Clash of Wills (7 page)

Doggedly persistent, Wills stuck his boot in the doorway to prevent her from shutting it completely. “So you’re not angry with me?”

“No, but that could change if you don’t move your foot.”

“As you wish.”

He bowed and then headed down the hallway toward his room. Samantha closed the door, confused and shaken. For a moment, she thought Wills would try to kiss her. Furthermore, there was no doubt in her mind she would have welcomed it. Nan had been right after all; she was attracted to the man—dangerously so.
It’s a good thing I won’t ever see him again.

After a fitful night’s sleep, Samantha rose to make her escape. The sky was pitch black when she left with her saddlebags. After sliding the farewell notes underneath Nan’s and Wills’ doors, she crept downstairs and into the stables. With the aid of a lantern, Samantha located her horse…but her saddle was missing from its hook. She roused the sleeping stable boy to ask where he’d stowed her gear.

“The gentleman you’re traveling with, a Mr. Wills, he came down late last night and took your saddle. He said he wanted to make sure you didn’t leave without him.”

The lad cringed when Samantha let fly a series of curses. Wills appeared in the stable doorway, his silhouette visible against the glimmer of dawn.

“Temper, temper.”

She turned on him. “How
dare
you interfere! You arrogant, presumptuous—”

“Your father entrusted you into my care, and that makes you my responsibility.” He picked up her saddlebags and slung them over his shoulder. “Simmer down and have breakfast with me. You and I need to talk.”

Albeit reluctantly, Samantha had no choice but to accompany Wills back to the inn. The staff was just beginning to stir in the kitchen, so they sat by the fire while breakfast was made. He plucked her farewell note from his shirt pocket and tossed it into the flames. “I’m no fool. You weren’t going home.”

“How did you know I was planning to leave?”

“Call it a hunch. This has something to do with your brother, doesn’t it?”

“How did you know?”

“When you told me he’d died of a fever seven years ago, I knew that wasn’t true. He’s been spotted in the Uncharted Region fairly recently—in the Kingdom of the Fae, to be exact.”

“Then you know more about Julian’s whereabouts than I do.” Tears pricked the back of her eyelids and her throat closed up. “I miss him so much.”

“Is that where you were going—the Uncharted Region?”

“Yes.” She hesitated a moment before producing the magical device from her pocket. “I can track him with this enchanted compass.”

Wills examined the instrument. “This will be useful, I grant you. But travel to the Uncharted Region requires special clothes and equipment. Have you thought of that?”

She stared at him. “I-I suppose not.”

“It’s difficult terrain, and the journey will have to be done on foot.”

Samantha turned her head away as silent tears slipped down her face.
Why can’t anything be easy?

Wills made a sound of exasperation. “Why don’t you just ask for my help?”

“I’ve deceived you from the beginning, and we don’t even get along. Why would you help me?”

“You and I are a lot alike in many ways.” He laughed when she gave him a dubious look. “Believe it or not.”

“I don’t believe it at all—unless you count the fact neither of us wish to marry.”

“That’s true. Furthermore, we both crave adventure.”

“I’ve not had any, so I wouldn’t know.”

“How did you come by the compass?”

“Several weeks ago, Julian sent it and a message to join him by way of our cousin Nicholas. Unfortunately, when my father learned Nicholas was a wizard, he practically threw him out of the castle before I could ask him any questions.”

Incredulity was written on Wills’ features. “Let me get this straight. Your elder brother has asked you to travel to an unfamiliar land, alone and unprotected, by way of a secret message? Are you sure this isn’t some sort of trap?”

Samantha’s frustration mounted.
It’s as if Wills is determined to cast things in the worst possible light…and make me and Julian look foolish.
“The letter was in his handwriting,” she said heatedly, “and my brother would never put me in danger. I trust him implicitly.”

“You’ll understand if I don’t.”

“I want to see my brother. I’ll convince Julian to return with me to Paloran. Surely my father’s heart will soften once he sees him after all this time.”

Wills took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “All right. I’m quite keen to see the Uncharted Region, and it’s clear you need my protection. I’ll take you to your brother, but you have to give me something in return.”

She peered at him, warily. Was this an attempt at seduction? “If it’s in my power to perform.”

“Don’t lie to me ever again.”

“That’s it?”

“You sound disappointed.”

A heated flush crept up from her neck. “Of course not.”

“You’re blushing.” His eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You didn’t really think I would stoop to compromising your honor?”

