I didn't bother to respond. We both knew she'd seen me and had deliberately ridden close to scare me.
"You rode right at her!" It would seem I had a defender in the shadows, someone who wasn't as scared of Lady Deerhorn as me, or perhaps someone who didn't know she had no heart.
Two of the governor's men rode past, heading in the direction of the voice. I hoped the fellow had got away before he was punished.
"Don't worry, my lady," said the governor, steering his horse alongside Lady Deerhorn's. "My men will find them. You shouldn't have to put up with this kind of behavior in your own village." He glared at two men dressed in worn boots and ragged clothes as they passed by. Their hungry eyes stared right back. "Mull is going to the dogs."
Lady Deerhorn ignored him. She only had eyes for me, and what cruel eyes they were, too. Even in the dull afternoon light, the shadows avoided those icy orbs, making them look even paler, colder. "It's dangerous for a girl to be out in the village this late in the day on her own," she said. "You should be at home." The horse shifted suddenly and she pulled hard on the reins. The horse jerked his head in protest. "You wouldn't want to be raped or kidnapped, would you, Miss Cully?"
I refused to show fear, but my body betrayed me as a shiver rippled down my spine.
The corner of her mouth ticked in delight. "The king can't save you now."
I inched away, keeping my gaze on her. She moved her horse to block my path.
"Thank Lady Deerhorn for her concern," the governor barked. "Merdu knows, you don't deserve it after the things you said at the village meeting."
I'd spoken out against the Deerhorns’ plans to raze The Row and replace the homes of Mull's poorest with expensive housing the slum's residents couldn't afford. They'd shelved their plans after the people protested, but they would blame me for being the voice of the villagers, no matter how reluctant I'd been to speak.
"Leave us," she ordered the governor.
He frowned but dutifully wheeled his horse away to see if his men had found the man who'd called out.
I swallowed and held my pack to my chest, preparing to run. Lady Deerhorn had kidnapped me in broad daylight once before, but that had been in my own, quiet street. She wouldn't do it here with witnesses around. I hoped.
"You look like a frightened rabbit," she said. "Don't worry. I won't hurt you. Unless you don't give me what I want, that is."
I remained silent. I refused to play her games.
"Sometimes I can't decide if you're mute because you're clever or because you're stupid. No matter. I'll tell you what I want, since I know you're curious." She leaned down a little and lowered her voice. "I want the magic gem."
My breath hitched. "I don't have it, nor do I know where it is."
"The captain of the guards knows, and you're fucking him."
"We're just friends."
She raised her hand to slap me, but I dodged out of the way and she lowered it again. "Don't treat me like a fool," she hissed. "I want the gem. The real one, not the fake you gave to the king."
"Why? If you believe the stories, which you do or you wouldn't want it, then the wishes can only be used by the one who found the gem. That was the king, and he's dead. The gem's magic won't work for you." I wouldn't tell her that Brant claimed he had the remaining wishes in his possession now. If I did, he might not live much longer. Those wishes were too valuable for Lady Deerhorn to merely let him keep them, and it seemed the only way to get them was upon the death of the wish holder. Unless they'd already come to an arrangement between them.
"Just find out where the gem is, Miss Cully," she said, almost sweetly. "Or I'll see that you won't be rescued by your captain next time I kidnap you. He'll be too busy trying to save his own skin to think about saving yours."
"He won't tell me," I said.
"You have two days." She kicked her heels into the horse and rode off.
I ran in the opposite direction and didn't stop until I reached the Divers' house, where Dane was waiting for me.
Chapter 3
I had to sit through polite conversation between Dane and the Divers before he finally took his leave. I walked him out, feeling Mistress Diver's watchful gaze on my back until I shut the front door behind me.
"Did you get the anneece?" I asked him.
"It's in my saddle bag. Josie, what's wrong?" He took my hands in his. "You've hardly said a word since arriving home, and you seem anxious."
"This isn't my home," I said without thinking.
"I came as soon as I could get away. I didn't think there was any urgency. You seemed angry when you wrote the letter, not worried."
"How do you know I was angry?"
"You underlined the word 'refuses' twice and called Mistress Ashmole a sour-faced wasp." He rubbed his thumbs along mine. His hands were bare, his riding gloves tucked into the saddle strap. "Tell me what has happened since then."
"I met Lady Deerhorn."
His thumbs stilled. "What did she do?"
"It wasn't so much what she did as what she said. She wants the gem. She's given me two days to get it."
"Or?"
"She didn't go into specifics. I explained she can't use it without the wishes but that didn't deter her."
He let my hands go and turned to his horse. "I'll deal with her."
"How?" When he didn't answer me, I caught his arm. "Dane, look at me."
He turned his head to the side, presenting me with his profile. It was something, at least.
"What can you possibly say to her that will stop her wanting the gem?" I pressed.
"I'll think of something."
It wasn't an answer but I suspected it was all I'd get from him. Whether he already had a plan to deal with Lady Deerhorn, or wasn't yet sure how to, I couldn't tell.
Something she'd said to me seemed particularly relevant now. "Be careful." I took his hand and rubbed my thumb along his, as he'd done with mine. "You don't have the king to protect you anymore."
"I don't need his protection." He drew on his gloves and took the reins but didn't mount. He touched my jaw and his features softened. "I don't want you to be afraid of her anymore."
"I'm not."
We both knew it was a lie.
He mounted, favoring his injured foot. "Stay indoors. If you have to go out, don't go alone."
It was pointless to argue with him when he was right; I shouldn't go out alone. The problem was, Meg might not want to come with me if Delle gave birth in the middle of the night.
Delle did not give birth in the middle of the night, and Meg was perfectly happy to accompany me in the morning. Mistress Diver was reluctant for Meg to attend a birthing, telling her that girls shouldn't be exposed to one of life's raw moments at such a tender age. I told her it hadn't affected me. She let Meg go but expressed her displeasure by pounding her fists into the dough she was kneading with more force than necessary.