Taste of Darkness

by Maria V. Snyder

  “How bad is it?” he asked.

  With the energy he’d already shared, I no longer gasped for breath. My left lung functioned normally, but the right was still punctured. And my ribs... Pretty bad. “I don’t want you to deplete your strength—”

  “That’s not what I asked.”

  “On my own, I’d need a week to heal.”

  Kerrick stretched out next to me, pulling me close. “Good thing you’re not alone.”

  His magic soaked into me. The pain eased and I relaxed, falling asleep in his arms.

  * * *

  The snuffling of a large creature woke me. Darkness surrounded us. The fire had died. I drew in a deep breath. My right lung no longer wheezed, but my ribs protested the motion with tweaks of pain. Better than the fire that had stabbed deep with every movement.

  A soft whinny sounded close by. Confused, I scanned the surroundings as my eyes adjusted to the dim moonlight. A black horse-shaped shadow pawed at the ground near Kerrick, who didn’t wake at the slight noise. The stubborn man had poured every ounce of strength into helping me.

  Disentangling myself, I stood and returned to my normal coloring. The horse didn’t shy away. I recognized him as the large russet male Kerrick and I had ridden on the way to Chinska Mare. Had he followed Kerrick? A couple feed bags sat by the fire ring. Kerrick must have kept him.

  “What’s the matter, boy? Are you hungry?”

  The horse bobbed his head. Taking that as a yes, I opened a feed bag and held it while the horse munched. When it was empty, I dropped it next to the others and noticed my pack. I stared at it in amazement. How did it get here? Had I carried it with me despite my injuries?

  I sorted through the contents. My boots, travel clothes, and a few other necessities like soap remained inside. The desire to bathe pulsed through me with a sudden intensity. Stiff with dried blood, mud, and sewage, my tattered robe resembled a discarded rag. My skin itched and muck caked my hair.

  Reluctant to wake Kerrick, I turned to the horse. He seemed intelligent and hadn’t run off despite the ruckus. “Water?” I asked.

  The horse glanced at Kerrick, then walked away. Slinging my pack over my shoulder, I followed him, hoping he wasn’t heading to the aqueduct. Moving almost without sound, he led me to a clean spring. He dipped his head and drank. I waited until he’d finished before ripping off my clothes and wading into the cold, waist-deep water.

  An ugly red gash marked where Jael’s sword had punctured me. Deep purple-and-red bruises spread out from the injury. Careful of my ribs, I sat down and dunked my head, then scrubbed every inch of my body twice. I considered a third rinse, but my teeth chattered and my hands were numb.

  I climbed from the pool. The horse watched me as I squeezed the water from my hair then shook off as much as I could.

  “Thanks,” I said to the horse.

  “Humph.”

  Was that... No. “Kerrick?”

  He appeared next to the horse, looking drained. “Imagine how I felt when I woke up and discovered my horse had stolen my girl.”

  I laughed. “I’m sorry, Kerrick, but it was love at first sight.”

  “I can understand that. I’m loving what I’m seeing right now.” He leered.

  Oh. I grabbed my travel clothes from my pack. Before I could put them on, he closed the distance between us.

  “Not so fast.” Kerrick kissed me.

  I warmed immediately, wrapping my arms around him. But a familiar foul odor intruded and his stiff shirt scratched my skin. I broke away. He’d gotten dirty carrying me.

  “What?” he asked.

  “You stink.”

  He glanced down. “It’s my only shirt.”

  I dug through my pack, producing his other shirt. “No it isn’t.”

  “Ah. I wondered where that had gotten to.”

  “I was keeping it safe for you.”

  “Mighty nice of you.” He cocked his head to the side. “How about a deal? I’ll get washed up if you join me?”

  Tempting, very tempting. “Do we have time? We have to meet the others.”

  Kerrick glanced at the horse. “Hux is fast, but with two of us... Ah, hell.” He kicked off his boots and pulled off his soiled shirt and pants.

  “Hux? You named the horse?”

  “Yeah. Avry, meet Huxley.”

