“I find it pathetic,” Corm said, “that you have chosen to intimidate a young girl and an old man. Do you not agree, Liam?”
“I was thinking the same.” Liam quickly measured the situation. Three against two. Not impossible, but he could not change into anything that would give them an advantage, and he was unsure how much damage Corm could inflict in his hawk form. If this were to be an honorable fight, they might stand a chance, but he sensed these boys did not abide by the rules of fair play. One look around confirmed that.
Liam assessed the two standing behind Ariana. They were Shayeen. The one to the left was marked with cuts on his face and arms, his eyes red and swollen. The cat that fought with Ian. The other was thin but looked strong, and Liam was unsure which form he could assume. Yet if he and Corm could keep them distracted, they might not be able to transform.
The boy with the tattoos glared at Liam. “Take care of them,” he said through clenched teeth.
“You might want to move,” Liam said to Ariana. She leaped off the chair as Liam lunged toward the boy on the right.
***
Ally began squirming on her horse, but not because her rear end was sore. What are they doing? I just want to get out of here. But that wasn’t entirely it. Ever since Liam and Corm went inside, she kept feeling something was wrong.
Meg must have sensed it too because, before Ally could stop her, she jumped off Shilo and quietly ran to the tent. Ally slipped off Chestnut and followed.
They stood in front of the tent flap and listened. Ally heard a crash and then Corm and another boy rolled out of the tent opening, knocking her to the ground.
She landed hard on her back with an, “Argh!” Meg grabbed her arm, trying to pull her out of the way. A second later, Liam and another boy tumbled out. How did they manage to get into a fight in less than five minutes? The answer was simple. Testosterone.
Ally scrambled to her feet and noticed a third boy standing just inside the tent. He narrowed his eyes and held up his palm. “Incalca,” he whispered and then... the features of the boy wrestling with Liam began to blur.
Chapter 14
Ally blinked, and in that instant the boy changed into a… wolf? Huh? Liam freed himself from the snarling animal and began to back away. The wolf exposed sharp teeth and moved toward him.
“Incalca,” the boy whispered again.
Corm was now facing a gray lynx but he didn’t move.
“Corm! Get—” The rest of her warning remained inside. A majestic hawk took to the air. It screeched and dropped, talons outstretched, onto the lynx’s back. The cat whirled around and tried to shake him loose.
“Shayeen,” the boy in the tent muttered before he began to walk outside. Meg rushed forward and hooked his foot with her own. He fell toward the muddy ground but, rather than land on his face, he put his hands out, pushed himself back, and put his feet under him.
“Brave little girl, aren’t you?” He looked at Meg with contempt as he stood.
Ally looked at the tattoos on his face and then shifted her gaze to his eyes. The whites of them were tattooed with red shapes that moved and shifted.
Oh! What a creep!
She pulled Meg behind her. The boy looked Ally up and down, his eyes stopped at her neck. He stepped closer, a smile on his lips. “What have we here?”
Her heart began to pound and he reached toward her.
She brought her right leg back.
His fingers found her necklace.
She threw her knee between his legs.
He yanked the chain from her neck and fell to his knees. “Bitch,” he said and slowly got to his feet.
What now? Ally’s breath came in short bursts. She pushed Meg with her as she backed away. What was she going to do? She looked around, trying to find an answer, and her heart stopped. Running toward her were a wolf, a panther, and a huge white bear.
More? Her fight or flight instinct shut down and she froze. The three animals were almost on them. The panther and wolf ran toward Corm and Liam but the bear continued at Meg and her. Ally turned away and put her hands in front of her face.
“Excuse me, Ally.” She opened her eyes and took a step back. Shane was in front of her, and easily threw the boy to the ground. “Stay,” he said, his hand upon the boy’s throat.
Ally began to shake. She bent down and tried to take her necklace but it was a prisoner in the boy’s clenched fingers. “Give it back.”
Shane grabbed his wrist. “I will break this if you do not release it.”
His hand slowly opened. Ally snatched the necklace and shoved it in her pocket as her eyes returned to the freak show at her feet.
The boy glared at her. I will be back for you, he mouthed. “Alergare. Paianjen,” he said aloud, and then… he was gone.
The lynx and gray wolf broke free from Corm and Liam and they ran across the road and into the woods.
What the hell just happened? Ally struggled to breathe. Slow down or you’ll pass out. She sent the order to her brain and took long, deep breaths. “Where am I?” she asked before her knees buckled and she dropped to the ground.
“Ally… Ally… wake up.” The faces above came into focus. Shane was beside her and helped her to a sitting position, his arm around her shoulders.
“Are you all right?” Corm asked.
Tears burned behind her eyes. Corm took her hand but she pushed him away. “Please don’t.” All she wanted was to be left alone.
“I had to change back,” Shane said. “I did not want to risk hurting Ally. Where did he go? I had him by the throat. I have never seen magic like that before.”
She moved away from him. What was the matter with them? Didn’t they understand how crazy this was? She hadn’t believed Liam or Corm, yet… it was true. But hadn’t she known something was off all along… from the moment her eyes opened in the forest?
