She swallowed back the burst of irritation. “If you start treating me like an invalid, the next time I hit you, I won’t be so gentle.”
Mohan leveled his gaze on her.
Ilythra looked away. “Okay. A little foggy sometimes but getting better every day. Stronger.” She breathed deeply. But not strong enough. Not yet. A part of her was relieved he had returned. As much as it pained her to admit it, she needed the backup. “You ready?”
Mohan grinned. “Here? Now? I’m always ready, darlin’, but I could think of better places to lay my cloak.”
“Lay your cloak? Is that what you call it now?” She smiled. “I have missed you. Can you stand?”
He rose to his feet and bowed at the waist. “Fully functional. You must be losing your touch. Let’s go.”
* * *
Mohan glanced at Ilythra. He still couldn’t believe the transformation. Except for a shadow that lingered in her gaze, she appeared like the Ilythra he’d first met long ago on the road to Jartas. But when he gazed long enough, he saw her step was not as light, her smile not as easy.
An image of her dazed, sitting before the fire in her rooms at the castle, flashed through his mind, followed by a picture of Tarak, his brother, bleeding against a fence post, mutilated by his own hand. His gut twisted at the memory and sorrow welled, threatening to close his throat.
He watched Ilythra out the corner of his eye. She definitely appeared stronger than she had, but he sensed she was still fragile. He wasn’t sure what Bredych had done to his brother or Ilythra, but he wasn’t leaving the woman alone until he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she wouldn’t share his brother’s fate.
He stumbled on loose rock, sending small pebbles skating down the mountain. Ilythra shot him a look that would quell lesser men. He wasn’t a lesser man, but he concentrated on his next step. A rocky incline wasn’t the easiest ground to cover silently. Less so by the light of the moon.
The road stretched out about a length below to their right, a gray ribbon joining deep forests and the pass until it disappeared in the distance between high cliff walls. Silently, Ilythra pointed to a pile of loose stones. They detoured around the area.
Weariness slowed his step. He’d left her only long enough to find a horse to buy before turning around. In this oppressed valley, it had taken him longer than he’d planned to find someone with a horse to spare that was also worth buying. He’d ridden hard to catch up, only leaving his horse at the foot of the mountain a few days before. He’d been scouting almost nonstop since then.
“The sun will be up soon. Once it is, we should find a place to sleep for a few hours.” Ilythra’s whisper sounded tired too. He examined the new lines around her eyes as she squinted toward the east, where the sun would soon make its appearance. She wasn’t as recovered as she wanted to think she was.
“I have a few loaves of bread. A little stale but not bad.” Mohan rotated his shoulders to relieve the ache as they continued up the mountain. His head pounded with every step.
Ilythra nodded. “I caught a rabbit yesterday. There’s some left.” She almost stumbled. He stopped himself from reaching for her. She wouldn’t appreciate the gesture.
“You cooked it?”
She nodded.
Mohan sighed but kept his voice low. “Well, I suppose it will feed our stomachs if not delight our tongues.”
“My cooking is not that bad.” But she smiled, as he had hoped. Her cooking had been an easy target for his teasing while they’d traveled to Jartas in search of his brother.
The smile faded. “We should reach the pass by tomorrow. I don’t want to risk a fire.”
“I can think of all kinds of ways we can keep each other warm.” Mohan spied a tree growing at an odd angle and veered off to take a look.
“What is it?”
“Our shelter for the day, my lady.”
* * *
Stars peppered the sky as the last of the day’s warmth fled the rocks. In the circle of Mohan’s arms, she’d slept better than she had in a long while. Ilythra had woken while the sun sank in the west and for the first time since leaving Greton hadn’t felt exhausted. She’d performed the exercises her grandfather had taught her what felt like a lifetime ago. Although she was still clumsy, the routine felt good, like coming home. After Mohan fixed a hastily prepared but hardy meal, they set out to find the way impassable after only a short distance. The mountain became too steep to traverse on foot. They had no choice other than the road.
