“Not entirely true. We have a magic academy to train them that is affiliated with the Church of Serena. The goddess of wisdom helps temper their worst impulses.”
“You don’t trust mages.”
“I have met a few that follow the light but many more that don’t.”
“So like most people that wield great power.” Brelynn wriggled in her saddle, trying to find a comfortable position and failing. “Maybe Arch-Mage Ndrek’s just bored. I think you two have that in common.”
Marcus shot her a sharp look.
“You’ve got to be bored to take this mission, king’s request or not.”
He shrugged and rode on in silence.
Chapter 13
The air was already turning chilly, and Brelynn shivered as she pulled her cloak tighter around herself. She was still surprised how cold it got and how quickly.
Sir Marcus stopped and set up camp late that afternoon. A small grassy hill protected them from the wind, and the spot Sir Marcus had chosen was dry. A large tree with white flowers the size of dinner plates offered shade and filled the air with a sweet scent.
They’d rest while the sun was still up and again late the next morning so they’d be awake and alert at night. Too dangerous to travel after dark, so progress would be slow.
Sir Marcus laid out his bedroll then arranged wood for a small fire.
Brelynn unrolled hers as he took flint from his pack.
“No need.” She flicked her fingers, and flames gobbled up the tinder he’d set.
“Thanks.” Sir Marcus sat on his bedroll and pulled out a pile of rations. He handed her dried meat, hard cheese, and even dates.
Brelynn’s eyes widened at the feast. “For me?”
“You were fleeing Oskelez, so I figured you wouldn’t have time to pack a lot. Always better to travel on a full stomach.”
She stared up at him as she accepted the rations. “Thank you.”
He sat beside her as he ate, barely noticing the food he consumed. It was fuel to him, something he needed to see him through to the next part of his mission. He was as efficient at this as he was at everything else.
Brelynn popped a date he’d given her into her mouth and savored its sweetness. When they got to Aerius, she would show him good food and dancing. Help him experience what regular people enjoyed because of his sacrifices. The thought made her smile.
But her smile dimmed as a cold wind blew past her, and Brelynn inched closer to the camp fire. While the fire kept the wolves away, it did little to warm her.
Lucky curled up at her feet, and she rubbed his ears. “Think we’re being followed?”
“Yes. Not sure if they’ll follow us for a while longer and wait for reinforcements, or if they’ll attack tonight.”
Brelynn shivered, but not from cold. “They won’t want to get too far into Tamryn territory.”
“We’ll be ready.” Sir Marcus arranged his sword and shield beside him then lay back.
“You sound so sure. I’d say you were cocky if I didn’t know you killed a lich.”
“You don’t just walk up to a lich,” Sir Marcus said. “I spent a lot of time cutting a path to the lich, and there were plenty of vampires and their lords along the way. Every battle is a risk, but we have experience and the gods on our side.”
The Holy Trinity, maybe, but the Unholy Triumvirate favored the vampires. Uzakiel, god of secrets, hatred, and darkness. Rashalee, goddess of lust, envy and greed. Balpheron, god of violence and brutality. None would want to see Sir Marcus succeed.
Brelynn kept that to herself. “I wonder if Mokkar Calmont knows the Great Lich Slayer is bringing me to Aerius.”
Sir Marcus sighed at the mention of his title. “I will get you to the capital city safely, but I need you to trust me.”
“It’s difficult to trust people.”
“I’m a Knight of Valor.”
“You say that like it means you’re not going to burn me at the stake.”
He propped himself up on his elbow and glared at her. As he opened his mouth to say something, Brelynn grinned at him.
Sir Marcus let out a breath and lay back down on the ground. “They’ll try to separate us, use whatever they can to break our focus. Don’t let them. Trust me to protect you.”
Despite her better judgement, she trusted him. That bothered her.
What bothered her more was the strange tightness in her chest whenever she was around him.
Brelynn shook her head. She was too smart for this, way too smart. She needed to focus on getting to Tamryn rather than an unattainable Knight of Valor.