Amidst her confusion was the memory of a trip her family had taken to the Endless Caverns when she was younger. They’d walked through the underground caves and, once they reached the farthest point, their guide had turned off the lights, burying them in total darkness.
Hearing her terrified whimper, her dad had put his arm around her shoulders and whispered in her ear, “How many fingers am I holding up?”
She couldn’t see his hand. She couldn’t see anything! She was about to blurt this out when he said, “This business of sudden blindness, a failure of the sense we depend on most for survival, sends the brain sprawling. But think about it. This journey we are on every day takes us places that are certainly unfamiliar, and some days might seem very dark, but there is always a bit of light… hopefully enough to guide us through the caverns and back to the surface.”
“I miss you, Dad,” she whispered, and raised her eyes. The others were standing around her. Blood from a cut on Ian’s arm began to stain his shirt. She looked at his eyes. It was Ian who had helped Meg and her in the woods. That’s how Liam knew what happened.
Do you believe now?
Yes. But that realization caused another, every bit as frightening. Where was she, and how was she going to get home? A bus ticket, it seemed, was no longer an option.
“I appreciate what you did, Ally, stepping in to help Meg,” Liam said. He looked at his sister. “What were you thinking?”
“It serves him right! Did you see Ally? That was quite a kick!”
“It didn’t do much,” Ally said.
“It caused a distraction so he forgot about Meg,” Liam said. “It was not a wasted effort, and I am grateful.”
“What were they doing here at all?” Oisin asked.
“I think they were looking for her,” said a voice from behind Liam.
***
Ariana! Liam had nearly forgotten about her. He stepped inside the tent and shook his head. Most of the furnishings now looked like kindling for a fire. “I am sorry about this. I will replace anything that is broken.”
“That is not necessary,” Ariana said. “You have done more than enou
gh for me and my father.”
“Disrespectful brats,” her father said as Corm helped him to an unbroken chair in the far corner. “He put a spell on me so I could not speak. If they are smart, they will never show their face to me again.” He put a hand through his curly gray hair, and then to the full mustache that covered his upper lip.
“Why have you remained while the others in your caravan have moved on?” Liam asked. “The fair ended a few days ago.”
“My father was ill and not up to the trip,” Ariana said. “I insisted the others go on. Times are harsh and our living is made traveling from town to town. I thought if we waited a few days it would be easier for him… and me. The others will wait before heading to next village.”
“Tell us what happened,” Liam said.
“They did not travel on horseback, so I did not hear them. They walked in without invitation and asked if I could look into the crystal… to assist them.” She picked up a piece of glass from the floor. “But I knew the request was formality. They would not accept my refusal. I told them that I only read the cards, that I was not the type of seer they were looking for.”
“She underestimates her abilities,” her father said from the corner.
Ariana looked at him and smiled. “Even if I could help them, I would not. Caleb, the one with the tracing on his face, said he only wanted to know if there was somebody new to town, someone who did not belong. Asking transients such as ourselves that question made no sense, but he assumed I would use my powers to see. When I would not give them information, they knocked Papa down, bound his hands, and used magic so he could not speak. Imagine, three strong boys picking on a sick man. Well, two strong boys. Radik, the cat, is ill.”
“I can take care of myself, Ariana,” her father said.
“Oh Papa, I know. Then… you arrived. I could hear the one who called himself Caleb when he spotted you.” Her eyes rested on Ally. “Tell me, are you the one he is seeking?”
“I have no idea why I would be,” Ally answered. “He tried to grab me but broke this instead.” She pulled her necklace from her pocket.
Ariana held out her hand. “May I?”
Ally placed it in her palm.
“Where did you get this?”
“It belongs to my mother. She gave it to me for luck. I’m thinking it’s not really working.”
“Not necessarily,” Ariana said. “Although it is beautiful, this chain will no longer do. You need something stronger.” She walked to a trunk in the corner and returned holding a black pouch.
“Please, wear it on this.” From the pouch, she removed a length of silver.
“It’s beautiful, but I can’t accept this—”
“You must. I insist.”
Ally took it from Ariana’s fingers. “Thank you but I didn’t think silver was that strong?”
“This is very unique metal. Like you, it is stronger than it looks. It will take much for you to lose it.”
Liam glanced at Ally. She didn’t know where she was, yet there were others looking for her… those with a powerful magic uncommon in the forest? They must have followed her here. It was the only explanation that made sense.
“Have Liam measure it for you,” Ariana said, “but do not trim the excess, leave it intact.”
“Thank you,” Ally said.
Ariana turned to Liam. “They were already here… waiting for her I think.” Her words matched his thoughts. “The other two will have to leave. The Vaki will see to that. Caleb did not fight, possibly to avoid retribution. I think he will stay.”
“Enough talk,” her father said. “Introductions are in order. I am Cezar Butacu and this is my beautiful daughter, Ariana, but it appears you two have already met, ya? Where did it happen?”
“Yes, I was wondering the same,” Olivia said.
“We met at the fair. She read my cards.”
“It appears I was correct about a few things, no?” Ariana said, looking from Ally to Olivia. “But you never returned so I could give you another reading, as promised.”
