Duality (16 page)

Dara sat up, marveling at the lack of pain movement caused. She reached out a hand and Loren pulled her to her feet. Cleaned up and trance-healed, he looked different in clan garb. Less fey. More earthy and approachable. Standing this close to him, she recalled the feel of his mouth on hers, and trembled at the tingle that shot through her body. Of its own volition, her gaze dropped to his lips.

His hand tightened on her hip, drawing her closer to the warmth of his body. His eyes darkened, seeming to reflect more of the shadows than the light. “What is this spell you cast on me, lady?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” she whispered. She felt complete when he held her, which in and of itself was troubling. Never afore had she this compulsive need to be with someone. Why now? Why him? She barely knew him. But she yearned to know him better, yearned to get closer. She caught herself leaning toward him and stiffened, pulling back at the sound of approaching footsteps.

They turned and watched a broad-shouldered woman with a tanned, ageless face and alert grey eyes draw near.

“Welcome t’ Badger Clan,” the woman said. “I’m Headwoman Roisin, sister o’ Moira’s mother Fenia. Ye’ve had a hard road. I bid ye t’ stay an’ rest afore ye resume yer travels.”

Dara and Loren bowed. “Thank you, Lady Roisin,” Dara said. She glanced down at the giant black wolf padding up behind the Badger Clan leader. It regarded her with a steady intelligence in its not-quite-wolflike gaze. Her eyes traveled up to the man aside the wolf. A true warrior, she noted by his stance, war braids, scars and tattoos. But there was something in his piercing blue eyes, something reminiscent of the wolf itself. Something uncanny and wild.

“I’m Trystan, Moira’s brother. Ye’d be th’ reason he—” he nodded at Loren “— snuck off in th’ middle o’ th’ night like a will-o’-th’-wisp.”

“Time was a pressing concern.” Loren stepped forward to clasp the other man’s arm in greeting. “Well met again, Trys. You made good time.”

Some secret flashed behind Trystan’s eyes. “So’d ye. Glad yer mission was a success. Moira an’ Fenia follow with Rybyk an’ a few others.”

“Come,” Roisin said. “Let’s sit ‘round th’ fire. Niadh,” she addressed the wolf, “wolf-kin, ye may stay as ye wish.”

The black wolf curled at Trystan’s side. His coarse black fur shimmered almost silver-tipped in the firelight. Loren pulled Dara down next to him and curled an arm about her waist. She leaned into the reassuring warmth of his body and studied the two of them, Trystan and Niadh, only to find herself studied in turn. “What?” she asked.

“Moira said ye’r th’ local healer, yet ’tis a warrior I sense afore me.” Trystan cocked his head. “Why’d ye no’ heal yerself once ye were freed?”

Her cheeks flamed. “Jalad bound me with iron. That can’t be removed by healing. None of my healing or sensing will work until the curse is removed.”

Trystan’s eyes blazed into hers. “Iron holds such sway?”

“Aye.” Her gaze swept the entire group. Rolling her sleeve up, she revealed the slave brand. “I’ve as much reason to hate Jalad as any here. Count me in on any plans you make to overthrow him.”

Trystan’s jaw tightened at the sight of Dara’s brand. “How many are marked so?”

“All the surviving women. Most of the men slain, the women enslaved, and Jalad lording it over all.” Her blood boiled with suppressed fury.

His eyes turned cold and deadly. Niadh growled low in his throat, a sound more felt than heard. If her own anger was fire, Trystan’s was pure ice. Dara wondered which of the two was more dangerous.

“Wi’ th’ demon it willna be so easy,” Agata stated. “Th’ forest spirits can guide an’ strengthen our warriors, but t’ banish a demon takes more magic an’ Light than we alone can wield.”

Loren shifted. “We have mages aplenty on the other side, and our priests and priestesses are the oldest in the land. They may have some knowledge of precedence.”

“But would they help?” Roisin asked. “The elders ha’ always kept t’ their side.”

“I believe as Lady’s champion, I might convince them.”

“I’m a citizen of Riverhead and one of Moira’s people,” Dara stated. “I swore an oath to uphold and protect her. I’ve been in the castle and in Jalad’s hands. I can give an accurate report of what I heard and saw, and I can defend myself if need be.” Her mouth twisted. “This cursed iron still left me
that
.”

