[English] Touch of Power (Năng Lượng Thần Kỳ)

Touch of Power
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“Who is Allyn?”

“My younger brother. Did I shout his name, too?”

“Not tonight, but sometimes you mutter his name when you’re sleeping.”

Wonderful, I thought sourly.

“Did he survive the plague?” Kerrick asked.

“I don’t know. He disappeared with my sister and mother.”

“Do you have any other siblings?”

I caught on. “If you think you can use my family as a way to get me to agree to heal Ryne, it won’t work. I’ve been on the run for three years, and during that entire time I hadn’t discovered a single clue to where my family might be. Learning that my sister might be alive and in some training camp is astounding. But even that didn’t work for you, so I’d suggest you find another way.”

“You really have a low opinion of me, don’t you?”

“No one else has backhanded me, starved me, manacled me to a tree and let me freeze each night. Therefore, I don’t have anyone else to compare you to.”

“And what about the rescues from jail, the mercs and the lessons?”

“All for Prince Ryne. Not me. You made that perfectly clear. Ryne is your priority.”

“Fair enough. Consider this. It’s obvious you care for Noelle. What if she was sick, and I was the only one who could save her life? And you knew if she lived, she would do great things for thousands of people. What would you do after I refused to cure her because I heard she punched her brother?”

Hitting a sibling wasn’t quite the same. “I wouldn’t resort to violence or intimidation. But I understand your point and, yes, I would put every effort into changing your mind about Noelle. I don’t object to the stories, the lessons or being a prisoner—not like my life before was any better. What I don’t like is being treated as a means to an end. That what I think or feel doesn’t matter at all as long as I agree with you. That might work for your gentlemen who choose to be here, but it won’t for me.”

Kerrick gaze grew distant, and I wondered if he would finally understand. Which would complicate my life since his bully tactics only strengthened my resolve not to heal Ryne. But, as usual, he didn’t give me any indication that I had gotten through to him.

“Belen was whittling knives from branches tonight. He has a busy day planned for you tomorrow. Go back to sleep, Avry,” Kerrick said.

Shock rolled through me. Kerrick had said my name, and I suspected things between us would change. But would it be in a good way or bad?

Even warned, I didn’t think Belen would work me quite so hard. He had me repeat the knife throwing with both stationary and moving targets until he was satisfied. Then he drew smaller circles and asked me to aim for them. Once I managed to hit the smaller targets, we started with basic knife defense, using the wooden knives he had carved.

Bruised, sore and tired, I had no trouble falling into a deep sleep that night. No nightmares disturbed my rest, but Kerrick shook me awake, anyway. I blinked at him in confusion.

“Come on,” he said.

“Why? Did they discover our hiding spot?”

“No. But we need to leave now if we’re going to make it back by daylight.”

“Leave for where?” My thoughts felt as if they’d been dipped in honey.

“To visit your sister.”

Chapter 12

I snapped awake. Did Kerrick just say…? “Visit my sister?” I repeated.

“Yes.”

“And what do I have to promise you in exchange?”

“Nothing.”

I stared at him, seeking the real truth. But he returned my gaze with a rare open expression. Belen stood behind him with a wide smile on his face. Interesting. Not one to waste a golden opportunity, I threw back my covers, yanked on my boots and wrapped my cloak around my shoulders.

“You’re in charge until we get back,” Kerrick said to Belen.

“And if you don’t arrive by morning?”

“Come find Avry at the training camp. Don’t worry about me.”

“Yeah, right.”

Kerrick muttered under his breath.

I gave Belen a quick hug. “Thanks,” I whispered in his ear.

He tried to act innocent. “For what?”

“Belen, promise me you won’t ever play poker.”

“Too late. The monkeys cleaned me out months ago.”

“Oh, Belen.”

“It’s only money, Avry. Get moving or Kerrick’ll leave without you.” He waved me off.

Now it was my turn to mutter as I followed Kerrick from the **** and into the dark forest. No moon hung in the cloudless night sky.

Kerrick turned to me. “Do you want to…?” He held his hand out. “We can move faster if…”

I blinked a few times. Kerrick being shy? Normally, he would just grab my wrist and drag me along. Nice Kerrick was scarier than Mean Kerrick.

In answer to his unfinished question, I laced my cold fingers in his warm ones. Magic buzzed up my arm and the objects in the forest became clear as if the sun had just risen.

