Prince Kyn frowned and pushed Nora out the door. Cameel, on his knees, called after them, begging for her pullers. How pathetic. Didn’t he realize that the power wasn’t from the pullers, but from who handled them? But Nora, heart racing and hands bound, was even more pathetic than Cameel as she was pulled out of the canteen toward her frightening fate.
Chapter Twelve
Dagger Fight
“Let’s get her to the inn,” said Ivin as they left the canteen behind them. Nora seemed to deflate, and Kyn saw Ivin looking at her sympathetically.
Ivin introduced himself as they walked down the street. “I’m Sir Ivin,” he said. “We don’t intend to harm you.”
Nora awkwardly lifted her bound hands as if to say she didn’t believe him.
If Kyn’s nose wasn’t hurting so much, he might have tried to win Nora over himself, but he ached too much to be charming.
“I have a daughter about your age,” Ivin continued. “I’m sure she would be terrified in this situation, but I assure you that we will get you safely back to the palace.” Ivin cleared his throat. “We are just taking you to the Rose Crest Inn to gather our belongings and to get a compress for the prince’s nose.”
“I’m sorry I hit you, Your Highness,” Nora said softly.
“Which time are you sorry for? Kicking me in the palace? Hitting me with your knapsack in the canteen? Breaking my nose with a mug?”
Nora hung her head. “I’m sorry, Your Highness,” she simply repeated.
“You make it sound like some little thing,” growled Kyn. “I’ve never been hit in the face. Not in all my years of training.”
Ivin stifled a smile. Kyn glared at him and tugged Nora around some abandoned carts even though it would serve her right to walk into them. Still, he could be the bigger person here.
“Do you know what the law says about striking a royal?” Kyn continued. “You could spend your life in prison or have your hand chopped off.”
Nora gasped.
“No need to scare the child,” Ivin said.
Kyn rolled his eyes. “She’s not a child.”
The three of them turned off the busy street to a more residential area. The homes were bigger and were made from pink corden stone. Ten more minutes’ walk to the inn, and then Kyn could get some relief for his nose. He breathed through his mouth, trying to exhale the pain. His nose might never look the same, but at least his mission was going to be successful. He would bring Nora back to where this had all started. Had she really just been in the kitchen for her sister? What did that even mean?
“What’s wrong with your sister?” he asked a little gruffly, breaking the silence.
“Excuse me, sire?”
“Your little sister. As you were escaping the palace, your brother mentioned that you were just trying to help your little sister.”
Nora’s head sank and she looked at the ground. “She’s never been able to walk, Your Highness.”
“And you thought you would steal some of our Ballutite for her?”
“I didn’t think of it as stealing. I thought of it as one small pull.”
“And that’s why we’re all here,” said Kyn, gesturing to the empty, bush-lined street. “Your one small pull left that stone decimated. Our concoctor, Lyli, says she’s never seen a stone break down like that from just one pull.”
“Really?” Nora frowned. “I had no idea. I didn’t mean to destroy it. I would never do that on purpose.”
Kyn shook his head. He would leave it to his father and Lyli to find out if she was being truthful. His job, delivering her, was almost done. If they rode through the night, they’d make it back to the palace before daylight.
They approached the end of the street, and the inn came into view.
“Here we are, miss,” said Ivin kindly. “You’ll have a moment to rest before we get our pacs and leave for the tunnel.”
“Prince Kyn,” called a haughty voice from behind them.
Kyn whipped his head around. Oskal Dolmark and two Dolmarkian soldiers were running up the road toward them.
“Prince Oskal,” Kyn acknowledged dryly.
Kyn had known Prince Oskal since boyhood and had nothing but disdain for him. Prince Oskal didn’t care about anything except power and position. He was self-centered with a decided streak of cruelty. How strange that he would show up at such a time.
Kyn gripped Nora’s rope tighter. “To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit in my kingdom?”
“I’m here for that red-headed concoctor,” grunted Oskal. “Hand her over and there will be no blood shed. You’re outnumbered.”
Concoctor? Was she a concoctor? How would Oskal know anything about Nora?
