Nell Larkspur's Arc

Chapter 13 of 23

Nell bolted the kitchen door behind him and turned to face Lena. Blood still ran down his wrist. The fox pressed against his leg. Moss watched from the hearth with the chipmunk cupped in his hands. "They'll circle back," Nell said. "Once they lose the east trail, they'll come for me. And I smell like you now. I've slept in your cloak. I've held your hand. If I stay here, I bring them to this door." Lena stood up slowly. "Then we move." "No." He wrapped a fresh rag around his arm and pulled it tight with his teeth. "You stay. The house is off the ridge line. They won't cross past the ridge for the boy. He's not worth the walk once my blood's louder." "You're not going alone." "I am." He met her eyes. "Two choices. Stay here with Moss. Bar the cellar. Keep the fire small. Or take him down the slope at first light and go home to your father." "And you." "I go to the ring of trees. I find your sister. I bring her back." He paused. "Or I don't come back." She didn't cry. She looked at his arm, at the rag, at the fox. Moss set the chipmunk on the mantel beside its stitched jacket and came to stand by her knee. She put a hand on his matted hair. "You said you wouldn't lie to me," she said. "I'm not." "Then say the true part." Nell swallowed. "I don't want to leave you. But every hour I stand near you, they get closer to your scent. I made this. I have to carry it away from here." Lena stepped over the fox. She took his face in both hands. Her fingers were cold and needle-scarred. She kissed him once, hard, without closing her eyes. "In case," she said. He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer, kissing her deep. "Just in case," he whispered against her lips. She let go and moved back to Moss. "We'll stay. Cellar door barred. Small fire." "Three days," Nell said. "If I'm not back in three days, go down the slope. Not the ridge. The slope." "Three days." He took the axe from beside the hearth. He took the linen map from the table and folded it into his coat. The fox followed him to the door and stopped. He knelt. "Stay with her," he said. The fox pushed her forehead against his palm and sat down. Nell opened the door. Cold air came in and moved the ash on the hearth. He looked back once. Lena stood with her hand on the boy's shoulder, her mouth set flat, her eyes wet and steady. He stepped out and pulled the door shut behind him. He heard the bar drop into place. Then he started walking, alone, toward the ridge and the ring of trees beyond it.