He set a quick pace. For the first time, keeping up was easy. Through his magic, I sensed we were alone in this part of the woods, and I had a number of questions. “How do you know she’s my sister?”

“I’ve been watching the camp.” He glanced at me. “She resembles you, and she fights with a familiar tenacity. I’ve seen her take on bigger opponents and win. If she isn’t your sister, then I’ll relinquish command to Flea.”

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Hope mixed with pride. A dangerous combination, but I couldn’t suppress those feelings anymore. “How am I going to talk to her?”

“The security around the barracks is lax. I’ve gotten inside without trouble, encountering no one. It’s an old facility that used to house thousands of soldiers so all the recruits have their own rooms.”

He’d been busy. I considered. Being able to talk to her would be unbelievable, but what if she was unhappy? How could I leave her there? “What if she wants to come with us?” I braced for his answer.

“Then we’ll come back for her.”

I skidded to a halt. “What’s going on?” I demanded. “I told you before, I won’t promise—”

“I know. Despite what you think, I wouldn’t be that cruel.” He drew in a deep breath. “My behavior has been…inexcusable. This is a way I can show you that you’re more than a means to an end.”

Even though I remained suspicious, I couldn’t refuse his help. “You’ll let her travel with us?”

“No.” He held up a hand to stop my protest. “It’s too dangerous for her. Hell, it’s too dangerous for us. I thought we’d leave her with Mom.”

He’d thought this through! Going back to Mom’s would add weeks onto our journey. I should be terrified about how he might use this act of kindness in my future, but Noelle’s safety was all that mattered.

“What should I tell her, then?” I asked.

“To pack a bag and hide it. When we leave this area, we’ll come for her. Warn her, it’ll be in the middle of the night again, and it may be a couple weeks before we can leave.”

We continued to the training camp, slowing as we drew closer. As Kerrick had said, only a few security guards patrolled the dilapidated wooden fence. When two of them disappeared around a corner, we climbed through a gap between boards. Just inside the fence, a ring of torches burned, creating pools of light. We sprinted into the shadows hugging the barracks. Sliding along the wall, we reached one of the side doors.

Kerrick used his lock picks and popped the lock. He slipped inside and I followed, closing the door behind us. He headed straight to a door halfway down the corridor. I didn’t bother to ask how he knew where Noelle’s room was located.

“I’ll wait here,” he whispered. “Don’t be long.”

Suddenly nervous, I turned the knob, entering the room. Kerrick shut the door. A single bed, night table and desk decorated the small space. A weak yellow glow shone through the window, illuminating black hair spilled over the pillow. Stepping closer, I worried. What if she wasn’t Noelle? What if the girl screamed? Not wanting to scare her, I stopped about two feet away.

“Noelle,” I whispered.

“Hmm?”

Some things never changed. We had shared a room, and I used to wake her up in the middle of the night to discuss a matter that, at the time, seemed so important it couldn’t wait for morning. I sank to my knees at the familiar response.

“Noelle,” I said a little louder.

She jerked up with a yelp.

“It’s okay. It’s me.”

“Me who?”

“Avry.”

Shock replaced fear as she met my gaze. “You’re alive?”

A silly question, but considering the circumstances… “Yes. I’ve been searching for my little shadow for years.”

She lunged. For a split second, I thought she meant to attack me, but she wrapped me in her arms and squeezed so hard, I feared for my ribs. Noelle buried her face in my neck. I held her, drinking in her scent as a flood of emotions overwhelmed me.

Aware of Kerrick waiting outside, I reluctantly pulled her away. Her eyes glittered, but, unlike me, she hadn’t cried.

“How did you—?” she started.

I cut her off. “What happened to Mom and Allyn?”

She stiffened as her gaze turned icy. “Dead.”

I jerked as if she had punched me. Suspecting they were dead felt far better than the truth. The confirmation cut through me, rendering me unable to draw a breath.

“Why didn’t you come home?” Noelle demanded.

In that moment she no longer resembled my little shadow, but acted like a stranger.

I gazed at her in confusion. “I did come home, but you were gone.”

“Why did you wait so long? I sent you a dozen letters as soon as they got sick, begging you to come home.”

“Letters?”

“Don’t pretend you didn’t get them. I described their symptoms in detail. You knew they had the plague before we did. I can’t believe you’d listen to the Guild. Nothing’s more important than your family.”

