Authors: Maria V. Snyder
“It is a...kindness to kill.” Noak let that sink in, before adding, “If you don’t help, you will wish to be dead.”
Kerrick’s back burned with remembered pain. Estrid’s men had whipped him, trying to get him to divulge Avry’s location. It hadn’t worked then, and it sure as hell wouldn’t work now. He stared at the man, refusing to be intimidated.
Another spark of amusement flashed in those ice-blue eyes. “I like a challenge, Magic Man.” He squeezed.
A bone-aching, teeth-chattering chill raced through Kerrick’s body. His muscles stiffened into immobility as his extremities burned with cold. Kerrick’s heartbeat slowed, and taking a breath required an immense effort, as if icicles had formed inside his lungs.
Noak released him, but Kerrick remained frozen.
“Winter’s Curse. You understand?” Noak asked.
“No.” Kerrick forced the word out.
“Slow cold death. So slow winter’ll be here and gone before you. Cold like fire, consuming you as you turn to ice from the inside out. Your magic gone.” Noak poked him in the chest. “Nothing like it.”
Noak gestured to the two men standing next to Kerrick. They removed his bindings, dragged him over to a tree, sat him down and, even though he couldn’t move, they secured his wrists behind the tree’s trunk. The metal pinched his skin. And he noted that the pain felt greater than it should.
Squatting next to him, Noak said, “We hunt what is left of your—” he half smiled “—army. When I return, you will help.”
By the time Kerrick could say the word
no,
the leader had strode away. A brief spark of worry for his soldiers gave him a momentary distraction, but soon the bite of cold deep in his body made the pain from his other cuts and bruises fade to nonexistence. He would have yelled if he had the breath. Instead he fought the slow suffocation with sips of air.
It didn’t take long for Kerrick to agree with Noak. This was a torture like no other. Being whipped seemed pleasant in comparison. And the thought it would continue for months almost sent him over the edge. But he refused to give in. He concentrated on Avry, recalling her kind sea-green eyes, her stubborn pout that he loved but would never admit to her, and her determination.
He wondered if her touch would break this curse. But would she be dying a slow, cold death in his place? He didn’t know enough about Noak’s magic to answer that question. Either way, he’d never endanger her.
As the hours, days, maybe even weeks passed, Kerrick’s existence shrank to the cold misery feasting on him and the endless effort to draw a breath. When a familiar pair of snufa-skinned boots came into his limited view, Kerrick didn’t know if he could refuse Noak again.
The tribe’s leader knelt next to him. “Ready to cooperate?”
Kerrick’s body screamed in agreement, but he couldn’t betray his people. “No.” Through frozen lips, the word was barely a whisper.
Noak met Kerrick’s gaze. He nodded as if he’d been expecting that answer, then glanced to his right and gestured.
Shuffles of feet and a muffled shout reached Kerrick before two tribesmen carried a squirming bundle into sight. Bound and gagged, Danny’s expression showed more anger than fear.
“How about now?” Noak asked.
CHAPTER 11
The dead soldiers had completely disappeared. We had spent the rest of that day and most of the next searching for them, or for signs of their passage in the forest. Nothing.
When the sun touched the horizon, Thea said, “That’s enough. Time to report back to the major, and let him decide what to make of it.”
As we hiked toward Zabin, Flea stayed by my side, asking questions. Well aware that Thea and Saul could hear, I deflected the ones that I thought Jael shouldn’t know about.
We had been away for six days, and it took us another two days to reach the outskirts of Estrid’s main army. Two days without encountering anyone—friend or foe. But as soon as we heard a patrol around midafternoon on the third day and determined it was one of ours, Thea flagged them down.
They hadn’t seen any of Tohon’s troops in this quadrant, but a couple of his patrols had attacked their lines to the southwest, drawing Estrid’s men to that area. Thea warned them of a possible ambush, then we moved on.
She stopped a couple more patrols before we arrived at the rather tranquil base. Most of the buzz was over the skirmishes to the southwest. The soldiers thought Tohon was testing their response since the clashes hadn’t lasted long before Tohon’s soldiers retreated. While Thea and Saul reported to Major Granvil, I headed straight for Ryne’s tent with Flea in tow.
I burst through the tent flaps with a huge smile on my face, but the place was empty. Flea yawned—it had been a long day.
