Perth trots away without looking back, kicking up a storm of leaves in his wake.
I stare at Cadman, appalled at everyone’s behavior. Magical spells or not. “Maybe the magic affects Cadman after all, Arland?”
Arland nudges my back, pressing his warm hand just above my waistline. “We should leave as well. We can meet the others away from the threats of this place; a crowd of us might turn bloodthirsty. Arrangements can be made from wherever they are, but we need to move. Now.”
Climbing onto Mirain, I take her reins and wait for the others. Brit and Flanna rush onto the backs of their animals, probably in the same hurry I am to get away from the dark pull of the spells, then Arland and Cadman do the same. I dig my heels into my horse’s sides. She bolts through the trees, leaving behind a part of this forest I’m not looking forward to returning to.
Branches brush my legs and have to be moved from overhead so I’m not knocked from Mirain. The others follow in a line. Everyone remains silent. If I look at anyone right now, they might find out just how frustrated I am by how childish they acted, especially Cadman, so I keep my eyes forward. If Ground Dweller magic can cause us to act that way just by standing around for a few minutes, I’m scared to think of what Dufaigh will do while we’re gone, and I’m scared to pass through the Crossing Caves.
The gentle sounds of hooves sinking into the earth come from ahead. I glance up and find Perth slowly riding his horse. I know he wasn’t hoping to greet the others, but did he plan to run away?
I urge Mirain to move faster. She obliges, picking up her pace until we catch up with Perth. A large branch scratches my leg through my leather pants, but I ignore the pain. It’s nothing compared to what I’ve already been through.
“Hey, Perth. You okay?”
He glances over his shoulder, eyes flitting away before they meet mine. “Why did you follow me?”
“Because you’re my friend.”
“You sure about that?” Perth snorts. “Being near me at Willow Falls was painful for you, kissing me set you on fire—not in a good way—my father is still feared—”
“I don’t fear you,” I say, keeping my voice firm, controlled. Perth deserves kindness; he’s been through as much as any of us. “And I am sorry if I came across as snotty at Willow Falls. I was under a lot of pressure, but it’s no excuse for not treating you fairly.”
Flanna chokes. “Did I hear Kate say she treated Perth unfairly? He is as sneaky as his father, Arland. He clearly has feelings for your wife.”
“Maybe we aren’t far enough away from the Crossing Caves. Flanna is still acting bitchy,” Brit mutters.
“Bitchy? Have I ever told you how much I like your sister, Kate?”
“Flanna, enough.” Arland’s voice resonates through the forest, sending a couple animals scampering through the underbrush. “Have you all forgotten we are in the middle of a war?”
“Have you?” Flanna retorts, voice lowering to a whisper.
“I will send you back, cousin. Would you prefer to spend your days underground with Leader Dufaigh, or would you prefer to fight with your friends and family? You promised you were over Lann. Now act as a responsible Leader should.” Arland digs his heels into Bowen, riding closer to Perth and me. “I apologize, Perth. You protected Katriona even while I could not, and for that, I will forever be in your debt. My cousin—no, no one should treat you as anything less than you are: an honorable man.”
Arland once asked Perth what he stands to gain from helping us. Perth responded with honor, friends, and maybe even a family who loves him. What Arland just said, what he did, makes me proud of them both. Two people who hated one another to the core, who stand to gain the world if the other fails, are now closer to being friends than I ever imagined they would be.
Perth’s jaw falls slack, but he quickly closes his mouth and smiles. “Thank you.”
Glancing back, I glare at Flanna, Cadman, and Brit.
“Don’t you dare give me that look,” my sister says, wagging a finger at me. “I defended him.”
“Do I need to scold you, too, Kate?” Arland stares ahead, eyes intent, shoulders squared.
I slow down, dropping away from Perth to ride next to Arland. “Scold me?”
He turns. His chiseled features soften, revealing a hint of amusement in his eyes. “For provoking the hecklers. We are exposed here, and we travel by horseback.”
