“I don't see how that's a good thing,” Neiszhe said as she returned to the table. “It sounds painful.”
Meaghan knit her hands together on the table, and tried not to think about that aspect of her stone imprisonment. “It was necessary. While Nick's technique works to control my empath power, it takes a lot of energy. Because of that, I'm bound to short visits with large crowds of people. Trapped in stone, I couldn't use Nick's technique. I had nothing to focus on externally, so I focused on the only thing left.”
“You focused on yourself,” Nick guessed, “on your own emotions.”
“Exactly,” she said. “The first time I focused on myself, I felt an echo. I was afraid, and then I sensed my fear. After a while, the echo disappeared and I felt only my original emotions. I didn't feel anyone else's either.”
“And now?” Cal asked.
“I'm getting better at it. It only takes a few seconds for the echo to go away.”
Nick captured her hand. “Right after we revived you, you said the technique seemed natural. Is that still true? Is it still easy?”
“It's effortless,” she told him. “Once I settle into it. Sometimes it takes ten minutes or so, but I think in a couple of weeks I'll have it down.”
“Good.” Cal nodded. “Great,” he decided, and a large grin returned to his face. “It won't be long before you can rejoin the Elders then.”
“I think I have enough command over it now to keep my empath power in check around other people. I was hoping we could leave when you and Neiszhe do.”
“If you're using the word think, then it's not worth the risk,” Cal told her. “When you know you have enough command, then you can come.”
“But I could be useful to the villagers. Maybe we should ask the Elders what they think.”
Cal chuckled and picked up the deck of cards. “You just did,” he reminded her. “And I said no. Update May every week on your progress and we'll revisit the decision each time. Until then, you stay. Neiszhe and I leave in two days.”
“So what am I supposed to do in the meantime?” Meaghan asked, crossing her arms over her chest. Her cheeks burned with her anger. “Am I supposed to just sit here and wait for more people to die?”
Cal stood. “You can train,” he told her. “After nearly a week of being lazy inside the cabin, I'm sure you'll need it.”
She sputtered, at a loss for words, and then laughed despite her frustration. Cal planted a kiss on the top of her head before turning to retrieve the kettle from the fire.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
IT MUST be a goose. Its stark-white feathers and bright orange bill had given it away, though Caide had not seen one in years. The last time his father had caught one, Caide had helped dress it, then relished in the smile lighting his mother's face when he gave her the feast. He hoped to bring the same smile back to her today. She had seemed melancholy over the past few weeks, though she had tried to hide it from him.
Scree had delivered bad news. The silent looks his parents exchanged, tense with fear and anger, confirmed it. It bothered him that they would not share the news. They still thought of him as a child, but he had grown since they had fled their homeland. He had gained wisdom because of his power. His friends had teased him. The adults had ostracized him. And Mardróch hunted him. Some men would crumble under the guilt and pressure, but it made Caide want to become stronger, faster, and smarter than the foolish boy he had been. He had no choice. He would be leader someday, like his father, and he had to ensure his people valued him. Not just for his command, but also for what his spellmaster power could do.
It would be important to his people someday, even if they did not realize it yet. He had witnessed first-hand the threat Garon's Mardróch posed. He had overheard stories his father shared with his mother detailing what the monsters had done to Zeiihbu. And he had known when he met Queen Meaghan that he would be valuable to her, once he learned how to fight in the war. Although Cal did not think Caide would be able to control his powers in time to help, he had other plans. His alliance with the Queen would keep Zeiihbu in favor with Ærenden, a necessity both his father and grandfather had instilled in him since soon after he could understand words.
In the meantime, he had to prove his worth to his family. He had failed in protecting them when he had divulged the secret of his power to his friends and they, in turn, had shared it with the tribe. But he would make amends for his mistake by protecting them now, and providing for them.
The white bird had not yet heard Caide. He moved his feet with a light step, careful not to rustle branches or snap twigs, and he took the shallowest of breaths. He belonged to the forest. He respected it and received easy passage in turn.
