by Frost Kay
Jas pulled her pack from her back and dug through it. She pulled out dried meat, berries, and bread, and then began distributing some of it to Blaise, Sage, and herself. It was a little hard but delicious, and before she knew it, she’d finished her small meal. She groaned as she forced herself up from her crouch and stretched her back. Blaise also stood, twisting side to side to stretch, as Jas packed everything back into her sack.
Sage tipped her back and squinted. The trees completely blocked out the sun, but dim light that surrounded them suggested that darkness wasn’t far off. Her brow furrowed. Whatever was in the draught was a miracle. All the water she drank seemed to crash down on her at once. She would be vulnerable when relieving herself.
Sage eyed Blaise. “Will you watch my back? I need to go to the bathroom.”
Blaise jerked her head toward the steam. “Go in there. It will carry your scent away.” The Scythian woman turned her back to the stream.
Jas gaped. “You’re going right here?”
Sage smiled and shrugged a shoulder. “Would you like to go into the jungle by yourself?”
Jas sobered. “Point taken.” Her friend spun around to give her privacy.
She quickly finished up and stood guard as each woman followed her example.
Blaise shouldered her pack and glanced at the brook. “We have only a few more hours of light. I would like to hide our scent and tracks, so we’ll be traveling through the stream.”
She glanced between Jas and Sage.
“The water will disguise your steps, but you still need to move quietly. We don’t want to attract any unwanted attention.”
Sage nodded and waved to her friend. “Jas, you move in the middle.”
The girl snorted. “You’re weaker than I am.”
“But I’m trained in weaponry.”
“If I only had my bow,” Jas grumbled as she fingered her dagger. “This won’t do much good. If whatever predator, whether beast or Scythian, gets this close, I’m dead.”
Sage stepped into the stream, the rocks slippery underneath her boots, and moved forward without a word. There wasn’t much to say. Jas was right. If a predator got that close, it was probable they’d die.
Her senses went on high alert as she entered the arbor that arched around the stream. It was a double-edged sword. The foliage afforded them great coverage, but it also hid danger from them. The progression was slow, which rankled her, but she understood the necessity of it, for the warlord had abilities she’d never dreamed on. Just the thought of him hunting her raised the hair on her arms.
She glanced behind her as the feeling of uneasiness intensified. Nothing but the calm stream. She faced forward, her hands clenching two daggers. Something was off. “Blaise,” she whispered.
Blaise paused and peered over her shoulder. “What?”
“Something’s not right.”
The Scythian woman frowned and scanned the area. “I hear nothing.”
Jasmine spun and stared at her. “I don’t-”
Something scaled slammed through the arbor above them, crashing into Jasmine. Shock prevented Sage’s scream as a giant snake pulled Jasmine under the shallow water with its girth. Blaise leapt onto the snake, straddling its slick green flesh. “The head,” she shouted.
Sage blurred into action, scrambling through the water. She stabbed her daggers through its skin and the head whipped up, hovering in the air with its beady eyes locked onto her. Jasmine jerked upward, coughing up water, and screamed as it coiled around her. Sage shifted to the side, the serpent mimicking her. What was she supposed to do? If she killed it, its weight would still pin Jasmine. “Blaise,” she called.
The Scythian woman stabbed again and the snake twisted and struck at her. Blaise rolled away just in time.
“What attracts it?” Sage shouted.
“Blood!”
“Jasmine?”
“Yes?” Jas croaked, her nails scrabbling at the snake coiled around her.
Sage adjusted her dagger and pressed the point to her forearm. “Get ready.” The blade bit into her skin and pain radiated from the wound. She squeezed her hand close and let the blood drip down her arm. It was like the world slowed. The snake stilled, Jasmine screamed, and Blaise froze. The serpent’s attention snapped to her and all she could see was its gem green eyes with black vertical slits. She caught Blaise’s gaze and nodded once before all hell broke loose. Time sped up as Sage spun and began sprinting along the water’s edge, keeping her focus on the ground in front of her. Everything inside her demanded she look back, but she didn’t. She kept her gaze ahead. One, two, three steps, fou-
A screech flew out of her as the serpent crashed into the back of her knees, knocking her into the stream. Sage flipped onto her back and scrambled backward as an enormous serpent head hovered above her. She swallowed back her scream and held her bloody arm out to the side. The snake locked onto it and slid forward. Its scales hissed as they scraped along the rocks. Her whole body trembled as it neared. Stars above, it could probably swallow her head whole.