Arland points into the dark distance. “The additional soldiers will create only more of a problem for us. More noise. More arguing… . If we as Leaders cannot control our behavior, how can we expect anyone to?”
He’s right, and that only makes me more concerned to pass through the Crossing Caves. “Are we all going to The Meadows?”
Arland keeps his gaze on me, searching. “You are concerned about the caves.”
“Are my thoughts that loud?”
He chuckles. “I do not need to read your thoughts to know how you fear caves.”
“Are they as bad as Flanna made them seem?” I imagine our army forming a single file line and huddling together to avoid falling into the black abyss.
“Worse.”
“Do I even want to know?”
“As a child, I thought my fears of entering the caves were because of Darkness, but now with the information Cadman provided us, I know my fears to be from the Nefarious spells.”
“Could you be a little more specific?”
“Images of evil beings, nothing like Dughbal’s daemons—these were worse, much worse—flooded my mind every time we entered the caves. The monsters whispered for me to jump into the ravine, promised what I would encounter at the other side would be more frightening than anything imaginable. Many people did jump.”
Perth’s back straightens. Hearing Arland speak of the dark magic, of how it pushed people over the edge, must bring back so many memories. I wonder if Perth was there and what he experienced. I wonder if he considered jumping into the ravine with his mother; they were practically forced by their own people’s magic.
“If anyone spoke or screamed, the fear grew into something so powerful it drowned out all thought. I nearly went into the ravine the first time, but my father saved me.”
I look away from Perth and stare at Arland. His will is stronger than most; if he almost committed suicide, how will the rest of us survive?
“I was five, Kate. Since then, I have traveled through the caves at least three times. I do not expect I will have an issue, but many will. And to answer your question from before, I plan for some soldiers to come with us, some will remain close to the caves, while the others will run scouting missions through various parts of Encardia.”
“Is there anything else I should worry about?”
“Not unless you are afraid of the dark.”
I laugh aloud.
Everyone glances at me as though I’m crazy.
“If I was afraid of the dark, we’d be in big trouble, Arland.”
He smiles. “Good, because we cannot use light of any kind in the caves, and I am sorry I did not warn you about the dangers.”
“It’s okay. I feel bad for Perth though. His mother.”
“I believe I see them, Arland.” Perth points ahead, leaning forward on his horse. Like that will help him see better.
Arland and I follow Perth’s gaze, and for once, I see into the distance. Magic swirls around the soldiers, white and glittering with the flapping of the sprites’ wings.
My palms sweat, making the leather reins colder than the air around us. “This is it. We have an army, and now we’re going to war.”
“We have always been at war, Kate,” Flanna says, voice sounding kinder than before.
“Do not fear what the future holds, and do not allow any of them”—Arland tips his head toward the soldiers—”to see your concern. Be strong. Be the Leader you were born to be.”
Be strong. I can do that; I have done that. The hard part will be hiding my feelings from everyone, but I will do what I must. ”Le
t’s go get them then.”
Arland makes clicking sounds, persuading Bowen to ride faster, and everyone falls into line, following him into the beginning of the end.
Chapter Five
We ride upon the soldiers staring at the wall of magic surrounding them. No one notices our approach—which concerns me—but somehow the way they all smile at the sprites fluttering their tiny wings makes me smile. So many of these soldiers haven’t experienced old magic; they haven’t traveled with us between bases or fought against hundreds of daemons. For many of these Draíochtans, this may be exciting, liberating, and yet it may also be their death.
Arland passes through the Light, the tiny beings parting to make way for him, and the rest of us trail behind.
A sprite flies to me, blonde curls bouncing in front of her cherub like cheeks. Her humming wings are sweet songs to my ears.
I reach to touch her, to see what part of nature she represents, but the sprite spins up and away from me. She reveals a shiny, green leaf, then winks. Such a powerful piece of magic, and she’s playing—flirting almost. I can’t help but giggle.
Gavin looks up, eyes wide, skin glowing with warm light, then rushes around the other soldiers still too enamored by magic to care about our arrival. “Leaders Maher, I knew you could not be far.”