  Huxley snorted and moved closer.

  “Hello.” I scratched him behind the ears. “What happened to your reluctance to having a big noisy creature around?”

  Kerrick grabbed my soap and plopped into the pool. “I’ve been training Hux how to be quiet.”

  Huxley nudged me with his nose, pushing me closer to Kerrick. Then he headed deeper into the forest.

  “Hux thinks we have some extra time,” Kerrick said, laughing. “We’re not going to get another chance for a while.” He splashed me. “Come on in, the water’s—”

  “Cold.” I shivered, but joined him.

  “No worries, my love. I’ll warm you up in no time.”

  One of the things I loved about Kerrick—he kept his promises.

  * * *

  I had to admit, Hux’s ability to move through the forest with hardly a sound was impressive. Even with two people on his back, he galloped as if we weighed nothing. However, every jolt reminded me of my broken ribs. We’d been on the road for a day and, according to Kerrick, we’d traveled at an angle, which was how we’d arrived at the border a few hours before the women.

  “They have to keep to the paths,” he explained. “The briars would rip their legs to shreds.”

  About to ask why Hux didn’t have any trouble, I realized the answer. Kerrick’s forest magic. He made full use of his power as we waited for the women. Leaving me next to a bonfire, he took Hux hunting and returned with two stags. I helped him butcher the animals and threaded thin ribbons of meat onto twigs to cook.

  When the women arrived, they were grateful for the fire and the food. They took turns standing close to the flames, warming up. Everyone looked worn out, including Kerrick. He’d eaten and then disappeared.

  Flea, Ives, Odd, and the monkeys found a spot to plop. I joined them.

  “Any problems?” I asked.

  “Just the usual,” Loren said. “Cold nights, hungry women, blisters, and lots of whining from Quain.”

  No response from Quain. He leaned his head back on a tree trunk with his eyes closed.

  “Estrid’s troops?” I asked.

  “Our change in direction gave us a little more time,” Odd said. “But they’re about half a day behind us, and finding us won’t be a problem. We’ve left a gigantic trail.”

  “Where’s Kerrick?” Flea asked.

  “Resting, I hope. He’s beyond exhausted,” I said.

  Flea met my gaze. “Do you think I could...”

  “You don’t look any better, Flea.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s a different kind of...tired.”

  True. Expending magical energy was unlike using physical energy, but there was a hard limit to both. “You can try, but don’t go overboard like Kerrick does.”

  Flea stood and scanned the trees. “Where...”

  “Just look for Huxley...the horse. He stays close to Kerrick.”

  No one commented—more proof they’d all sapped their strength.

  “Now what?” Odd asked.

  Loren gestured to the clumps of women. “Once we cross the border and find the ladies some decent clothes, they should break up into smaller groups and disperse to the other realms.”

  “Will Estrid’s troops chase them over the border?” I asked.

  “Depends on how pissed she is,” Odd said. “Technically she’s not allowed, but since the plague...”

  All bets were off.

 
I gazed at the quiet women. They resembled a brown carpet spread along the forest floor. Fydelia moved among them, talking and checking on their cuts and bruises. Melina stayed with the wounded, whom I’d been neglecting. Grunting in pain, I stood, intent on helping.

  Fydelia noticed me and came over. “Avry, I want to thank you for—”

  I held up my hand. “Still not out of the woods yet.”

  She smiled at the pun. “We won’t go back without a fight.”

  “We’re thinking you’ll need to separate into small groups of five or six at some point,” Loren said. “You can all disperse back to your lives.”

  “Oh, no,” Fydelia said. “We won’t be doing that. We’re trained soldiers. Avry told us about Prince Ryne and his efforts. We plan to fight for him.”

  Shocked, I gazed at her. “All of you?”

  “At least ninety percent. A few are older, and the years in the monastery affected others.” She tapped her temple.

  “That’s generous,” Loren said.

  “It’s logical. What’s the point in going home? If Cellina’s army wins, or that Skeleton King, we all suffer the consequences. Better to not let that happen.”