But the strange tightness wouldn’t go away no matter how much she wished it would.
Chapter 14
The sun was low in the sky when Sir Marcus doused the fire and scattered the ashes.
“Now what?” Brelynn stretched and tried to act confident.
“We wait until dawn.”
She sat beside him, staring into the darkness and searching for something. After swatting her leg for the third time, Brelynn renewed her spell to keep the insects off her. She was tired, cold, and her body ached from riding all day then sleeping on the ground. But she was in Tamryn. That was better than where she’d been three nights ago.
She jumped as a bat swooped over her head and clamped a hand over her mouth to swallow her yelp.
Sir Marcus glanced over at her.
Cursing him and his stoic reserve under her breath, she swallowed her pride and scooted closer to the Knight of Valor. She didn’t fill the silence with idle chatter and neither did he, but after a time, Brelynn fought to stay awake.
The moon was dipping low in the sky when Lucky’s growl chased away her fatigue.
“They’re here.” Sir Marcus stood and patted the dog’s head.
Fear pooled like cold lead in her stomach, and her magic splashed against her control.
Sir Marcus glanced over at Brelynn as a vampire sauntered down the hill flanked by four large men that each wielded a club. “Stay focused. There are three more trying to sneak around behind us.”
Brelynn’s hands shook as she tried to swallow the sour taste in her mouth.
Lucky’s hackles raised, and he positioned himself between her and the vampires.
Sir Marcus hefted his shield and readied his sword. “Have you ever fought a vampire before?”
“Why would my master teach me that?” Her first real fight had been against the men in the alley, and they were nothing compared to a vampire.
“Listen to me, Brelynn.” Sir Marcus’s words were soft but urgent. “Stay close to me. I can and will protect you, but you must trust me.”
“Okay.” Fear made her words barely audible.
“They will try to separate us, to get you away from me so I can’t protect you. Don’t fall for it. Let me protect you.”
Brelynn said nothing, but she nodded, almost as embarrassed by her cowardice as she was terrified of being hauled back to her master.
The vampire stopped some distance back, well beyond the reach of Sir Marcus’s sword.
Brelynn’s hands and feet felt like she’d dunked them in ice water as she recognized Vokkun Rebecca, one of her master’s top lieutenants.
Her master wanted her back even more than she’d thought.
“Found an errand boy, have you?” Vokkun Rebecca glared at Sir Marcus. “Mokkar Calmont will be most displeased if he’s fouled your flavor.”
Brelynn snorted. “Even if he has, Mokkar Calmont still won’t share me with you.”
“Zombie rot would taste better than you!”
Brelynn laughed. “You talk big, but you wouldn’t dare drink from me without the mokkar’s permission.”
“I’ll drag your bloodless husk back to Oskelez!” Vokkun Rebecca pointed, and the four men with clubs sprinted toward Sir Marcus.
Brelynn balled her fists, and her magic surged. Shards of ice rose from the ground and impaled the four men while the three vampires that had snuck around to flank them attac
ked.
Sir Marcus surged forward, his sword flashing in an arc of holy fire. He surprised the three vampires with his speed, and the Knight’s sword flamed white as it cut through the first creature.
The other two backed away and hissed, their eyes glowing red in the darkness.
“Kill him!” Vokkun Rebecca screamed as dark magic danced from her fingertips and into the four impaled bodies.
The bodies jerked like marionettes on strings as they ripped themselves off the ice spikes. Brelynn thanked the gods for the darkness and what it hid, but she could still hear the tearing of flesh and snapping of bones.
The zombies stumbled forward, and one of the two remaining vampires used the opportunity to strike at Sir Marcus as the other tried to dodge around him to grab Brelynn.
The vampire’s blow bounced off the Knight’s shield.
Sir Marcus punched back with that shield, using it to knock the first one away as he cleaved the second in two before it could reach her.
As Sir Marcus turned back toward the first vampire, it howled as it threw itself at Brelynn. Lucky lunged at the vampire, knocking it off course and sending the undead creature sprawling in the grass at their feet.
