by Dana Davis
“Of course we are. Do not be such a dolt. But we need privacy. And we could all use a hot meal and some sleep.”
“Anything you wish, wise, old sister.” Kepriah’s brow arched but Damon simply laughed and walked to his future wife.
“Let us see what we are up against.” Kepriah ushered Patrice and Larisa toward an overgrown area not far from the palace.
Winter had killed most everything here and dead grasses lay along the snow-patched ground. Yep, this is the place from our visions, all right. “What’re we supposed to do?” Patrice said once they were clear of any eavesdroppers.
“How in hell and Hollow should I know,” Kepriah said. “I thought we would get visions or some bloody thing once we arrived.”
“So did I.” Larisa’s worry tapped Patrice’s senses. “But my talisman has not shown me anything since we learned Damon was to sit on the Pewter Throne with Gail.”
“Where exactly is this throne, anyway?” Patrice said.
Kepriah turned to her with shadowy features in the waning light. “Inside. I saw it once as a young girl, when Nefith brought me here to learn what war was all about. Let’s see...I was about eleven, I think. She wanted to hire me out as a guard here once she trained me, so I would have a better life than as a warrior. I met the former royals of this place—what was left of them. They seemed nice enough but their adviser was a real bastard. Tried to get into my trousers during that visit. I thought Nefith would skin him alive when she caught him. The royals promised to castrate him, but Nefith kept me away the rest of my childhood.
“I nearly got killed on the way out of here, too. Gave me a clear understanding of what Nefith had been pounding into my stubborn head all those years. This place taught me a healthy respect for weapons and survival.”
Patrice’s heart banged against her ribs as she thought of an innocent girl going through all of that. How did her sister ever survive such a tragic childhood?
Kepriah’s face hardened. “Do not feel sorry for me. Either of you. My childhood made me a strong warrior. And no man ever took advantage of me without my consent.”
Patrice shook her head, not willing to say another word about Kepriah’s upbringing. Yet, anyway. “So, what do we do now? Wait for inspiration to smack us in our Trine heads?”
Larisa huffed. “I say we attempt something. Anything. We are running out of time.”
The three agreed and stood in the shape of a triangle, each standing on one point. The Faytools had connected them in the form of a blue triangular light, so it seemed natural to take that formation now. Larisa’s fingers made the sign of protection Patrice had seen her use before, and they concentrated on their powers.
Patrice stilled her mind and focused on her ring. Other than a heightened awareness of her sisters, nothing happened. No light beam, no inspiration, no visions. Nothing.
Larisa nodded toward the palace. “Perhaps we have to get those two married before we get any answers.”
“Well, jabber shit.” Kepriah grunted. “I wager you are sarding right about that. But we may as well keep trying until somebody gets our bloody dinner ready.”
Larisa’s hands pressed into her slender hips. “Honestly, Kepriah. That language really is not suitable for your royal status.”
“And just what would you know about royals?” Kepriah’s tone had a hint of folly to it. “Unless you have sarded with someone we do not know about.”
Larisa’s finger shot out. “That is exactly what I’m talking about. If I were your mother, I would wash your mouth out.”
“If you were my mother—oh, never mind.” Kepriah chuckled. “Try again.”
Patrice quelled her own laughter with a cough when Larisa glared at her and focused on her ring again. Again, nothing happened.
They made several attempts, even changing the order in which they stood, but got the same results as before. Nothing.
Patrice shook her head, feeling exhausted now. “I think Larisa’s right about the marriage. We need to get Damon and Gail’s cute little butts on that Pewter Throne. Maybe then we’ll get visions of what to do. Besides, I’m hungry and tired. And it’s getting damn cold out here.” She waited for another onslaught of nasty weather but the air remained calm, despite the growing frost.
Kepriah sighed. “Agreed.” She squinted toward the makeshift camp. “We will eat and get some shut-eye, then get the wedding ceremony done first thing tomorrow.”