Ivin stepped up next to Kyn.
“She’s our prisoner. She’s on our land,” Kyn told Oskal. “You dare demand that we turn her over while you stand on Liardian soil? What claim could you possibly have on her?”
Kyn stared down Prince Oskal. This was the type of incident that could trigger a war. What made Oskal think Nora was worth the risk?
The Dolmarkian prince and his soldiers drew their daggers. Kyn tensed. Daggers? This wasn’t going to end well. He could still hand Nora over, and the Dolmarkians would leave without a fight. It was three against two. It wouldn’t be a fair fight. The taller of the soldiers was huge, and the shorter one was clearly all muscle. And Dolmarkians were known to be good with daggers. Was his life or Ivin’s worth completing this mission? The few townspeople on the street quickly dispersed.
“Give her up,” repeated Oskal.
Kyn turned to look at Nora. She was shaking. Ivin gave Kyn a little nod, showing his support for whatever Kyn decided. Kyn felt anything but brave, but he knew he couldn’t just hand Nora over to the Dolmarkians and live with himself afterward. He released his grip on the rope and pushed Nora to the side of the road. Even if she was a thief, he didn’t want to see her get hurt. He drew his dagger and turned to face his enemy.
Ivin jumped in front of Nora, an effective barrier between her and the Dolmarkians, as Oskal yelled, “Tarek, with me. Jan, get Prince Kyn.”
The shorter soldier, Jan, lunged toward Kyn while Prince Oskal and Tarek ran toward Ivin.
Instinct and years of training kicked in. Kyn stepped into a fighting stance and parried a thrust from Jan.
Kyn could hear grunts as Oskal and Tarek fought Ivin. Focus. Don’t look. His attention needed to be on Jan, the snarling soldier who was trying to stab him. Kyn attacked, his body moving in a flow of instincts and years of ingrained muscle memory. Thrust, parry, thrust, parry, lunge. Kyn gained ground until Jan was backed up against a gate, peaceful wildflowers ironically peeping through.
“Kyn!” yelled Ivin. “Poison daggers.”
“Watch out!” screamed a townsman as Jan lunged toward Kyn again.
Kyn grunted. A small nick from a poisoned dagger, and you were dead. No, he wouldn’t allow them to win in such a despicable way. He roared and lunged forward. Dropping his own dagger, he tackled the Dolmarkian soldier and pinned him to the ground. Jan tried to jab his dagger into Kyn’s shoulder, but fury lent Kyn strength. Kyn seized Jan’s arm and pounded his wrist against the stone pavement until he screamed and dropped the poisoned dagger.
Kyn picked up the fallen dagger and pointed the weapon at his enemy. Sure enough, there was a shiny, white liquid all along the edge. Kyn used his knee to pin the soldier to the ground and quickly placed the dagger at Jan’s throat. They both gasped for breath.
“Please don’t cut me,” Jan pled, fear in every line of his face. “The poison. It’s a death sentence.”
Kyn had never held a man’s life in his hands. Jan’s eyes were pulled open with terror, the whites showing all around. The man deserved to die the poisoned death he would have given Kyn. What would his father do? No doubt he would kill the Dolmarkian. Kyn drew his arm up,
clutching the poison dagger and braced his knees against the stone pavers of the road. Jan closed his eyes. With a quick motion, Kyn threw the poisoned dagger down and made a sharp move with his fist, striking Jan in the face. He didn’t want to kill the soldier, but he needed to end this fight and help Ivin, who was still fighting two men. Jan struggled, trying to free himself. Kyn struck him in the face again. It made a sickening sound. Jan’s head slumped to the road, and he lay motionless.
Kyn sprang to his feet, his heart racing. Ivin battled valiantly against Prince Oskal and Tarek. Ivin swung his dagger ferociously, keeping the men with their poisonous weapons away. Kyn grabbed Jan’s poisoned dagger from the road and ran toward the fight, just as the two Dolmarkians lunged at Ivin in a coordinated attack.
Ivin turned to Tarek and stabbed him in the chest. Tarek collapsed as if in slow motion, but Prince Oskal seized the moment.