Ilythra lay on the ground, her hands palm down on the dry earth, searching for any vibration that might reveal unseen company approached. She glanced up to Mohan and shook her head.
She stood at the edge of the dusty path assured that for now, at least, they were alone. Mohan jumped down to join her, landing in a graceful crouch. Dust puffed around his boots.
“Are you ready?”
“What are we looking for again?”
She hesitated. “I don’t know.”
Mohan shrugged. “I’m always ready to run into enemy territory for an unknown purpose for an unknown length of time to do what only the gods know. Let’s go.” He shrugged on the pack he’d let fall to the ground by his feet.
She wasn’t stupid. She was heading into a no-win situation. But she knew beyond a shadow of a doubt Teann was leading her in this direction. She just didn’t know why. Still, she hated to put Mohan in danger. “Mohan.”
“I’m joking. You’re not going at this alone.” He gestured toward the road.
“Any way I could dissuade you?”
“No, but if you’re willing, we might put it off for a few hours.”
Even in the dim light she caught the sparkle in his eye. Warmth filled her heart. She didn’t deserve a friend like Mohan. But she was glad to have him. “No time like the present. Stay to the shadows.”
“I am a Benai. This is not my first time sneaking in or out of a place.”
She gasped and theatrically placed a hand over her mouth. “Are you saying the Benai are thieves and scoundrels, wandering the land, seducing young women?”
Mohan winked. “Well, I’m not one to assume stereotypes or anything, but that pretty much describes us.”
She hadn’t spent much time with the Benai, but she knew the traveling entertainers were much more than thieves, although they might help themselves to a bauble from time to time. They held honor and tradition in high esteem. There was nothing more important to them than family. All the more reason Mohan should return to his troupe instead of following her into gods knew what. Guilt pricked at her conscience. Even knowing all of that, she was glad he’d returned. Careful to stay in the shadowy outcroppings, they hurried up the pass.
The moon traveled across the heavens, casting shadows behind instead of before her as voices slowed her step. She put one hand behind her, but Mohan must have heard them too, because he stopped before she did. Pressing up against a rock wall, she listened. Three distinct voices, all speaking Rugian, sounded around a bend. Ilythra glanced up to the sheer walls on either side of the path, then to Mohan. Nowhere to hide. He shrugged, pointed to her and them himself and then waved his hand as if to say No problem.
Harsh laughter echoed in the narrow canyon. She admired Mohan’s bravado but she wasn’t exactly in top form. The day of sleep had done wonders, but it would take many more before she recovered. She took a deep breath. They needed to know what they were up against. She motioned for him to stay put and edged closer to the bend. Four men stood around a fire, their figures distorted by flickering flames. Ilythra loosened her sword in its sheath. One of the men patted another on the back and then disappeared with a companion into a darkened recess in the rock wall. Ilythra waited. They didn’t return.
Their conversation subdued, the remaining two Rugians stood by the fire, drinking from metal cups. Ilythra pau
sed. They were both armed. Each carried a sword, but she guessed they had other weapons hidden in their fur coverings. Sentries of some kind. But for what?
She made her way back to Mohan, held up four fingers and mouthed “Rugians.” He grinned. She placed a finger to her lips and he nodded.
Glancing at the moon, now deep in the west, Ilythra edged closer to the men. Mohan trailed close behind. She pointed to the two men and then at Mohan, pointed to the recess in the wall and at her chest. He nodded in understanding.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped away from the wall and sprinted into the light of the fire. Mohan followed. Surprised shock froze on the first sentry’s face as Mohan slit his throat. Ilythra slowed, sword ready, narrowing her eyes to more easily adjust to the dimmer light as she rushed into the cave. She skidded to a stop to avoid running into a solid stone wall. No cave. So where were the men? The clash of metal against metal behind her abruptly ceased. She spun on the balls of her feet, sword ready.
Mohan raised his hands. “It’s only me.” Something in his hand gleamed in the faint light of the fire. “Thanks for the confidence. Did you really think I couldn’t handle two barbarians?”
