‘Come on, Bluebell.’ She patted the pony and tugged gently at the halter. ‘We have to make up some time.’
Beliss patted Bluebell too, and, after a moment of hesitation, the pony trotted forward. Morane paced alongside them on the small trail, urging the animal on.
Her foot slid on the slippery path. Morane cursed under her breath and slowed her step. She trod more carefully, already regretting the decision. How much time could they hope to gain by taking this dangerous route?
As Morane contemplated the question, she stepped forward and trod on an uneven tree root. Her foot slipped sideways and twisted at an angle. Pain shot through her buckling ankle and she yelped as her leg gave way. She landed hands first in the mud, the impact jarring through her shoulders, though it was nothing compared to the agony of her twisted ankle.
As she rolled to sitting, pain flared up her leg.
‘Are you alright?’ Beliss’ tiny voice drifted down.
Morane bit her lip and squeezed her eyes shut. ‘I need to rest a moment,’ she said, her voice wobbling despite her best efforts. She touched her ankle and winced, glad the dark hid the extent of the damage she’d done.
She heard Beliss slide off the pony’s back and sensed the girl crouching beside her.
‘I know you’re hurt,’ Beliss said.
Morane tried to stand but red-hot fire clawed at her foot and up her leg. She had a horrible feeling she must have broken her ankle.
‘I’ll be fine.’ She tried not to let the fear show, but panicked thoughts were running through her mind; how would they ever get to Turrak now?
Beliss touched her arm. ‘You’ve hurt your ankle; you won’t be able to walk.’
‘It might not be too bad once I’ve rested it.’
‘I can help you.’
Beliss said it so quietly that Morane wondered if she had misheard her.
‘I can heal you.’ The girl laid her hand on Morane’s ankle.
She gasped, expecting intense pain to flare through the injury, but warmth flowed from the child’s hand and it felt like a bandage wrapping around her. Morane sighed as the healing warmth travelled through her body.
All the pressure of the twisted foot vanished, and she moved it tentatively, feeling no resistance or pain.
It was better, but Beliss’ magic continued to flow through her. She realised the child was still healing her, undoing the exhaustion of their journey and beginning to undo the ravages of ages.
‘Stop.’ She broke away and Beliss collapsed next to her.
She gathered Beliss in her arms and soothed her burning forehead. ‘Thank you, my darling child, but you’ve given too much of yourself. You must learn when to stop.’
‘You were so tired, I wanted to help you,’ Beliss said sleepily.
Morane laughed; she did feel better than she had in years, but it wasn’t right. ‘It’s an astonishing gift, but promise me you’ll be more careful with your talent; you don’t know the cost of performing such healing.’
‘I will be careful.’
As they set out again, Morane could see better in the dark and felt strong enough to walk all night. Beliss dozed in the saddle, resting her head against Morane’s shoulder as the pony trotted carefully along the path.
They could still reach Turrak tomorrow night if they were lucky. The thought gave Morane the strength to carry on.
***
Tei had yet to relax; the threat of danger lurked in the back of her thoughts and grew with every mile they moved further from the safety of the mountains. It was the third morning since they’d left Turrak and still she couldn’t shake her paranoia. Some madness must have possessed her to allow Brogan to be her protector. Feeling edgy and tense, Tei looked across at her lover, longing for his touch to push away the doubts. She checked around the camp; everyone looked busy with chores.
‘I’ll get some more firewood,’ she said to whoever was listening. Then she grabbed Brogan’s arm and dragged him into the woods.
‘They didn’t need firewood,’ Brogan said, gathering some anyway.
Tei collected a few token branches as she led Brogan further from camp. In a secluded spot, she dropped them and pinned him against the nearest tree. When she kissed him he responded, but after a heady few moments, he pushed her away.
‘This isn’t right.’
‘Why?’
‘We can’t risk the others getting suspicious.’
‘Let them,’ she said, prising the sticks from his hands and letting them drop at their feet. ‘Just a few minutes.’ She pressed her body into his and wrapped her arms around his neck. She rubbed her leg between his thighs and nuzzled at his lip until he growled.
