"I would very much enjoy learning those things. Teach Thorn at the same time. Please."
"Tomorrow, unless something else comes along."
"Like Cole?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps he'd like to learn those things, too."
I blinked at Hunter for a moment as the possibilities hit me. "Excellent idea, dear Prince-Heir," I said. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."
* * *
"You want to teach Cole, too?" Kerok tried to keep the skepticism from his voice as we ate dinner in his sitting room.
"You've never met him," I said. "I have, and Kyri and Adahi trust him. He's an unexpected ally in this, and be honest, can we really afford to turn away allies?"
"Can you speak for all his troops?"
"I haven't met them," I admitted. "I can't imagine that Cole hasn't gauged their loyalties, though."
"On your head be it, since they want to serve under your command-specifically."
"Are we going to argue about that, too?" I didn't keep the plaintiveness from my voice. I was tired to death of arguing with Kerok. Tired, too, after a long day of shielding villages from attacks by Merrin and Ruarke.
"No." He pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment, as if staving off a headache.
"Are you all right?" I asked, suddenly concerned.
"I just feel-out of my element," he dropped his hand and blinked dark eyes at me. Even with the scar down his cheek, he was more than handsome to me-and too dear for words.
"You're not alone, Kerok, no matter how much you think you may be. People are willing to die for you. I am one of them."
"My rose, please don't place that burden upon me," he whispered before taking my hand across the small table. "I cannot bear it."
"I will make sure that none of our new allies threaten you or Az-ca in any way. All I ask in return is that you get to know them and accept them in friendship, as that is what is offered, in addition to their agreement to go to war beside us."
Kerok didn't reply, he merely nodded and dropped his eyes to his plate. Slowly, I watched as his shoulders settled a notch lower-he'd been so tense before.
"Come to bed with me," I breathed. "I think we both need that respite."
* * *
Kerok
She was right-we needed the lovemaking, as hurried and feverish as it was the first time, and as gentle and leisurely the second. She'd traced my scars the second time-the ones from my ribs downward-with careful fingers, as they were the deepest.
I considered that none of my previous escorts may have had the courage to do that. Sherra appeared to find something to love in them, as horrible as they were.
Grae may have held my heart in the past, but Sherra was a piece of my soul, as well as the peace in my soul. I couldn't deny that, even if I wanted to do so. She'd become my conscience, too, and I'd admit that to anyone who asked.
"My love," I whispered against Sherra's forehead as she slept with her head on my shoulder.
"Kerok?" Sherra breathed against my shoulder.
"What is it, my rose?"
"I'm hungry."
I laughed.
* * *
Ketchi
Cole
"I believe you'll find that you're welcome to learn a new technique from Sherra, if you're willing to stand beside the Prince and the Prince-Heir while she teaches," Adahi's dark eyes held a light in their depths.
All along, I knew Adahi held more secrets than anyone; I merely didn't remark on what I knew. I couldn't gauge how old he was, either, and while that might trouble me with anyone else, I had no qualms in his case.
"You're quite pleased with this turn of events, aren't you?" I ventured.
"I am," a smile touched his lips. "A dreamwalker-again after so many centuries. It can be both blessing and curse, you understand. The ability will separate her from others because of its very nature."
"I understand about separation," I agreed and sipped my tea. I'd offered tea to Adahi, but he'd refused, preferring to sit at my table and talk, rather than drinking tea while he did so.
"Yes-your talent also sets you apart," Adahi agreed. "You are more valuable than you believe, friend Cole."
"Hmmph," I snorted around a mouthful of tea before swallowing. "Most people find it annoying."
"Perhaps one day, you can offer your services to Sherra, as her personal advisor," Adahi suggested. "I think that pairing would be a wise one."
"One can only try," I said. "First, we must be accepted by her mate."
"And by his army," Adahi gave voice to my unspoken words. "I know this. Caution your people to be steadfast in this. Sherra will protect you as much as she can; ask them to cooperate with her, and take their concerns to you and to her, to sort them out."