“Ivin!” screamed Kyn.
Prince Oskal sliced the air with his dagger, catching Ivin’s arm.
“No!”
Ivin held his arm, blood seeping through his uniform. Prince Oskal scrambled back, breathing hard. He looked down at Jan’s dagger in Kyn’s hands.
“I will crush you,” Prince Oskal said, glaring at Kyn and backing away.
He turned and fled, leaving Tarek and Jan behind.
Kyn rushed to Ivin, who had collapsed. Dropping the poisoned dagger, Kyn knelt next to him. He pulled back the sleeve of Ivin’s tunic and inhaled sharply at the sight of the wound. The cut was about three inches long. It wasn’t deep, but little bubbles of white poison were already frothing in the gash.
“Water!” Kyn screamed. “And a healer. Water, bring me water.”
Voices seemed to float over Kyn as he cradled Ivin. The street dimmed, and the only thing Kyn could see or hear was the injured soldier. Someone brought Kyn a flask, and he quickly dumped the water over Ivin’s wound.
“More! Bring me more.”
Scurrying footsteps sounded across the road. Someone brought more water.
Ivin’s face was distorted in agony, his hand clutching his arm. His legs thrashed, and he groaned. Kyn dumped flasks of water over the wound until he couldn’t see any more bubbles. That had to be good, right?
Kyn touched Ivin’s cheek gently. “What do you need?” he asked.
Ivin moaned and spoke through gritted teeth. “I fear there is nothing to be done.”
“No. We’ll find a way to make this right. Do not give up.”
A tall woman approached. “Your Highness, I’m a healer. May I take a look?” she asked.
Kyn took a step back. “This is my fault,” he said. “He was just trying to help me. He doesn’t deserve to die.” Kyn couldn’t see with the flow of tears.
“Steady now, Prince Kyn,” the woman said. “I don’t know how to stop the poison, but I can ease his pain. Be strong for him, soldier.”
Soldier? Kyn gulped down his sobs. He didn’t want to be a soldier. He didn’t want any part of this kind of life. He didn’t want to have enemies, to watch another person get stabbed, and he certainly never wanted to go on another mission. Who cared if Nora could concoct? It wasn’t worth all of this.
Nora. Where was she? Kyn looked back down the road where he had pushed her. She was gone. He had failed in every way.
Ivin’s face had gone unnaturally pale. This was all wrong. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Kyn clenched his fists. The Dolmarkians would pay.
Kyn knelt across from the healer. “Tell me what to do,” he said, choking back his regrets. Ivin was his focus now.
Chapter Thirteen
Parting
Nora ran away from the inn as fast as she could, but her arms were still tied behind her back, and she struggled to maintain her balance on the uneven stone pavers. A few townspeople stared, but no one tried to stop her as she fled. Out of breath, she finally came to a halt in a deserted back alley.
She could run faster if her hands were freed. That sharp rock would work. Nora couldn’t see the makeshift rope, but she could feel it getting thinner as she scraped it against the rock. Almost there.
Her breathing grew steadier, her panic lessened, and questions began to push their way into her head. How long would Sir Ivin have before the poison killed him? Why had Prince Oskal called her a concoctor? Why had the Dolmarkians thought she was worth killing for?
One more strong tug, and Prince Kyn’s sash around her wrists snapped. Nora shook her hands out and rubbed her knee. She’d hit it pretty hard when the prince had shoved her. Why had he and Sir Ivin protected her? How could she possibly have been worth Sir Ivin’s life? She was just a peasant.
She looked around the corner. Clear. She would stay in the shadows and get to the tunnel node as quickly as possible. Nora darted out, her sandals slapping against the stone as she ran. Would Limar and Beck still be there? Had they waited to see if she made it back? She ran faster with the small hope that they were waiting.
As Nora reached the hillside where the tunnel node lay, she slowed down and caught her breath, looking around for any sign of the boys. Clove Node appeared, encircled by random clusters of pale gray rocks. Nora leaned up against a large boulder and scanned the slope. While she was looking, she heard something distinctly in her head.