‘You’re not playing fair,’ he whispered, and then crushed her mouth with his.
She moaned as his hands roamed her body.
‘What’s going on here?’
They came apart and turned to face Hafender.
Tei smoothed down her clothes as she met Hafender’s gaze. ‘Sorry, Captain, it won’t happen again.’
‘You’re damn right it won't. The minute we get back to Turrak I’ll demand you be assigned a new protector.’
‘No, you can’t,’ Tei cried.
‘Please, Captain…’ Brogan began.
Hafender held up his hand for silence and stared them down. ‘I should have known there was a reason Tei was so keen to have you as her protector.’ He looked between them, disappointment on his face. ‘This isn’t the time to embark upon a relationship. How can you stay focused on your job if this is how you behave?’
‘Captain, we still know our duties,’ Tei said.
‘No, Tei, you’re wrong. Love has a habit of getting in the way of rational thought. Our job is to save lives, but this affair has every chance of endangering them.’
‘We aren’t naïve, Captain. I can assure you this will never happen again.’ Brogan stepped away from Tei’s side, the hardness in his tone cutting.
Hafender’s harsh expression softened. ‘I’ll overlook this one time, but you had better stick to your word. While you’re out in Kalaya under my command, this will remain nothing more than friendship. If I catch you again, it’s over.’ He paused and shook his head. ‘I must be mad; if the Elders knew I was condoning a forbidden relationship…’
‘They won’t find out, Captain,’ Tei said.
Hafender gave an exasperated groan. ‘It’s a good job I like you, Tei. And because I like you both, I’ll offer you a piece of advice; think carefully about this relationship before it goes any further, because it’s likely to bring you both heartache and pain.’ Then he turned on his heel and walked back into the trees.
Tei stared at Brogan, her chest still heaving from the shock of discovery. ‘That was embarrassing.’
He ignored her and picked up the sticks they’d dropped, and then continued to collect more.
Tei followed his lead; gathering sticks as they headed back towards camp. ‘Don’t sulk,’ she said to his back.
He stopped in his tracks and spun around, dark emotion on his face. ‘You know, Tei, maybe we are being naïve. Maybe Hafender’s right and this relationship is doomed.’
The words slammed into her like arrows, the implications as gutting as the sharpest blade. ‘You’re both wrong. A dear friend once told me that love is to be cherished and I’m beginning to see he’s right. Especially now we’re on the brink of war. Why shouldn’t we steal a little happiness? Why not follow our hearts while we still can?’
Before Brogan could answer, they heard shouts and commotion coming from the camp. Dropping the sticks, they drew their weapons and rushed back through the trees.
The first thing Tei saw as she burst through the trees was Captain Dlane sitting at their campfire with a blanket slung across his shoulders. He was bloodied and shaken and no one was getting any sense out of him.
Tei sheathed her weapon and barged her way to Captain Dlane’s side. She dropped to her knees in front of him. ‘What happened? Where’s the rest of
your group?’
He looked around wildly, trying to avoid her gaze.
‘Where’s Mara?’ she shouted.
The captain broke down, sobs racking through him.
Brogan pulled Tei away as Hafender patted the weeping man on the shoulder.
Hafender stepped back and started shouting orders at his team. ‘You two scout the area, the rest of you guard the camp.’
Hafender glanced at Tei and indicated for her to keep quiet, before he turned his attention back to the distraught captain.
‘Dlane, you have to tell us what happened,’ Hafender said softly.
Tei watched Dlane swallow hard in an effort to pull himself together. He took a deep breath. ‘We were on our way back to Turrak when we heard a man had been accused of using magic against the others in his village. He didn’t even have magic, but he was one of our allies. The moment we stepped inside Fenga Village, they ambushed us. They killed two of my team before we knew what was happening. I tried to reason with them, but they were intent on murder…’ He broke off, hanging his head.