"I hope all goes well," I breathed a sigh. "For the obvious reasons."
* * *
Sherra
Not only did Kerok set a shield between us before falling asleep; I set one, too, so I wouldn't be awakened.
Something troubled me, and I had no idea what I'd learn-or that my dreamwalker would learn-once I fell asleep.
I wasn't disappointed. I found myself-or my dreamwalking self, anyway, staring at the couple on the bed as if they were strangers for a moment, before heeding the call of one who was terrified beyond belief.
The terror emanated from one who hadn't realized he could mindspeak-until now.
Ruarke was planning to torture a young warrior to death, and then send his body to Kerok as a warning-and a bargaining chip-for the half of Thorn's Book we held.
Relocating to the sound of the mindspoken call for help, I found myself standing on the outside of Ruarke's camp. Hidden well inside a tree-covered valley in enemy territory, the tents were spaced carefully so that any attacker would be hard-pressed to defend themselves if they approached even one of those tents. The other tents' inhabitants would come running from many directions, making a rescue more than difficult.
With that in mind, I considered how best to make my entrance. Cool winds blew past my dreamwalker, making the evergreens creak overhead. Somewhere nearby, an owl made his nightly noises as the wind gusted faster for a moment.
Rain was coming-the scent of it reached me and I marveled that my sense of smell worked while in this state. My dreamwalker recognized the scent easily, although my physical nose was very far away.
That's when Adahi appeared at my side. I had no idea how he knew to come, except that perhaps he'd heard the mindspeak and felt the terror of the young warrior, just as I had. What surprised me was this; I could see through Adahi as well as I could see through my own hand.
Hmmph, he sent mindspeak, as if acknowledging what I'd discovered.
But, I responded in kind.
We will discuss this another time. This one I will deal with, he added. It is time.
Time? I didn't understand.
Time that Ruarke and the one who holds his leash understand at last that one more old enemy has survived in some way. They believe me dead, you see.
We will have to talk, I agreed. But he's about to, I didn't finish as he held up a hand to stop me.
When I take a step forward, his perimeter divination will alert him to my presence. After that, I will have limited time to act. I can either gather the children and the villagers to me, or kill him. Killing Ruarke will leave the villagers vulnerable to Merrin and the others. I prefer to err on the side of caution and perform a rescue rather than a killing. Go back to your bed, dear Princess. I have this.
I wasn't sure how Adahi managed it, but I was flung back to bed, just as he'd suggested, and found myself sitting up next to Kerok while all the hells broke loose in Ruarke's camp.
* * *
Ny-nes
Kaakos
Are you sure? I snapped at Ruarke in mindspeak. This is impossible. I tore through my suite, searching for a robe to fling across my shoulders before stalking through my palace.
I saw him. He laughed at me as he took the boy away.
&
nbsp; That's preposterous, I fumed. Guards scrambled to follow me as I strode angrily down a hallway toward the stairs and the sanctuary one floor below. Their booted footsteps echoed on the steps behind me as I raced downward barefoot, determined to get to the sanctuary.
If I stepped while in their presence, well, it was better if I did not. I didn't have my device in my hand, and that would give secrets away. Flinging open the sanctuary doors, I hastened toward the glass box on the dais at the end.
Upon reaching it, I carefully examined its contents. It looked like any other rotting corpse to me, and the locks and seals had certainly not been tampered with-my power still radiated about them.
It is untouched, I informed Ruarke. Tell me how he appeared in front of you. You must be suffering delusions.
I tell you it was him, Ruarke argued. I know not how it is, but he has returned.
He is dead and lying in front of me. It was a master stroke to exchange his body for that of the Prophet, so we could watch him daily. He is still here. You saw an imposter. Have you moved the camp?
Of course. Immediately. We await the arrival of the army, as you commanded.
