We ducked and dodged, trying to keep out of reach long enough for the toxin to work. Once they fell over, Noelle and I grinned at each other, panting in the foul air.
“Way to go,” I said.
“Not too bad yourself.” She paled. “Ewww! I’m going to be...” Noelle heaved over the bedpan. When she recovered, she pointed to Tohon. “How long will he be out?”
“Not long. His life magic will counteract mine soon.”
“Kill him before he wakes.”
I balked at first. I was a healer, not a killer. However, killing him would save thousands of lives. I glanced around, looking for a weapon.
The door burst open, and Tohon’s guards rushed in. They paused in horror, gagging on the fetid stench. Without thinking, I tackled the man closest to me, knocking him down into the hallway. I wrapped my hands around his neck and zapped him before he could shove me off.
Grabbing his dagger, I spun in time to see the other guard advance. He had pulled his sword. I threw the knife, embedding the blade in the man’s stomach. With a gasp, he fell to his knees.
The sound of drumming boots echoed to my right. Enric raced down the corridor with Private Bronson right behind him.
“There’s a bunch of guards looking for Tohon. They’re in the infirmary, so we need to leave right now,” Enric said.
I yelled for Noelle. She stepped over the man slumped in the threshold, carrying my pack. She set it down next to me as Enric stripped the guards of all their weapons. He handed a sword to Bronson.
Before I could protest, Enric said, “He knows how to use it. We need him.” Voices and the pounding of boots emanated from around the corner.
“Go!” Enric pulled me to my feet.
We ran, dashing into the stairwell near my room. I led them downstairs and out a back entrance of the manor house.
“Which way?” Enric asked when we reached the fresh air.
Farm fields stretched out in all directions. Not much cover, but since the moon hadn’t risen we wouldn’t be as visible.
I glanced at Noelle. Bronson supported her since she hadn’t been able to keep up.
“East?”
She nodded. East also offered the quickest route to the forest. Where we’d find concealment, but then we’d have to deal with the encirclement. I dug into my pack—Noelle had shoved everything back in. I found two syringes and filled them with toxin. I handed one to Enric.
“East it is,” I said.
Enric took point, followed by Noelle and Bronson, then me. We bolted for the woods. I expected to hear sounds of pursuit any second, but we reached the woods without incident.
We stopped for a minute. Noelle needed to rest. Moving away from the group, I listened to the forest, seeking those off notes and telltale noises. A light breeze rustled the trees, but nothing else indicated intruders.
I sniffed the air. Were we close to the encirclement? The sweet scent of moist earth rode the air currents. I inhaled, filling my nose with the comforting aroma. Automatically I touched the leaves on a nearby bush, but no magic tingled under my fingertips. Grief burned deep inside me at the thought I’d never feel Kerrick’s magic again.
Returning to the others, I outlined our next move. “Once we reach the dead, just keep moving. Enric and I will inject them.” I gestured toward his weapon belt. “Give me the daggers.” He passed them over, and I treated each of the blades with the toxin. Then I squirted a few drops on Enric and Bronson’s sword tips before refilling the syringe.
I handed one of the knives to Noelle. “Just in case the dead get close to you.”
“Do you know how to use it?” Bronson asked her.
“Oh, yes,” I answered for her, grinning. “She’s quite capable. And she swings a mean bedpan, too.”
A howl sliced the silence, followed by another. The distant sound sent a shudder down my spine.
“That’s our cue to leave,” I said. “You two stay close to me and Enric.”
With me in the lead, we headed deeper into the woods. After a few more steps, the ground under our feet rumbled. Tremors rolled along the soles of my feet.
“Don’t stop,” Enric ordered.
Shadows stood up around us. The hiss of dirt rained to the ground. The clang of a sword meeting another sounded as Enric parried a thrust. I’d forgotten Tohon had armed his dead.
Bronson shoved Noelle at me so he could fight. “Go, go, go!” he yelled, countering a swing and dodging another with the grace of a much older soldier.