There was silence in the clearing as everyone listened, horrified by his account.
Tei bit her lip, waiting for him to continue.
Dlane wrung his hands together and gulped. ‘I called for retreat, but we were forced to draw arms against our own people and fight our way out. I lost my horse and then I lost sight of the others. I don’t know if anyone else got away.’ His haunted eyes looked towards the horizon. ‘We’re doomed. The Assembly has turned the Kalayan people into barbarians.’
Tei felt Brogan flinch beside her.
‘Get some rest,’ Hafender said, clasping Dlane’s shoulder. He signalled for his group to follow him.
Tei took a last look at Dlane before Brogan dragged her away.
They huddled around Hafender. For once, no words were forthcoming and the captain rubbed his temple, sighing heavily as he glanced back to where Dlane cowered by himself.
Hafender shook his head, and when he looked back at them, all trace of uncertainty was gone from his eyes. ‘You heard what Dlane said. I know the need to retaliate is within us all, but we need to stay calm and focused.’
‘Captain, our friends have been murdered,’ the mystic to Tei’s right said.
She shuddered at his words and Brogan discreetly squeezed her arm in reassurance.
‘I’m aware of that,’ Hafender said through gritted teeth. ‘We’ll go to Fenga Village, but not to take revenge, only to see what happened to the others. I’ll understand if you don’t want to come with me. It’s dangerous and I can’t drag Captain Dlane back there. I need a volunteer to take him to Turrak and get word of what has happened to the Elders.’
Hafender stared at Tei and she knew he was waiting for her to accept the task. The thought of leading Brogan into danger terrified her, but then she pictured Mara. If she still lived, she’d need a friend. Tei thought of the heroes she’d known; Undren, Garrick, Rike, they would never turn away from peril… neither would she.
‘I’m coming with you, Captain.’ She surprised herself by the calmness of her voice.
Hafender looked displeased at her and the volley of agreement that followed her words.
Brogan squeezed Tei’s hand and nodded his approval.
‘I’m proud of your courage, all of you, but I still need a volunteer to take Dlane back.’ Hafender walked amongst them. He stopped next to a young mystic. The boy sagged under the weight of his mentor’s hand.
‘I know you’re as eager as the rest of us to help our fallen comrades, but the task I ask of you is still an important one. Will you do this for me?’
‘Yes, Captain,’ the lad said without hesitation, though Tei could see the disappointment in his eyes.
Hafender looked relieved and Tei realised he must have been thinking of Beneger and Jernath. She wanted to reassure the captain, but then she thought of Mara and the baby and hardened her emotions. Mara would be safe; she had to be...
Chapter Sixteen
They rode cautiously into the village, catching the occupants unawares. Hafender led the group, while the rest of them followed two abreast with their bows drawn. The few villagers they saw either stopped to gawp at the parade of nine armed riders or scattered, screaming. Most of the people had gathered in the centre of the village and didn’t notice the exiles approaching.
Tei stood in the stirrups for a better view over the heads of her fellow riders to see why the people were baying for blood.
Then she saw Mara.
Stifling a cry, she collapsed back heavily in the saddle, making Starflower snort with alarm. Tei clenched the horse harder with her legs, and nudged her forward. She stopped at the front of her group and struggled to sight her arrow while her hands shook with rage.
Mara was perched precariously on a stool, the thick rope around her neck attached to the branch of a huge oak tree that towered above them. Next to Mara, a villager attempted to noose another captive, but the mystic was too weak to stand without aid and the crowd were jeering him. There were four other exiles bound and gagged, forced to watch their friends about to be hanged.
Mara saw her. Tei thought she saw a pleading look in her eye, or maybe it was the look of goodbye.
Tei slackened the bowstring as tears blurred her aim. She took some deep breaths and adjusted her sights, aiming the arrow at the villager nearest Mara.
The murderous mob had still not seen them.
Brogan pushed forward to stand at her side and she was glad of his presence. All around her, she felt the valour of her friends as they spread out in a line to surround the villagers’ exit, their arrows trained on the people.
