Page 80 of The Iron Hex

“Mmm, fine,” Eira sighed as she leaned into the kiss, folding the map gently into her journal and brushing her skirts off as she stood, walking the few steps over to where Evangeline had already dug into the mystery rations Hugo had made. The evening gave way to the easiest conversation Eira had had in years as Hugo rubbed her arm and Evangeline made snarky comments. For a moment, it felt like something she remembered, a shadowy recollection in the recesses of her mind reminding her of everything she still needed to get back. It wasn’t until Eira started dozing off that she realized she’d been having such a nice time she’d forgotten to open the ciphered pages again.

40

Hugo

Hugo woke with a start, a familiar whinny breaking him out of his slumber. Eira was in his arms, snoring softly in the cold morning air.

He looked to Arthur, who had just huffed, his sign that he’d heard something outside of the cave. Hugo slowly pulled his arm out from under Eira, a moan leaving her plump lips as he quietly stood and grabbed his sword.

“Good work, buddy,” he whispered as he walked by Arthur, the horse nipping at his cloak in response. At the exit to the cave Hugo paused, listening for any sound that could explain what was out here. He desperately hoped it was an animal or something that just startled the horse, but he’d worked with Arthur long enough to know that the horse could discern between a person and a big cat, and would react accordingly.

A crunch reverberated through the perfectly quiet scene. Hugo had taken them off the path to camp, knowing that it would be the best way to stay safe while they slept, and the snow and wind had covered their tracks. There should have been noone here, and yet he could hear the tentative footsteps of at least one person outside.

Hugo unsheathed his sword and stepped out, the snow blinding him as he tried to acclimatize his eyes to his surroundings, the crunching to his left abruptly stopping as he made noise on the snow himself.

A pregnant pause filled the air until Hugo started running, the movement of whoever was to his left starting again as he spun on his heel and ran toward the only sound in the early-morning quiet. He turned toward the road to Luwha and spotted the two soldiers, clad in leathers and fur-lined cloaks. “Stop!” he yelled, some part of his mind irrationally worried that Eira would wake up from the echoes of his shout.

The figures stopped, turning toward Hugo slowly.

“Who are you?” he yelled, sword drawn as he walked closer, trying to see if he recognized either of them.

The two put their hands up. The man and woman from the roadside tavern over a week ago. He hadn’t been paranoid; he’d spotted something, and had let them continue to follow him. He was a fool.

“We don’t want a fight,” the taller one said.

“Whoareyou?” Hugo growled, jabbing his sword in their direction, now just scant meters away.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on your travels, that’s all,” the tall one spoke again. The shorter one, Hugo could now see, was a woman, and he glanced up at a loud screech to see an eagle circling overhead. Hugo had been so wrapped up in Eira and what she needed that he hadn’t investigated their surroundings nearly as much as he should have. He’d been hunted. Shit.

“What did you send back to him?” Hugo said, his anger rising.

“You know we can’t tell you that,” the short one finally spoke.

“And you know I can’t let you go,” Hugo responded, sadnesscoloring his voice. He knew he had to dispatch these two, that he couldn’t let them go to keep reporting back to the lord general, and he could only hope desperately that they hadn’t figured out who Evangeline was... or Eira, for that matter.

“Fortunately, we came prepared for that outcome,” the tall one said as they both pulled out swords, positioning themselves defensively for Hugo to strike first.

Hugo was about to strike when he watched the snow below their feet creep up the man’s legs before crystallizing, an eerie crunch following the solidification of the ice.

“What are you doing?” the man yelled, breaking his focus on Hugo and turning it to something behind him and then to the hard snow creeping up his legs, leaving him locked where he stood.

Hugo followed the man’s gaze and saw Eira, who had crept up behind him as he had argued with the two spies. He was beginning to realize that he may have let his own skills as a hunter lapse a bit too much for his own liking. She stood, much more undressed than she should have been for the weather, with her hands in front of her. Hugo saw how her hand motions directed the snow up the man’s body; it was fascinating to watch, and he would have continued if this hadn’t been the perfect opportunity for him to strike.

Hugo ran forward, the other man moving his sword to block Hugo’s attack, despite his predicament. But Hugo wasn’t about to attack the easy target. He turned at the last second and swung at the woman, who, while prepared, had not expected him to choose her in that moment. Their swords clashed and Hugo could see the fear in her eyes. These weren’t soldiers; they were just trackers, informants. However, they were loyal to the Iron Empire and would strike Hugo down the moment he faltered.

“I didn’t report on any details about the witch,” she whispered, just loud enough for Hugo to hear, the metal of theirswords grinding against each other as she spoke. “Or the other girl.”

“Why?” Hugo asked, not letting up. He jumped back before diving toward her again, kicking her leg. Her knee buckled and she faltered for a moment before she recovered and blocked his third swing.

“Hugo,” Eira yelled. “I can’t hold him for much longer.”

He saw that the snow had crept up to the man’s waist, and he looked at Hugo with pure panic in his eyes as he swung his sword fruitlessly.

“My aunt was a witch,” the woman said. “She didn’t deserve what happened to her.”

Hugo broke off the battle and stepped backward, the two of them between him and Eira. The other man was now half covered in snow and desperately trying to get it off.

“Get the witch to stop!” he exclaimed. “I can’t feel my feet!”