The Study Series Bundle

by Maria V. Snyder

  We packed and followed Tauno’s trail. Another uneventful day and we found the camp location without any problems. Tauno reappeared with dinner hanging from his belt.

  “I discovered the location of the barn,” he said, while butchering the rabbits. “It is four miles west of here in a little hollow.”

  Valek quizzed him for the details. “We’ll have to strike in the dark,” he said. “We’ll go after midnight, leave the horses in the trees and then attack.”

  Tauno agreed. He cubed the meat and dropped it into the pot. “I will sleep, then.”

  While Marrok stirred the stew, Valek prepped the reed pipes and I saddled the horses. Garnet sighed when I cinched his straps tight.

  “It’s not far,” I said aloud. “Then you can rest.”

  I joined Marrok and Valek where they sat by the fire. They ate their stew and I filled a bowl for me. The broth tasted better; there was a hint of spice.

  “This is good,” I said to Marrok. “I think you’re getting the hang of it. What did you add?”

  “A new ingredient. Can you tell what it is?”

  When I sampled another spoonful, I rolled the liquid around my mouth before swallowing. The aftertaste reminded me of Rand’s favorite cookie recipe. “Ginger?”

  Valek dropped his stew. He jumped to his feet but stumbled. A look of horror creased his forehead. “Butter root!”

  “Poison?”

  “No.” He sank to his knees. “Sleeping draft.”

  29

  VALEK COLLAPSED ONTO the ground. But just before he closed his eyes, he winked at me. I glanced around. Marrok hunched over his bowl, appearing to be asleep. A bone-deep fatigue spread throughout my body, but I remained awake. Perhaps I hadn’t swallowed enough butter root.

  Not wanting to be caught “aware,” I pulled my switchblade and hid the weapon in the palm of my hand with my thumb resting on the button. Slumping over, I let my upper body fall to the side. The stew spilled off my lap and onto the ground, soaking into my pants. Great.

  I feigned sleep. My muscles stiffened and the cold seeped into my skin. Trying not to shiver, I strained to hear any noise to give me a hint of what was going on.

  The horses whinnied in alarm and I opened my mind to Kiki for the first time in days, hoping the tiny use of my magic wouldn’t alert anyone.

  Bad smell, she said. Quiet Man tied reins.

  Quiet Man?

  She huffed and showed me an image of Tauno.

  Why would he do that?

  Ask Garnet.

  Where did you go today, Garnet? I asked.

  See people. Smell fear.

  I cut off the connection when voices approached.

  “So easy! All the talk about the Soulfinder and the Ghost Warrior and look at them! Sleeping like babies,” a male voice said.

  “Trust is a powerful ally. Right, Tauno?” a female voice asked. She had the same lilt as a Sandseed.

  Was Tauno in league with them? Or had they captured him today and forced him to help them?

  “Yes. And trust is blind. No one suspected me even after the ambush in the plains.” He laughed. “Trust is for stupid people. Even the Sandseed Elders had no idea. My ability to find the Daviian camps amazed them.”

  They chuckled, enjoying themselves. Anger seethed in my blood. Tauno could trust I would make him regret his actions.

  As they decided what to do, I counted four distinct voices. Two men and one woman plus the traitor Tauno. They planned to use Marrok to appease the Council, and bring me to their leader, Jal.

  “Kill the Ghost Warrior,” one of the Vermin ordered. “Make sure you cut his throat and collect his blood. It will be just revenge for Alea and her brother.”

  I waited. Arms wrapped around my chest and another set around my ankles. They lifted me off the ground.

  “Now!” Valek yelled.

  I triggered my switchblade and yanked my knees toward my chest, pulling the surprised Vermin holding my feet into my knife. Hot blood gushed onto my hands. I wrenched the blade out of his stomach before the other Vermin dropped me onto the ground. I scrambled to my feet as he pulled his scimitar.

  Switchblade against scimitar. Bad odds. And I had used the Curare on my weapon on the first man. This wouldn’t be a long fight. I glanced at Valek. He fought Tauno and the woman. His sword against their spears. Better odds. I hoped I could last long enough for Valek to help me.

