by Eliza Tilton
“These two have unique gifts, sir. Thought you’d want to see them before they were assigned an area.”
The boy nodded, his stark blond hair falling in front of his face. “You may leave us.”
“Young to be a king.” Lucy helped herself to a cantor sitting on a tray.
“What can you do?” He dropped the parchment on the table and leaned against one of the posts holding the tent up.
“Charm you into sharing a drink with me.”
I coughed.
Nomad grinned. “I don’t need to be charmed for that.” Lucy poured him a glass, and he took it.
“I hypnotize with my voice.”
“Interesting.”
“And you,” he looked at me.
“He’s immune.”
I glared at Lucy. “I can speak for myself.”
“I know, but you’ll end up brooding and boring us all. So …” Lucy showed me her back, putting all her attention on the king. “Do you have a name other than Nomad?”
“None that needs to be known.”
“Oh, I love a little mystery.”
“Tell me, my lady. Why do you want to join my army?”
“Revenge.”
“A good motivator.”
Cold seeped into his bright gaze, and I sensed anger.
“Someone kidnapped my brother to sell him to The Order. So young …” She clutched her chest.
Nomad touched her shoulder. “I know the pain of losing a loved one to them. When I rule, no one will be taken from their family.”
She sniffed and wiped fake tears from her eyes.
“Here.” He handed her his handkerchief.
She is most certainly a witch.
“Thank you.”
“How does your companion fit into this?”
“Oh, him? He’s my protection.”
Nomad nodded. “I could use both your skills, but you’ll need to wait until my advisor returns. He has a very unique gift for seeing the truth. If you two are who you say, you’re welcome to join.”
“That would be wonderful.” Lucy placed a hand on his knee.
Unless, she has another trick up that cowl, we’re in trouble.
“All I have is one request,” Nomad said.
“Of course.”
He whispered near her shoulder. “Don’t ever use your magic on me or I’ll light your pretty face on fire.”
I snorted on a laugh, and Lucy snapped her head back at me.
“You two are excused.” Nomad stood, while Lucy huffed and desperately tried to recover.
She shoved past me. “Not a word,” she hissed.
“Of course,” I repeated in her voice.
She glared, and I laughed. Finally, we were having some fun.
The light from the lantern in our tent cast a shadow on the wall. Lucy sat across from me chewing a piece of dried pork. Her hair hung loose across her shoulders, flowing in black waves. How was she able to keep it so clean and shiny when traveling?
“Not hungry?” She ripped a chunk off, talking with her mouth full.
“I am.”
“Then why are you staring instead of eating?”
I grabbed the mutton. “Who was she?”
“She?”
“The girl you killed to look like that.”
Lucy stopped and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “That was a long time ago.”
“Does that mean you don’t remember?”
“Oh no, I remember. I had a choice between three girls. All of them beautiful, well, by human standards.”
The firelight accentuated her cheekbones and sharp eyes.
“My father handpicked them. They were trembling, but the dark haired one had a fire in her eyes as if she knew we would kill her, but she wouldn’t be afraid about it. That’s why I chose her.”
“Do you feel any remorse when you kill someone and take their spirit?”
“We don’t syphon often. Too many auras in one body cause confusion in the mind.”
“You didn’t answer the question.”
“Don’t sit there and judge me. You wear that Creator emblem, yet if your world was dying, you would kill just like me to save your family.”
“Your world is dying?”
“Yes. Our only hope of surviving is to migrate to yours.”
Behind the cruel temper and vicious bite, I sensed an almost human quality. She was just a girl thrown into an impossible situation.
“Why sneak in?” I asked. “The King is a good man.”
“Ha! It would be war.”
“We’re already at war.”
“Yes. Now we are.”
As the silence stretched between us, I wondered what her world was like. I took an apple out of the bag and sliced it in half. “Tell me about your home.”
I handed a half of it to her. Her gaze lingered on the fruit before she took it.
“We have two suns, like you. The smaller, Quay, is fading. Since the black spots appeared, storms began sweeping our lands, acidic rains that kill wildlife. We had to create domes around our cities. My city is covered in a red crystal that shines brighter than your deepest ruby.”
“Do you miss being there?”
“No.”
Not the answer I expected.
“Women are only as strong as the men they stand beside. We could never rule, but here? Here is different.”
I nodded. “Lady Urima rules the twelfth land.”
“Yes.” She smiled. “I’m tired of being under my brother’s will, forced to obey.”
“Then why are you looking for him?”
She yawned. “I need to patrol the grounds before I sleep. If my brother is truly helping Jeslyn search, they’ll be here.”
“Don’t avoid the question.”
“I’m not, but I won’t answer it tonight.” She stood and swept out of the tent like a black wind.
“Derrick.”
I rubbed my eyes. Dawn broke over the grounds. Lucy sat next to me, her legs crossed as if she’d been here awhile.
“Find them?” I wiped the dust out of my eyes and stretched.