She shook her head. “I think we’ve established our mutual distaste.”

“If I wanted to bed you, Princess, I wouldn’t resort to blackmail or trickery to do it.”

Her face grew even warmer and she averted her eyes. “I didn’t mean to imply otherwise.”

Although she hated having to count on someone else to reach her goal, she couldn’t manage alone.
I need his help.

“I accept your offer,” she said finally. “But you must allow me to repay the favor.”

He smirked. “Since we’ve established our
mutual distaste
, as you put it, I can’t imagine how.”

Wills finds the prospect of bedding me distasteful?
His words stung, but she covered her hurt with a laugh. “How about I begin with buying you breakfast?”

“It’s a deal. And not that I’m keeping score, but you saved my life yesterday. When we find your brother, we’ll be even.”

Wills spent the morning gathering together packs, camping equipment, and fur-lined jackets for the journey. Joe and Nan were to accompany him and Samantha as far as the Ferryside Inn at the Elturon River. The two servants would remain at the inn until Wills and Samantha returned—hopefully with Julian.

The party of four departed Foundling after lunch, retracing their route a short distance until they could transition onto the northbound road. Joe played his flute along the way, keeping their spirits high. The notes of his cheerful tunes echoed through the forest—bits of the music occasionally mimicked by passing mockingbirds.

The road proved to be good, and they arrived at the Ferryside Inn in the late afternoon. A steep cliff loomed on the far side of Elturon River, just beyond a small village. The sound of crashing water upriver piqued Samantha’s interest, but her view was obstructed by the large Ferryside Inn. After dismounting, she handed the reins of her horse to Nan and darted toward the water’s edge.

Looking out over the Elturon River, Samantha was awestruck. A short distance upstream was a breathtaking waterfall. As it hit the river, the cascading water churned a thick, refreshing mist which Samantha could feel on her skin. Further downstream, the river became wide and relatively calm, edged here and there by remnants of wintertime ice.

Wills joined her. “What a magnificent sight.”

“I’ve never seen such a tall waterfall before. It dwarfs my father’s castle.”

Wills cocked his thumb toward a ferryboat moored to a nearby dock. “That’ll take us across the river tomorrow.”

The sun was just beginning to set and a gust of wind sent shivers down her spine. A visible shudder went through her at the chill.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Wills asked.

Her chin lifted. “I’m merely cold, not frightened.” She consulted her compass; the needle was pointing across the river. “And I’m sure.”

The skies were murky when the ferry pushed off the next morning, guided by a one-eyed ferryman. Wills and Samantha rode along with a handful of hardscrabble men who occasionally gave them a curious glance. She was suddenly glad for her disguise and for Wills’ presence.

“The Uncharted Region often attracts highwaymen fleeing the law,” he murmured. “We should be on our guard.”

Thereafter, Samantha stuck close to Wills at the railing, keeping her pack within reach. As the ferry cut across the crystal clear water, schools of plump, silvery fish darted below the surface. When a shaft of sunlight pierced the cloud cover, Wills tapped her on the shoulder. “Look.”

Samantha turned around and gasped with delight. The sun was reflecting off the waterfall, casting a huge, dazzling rainbow in the mist. “Oh Wills, something so beautiful must be a good omen.”

“Let’s hope so.”

A half hour later, the ferry reached the far side of the river. “Welcome to Elturon, the gateway to the Uncharted Region,” the ferryman droned as they disembarked. “May ye get what ye came for and more than ye deserve.”

In the village, Wills took Samantha inside an establishment called Spike’s Tavern. “Let’s get you something hot to drink. It was awfully cold on that river.”

“That’s a good idea,” she said. “And maybe somebody has seen Julian.”

When the tavern’s grizzled owner brought their tea, he peered at them.

“You gentlemen seem a bit out of your element, if you don’t mind me saying so. We don’t get too much high society in these parts.”

Samantha and Wills exchanged a startled glance.

“What makes you think we’re gentlemen?” Samantha asked

“It’s a matter of cleanliness, if you catch my drift.”

“Tell me, have you ever happened to meet a wizard named Julian here?” she asked.

“Aye, although I haven’t seen him in a few months. He lives in a city of ice, north of here.”

“We’d like to find him,” Wills said. “Can you tell us the best way to get there?”

“You can buy a map over at the general store, but the
best
way means a five day hike downriver and across the Baltair Passage.” He laughed at their shocked expressions. “On the other hand, the
fastest
way is up the Stairs of Tears.”