It wasn’t far, but there had been snow on the ground and no leaves on the trees. I headed east. Concentrating on finding familiar landmarks, I didn’t notice the off notes until too late.
Two men sprang from the underbrush with swords in hand. Enric yanked his weapon free, but I put my hand on his arm, stopping him.
“Have you guys gone feral?” I asked the monkeys. “What kind of welcome is that?”
“One concocted due to boredom. What took you so long?” Quain asked.
“The usual—dead ufas, Tohon’s evil schemes, Jael’s evil schemes, Death Lilys. You know. Same old, same old. You?”
“About the same,” Loren answered, smiling.
“I’m guessing they’re friendly,” Enric said.
“That depends on who you are.” Quain studied him.
“Down, boy.” I swatted his arm. “He helped us escape.”
“Us?” Loren asked.
“Long story. And I only want to tell it once. Are Flea and Ryne here?”
“Yes.”
Relief that they had all survived coursed through my body. I hurried inside the cave, seeking Flea. My need to hug him far outweighed all other considerations.
“I missed you, too, Avry,” Flea said, patting my back. “You should have known Prince Ryne would make sure I did all the dull jobs.”
“I know...it’s just...” I squeezed him again. He was close to Noelle’s age.
Eventually, I let him go, and we all sat around the fire and exchanged information. Ryne had made this cave his headquarters, and messengers interrupted us from time to time.
Ryne also kept glancing at me as if checking my mood while he recounted what they’d been up to. He confirmed they had been hiding in the POW camp and had been harrying Tohon’s soldiers ever since they’d rescued Estrid’s army.
“Are Saul, Odd and Wynn—”
“They’re still alive and working together in the western quadrant,” Ryne said. “We don’t have as many personnel as Tohon, so I’ve split everyone into small, mobile units. Even so, we’re losing ground every day,” Ryne said. “That Death Lily toxin was genius and made such a difference, Avry, but we’ve run out.”
I opened my pack and dumped the contents into a pile on the floor. “Does this help?”
Ryne stood up. “You’re beautiful!” He scooped up a bunch of sacks and raced over to his runners.
“Was he complimenting the toxin sacks or Avry?” Loren asked.
“Well, you have to admit, there’s something special about...bright orange,” Quain quipped.
When Ryne returned, I told my tale.
At one point, Ryne said, “Jael’s gone south. Hmm. Interesting choice.” But he kept quiet during the rest of the story.
It was difficult to recount the Peace Lily’s refusal over Noelle, but Ryne needed to know how the Lilys factored in Tohon’s dead. Flea slid closer to me and put his arm around my shoulder. Having all survived the plague and now a war, no one was a stranger to loss.
Later as we prepared to retire for the night, Ryne pulled me aside. “Avry, I wanted to explain about—”
“Don’t.” I held up a hand. “I don’t want to know the reasons why you left me behind. I’ve assumed it was a tactical decision based on strategy and am fine with that.”
“Uh-huh.” Ryne failed to sound convinced.
“What I want to know is why you didn’t tell me Kerrick was killed by Cellina’s ufa pack?”
“He wasn’t. He gave Cellina his sword to convince Tohon of his death.” He paled. “Didn’t I tell you?”
“He’s not...” I swayed, and Ryne grabbed my arm to keep me from falling.
“Sit down, Avry.”
My legs gave out, and I plopped down. Joy wanted to explode from my chest, but Ryne’s expression kept it locked inside.
“He took a battalion north just like I said. According to my most recent messenger, he continued up to Krakowa and engaged the tribes.” Ryne glanced down.
“Tell me,” I ordered.
He met my gaze. “Only a couple soldiers returned. The attack was unsuccessful.”
The tribes didn’t take prisoners. Everyone knew that.
The cave spun. The firelight turned into streaks and swirled around my head. I had believed Kerrick died and had been living with the knowledge for two weeks.
Except for that brief instant where I thought...
And just when I didn’t think I could feel any worse...
I did.