Noelle wrapped her arm around my shoulder. I dragged her forward. One of the dead charged right at us. I pushed Noelle to the ground as I spun, avoiding the point of a knife. Jabbing his arm with my needle, I injected the toxin.
But he didn’t stop, and I cursed the delay. It might just be the death of us. He stabbed again, cutting my upper arm. I backpedaled, moving out of his reach just before he toppled to the ground.
“Keep moving,” Enric shouted.
However, the dead surrounded us like bees defending their hive. All I could do was stand over Noelle as another dead soldier attacked me. This one was a woman, and her blade pierced my left shoulder as I nicked her with my knife. Pain shot down my arm. She yanked the sword out and drew back for another strike.
I braced for the thrust. She stumbled and went down but was immediately replaced by another. I held my hands up in the universal sign for surrender. The dead man paused.
Voices called behind the line of dead. And in a flash, living soldiers joined the fray. Since they fought the dead, I didn’t bother to ask any questions. Tucking my dagger back into my belt, I helped Noelle to her feet and wove around the clumps of fighters, pricking the dead whenever I had the chance.
When we broke through the encirclement, I slowed. But two men waved us on, guarding our backs. We kept moving even when the sounds of fighting died. My shoulder burned, Enric had a nasty cut on his cheek and I’d lost sight of Bronson. Enric just shook his head sadly when I asked about the private.
The moon had risen, and dim light shone through the trees. Our escorts/rescuers wore leather armor over civilian clothes, so I had no idea who they worked for. I counted ten of them—six men and four women. They didn’t talk but signaled each other from time to time, which meant they’ve been together for a while. However, they didn’t know how to walk in the woods without making noise.
After an hour, I stopped. Noelle needed to rest, and I needed answers. She plopped down on the ground.
“It’s not safe,” one man said. He had short brown hair and carried a saber.
“She’s sick.” I pulled my pack off. “If you can keep your squad quiet for a minute, I’ll be able to tell you if anyone is chasing us.”
He agreed. Concentrating on the sounds of the forests, I closed my eyes. No sour notes or strange sounds reached me.
Opening my eyes, I said, “We’ve either lost them or they’ve given up.”
“It’s still not safe. Tohon’s other patrols—”
“Are nowhere near us.”
He squinted at me. “How do you know?”
“Tohon’s troops crash through the forest like blind deer. They haven’t learned how to go silent. Neither have you.”
He bristled. “Yet we managed to rescue you.”
“Thank you, Mr....”
“Gilson.”
“Avry.”
He inclined his head.
“While I’m grateful for your help, you have to admit your appearance was rather...timely. Were you in the area, or...”
“We were waiting for you,” Gilson said.
Alarmed, I wrapped my hand around the hilt of my knife. “How did you know we would be coming?”
Gilson glanced at Noelle. She had told me to go east. The pain from my shoulder spread to my heart. Noelle had betrayed me again.
KERRICK
Willing to do anything to ensure Danny’s freedom, Kerrick had agreed to be Rakel’s second when she challenged her father. If they failed, Kerrick and Rakel would d
ie. In that case, Noak had promised to take care of Danny.
The boy woke soon after Rakel healed him. Noak helped him to his feet.
“You have been touched by summer, and now are tribe, little brother,” Noak said.
Danny craned his neck back to stare at the big man. “Kerrick’s been touched by winter, does that make him tribe, too?”
“No.”
“Why not?” Danny asked.
Kerrick suppressed a chuckle at Noak’s uncomfortable expression.
“She gave you a gift in exchange for your sacrifice.”
Danny didn’t look convinced, but he kept quiet. As they walked back to Krakowa, Rakel explained his duties as a second. He would fight Canute’s second, who would probably be Olave, and share magic and energy with her if she needed it. Since Olave hadn’t been touched, it would be her power against her father’s.
When they reached the edge of the forest, Rakel gripped his hands to test if they were compatible, just in case. Her warmth soaked into his hands, traveled along his arms and spread throughout his body. His exhaustion lessened, and he leaned toward her like a sunflower following the sun.