The bird halted for a moment and Caide removed an arrow from his pack, his movements slow and steady. As soon as he nocked the weapon, the bird began moving again, weaving around trees and under bushes as it sought its dinner. Caide had missed his opportunity, but he did not mind. There would be another. Patience belonged to the true hunter, just as luck belonged to his prey.
He did not have to wait long before the bird stopped again to root in the dirt. Caide circled a tree, keeping his eyes locked on his target. Then, when he saw his chance for a successful shot, he drew back his elbow, aimed, and let his arrow fly.
A loud noise startled the goose. It flew into the air, disappearing among the tree branches with a loud honk. Caide's arrow lodged into the ground where the bird had been. He uttered an oath he had heard from his father on occasion, and then ducked behind a tree when the noise in the woods grew closer. Several heavy creatures lumbered in his direction, taking no care to avoid breaking branches as they passed. By the sound of their gait, he realized they could not be animals, and by their carelessness, they could not be hunters. No hunter this noisy would have lived so long into the winter.
He flattened his back against a tree, and then turned sideways so he could peer in the direction of the noise, catching his breath when he saw two Mardróch and a human companion. The latter wore a red cloak, the garb of a lead soldier in Garon's army.
“They're around here somewhere,” the soldier said. “Tooley saw the boy's father last week in this area.”
“Tooley's an idiot,” one of the Mardróch complained. “And a drunk. We can't be certain what he saw wasn't a hallucination.”
“We can,” said the soldier, stopping to glare at the Mardróch who had spoken. The Mardróch cast his eyes down. “Garon put him in the stockade until he got the location right. It's amazing how fast withdrawal improved his memory.”
The second Mardróch chuckled. “It's no less than he deserves. He nearly ruined our attack on that healing woman's village by sending his Mardróch guards a few weeks early. I'm surprised Garon hasn't killed him for that mistake.”
“He intends to,” muttered the first Mardróch. “And I'm sure he would have by now if Tooley hadn't had information to share. Once we have the Spellmaster, the fool will breathe his last.”
The soldier grunted. “And so will we if we don't find the boy.” Stopping short, he looked down at his feet, and then shuffled a shoe over the dried leaves remaining from autumn. “The spell should have plenty of fuel to start. Once it reaches the trees, it'll spread like,” he chuckled, “wildfire.”
“You're certain your shield will protect us?” the first Mardróch asked.
“Of course,” the soldier replied. “I can cover four people. Garon doesn't want the rest of the family. They'll die in the blaze. No one will know we set it, and no one will know we have the boy. They'll assume he died, too.”
“Good,” the first Mardróch responded. “I love this part of my job. I always thought Adelina made a mistake not getting rid of those animals in Zeiihbu. It'll be nice to fix her weakness by killing the ruler's family.”
“All but the older boy,” the second Mardróch said. “It's a shame he'll live. It's more than the filth deserves. Maybe he can suffer an accident—”
The soldier whirled on him
, his movements so fast Caide barely saw his sword leave its sheath. He hovered the tip of the blade between the Mardróch's eyes. “Enough. The boy's protected. If you dare consider otherwise, I'll have your life. Do you understand?”
“Yes,” the Mardróch choked out.
Instead of lowering his sword, the soldier slashed it through the air, bringing the Mardróch to the ground. He turned to the other monster and brandished his sword again. “The threat was for your understanding,” he said. “I don't believe in second chances. Do you fall in line with his thinking?”
“I follow orders,” the Mardróch answered. “Garon ordered us not to harm the boy. It doesn't matter what I think.”
“Good,” the soldier said, and this time, he put his sword away. “Let's get this done. I want to be home for dinner.”
He turned toward the spot where the goose had been standing and frowned. Caide hoped his arrow would blend into the forest, but his luck did not hold.