It took a long moment, but I realized Tara must have hidden or destroyed Noelle’s letters. She knew I would run home to help my family despite the Guild’s directive about the plague.

“Noelle, I don’t have time to explain right now. But give me the chance.” Talking fast, I outlined our plan to rescue her, giving her a brief summary of Kerrick and his men.

“Prince Kerrick of Alga?” she asked.

“He’s no prince. Believe me.” I took her hands in mine. “Please come with us. We’ll have lots of time together and I can tell you everything.”

“Of course I’ll come. I hate it here.”

I hugged her as relief melted my heart. “I missed you so much.”

The door opened. Noelle pulled away as Kerrick poked his head in.

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“We need to go,” he said, then ducked back out.

I relayed his instructions to her. “It could be a couple weeks, but I promise we’ll be back for you.”

She nodded. “I’ll be ready.”

We returned to the **** an hour before dawn. The guys had waited up for us. To me, everything had changed even though nothing had changed. Lying in their bedrolls around the fire, Loren and Quain still argued, Flea greeted me with his lopsided grin and Belen was still Poppa Bear, smiling as he followed us in. He had been on watch.

Flea sat up. “Was it her?”

“Yes,” I said.

“Knew it! And you didn’t believe me.”

“It just seemed too big a coincidence. It could have been a trap.”

“Why can’t a coincidence be a good thing?”

“I think there’s a law against it in Ryazan,” Quain quipped.

“I’m all for avoiding Ryazan,” Kerrick said.

“Don’t want to run into Xane’s skeleton crew again?” Belen asked.

“Do you?”

“Not without another hundred armed men by my side. Those people…”

“Are sick bastards,” Quain said.

“How so?” I asked.

“For one, they use the bones of the dead as weapons, armor, tents and two—”

“That’s enough, Quain,” Loren said, then asked me, “Did you find out about the rest of your family?”

Quain swatted him. “Nice segue, Loren. You basically implied Avry’s family is crazy.”

“Only you would make that connection, bonehead. I was trying to change the subject. Unless you want to reminisce about the time Xane’s men almost skinned you alive?”

“No,” Quain, Flea and Belen all said together.

“Any more good news?” Flea asked me.

Grief welled as I shook my head. “More victims of the plague.” This they all understood. “Noelle is all I have left.”

“Sorry to hear that, Avry,” Belen said. “I’ve lost a sister and my mother. My younger sister and father survived.”

“Parents and sister gone. One brother and a great-aunt left,” Kerrick said.

“My wife and…” Loren closed his eyes. “And the baby she was carrying died with her.”

I bit my lip, losing his child seemed extra cruel. This listing of the dead and the living was inevitable whenever survivors become comfortable with one another. I was touched they shared their lists with me.

“It was just me and my dad,” Quain said into the silence. “He lasted a couple years, then the plague got him in the end.”

Flea stared at us. “I can’t decide what’s worse. Losing family members or not having a family to lose.”

“Not having a family to lose,” I said. “It’s heartbreaking, but better to have some time together than none at all.”

“And they live on in your memories,” Belen said.

Flea hunched down. “I don’t have any memories.”

“Sure you do,” Belen said.

Confused, Flea glanced at us.

“Like when you kicked Belen in the shins,” I said.

“And when we rescued Avry,” Belen said.

“Oh.” Flea brightened.

Kerrick suggested everyone get a few hours of sleep.

“I’ll stand guard,” Belen offered.

“Have you been on duty all night?” Kerrick asked.

His sheepish expression answered for him.

Kerrick sighed. “Belen, being in charge doesn’t mean you stand guard all night.”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

Loren flung back his blankets. “I’ll take the next shift. I had a few hours earlier.”

I slid into my bedroll as exhaustion caught up to me. Fresh grief for my mother’s and brother’s deaths played tug-of-war with joy over finding my little shadow alive. My heart felt torn in two. Eventually, I didn’t have the energy to stay awake any longer.

A couple days after we’d visited Noelle, Kerrick announced his plans to travel north to find out if Estrid’s ambush had returned from the pass. “The bulk of her army is camped outside Zabin. The group from the pass would most likely travel down the border road between Pomyt and Vyg to meet up with them. Since we’ve already lost so much time, I don’t want to waste more guessing if they’ve left.” He looked at me.

