Herd Mistress (In Deception's Shadow Book 2)

by Lisa Blackwood

  “I can’t find anything useful here.” Sorsha poked her head around the corner of the alcove. “Whatever used to be here turned to dust ages ago.” She swiveled her neck until she spotted him out in the water. “What are you doing? I knew you were lying!”

  An age rotted cloth fell from her hand. The cloth ruptured upon impact and pale powdery herbs dusted the ground at her feet. Sorsha’s worried features were the last thing he saw before he closed his eyes.

  “Stay where you are until this is finished,” he warned.

  Power swirled around the pool, tugging at his legs like a strong undertow. Even with his eyes closed he could still see the lights dancing among the shadows on the walls. Arcs of brilliance raced down from above, striking the waters of the pool like lightning.

  He gasped and gritted his teeth against a scream. Pain erupted in his core. His Larnkin flailed within him, shrinking away from the forceful probe of the Oracle’s power. The Oracle would not be denied and after a third wave of power, it got its scream.

  “Shadowdancer!” Sorsha’s calls when unanswered. From the moment Shadowdancer had gone pale, his face tense, she knew something was wrong. Then he screamed. Terror for him, that he’d be overwhelmed and drown in the water, forced her forward. But terror also stopped her from setting foot into the water. She didn’t know what would happen if she entered the pool while the magic worked upon Shadowdancer. Her ignorance might get him killed.

  Pacing back and forth along the shore, she called out to him repeatedly, cursing, begging, screaming. She’d never felt so helpless in all her life. His eyes were still closed, and he held himself still. No more sound escaped him, but the way the veins stood out against his skin sickened her. Power continued to pour into the pool, streaming down from above.

  Bright motes of magic, like the downy fluff of wind born seeds, floated through the air. Some landed on her skin with a tingling burn. Mercy, what must it feel like to be in the water?

  The air turned white, lightning bright. Sorsha screamed along with Shadowdancer. Spots blinded her. Then the air exploded around her, the shockwave blasted her sideways, and she sprawled in a senseless huddle.

  Gasping, her heart pounding in a steady beat, Sorsha attempted to right herself. She failed miserably and collapsed back to the ground. Her vision still seared by great black spots, she crawled forward by feel. One hand dipped into warm water.

  With a little scream, she jerked her hand back out of reflex and fear rather than pain. Cautiously she dipped her fingers back in—nothing happened, no pulsing magic or blistering power; it was just water again. The Oracle must have spent its power.

  Shadowdancer still lived; she heard him coughing and thrashing in the water. Sorsha gained her feet and stumbled into the water toward the sounds. In contrast to the cool air of the chamber, the water was bath warm, becoming hotter the deeper she got. And earthy—its scent was strangely relaxing. When she was knee deep into the pool, the void of spots crackling across her vision started to fade and she could make out a lumpy shape a couple body-lengths distant. Why did the fool not say something? Was he intentionally trying to stop her heart with fear?

  “Shadowdancer, say something.”

  He moaned. His terror and horror all rolled into that one dreadful sound. Sorsha’s stomach dropped at his tone and she made a desperate dive in Shadowdancer’s direction. Tripping, her feet slipped out from underneath her and she plunged under the now waist high water. Out of fear for what the magic-laced water might do, she squeezed her eyes and lips shut tight. When she came up, she was careful not to swallow any of it.

  Her slip and short swim had landed her in deeper water. The pool’s sloping bottom was treacherous and she lost her footing three more times before she managed to wade back to where Shadowdancer was trying to keep his head above water. His bare shoulders would break the surface and then he’d flail and go under again. She couldn’t see his face, but sensed his panic.

  She reached Shadowdancer’s side and grasped his shoulders in a fierce grip. But even her strong hold didn’t prevent his upper body from sinking back under the water, dragged under by his disproportionate body weight. It didn’t make sense. Her instincts screamed something wasn’t right; it shouldn’t have been so hard to hold his head out of the water. She braced her feet, her toes finding traction in a small ridge, and with a grunt she hoisted his head clear of the water again. Her arms shook with the force of holding his upper body above water. As Shadowdancer halted his struggles, the waters surrounding them calmed, and she saw the shadow of something darker under the water. At first she’d thought he just couldn’t get his feet under him, the pool’s bottom was sloped and slippery under foot.

