Ansel snapped out of his daze, shaking his head. He walked over to Oona and stared down at her. “What do you mean?”
“Check in my pocket,” Oona said with a coy smile. “You’ll find a scroll from the Magi. He’s promised a complete pardon if you return to Stonehollow.”
Mara snorted. “I doubt it. The Order isn’t known for their mercy,” she said, spitting the last word like it tasted sour. She had attacked a Magi. Attacked and killed disciples. No, they wouldn’t give her anything other than a swift death. This had to be a trap.
“See for yourself,” Oona said. Wynn reached inside her tunic and pulled out a scroll. She handed it over to Steel who unrolled it and scanned the message. His expression darkened with each word.
Steel looked up, his eyes tight and his words clipped. “What she says is true, Mara. It appears as though the pardon is authentic for the both of you.”
Mara wanted to tell Oona just where she could stick her pardon, but one look at Ansel made her hesitate. He beamed with such hope that it took her breath away. Did he really want to go home that much? She grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the group so they could speak privately.
“This changes nothing.”
“The scroll changes everything, Mara!” He grasped her shoulders, lowering his face so it was level with hers. “We can go home. Don’t you want to see your parents again?”
She took a step away, crossing her arms. “Of course I want to see them again, but how do we know this isn’t a trick? The second we set foot in Stonehollow, they’ll slap us in chains. You heard the disciples outside of the Keep. I doubt Ethan is even in Stonehollow anymore.”
“What if it’s not a trick? You’re Gifted now! You could have a whole future.”
“And what about Steel and the others? Are we really going to leave them?”
“We don’t even know them! Why throw away this opportunity for a bunch of strangers? Don’t be stupid, Mara.”
Didn’t he know how much she missed home? Missed her mother’s comforting voice and home-cooked meals. Missed her father sitting by the fire with a book in his lap, eager to hear about her day? She felt it constantly, like a dull ache behind her ribs. But in the end, it didn’t matter. “The opportunity for what? To go back home and have my whole life dictated for me? Where to live and whom to marry? And you’re forgetting the biggest issue, Ansel. Why do I have a Gift? No…” She shook her head, taking a step away. “There’s too much left for me out here and I’m not going to get answers back in Stonehollow. I’m staying, with or without you.”
Ansel jerked back as though she had slapped him, hurt flashing across his face. “You’re making a huge mistake.”
“If that’s the case, then go ahead. Run home with Oona like a good little dog.”
“Oona has nothing to do with this!”
“Then you’re a bigger fool than I thought. What do you think will happen, hmm? You’re betrothed to that witch. Just because another option has come along, it doesn’t mean you’re free. They’ll still make you marry her.”
He turned green at the thought. “They can’t force me.”
Mara let out a mirthless laugh. “Of course they can. Do you think you’re the first groom they’ve had to drag to the altar? The elders don’t care about your feelings in an arranged marriage! All they care about is breeding more perfect little Gifted children. You know what? I can’t do this right now. Make your choice and live with it.”
With that, she spun on her heel and stormed back to where the group waited. Did he really think the Order would leave her alone to live in peace? Her very existence defied everything they’d been taught. Gifts couldn’t awaken without a Magi; everybody knew that. But maybe that was the point, and they wanted to keep her in a cage to study her abnormality? No way the Order would let her go free.
Oona stood between Steel and Mikkal, smirking as though she had won. Mara’s eyes narrowed. What was her stake in all of this, other than getting her claws back in Ansel? There had been tragic situations before, where a bride or groom died before their wedding day. The elders allowed a few days of mourning before transferring the betrothal to another Gifted. Mara had assumed that would be the case here, but maybe she was wrong? Or maybe Oona planned on killing Mara on the trip back. Well, the joke’s on her.
Wynn stiffened as Mara approached, her eyes wary. Did she expect Mara to leave? Tova sat on a boulder, shredding a stick with her fingernails. Mikkal tilted his head to appraise her, the lines around his eyes growing deeper. And even though Steel kept his face neutral, Mara could sense waves of tension simmering just below the surface. They didn’t want her to leave, she realized, and her heart warmed. For the first time, she felt like she belonged.