“No, but I found Harold. Four guards watch him. I followed one of the night guards back to his tent.”
“Good. We’ll go question him.”
She stood.
“You should sleep,” I said.
“I don’t need to.”
“Fine.”
We had to find Harold quickly. If Nomad’s advisor found out why we were really here, we would be in the very definition of hot water.
A guard headed toward our tent, and I shoved Lucy around back. She led us past tent after tent before stopping at one. I listened against the hide. Silence.
Lucy stood watch while I went inside.
The guard had his back to me, washing his face in a bowl. I swung my sword and whacked him in the back of the head with the hilt.
Lucy came in. “Your method of questioning is quick, I’ll give you that.”
I frowned at her. “Find something to tie him up.”
The tent was empty except a small cot and a bag. “Here.” Lucy handed me a shirt. “Best I could find in this hole.”
I tied the guard’s hands behind him as Lucy took the bowl of water and dumped it on his head. He woke up, shaking off the droplets.
“Good morning,” I said.
He huffed and moved his arms, trying to break out of the knot. “Who are you?”
“No one you need to worry about.”
The guard spat near my feet.
“Isn't he pleasant?” Lucy put a hand on her hip and glared at the sneering man. “He'll talk.” She bent so they were eye to eye. “Tell me about who you're guarding and why.” Her voice sang, and the guard's eyes glaze
d over.
“A jeweler from Luna Harbor. Nomad King sent mercenaries to bring him here.”
“Why would the Nomad King want a jeweler?” I asked.
The guard's face twisted in confusion, and he gritted his teeth.
“I believe he asked you a question. Tell us.” Lucy smiled, and the guard's face slacked back into that gazed expression.
“He has the location of the blue eye.”
Lucy glanced at me. That must’ve been what Beckett mentioned.
“What is that?” She asked.
“A gem with the power to control the seas.”
Lucy's eyes widened. “That is very interesting.”
“We're here for Harold. Remember?”
“Are we?”
She smirked, and I nodded for her to step away from the guard.
“We had a deal,” I whispered.
“I believe our deal was that we would find Jeslyn and my brother.”
“What do you want?” I couldn't free Harold on my own, and I didn’t want to save him only for Lucy to kidnap him herself.
She licked her red lips. “What do I want …?” She drummed a fingernail on her chin, smiling. “There's so many things.”
“Enough with your games,” I snapped.
“Oh, Derrick. You really need to relax.” She stepped closer. I hated that she smelled so good. “I'll help you, but you will owe me. If I call on your assistance, you answer.”
Indebted to a shifter. “Fine, but once we free Harold, he can leave.”
She flicked a hand at me as if I was being ridiculous, then nodded at the tied guard. “We'll need him to get in.”
“I don't think he will help.”
Lucy smirked. She always smirked. Did she take anything seriously? “Stand back and watch, little human.”
She held the guard's chin in her hand, glaring into his face. A wind swept through the tent, and her long hair lifted. The guard's face began to wither while Lucy's glowed and an evil, lustful gaze entered her eyes as if she was drunk on his soul. The guard's face paled until his eyes sunk back and he fell to the side, dead.
My heart hammered at the sight, then Lucy's face shifted, her body grew and rounded and the stunning girl I recognized morphed into the dead guard before us.
I jumped back, hand on my sword.
She laughed. A deep manly laugh. Everything matched, except the guard's clothes, which she changed into.
“Let's go save your precious Harold.”
I grabbed her arm before she walked out. “Have you ever shapeshifted into a man?”
“No. Why?”
“No man sways his hips like that.”
She glanced at my hand on her arm. “Were you staring at my backside?”
I dropped her arm. “If I noticed, someone else might.”
“Fine,” she huffed. “How’s this?”
She straightened, arms limp at her sides and walked across the tent. Her legs stood more apart, a little awkward, but not as girly as before.
“Better.”
She smiled. “Always so concerned with my wellbeing.”
I peeked outside the tent. “Wait. If he has guard duty tonight, we can’t go there now.”
“You’re right. Guess we’ll stay here. We should probably get rid of that.” She glanced at the withered corpse.
“Nowhere to put it. For now, throw it on the cot, and put a blanket on it.”
“Me?”
“I’m the lookout.”
She put a hand on her hip.
“You’re much bigger than me. You can handle it.”
She grabbed the dead guard and dragged it to the cot. “Such a gentleman,” she mumbled.
I continued looking outside while holding in a laugh.
Chapter Five
Lucy sauntered through the camp. Anyone watching might not notice that her hips swung a little to the sides, but I did. I kept my cloak tight around my head, walking as if I belonged there. Campfires sprung around the restless men drinking and waiting to engage in the battle faintly ringing across the wind. Perspiration beaded my forehead and slid down my neck. We had been lucky that Nomad hadn’t called on us yet, but as the night drew on, I felt as if our luck would end.
Somewhere among these mages, Harold lay bound and probably terrified. What was this blue eye? Harold created fancy necklaces and rings. Why would he want such a powerful item?