She pulled in a deep breath as its heavy weight crashed onto her legs. One, two, three seconds- Blaise leapt onto the snake and slammed her sword through its skull. It thrashed for three heartbeats and then fell to the ground, unmoving. Sage scrambled back, pushing the snake off her.
“Is it dead?”
Blaise climbed off the snake and kicked it in the head. Nothing.
“It’s not coming back from that,” Blaise muttered.
Sage trembled and skirted around the snake’s carcass and ran toward Jasmine. “Jas? Jas, are you okay?”
Jasmine moaned, still pinned beneath the dead snake. Sage tried to push it off, but barely moved the cursed serpent.
“Blaise! I need your help! I can’t move it. It’s crushing her.”
The Scythian woman appeared by her side and hauled the snake off like it weighed nothing.
Jasmine’s face was white and she was panting, obviously in pain. Sage’s hands hovered over her friend, not knowing what to touch. “What’s hurt?”
She cracked her eyes, tears flowing down her face. “My ribs. Broken.”
“Swamp apples.” Sage grimaced and smoothed Jasmine’s hair from her face. “I need to find out how many.”
“Do it,” Jas said between clenched teeth.
Carefully, Sage began prodding her ribs. A sigh of relief slipped out when she finished the right side. All of them were intact. She’d counted six ribs when Jasmine cursed and cried out. Sage met Blaise’s serious, dark gaze.
“Two are broken.”
“Damn it,” Blaise growled. “That will slow us down.”
“Sorry,” Jas wheezed. “It wasn’t my plan to almost get squeezed to death and eaten today.”
A surprised chuckle burst out of Blaise. “Well, next time you should plan better.”
Sage blinked as the woman smiled at her friend. That was shocking. She was stunning when she smiled; it completely transformed her face. Blaise raised a brow at her staring.
She shook her head and mumbled a quick, “sorry,” while scanning the darkening jungle. “We need to find shelter.”
“We also need to dispose of that snake. It’s like an arrow pointed to where we’ve traveled.”
An idea struck Sage. “Would Nali eat the snake?”
Blaise grinned. “She would indeed.”
She eyed the thirty-foot snake. “Can you haul that?”
“Its weight won’t be a problem, but it will get caught on rocks.”
Sage winced at the mental picture that inspired. “How much farther until we leave the brook?”
Blaise pointed. “Only about fifty more paces.”
“Okay.”
Sage stood, her wet clothing clinging to her body, chilling her. “I’ll carry Jasmine, you get the snake.”
“I can walk,” Jas argued.
She squatted and placed her hands under Jasmine’s armpits. “Yes, you will, ‘cause you’re going to have to. Brace yourself
, though. This will hurt.”
Jasmine growled and spat curses as Sage helped her upright, wrapping an arm around her. Jas shivered, her teeth clacking together.
“Bloody hell,” Jas snarled.
“You’ll be better in no time. Only fifty paces until we leave the stream. We can do this.” Sage moved in careful steps, trying her best not to jar Jasmine while scouring the plants caging them in.
Blaise grunted behind them. “This beast stinks.” A pause. “I hate snakes.”
“I have to say, I’m with you on that one. I now hate them, as well.” Jas muttered.
Five paces till they reached a gap in the arbor, Sage stopped and pressed her finger against her lips. She propped Jasmine against the greenery and pulled her daggers from her sheaths, creeping forward. A hand touched her shoulder, halting her progress.
She met Blaise’s gaze. “Let me go ahead.”
“We go together.”
