Free Deadly Dance: A Daath Short Story (The Daath Chronicles) by Eliza Tilton Page A

While Jeslyn and I had returned months ago, Avikar had stayed in Daath.
    I dismounted. “Morning, Sir.”
    He nodded. “Morning, Derrick. Early for you to be out this way. Everything all right?”
    “Yes, sir. I had some time before the shop opened, and wanted to see if you had any news from Avikar or Jeslyn.”
    I had been stopping by regularly so the question wasn’t completely out of character.
    Mr. Desdar’s shoulders sagged. “Still no word from Avikar. I wonder if he’ll ever return.”
    “He will. I know it. And Jeslyn?”
    This time he grumbled, standing straighter. “That girl is living a fantasy working for Harold. She belongs here with her family.”
    “I guess she’s enjoying Luna Harbor?”
    “Who knows? She hasn’t written in weeks. As soon as this last horse is trained, I’m heading south and bringing her back home. She needs to marry and stop this beading business.” He shook his head. “Sorry, Derrick …”
    “Please, Sir, it’s fine.”
    “I’m frustrated, and with Avikar gone, things are … difficult.”
    “I know. How about I take a few days off and head there? I’ll check on her, make sure everything’s okay.”
    “You can’t leave the shop now.”
    “I finished the last big order last night. It’ll be fine. Maybe some time away has helped.” I didn’t want to elaborate anymore.
    “Hmm, maybe.”
    It was no surprise Mr. Desdar was unhappy when Jeslyn refused my proposal. As a blacksmith, I had a nice station in Lakewood. I’d provide a good home and I loved her. At one point, she had loved me too.
    Mr. Desdar clamped a hand on my shoulder. “You’re a good lad. She’ll come around.”
    I prayed often that she would.



he fastest way to Luna Harbor was down the main trade route that paralleled the Great River. With soldiers and war about, the rode would be packed with both friend and foe. Keeping my cowl tight, and my great sword visible on my back, I rode the horse as hard and fast as I could without running him dead.
    Three long days it took to reach the seaside village. I had only visited the harbor once, as a boy. My father had to deliver a delicate order that he refused to send with a carrier. I remembered visiting Harold’s shop near the beginning of town. The years hadn’t done much to change the place. The windows were cluttered with more displays of beaded necklaces and sparkling bracelets, but the old wooden sign that read open matched exactly.
    I tied my horse to a rail outside and entered. “Hello?”
    A man with red hair and pale skin walked out from the back. Too young to be Jeslyn’s grandfather.
    “I’m looking for Jeslyn.”
    “Who are you?” He eyed me with caution.
    “Derrick Blackstone. Here at her father’s bidding. She hasn’t sent word home in weeks. He wanted to make sure she was okay. Is she here?”
    “I’m Beckett.” The man flipped the wooden sign to closed and waved me away from the door. “She’s been missing for weeks.”
    “And you didn’t think to tell anyone?”
    He held his hands out, urging me to lower my voice. “I returned from our last run, and they were both gone. At first, I thought Harold had left for another voyage and took Jeslyn with him. She’s been begging to go for months, but when I asked Ms. Gen—”
    “Who’s Ms. Gen?”
    “The baker. She and Harold are close. She said Jeslyn left with a boy named Edward.”
    I shook my head. If that were true, I wasted all this time. Once again, Jeslyn didn’t need saving. “I’ll let her father know.”
    “Wait. I don’t think she did, and I think something happened to Harold.” Beckett scratched his head and squinted. “After a week or two, I decided to come in here. Harold wouldn’t have let his granddaughter go off with some boy, and he wouldn’t leave the shop closed without telling me. It didn’t sit well.”
    “What do you think happened?”
    “I checked upstairs and found a small bloodstain on the floor in Jeslyn’s room. Since then, I’ve