Exchanged Read online

  Exchanged

  Dante Silva & Vanessa Mozes

  Copyright 2017 Dante Silva and Vanessa Mozes

  All rights reserved.

  Cover art by Isis Sousa/Helheimen Design

  Edition: 01

  ISBN: 978-1370858934

  Dedications

  To my wife. Your love, support, and encouragement give me the strength to do great things.

  —

  To my husband. You encourage me as a partner, inspire me like a muse, and will always be my bard.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  About the authors

  Acknowledgments

  First, thank you to Beckie and Aurora for your support and feedback. All your help is greatly appreciated, and this story wouldn't be what it is now without you.

  Thanks to all our family and friends for your love and support. You knew we were writing fantasy, but how many of you guessed we were also writing romance?

  Chapter 1

  Aubriel had never been blamed for an act of nature before, but stranger things had happened. She stood at the edge of the river, frowning at its belated swelling. Spring was giving way to summer, but the rains had come later and heavier this year. It would only cause a couple days of setback—a minor inconvenience. Her companion felt otherwise.

  “Two days more?” Elston said, grasping the golden holy pendant that hung around his neck. He shifted uncomfortably in his leather armor. “You were clear that this journey would take seven days. Now it will take nine? Bree, I cannot wait that long.”

  She couldn’t blame him for his frustration. Elston was used to taking quick action. He could survive and live off the land as well as any elf from Viget, but traversing the forest away from marked roads was her specialty. If only he could trust her as much as she trusted him. His handsome face was strained and his soft brown hair slightly marred from running his hands through it.

  “I did promise you seven days.” Aubriel smiled reassuringly. “I also promised to get you through this safely, and I would be disregarding that if we attempted to cross the river as it is. Better to arrive two days late than not at all, no?”

  Elston exhaled deeply. His brow remained furrowed, but his posture relaxed. “I suppose you’re right. You are the best guide in the village. That’s why I hired you. I’m sure you’ll be able to make up the time somewhere along the way.”

  Aubriel bit her lip and nervously ran her fingers over the dusky pink braid she was so proud of. “Let’s head north and increase our pace. The day is still new enough for us to make good use of it.”

  She wasn’t used to having someone rely on her so heavily. She kept her head high as she took the lead, walking along the river’s edge. The last thing she wanted was to disappoint Elston. Honestly, telling him their journey would take two extra days had been a bit of an overestimation to account for any other surprises that might occur. She pictured the map he had shown her two days earlier as she carefully stepped along the lush forest floor.

  There were a few spots two or three hours away where the river narrowed and might be safer to cross, but they would lose daylight by the time they backtracked south. If she kept them to the trails and parts of the forest she hunted in, they wouldn’t make it to their destination until halfway through day eight. She listened to the heavy footfalls of Elston behind her. Arriving on day seven would make him so happy and would be good for her reputation. It wasn’t often that anyone from Viget got to help Elston or any other paladin of Rabek. Usually Elston was the one to help them.

  For most of her life, Aubriel watched Elston from afar. She—well into adulthood—was still many years his junior, and he hadn’t taken note of her until recently. He rarely came home to the village, always traveling from place to place in the name of Rabek’s temples, but everyone recited his heroic deeds in his absence. Few people left Viget, and even fewer became so important or respected amongst the worldly cities Bree had only heard of. When he approached her two days ago and asked her to guide him far into the forest, she felt as if she might burst from the swelling in her chest.

  Her heart still felt full, but if she wanted Elston to rely on her again, she needed to prove that his choice in guide hadn’t been misplaced. Thinking back to the worn, brown map with inky blue markings, she considered other possible routes that might expedite their travel. There was a ridge half a day’s journey east from the river that they could climb in a third of the time it would take to walk around it, but Elston wouldn’t be able to handle such difficult terrain in the constraining leather armor he insisted on wearing. Then again, the idea of seeing him without armor was a pleasant one.

  Bree shook her head. Such thoughts weren’t helping, and anyway, it was impractical and even dangerous for Elston to follow her across the ridge without the correct clothing. Walking was the only option. It was possible to take a pass near the southern edge of the ridge, assuming nothing—and no one—was there. Just thinking about it sent a shudder through her. The narrow walls hardly allowed for walking, let alone wielding any kind of weapon, and the floor was so jagged as to make running away from danger impossible.

  It had been years since she last used it, and even then, her hunting party had to do a lot of convincing. They pulled her through the cobweb-filled pass because it truly was faster than walking around or climbing over the ridge. She glanced over her shoulder at Elston, his face still taut. It would be a risk, and she would be on edge, but it would put them back on schedule. Elston loved to tell stories of the tasks he’d undertaken in the name of Rabek, and every one she could recall had been significantly more dangerous than cutting through a pass.

  Aubriel shortened her stride and fell into step beside the paladin, looking up at him with a small smile. Being around him always made her feel better. There was no one she trusted more, and not just because he protected Viget. She never thought she’d be alone with him, let alone guiding him. Just thinking about camping with him and trading secret whispers in the dark sent a rush of heat to her face. Could he see her blush? No. He was looking at the map again. Whatever its importance, he hadn’t been willing to share, and she was curious. “I know this journey has to do with the temple, but what exactly are you searching for at the end of it?”

