Chapter 459: The Hidden Spring in the Hills

Chapter 458: The Hidden Spring in the Hills

Lyria’s POV

It did not take long for everyone to change.

Zephyr was the only one left behind, much to his evident displeasure, though I promised him I should return before nightfall. He did not appear convinced in the least, and I confess I could not fault him for it — for what cat should relish being abandoned in a dusty inn, whilst his mistress ventures off to labour in the mire?

I refused to wear a gown.

Instead, I chose trousers. They were practical, dark, and suited to labour. Bridget, Debbie, and Pippa did likewise. Only Elara and Margery wore dresses, and even these were of considerably simpler make than their usual attire, chosen that they might not be utterly ruined by the day’s toil.

Before we departed, I called the whole party together for one final word.

"There is o-one thing you m-must all expect," I said. "The t-townspeople shall surely e-ensure this t-task proves exceedingly d-difficult for us."

"And what, Your Highness, is the plan?" Duke Thorncrest spoke up.

I regarded him steadily.

"T-to cooperate," I said.

He stared at me a long moment, then gave a nod.

"I understand."

I nodded in return, and we departed.

---

The others walked on ahead, making their way towards the fields, and I was upon the point of following when I noticed Duke Valenridge had lingered behind.

He waited until the others had gained some distance before speaking, his voice pitched low.

"I have a matter to relate to you."

I paused at once.

"Have you d-discovered s-something?"

"I may have," he said. "And you may make use of it as leverage over the townspeople, should the need arise."

"What i-is it?"

"A hot spring."

I frowned at this.

"And what, p-pray, is a hot s-spring?"

Duke Valenridge regarded me calmly.

"A natural spring," he explained, "wherein the water is warmed by the very earth itself. It rises from deep beneath the ground, heated by forces we cannot perceive, and emerges at the surface at a temperature far exceeding any ordinary pool or stream. Such springs are rare, and prized accordingly."

My eyes widened with wonder.

"I d-did not suppose such a thing could even e-exist," I admitted. "I truly h-have a great deal yet to l-learn of the w-world at l-large."

"Compose yourself, curious wolf," he said, a slight smile upon his face. "Your eyes carry that particular glint they acquire whenever you are upon the verge of discovering something new, or pursuing some fresh piece of knowledge."

I nodded, though my thoughts still turned over what he had told me.

"I m-must confess," I said, "I d-do not perceive what leverage a s-spring might afford over the p-people."

"I am coming to that," he said. "For one matter, I know as fact that the townspeople have endeavoured to reach it for some considerable while now."

"You a-are certain of this?"

"I overheard Jim and another discussing the matter last night," he said. "They were attempting to discover some means of reaching the spring, for the town depends upon it a very great deal. You see, though a canal runs through the town, they possess very little access to clean water otherwise. And that hot spring serves a great many purposes. It offers comfort to the sick, water for bathing, and a good many other uses besides. Certain plants grow near the spring also, upon which the people depend. The townspeople discovered it not so very long ago — though they conceal its existence from the Crown, fearing it should otherwise be taken from them."

I nodded slowly.

"That i-is a reasonable f-fear to hold."

Duke Valenridge nodded.

"And herein lies your leverage. I discovered another means of access to the spring," he continued, "quite by accident, I assure you. And for some reason I feel certain the townspeople have entirely forgotten this particular route, though it did require the shifting of some considerable rocks."

I looked at him sharply.

"A-are you quite all r-ight?"

He smiled.

"I am perfectly well. I have lifted a good deal heavier than those rocks, I assure you."

"Still—"

"I am well, curious wolf," he said softly. "But the whole point is this: we possess knowledge of how the spring might be reached. And I should have you know that, should your own plan fail entirely, you have something upon which to fall back."

"I h-hope my plans do not f-fail," I said, a frown upon my face. "Though I s-suspect making use of such a method should only render them m-more hostile still towards us. After all, you y-yourself were the one who counselled that we ought rather to t-try and u-understand these p-people."

Duke Valenridge smirked.

"Were I to mark you for all you have accomplished of late," he said, "I should give you, perhaps, an eight out of ten."

"Why e-eight?" I asked, curious.

"Because your plans have not yet come to fruition," he said. "Though you have made a very considerable attempt and I confess I rather like you this way."

He paused, then added:

"I must also say, curious wolf, that you need not retreat before any one least of all Marquess Hale. You need not permit him to insult you. You may speak whatever you wish to him."

"Marquess H-Hale remains a m-marquess," I said. "I c-cannot freely s-say what I w-wish to s-say, Your Grace."

"And I," Duke Valenridge replied, "am a duke of considerable power besides. Surely you have not forgotten as much?"

I stared at him in some astonishment, and he spoke again.

"I shall always stand at your back, curious wolf, whatever may come, even should you be in the wrong, I shall support you regardless. Though I must confess that, in private, I shall certainly point out when you are wrong."

I laughed softly at that. I should quite welcome it, if I am honest.

He smiled gently, then leaned closer, his head nearly touching mine, his eyes fixed upon my own as he spoke softly, his voice scarcely above a whisper.

"You grow even more beautiful still, curious wolf, when you stand your ground."

My heart began to beat the faster, for he stood very near now — near enough that I might catch his scent, and even though neither of us had yet washed, he smelled pleasant regardless. I swallowed hard, then put a proper distance between us at once, blinking rapidly.

"W-wwe ought to b-be going," I said, striving with all my effort not to betray how flustered I had become.

This was not, after all, the first occasion upon which he had stood so near me. Why, then, did my heart beat so? Why should I grow so flustered now?

Duke Valenridge only smiled and nodded, though for a moment I thought I glimpsed something in his eyes resembling hurt. But it did not linger, for as swiftly as I had marked it, it had vanished.

"We ought," he agreed, though his gaze had turned elsewhere. "For Alistair and Lucian have been observing us some while now."

I followed his gaze.

Lucian and Duke Thorncrest were indeed watching us closely.

Lucian’s countenance was blank, and Duke Thorncrest’s smile had frozen upon his face.

I nodded, and Duke Valenridge and I began walking towards the others.

The moment we reached them, Lucian spoke.

"What were you discussing?" he asked, his voice cold.

I frowned at his tone, and was upon the point of asking precisely what the matter was, when Duke Valenridge answered before I could.

"Do not be so hostile, Lucian," he said. "I was only informing Her Highness of certain matters."

"I have never known an informing to require one to stand quite so close to the other," Duke Thorncrest said, his own voice equally tight.

Duke Valenridge only shook his head, and then walked on ahead of us, leaving me to stare after him.