And where was Jeslyn? No sign of her or Lucino. If Lucy had been able to find out about the mercenaries, so would Lucino. Where were they?
Lucy stopped at a small tent off to the left, closer to the thick wood. The posted guard nodded, believing her his comrade. I dashed behind a nearby tree, letting the night cover me while I watched. She could get in, but how would I get past the guard?
My tattoo vibrated, and I looked toward Lucy. She patted the soldier’s chest and glanced back with a nod for me to follow her in.
The guard’s gaze stayed straight, and he said nothing when I passed.
“What did you do?” I whispered.
“Had him keep watch for us.”
Harold lay on the ground, face shoved into the dirt. Dried blood crusted on the side of his head, and his hands were bound behind his back. I ran to his side and slashed through the bindings with a pocketknife.
His eyes fluttered open. “Who are you?”
“A friend,” I said. “My name’s Derrick.”
“Derrick …” His gaze went to Lucy who was still in the guard’s form.
“We’re to help,” she said. “Stay quiet.”
He nodded and rubbed his wrists where the bindings had shredded the skin.
Lucy peeked outside, then stepped back in. “Nomad is on his way.”
“Here?” I helped Harold to his feet. “There’s no other way out.”
“We’ll make a way, but first.” She walked over to Harold and clasped a metal bracelet onto his wrist.
Harold vanished.
“What did you do to him?”
“He’s fine, just invisible.”
“I’m here,” Harold said from the shadows.
“The king is here,” the charmed guard said as Nomad walked in.
Lucy cursed. “Thanks for the warning.”
Nomad’s eyes widened. “What are you doing here?” he said to me. “Where is Harold?” He looked at Lucy who shrugged.
“I just walked in. The prisoner must’ve escaped,” she said.
Nomad’s two guards, mages I think, since they bore no weapons I could see, flanked his sides. The tent was small, too small for a fight. Even with Harold out of immediate danger, a weapon or stray spell could seriously injure him.
“Take them both,” Nomad ordered, and the guards advanced.
I stepped to the side and prayed Harold could keep out of the way.
Lucy pulled out her whip, and it electrified. Nomad’s gaze stuck to her. “Where did you get that?” His voice sounded more curious than afraid.
“Nowhere close.” She snapped her weapon forward, lighting his left guard on blue fire. Lightning shook his entire body.
I swung at the mage in front of me, but a fierce wind slammed me back into the tent.
“You’re not my guard?” Nomad said to Lucy. “Who are you?”
Lucy shifted into her human form.
“Shapechanger?” Nomad’s voice was full of awe.
“Among other things.” The whip hung by her side, crackling.
Wind still pushed me flat against the tent, rendering me helpless.
“What did you do with Harold?” Nomad stepped closer to Lucy, calm and determined.
“He’s gone, but I may be able to assist you.”
“I don’t need your assistance.” Nomad raised his hands and flicked his fingers forward. Roots sprung ou
t of the ground and wrapped around Lucy’s limbs. She opened her mouth, and a root closed it shut.
“No singing.” He waved a finger at her.
I struggled against the force pinning me in place. Why wasn’t my tattoo working?
“Get the bands,” Nomad said to the remaining mage.
The mage pulled four red clasps from his robe. He walked forward and slapped one on each of my wrists. A shock ran through me, and my limbs went limp.
I shook the sting out of my head, and that’s when I noticed the wooden emblem of The Creator hanging from the mage’s neck.
“A priest?” I asked. “I thought you were fighting against The Order?”
“Not all of us agree with The Order’s methods, even if The Creator has chosen us. Now we know you’re only immune to magic, not invocation, which will be useless during battle.”
The rogue priest moved to Lucy and cuffed her next. My pulse sped. What if her shapechanger ability stopped and they saw her true self? While I didn’t care what happened to her people, I didn’t want to see her tortured.
“Let her go,” I said. “I’m a master smith. I can forge weapons.”
Nomad glared at me. “You came together, you die together.” He lifted his hands and blasted Lucy into the air, enshrouded in wood. She grimaced as the roots tightened around her body.
The priest grabbed my arm, and we filed out of the tent.
Men watched as Nomad guided a floating Lucy through the camp. Whispers flew around us. Who was she? What did she do?
No one seemed interested in me.
I glanced back to Harold’s tent. The guard left on duty stood outside watching us, and didn’t see the tent flap open on its own.
Chapter Six
We ended up in a dirt prison, a dark cave dug out of the side of the mountain range with a metal gate. They locked us in, and Nomad promised to return before the suns rose. He thought time would refresh our memory before he killed us.
Lucy lay on the ground, free from the roots at last.
“Are you all right?”
Moonlight shone inside the cell, illuminating the deep red bruising spotting her skin.
“I’ve had worse,” she groaned and pulled herself into a sitting position.
I took her arm and gently helped her to lean against the rock wall. “He’s not going to let us leave.”