The Scythian woman studied her and nodded. Both women crept forward and peeked out into the jungle. Birds chatted their goodnight songs, but apart from that, nothing stirred. Sage jerked when a rumble came from above. Her gaze flew to the trees and a familiar pair of golden eyes peered down at her.
“Nali,” she breathed. The feline stretched and jumped from the tree to the ground, sauntering toward them.
Blaise stiffened.
Sage glanced at the woman from the corner of her eye. “What is it?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
Blaise scowled and crossed her arms, never taking her eyes from the beast. “I’m still not sure that beast’s not going to eat me.”
“Nali? She’s a lamb.”
Blaise chuckled. “You know nothing of her kind. They’re vicious man-eaters. I’ve only ever known of a handful to bond with humans.”
“Huh. Interesting.” She shrugged. “If you’re worried, I’ll let you present the snake to her. I’m sure she’ll appreciate it.”
“I’m sure.” Blaise eyed the area. “Darkness is approaching. We need to get up into a tall tree, and rest.” Her lips flattened as she stared at Jasmine. “Tomorrow will be worse for her, but we are going to have to push harder.”
“I understand,” Sage breathed.
Urgency thrummed in her veins. Each moment they dallied was another the warlord gained on them.
Blaise scuffed her boot in the soil. “Are you prepared for the next leg of our journey?”
Translation: are you prepared to die?
“I am,” Sage said solemnly, and lowered her voice. “I want you to get Jasmine out first, and then you go with her if it comes to that.”
The Scythian woman’s dark gaze met hers. “You would sacrifice yourself for me? Your enemy?”
“Hopefully, it won’t come to that, but,” Sage stepped closer and held her forearm out, “I haven’t survived this long by hoping for the best. I’m shrewd. You are our best asset if you decide to help Aermia once we arrive. I’m a symbol, nothing more. You hold real power. Your life is worth more than mine.”
Blaise studied her. “And if I don’t want any part of the coming war?”
“Then, that’s your choice.” Sage held Blaise’s stare. “But know this, women of power, honor, and courage, women like us, are never on the sidelines. We are drawn into the thick of it. I won’t force you into anything, but I predict you will be an intricate part of our kingdoms’ future.”
Blaise shook her head, a small smile on her face. “My mother was right.”
“About what?”
“The warlord cannot have you. If he did, the world would tremble at your feet.”
Sage scoffed to hide the chill that ran up her spine. “He will never have me.”
“Are you sure of that?”
All the air seemed to be pulled from Sage’s lungs. Did he possess part of her? The broken, twisted part of her whispered yes, but the sane portion understood it as manipulation. She rubbed at her chest. She felt like a war waged inside of her. But despite that battle of her emotions, she knew two truths: he was the enemy, and Tehl was her home. She had to keep that in mind.
She pushed back her shoulders and lifted her arm again. “I know what’s right. That surpasses all else. I won’t allow his tyranny to continue.”
Blaise clasped her forearm and then kissed each of her cheeks. “I believe you, Sage Blackwell. You make a fearsome queen. Your prince has no idea who he appointed to share his throne, does he?”
Sage walked over the Jasmine and helped her from the ground. “He doesn’t know the half of it.”
An infectious chuckle burst out of Blaise. “I’m sure.”
Thirty-Six
Tehl
He stood fifty paces from the crumbling Mort Wall, his quieting camp behind him. A cool breeze ruffled his hair as he examined the tall grass blades. Nothing moved, but the creaking jungle trees on the other side of the wall sent chills up his spine.
He eyed the crumbling stone barrier. The wall was a joke, really. After learning about the Scythians, something as common as stone would never keep them out if they were truly determined. So, why had they been kept apart for so long? Was it because of their radical ideas? How had the warlord kept the people complacent? It was human nature to be curious, to want to explore.
A snort escaped him. By fear, no doubt.
He was man enough to admit that the warlord gave him chills. A leviathan seemed downright docile next to the hulking man. He scanned the swaying grass, his hand resting on his sword. Where was Sage? Was she running right now? Hiding? Fighting?