Chapter 40
As the three made their way back to the stone palace, a familiar voice called out to Larisa and she lost her footing. Patrice tried to catch her but the move sent them both tumbling to the ground and Larisa landed on top of her youngest sister.
Despite being the same age and height, Kepriah out-muscled them both and hauled them upright with amazing strength. The woman still did warrior training with Jakon many mornings when Larisa was barely awake. “You two all right?” Kepriah grabbed onto her scepter, which floated obediently at her side.
“Fine,” Patrice uttered.
Relieved she had not harmed her earth sister, Larisa glanced around. “She could not have done it.”
Kepriah’s blue eyes studied her. “Who could not what?”
Larisa shook her head. “I do not believe it.”
Kepriah wrapped fingers around Larisa’s arm. “What happened?”
“Honor. She—How did she do it?”
“If you do not tell me what happened, Larisa, I swear I will shake you until your bloody teeth rattle.”
Always in charge. Larisa pulled her arm from her warrior sister. “Oh, stop it. I am not some child you can frighten with empty threats.”
Kepriah’s brow went up. “Who says they are empty?”
“Both of you stop,” Patrice said as she dusted off her clothes.
Pain emanated from Patrice and Larisa studied her, surprised she had not sensed it earlier. She fought the urge to coddle the Earth woman, Patrice did not like anyone fussing over her, and Larisa was trying very hard to curb her healer instincts with her sisters. She does not seem hurt, just bruised a bit. She can wait.
Exasperation and worry tapped her senses from Kepriah, who frowned now. “Larisa?”
“Honor called to me. Just now. From the Hollow.”
“She’s done that before,” Patrice said.
“Yes. But never when I am awake.”
“Oh. What does it mean?”
Larisa shook her head. “I wish I knew.”
Worry emanated from both sisters as Patrice said, “You think she’s getting stronger?”
“The Guardian said she would weaken and cross over to her next life.”
Kepriah huffed. “I trust that red-eyed, bony ass of a Guardian about as far as I could toss him.”
“Why would he lie?” No one had an answer.
“Do you hear her now?” Patrice said.
Larisa touched the talisman that hung around her neck and listened with her mind as well as her ears. “No.”
“Then maybe she used up whatever strength she had.”
“We cannot have her interfering,” Kepriah said in a frustrated tone. “Looks like we are going to make a little trip back to the Hollow tonight. Let’s get washed up and eat. I would also like to sleep some bloody time.”
****
Their newly scrubbed room had no mattresses worth using, so servants had tossed them out. Instead, they found blankets and straw bundled together on the wood floor. Once they settled, Larisa escorted her sisters to the Hollow.
Patrice appeared a heartbeat after Kepriah. “Where is she?”
Larisa pointed. “That way.” When her sisters gave her a curious look, she added, “I can sense her.” She held the talisman between her first finger and thumb and allowed the vibration to lead the way. She crossed scattered bones that crunched beneath their feet, past some sort of archway carved in the stone. This archway gave off a faint tickle but Larisa had no time to study it.
As they walked, Patrice leaned close. “I don’t see
her.”
“You will.”
Honor came into view seconds later. “About time you three showed up.” The woman sounded displeased. “I do not like to be kept waiting.” From the vibration Honor gave off, something about her had changed, but Larisa could not quite figure it out.
“Well, that’s just tough, isn’t it?” Patrice said. “It’s not like we have anything better to do but come running every time you ring your little death bell.”
Anger caressed Larisa’s senses and she placed a calming hand on her sister’s arm. Patrice got the message and quieted. They were all in need of rest and Honor probably knew that. Probably thought she could wrangle away their magic somehow if they were too exhausted to resist.
Idiot woman. Larisa faced Honor’s spirit. “If you have something to say to me, say it now. I will not come again unless you give me due cause.”