I wouldn’t feel guilty about the delays. No reason for me to hurry to Ryne’s bedside only to refuse to heal him. I dreaded Kerrick’s reaction when that happened.

“If I don’t return in ten days, leave this location immediately,” Kerrick said to Belen. “Find a hiding spot and hunker down until spring, then take Avry across the Nine Mountains.”

“You shouldn’t go alone,” Belen said.

“I can move faster on my own. Don’t worry, Belen, I won’t get too close.” He glanced at me again before he left, and I wondered how far his forest magic stretched.

Belen kept me busy during the next nine days, teaching me how to fight with a knife, defend against a knife and practicing all that I learned. I worked with Flea at night, showing him how to juggle four objects.

“Two in one hand, throw and catch them with the same hand.” I demonstrated the motion. “When you master that for each hand, you put it together so it looks like the stones are going back and forth between hands, but you’re really just throwing the same two rocks with the same hand.”

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Flea hefted the stones. “This is just going to get more and more complicated, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

“Just like you,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“It was supposed to be simple. Find you, take you to Prince Ryne and it’s done. But it’s all complicated now. And what if Kerrick doesn’t come back?”

A strange little feeling tugged deep within me. Flea had voiced what I’d been unconsciously worried about—Kerrick. Which was utter nonsense. I concentrated on Flea’s question. “Then we’ll go find him and rescue him if we can.”

“But Kerrick said—”

“Think about it, Flea.”

He didn’t take long. “Belen won’t listen.”

“Not that complicated when you stop to consider all the variables.”

“No, but…sometimes I don’t have an answer for all the variables.”

“No one does. We do the best we can with what we have. And good leaders stay about two steps ahead of the rest of us. I’m beginning to understand why your prince assigned this mission to Kerrick and not Belen. A certain amount of ruthlessness is needed.”

Kerrick failed to arrive on the tenth day. Belen paced and fretted and growled at anyone who dared suggest we pack up or we search for Kerrick. He kept his angry bear routine all during the eleventh day, as well.

Near sunset, Quain, Loren, Flea and I gathered outside the **** and out of Belen’s sight and hearing.

“Do we follow Kerrick’s orders despite Belen’s…ill humor?” Loren asked.

“Or do we find out what happened to Kerrick?” Quain asked.

“We should leave,” I said. “If Estrid has him, she’ll eventually learn where we’re hiding. We can launch a rescue attempt from our new location. If he’s delayed, he can easily track us to our new hiding spot.”

“Leave tonight or in the morning?” Loren asked.

“Tonight, under cover of darkness,” I said.

“What about your sister?” Flea asked.

“She’s safe enough where she is. If there’s a chance to get her before the spring, I will, but I won’t risk all of you. I can always come back for her later.” Without thinking, I had assumed the leadership role, and, like I had said to Flea, a certain amount of ruthlessness was needed. In this case, my sister would have to wait.

The men returned to the **** to start packing despite Belen’s protests. Before I entered, the wind shifted and I caught a whiff of spring sunshine and living green. I turned into the wind, expecting to see Kerrick standing there. Disappointment panged until I remembered I hated him. Until I realized he had probably been hanging around to see what we’d do without him. Typical.

Breathing deep, I walked north, following Kerrick’s scent until I lost it as quick as I had found it. I pulled off my gloves and pressed my palms to the cold ground. Strong magic tingled along my skin, pulsing to the south. He had moved downwind of me.

I straightened and spun around. No one, but I wasn’t going to trust my eyes this time.

“I know you’re there. No sense wasting any more energy,” I said.

Kerrick appeared next to the tree a few feet in front of me. He had used his magic to blend in with the darkening forest. His expression was unreadable.

“How long have you been back?” I asked, trying to sound annoyed in order to cover my relief.

Instead of answering, he said, “You sniffed me out, didn’t you?”

“I asked first.”

“You had to,” he mused more to himself than me. “You didn’t resort to feeling for the magic until I—”

“Yes, I followed your stench. It’s not that big a deal. Not when you’ve been playing around, making your men worried and considering mutiny.”

“My men? As of an hour ago, they were your men, willing to take on Belen so they could carry out your orders.” He ****ed his head to the side. “Funny, I didn’t put you in charge when I left.”

I crossed my arms. “Did you or did you not order Belen to leave this place if you didn’t return in ten days?”