  “Drop your weapon,” the Vermin ordered me.

  When I didn’t obey, the man swung and I dodged to the side. He lunged. I backed away. He swiped at my neck. I ducked. He hacked and I danced.

  Winded with the effort, the Vermin said, “You will not be harmed if you surrender.”

  After another attack, I realized what he was doing. “You’re not allowed to kill me,” I said. “Jal wants me alive so he can feed me to his pet Fire Warper!”

  My smugness infuriated him. He increased the pace of his swings. Bad decision.

  “I can still hurt you. Bleed you. Torture you.”

  His blade sliced through my cape. I stepped back as blood welled from the slash along my arm. Really bad decision. He advanced. I retreated. His scimitar found more open areas and soon my arms and legs were crisscrossed with bleeding cuts. I felt light-headed and my feet moved with an unusual slowness. My energy drained at an alarming rate.

  My bat appeared. He flew at the Vermin, diving and pulling his hair. The Vermin flailed his arms, giving me an opening, but my switchblade felt so heavy and my body reacted too slowly. The Vermin must be a strong Warper. He had weakened my mental defenses without my notice.

  The Warper stared at the bat and the poor creature crashed to the ground.

  “Is that all you have?” he asked. “What about your great soul magic? I think the Fire Warper will be disappointed.” He shrugged. “Orders are orders.”

  He swung his weapon. My arms moved, but couldn’t block the hilt of his scimitar from striking my temple.

  My vision blurred as I crumpled to the ground. The world spun. I rolled away from the Warper. When I reached Kiki’s hooves, I let the blackness claim me.

  A hammer pounded on the side of my skull. Wake up, it pounded. Open your eyes. More hammering. I refused. The next time, a dull throb intruded on my oblivion. Come on, it pulsed. Open your eyes. Please.

  I woke, feeling like a cutting board. My arms and legs burned with pain and my head hurt. Valek hunched over me, pouring water on my cuts, inflaming them.

  “Ow! Stop that,” I said.

  “Finally,” he said. But he didn’t stop. He dabbed at them, cleaning the lacerations, and sat back on his heels. “That’ll have to do for now. Come on. We need to go.”

  When I failed to move, he pulled me into a sitting position. A wave of nausea swelled.

  “Here.” He thrust red leaves into my hands. “I found them in your saddlebags. The note said to eat them for head pain.”

  I chewed one. My stomach settled, but my sight remained blurry. I peered into the semidarkness, assuming the fuzzy white blob in the sky meant the moon had risen. Had I slept all day? Valek’s words finally sank in.

  “Go where?” I asked.

  Valek yanked me to my feet. “We need to find the barn.”

  My thoughts still moved as if coated with sap. “Barn?”

  Valek shook the rest of the canteen’s water onto my shorn head. A jolt went through me when the cold breeze hit my wet skull.

  “When the Vermin don’t come back with us, the others will know something has happened and will either kill their hostages or move to another location.” Valek ennunciated each word as if speaking to a simpleton. “Here.” He handed me a set of clothes. “Hurry.”

  I changed. The carnage around our campsite made me sick and I sucked on another red leaf. Valek had killed the woman and Tauno. Traitor! Marrok remained where he had fallen asleep. And the Warper lay on his side. His head looked misshapen, as if kicked by a horse.

  Kiki? I asked.

  Bad man. No one hurt
Lavender Lady.

  Thanks.

  Peppermints?

  When we’re done. And apples, too!

  I wore my coral-colored shirt and matching skirt/pants. They reflected the moonlight. No hope for me to blend in. Valek dressed in the Warper’s clothes and he applied makeup to match the Warper’s skin tone. Fear twirled up my spine as I figured out what he planned. At least, I wasn’t going to be bait for a necklace snake. This time.

  We untied the other horses. The smell of blood made them skittish, and they were happy to leave despite being tired. Valek and I rode Kiki and Onyx while leading the others. We traveled the four miles to the barn in silence. Approaching the edge of the woods with care, I strained to see a sign of the Vermin hideout. An eerie red glow shimmered above Diamond Lake. The small structure looked deserted, but after a moment, the figures guarding the doors became visible.