“Due cause?” Honor’s dark eyes grew dangerous. “You forget to whom you are speaking, girl. Death has not altered my mind. You need me. You three have not done anything promising. Do you realize you do not have to wait for the final hoisting deadline to bring back the lost moon? That is simply the last day you can touch the magic.”
“We know.” Sorinieve had explained all that before she died.
“Well then, why have you not started? You do not have a lot of time left. What in hell and Hollow are you girls waiting for?”
“That is not your business, old woman.” Kepriah shook her scepter at Honor and her tone relayed Larisa’s feelings.
Larisa almost smiled when Honor pulled back from Kepriah. It was a subtle move, but she caught it. So, the great Nyanan is afraid of my sister. Good. “Unless you have something important to tell us about the hoisting, I suggest you not call for me again.”
Golden eyes narrowed. “You dare threaten me, girlie?”
That got Larisa’s dander up. “I am tired of you treating us as wayward children. We are grown women, chosen by the Moirai. If you have a problem with Their choices, I suggest you take it up with Them.” She gestured to the river. “Go ahead. What are you waiting for?”
For an instant, Honor looked as though she might head for the river. Larisa caught fear on the old woman’s face but those dark features smoothed immediately. “I have knowledge of the hoisting. Come with me and I will tell you everything. Over here, where I can sit. I am not as strong as I used to be.”
Honor’s lies tapped against Larisa’s senses, which surprised her, since the woman was nothing more than an annoying spirit now. Why would she lie? Larisa noticed several new spirits walking toward the water. The Guardian should have been with them, guiding them, but she did not see him anywhere.
Honor gave an uneasy grin and turned to the spirits. She looked hungry. By the time Larisa realized what she was up to, it was too late. The next few seconds seemed to take an eternity and Larisa moved as though trapped in muddy water. Honor grabbed one of the new spirits, that of a young man, and yanked him to her, slamming him against her ghost self with so much force that he disappeared inside her. Her vibration changed, suddenly grew stronger, and Larisa stared at her, horrified.
“What in hell and Hollow is she doing?” Kepriah said as she pulled Larisa and Patrice back several steps.
“Devouring spirits,” Larisa uttered. Disgust brought bile to her throat but she swallowed it down. “She is feeding off their life forces.”
“This is bad,” Patrice said. “This is very bad.”
Kepriah put her lips to Larisa’s ear. “Can you stop her?”
“I hope so.” She held the talisman tight for extra measure and concentrated.
Honor turned on her, eyes bright and an eerie glow emanating briefly from her spirit body. In that instant, she looked quite insane. Before Larisa could move, the dark woman closed the distance between them. A hand reached out and clamped onto Patrice’s arm and the two disappeared.
Kepriah’s lunge met with thin air. “Jabber shit! Larisa? Damn it all to the second moon! Where are they?”
“I do not know.” Shaky fingers held tight to her talisman but she could not feel them anywhere. The link with Patrice was severed. Just like that. “They are gone.”
“I can bloody well see that! Where did they go?”
Larisa shook her head. Her heart pounded in her throat and she felt ill.
“Do not bloody faint on me.” Kepriah shook her so hard her teeth almost rattled. “That’s better. Now concentrate.”
Larisa brought watery eyes up to meet her sister’s gaze. “I do not know what happened. I cannot sense them. Either of them. Can you sense Patrice?”
Kepriah looked stunned for a moment. “No. Hell and Hollow. We must find the Guardian. He will know what to do. And he will tell us, if I have to wring it out of his bony hide.”
“Yes.” Larisa nodded at this new hope. “The Guardian.” She concentrated on the Guardian as she shuffled around wandering spirits. At first, she came up with nothing. Then she felt the slightest tingle, like an icy blade just scraping her skin, not enough to pierce but enough to raise chicken bumps. “There, across the water.” Kepriah started for the river. “No!” But her sister was moving too quickly. Larisa would never reach her in time. A magical word pushed from her lips and caused a wave of power to surge from the talisman to Kepriah. Her older sister froze in mid-stride. Once Larisa caught up, her hold dissipated and she pulled Kepriah back several steps.”