“What's this?” the soldier asked, freeing the arrow from the ground. He ran a thumb along the feather quill, and then traced his fingers down to the stone arrow. “Nice craftsmanship. It's Zeiihbuan without question.”
“The boy's?” the Mardróch asked.
“Or his father's. Can you sense anyone?”
The Mardróch lowered his head and then a moment later, lifted a hand to point in Caide's direction. Caide swallowed hard. Panic rose in his throat, and he did the only thing he could. He ran.
Although he knew the woods better and could find swift footing among the roots and bushes without looking, his skill could not match the Mardróch's speed. The chase only lasted a quarter mile before the monster grabbed Caide and spun him around. Caide remembered what his brother had told him about the Mardróch freezing power, but he remembered it too late.
He stared into the monster's red eyes and found a form of torture he had never known before. Free from physical constraint, his mind wanted to flee, but his body refused to follow the command. Terror constricted his muscles, shortened his breath, and rolled his stomach. Despite his strong will, he could not break its grip over him.
“Nicely done,” he heard the soldier say. A red cape drifted across the bottom of Caide's sight and then disappeared.
“It's him, isn't it?” the Mardróch asked. Caide could see the monster's lips move, but his eyes remained unblinking.
“No question about it,” the soldier said. “He's practically his father's twin. I met Faillen once you know. He was a boy at the time, and he walked through the castle with his father like they owned the place. I'm sure they intended to overthrow the Queen eventually, but King Garon beat them to it. And now the King will use one of their own against them.”
“That's justice,” the Mardróch said. “It's just too bad we won't get to smoke the boy's family out.”
“Who says we can't?” the soldier asked. “Garon won't know we caught the boy before we had a chance to set the fire. Before, after,” he shrugged. “All he cares about is the end result.”
The Mardróch's laughter chilled Caide, as did the realization of what the soldier intended to do. Caide's family would not stand a chance against a fast-moving fire, especially one started by a spell. They would not be able to outrun or stop it. Caide could, if he could speak, but his lips refused to move. Tears welled in his eyes.
“We have a crybaby here,” the Mardróch said and ground a bony finger into Caide's cheek.
“Imagine that,” the soldier replied. “Animals have feelings after all.”
Caide heard the soldier walk away. Soon, the sound of rustling leaves and breaking twigs followed. Muttering came next, though Caide could not make out all of the words, and then he smelled smoke. They had cast the spell. The soldier stepped back into view. He pulled a roll of tape from his pocket, tore off a piece, and then secured it over Caide's mouth.
“Insurance.” He grinned. “We're not interested in being turned to stone like the last Mardróch you met.”
Caide's younger brother had done that. His father had told him about it, but Garon did not know Aldin also had the spellmaster power. He considered telling them, divulging Aldin's secret to save his brother's life, but he could not consign Aldin to a life of horror as Garon's slave. Caide had a feeling he would wish he was dead soon, too.
The Mardróch threw Caide over his shoulder. Unfrozen, Caide struggled, kicking and punching to get free, but his efforts proved useless. The Mardróch's grip only tightened. Black smoke began to choke the air as the fire fed with a ravenous hunger. A force field drew up around them, creating a bubble of clean air. He thought he saw the shadow of a man through the smoke, a man of his father's height and build, but no sooner had he seen the ghost than the soldier began talking.
Another spell, Caide realized, and lost consciousness as a black curtain descended over him.
CHAPTER THIRTY
MEAGHAN STUFFED her mother's book into the backpack, then wrapped the corn husk doll in one of her shirts and placed it on top of the book. They had buried the leftover food in the woods. Their supplies, except for their weapons, would remain behind. Cal had come earlier in the week to collect Nick's bow and arrows, their extra clothes, and the medical kit. He had left a few emergency items behind, in case someone needed them, but he had made Meaghan promise to avoid anything that might cause injury during her remaining days in seclusion. For the most part, she kept her promise, with the exception of one last training run the morning of their departure. The course had become a daily companion for her. She needed to say good-bye.
