Authors: Maria V. Snyder
“It did not need to be said.”
“In this case it did. She asked me to keep her location hidden, and since she’s a member of your tribe, I had to cooperate.” Technically she hadn’t asked, but he doubted she’d correct him.
Danny groaned, and Kerrick remembered the pack full of herbs. Perhaps one of them would help him heal faster. Kerrick gently laid Danny on the ground and staggered to his feet.
Rakel exited the cave. She scowled at her brother but didn’t say a word. Instead she stepped into the sunlight, closed her eyes and turned her face toward the sun. Her pale skin darkened to a honey color. After a few minutes, she strode toward Danny. When she reached the shadows, her skin glowed as if she’d swallowed a piece of the sunlight.
Kerrick intercepted her. Heat and magical energy pulsed off her.
“I will not harm him,” she said.
He moved aside. Rakel knelt next to Danny. Placing her hands on his chest, she stared at him. The glow spread over the boy. He moaned.
“Wait,” Noak said as Kerrick stepped closer.
Danny shuddered, then relaxed. When the glow faded, Rakel stood, her skin pale once more. Kerrick checked on the boy. The wound had disappeared. Not even a scar marked Danny’s stomach.
Confused, Kerrick asked Rakel, “Did you take it back?”
“She used summer’s touch to heal him,” Noak said.
“Then why didn’t she heal herself?”
“My magic only works for others.”
“Then why aren’t you helping your people? They’re sick.”
“I was in seclusion.” Rakel shot Noak a nasty, hate-filled look. “No interaction with anyone but my intended during the course of four seasons.”
Kerrick put a few clues together. “Olave abused you.”
Rakel turned to Noak. “I will not marry him.” She placed her hand on the dadao hanging from her belt.
“Father—”
“It is time for you to challenge Father, Noak, and take your rightful place over both tribes.”
Noak’s expression didn’t change.
Rakel pointed to Kerrick. “You were right about this one. I will act as second for you.”
He remained silent.
“If you won’t, then I will challenge him,” Rakel said.
“It is not how it is done.”
“Neither is bringing back a prisoner. We need to adapt, Noak. Father is old.”
“He is still strong,” Noak said. “And no one in the tribe will defy tradition and agree to be your second.”
Rakel glanced at Kerrick. Oh, no.
“Will you be my second?” she asked. When he hesitated, she added, “If I am successful, I will release you and your boy. You will be free.”
“And if you’re not successful?” Kerrick asked.
“Then you both die,” Noak said.
CHAPTER 19
Noelle lay on my bed, sweating and shivering as the Death Lily toxin poisoned her. At least she hadn’t died right away, so there was hope she’d survive. Not much, as only ten percent lived. Tohon left me to watch her die, taking Sepp with him. My four dead bodyguards remained crowded inside my small room.
Pacing, I considered my meager options. I couldn’t heal her, which was why the healers at the Guild had been experimenting with the toxin—to find a cure. And I couldn’t bear to see her suffer. Guilt squeezed my chest. All this was my fault.
What if she died? I stopped. She couldn’t. I wouldn’t allow it. But what could I do? I could take her to a Peace Lily. Provided I was able to slip past my bodyguards, escape the manor house and break through the encirclement. Almost impossible to do on my own, but add in one sick girl and we wouldn’t get far.
I sat on the edge of Flea’s bed and put my head in my hands. If she died... No. Surging to my feet, I continued to pace. There must be a way. I just needed to think harder. My foot kicked something. I glanced down and halted. The syringe.
A plan formed. Not a very good one, but it was better than doing nothing. I checked on Noelle, mopping her brow and helping her to lean forward to sip water.
She clutched my sleeve. “Avry...”
“Shhh. Save your strength. I need—”
“They’re waiting for you.” Her body convulsed, and she curled into a ball.
“I know. Tohon—”
“East. Go east. Leave me.”
“No way, little shadow.”
“Stupid.”
“I disagree. Now I need to fetch a few things before it’s full dark. Rest, I’ll be back.”
My bodyguards followed me to the infirmary. I pulled Christina aside and asked her to sit with Noelle. When she left, I found Sergeant Enric. He played cards with a private from Halberd Company, keeping the boy occupied.
“Enric, can I talk to you a moment?” I asked.