That feeling of longing reminded him of Avry. An image of her rose in his mind. Tohon touched her cheek and she writhed in pain. He cried out, and Rakel released him.
“You are bound to another,” she said.
“I...”
“Your challenge will fail,” Noak said to Rakel.
“It is not like ours. He can still aid me. But you must focus on me, and not let another claim your thoughts. Can you do that?” she asked.
Kerrick glanced at Danny. “Yes.”
Olave and Canute waited for them on the steps of the library. They demanded answers and insisted Rakel return to seclusion. Kerrick left Noak and Rakel to deal with them, going to bed. He would be useless unless he rested.
* * *
Something bumped into his bed. Kerrick rolled over, grabbing for a weapon he no longer possessed. Danny stood next to him holding a tray full of food. Darkness filled the windows, and lantern light flickered in the hallway.
Kerrick groaned. “It’s not even morning.”
“You’re right. It’s actually evening. You slept the entire day.”
He sat up in alarm. “The challenge?”
“The big fight is scheduled for tomorrow.” Danny set the tray on the night table. “Kerrick, you don’t have to do this. I’m tribe now. They won’t hurt me.”
“Don’t you want to go home?”
Danny stared at his feet. “I never had a home. Well...not one I remember.” He played with the hem on his shirt. “You’re my...home, and I don’t want to be alone again.” Plopping down on the edge of the bed, he grunted. “That sounded so...selfish! What I meant was...I’m fine with how things are.”
“But then you’ll never see Zila or Ryne again.”
He shrugged, putting on a brave front. “Zila’s annoying, and Prince Ryne’s too busy. Besides, he’ll come find us eventually. Right?”
“We can’t count on that. There’s a very good reason why Ryne’s busy.” And it might be Tohon and his army that finds us first, Kerrick thought. He’d better warn Noak before the challenge.
“Don’t fight. Please.”
Ah. Kerrick considered his next words carefully. “Danny, there’s more than one reason I agreed. Rakel doesn’t wish to marry Olave. I can’t stand by and let that happen, even though she’s my enemy. Besides, Avry would kill me if she found out.”
“Uh, Kerrick. Avry’s—”
“No, she’s not. She made me promise not to tell anyone, but if I die tomorrow...I want you to know.”
Kerrick watched as a combination of emotions rolled through the boy. Joy, anger, fear and back again.
Danny hopped to his feet. “Avry’s alive! You can’t fight now. If you lose, she’ll be devastated.”
He took the boy’s hand. “There’s another reason.” Kerrick waited until he had his full attention. “If Rakel is forced to marry Olave, he will eventually become the leader of the tribes, and getting rid of me is the first thing on his to-do list. Better now than later.”
“Do you really believe that?” Danny asked.
“We both know it’s just a matter of time. And don’t forget, if Rakel wins, we’ll have our freedom.”
“Isn’t there any other way?”
“Not that I can think of.”
Danny stared at him for a moment. “You’ve given up. But I won’t.” He left.
Kerrick debated going after him but decided to let Danny have some time to accept the inevitable. Suddenly ravenous, he devoured the food and then lay back on the pillow.
Despite what Danny believed, he hadn’t given up. Not at all. And he planned to fight as if his life depended on it. Because...well, it did.
* * *
The next day Kerrick stood at the edge of a large circle that had been etched into the ground. The tribespeople surrounded the area, all hoping to get a good view of the action. According to Rakel, they’d been told that a challenge had been presented, but not by whom. They also didn’t know the circle had been located near the forest so Kerrick could access his magic.
Danny pressed against him as they waited for the ceremonial challenge to be called and accepted. Rakel strode into the middle of the circle and formally announced her intention to assume leadership of the tribes. A ripple of disapproval rolled through the crowd.
The murmurs ceased when Canute stepped into the circle, accepting the contest.
“I call my second,” Canute said, gesturing to the edge. “My son, Noak.”
