here for your use, aren’t you?”
He laughed softly. “Be grateful. If you had not caught my eye, you’d have been tossed into the dungeons with my brother. But Giselda warned me to keep the two of you apart. This should work to that end. My men are loyal, and they are the only one besides Giselda who knows where you are.”
I thought about the witch. I’d been a fool to trust her. I wondered if Sparrow had ever been real—or had it been the prince in disguise all along? There were questions I knew he wouldn’t answer, so I didn’t even try.