  “I wish Estrid believed that,” I said.

  Quain had opened his eyes while Fydelia talked. His brow wrinkled as he pursed his lips. “Do you think Prince Ryne would welcome us back now?”

  “Oh, yes. With open arms,” Loren said.

  “Do we want to go back?” he asked.

  “It’s not a matter of desire. It’s like Fydelia said, logic. He needs us, and he’s going to be very happy to have twenty-three hundred more soldiers,” I said.

  “Maybe he won’t argue with you anymore,” Quain said.

  “I doubt it,” Kerrick said.

  He and Flea joined us. The dark smudges under Kerrick’s eyes were lighter and he moved with his usual grace. Flea must have successfully shared his energy. Flea’s bangs covered his eyes. I studied him, seeking signs of fatigue. He hunched his shoulders and plopped next to Quain.

  “Why?” Quain asked Kerrick.

  “They have different views. He’ll do what needs to be done for us to win the war, even if that means sacrificing squads. Avry’s more focused on the individual.”

  “If that was true, we’d be sitting here with just Melina,” Loren said.

  “We set out to save Melina because of Avry. She had no idea this would happen,” Kerrick said.

  “I don’t care why you came,” Fydelia said. “I’m just happy you did. We owe our freedom to Avry.”

  “No. You owe it to yourselves. If you hadn’t kept training, you’d still be inside the monastery,” I said.

  “Yes, yes. You’re all wonderful,” Odd said. “However, we do have a company of soldiers on our tail and probably should get moving.”

  The monkeys and Flea looked at Kerrick.

  “One hundred and sixty-two soldiers.”

  “Find us more swords and we’ll take care of them,” Fydelia said with confidence.

  “Best to outsmart them for now,” Kerrick said.

  I recognized the glint in his eyes. “You have a plan?”

  “Yes. I’ll hide your tracks and plant a false one for the soldiers to follow.”

  “That’s a big job,” Odd said. “Think you can pull it off?”

  Kerrick didn’t answer.

  “If Kerrick says he can, then he can,” Loren said.

  Quain smiled. “Yeah, he’s king of the weeds now.”

  Instead of throwing an acorn at Quain, Kerrick’s expression turned queasy. I suspected there was something he hadn’t told us.

  * * *

  The guards stationed outside the infirmary blocked our way. They pointed their swords at me, Kerrick, and the monkeys. The bulk of the women stayed behind with the others and Huxley. Kerrick’s trick with the tracks had worked long enough to give us a nice lead. And once we’d crossed through Tobory and into Pomyt, Estrid’s soldiers abandoned the chase. With stops for provisions and sleep, the trip to the infirmary had taken us a total of twenty days.

  “We’ve orders from Prince Ryne to arrest you on sight,” a sergeant said.

  Quain laughed. “You can try.”

  “Easy,” Kerrick said.

  “Where is Prince Ryne?” I asked.

  The sergeant puffed out his chest in indignation. “You are traitors. We will not divulge his location to you.”

  “Uh-huh. Did he return to HQ?” I asked.

  But the sergeant would not be deterred. He yanked out a pair of manacles and his squad followed suit.

  “How many of those do you have with you?” Quain asked.

  “Enough for all of you.”

  “Are you sure?” Quain whistled.

  The bushes rustled and a hundred armed women surrounded us.

  “You want to answer that question again?” Quain smirked.

  * * *

  “Two thousand, three hundred and forty-six,” Ryne repeated in disbelief.

  Haggard, thin, and haunted, Ryne appeared to have had a rough time of it since we’d left over a month ago. Guilt for leaving tweaked in my chest until I remembered our argument.

  “Are we still traitors, Ryne?” I asked.

  “Careful how you answer,” Kerrick warned him.

  We sat around a campfire outside the infirmary with the monkeys and Flea. Fydelia remained in the infirmary with Odd. Ryne had just arrived. He rode in on the horse that had carried the soldier with the message that we’d returned. It took a total of six days, and we’d all rested in the meantime. Although Kerrick still moved as if a deep weariness had soaked into his bones. I worried he was getting sick, but he was quick to wave off my concerns as soon as I’d voiced them.