“If you don’t sleep soon, you’re likely to collapse,” Lilja’s silky voice called.
Tehl turned toward the woman perched on a rock just to the right of him. She’d sat there in silence for the last few hours. His designated escort. Part of him took offense that his council assigned him an escort, but the rational part of him knew they were right. Scythians were powerful, and he needed someone equally powerful on his side to protect not just himself, but Sage as well.
“I can’t sleep,” he admitted. “My decisions repeat in my mind. I can’t help but wonder if I had done things differently, would we be in this situation?”
“I understand.” Lilja tossed a small rock into the silvery grass. “But we can’t go back, no matter how much we wish we could.”
“I know.”
Logically, he did. But emotion wasn’t logical.
“Do you have any regrets?” he found himself asking. He cringed at the personal question he’d just lobbed at her.
“Many things,” she said. “I’ve seen much sorrow in my life, but much good. I can’t regret the good things that came from the bad.”
“That was one way to—” he cut off his words as Lilja held her hand in the air.
Her magenta gaze cut to his as she slid off the rock and into a crouch. Ever so slowly, she raised her finger to her lips. His muscles tensed, his gaze scouring the area for whatever put the Sirenidae on edge. His eyes narrowed as two large shadows shifted on the other side of the wall. Shadows much too large to be Sage.
Lilja shot him a glance and held her hand up, signaling for him to stay. She slunk into the tall grass and disappeared from view without a sound. Tehl released his breath and pulled his sword from his scabbard with care. The blade slipped free with naught but a soft hiss. Yet somehow that slight noise was loud enough that the shadows creeping through the gap in the wall froze.
One heartbeat, two, and then they rushed him. He shifted his stance and braced himself. The two Scythian warriors rushed him, their movements fluid. He blinked as one disappeared into the grass with a muffled yelp. The other warrior paused, noting his fallen comrade, and that was his undoing. He also disappeared without a sound.
The hair on the back of Tehl’s neck rose as silence descended. He strained his ears, but he could hear nothing unusual. His gaze ran over the wall and the grass, searching for danger. His breath stuttered as Lilja stood from the tall grass a mere five feet away, loo
king like an avenging goddess. Her white hair haloed her exotic face that looked like it was carved from stone. It took a few times for him to find his voice.
“Are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” her lyrical voice washed over him. She turned toward the wall. “Why are you here?”
Silence. Who was she speaking to?
“Answer me. Old friend or not, I will cut you down if you mean harm.”
Only years of practice, and thanks to many of Sam’s pranks, kept him from jumping when a deep voice answered the Sirenidae.
“Lil, you always had a way with words.”
A warrior materialized from the grass to their left. He made no move in their direction, though. Instead, he lifted his hands up.
Tehl lifted his sword, but didn’t move from his spot. His eyes cut to Lilja who glared at the enemy with such anger, it inspired fear even in him.
“You didn’t answer me. What are you doing here?” Lilja repeated.
“Helping.”
“Helping,” Lilja growled. “You’re playing a very dangerous game, Blair.”
Tehl stiffened and narrowed his eyes on the man. Why was one of the warlord’s closest men on his land? And where was his wife? Lilja’s hand landed on his chest. He frowned at the arm holding him back. When had he moved? He glanced at the Sirenidae eyeing him.
“You good?” she asked.
“Yes,” he said as he planted his feet, glaring in the Scythian’s direction.
Lilja turned her attention back to Blair, waiting for him to speak. The warrior held her stare for what felt like minutes until he cursed and pushed his midnight braids from his face.
“You know I couldn’t help you.”
Lilja’s jaw clenched, but she said nothing.
Tehl glanced between the two. What was going on?
The Scythian dropped his hands and crossed his arms over his bare chest.
“You’re not being rational about this. I know you, Lil. Calm down and listen to what I have to say.”
Tehl winced. There was something he learned while living with Sage, and that was not to tell a woman to calm down when she was upset.