“Fate favors the cautious. What do you have?”
“I took the time to relieve them of their valuables. It’s possible someone will think it’s a random act of robbery and not set off an alarm. We’re good, but not us-against-the-entire-nation-of-Rugia good.”
“Smart.” She hadn’t even thought of that.
“See? Proof that you don’t have me on this adventure just to stare at my pretty face. Although I know that’s a side benefit.” He brushed the dark hair out of his eyes. Mohan had the ability to look dangerous and sexy as hell at the oddest times.
“But it is such a pretty face.” Smiling, she turned back to the wall. “I don’t understand. I know two men went in here.” Running her fingertips over the rough wall, she continued her search for a seam or tunnel. She let out a frustrated breath.
“Allow me.” Mohan stepped closer. He ran his hands over the wall.
“It’s no use. There’s nothing there.”
“You see, while you were sleepwalking in Greton, I was learning your nemesis’s secrets.” He turned to her and smiled. “Found it.” His smiled faded, expression growing grave. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
Was she? She could almost feel the tendrils of Teann flow through Ilydearta, urging her to continue. “Yes.”
“Okay. Us against Rugia it is.” With his most charming smile, Mohan pressed his hand against a stone. A muted thump sounded from the rock, and the wall began to move.
Chapter Three
Bredych closed the door to Erhard’s rooms and stepped into the hallway. The king would sleep, and when he woke, his memory would be that much dimmer. He’d had no choice. King Erhard couldn’t slip out of his grasp. He was still of use.
Greton was a small, insignificant kingdom that had suited his purposes beautifully many years before. None of his enemies would have thought to look for him there, and those who could track him—he shrugged—hadn’t dared.
It had been a perfect location to build his strength, with the added benefit of its proximity to Rugia. He walked down the corridor toward his rooms in the castle. Servants loyal only to him were sprinkled throughout the castle. They were his eyes and ears. He’d had word that the king was acting peculiarly, not sleeping in his rooms, and wandering around the garden.
It hadn’t taken much to realize that although the king had been exposed to it since childhood, the effects of the dacrite scent were wearing off. Fortunately King Erhard had long since abandoned any inclination to think for himself.
Dacrite taken into the body was doubly potent. It would take a little time, but the king would never be himself again. Not that it was a tragedy. Erhard had been a sniveling child who grew into a sniveling man. It would be a welcome riddance.
Once Bredych was sure the tea was working, he’d return to his manor, and the next stage of his plan. Everything was already in place, despite the recent setbacks. Ilythra. He forced his jaw to relax and his step to slow. The fool had let her go. For that alone he deserved to have his mind dissolved. “So close, I was so close,” he muttered. A few more days and he’d have instructed Cassia, the king’s bastard daughter, to ask Ilythra for the stone. She’d have complied. He knew it. He should have had control of both stones by now. Anger blurred his vision.
As he could only possess one stone, Cassia would have been the perfect choice to hold Ilydearta, Ilythra’s stone, for him. With her he hadn’t had to use the dacrite. Her own ambitions and secrets bound her to him. Of course, he wouldn’t have chanced her thinking she was independent of him. He knew her weaknesses. He would have taught Cassia how to work in tandem with him.
If not for the Benai. The empty chase for Ilydearta plus his other activities had wearied him more than he liked to admit. He’d pondered what to do about the Benai as he was recovering his strength in his rooms. He could have the caravans slaughtered. But that would be too easy. He wanted to see them suffer. Each and every one of them.
And he would.
Who had Ilydearta? The stone’s song changed with each bearer—not greatly, but enough for the melodies to be distinguishable. It still did not carry Ilythra’s signature. He opened the door to his rooms. She’d given it to the Benai. That had to be the answer. A shadow separated itself from the depths of the room.