He peers around Arland and grins at me, displaying a mouth full of white teeth. “Thank you for sending magic. We met up with a handful of coscarthas about half a mile back. As soon as the sprites arrived, they took care of everything.”
“Kate? Is that Kate?” Kent, a boy I trained back at Watchers Hall, pushes his way out of the crowd, his sister Muriel in tow.
Why are they here? They’re so young, so inexperienced, and they’ve already been through enough. I know Arland wanted to send them on scouting missions oh-so-long ago, but things have changed. We’re not scouting for an occasional stray daemon at Arland’s base near the Clearing; we’re seeking out enemy strongholds in hopes to take them down. We’re searching out a powerful god for me to kill. These two kids have already watched so many they know die. They watched me die. They deserve to be comforted in a base.
Arland glances back, warning me with his narrowed eyes. “Be strong, Kate. They are old enough to fight, and we need their talent to win this war.”
“Look at them though. They’re too excited to be here. They don’t understand the finality of war. They can’t.”
“Of course they do. They have experienced it, but being successful is more important. Now, remember not to show your fear.”
“Fine.” Shifting on Mirain’s saddle, I force a smile and wait for the pair to reach us.
Kent fists his hand and holds it over his heart as he passes Arland.
Straightening, he mimics the gesture.
“We thought we might never see you again,” Muriel blurts, breathing heavily, palm pressed to her chest.
“I knew I would see you again.” Kent glares at his sister.
“I forgot about my competition. Maybe he cares not for your Bound status?” Climbing from Bowen, Arland winks then walks toward the large group of soldiers. “I need to arrange duty assignments. Enjoy your time with them.”
“Would you two like to help me tie up the horses?” I slide from Mirain.
Kent takes a step closer to me, an eager grin spreading across his face. “We tied ours over there.” He points to his right. “There is a stream. Would you like me to take Mirain?”
His nearness makes me question my concern for him. Kent is taller than me, his arms are defined—nothing near the muscular strength of Arland, but more defined than most thirteen-year-olds—and his confidence rivals that of many men twice his age.
I shake my head, reminding myself he’s just a boy. Just a young, innocent boy. “I will lead her and Bowen, but you should help the other Leaders with their animals. Muriel, can you please help Cadman?” I attempt to sound strong, older, fearless. I’m not sure how well it works, but both young soldiers do as instructed and head in the direction of the stream.
Perth and Flanna stride toward Arland and the others, then take places next to him, but my sister and Cadman stop beside me.
“Can I stay with you?” Brit asks, grabbing Bowen’s reins from my grip.
Something tells me Brit doesn’t want to stand in front of all the soldiers; she doesn’t want responsibility for anyone’s life … I’m not sure I blame her. “Okay. I just need to tell Cadman something, then we can tie the horses with the others.”
Cadman clasps his arms behind his back and holds my gaze with his knowing eyes. “Yes, ma’am?”
“Check for shifters. We don’t need any more attacks from within,” I whisper, hoping no one overhears. I don’t want to cause a panic. Not here. Not ever.
Cadman smiles, a proud smile. “I will begin making rounds now.”
He turns and walks alongside the magic, casting occasional glances at the men and women crowded around each other. His pace is slow, and when people catch him watching, he nods as if he doesn’t care they’ve noticed.
“You don’t think more of those things could be here, do you?” Brit asks, eyes boring a hole in the back of Cadman’s head.
I walk toward the stream where Kent and Muriel tied up the other horses, tugging Mirain behind me. “Why not? Gavin said they encountered coscarthas; a shifter could have easily taken control of someone here. We can’t let what happened to—”
“I get it.” Brit shudders and chases after me. “I really want to go home, Kate. This place isn’t where I want to be.”