The vampire snarled and kicked the dog, sending him skidding across the ground and into the bushes. Lucky yelped and stopped moving as Sir Marcus impaled the vampire, his sword glowing white as the creature crumbled to ash.
Sir Marcus pivoted as Vokkun Rebecca finished a second spell and the four zombies wielding clubs attacked.
Lucky’s cries seared Brelynn, and she swallowed back her rage and her tears as she remembered Sir Marcus’s words and resisted the urge to go to her dog.
Her magic flared, and Brelynn channeled it towards the undead closing in on them. Fire engulfed them, burning so hot and bright that it singed her hair.
Sir Marcus followed behind her spell, his sword glowing white as he sliced through the zombies.
They fell to ash.
Vokkun Rebecca stepped backward as Sir Marcus destroyed the last of her companions.
Sir Marcus paused, but he didn’t leave Brelynn’s side to give chase.
Rebecca would survive and report back to Calmont unless she did something.
“Leaving already?” Brelynn taunted. “What will Mokkar Calmont do to you when he finds out you failed him and lost three vampires? Stake you to the ground as the sun rises? Or something more inventive, like he did with Ronald?”
Vokkun Rebecca’s eyes narrowed as she took another step back then summoned an orb of black magic. She shot it at Sir Marcus and flew at Brelynn, fangs bared.
Sir Marcus shrugged off the dark magic and stepped in front of Brelynn, his sword flaming white as he cleaved through Rebecca. Her screams died in the still night air as the holy fire engulfed her and she disintegrated.
Brelynn sucked in a breath as she searched the darkness, but the only sound she heard were quiet whimpers from the bushes.
Lucky.
Her one friend.
“Can I…”
Sir Marcus nodded.
Tears stung her eyes and her boots crunched over the vampires’ ashes as she hurried to her dog.
Brelynn found her friend lying where the vampire had kicked him, and she knelt beside him.
Lucky opened his eyes and thumped his tail when he saw her, then nuzzled her hand though he didn’t stand.
“He’s still alive.” She choked on the words.
Unshed tears filled her eyes then spilled over and stained her cheeks. Her tears dampened the dog’s coat, and Brelynn held his head in her lap.
“Stupid dog,” she said as she rubbed his ears. “I knew you should’ve stayed in Eskara.”
“Brelynn.” Sir Marcus touched her shoulder. “I’m sorry. I know how much he means to you.”
She didn’t try to hide her tears as she stroked the dog’s ears. “Give me a couple of minutes with him, then we’ll be merciful and end his suffering.”
Sir Marcus squeezed her shoulder.
“Stupid dog’s only sin was to listen to his stomach and look where it got him.”
“It’s not his fault or yours.”
“He kept me company when I was alone and scared. I always felt happier when he was with me, safer. He deserves better than to be kicked aside like so much garbage.” Her vision blurred with tears and her voice hitched. “We’ll give him a decent burial, okay? Not leave him out for the wolves.”
Sir Marcus said nothing as he stared down at her, but Brelynn didn’t care what he thought.
She was losing the one friend she had left, and now she was truly alone.
Chapter 15
Marcus slid an arm around Brelynn and offered her what comfort she’d take, but nothing he did stopped her tears.
He wanted to soothe her, to ease her pain, but he didn’t know how. His years of training at the Dragon Church had focused on combat, and his march to the lich hadn’t allowed for softer emotions. Marcus hadn’t even been able to offer much to Raymond in his last moments, and Marcus had considered the other man a good friend.
Still, Marcus held Brelynn and stroked her dog’s head.
Brelynn’s sorrow was palpable against the scent of charred earth and flesh. He wanted to rescue her, to help her. This dog meant a lot to her, and if there was any way he could banish her tears, he at least had to try.
She petted Lucky’s head, and the dog licked her hand. “Goodbye, my friend. I’ll see you on the other side.”
Brelynn summoned a sliver of death magic, and Marcus laid his hand over hers to stop her.