“You summoned me, my lord.” A tall Rugian bowed his head. Coarse fur pelts wrapped around the man’s torso and draped over his shoulder. A wide belt captured the furs and secured a thick Rugian sword. Ulger, leader of the largest clan of Rugians, stood uneasy before him. Bredych could almost taste the aversion. Rugians ruled by brute strength, and Ulger had been defeated long ago when he’d been stupid enough to challenge him. Bredych had directed living rock to wrap around his chest and only released it after the warlord pledged his loyalty in front of all his men. He now owned the Rugian body and soul and by Rugian law. The gold he provided was an added measure of security.
“Did anyone see you?”
“No.” The Rugian’s chin rose as his jaw tensed.
Bredych nodded, moved toward a table and poured himself a glass of wine. Another benefit of Greton—they did produce excellent wine. “The woman will flee north. I want you to watch every road, every possible way she could leave the valley, and when she does, I want you to bring her to me. Alive.”
Ulger nodded. “Will she be alone?”
Bredych drained the glass. “I don’t know. If she is not, kill... No, bring me her companion as well.”
“That is a lot of area to cover.”
“Are you saying your men are not up to the task?” Bredych lifted an eyebrow.
A shadow crossed the Rugian’s face. “No. Only that it will take a considerable force.” Ulger’s chin raised just a hair more. Not enough to indicate defiance, but enough for Bredych to know his reluctance.
“I don’t care how many it takes.” Bredych struggled to compose his voice. “She has a head start on you. You’ll need to track her. Race ahead of her and lay traps. It’s not important to me how you accomplish this task, as long as you do. Bring her to me, no matter the cost. Do I make myself understood?”
“Yes, my lord.” Ulger’s expression shuttered. Bredych could almost feel the hostility radiating from the Rugian.
“Oh, and leave your second, Gotzon, here with me. I may have a use for him.”
Ulger nodded. But his jaw worked beneath the skin. Ulger’s second was his brother. And one of the few people the Rugian genuinely loved.
Bredych let him take two steps toward the door. “Do I need to tell you what will happen if you fail?”
Ulger froze. He cleared his throat. “No. It will be done.” Without another word, the man slipped out the door.
>
* * *
Mohan stepped forward. Ilythra placed a hand on his arm and shook her head. Guilt still weighed down her mind. Even though she knew it would be impossible to dissuade him from joining her, she wouldn’t let him walk into a dangerous situation before she did.
He stared at her hard. In answer to his misplaced chivalry, she edged in front of him, crouched down—sensing he did the same—and spun into the darkness, sword drawn.
The steady drip of water echoed from somewhere in the dark. She stepped tentatively forward.
The door closed with a quiet thud, shutting off even the faint light of the stars. Panic froze her body. She struggled to catch her breath. Alone in the tunnels. In the dark. Under a mountain of rock. Mohan placed a hand on her shoulder. His warmth grounded her. She wiped the sweat from her brow with the back of one hand and struggled to control her breathing. Mohan had been with her then too, in the tunnels under the castle of Greton. He hadn’t left her. He wouldn’t leave her now.
She took a few more breaths, the air tangy with the scent of minerals and dust. As her eyes adjusted, a narrow tunnel came into view, its sides worn almost smooth. Mohan squeezed her shoulder again and then placed her hand on his arm, leading them into the unknown dark.
She let him. It wasn’t time for bravado, guilt or even fighting for control. They were a team. The steady dripping grew in volume, and the sharp mineral scent increased. Soon the passage widened, and an inky black pool came into view. They skirted the water, careful to avoid the slippery algae-coated rock near the bank. A splash could alert anyone who shared the tunnel with them of their presence.
Mohan froze. Every muscle in Ilythra’s body tensed for a fight. Had he seen something? The dim outline of his hand waved in the air. He was pointing. She stared in that direction. A fresh breeze brushed against her face. They were getting close to the other side.
The two Rugians she’d seen disappearing into the tunnel must have been relieved by the sentries Mohan killed. Would there be sentries farther in? Where exactly did the tunnel lead? They seemed to be walking for hours. Twice more Mohan stopped. Each time he shook his head and continued. Fate did favor the cautious, but she was ready to run through the tunnels in search of the light.
Journey of Wisdom Page 3