  Sorsha gasped in shock as she finally understood what her eyes were showing her. Shadowdancer made a pained sound deep in his throat and renewed his thrashing, trying to get all four legs under him.

  Above the waterline he was human, below he was Santhyrian.

  And he was slumped on his side, in a twisted awkward manner, cast up, she realized, his forelegs trapped underneath him and his hind ones pointing higher up the incline. Situated that way, he couldn’t roll or get his feet under him, at least not on such a slippery surface.

  “Stop! Or you’ll drown us both.”

  He didn’t listen. If she’d had a free hand, she’d have given him a good swat, but both hands were busy keeping him from drowning, so she sank her teeth into his shoulder instead. “Stop panicking. You’ll drown us both!”

  That seemed to penetrate the chaos of his mind, and he stopped the useless fighting.

  “Easy. Are you in pain?” she asked as she rubbed her cheek against his. “It will be alright.”

  “No. It won’t be alright. I, I’m…”

  “Shush,” she whispered in his ears, gently placing kisses on his jaw. “Are you in pain?”

  “No.” The despair in his clipped tone caused an ache in Sorsha’s chest. He might not be in physical pain, but he was in shock and certainly in emotional anguish.

  “We’re going to be okay. First, we need to get out of this pool—we’ll worry about other things once we’re safe.”

  “I’m a monster.”

  “Stop it. Or you’ll be dead and so will the woman who loves you.”

  “I’m sorry….for this mess. If I hadn’t been in such a hurry…”

  “It would just have happened later. Come on.”

  “Let me go. Get away well you can. I’m shifting down the slope. You can’t hold my weight back. You’ll get trapped under me. Go. Please.”

  She ignored him and instead tightened her arms around his chest. Without the support of the water helping to buoy him up, she’d never have been able to support his weight all on her own. But the water gave her an idea.

  “If you’re not in pain, can you move your legs and feel any ridges you might be able to use for traction? Something you can brace against? I found a crack, but I’m not sure how much longer I can hold your torso up. The floor’s damn slippery.”

  “If I try, my bulk will shift, trapping you. I can’t risk it with you so close.” He turned his head toward her. She couldn’t see his expression but she’d bet a gold coin he was still terrified. Or maybe horrified.

  “I’m not leaving you here, and since I’m not suicidal, it would be wonderful if you’d look for something to push off against. We need to get into deeper water. You’re a strong swimmer. Once you’re away from the edge, you should be able to swim and right yourself. Once you’re upright you can walk ashore.

  “I’ll crush you.” His body tensed again.

  “No panicking.” She smacked his chest, but her own heart pounded with fear. She wasn’t sure if her plan would work. “Don’t worry. I’ll get out of the way in time. Promise.”

  “Sorsha…”

  “Just do what I say. I’ll let you win our next fight.” He didn’t laugh at her joke. Probably not a good sign. “Come on. I’m getting tired. Make up your mind.”

  He shifted slightly and g
lanced back in her direction. “I found a ledge that will suffice. Swear you’ll get out of the way.”

  “Promise.”

  Shadowdancer stared into her eyes. His were filled with an emotional pain—one she wanted to sooth away. Once more she glanced at his new body and didn’t know how she could make that better. But right now, his new form was the least of their worries.

  “Are you ready?” he asked and then waited in silence.

  “Yes.” After a quick kiss pressed to his temple, she released her hold and pushed off from the bottom, arching back into deeper water. She’d only made it a short distance when something with the delicacy of a log in rapids slammed into her, crushing the air from her lungs while pushing her to the bottom of the pool. A hoof struck her leg. She would have screamed in pain, but instinct saved her from inhaling water.

  She made for the surface only to run into the bulk of a massive body above her. His forelegs thrashed fearfully close to her head. She tucked herself into a ball, hoping he’d swim over her without doing too much damage.