  Elston quickly looked to her, his gaze hard. “You’re rather curious, aren’t you?”

  Her joints nearly froze at his look. She shouldn’t have pushed. “I’ve just been thinking of the different routes we can take. I may not be a paladin or cleric of Rabek, but I’m still a follower. I promised I’d lead you through this forest, and I will.”

  His face smoothed, and he smiled down at her coolly. Finally. This was the most like himself he’d been since finding the river swollen. Now was probably a bad time to mention that she was wholly unfamiliar with the land where their destination lay. She was confident she could get them to it, but she wasn’t sure exactly what they would find when they arrived. Hunting rarely required she travel that direction, and—as far as she knew—it was nothing but thick forest.

  “It would be difficult to find a follower more devoted to Rabek than you,” Elston said, his voice deep and approving.

  Pride swelled in her chest. Rabek was a generous goddess of harmony and prosperity. Their whole village paid tribute to her, as did many elves, and her paladins were especially renowned for their devotion. If Elston, the paladin who slew the manticore of the Verdant Hills with
Rabek's blessing, complimented Aubriel, it was no small praise. Aubriel had once considered becoming an acolyte in one of the goddess’s ancient temples, but her skill as a huntress kept her near home.

  “I suppose I didn’t get a chance to inform you of every detail considering the short notice I gave you,” Elston continued. “There are some things I’m not allowed to share, but I can fill a few gaps.”

  Bree frowned slightly. Something had changed, some subtle shift in his posture, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. He trusted her enough to put his safety in her hands, but he didn’t think she could keep a secret? Did he not realize she’d do anything he asked?

  “Hear me out.” His smile deepened. “I'm actually the one who confiscated this map when I was traveling through Skrengar.” At her confused look, he added, “It's a town further north, close to dwarf country.”

  “What happened?”

  “In short, the people in possession of this map were trying to steal the sacred artifact it leads to. I managed to turn them in to the local authorities, and the map was given to me for safekeeping. It was clear that if a couple of petty thieves managed to find a route to this supposed sacred artifact, there was no telling who else would try to claim it for themselves. The destination didn't seem too far from Viget, and the last thing I wanted was for treasure hunters or bandits to start roaming close to you. That’s why I hired you. And that’s why we need to keep moving as quickly as possible. We need to make sure this artifact is well hidden, and then we need to destroy the map.”

  Bree suppressed a shiver. She’d only crossed paths with bandits once, and she didn’t want to do so again. Even still, she couldn’t help but feel that Elston was holding something back. “Is the artifact dangerous? Elston, I hope you’re not thinking of doing something hasty and self-sacrificing for the good of our village. You already sacrifice so much of your time for me—um, for us as it is.”

  Elston chuckled. “I was told the artifact was powerful and not to be tampered with, but there shouldn’t be anything dangerous, no.” His gaze washed over her. “Of course, if we did run into trouble, I would take care of things. The pair I found this map on were adept with blades, and I handled them easily. Since we have the map now, I think there’s little chance we’ll run into anyone else out here.” He put a hand on her shoulder. “You know, Bree, I couldn’t do all of this without you.”

  Would her face never stop burning? She turned from his clear, copper gaze in an attempt to hide her blush. It was still difficult to believe she was alone with him, that he’d come to her for help. Elston wanted their travels to be completed as quickly as possible, but she wanted the exact opposite.

  “So the river is swollen. Is there anything else I should know about?” he asked.

  Aubriel’s pleasant thoughts broke. There was little she could do to predict the weather beyond a half-hour or so. “If there is, I’ll let you know, but the terrain shouldn’t be difficult to traverse from here on.” And even if it is, we’ll stay safe watching out for each other. This is exactly where I want to be.

  ~*~

  The forest floor—and Aubriel's nerves—became rockier as they got closer to the pass. Elston was in a foul mood, still thinking they would reach the artifact on the ninth day of travelling. She’d pushed him hard but was confident they made up at least half a day. She couldn’t wait to see his surprise when she showed him the pass and announced it would put them back on schedule.

  “Are you sure this jogging is helping us?” Elston gasped. “I trip over rocks and have to catch myself so often that I think we can’t really be saving time.”

  Bree tried not to smile. Just a little bit further.

  The path turned. The heavily wooded mountains loomed closer. They would reach the entrance in a matter of minutes. Elston huffed. “I just hope that artifact is still there by the time we arrive. It’s difficult enough to get the temple to assign me missions near Viget as it is. If I don’t return with something to show for my extended leave, it may be some time before I can come back.”

  “Have faith,” Aubriel said with a smile. “Sometimes we have to go through trials before getting our reward, don’t we?”

  Elston grunted. “We do. And we’ll see if my faith in you as a guide proves wise. There were others I considered who might have gotten me to the artifact in a more timely manner.”

  Hardly listening to what Elston was saying, Bree excitedly grabbed his wrist and pulled him into the narrow opening of the pass. Her heart sped at the touch of his skin and the narrow, shadowed walls looming before them. If she focused hard enough on how happy this would make him, she might forget her own fear. “Surprise!”