“I did.”

“In case you missed it, we’re still here. A dangerous place to be if you were in Estrid’s or even the mercs’ custody. Belen is too kindhearted to leave without you. Someone had to be the voice of reason.”

“You? The voice of reason? That’s hard to believe.”

His nasty comment was uncalled for. I struck back. “Since I didn’t care if you returned or not, I had no trouble making decisions based on logic.”

Not wanting to continue this useless conversation, I headed toward the ****. Belen’s angry voice reached me well before I arrived. He held Quain in a headlock. Bedrolls and blankets had been strewn about the ****rn. Flea and Loren kept their distance from the raging Poppa Bear.

“Belen,” Kerrick said.

Everyone turned. The tension dispersed as grins of relief replaced the strained expressions. Belen released Quain, who puffed for air and rubbed his neck.

“What happened?” Loren asked Kerrick.

Kerrick shot me a look before saying, “I was delayed. But I’ve good news. Estrid’s people are returning home, and there’s no sign of mercs, either.” He scanned the mess. “We’ll leave tomorrow night after Avry and I fetch her sister.”

Flea and the monkeys gathered their belongings, but before Belen could join them, Kerrick said, “Belen, a word.” He led Belen outside.

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We all exchanged glances.

“Belen shouldn’t get into trouble,” Flea said. “He was right. There wasn’t any danger.”

“This time,” Loren said.

I packed my knapsack early the next morning. It didn’t take long. Too many hours remained before I would be with my sister. I’d endured three long years without her, but the thought of waiting until midnight seemed unbearable.

An unusually subdued Belen worked knife-defense drills with me, which helped to pass the time. But after dinner, I couldn’t keep still.

“You should rest,” Kerrick said. “It’s going to be at least a full day before we can sleep again.”

“Why don’t you tell her another Prince Ryne story,” Quain said. “That always puts her right to sleep.”

I muffled a laugh over Kerrick’s sour expression.

“Tell her about Jael,” Belen said in a quiet voice. He stared at the flames and not at Kerrick. “Tell Avry how if it wasn’t for Jael, you would have killed Ryne.”

I glanced at Kerrick, expecting an angry retort. But he had shut down. Kerrick stood without a word, and left. A minute later, Loren arrived. He rubbed his hands over the fire to warm them.

Sensing the mood, Loren asked, “What did I miss?”

“Nothing.” Belen threw a log onto the fire. “Absolutely nothing.”

I lay in my bedroll, but I couldn’t sleep. When Kerrick approached to wake me, I sat up. No one else had fallen asleep, either. As I stuffed my remaining things in my knapsack, the others also packed the rest of their belongings.

“We’ll meet you just south of Zabin around midday,” Kerrick said to Belen. “If we don’t arrive by after—”

“I know,” Belen said.

We left the **** together. Taking our packs, Belen led the others northwest, while Kerrick and I headed north. He offered his hand and I took it without hesitation. Through his connection with the forest, I sensed the location of the others. Handy.

It didn’t take long to reach the training camp. Nothing had changed. Once again we slipped inside the barrack without trouble.

I woke Noelle.

She stared at me a moment. “You came back.”

“I said I would.”

“Is Kerrick with you?”

“Yes, he’s in the hall. Are you ready to go?”

Pushing her covers off, she sat up. Instead of wearing nightclothes, she wore her training uniform. Smart girl.

“It’s nice of him to help us,” she said.

I agreed. “Where did you hide your pack?”

“No one in our neighborhood would help me when Mom and Allyn were sick.”

“Noelle, we need to go. You can tell me this later.”

“I was ten years old. No one would help me. They died and left me all alone. I’ve been alone for the last three and a half years.”

I sat next to her and put my arm around her shoulder. “You’re not alone now, little shadow.”

She shrugged me off and stood. “Don’t call me that. And you’re right. I’m not alone anymore.” Noelle crossed to her desk, grabbed what looked like an oversize hairbrush and banged it repeatedly on the wood.

The sharp slaps splintered the quiet night, rattling the window. I jumped to my feet, and rushed to stop her. “What are—?” I froze in horror.

Voices yelled, boots drummed, doors slammed and the unmistakable sound of steel striking steel rang from the hallway.

Noelle stopped pounding on the desk. She gestured toward the door with the mallet. “You’re too late. Again. I don’t need or want your help.”