“Stay here, and I’ll see where everyone’s at,” I said.
Flea plopped onto Ryne’s cot near the back of the tent and was soon fast asleep. I hesitated at the tent’s entrance, afraid to leave him alone. I wondered if it was just my nurturing instinct or something deeper. Examining my feelings, I felt this odd attachment to Flea that went beyond friendship. Like that of a mother bear—fiercely protective. Was it due to his death or because we shared a bond since we’d both been revived by a Peace Lily?
Had Kerrick felt this way when we parted? He’d seen me without life. And then I’d walked away, claiming it was for the best. Not nice—almost cruel. Had he suspected the real reason I’d ran? Did I?
I glanced at Flea. He looked so young and peaceful. No nightmares disturbed his sleep, unlike with me. Most nights Tohon visited my dreams. Most nights Tohon’s kiss lingered long after I woke breathless with desire. His touch so vivid, I worried my dreams of him would erase my memories of lying with Kerrick.
Pulling the sheet over Flea, I tucked him in. Even though I knew he was safe, I just couldn’t leave.
I settled in one of the chairs and waited. My thoughts returned to past decisions and mistakes. Had Tohon claimed me? Is that why I dreamed of him every night?
Familiar voices woke me from a light doze. Night had fallen, and Quain carried a lantern. He held it high in one hand and clutched a sword in the other as he entered the tent. I called to him to avoid being skewered.
Quain’s defensive posture didn’t relax. “What are you doing here?”
Equally armed, Loren slid in behind him, followed by Ryne. Of the three, only Ryne appeared happy to see me. And in that moment, it hit me.
“Quain, I’m sorry,” I said.
Caught completely off guard, he just stared at me.
“You’re right. I didn’t trust you. Any of you. Because I’m terrified,” I said.
“Of what?” Ryne asked, stepping closer.
I drew in a deep breath and then the words gushed forth. “Of being captured by Tohon again. Scared of what he’d do to me. Not of being tortured or even being experimented on, but losing myself. Also if he found out about Kerrick and me...” I swallowed. The thought of Tohon’s wrath shook me to my core. “I can’t resist his life magic. The contract I signed was the only reason he didn’t press his advantage before. Next time, there won’t be negotiations. I’d rather die again than be his.”
The three men gaped at me as if uncertain what to make of my confession.
But for me, once I’d said the words aloud, admitting my fears, I felt much better. Odd. And I realized I couldn’t hide forever. I’d let the fear drive me away from Kerrick, and he might be killed fighting the tribes. I vowed, if I got another chance, I wouldn’t let Kerrick out of my sight.
Quain sheathed his sword, handed the lantern to Loren and pulled me into a Belen-sized hug. Loren put the light down and wrapped his arms around us both, making an Avry sandwich.
“Don’t worry about Tohon, Avry,” Loren said. “We’ll protect you.”
“He’s not getting near you,” Quain said. “You’ll be safe with us.”
I let myself believe them as I leaned my forehead against Quain’s shoulder.
“Avry died, too?” Flea asked. “When did that happen?”
In a flash, I was tossed aside as the monkeys whooped and pounced on Flea.
“Why didn’t you tell us? Was he hiding, too?” Quain demanded.
I explained how I found Flea.
“Wait. A Death Lily
told
you to go there? Is no one else suspicious?” Quain asked.
“I asked it to help me with the Peace Lilys, and it sent me there. I’m not complaining.”
After another round of hugs and slaps on the back, Loren introduced Flea to Ryne since they hadn’t met. The prince shook his hand and thanked him for helping to save him. Flea stammered and gave him one of his lopsided grins.
And then I remembered what else the Lily had given me. I fished them from my pack and held them out.
“What are those?” Ryne asked.
“The Death Lily’s poison sacks.”
Loren and Quain shrank away, but Ryne picked one up and examined it in the lantern light.
“That’s interesting,” Ryne said. “Why would it give them to you?”
“I don’t know,” I said.
“Maybe it wants us to inject it into Jael,” Quain said.
“I’d second that,” Flea said. “I missed a lot of cool stuff because of her.”
We glanced at each other.
Cool
wasn’t the word I’d use to describe the past six months.
“What do we know about this?” Ryne asked, holding up a sack.
“It kills people and its own plants if you pour it around the base of the Lily’s stem,” I said.