I understand her desire to go home, but Encardia is our true home. No matter where we were raised. Even in the Darkness I feel right here, solid. But I wonder if I would feel this way without Arland? Would I still want to save all these people if I wasn’t also part of him? Maybe I wouldn’t. Maybe I’m selfish and doing this all for the wrong reasons … but is love really wrong? If Arland and I weren’t together, Encardia would have no chance for survival, no chance of seeing the sun again.
What I’m doing isn’t for the wrong reasons, and maybe Brit’s desire to go home isn’t wrong either. She doesn’t want to fit in. She makes no attempt to lead. Knowing her heart lies with Brad tells me she doesn’t care to meet anyone new.
“I’ll miss you.”
Brit snorts, mouth twisting up into a sly smile. “What kind of sister would I be if I left you?”
“What kind of sister would I be if I didn’t let you go?” My boot sinks into the earth; mud slurps under my sole.
We’ve reached the stream. Kent and Muriel are busy tying up the horses to trees close to the water’s edge, while a few of the animals stand in the water, taking drinks.
“I’ll lead Mirain. Go wash your boot,” Brit says.
I hand off Mirain to my sister then grab onto a nearby trunk, using it as support while I lift my boot from the sticky mud. She tosses some fallen timber my way. I spread it on the ground to serve as a mat, so I don’t get any dirtier.
“Do you need help?” Kent asks, one arm outstretched, the other wrapped around the tree, avoiding stepping in the same mess as me.
“No, thank you. Just stay back so you don’t get covered in muck, too.”
The three of them stand around in a cluster, the golden light from the protective wall of magic making them glow like angels—rotten angels who laugh and whisper while I’m left muttering under my breath. I don’t mind being dirty, but having one shoe wet and covered in gunk while we’re exposed to the cold chill of Encardia’s forests isn’t exactly comfortable. I bend and sink my hand under the shallow, frigid water, splashing my boot until most of the mud is off, rinse my hands, then dry them on my pants.
“K-Kate?” Brit stumbles over my name as though she has a severe case of the shivers.
I glance over my shoulder; Kent, Muriel and Brit stare open-mouthed across the stream. Following their gaze, I see Brad standing a few feet away from me. His eyes lock with mine, flashing between the bright baby-blues I know and
love so well to the narrowed, black slits of Dughbal. My knees tremble, and I fall on my butt. Water and mud soak into my leather pants; the cold only raises my awareness of the situation. Why is he here? How is he here when Arland is protecting me? This is impossible … .
Brad smiles, warm and enchanting—so familiar—but then it grows too wide for him, too excited. “Nothing is impossible, dearest Katriona. I am a god, and this boy’s soul yearns to be near you.”
“Arland, he’s here.” Goose bumps raise the hairs on my arms. I’m going to have to drive my sword through his chest. He’s who I’m seeking, and he’s a mere few feet from me. I should cross through the protective magic and get the killing over with now. Many lives will be spared if I end him. My hands shake violently. If I’m going to move, I’m going to need more courage, less fear, more power. I grab the hilt of my sword, squeezing the brass in my palm.
Brad laughs, shrill and mocking, then bends over, hands pressed to his temples. He’s fighting … and losing.
“Kate?” he squeaks, revealing his internal struggle.
“It’s going to be okay. We’re going to help you.” I hold my blade in front of me, ready to strike through him, ready to end this … but … will Dughbal’s death hurt Brad? Will he feel the iron pierce his heart?
Will Griandor truly restore my friend’s life?
Rapid sounds of feet pounding the earth fill my ears, but within a matter of seconds, the thumping of my heart drowns them out. Small hands grab me by the biceps, forcing me to my feet and squashing my half-hearted plan of attack. I stumble back, never taking my eyes from Brad. He doesn’t come any closer, doesn’t threaten. He takes a deep breath, straightens, and smiles.
“Where is she?” Arland shouts, voice firm, booming.
“There, sir,” Cadman says, “Near the water.”
Grinding his teeth, Brad turns his gaze on Arland. “My servants may not be able to see beyond this wall, but I will always find you. Your protector cannot spend every moment by your side. One of these times, he will venture too far, and you will be mine.”
Crack.
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