Too bad about the undelivered message-I wanted to know their reaction to a tortured warrior boy. Do not fear-we will still make them pay.
Dearly.
"My Lord, is all well?" My chief guard ventured to ask.
"All is well," I said. "It was merely a bad dream-that someone had harmed the prophet's body. As you see-he is untouched."
"Glory to the prophet-and to you," the guard dipped his head in reverence to the body inside the case.
I stifled a laugh at the immense gullibility of those about me.
* * *
Kerok
I found Sherra standing at my window when I woke the next morning, gazing down at the garden below.
"How long have you been awake?" I yawned.
"Several hours, I think," she kept her back turned toward me. "I heard from Adahi last night. The enemy camp has been moved in haste again-after he rescued the villagers Ruarke and Merrin held captive. I believe Ruarke is incensed over it."
"Adahi rescued them? Where are they?"
"With Cole and his people. They will arrive at the King's City training camp after breakfast. I'll meet them there, and Cole will return to the palace with me, to train with you and Hunter."
"Are the villagers safe?"
"They are safe, and Cole's people are tending to them. They've been starved, as you may imagine. The people were fed and clothed after their rescue, according to Adahi's mindspeak. Cole has healers among his people, and they have cared for them in that way, too."
"How did Adahi accomplish this?"
"One of the warrior boys has mindspeak. He called out in terror. Adahi and I heard him. Adahi told me he would take care of the situation."
"You've been having frequent mindspoken conversations with Adahi," I slid off the bed to approach her.
"Kerok, that's all it is," she hunched her shoulders. "It's only mindspeak, and all of it about issues that need addressing in Az-ca."
"I'm not accusing you of anything." I sounded defensive and winced at my own words.
"Kerok, you have nothing to be concerned about. Adahi-I'm not sure he could or would have a relationship with anyone."
Her words were weighted with an unspoken explanation. I held my questions back. She would tell me or not; I'd let her choose.
* * *
Sherra
Breakfast was quiet for the most part. Kerok wanted to ask questions; he held them back. I understood his frustrations with me-I'd be frustrated with me, too, if I were he. How had I changed so much? I wasn't the woman he'd met at North Camp that first time, although I had called him a jackass in mindspeak.
I suppose nearly dying after destroying the enemy army had negated my fear of death, so I was no longer afraid of it. I was afraid of pain, instead. Afraid of the pain from losing those I loved.
Jae was gone. It seemed so long ago that happened, when less than a year had passed.
"What are you thinking?" Kerok asked.
"About Jae." I turned my head so he wouldn't see the sudden tears in my eyes. I'd lost a staunch friend that day, and there was no bringing her back. The enemy was now moving toward us again, and more friends could fall in ensuing battles.
If they had another plane and another bomb-that thought made me shiver. What if they had more than one?
I'd mindspoken that thought to Kerok. "What? More than one of what?" he asked aloud.
"More than one big bomb, and more than one plane, this time?" I turned toward him again.
"That is my fear as well." He dropped his eyes to stare at his nearly-empty plate. "We could all die, if that's true."
"Perhaps we should break with tradition and go looking for them now, before they arrive at the border and set up camp."
"I don't know," Kerok hedged.
"I understand your father's stance on this, I do. But we're no longer dealing with things as we did in the past, Kerok."
"I know. I hesitate to send any part of the army out looking for them, in case we're attacked. They may be hoping to divide our resources, to make us more vulnerable."
"Then I'll take Cole and his people, if they're willing."
"Sherra," he frowned deeply.
"We'll discuss this later," I said, standing. "I have training to do, but I'd like a shower first."
* * *
Kerok
"I'm not sure how to deal with this," I told Hunter.
"You're not dealing with it," Hunter stated baldly.
"What are you saying?" I demanded.
"We've been without a King since Drenn died."
"Father is still alive," I hissed, angry immediately.