Tei forced her mind to a calm place and kept her bow arm steady.
The people of Fenga finally registered their arrival and the clamour died to a deathly silence as their bloodlust abated.
The unsuspecting villagers faced the sharp points of the arrows. No one moved.
Hafender broke formation and rode ahead of the group, his broadsword resting unsheathed across the pommel of his saddle. The villagers recoiled from him.
‘I demand you release these people and give us the bodies of our dead. Comply and we’ll leave in peace. There’s no need for further bloodshed today.’ Hafender’s voice rang out through the silent village.
‘You are nine, we are many…’ an angry voice shouted from within the safety of the crowd. Murmurs of agreement followed, timid at first but growing in momentum.
Hafender wielded his broadsword above his head, the blade glinting in the sunlight, transforming him into a formidable giant.
The crowd shrank away from him and the prancing hooves of his warhorse.
‘We may be nine, but we are battle trained and prepared to fight to the death. How many of you are willing to die in order to kill us?’
Hafender stared at the cowering villagers, daring someone to speak. No one did.
‘People of Fenga,’ his powerful voice resonated over them, ‘we are not your enemy, but if you continue with these wrongful actions we will retaliate, and you will all be made to suffer the consequences.’
There were no further arguments; the murderous spell hanging over Fenga Village vanished.
Tei’s fingers strained on the bowstring, her muscle so taut she was shaking. Even as they inched towards Mara, she didn’t relax.
The villager holding the wounded mystic panicked and fled. Tei watched in slow motion as the semi-conscious man stumbled and fell into Mara. He knocked the stool from under her feet before falling from sight.
Mara swung by her neck, her legs dangling inches from the ground.
Tei charged Starflower through the scattering people. She grabbed Mara and hoisted her across the saddle. The pressure of the rope lifted, but it was still pulled tight and strangling the breath from her friend.
Hafender towered over them with his broadsword, protecting them from the villagers, though no one made a move to attack.
Tei frantically tore at the knot, sc
reaming and sobbing at her useless attempts to free her friend. Mara writhed in her arms, fighting the rope cutting off her air supply.
Then strong hands pushed Tei’s useless efforts aside and deftly loosened the knot.
She looked up at Brogan, sobbing her thanks, but he’d already turned to join Hafender with his sword drawn as he prepared to defend them.
Mara rubbed at the red wound on her neck while her breath came in rapid gasps.
Tei gripped her hands, forcing Mara to look at her. ‘You’re safe now.’
Mara met her gaze, relief shining in her eyes.
Clutching her friend tightly against her with one arm, Tei grabbed for the reins of her horse. Behind her, Hafender’s protector was hauling the injured mystic up onto his horse. Another protector rushed forward to release the remaining four prisoners.
The exiles regrouped around their unarmed comrades and waited for Hafender to make the next move. He faced the crowd. ‘Bring us our dead,’ he commanded, his voice betraying little of the anger that burned in his eyes.
The crowd parted as a terrified villager led a cart towards them with three bodies piled unceremoniously inside.
Tei’s chest tightened. She watched Hafender as he glared at the villagers of Fenga, his broadsword still clasped murderously in his hand, his expression dark and deadly.
‘This is a black day in Kalaya’s history. Your actions have taken three innocent lives. We aren’t the enemy, we never have been, but now you’ve gained our hatred.’ He slammed his sword into its scabbard.
A villager led the exiles’ horses towards them. Once everyone had remounted, and the rider-less horses were paired with exiles, they waited for Hafender’s instructions.
Tei looked down at Mara as her friend sat side-saddle and sagged against her. Mara’s breathing had steadied, but her skin was pale, contrasting with the terrible red welts circling her neck.
‘Move out!’ Hafender shouted.
Forming a protective shield around the injured, they moved through the silent crowd. One of the exiles took the reins of the mule strapped to the cart. He led the way and the rest of them followed behind, while Hafender brought up the rear of their retreat.
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