  “Which horse?” I asked.

  “Onyx. Kiki is too well-known.”

  I dismounted and told the horses to stay in the woods until I called.

  “Take off your cape,” Valek said. “Lie in front of me.” He took his foot from the stirrup.

  I pulled myself up and lay across the saddle. He handed me my switchblade. The weapon had been cleaned and the blade was retracted.

  “It’s been primed with Curare.” Valek grabbed the reins with his left hand and held a scimitar in his right.

  “Pretend to be unconscious,” he ordered as he clicked at Onyx.

  We entered the open area, hopefully appearing as the Warper coming back with his prize.

  Feigning to be a dead weight, I bounced on Onyx’s saddle. The motion made me nauseous. A whoop of joy cut through the air as we neared. I prepared for Valek’s signal.

  “Where are the others?” a male voice asked.

  “They’re coming,” Valek said in a rough tone.

  “Finally! We have her!” another man said as he tugged my legs. “Help me.”

  Valek slid off on the opposite side of the saddle, keeping Onyx between him and the Vermin.

  Another person joined in pulling me off. “We’ll keep her asleep until she reaches Jal. Get the wagon, you’ll leave tonight,” the man ordered. He cradled me in his arms.

  “Where is Jal?” Valek asked.

  The man froze and I risked a peek. The tip of Valek’s scimitar touched the Vermin’s neck. Although armed with his own scimitar and a spear strapped to his back, the Vermin’s hands held me.

  “At the Magician’s Keep. Go ahead and find Jal. Just make sure to take her with you.” The man tossed me at Valek and yelled for help.

  At that close distance, even Valek couldn’t dodge out of the way. I hit him in the chest. We tumbled to the ground, but I kept going until I cleared his body. Jumping to my feet, I spun in time to see Valek rolling away to avoid being sliced by the Vermin’s blade.

  Four more Vermin with weapons drawn ran toward us.

  I triggered my switchblade and threw it at the Vermin attacking Valek. He grunted when the blade nicked his shoulder, but he didn’t stop. However, the Curare on my blade spread throughout his body and paralyzed his muscles. I grabbed the man’s spear. Valek regained his feet and his weapon.

  A mere second later, the others reached us.

  Events blurred into one long fight. I used the spear’s length to my advantage, keeping the scimitars from reaching me. After a fake to the midsection, I swept my opponent’s feet out from under him. I didn’t hesitate to plunge the tip of the spear into his neck. His soul rose from his body and hovered above it. Should I help his soul?

  Before I could decide, another man approached. But he stopped and I felt strands of magic tug at my spear. A Warper who could move objects. The spear flew from my grasp, turned and pointed straight at me.

  “Jal wants me alive.” I reminded him.

  He advanced. “Why not use your power to stop me? Afraid the Fire Warper will tell Jal what you’re doing?”

  “Give the man a prize. Your intellect is truly amazing.”

  The spear’s tip came closer and poked me in the hollow of my throat. “Surrender or I’ll skewer her,” the Warper called to Valek.

  Valek disengaged, his gaze questioning.

  “He won’t do it,” I said to Valek.

  “You are right. How about surrender or I will set the barn on fire?” The Warper pointed to the building. “Do you want to be responsible for the deaths of ten children?”

  30

  “NO! DON’T,” I YELLED. “Let the children go and I’ll come with you.”

  “I know you will,” the Warper said. “I am more concerned about the Ghost Warrior.” He looked at Valek. “Put your weapon down.”

  Valek placed his scimitar on the ground, but as he straightened, he flicked his hand twice. A small dart pricked the Warper’s neck. The man jerked in surprise.

  “Move,” Valek ordered.

  I twisted, avoiding the spear’s thrust, but I wasn’t fast enough to stop the sharp edge from cutting a gash across my neck. A line of stinging pain registered in my mind. It was forgotten as soon as I saw the Warper turn. Fire erupted under the barn’s door. He collapsed beside his colleague, finally overcome by Valek’s sleeping potion.

  Smoke reached my nose, igniting memories of dread and fear.

  “Valek, go!” I waved him on and whistled for the horses.

  They came and I raced toward the barn. Kiki help! I said.