She reached for her mother's amulet, ensuring it still hung around her neck, and then zipped the backpack closed and set it next to their weapons beside the door. They would meet Cal soon in the crystal cave so he could show them their new home.
The door opened and Nick stepped inside. “Ready?” he asked.
She nodded and scanned the room one last time. Although she intended to look for items they had missed, she only saw what they would leave behind—the kettle that had brewed far too many batches of jicab tea, the fireplace that roasted ambercat, turkey, and a number of other meals throughout the winter, and the spot in front of the fireplace where they had wed. She could still see him standing there, the torment on his face as clear as the day it had happened. And she could see the colors pouring from them both, binding them together forever.
It had been the first time she realized she had no control over her life, and the first time she had truly understood how much she had lost.
She turned from the memory, and caught Nick staring at the same spot on the floor.
“It seems so long ago,” he said. Sadness washed over her, an emotion that belonged to both of them, and she reached for Nick's hand. A lot had happened in this place and Cal had been right to say she would long for the comfort of it someday. She had already started feeling as if she had lost something else important.
“Maybe we can make it a vacation home,” she offered. “Once all of this is over.”
He laughed. “I can see it now, the King and Queen traipsing through the woods, spending time in a rustic cabin, hunting their own food and ignoring the protests of their Guardians. I don't think it'll go over well with the Elders, do you?”
“Maybe not,” she conceded, and then grinned. “But at least I can guarantee my Guardian won't be protesting.”
Nick chuckled and leaned down to pick up his sword. Swinging it over his shoulder, he fixed it to his back. “Are you still using your power?” he asked.
“Yes, until we meet up with Cal. I suspect it'll be some time before I'm able to use it again, so I thought it'd be best to let it roam free.”
“It's not a horse. It doesn't need to be exercised regularly.”
“Then why have I spent so much time training with it?” She strapped her knives to her waist, and then turned the conversation serious again. “I'm going to miss it. I feel like I'm shutting off a part of me.”
“You are,” he said and cupped her cheek. “Do you
remember the first days you spent in Ærenden? Back then, you saw your powers as separate from you. Now you've found your connection with them.”
“I guess I'm making progress,” she decided. Bringing a hand up to cover his, she squeezed it, and then drew both of their hands down and released him. She picked up the backpack and slung it over her shoulders, then followed him from the cabin.
Nick led the way into the woods, but allowed Meaghan to set the pace. She chose to stroll toward the cave, meandering in an effort to absorb the last of the forest's solitude. Cal would not arrive for some time, and despite her desire to return to the protection of the Elders, she did not wish to rush the reunion. Quiet would be nonexistent within the overpopulated caves.
Less than a quarter of a mile from their destination, the air took on the distinct smell of smoke. Although it started out faint, within a matter of minutes, Meaghan could see a heavy black cloud rolling toward them, chased by an unmistakable orange glow.
“Fire,” she started to warn Nick, but choked on the word before she could complete it. Nick glanced toward the advancing fury, grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him, hastening their pace toward the cave.
It all seemed too familiar, like she had returned to the fire Cal had set in the field. But this time, though the sense of dŽjˆ vu made it seem surreal, she realized Cal's power did not control it. They had no protection from the flames.
Her eyes stung. Her nose burned. She pulled the neck of her sweater over her mouth and breathed through it. It helped, but it would not keep her alive for long. They would only be safe when they reached the cave. Even if Cal had not yet arrived, they could teleport somewhere else. She did not care where, so long as they escaped the inferno chasing them.
She moved faster, watching Nick's feet as the smoke grew thick, clouding her eyes. She recognized a boulder with a red vein running through it, and a stump shaped like a chair. They crossed the frozen stream, now trickling with new melt. A hundred yards remained. She could almost taste the clean air that would greet them when they found their way to the deeper caverns. The need drove her, and then something tugged at her awareness and she froze mid-stride.
Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance (Ærenden Book 2) Page 23