KERRICK
He clicked his tongue, urging Oya along the narrow ledge. The horse had done so well crossing the other eight ridges of the Nine Mountains, but even Kerrick had to admit this last one was daunting. A two-thousand-foot drop was mere inches to their left while sheer rock lined the right. Instead of riding, he dismounted and led her by the reins.
They had been on the road for the past nine days and were farther along than even his most optimistic estimates. Canute had been right, Oya was their best horse. The only problem—since she had been bred to live in the ice-covered Vilde Lander, she was pure white. Granted, he could camouflage her when they rode through the forest, but it required more energy. Plus, she drew too much attention in the few towns they had encountered.
Kerrick had spread the news about the tribes as they’d traveled. Many of the town officials invited him to spend the night and share more information. Anxious to find Avry and Ryne, he hadn’t lingered long. Just enough to ease their minds about the tribes and to inquire about any news from the south. No one had heard anything regarding the conflict between Tohon and Estrid.
After coaxing Oya around the tightest bend, the ledge widened. An hour later, he mounted and spurred her into a trot as they entered the foothills. Once they reached the tree line, Kerrick reconnected with the living green, seeking ambushes or intruders. He needed to be more careful on this side of the Nine Mountains.
As the day turned into night, Kerrick sensed activity to the west. Pulling power, he camouflaged them both and headed west. After a few miles, Kerrick knew he’d have to leave Oya tied to a tree. She made too much noise.
Once they got close to Peti, he dismounted, fed and watered her. Even in the dark, her white coat was visible. Kerrick encouraged the surrounding vines to weave into a blanket that covered her. She watched the living cover with one ear cocked back but otherwise didn’t seem to mind the strangeness. Her personality matched the tribes to a tee—unflappable.
A ring of watchers guarded the town, but Kerrick slipped by them with ease. By the time he reached the burned-out edge of Peti, he relaxed and strode out into the open. For once, his brother had heeded his warning and actually evacuated Orel.
It didn’t take long before someone spotted him. They led him to Izak and his Great-Aunt Yasmin amid happy cries and lots of questions. He promised answers after he talked to Izak. His family had moved into the first floor of one of the old abandoned factories. Inside, a kiln roared, pumping out heat in the corner. Great-Aunt Yasmin sat right next to it. Nestled under a blanket, she rocked in her chair.
“Ah, Kerry, I knew you’d return,” she said, gesturing him closer.
He took her hand in his and leaned down to give her a peck on her cheek. Deep lines of fatigue marked her face. Her fingers felt like toothpicks. But her gaze remained sharp as always.
“It’s a miracle,” Izak said as he entered the room, his sarcasm clear. “Your messengers proclaimed the demise of your entire army. What did you do? Hide and let them fight to their deaths?”
“Kerry,” Great-Aunt Yasmin warned, squeezing his hand.
He drew in a breath and ignored his brother. “Is Zila safe?”
“The dear child is with Berna.”
One worry down, a hundred more to go.
“But I’m afraid her brother didn’t make it.” She shook her head sadly. “Zila said he ran off to rescue you. She was quite upset, poor child.”
“Then I’ve good news for her. Danny did indeed rescue me.” Many times, but he
wasn’t going to go into details now.
Her face lit up, and she looked twenty years younger. “Where is he?”
Back with the tribe, helping Rakel heal their people. But again it was too much to explain. “He’s safe. Did anyone get hurt when you evacuated?”
“Of course,” Izak said dismissively. “It’s a strenuous climb over those mountains. We had heart failures, twisted ankles, altitude sickness and broken bones. But you seem to have survived your adventures unscathed.”
Kerrick turned to Izak. Great-Aunt Yasmin kept a firm grip on him.
“Aren’t you going to regale us with your exploits, brother?” Izak gestured to the dadao hanging from Kerrick’s belt. “Or have you gone tribal?”
He placed his free hand on the hilt of his new weapon. “This was a gift. And considering the best way to stop Tohon’s dead soldiers is to chop their heads off, this will be quite useful. Unless you made another deal with Tohon?”