Trystan’s gaze held hers. “We’d go with ye, lass. Niadh an’ me. Guard yer back, yer flank. We’re no’ without power o’ our own.”

Agata stared at him. “Ye’d risk so much then, son o’ th’ wolf?”

Trystan’s jaw tightened. “I would.”

Dara reached out a hand and touched his arm. He jumped like she’d scalded him, but did not pull away. “Your time will come. But not yet. You’re needed here, to gather your warriors. To protect Moira, even from herself. You know she’d try something foolish for certain.”

Loren’s arm tightened around her. “And you know what she has at stake,” he reminded Trystan.

Niadh’s teeth closed around Trystan’s hand. Moira’s brother stared at his furred companion for a moment. His shoulders slumped. “We wait. For now.”

“Rest. Morning comes soon enough,” Roisin decreed.

“Niadh an’ me’ll set up a camp by th’ entrance,” Trystan said. “If’n we can have some wood fer our fire?”

“Certain,” the headwoman replied. “But
rest
, no’ guard.”

Trystan did not answer, but collected some wood for a small fire at the edge of the tunnel, at which he and Niadh settled.

Loren soon dozed off on his side of the fire, but Dara tossed and turned. Odd how the night was anything but quiet, even in a dark cave. She heard every little sound. She gave up and rose to her feet. She wrapped herself in Loren’s cloak and padded to the cave entrance. Niadh watched her, but Trystan’s back was to her.

Hani`ena stood outside in the dappled moonlight. Frosty air streamed from her nostrils with every breath, but the clan boy had covered her with a woolen blanket and she seemed comfortable. The mare nuzzled her when she approached.

“Are you all right?” Dara asked.

Hani`ena tossed her head and whickered.

Dara spied a couple of shadowy forms farther down the trail. Sentries, she guessed.

“Could ye no’ sleep, either?” Trystan’s rough voice asked behind her.

She turned. “Nay. Mayhaps it’s just an overflow of healing energy, but I’m twitchy.”

He nodded and dropped to the ground. “Th’ forest spirits are out on th’ wind tonight. Mayhaps ’tis them ye sense.”

“Mayhaps.” She stared down into his eyes. In the moonlight they glowed feral green, though she knew they were blue.
Must be a trick of the light
.

Trystan nodded to Hani`ena, who dropped her head and snorted back. He smiled. “No’ much scares ye, warlady, does it?” he asked the horse, as if half expecting an answer. He turned to Dara. “Nor ye, I ’spect.”

“You’d be wrong.” Dara rubbed her hands up and down her arms, stared up at the moon. “Jalad scares me. Wearing this brand for the rest of my life scares me. Demons subverting children scare me. Never getting my powers back scares me. Being alone in this world scares me.” She turned to Moira’s brother. “See? Everything scares me.”

He shook his head and rose to his feet, but did not approach. “Yer no’ alone, lady. The one ye travel with shall ne’er leave ye. As fer th’ rest, ’twould scare anyone. Most ne’er see such times, but those who do live fore’er in th’ future stories.”

“I don’t want to be a campfire story. Most of those heroes are dead, and I still live.”

“Ye’ve fire in yer belly ’twould hold off th’ dark. Why’d ye fight Jalad? Is it just personal?”

She shook her head. “Nay. He slaughtered my people. My kin. He must answer for that. If not me, then whom?”

“Long ago, guardian spirits walked among folk, wrapped in th’ guise o’ men—an’ women.” There was a faraway look in his eyes as he, too, stared at the moon. “Teachers an’ counselors mostly, but there were true-warrior spirits, as well.”

Hani`ena snorted.

“Where’d they go?” Dara asked. “We need them.”

“I’m no’ so sure they be all that far away. Some nights they be close indeed, lady.”

“I hope so, Trystan, for all our sakes.” She shivered in the cold mountain air. “I’d better go back in. I imagine your sister will be here bright and early.”

He nodded, seemingly impervious to the cold. He looked like he belonged here, in the moonlight, in the night. “I’m goin’ scoutin’, see how close they got t’night. Rybyk makes good time when he has a reason fer movin’.” He slipped off into the shadows and was gone.