He couldn’t let her grieve this much, endure so much pain, if there was anything he could do to help her.
“We can’t let him suffer.” A hiccup broke her words.
“We won’t.” Marcus was terrible at channeling the gods’ power to heal, but he’d managed it once for her. He’d try again.
Marcus kept one arm around her as he laid his other hand on the dog’s side and said a prayer.
Nothing happened.
Brelynn was silent as more of her tears dampened the dog’s fur.
Sir Marcus prayed again, but this time he focused on how much he wanted to ease her sadness, and he asked the dragon god for His mercy and light.
Dracor’s power filled him, rushed down his arm, and engulfed Lucky. When Marcus pulled his hand back, the dog stood, shook himself, and licked away Brelynn’s tears.
“You stupid mutt.” Brelynn hugged the dog and grinned, a fresh batch of tears wetting her cheeks.
Lucky wagged his tail and nudged her to pet him.
Marcus watched them, then studied his large sword-calloused hands. In all his years fighting through the lich’s lands, he’d never managed more than the occasional small healing spell for someone else.
He’d managed two for Brelynn in as many days.
A frown pinched his brow. He wasn’t sure what had changed.
Brelynn kissed his cheek. “Thank you for saving him.”
Marcus swallowed hard, attempting to squash his reaction to her kiss. “Looks like your dog lived up to his name. Lucky, right?”
“I always felt lucky that he stayed with me. Sorta stuck.”
“It’s a good name for him.”
Brelynn nodded and hugged Marcus again. She then walked with Lucky back to their camp where she gave the dog some of her rations. He ate them and curled up beside her.
Marcus caught himself smiling as he touched the cheek where she’d kissed him. Emotions ran high during battle, and he couldn’t trust anything he was feeling.
It was exactly how Gmina had tricked her way into Raymond’s confidence.
But Gmina had never drunk holy water. Had never survived being healed by Dracor’s holy light. Had never loved a dog enough to cry over him.
Still, it was better not to feel anything for Brelynn. All he had to do was keep her safe and get her to Aerius.
But that seemed a whole lot harder than it had two days ago.
Chapter 16
Brelynn and Sir Marcus rode hard for the next three days, and the wetlands soon gave way to rolling fields and thick forests. And with it, the fresh green of budding trees, wild grasses, and newly turned earth replaced the scent of stagnant water and rot.
Birds chirped, their songs filling the air and broken only by the occasional cry of a hawk. Signs of habitation increased, and the lowing of cows and bleating of sheep joined the birds’ chorus. They saw a few herders, all who waved when they saw Sir Marcus and the welcome sight of his Knight’s armor.
Despite the warm sun, Brelynn huddled in her cloak away from the crisp breeze as the temperature dropped the farther from Oskelez they traveled. Every inch of her ached from the hours of riding, but she was alive and so was her dog.
And she was further from her master. She might truly escape him.
Lucky seemed happier than ever, trotting alongside her horse and barking at the occasional rabbit or squirrel. He curled up beside her when they stopped to sleep, his sharp ears and keen nose on watch.
Sir Marcus appeared unfazed by the long hours on horseback or nights spent on the unforgiving ground. He rode tall and straight, alert to their surroundings, and finding the best place for them to set up camp each night.
It was midday on the fourth day when heavy clouds rolled in and blotted out the sun, turning early afternoon as dark as twilight. The impending thunderstorm energized the air and infused it with a sweet zing.
Sir Marcus slowed his horse and glanced back at her as the first thick droplets splashed across his armor. “We need to move faster if we want to find shelter for the night.”
“Don’t think Rocky can go any faster, and he might not go at this pace once the path gets muddy.”
“I could carry you on Bastion.”
The thought of him surrounding her, his body warming her, and his scent filling her made her shiver. Not in fear, but still a warning.
Being close to him didn’t seem like a good idea.
Brelynn studied the sky. “If we don’t do something, we’ll get soaked.”
Knight of Valor: Knights of Valor Page 6