“Boys,” Great-Aunt Yasmin scolded. “Behave.”
Experience had taught them not to argue with her. They both mumbled, “Yes, ma’am.”
She waved Kerrick into one of the empty chairs and sent Izak to fetch tea. Once he returned with a tray and settled into the other chair, she ordered Kerrick to start at the beginning.
A quarter of the way in, Izak interrupted. “They don’t take prisoners. Everyone knows that!”
“Are you calling me a liar?” Kerrick demanded.
“Hush now, Izak, let your brother speak.”
Kerrick continued until he noticed movement behind Izak. He was halfway out of his chair when a small figure slammed into him, sending him back down. Zila clung to him, her arms wrapped so tight around his neck, he had trouble breathing.
“Easy,” he squeaked.
She relaxed her arms, but her face was pressed into the hollow of his throat. She sobbed. “I tried to stop him...Danny wouldn’t listen...”
He quickly reassured her, telling her Danny was fine. No surprise, she wanted to know more, so he tucked her into his lap and let her stay to listen to the rest of his story.
“There’s no way I’m letting them live in our realm,” Izak declared after Kerrick had finished. “They’re—”
“Honorable people. And you don’t get to decide. I do.”
“So you’re going to come back with us? Deal with the thousands of details of the journey? Be King Kerrick?” Izak didn’t wait for his reply. “Of course not. You’re going to run south to help your friend.”
Kerrick clamped down on his temper. “Okay, Izak. I’ll take charge. I’ll go back to Alga with Great-Aunt Yasmin and Zila, deal with all the details and get the tribespeople settled in the northern territory. And you will meet up with Ryne. I’ll even lend you my dadao because you’re going to need it.”
“Cute, Kerrick. But you know what I meant.”
He did, and he realized he was being unfair. “You did a great job getting everyone here in such a short time, Izak.” Kerrick gazed at Zila for a moment. One thing he’d learned during the last few months was the importance of family. “How about a deal?”
Surprise mixed with suspicion, but Izak said, “Go on.”
“If you handle the return to Orel, promise to let the tribes settle in Alga, then I will abdicate the throne to you.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll still be Prince Kerrick, and once Tohon is defeated and the southern realms are on their way to recovery, I’ll act as a consultant for Alga, be a liaison with the tribes and spend time playing chess with Danny and reading books with Zila.”
Zila beamed at him along with Great-Aunt Yasmin, who asked, “And get married? Have babies?”
“Izak first,” he quipped.
And for the first time since he’d arrived, his brother cracked a smile. “I’ll be king, so I can arrange a marriage for you.”
“Good luck with that.”
They laughed, but then Izak grew serious. “What happens if Tohon isn’t defeated?”
“Then you won’t be king.”
“Why not?” Zila asked.
“Because Tohon will be.”
CHAPTER 21
“No. It’s too dangerous,” Ryne said.
“I don’t care, I’m going—”
“Avry, be reasonable, please.” Ryne spread out a map of the area. He pointed to the multiple clusters of red Xs to the south, west and east of the Healer’s Guild. “Tohon’s units are marching north, doing a sweep. Each X represents approximately four hundred soldiers, both living and dead.”
“But I can—”
“Finding Belen among all those soldiers would be impossible. Besides, you don’t even know if Tohon was telling the truth. It’s typical for him to lie just to upset you.”
“Then we need to make sure. Maybe he’s hurt or—”
“And every one of my patrols has orders to search for him when they do their sweeps. Avry, we’re roughly half the size of Tohon’s army. We’re losing more each day. We need you to heal the injured.”
Ah, hell. He was right.
Ryne put his hand on my shoulder. “I know you’ve just lost your sister, and Kerrick.” He paused, swallowing.
I wasn’t the only one suffering.
“And I fully understand the temptation to find Belen, but we need to be smart. Plus, if you go, then the monkeys and Flea will follow. Would you want to risk their lives, as well?”