Chapter 13

Noelle swung the mallet at my head. “You…”

I ducked.

She reversed direction. “Abandoned…”

I ducked again.

Lunging forward with her weapon, she aimed for my stomach. “Me!”

I hopped back, but stepped in close when she raised the mallet above her head. As she brought her arms down, I grabbed her wrists. Skin on skin. Noelle struggled, but I held tight.

She cursed. “I hate you. I want to kill you, but you’re too valuable.” Noelle nearly growled the words.

They burned through my heart like acid. I kept my grip on her wrists, but in the end I couldn’t hurt her. She had endured so much, I wasn’t going to cause her any more pain.

The door banged. Voices ordered me to release her. I ripped the mallet from her hands and spun her toward the soldiers. Then I yanked my knife from my belt. Before anyone could react, I threw the weapon at the closest soldier, burying the blade into his shoulder. He yelped.

I hurled the mallet at the window. The glass shattered with an explosive crash. In two quick strides, I reached the broken window and dove through it. Hitting the hard ground with my shoulder, I rolled. Despite the pain, I gained my feet and ran. Shouts and curses followed, but I didn’t stop until I climbed over the fence.

Instead of racing into the woods, I turned left and hugged the fence. When I encountered a dark section, I pressed up against the wooden boards, hoping to blend in.

I muffled my gasps for breath as the fastest soldiers reached the barrier. My heart ceased its frantic beat when the soldiers landed on my side. They glanced both ways. And just when I felt on the edge of passing out, they headed into the forest.

Sagging in relief after the last of them disappeared, I fought to regain my composure. Everything had happened so fast, but once again, those years spent on the run had trained me not to hesitate even when my own sister tried to beat me over the head with a mallet.

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When my heart slowed from panicked to scared, I ghosted along the fence until I found a crack big enough to peer through. Soldiers searched the compound. After a few minutes, the door at the end of the barracks flew open. Men spilled out. And in the middle of a tight group was Kerrick.

Blood flowed from a gash on his forehead. He scowled as they hustled him along. His hands had been manacled behind his back. They took him to a square building in the northwest corner of the camp. Probably a jail or a place where they could interrogate him.

What now? Catching up to Belen and the others would be the smart thing to do. It would be what Kerrick would want me to do. But guilt wouldn’t let me be smart. Oh, no. Guilt knew we had come here for me. And that I had to fix this. The problem of how to rescue him remained.

I considered what I had in my favor. The element of surprise—since they would hopefully assume I had escaped into the forest—my defensive powers and a knife. In order to keep my optimism, I skipped the longer list of things against me.

Waiting for the camp to return to normal, I wiggled into a comfortable position and spied through the crack. As I shivered in my cloak, my thoughts kept returning to Noelle. The venom in her voice and the rage in her gaze still burned in my mind. More guilt swelled. I remembered thinking it was odd that I hadn’t gotten a letter from home in a while, but I had been so wrapped up in my studies that I hadn’t spared the time to discover why. Noelle was right to hate me. I had abandoned her. Desire to make amends, to explain, to hold her until she forgave me, pulsed in my chest. However, Kerrick was first, and later, if I had a later, I would find her again.

The soldiers who had run into the woods returned. Slowly, the compound emptied of searchers and settled. A few men left the square building, but too many for me to handle remained inside. Torchlight glowed from the ground-floor windows.

When I felt as confident as possible considering the circumstances, I climbed the fence and dashed into the shadow of the building. No cries of alarm pierced the air. I drew in a deep breath. Hugging the wall, I crept to one of the windows and peered inside.

The bright light blinded me for a moment. Despite the glass, I heard a man ask, “Where is she going?” No answer. Then a loud slap.

My vision adjusted, and I had an unobstructed view of Kerrick’s bloody back. I closed my eyes, but I couldn’t block the image of him with his wrists chained to two posts. He stood between them without a shirt. The man asking him questions held a whip. And each time Kerrick refused to answer, another ugly bleeding slash joined the others.

Five more soldiers witnessed the whipping. Too many for me to fight. Unable to watch, I sank to the ground. I bit down on my knuckle as the torture continued. Tell him something, I silently urged Kerrick. But the stubborn man wouldn’t say a word. He didn’t make a sound the entire time. It went on for an hour or more, but felt like days. The only thing keeping me from surrendering was the fact he would have suffered for nothing if I just waltzed in there.