"And unable to perform his duties. You should be acting in his stead in all things, yet you are not. Things are floating along as they always have because your father is still alive, but he is unable to discharge the duties of his office. The best thing you've done as Crown Prince was done as an apology to Sherra, when you declared an outlawed book to be safe for trainees to use. Admit it-you wouldn't put up with inaction as Commander of the Army. Why should you do the opposite as Crown Prince?"
"You've been thinking about this for a while, haven't you?" A part of me knew he was right, but I still felt angry about my shortcomings being handed to me so bluntly.
"The Council should have been disbanded already, in favor of looking for better representation for the villagers. We've had almost a year, Thorn, and so many things could have been accomplished."
"Why are you saying this to me now?" I asked.
"Because the enemy army is approaching, and we're doing nothing to stop them."
"Not you, too." I drew a breath and closed my eyes. My hands, resting on my desk, clenched into fists.
"Who else told you this?" Hunter asked.
I blinked my eyes open and studied him as he stood before me. "Sherra. She suggested taking Cole's troops to look for them, because I wasn't cooperating. I don't want to divide the troops, in case you're wondering."
"Then let Sherra take hers out-you're not comfortable adding them to the army anyway."
"You're trying to make me feel more guilt than I already do?"
"You don't dislike the idea of sending Cole and his people out to search for the enemy army; you worry about Sherra going with them." Hunter's insight was an uncomfortable reality I was forced to acknowledge.
"Nothing good was ever accomplished by hiding from the truth," Hunter added.
"Fuck."
"Agreed."
Chapter 16
Sherra
Cole brought eighty-seven with him; fifty-three men and thirty-four women. They were busy settling belongings into barracks while I spoke with Cole in the Camp Commander's office. The small space held two desks and still contained Kage's and Weren's records and personal things.
"They understand that things may be strained at first," Cole informed me.
"We know this. What Prince Thorn should understand is that we have also fought against Ny-nes all our lives-against the damage caused by their neglect, disgust and mistreatment. Those things are a part of us and will always be."
"I'm not sure they recognize that completely," I conceded. "The warriors, especially, have seen escorts and fellow warriors die-too many times to count. Trust is an issue, as you can imagine."
"Kyri says we were all one people long ago," Cole shook his head. "Something caused a rift among our ancestors, and the End-War came. I don't know more than that."
"Are you saying we could be related?"
"It's possible," he smiled.
"That sounds nice," I said. "I don't have any living relatives, to my knowledge."
"With me, it is the same. Lives are cut short in Ny-nes-from poisoned air, water, sometimes food. Those born with power might live longer there, but they're killed young, so who can say? My years have been extended, thanks to Kyri's invitation."
"I can say the same-if I hadn't gone to her after the enemy's bomb exploded, I'd be dead," I agreed. "She and Pottles saved my life."
"Pottles?"
"The name Doret went by, when she lived in my village and oversaw my upbringing. I learned so many things from her."
"I feel the same way about Kyri. She saw that I was cared for and raised properly-and given love along with my lessons. I am most grateful for the ability to read, actually. Most are not taught in Ny-nes. Only those who are better off and in the good graces of the Sovereign Leader receive an education."
He spoke the title of Sovereign Leader with disgust. "Did you ever see him?" I asked. "Or Ruarke, before you left Ny-nes?"
"Ruarke, yes. Kaakos, I did not."
"Is that his name? Kaakos?"
"It is the name he calls himself. I don't know if it is his real name or not."
"And now they're sending an army to destroy us," I slumped in my seat. "I really want to hunt them now, and destroy their weapons before they come within firing range of Az-ca."
"It would be good to know when they plan to arrive," Cole said. "The trucks they use are solar powered, and can only travel part of a night on a day's battery charge from the sun, because it takes so much power to carry the weapons, supplies and troops. We could gauge distances, if we knew their plans a little better."
Rose and Thorn: Black Rose Sorceress, Book 2 Page 20