She stopped a few feet away, feeling suddenly shy. “If you’ll let me, I’d like to stay with you.”
As one, they released their captive breaths and smiled broadly at her.
Wynn walked up to Mara and clapped her on the back so hard she thought she’d fall over. “Thought for sure ya was gonna leave us back there. Guess I was wrong about ya. Maybe yer not as bad as I thought?”
“Umm… thank you?” At least, Mara thought that was a compliment.
“Pah, don’t let it go to yer head. I’ll prolly decide to kill ya tomorrow.”
“And what about Ansel?” Steel asked quietly. “What has he decided?”
Mara shook her head, sadness bleeding into her voice. “I don’t know.”
Before their argument, Mara was positive that Ansel would choose to stay. But now? She’d yelled at him! They’d never fought like that before and she blinked back tears. He’d leave for sure, and it was her fault. She wanted him to stay. No, she needed him to stay. After everything they’d been through, he’d become her rock.
Obviously, she wouldn’t blame him if he chose to go home. It was his life. In the long run, Ansel needed to do what was best for him. Even if it meant marrying Oona.
Well, no. She wouldn’t wish that fate on her worst enemy.
The sun began to set, casting long shadows over the rugged landscape. Mara had bitten her nails down to the quick, growing more nervous as time went on. Finally, he emerged, stone-faced, refusing to look in Mara’s direction. Her stomach bottomed out. This was it. He was going back to Stonehollow.
Ansel marched over to where Oona stood. She smirked, jutting her chest out and placing a cocky hand on her hip. “Oona, thank you for your offer, and for the obvious trouble it took you to find us. But I’m sorry. I’m going to stay with Mara.”
Mara’s heart burst with joy. He was going to stay?
Oona’s confident facade crumbled, her face reflecting shock, then anger. “You’re staying with her? What about us?”
Wynn sidled up to Mara, balancing a dirk on her finger. “That one squawks too much. Ya sure ya don’t want me to kill her?”
Mara inclined her head, grinning. “Tempting, but watching this is way more satisfying.”
“If ya say so.” She shrugged and walked off to help Steel and Mikkal get the horses. They’d already wasted enough time as it was. Now that Mara knew Ansel was coming with them, she was anxious to get going.
“I can’t believe you’re choosing her!” Oona screeched, tears falling down her face. Her falcon, Zeke let out a mournful screech, circling once overhead before landing on her shoulder.
“I’m not choosing her.” Ansel set his jaw and a vein pulsed in his neck. “Even if we went back to Stonehollow, I would never marry you. Just leave, and forget you ever knew me.” With that, he stomped away, leaving her gaping in disbelief.
Oona’s face crumpled as her promised future was snatched away. Their eyes met— Oona’s were so full of hatred that Mara took a step back, chills racing down her spine. Mara knew that even though Ansel had made his choice, she would always be blamed.
Ansel returned, leading Dumpling by the bridle, refusing to meet her eyes. Without a word, they mounted their horses and set off through the rocky terrain. Mara took one last look b
ack. Oona stood, clutching her midsection, watching them leave. She looked scared and uncertain, like a lost child. Mara refused to feel sorry for her, turning ahead to focus on their journey.
They rode through the night and well into the next day. Wind had eroded away the grass and dirt long ago, leaving only a layer of brittle shale that stretched as far as she could see. The horses picked their way carefully on the shifting stones. When they crested the top of a hill, Mara gasped at the sight. A sea of endless sand extended all the way to the horizon, undulating in golden waves. Sparse patches of dried grass and cacti dotted the desert. To the north, she could barely make out the Drocan mountain range that separated Lingate from Esterwyn. No life could be seen for miles.
Steel pulled out his compass, swiveling around in his saddle before starting off in a new direction. Mara hoped he knew what he was doing.
Chapter Fifteen
Mara squinted up as the bright sun slowly baked them to a crisp. Their water had run out a day ago. She raked her tongue across her dried, flaking lips. The roof of her mouth felt like sandpaper. Every inch of her body was coated in a fine layer of sand, making her wonder if it would ever come out.