“Sure.” He tossed the deck to the boy. “Shuffle them good, Bronson. I’m tired of losing.”
We stepped out of hearing range of the other patients.
“I need your help,” I said. “I—”
“Sure, anything.”
“I didn’t even explain. And it’s dangerous.”
“I’ll take action over inaction no matter how dangerous it is.”
I told Enric my plan.
He glanced at the dead soldiers waiting by the door. “What about your new friends?”
“I’ll take care of them. Are you in?”
“Yes.”
I grabbed a few supplies and headed up to Estrid’s suite, trailing my guards. Hoping Tohon hadn’t returned, I slipped inside. The servants were lighting the lanterns as I dashed to the bedroom, grabbed my pack and hurried back down to my room.
Christina jumped when I entered. The four dead crowded in behind me.
“How’s she doing?” I asked.
“Sleeping now,” she whispered. “But she was vomiting.” Christina pointed to the floor next to Noelle. “I brought in a few more clean bedpans for when she wakes. Does she have the plague?” Fear laced her voice.
“No. She has a stomach flu.” The plague symptoms closely matched the toxin’s. Except the plague’s victims lived longer—about eleven days, compared to an average of seven for the Death Lily’s. “Thanks for staying with her.” I escorted her out.
I placed my supplies from the infirmary on the night table and then dug through my knapsack. Unable to find what I was looking for, I upended my pack, spilling the contents on Flea’s bed. Frantic, I searched.
“Looking for this?” Tohon asked.
He stood in the doorway, holding a Death Lily toxin sack. Or to be more exact,
my
sack.
“You made this one easy, my dear.” Tohon strode over to the bed, gazing down at Noelle. “The Lilys make two sacks per flower. So if you gave Ryne three of them, then there has to be one left. And sure enough...” He tossed it into the air and caught it. “I found it in your bag, and I knew you’d want to use it on your special companions.”
Tohon turned to me. Behind him Noelle stirred, sitting up. I kept my gaze on him.
“However, not all your schemes will be this easy. So, I’m afraid—”
He staggered forward as a loud clang echoed. Noelle had hit him over the head with a bedpan. I rushed forward and caught him. He looked at me with a dazed expression. Taking advantage, I found the spot on the back of his neck and zapped him before he could counter me. Tohon collapsed.
Dumping him on the ground, I yanked the toxin sack from his hand and swiped the syringe off the night table. One of the dead soldiers wrapped his arms around my waist, picking me up. His buddy grabbed my legs.
Noelle brandished the bedpan as the other two advanced on her. I shoved the needle into the sack and drew toxin, then pricked my captor.
Nothing happened.
A clang sounded as Noelle’s bedpan connected. I tried to fight, but the two held me tight, and soon Noelle was captured, as well.
As they headed to the door, the man I’d pricked lurched once, then collapsed. A horrible stench filled the room. But I didn’t hesitate to stab the dead holding my ankles. The other two recognized I was the bigger threat and dropped Noelle to come after me. Noelle reclaimed her bedpan, distracting them just enough so I could inject them.
We ducked and dodged, trying to keep out of reach long enough for the toxin to work. Once they fell over, Noelle and I grinned at each other, panting in the foul air.
“Way to go,” I said.
“Not too bad yourself.” She paled. “Ewww! I’m going to be...” Noelle heaved over the bedpan. When she recovered, she pointed to Tohon. “How long will he be out?”
“Not long. His life magic will counteract mine soon.”
“Kill him before he wakes.”
I balked at first. I was a healer, not a killer. However, killing him would save thousands of lives. I glanced around, looking for a weapon.
The door burst open, and Tohon’s guards rushed in. They paused in horror, gagging on the fetid stench. Without thinking, I tackled the man closest to me, knocking him down into the hallway. I wrapped my hands around his neck and zapped him before he could shove me off.
Grabbing his dagger, I spun in time to see the other guard advance. He had pulled his sword. I threw the knife, embedding the blade in the man’s stomach. With a gasp, he fell to his knees.
The sound of drumming boots echoed to my right. Enric raced down the corridor with Private Bronson right behind him.
“There’s a bunch of guards looking for Tohon. They’re in the infirmary, so we need to leave right now,” Enric said.
I yelled for Noelle. She stepped over the man slumped in the threshold, carrying my pack. She set it down next to me as Enric stripped the guards of all their weapons. He handed a sword to Bronson.