  “What is this?” Elston looked about the dank pass. “Where have you taken us?”

  “It’s a shortcut. This pass isn’t ideal, but it will get us to the artifact on day seven, just like you wanted.” Assuming nothing else gets in our way.

  Elston’s furrowed brow smoothed, and his frown broke into a smile. He actually laughed. “All that time I felt I was in a trial, but you planned this all along, didn’t you? I never should have doubted you.”

  Bree shrugged and waved as if deciding to take this pass and pushing her physical limits to get them there had been nothing. “I told you I’d get you safely through this.”

  “So you did. Well, let’s keep moving. We don’t want to lose what time we’ve gained.”

  The warm, glowing happiness was gone in an instant. She wanted more from him, but he was right, they couldn’t linger here. “Of course. Make sure to follow my steps and watch out for sharp rocks.”

  ~*~

  After a few hours of carefully stepping through the pass, Aubriel was relieved to see no fresh tracks beyond those of foxes, rabbits, and goats. Elston reprimanded her for pausing to inspect some old bear tracks as the pass widened, but she considered taking the time to ensure they weren’t recent to be worth his irritation. He might be used to thieves and bandits, but she was only too aware of how dangerous wildlife could be.

  Even considering his mood, Bree was almost beginning to feel comfortable in the pass. There weren’t as many cobwebs as there had been last time, and leading—rather than following—forced her to swallow many of her fears. The shortcut, even if it hadn’t transformed Elston back to his normal self, had done a lot to make him happy. She knew his sharp comments were a defense mechanism to mask his fear of not being able to fulfill the task given to him by the temple.

  The path turned and widened to reveal a startled wolf. Aubriel threw out her arms and inhaled sharply. The wolf, a scrawny gray creature, flattened its ears against its head and began to growl. Its sharp teeth gleamed in the dim light. Bree, you should have spent more time tracking instead of daydreaming. Now you’ve put Elston in danger.

  The sound of scraping metal met her ears. It was a moment before she realized Elston had drawn his sword. He murmured just behind her ear, “This will only take a moment. Move out of the way.”

  Not moving her arms or taking her eyes from the wolf, Bree tilted her head slightly to the side. “Wait.”

  Not hearing anything else from him, she slowly bent into a crouch and took a step closer to the wolf. It tensed and snarled but made no other move. Aubriel lowered her pack to the ground and rifled through it until her fingers closed around a few strips of dried meat. Hoping it would be enough, she pulled the rations out of her pack and held them up, drawing the wolf’s gaze. She tossed them just off the path and took a step back, staying low.

  The wolf stayed, baring its teeth at them a moment longer before lunging at the rations. Bree motioned to Elston and put a finger to her lips. She quickly and quietly moved around the busy wolf to continue down the pass, hoping not to recapture the animal’s attention. Elston’s footsteps echoed and bounced along the rock walls, making her wince.

  Aubriel didn’t take her eyes from the wolf, not even when they finally reached the opposite side of the widened pass. The wolf kept tearing at the rations as Aubriel led Elsto
n away as quickly as possible. It was nearly fifteen minutes before Elston’s sigh broke their tight silence. “I have to admit, Bree, that’s not the way I would have handled that situation, but you got us through.”

  A twinge of unhappiness pulled at her as she glanced back at Elston. She was proud of how she dealt with the wolf’s aggression. After all, they’d been the ones trespassing through its home. Sunlight peaked through the pass and warmed Bree’s face. She thought of Elston’s praise and respect for her. It felt empty.

  ~*~

  On the morning of day seven, Elston was nearly ecstatic, but Aubriel couldn’t feel more hesitant. This was the furthest she had ever been from the village in this part of the forest. Every step after they finished packing camp was a new one, and the pressure of needing to deliver Elston to his destination weighed on her. She tried to think back on the happiness she’d so easily imagined giving him only days before, but anxiety made her stomach twist.

  It’s ok, Bree. What are you so afraid of? Elston said he would protect the both of you. Of course, you might not be able to find this artifact, but if you can’t, it’s certainly not your fault. It’s not as if he’d never speak to you again.

  “Let’s go,” Elston said brightly, slinging his pack over his shoulder with ease. “It won’t be long now.”

  Aubriel secured her pack and led him forward, each step feeling heavy. Elston held the map open in his hands, glancing down at it often. Walking into this part of the forest felt much the same as wading through a lake, and before she knew it, everything before her looked the same as it did behind.

  Elston shook his head. “We must’ve gone too far. Why weren’t you paying attention?”

  Stunned, Bree opened her mouth to tell him she was paying attention only to have the swelling hill crest and reveal a dense copse tightly pressed against the sheer side of a hill. She glanced between the hill and the map. It looked like the landmark that supposedly housed the artifact. Even if it wasn’t, it was the highest point they’d seen since exiting the pass, so they might use it to get a good look at their surroundings. With a gentle sweep of her hand, she looked pointedly at Elston. “Would you still like to turn back?”