  A hand reached down and grasped her shoulder in a painful grasp. He hauled her up between his front legs as he scrambled up the slope and out of the water. When they reached dry land, Shadowdancer heaved her onto the uneven stone floor and knelt down in front of her. Once he released her, his fists clenched and loosened with indecision. After a slight hesitation, that lasted moments but felt like candlemarks to Sorsha, he reached for her and drew her to his chest where he simply held her as he shook.

  The pounding of her heart and the rasp of his breathing were the only sounds beside the drip of water on to the stone floor. Neither of them spoke. They didn’t have to; each could feel the other’s fear and relief.

  Finally Shadowdancer moved, his hand coming up to pet her matted hair. After he placed a kiss on the top of her head he stated in a low voice, “You lied. You didn’t get out of the way.”

  “Sorry,” she mumbled into his chest. “I really did think I could get out of there in time.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  It was the oddest sensation to hold Sorsha and know it would be the last time he could touch her. Because of that, he caressed her in a slow methodical way, wanting to remember the feel of her, the smell of his Herd Mistress, guardian of his heart. Sorsha didn’t try to pull away from the horror he’d become. She was too brave for that, but he’d seen how her expression had changed from incomprehension to a flash of horror when she’d first looked upon him in the water and understood what price the Oracle had exacted. The Mark of the Oracle. Just what being a Harbinger dictated.

  Shadowdancer felt the horror growing within him again. He chuckled with humorless laughter. He’d thought the Oracle had meant some kind of a symbol like a tattoo or a brand. No, its idea of a mark was somewhat more spectacular.

  If he closed his eyes and didn’t move, it was easy enough to ignore his new body, for it felt both familiar and strange.

  Sorsha’s small hands slid down his chest, pausing at his waist and then after another moment’s hesitation, continued onward to explore where his human torso merged with his Santhyrian withers. He wanted her to stop, not sully her hands upon such an unnatural combination….and yet….he needed her touch to chase away the self-loathing, even for a few moments.

  “You’re not a monster. Trensler is the monster. Remember that.”

  Her words gave him the strength to hold her out to arms-length and gather his hooves under him. Not because she didn’t think him a monster, because he knew the truth, but her mention of Trensler reminded him of his duty—to protect his Herd Mistress.

  And he would fulfill all his obligations; he would become the Oracle’s Harbinger, no matter the personal cost. When he started for the stairs, Sorsha called after him. He ignored her as she followed him doggedly up corridors that led to the outside world.

  “Where are you going?” Sorsha asked with growing worry clouding her voice. She looped an arm over his withers and stroked his hide, the hand caressed higher up along his human back. It was a blunt attempt to divert him from his path. When that didn’t work, he felt her call her magic. His lips twisted into a snarl. He captured her hand and dragged her forward until she stood three steps above him on the stairs, effectively making them eye level.

  “I must stop Trensler and rescue the Falcon Staff as the Oracle demands.” He snatched her other hand before she could touch him again. “I honor my word.”

  “Wait!” Sorsha yelled at him as he pushed past her, and continued his lunging trot up the steep, twisting stairs. He didn’t slow until he saw sunlight and freedom a few strides ahead. Next to the small hole, which he and Sorsha had had to wiggle through to get inside the Oracle’s mountain dwelling, another larger archway now opened to the outside world. Seemingly, he had the Oracle’s blessing.

  Shadowdancer was halfway across the floor of the upper cavern when Sorsha burst out of the dark stairway and into the cavern behind him, shouting curses as she ran.

  “I’m supposed to come with you, you great idiot!”

  He slowed long enough to gather up one of the packs they’d left near the entrance. It held water and a few other foodstuffs, enough to fuel his body for a short time. The other pack he left for Sorsha. If he managed to rescue the Falcon Staff, he’d come back here and collect her, and then return Sorsha to the Herd. His plans didn’t extend beyond that point; he really couldn’t imagine his life without Sorsha in it, even though all his dreams were now impossible.

  After trotting under the archway, and out into the welcoming mountain winds, he slowed to allow his sight to adjust to the noontime sun. When he could see again, Sorsha had darted around in front and planted herself firmly in his path.