Dara went back into the cave. Niadh watched her pass as she returned to the guest fire. Loren’s eyes opened as she settled back down. He held up an arm, raising the blanket in invitation. “You are freezing. Come here. I shall warm you.”

She hesitated, then found herself burrowing under the covers, into blissful, Loren-scented heat.

“Did you go outside?”

She quivered as his breath tickled her ear. “I couldn’t sleep, so I went to check on Hani`ena.”

“She is fine. You should try to rest.” He drew her more firmly against him, but made no further move. “It is a long ride tomorrow.”

Knowing she could trust him, Dara closed her eyes. Warmth and peace seeped from his body into hers. His arms held safety, an anchor against the dark. But moments later someone shook her. She opened her eyes and focused on Moira’s pale face. “Your Majesty.” Loren was gone. Dara struggled out of the mound of covers.

Moira smiled. “Dinna fash yerself now. We jus’ got here. I brought ye sommat t’ wear. Me cousin’ll show ye where ye can bathe an’ dress.”

The same woman who’d offered water yesterday showed Dara a fountain and pool fed by a hot mineral spring. The bath made her feel more alert and she dressed in the Wolf Clan plaids Moira had brought.

At the central fire, Moira sat with her mother, her aunt and old Agata. They all ate hot oat gruel with berries. Trystan brought her over a steaming bowl and spoon. “Thank you.” She smiled.

He nodded, not looking at all like he’d been up all night prowling the mountain forest. “They’re waitin’ fer ye. Loren’s jus’ checkin’ his warlady an’ he’ll be joinin’ ye.” He retreated to the warriors’ fire for his own breakfast.

Dara approached the clan women’s meeting.

Moira smiled at her and slid over. “Have a seat.”

“How’re ye feelin’ this morn?” Roisin asked.

“Better, thank you.”

Agata eyed her. “Rough night?”

“Aye.” Dara nodded. “Couldn’t sleep. Trystan told me forest spirits walked last night and mayhaps ’twas them I sensed.”

“Indeed.” Agata went silent.

“Well.” Fenia broke the silence. “Wolf an’ Badger Clans can be ready t’ march wi’in th’ week, but Trystan’ll have t’ get a message t’ th’ others. I ’spect ye can count on Bear, but th’ others—”

“This affects e’ery last one o’ them too,” Moira spat. “Where d’they think we’ll go, shoulda we fail?”

“Easy, lass,” Roisin soothed. “Th’ white warlady an’ Her champion shall bring back aid. We needs wait ’til then. All o’ us wi’ all o’ them…”

“Riverhead’s seer Xavier rode south fer Hengist,” Moira said. “What I wouldna give t’ know if he made it or no’.”

“Farseein’ be a talent in tales, no’ in life-true,” Agata said. “We live or die by our own hands.”

“True ’nough.” Fenia nodded. “Ye go wi’ him?” she asked Dara.

“Aye.” Dara polished off the last of her breakfast. “I’m stronger than I’ve been in days. I see no reason to wait.”

“Good,” Loren said behind her. “Hani`ena is ready to go. Ladies, I thank you for your hospitality.”

“Let’s ride,” Dara agreed.

Chapter Eight

Energy tingled over Dara’s skin, waking her from a half-doze. “We’re here?”

Loren’s arms tightened around her. “We just passed through the last barrier.” His body was tense.

“You shouldn’t have brought me. You told me people weren’t welcome here.”

“I did not. Stop crediting your thoughts as my words. We are expected.”

“Expected?” She leaned back against him, puzzled. Hani`ena’s head bobbed in front of them as the mare picked her way among the rocks. “How can
we
be expected?”

Hani`ena snorted, ears cocked backward. He grimaced.

Dara got an apprehensive lump in her throat, and she stiffened. “What’d she say?”

Hani`ena snapped her tail.

He squirmed. “You needs know the truth afore you meet them. I have been in direct contact with my father all this time. Not constantly, but we can contact each other at will and I have apprised him of what goes on.” He sobered. “Hopefully Granna Lorelei has a metal mage in mind familiar with iron poisoning.”

“How much do they know?” Dara kept her voice calm, but there was a hard edge she couldn’t avoid; pointless to try with an empath.

“The battle, being wounded, Jalad, demons, finding Moira.”

Dara narrowed her eyes. “What about me?”

“Life-debt, burning, iron poisoning…miss anything?”