“What in hell and Hollow was that?”
“My powers, evidently. You cannot touch that water, Kepriah. It will take you.”
“Thanks for the warning but I’m no bloody fool. I was not going into the water. I just want to talk to the spirits, see if they know anything. Maybe get them to help us across.”
“That is—well—that might work. They will not talk to you, though.” Larisa felt her body call to her, tugging her back to the living, and she sighed. The silver cord that lead from the Hollow to her living body fluctuated in brilliance.
“What are you waiting for?”
“I am weak. I need sleep, Kepriah. We both do.”
“What? We are not leaving Patrice here. Unless, you think you can pull her back to the living once we get to our bodies?”
“I can try but I doubt it will work. Honor is too bright to leave such a huge opportunity like that open. But I cannot do anymore until I get some sleep. My talisman cannot ward it off like your scepter.”
“What about Patrice?”
“She is fine.” She has to be.
“You sense her?”
“No. But I do not think Honor will hurt her.”
Kepriah’s blue eyes darkened. “No, she will just drain the magic from her then discard her like a worn-out shoe.”
Larisa could wait no longer. She grabbed Kepriah’s arm and took them back at the same time. Immediately after she crashed into her body, blessed sleep took her.
****
Something poked her in the ribs. “Get up, damn you.”
“What?” Larisa opened her eyes to see Kepriah leaning over her, none too happy. Morning light peered in through the barren windows.
“We need to find Patrice.”
“Yes.” Her stomach rumbled. “I need food and so do you.”
“I can do without. Get a bread roll or something and let’s get on with it.”
“No.” Larisa wiped the sleep from her eyes. “We will break fast properly. I need all the strength I can get for what I must do.”
“Exactly what is it you must do, Larisa?”
“I’m not certain on all the details, yet.” Her dream visions were a bit hazy now. “But it will not be pleasant. Or easy. Help me up.”
For the first time, Kepriah took orders from Larisa without braying on about how she was the leader of the Trine. “I hope you know what you are doing, little sister.”
So do I.
Chapter 41
The world spun and darkness folded in for what felt like an eternity before everything came into view again. Only this time
, Patrice’s memories felt fuzzy and she did not recognize where she stood. When her memories cleared, she whirled around, about to give Honor a tongue-lashing, but the woman’s upraised palm made her think twice.
“How did you do that?” Patrice said in a quiet voice. She tried very hard to stay her panic. “Where are we?”
“Still in the Hollow. The other side of Soul River.”
Her heart galloped like a spooked jabber. “I’m dead?” She thought she would feel energized as a dead person. Instead, her spirit felt heavy, exhausted, as if she hadn’t slept for days.
“Of course you are not dead, you silly girl. I just separated you from your sisters. They have gone back to the living.”
“They wouldn’t do that. They wouldn’t leave me here.” Even as she said that, she realized she could no longer feel their presence.
“They need rest.”
So, that’s why I’m so exhausted. She needed sleep and she couldn’t do that with her spirit here and her body in the living world. Panic swelled and she found it almost impossible to quell it this time. “Why are you trying to kill me?”
Honor’s golden eyes studied her and the elder let out an impatient sigh. “You idiot girl. If I were trying to kill you, you would be dead already. Your body will last a while, but I need you. That sister of yours is too close to discovering just what she can do down here. I needed a distraction.”
The image of Honor devouring souls filled Patrice’s head and she shuddered. “Why did you destroy the others?”
“What? Oh, you mean those spirits. I did not destroy them. They are with me now.” She sat on a nearby rock, as though at a casual picnic. “A little trick I finally mastered. I spent my first few days doing it all wrong, using only touch to gain some of their magic.” She shook her head as though that made all the sense in the world. “When I pulled too hard on one soul and he melted into me, I realized I gained more power that way.”