“All right. You made your point.”
“Have I? Kerrick warned me you’re stubborn. Do I have your word?”
“Yes, I won’t go off searching for Belen...for now.”
“Thank you.”
I glanced around the cave. “Where are your injured?”
“There’s another cave southeast of here. We’ve been using it as an infirmary. It’s well hidden, easy to defend and has a back entrance. I also would like you to keep harvesting those toxin sacks.”
“If the Death Lilys keep giving them to me, I can.”
“I’ll have the monkeys and Flea escort you to the cave and stay there for future toxin runs and help with defense.”
“Shouldn’t they stay with you?”
“They’ll be safer with you.”
I smiled sadly. He understood if I lost another friend, I’d dissolve into a puddle. A morbid thought crossed my mind. I didn’t have any more family members to lose. At least I’d spent the last minutes of Noelle’s life with her. And that reminded me...
“Ryne, what did you tell Noelle?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you tried to get her to come with you before midsummer’s day. You said something to her about me?”
“Oh. Well, you might not like this.”
“Why not? It made her stop hating me.”
“I told her those letters she wrote to you when your family was sick hadn’t been delivered.”
“How do you know that?”
“That’s the part you’re not going to like.”
“Spit it out.”
“Remember, this was before we knew what was going on with the plague and I had just lost my sister.” He paused as if summoning the courage. “In my quest for information, I stole a bunch of papers from your mentor Tara’s office. I grabbed what I could and left. When I went through them, I found a stack of opened letters addressed to you.” He cringed with guilt. “I read through them, but since they didn’t have any relevance to me, I threw them away.”
“You’re right.”
“About what?”
“I don’t like it.” Not that my irritation could change anything. Tara had hidden the letters from me, so I should be mad at her. Except if I hadn’t been so self-absorbed, I would have noticed that I hadn’t gotten a letter from home in a while. “Thanks for telling Noelle. Bad enough she’s gone, but it would have been torture if she’d died without forgiving me.”
* * *
“Babysitting duty,” Quain muttered with disgust for the third time in the last hour.
“That’s enough,” Loren snapped. “This is just as important as fighting. Besides, it’s Avry. Trouble follows her.”
“Hey,” I said, acting indignant. Acting, because...well, it was true.
Unmollified, Quain huffed.
We ignored him. He’d been bellyaching since we’d left the Healer’s Guild cave. Ryne had assigned the monkeys and Flea as promised. He’d also sent Enric along. We’d left in the morning, and it would take us all day to reach the “infirmary.” We didn’t expect any trouble as the route to the cave didn’t have any red Xs on Ryne’s map.
Sunlight shone through the trees, heating the air to an almost uncomfortable level, despite being twenty days away from the end of summer. In the fall, Kerrick’s eyes had been a lovely russet color with flecks of orange, gold and red.
To keep from crying and to stop Quain from whining, I asked Loren about the skirmishes. “You’re a small unit, how have you been faring against Tohon’s larger army?”
He flashed me a grateful smile. “We rely on ambushes mostly, drawing the enemy into the kill zone before attacking. Then we don’t linger. By the time the enemy unit changes from pure reaction to action, we’re already leaving.”
“How about the dead soldiers?” I asked.
“We’ve been using blow guns and darts filled with the toxin until our supply ran out.” Loren grinned. “So we are really really really glad to see you, Avry.”
Now it was my turn to mutter. “I guess if you’d have known about the Death Lily toxin before, you wouldn’t have left me to deal with Tohon alone.” I rubbed my cheek. Even when compared to Belen’s stab wounds, Kerrick’s whipping and Noelle’s knife to the gut, that onslaught remained the most pain I’d ever experienced.
Loren and Quain wouldn’t meet my hard gaze. Guess I wasn’t as fine with them leaving me as I’d claimed.
“The one thing I won’t miss about the attacks is the smell,” Flea said. “Those dead reek so bad I about throw up every time I get a whiff.”
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