Before I could protest, Enric said, “He knows how to use it. We need him.” Voices and the pounding of boots emanated from around the corner.
“Go!” Enric pulled me to my feet.
We ran, dashing into the stairwell near my room. I led them downstairs and out a back entrance of the manor house.
“Which way?” Enric asked when we reached the fresh air.
Farm fields stretched out in all directions. Not much cover, but since the moon hadn’t risen we wouldn’t be as visible.
I glanced at Noelle. Bronson supported her since she hadn’t been able to keep up.
“East?”
She nodded. East also offered the quickest route to the forest. Where we’d find concealment, but then we’d have to deal with the encirclement. I dug into my pack—Noelle had shoved everything back in. I found two syringes and filled them with toxin. I handed one to Enric.
“East it is,” I said.
Enric took point, followed by Noelle and Bronson, then me. We bolted for the woods. I expected to hear sounds of pursuit any second, but we reached the woods without incident.
We stopped for a minute. Noelle needed to rest. Moving away from the group, I listened to the forest, seeking those off notes and telltale noises. A light breeze rustled the trees, but nothing else indicated intruders.
I sniffed the air. Were we close to the encirclement? The sweet scent of moist earth rode the air currents. I inhaled, filling my nose with the comforting aroma. Automatically I touched the leaves on a nearby bush, but no magic tingled under my fingertips. Grief burned deep inside me at the thought I’d never feel Kerrick’s magic again.
Returning to the others, I outlined our next move. “Once we reach the dead, just keep moving. Enric and I will inject them.” I gestured toward his weapon belt. “Give me the daggers.” He passed them over, and I treated each of the blades with the toxin. Then I squirted a few drops on Enric and Bronson’s sword tips before refilling the syringe.
I handed one of the knives to Noelle. “Just in case the dead get close to you.”
“Do you know how to use it?” Bronson asked her.
“Oh, yes,” I answered for her, grinning. “She’s quite capable. And she swings a mean bedpan, too.”
A howl sliced the silence, followed by another. The distant sound sent a shudder down my spine.
“That’s our cue to leave,” I said. “You two stay close to me and Enric.”
With me in the lead, we headed deeper into the woods. After a few more steps, the ground under our feet rumbled. Tremors rolled along the soles of my feet.
“Don’t stop,” Enric ordered.
Shadows stood up around us. The hiss of dirt rained to the ground. The clang of a sword meeting another sounded as Enric parried a thrust. I’d forgotten Tohon had armed his dead.
Bronson shoved Noelle at me so he could fight. “Go, go, go!” he yelled, countering a swing and dodging another with the grace of a much older soldier.
Noelle wrapped her arm around my shoulder. I dragged her forward. One of the dead charged right at us. I pushed Noelle to the ground as I spun, avoiding the point of a knife. Jabbing his arm with my needle, I injected the toxin.
But he didn’t stop, and I cursed the delay. It might just be the death of us. He stabbed again, cutting my upper arm. I backpedaled, moving out of his reach just before he toppled to the ground.
“Keep moving,” Enric shouted.
However, the dead surrounded us like bees defending their hive. All I could do was stand over Noelle as another dead soldier attacked me. This one was a woman, and her blade pierced my left shoulder as I nicked her with my knife. Pain shot down my arm. She yanked the sword out and drew back for another strike.
I braced for the thrust. She stumbled and went down but was immediately replaced by another. I held my hands up in the universal sign for surrender. The dead man paused.
Voices called behind the line of dead. And in a flash, living soldiers joined the fray. Since they fought the dead, I didn’t bother to ask any questions. Tucking my dagger back into my belt, I helped Noelle to her feet and wove around the clumps of fighters, pricking the dead whenever I had the chance.
When we broke through the encirclement, I slowed. But two men waved us on, guarding our backs. We kept moving even when the sounds of fighting died. My shoulder burned, Enric had a nasty cut on his cheek and I’d lost sight of Bronson. Enric just shook his head sadly when I asked about the private.
The moon had risen, and dim light shone through the trees. Our escorts/rescuers wore leather armor over civilian clothes, so I had no idea who they worked for. I counted ten of them—six men and four women. They didn’t talk but signaled each other from time to time, which meant they’ve been together for a while. However, they didn’t know how to walk in the woods without making noise.