He needs you.
A clear picture of Sir Ivin came to her. He was lying on a bed moaning, and Prince Kyn was offering him water.
He’ll die without your help.
Nora shook her head. The fatigue of the run must be setting in.
Another picture came to her—an image of herself in Palace Liard’s kitchen.
No. She thought. I have to go home to Dani.
She ran forward, pushing the images from her head. “Limar, Beck,” she yelled. “Are you here?”
The boys emerged from behind some rocks. “Nora!” Beck called. “You made it.”
Limar ran to Nora and gave her a big hug. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his hair.
Beck grinned. “I can’t believe you escaped.”
“I knew she would,” said Limar with his usual confidence. “Nora’s tough.”
“No.” Nora rubbed her wrists. “I got lucky.”
“We should pay the gateman and go before anyone follows,” Beck said.
Nora looked at the giant entrance to the tunnel. The gateman would be waiting just inside. She inhaled deeply.
“What’s wrong?” Limar asked.
Nora looked back at him. Her heart thumped wildly. “Something happened right before I escaped.”
Limar stared at her and wrinkled his forehead. Beck also turned to look at her, his face full of confusion.
“After we left the canteen?” Beck asked.
Nora nodded and took another deep breath, trying to calm herself and center her thoughts. “Prince Kyn was taking me to an inn when Prince Oskal and the two soldiers from the tunnel showed up.”
“You saw the Dolmarkians again?” Beck’s eyes looked like they were going to pop out.
“They were looking for me.”
“Why would they be looking for you?” Limar asked.
“Somehow, they heard about my abilities with the stones.”
“Your cooking power?” Beck asked.
“It’s more than that. Prince Oskal called me a concoctor. They want to take me back to House Dolmark.”
“Don’t concoctors have to be noble?”
“I’m not sure. Either way, I must have called too much attention to myself,” Nora said.
“But how do the Dolmarkians even know about you?” he asked.
Nora shook her head. “I don’t know. Prince Kyn certainly didn’t tell them. He fought for me.” Her voice cracked on the word me.
Both boys stared at her. The silent tunnels seemed to be listening too.
Finally
, Limar broke the tension. “The important thing is that we still have the revar for Dani. We should get going before they find us.”
Nora made no movement. She exhaled slowly. “Prince Kyn saved me from the Dolmarkians by shoving me away from the fight. He and his soldier, Sir Ivin, were trying to protect me.” She blinked hard, the memory still fresh. “Ivin was cut with a poison dagger. I saw him fall.”
Would the images and sounds of that battle ever leave her brain? The soldier named Tarek lying dead, a pool of blood flowing over the stone pavers, the sound of Sir Ivin’s groans.
Nora shook her head. “Sir Ivin shielded me from Prince Oskal. I feel like I owe him something.”
“No,” said Limar firmly. “Don’t even think about it.”
“I could save him.”
“You don’t know that,” insisted Limar. “And besides, the Liard’s concoctor can make something for the soldier.”
“It wouldn’t be strong enough.”
“He can’t have Dani’s,” said Limar.
“Of course not,” said Nora. “The stone gave it for Dani. That’s why it’s so powerful.”
Limar looked at her for a long moment. “Nora?”
Nora took a deep breath and stared at the boulders lining the entrance to the tunnel. The rocks seemed to be waiting patiently for her to come to the right decision.
“I feel like . . . I’m supposed to go with Prince Kyn and Sir Ivin to the palace. I can’t explain it.”
“No!” cried Limar. He gripped his knapsack with white knuckles. “We need you.”
The sun was setting behind the earth-vapor, seemingly sinking into the inky, black nothing. But the last of the sun’s rays gave the rock around the tunnel a beautiful, purple glow.
“You can do it,” she told Limar. “You two are the most capable boys I know.”
“I’m not leaving without you,” said Limar, jutting out his chin.
Nora and Limar stared at each other in a battle of wills.
Limar’s voice softened. “You can’t go, Nora. Please.”
Nora and the Sacred Stones Page 8