Two Steels rode in front of her and she blinked, trying to clear her vision. Nope, that made it worse. Now there were three Steels. She grew weaker by the second as her body shut down. First came the cramps, then the muscle spasms. They’d had to tie Tova to her saddle. She’d already fallen off her horse once and she was swaying precariously now. In her brief moments of consciousness, Tova would jerk around to look back the way they came— no doubt a side effect of the delirium plaguing them all. If they didn’t reach the Oasis soon, she worried that the small girl wouldn’t make it. Would any of them make it?
As time passed with no relief in sight, Mara felt nothing but regret. Trap or not, she should have gone back to Stonehollow when she had the chance. A dagger through the ribs was preferable to broiling to death like a duck on a spit. Ansel had stopped speaking to her. Could she blame him? They had the opportunity to go home and she’d thrown it in his face. She was an idiot.
Puddles appeared on the ground filled with beautiful, glistening water. The first time, she had raced over, diving in face first, only to be rewarded with a mouthful of sand. A mirage, Steel explained. So, when the glint of sunlight appeared on a rippling surface up ahead, Mara ignored it. It was nothing but a figment of her imagination. Or was it?
Steel let out a shout, urging his poor horse to go faster. The rest followed suit, hope blooming when the water didn’t vanish. They’d made it.
The Mubali Oasis stood out like a flame in the darkness. A cluster of brightly colored tents encircled the reservoir, adding sharp contrast to the monochromatic backdrop of the desert. Giant palm trees, laden with dates, stuck up like towers. The lake itself was immense, its surface rippling in the warm desert breeze.
Mara wanted nothing more than to break off at full speed and dive in, but she held back. Barely. They stopped by a well, filling a watering trough for the horses. Then, they shared a bucket of water between them. Mara guzzled until the water sloshed in her stomach uncomfortably. She would never take water for granted again.
They tied their horses to a post on the outskirts of the Oasis and walked the rest of the way. Here, it appeared to be an open-air market of sorts. Savory smells of food, perfume, and spices assaulted her senses. Vendors called their wares to everyone who passed by. The people were tall, with dark skin and smooth, shaved heads— even the women. They wore colorful clothing, wrapped artfully around their bodies, and sandals on their feet.
Steel followed her line of sight and explained, “Ah, the dresses they are wearing are called suvali. They’re woven from linen, which keeps the body cool in this abominable heat. Do you see the golden beads stitched at the top?” Mara nodded, eager to learn more about this strange, new place. “The more beads someone has on their suvali, the more wealth and social standing they have.”
Mara’s eyes widened as an elegant Kerani woman glided past. Her crimson suvali displayed at least four dozen gold beads. Following on her heels were five children wearing plain white skirts and a bronze collar around their thin necks. Two guards, judging by their leather bracers and the unusual, two-pronged spears they carried, flanked the procession. One of the children stopped to gawk at the newcomers, earning a firm backhand from a guard, sending him sprawling in the sand with a cry.
Mara marched forward to confront the man who would dare hit a child, but Steel blocked her path. “What are you doing? Didn’t you see what he did?”
“You can’t help them,” Steel said apologetically. “I suspect they are slaves.”
“Slaves?” Mara hissed.
Ansel walked up behind them, catching the tail end of their conversation. “You want to ask help from someone who owns slaves? You’re joking, right?”
Steel frowned, watching the children vanish into the crowd. “I promise I didn’t know. The last time I was here, they were discussing the possibility, but hadn’t acted on it. It appears that quite a lot has changed since then.”
“Don’t see why it changes the plan,” Wynn said with a shrug. “Just go ‘n get yer friend.”
“Very well. Stay here and wait for my return.” Steel gestured to Mikkal to follow before disappearing from sight.
Did he really expect them to just… wait? Mara stood still for exactly thirteen seconds before giving up. “Yeah, I’m not about to stand here and do nothing. I’m going to go check out the market.” She brushed off the other’s concerns and slipped away.