  Valek had gotten the burning door opened, but flames crept toward the roof. Topaz and Onyx shied away from the acrid smoke, but Kiki and Garnet braved the heat.

  “Tell them to move to the left side,” I yelled to Valek over the roar.

  He sprinted through the opening and I led Kiki and Garnet to the right side. I waited for two horrible seconds then banged on the barn’s wall.

  Kiki. Garnet. Kick. I dived to the side. The animals aimed their back hooves and punched a hole in the wall with their powerful legs.

  When the opening was big enough for the adults, I stopped the horses. Pulling a few splintered boards clear, I looked inside and called to the captives. Even with the bright firelight, the room was obscured by smoke. But a person grabbed my hand. I pulled coughing children through the hole, counting them as they came out.

  The smoke thickened and the inferno advanced.

  When Councilor Greenblade’s husband crawled out with a small child clinging to his back and a baby clutched to his chest, my count totaled ten children and one adult.

  “Where’s Gale?” I asked.

  Hacking with the effort to expel the smoke from his lungs, he pointed through the opening. “Collapsed.” He wheezed for air. “Couldn’t take…them all.”

  I moved to go in, but he pulled me back.

  “Roof.” He coughed.

  We shooed the children away from the barn mere moments before the roof buckled with a shower of sparks and an explosion of sound.

  I counted children again. Ten. One adult. No Gale. No Valek. He was still in the barn!

  Horror and anguish twisted around my throat and shredded my heart. I bolted toward the blazing building. The heat rolled off the structure, pushing me back. Roof beams had fallen on top of the Vermin. The flames lapped at their bodies and sucked their souls into the inferno.

  A porthole into the fire world opened in front of me. I could have grabbed one of the Vermin’s souls and returned to the Fire Warper. But I wasn’t ready. I had a few more things to accomplish and a few goodbyes to make before I embraced the fire.

  Then I would crave the fire. Living in this world without Valek held no appeal for me.

  The blaze raged all night. By morning it settled into a large smoldering heap. Still too hot for me to search among the ruins for some sign of Valek or Gale. Instead, I led the children over to Diamond Lake to get cleaned up and tried to ignore the grief burning inside me.

  Councilor Greenblade’s husband, Kell, helped feed the children and tend their wounds. Kiki and Garnet drank from the lake, and I washed the so
ot from their coats. The water was clear. The red color came from the bottom of the lake as if someone had painted the rocks and gravel. Perhaps they had. After all, it was a man-made lake.

  When everyone’s needs were met, we headed back to the campsite. We found Marrok engaged in the grim task of burying bodies.

  “Guess I slept through the battle,” he said. “Did we win?” He inclined his head to Tauno. “Or lose?”

  “Both,” I said. My anguish over Valek threatened to push from my throat. I bit down hard on my lip, tasting blood.

  “Care to explain?”

  I filled him in on what had happened. He accepted Tauno’s betrayal with a cynical snort and a wry twist of the lips that reflected his black thoughts about trust.

  After I finished, he said, “At least your little friend is all right.”

  “Friend?”

  He pointed to a nearby tree. “I thought he was dead, but when I went to pick him up he flew off. Scared the heck out of me.”

  I went over. My bat hung upside down on a low branch. The creature opened an eye halfway then closed it again, contented. Somehow I had created an emotional link with the bat that was similar to my link with Kiki.

  Contemplation about my affinity for animals would have to wait, though. More pressing matters needed to be addressed—finding Valek’s body, for one. But I said, “We have to find a safe place for the Councilors’ family members.”

  Bavol Zaltana’s daughter, Jenniqilla, pulled at my cape. “I want to go home,” she said. Although happy to be free, sadness touched her eyes and weariness lined her young face.

  I crouched down next to her. “I know, but I need you to pretend you’re still a hostage for just a little while longer. It’s really important. Can you help us out?”

  Determination filled her eyes, reminding me of Fisk. I assigned all the older children small jobs, and they moved about with a renewed sense of purpose.

  “What about me?” Kell Greenblade asked.

  The Greenblade lands were east of Bloodgood’s. “Do you know anyplace where we can hide all of you?”