  I’d also checked on the patients and found they’d been well taken care of in my absence. But what had upset me the most were the four cases of the new plague. Ginger and Christina had isolated them, and had been careful to wash their hands after treating them. However, I wouldn’t let my caregivers risk getting sick now that I’d returned. I couldn’t heal them, but I could ease their suffering with various herbs. Although seeing them had been a painful reminder of my horrible mistake.

  Yuri had accompanied Ryne to HQ. It made sense for him to be there, but an uneasiness drifted in my chest. I still felt he was my responsibility.

  Without any clouds to obscure the stars, the night air had cooled fast and there would be frost on the ground by morning. The official start to winter was nine days away.

  “Yeah. Don’t piss us off, or we’ll take our girls and go,” Quain said to Ryne.

  Kerrick shot him a look, but Quain kept his smug expression.

  “No, you’re not traitors,” Ryne said. “I regretted my harsh words after you left. However, I still believe your decision to go was unfounded and reckless.”

  “Even after we’ve given you two thousand, three hundred and forty-six reasons that it was well worth the effort?” I asked.

  “Are you telling me you knew this would happen?” Ryne challenged.

  “No. And I’ll admit there were times...” I shuddered at the memory of kneeling for hours “...that I agreed with you.”

  “And I should learn to trust your instincts. Shall we call a truce?” Ryne asked.

  “Agreed.” I shook his hand.

  “Aww, nuts. Avry, you should have gloated some more,” Quain said.

  We all ignored him. Flea poked at the fire with a stick. Bright sparks spiraled up into the air. He’d been extraquiet ever since we returned from Chinska Mare.

  “How’s the war going?” Kerrick asked Ryne.

  “Aside from a few skirmishes along the border, it’s not.”

  “Isn’t that a good thing?” Loren asked.
/>   “You would think so, but Cellina’s up to something big. Our scouts who returned from Vyg have reported seeing fewer living soldiers than there should be, and more activity from the squads of dead soldiers, which is the opposite of how it’s been these past few months. She also pulled her troops from Zabin. Which makes me wonder where her soldiers are going.”

  “Any ideas?” Kerrick asked.

  “Nope.”

  They exchanged a significant glance. My heart squeezed as I realized Kerrick would offer to scout for Ryne. Maybe not tonight, but soon. And while I understood the need, I already missed and worried about him.

  “Any word about Belen?” I asked.

  “Nothing, sorry. But lots of reports on the Skeleton King,” Ryne said.

  Now it was Quain and Loren’s turn to exchange a look. This one was full of horror.

  “We ran into him when we were searching for a healer,” Loren said.

  “That’s one sick bastard,” Quain said.

  “His army is on the move. And he sent me another message.” Ryne rubbed a hand over his face.

  Oh, no. “Another bitten and tattooed soldier?”

  “Worse. He sent me a box of bones with a letter. The bones belonged to two of my scouts that had gone missing. He taunted me, saying to stop with the sweeps and scouts, to bring my army to Sectven Realm because his troops were hungry for a fight.”

  “Wait, I thought he was down in Ryazan Realm?” I asked.

  “Not anymore. He’s invaded half of Sectven Realm.”

  I leaped to my feet. “Sectven! Mom lives there. And we just rescued Melina.”

  KERRICK

  Kerrick understood Avry’s concern. He felt it, too. Mom meant a great deal to him. And from the worried expressions on Flea’s and the monkeys’ faces, they cared for her, as well.

  He grasped Avry’s hand before she could rush off to organize a rescue party. Pulling, Kerrick tried to get her to sit back down next to him.

  She resisted. “We need to warn Mom.”

  Ryne opened his mouth to respond, but Kerrick shot him a let-me-handle-this look.

  “It’s Mom, Avry,” Kerrick said. “She has her sources of information. She probably knows more about the situation than we do right now. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she hasn’t already cleared out of her inn and has traveled somewhere safe.”