By the shocked gasps, Kerrick wasn’t the only one expecting Olave to be named. Pulling his dadao, Noak joined his father.
Kerrick’s hopes sank. This would be a short fight.
“Who will defy tradition and be your second, girl?” Canute asked.
Before Rakel could answer, Danny dashed into the circle. “I’m her second.”
“No!”
Kerrick moved to chase him, but the people around him held him back. He fought them, but the man next to him said, “Cross the threshold and her attempt will be forfeit, and the boy will die.”
He was going to die anyway. Unless Noak refused to fight. No expression showed on the man’s face. Not good.
Jeers, hisses and angry words rose from the crowd.
Canute silenced them all with a glare. “What is this? A farce?”
“No,” Danny said. “As her second, I request you concede the match in our favor.”
Laughter ringed the circle, and even Canute cracked a smile. “Why would I be so foolish, boy?”
“Because if you don’t, your tribe will cease to exist.”
The noise level dimmed in an instant.
“You’re sick and dying. Half your tribe lies abed.” Danny strode to the edge. He jabbed a finger at a man. “He’s coughing up blood. This other man is hours away from collapsing. And she can’t stop bleeding. Without Rakel and me to heal them, they’ll all die.”
Kerrick beamed with pride. Well played. But would Canute heed the wisdom of Danny’s words?
CHAPTER 20
“No,” Jael said. “I’m not falling for your tricks. I know nothing cures Death Lily toxin. She’ll either die or survive.”
“But if Noelle dies, this will prevent Tohon from turning her into one of his dead,” I said.
“He won’t.” Jael’s hard expression softened. “I’ll ensure she has a proper burial.”
Anger surged. If my hands hadn’t been secured behind my back, I would have lunged for her throat. Instead, I said, “Tohon’s not going to agree to your terms, Jael. He doesn’t want me that badly.”
“And I’ve had enough of your whining.” She waved a hand. “Take her back to the barn.”
Gilson grabbed my upper arm. He escorted me to the old barn. All the windows had been boarded over and the door locked from the outside. At least he removed the manacles before pushing me inside.
The
door clicked shut behind me. Sunlight glinted through the wooden slats and streaked the straw with yellow lines. Having already explored every inch of the one-story structure this morning, I sat on a pile of hay bales, considering my limited options, which included actions such as should I lie down or bang my head against the boards?
Enric had been happy to discover Gilson and his squad reported to General Jael and had quickly joined their ranks. Jael had the foresight to send her loyal troops away before Tohon could tighten his noose. The squad had ushered us to Jael’s hideout at a rapid pace. Noelle had to be carried and it had taken us a full day to reach the small abandoned settlement southeast of Zabin.
Noelle had then been whisked away as soon as we had arrived, and, except for my brief audience with Jael in the farmhouse, I’d been locked in the barn. Enric actually believed I had been incarcerated for my own protection.
Although I knew I should be angry at Noelle for betraying me again, I couldn’t produce the feelings. She was dying, and she was my sister. Everything but anger pulsed in my chest. I needed to get her to a Peace Lily. Maybe this time it would save her as it had saved me, but Jael wouldn’t listen.
My shoulder ached, and a bone-deep fatigue pressed on me. I dug through my pack. Gilson had confiscated my dagger and syringe, but I still had the toxin sack. Too bad I couldn’t do anything with it, as I’d never inject it into a living person.
One side of the sack was dented, but liquid squished inside. Not as much as before, but enough to take out a few dead soldiers. The fibrous material hadn’t leaked despite being pierced a number of times with a needle. Impressive.
Down near the bottom of my pack, I found the Lily map. It had been in there since Saul and I had delivered Ursan. Spreading the map out on my lap, I located my current position and deduced the closest clump of Lilys. It was approximately one day east of here. So close!
Frustrated, I tested every wooden slat for weakness again. Solid. Building a pyramid of hay bales, I climbed into the rafters and pushed against the roof with my hands, hoping for a soft spot. None.
Finally exhausted, I stretched out on a pile of loose straw.
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