Bright canopies offered blissful shade from the scorching sun. Rows of tables stretched out before her. Mara got the sense that if she spent a month in the Oasis, she still wouldn’t see it all. Some tables held jewelry and precious metals. Others displayed silken fabrics and intricately-painted pottery. Yet another held cages with exotic animals and birds. Her jaw dropped at the sight of a large cat-like animal with claws as big as her hand and stripes covering its pelt. She made a mental note to ask Steel about that one.
Mara watched, captivated, as an Ignis used her flames to melt sand into glass, spinning it effortlessly into intricate shapes. A Brutum sat cross-legged in front of his familiar, a sleek desert fox, and used silent communication to make it dance and perform. Onlookers clapped, showering him with coins and laughter. These people used their Gifts in ways she had never imagined.
As Mara walked down the rows, she could feel people tracking her with an intensity that made her skin crawl. It wasn’t like she was doing anything wrong. Was she not allowed to browse the wares like anyone else? She resisted the urge to look over her shoulder.
She walked over to a table piled with jewels and reached her hand out to touch a glittering blue gem but snatched it back at the sharp sting of a cane. The old woman behind the table glared at her, raising her cane up for another hit.
Mara backed away, hands raised. “I wasn’t going to steal it! I just wanted to look.”
“Alteiko vkalik!” the vendor spat, scrunching her nose as if she smelled something foul. It wasn’t too far from the truth, considering Mara didn’t exactly have a way to bathe when they were in the desert. But still, it was rude.
“What does that mean? Do you speak common?” Mara asked, but the woman turned away, her question falling on deaf ears. She sighed and walked away, deeper into the market.
Tiny lizards scurried on the sand in front of her, going to and fro as they pleased, much like the chickens back home in Stonehollow. Mara glanced back the way she had come, realizing that she had wandered farther than she’d planned. Her friends were no longer visible. A pair of gray-robed disciples emerged from the chaos. Startled, she ducked behind a tent, keeping out of sight. The Order was here? From what Steel had told them, she’d assumed that the Order didn’t have a strong presence in Kearar.
The tent rustled behind her and a hand gripped her shoulder. She spun around, throwing a punch at her would-be attacker’s face. Steel blocked her fist
with an easy smile. “Sorry, I suppose I should have warned you,” he said. At his side stood a young boy, no more than ten years-old, clothed only in a thin white skirt. He wore a gold collar around his neck and on his forehead, between his eyebrows, was a scorpion tattoo. “Are you enjoying the market?”
“No, not really,” Mara said, shoulders slumped. She hadn’t known what to expect when they first arrived in Kearar, but this was definitely not what she’d imagined. “The people aren’t the friendliest.”
“Don’t take it personally. The Kerani people are notoriously hostile to outsiders. I’m rather surprised that no one has tried to kill you yet.”
“And you couldn’t have mentioned that before we got here?”
“It seemed unimportant at the time.” Steel shrugged, as though the thought of being attacked were nothing more than a minor inconvenience. He turned and laid a silver coin in the boy’s palm. “Please inform your master of my arrival.” The boy nodded and ran off as fast as his tiny legs could carry him.
Mara stared after him, blinking. Something niggled at the back of her mind, but she couldn’t think properly, like she was in a fog. “That tattoo…”
“The symbol of the house he serves,” Steel said.
“So, they are slaves then? All of them?” She asked, feeling a surge of pity. Life as a dreg was awful, but at least she had her freedom. What sort of people were these Kerani that they could buy and sell people like sheep or horses?
“Unfortunately, yes.” Creases formed on his forehead. His eyes grew vacant, as though he were no longer present, completely lost in his thoughts.
It set her on edge. “Is something wrong?”
“It appears that much has changed since I was last here.” In the span of a heartbeat, Steel washed away his concern and replaced it with his usual, positive countenance. “Now come. Everyone is waiting for us.”
Mara trotted after him, hoping that his friend would be as helpful as Steel expected. The sooner they translated their books and scrolls, the sooner they could leave this cursed place.
Dreg (The Dreg Trilogy Book 1) Page 14