Liam cleared his throat and made the introductions.
Oisin stepped forward. “I do not want you to stay here alone tonight. Allow us to help you pack so you can be on your way.”
Ariana smiled seductively. “How kind of you.”
They worked together and within a few hours, the wagon was packed. Cezar climbed into the driver’s seat.
“My new friends, until we meet again…”
“Thank you, for everything,” Ariana said. She put her hands on Oisin’s shoulders and whispered into his ear. He escorted her into the passenger seat, took her hand, and brought it to his lips.
“Liam, may I have a word?” Ariana said.
Liam walked to the front of the wagon and she leaned close. “I told you, when I realized you had the mark, the reading changed, but I suspect you are finding that out for yourself. When I see you again, you need to listen to what I have to say.”
“If our paths cross, I will welcome the opportunity.”
“They will. I am sure of it.” Her eyes shifted to Ally and stayed there. “Take care of her.”
As if I have a choice. But, he had felt more alive in the last twenty-four hours than in a long time. “I will. You have my word.”
Cezar snapped the reins and the wagon lurched forward. It had stopped raining and the sun peeked through the clouds. Could it be, after all that happened today, things were beginning to look brighter? Liam looked at the source of his newfound optimism. Ally leaned against Chestnut and, although she looked tired, something about her glowed. He walked to her. “You wanted to find Daniel Roberts. We can take you there now, if you like.”
“Unless he’s a magician, I don’t think he can help. It’s going to take more than a good set of directions to get me home.”
“We will figure this out, I promise, but we should head back.”
“Sure, whatever.” She climbed onto Chestnut.
“Where are your horses?” Meg asked Shane. “And how did you find us?”
“They are at Doc’s. We had no luck finding any information in town and were attempting to locate you. Oisin sensed something was wrong. Actually, I think we all felt it, so we took our leave and followed our collective noses. The quickest way here was through the woods.”
“I am thankful you showed up when you did,” Corm said. “I am not sure Liam and I could have held them off much longer.”
Shane looked at Ally. “From what I heard, Ally would have saved your arses.”
She returned the compliment with a blank stare.
“All right then,” Shane said and quickly walked away.
“We will meet you at Doc’s,” Ian shouted over his shoulder. He began to jog across the meadow, followed by Shane and Oisin and, in an instant, they were replaced by a panther, a wolf, and a white bear.
The ride back to town was quiet. Ally and Corm rode together and Olivia was brooding. She had not said a word since they left the meadow. Meg was the only one talking, going on about what she would write about tonight, with her new quill, in her new journal.
When Liam could speak without being heard, he turned to Olivia. “Have I done something to offend you?”
“Not purposely, I am sure,” she answered. “Today I felt… in the way. I am not used to that when I am around you. This girl, Ally,” she pointed ahead of them, “appears from nowhere, and now she is staying at your house, wearing your clothes. Her actions were terribly heroic. She put herself in danger to save Meg. But, I feel as though I let you down.” The ice in her voice began to thaw.
“You have not let me down,” he said. “If you were standing there, I know you would have done the same.” But was that the truth? Olivia was too much like… well, like a girl. She would be the one in need of saving, not the other way around.
“I am sure I would have,” she said quickly. “It is the way you looked at Ally earlier. I was… jealous.”
How could she be jealous of Ally? Here was the perfe
ct moment to tell Olivia about his hesitation. It might be less painful if she thought it was due to his affection for another. It would hurt, but she would look outward at the cause rather than at herself.
But he could not lie. “She will not come between us. I promise you that.”
“I apologize for being so emotional. Will you still come by and look at Jade?”
“Of course,” he said, but his thoughts were somewhere else.
When they arrived, Doc was surrounded by Ian, Oisin, and Shane. Their animated gestures and Doc’s shocked expression indicated they were telling him what happened. Liam dismounted and walked over.
“Liam, I knew there was something about that boy. Do you need any medical attention? Ian has refused, although I think he should allow me to stitch his arm.”
“Doc, it is only a scratch,” Ian said.
“Well, I am going to pass the word about these outsiders. We will drive them from the forest and back to where they came from.”
“Keep in mind two of them are Shayeen,” Liam replied.
“Well, they have forgotten who they are, what they represent. They should be ashamed.”
“Liam,” Ally called softly. “I’m going back to the store. I need to get a few things.”
“Allow me to accompany you,” Corm said.
***
As they rode, Ally regretted saying yes to Corm’s request. She needed to think this through. She was farther from Phoenix than she ever imagined. The shock had worn off and was replaced with unease. These boys were different, and it frightened her. What other type of magic did they possess? Could they make her disappear? At home, she wasn’t the most outgoing or the smartest, but at least she was on equal footing with those around her. Here, she was vulnerable and helpless.
She ran her tongue along her teeth. Maybe she should pick up a toothbrush… and some shampoo. And how about a loaded gun or a lethal dose of sleeping pills? I wonder if Mrs. Stearns sells either of those. She needed something to end this nightmare—now. She looked over at Corm and had to give him credit. He knew when to keep his mouth shut.
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