  “We need to do this together,” she said. Her persistence reminded him of a spring gnat.

  “You can’t come.” Shadowdancer hardened his heart, dragging up hurtful words to force Sorsha away from him. “You’re human. You’ll only slow me down.”

  The sharp flare of emotional pain at Shadowdancer’s words held Sorsha frozen in shock and speechless. She stayed there, arms crossed over her middle, legs braced apart and knees locked to stop their shaking.

  So he thought she was merely a slow human, did he now? Anger sparked to life, an ever tightening coil in her stomach. Human she might be, but the Oracle had said she was once of the Twelve and that Shadowdancer would need her. Sorsha squared her shoulders and glared at the tall figure before her. With a cry that would have been fit for the battlefield, she lunged at him in an attempt to vault onto his back.

  He danced out of reach and still wouldn’t face her. Nor would he let her within the emotional barriers he’d erected. He paused as he fought to adjust the pack’s straps, though he wasn’t so distracted that he allowed her to get within touching distance. She wanted to scream her frustration, but that wouldn’t help Shadowdancer, or their quest.

  She had to make him see reason, to understand she didn’t think him a monster, that no matter what the Oracle did to him, it didn’t terminate her love. But she’d only just come to realize how deeply she loved Shadowdancer and wasn’t sure if she could face the consequences if she bared her heart and he still ran away from what was between them—as he clearly intended. She fell back on reason. “The Oracle said we are Members of the Twelve. We must prove ourselves worthy. We, as in both of us…not just you. I need to come too.”

  “Don’t be foolish. Neither of us have a chance against Trensler in a one on one fight. Until we know better ways of killing the Acolytes from a distance, we must avoid them. But with them closing in on the Falcon Staff’s location, we’re running out of time. I stand a better chance of getting to the temple and escaping with the Falcon Staff on my own. You can’t keep up on foot, and if I carry you, it will slow me. I can’t take that risk. But you’ll be safe here with the Oracle.”

  Damn arrogant Santhyrian. He was right. His words were true, but that wasn’t why he was doing it this way. “You’re just trying to protect me by keepin
g me out of harm’s way while you risk your own life.”

  “I may not be what I was before…I don’t even know what I am now, but I can and will still serve duty, to the Twelve, to my family and to you, my Herd Mistress.”

  “Shadowdancer, stop!”

  “Be well, Herd Mistress.”

  “Get back here.”

  He turned on his heels and Sorsha uttered denials as he broke into a canter, churning up grass and earth under his hooves. He didn’t stop, or slow, or look back, though she ached for him to look back just once.

  “Bastard!”

  She didn’t run after him. He was right. There was no natural way she could keep up with him. But if he thought she’d just sit and await his return, he wasn’t just arrogant he was exceptionally stupid, too.

  Sorsha watched him until he was a small dark speck against the rocky, slate-grey terrain. He still moved with grace and surprising speed. When he was out of sight, she turned and followed the tunnels back to the Oracle’s chamber.

  Once again, Sorsha found herself facing the sentient crystal pillar. Its magic tingled against her body and the flashes of light cast halos of color upon her skin. It was beautiful. But she hadn’t returned to stare upon its beauty. “I’ll serve you for the rest of my life. And in return you’re going to help me. You’re going to make me like Shadowdancer.”

  “Exactly like him?” The Oracle’s voice was tinted with humor. Perhaps it wasn’t so different from them after all. It was even giving her a warning of sorts. Yes, she’d worded her request wrong.

  “A female version of Shadowdancer, only faster, so I can run his arrogant ass into the ground.” Anger spent, Sorsha cleared her throat. “Shadowdancer needs me; we need each other to defeat Trensler. Will you help me? Besides, the sooner we get the Falcon Staff, the sooner we can fix her and get her safely away from Trensler. That’s what you did all this to accomplish, isn’t it?”

  “It is as you speak. I will grant your wish.” The light flickering deep within the crystal stilled. “You, too, will be my Harbinger for as long as I exist. Are you certain in your choice?”