“But it doesn’t kill everyone,” Ryne said. “Healers survived the poison, and Danny and Zila.”
“Maybe there is another use for the toxin,” I suggested. “Maybe it wants us to figure it out.” I remembered when Tohon had injected the toxin into me. My consciousness had floated above my body, which was similar to being inside a Death Lily, but when Tohon had touched me, I’d merged with his thoughts. I’d wondered if he had used the toxin to create his dead soldiers but had dismissed the theory since he froze the dead bodies in a magical stasis so they didn’t rot. Perhaps I’d been too hasty.
“Here.” Ryne handed it back to me. “I’ll let you figure it out.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“Tell me what else you learned while you were gone,” Ryne said.
I filled him in on the disappearing troops.
Ryne stared at the wall for a long moment before declaring, “We have five days to prepare.”
“To prepare for what?” Quain asked.
“For war.”
“Why five days? He could attack tonight,” Loren said.
“That’s midsummer’s day,” Ryne said as if we should all know the significance of that day. When no one commented, he continued. “When we were in school, that was always the last day before our annual break. And the last-year students always crown their elected king on that date, during graduation.”
Now it made sense. Tohon had wanted to be king but hadn’t been elected, and now he was determined to be king of the Fifteen Realms.
“Estrid’s forces have been training for months. Are they strong enough to stop him?” I asked.
“I’m not sure,” Ryne said.
“You don’t
know?
” I asked. “You’re supposed to be a military genius!” My voice turned shrill.
Ryne put his hands on my shoulders and leaned close, capturing my full attention. “Jael commands this army. They are loyal to her and to Estrid. Not me. I have four hundred soldiers and that’s it. I can only give advice. Plus Jael hasn’t confided her real plans to me. She’s been feeding me the same bull she’s been telling her mother-in-law.”
“What about your troops?” I asked.
“When Tohon attacks, they’ll be in the forest divided into small tactical units.”
“Like your elite squads you used to help Kerrick in Alga?”
“Yes. They’ll harry Tohon’s soldiers with quick, short strikes. I wanted to divide all of Estrid’s forces into squads because I don’t think we can win using more traditional warfare methods.”
“But what about the dead soldiers?” Loren asked. “None of your elites returned from scouting missions in Sogra.”
Ryne released me from his piercing gaze to glance at Loren. “We were unaware of Tohon’s abominations then.”
“But they have neck armor now,” I said.
“My troops have been training to deal with that. Estrid still isn’t convinced.”
Alarmed, I asked, “Haven’t Belen and Ursan returned?”
“It’s only been ten days,” Ryne said. He squeezed my shoulders as if consoling me, then let go.
We had five days until Tohon attacked. “Tell me what you’re doing, and I’ll start training my squads.”
Ryne raised an eyebrow. “
Your
squads?”
“Sergeant Irina’s squads. I’m sure she’ll help.”
He promised to send one of his men over in the morning to demonstrate the technique.
Once again I hesitated before leaving. Flea stood between Loren and Quain. “Do you have an extra cot for him?” I asked.
“Yes,” Ryne said.
“You’ll need to find him some clothes that fit, and—”
“We’ll take care of him,” Ryne said.
I pointed at the monkeys, getting their attention. “Don’t let him out of your sight. Understand?”
“Hey,” Flea said. “I can take care of myself.”
We all ignored him.
“Yes, Sergeant,” Loren said, smiling.
“Good.” I nodded.
As I left, Quain said, “She said
I
was right, Loren. Did you hear her?”
“I don’t recall.”
“Liar, you just don’t...”
Their bickering faded as I strode through the camp, heading toward my tent. If only Belen and Kerrick were here, it would be perfect. Until Tohon attacked. With that sobering thought, I sought out Thea. She talked to a group of lieutenants, and by their intense gazes I guessed she discussed the disappearing soldiers.
I hovered on the edges, hoping to catch her eye. She noticed me and waved me over.
“Sergeant Irina estimated over two hundred in a squad,” Thea said, including me in the conversation.
The others looked doubtful.
I made a quick decision. “Prince Ryne is pretty confident Tohon will attack on midsummer’s day.” Before they could dismiss the news as hearsay, I continued, “We’ll need special training to counter them. All your squads that are not on patrol are to report to the main training area in the morning.”