The soldier finally stopped. He promised to return with a magician, and he left along with three others. Two remained. Could I handle two? I would have to.

I removed my cloak and hid it. My black shirt and pants resembled the training uniform. I twisted my hair up into a knot. Now the hard part. Walking as if I belonged there, I headed to the drinking well. My luck held. No one called out and I found an extra bucket and ladle. Filling the bucket, I returned to the square building.

The door was locked so I knocked on it. A soldier peeked out. “What?”

I held up the bucket. “Captain ordered me to bring the prisoner water, sir.”

He stepped aside, letting me in. The other leaned against the far wall. He peered at me with a contemplative purse on his pudgy lips. Kerrick no longer stood, but hung limply between the posts.

“Would you like a drink first, sir?” I asked the guard.

“Sure.”

I held up a ladle full of water. He took it from me and bent his head to drink. One chance only. I touched the back of his neck with three fingers, and sent a blast of power. The soldier tipped forward as the other one yelled his name. I let him fall, pulled my knife and turned in time to meet Pudgy Lips.

He hadn’t drawn his weapon. Skidding to a stop, he reached for his sword. I didn’t wait; I threw my knife, aiming for his right shoulder. Hard to swing a heavy blade with a knife embedded in flesh and muscle. Then I rushed him. Grabbing his arm, I poured magic into him, overloading his senses. He screamed, then collapsed to the ground.

Not wasting any time, I went to Kerrick. He had passed out. I laid my hands on his chest and shared my energy with him. Kerrick groaned and opened his eyes.

He squinted at me. “Avry, what—?”

“Can you stand?” I put my shoulder under his arm to help him get to his feet. On tiptoe, I inspected the cuffs around his wrists. “Do you know where the key is?”

“No.”

I searched the two guards and found a ring of little silver keys. Dragging a chair over to the post, I stood on it. Of course the right key had to be the third to last one I tried. At least unlocking the second cuff took mere seconds.

Kerrick’s short cape and ripped shirt had been tossed in the corner. By the time he dressed and we slipped from the building, the predawn light had crept over three-quarters of the night sky.

Halfway to freedom, we were spotted. “Hurry,” Kerrick urged as the soldiers chased us.

We scrambled over the fence and dove into the woods. As soon as we entered, Kerrick grabbed my arms. Magic zipped along my skin as we rolled together through the underbrush. Our pursuers crashed through the brush. I marveled over how close they came to stepping on us.

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This was the third time Kerrick had used this trick. It was effective, but he wouldn’t last long. My magic stirred in response to his weakened physical con***ion and burning pain. Instead of sending my healing power, I shared more of my energy.

Hours passed before we felt safe enough to move. By this time, Kerrick could barely stand.

I searched my memory for a mundane way to ease his pain. “Is there a stream or creek nearby?”

He nodded. I supported him as we shuffled east. When we reached a small tributary, I sat him down and helped him remove his cape. The back of his shirt was soaked with blood. It clung to the gashes and in a few places it had dried.

“This is going to hurt,” I warned him.

He barked a laugh. “Hard to imagine anything worse.”

I scooped icy water from the stream and poured it down his back.

Kerrick hissed. “I stand corrected.”

Once his shirt was dripping wet, I pulled the fabric from the lacerations and over his head. Then I grabbed fistfuls of muddy sediment from the stream’s bottom. I smoothed the mud over the raw cuts. Kerrick paled.

When I finished, we were both shivering in the cold late-morning air. The temperature was the only thing keeping him from passing out. He had his short cape, but the mud needed to dry first. My cloak was back at the training camp and his shirt was sopping wet. I hung it over a tree branch.

“Should I build a fire?” I asked.

“No. The wind is wrong. Lean-to,” he said.

I collected branches, vines and leaves with numb hands. He called instructions and I built a small shelter. Using mud to plug the gaps between the branches, I completed the structure.

Kerrick collapsed inside it. I crawled in to cover him with his cape, but he drew me down next to him.

“You’re frozen.” He draped the cloth over us both, pulling me close.

Our combined body heat eased the shivers. He fell asleep, but I could still sense the forest around us even though he slept. Nice to know no one came close to our hiding spot.

Should I heal him? I debated. He wouldn’t want me to. Low on energy and with no food the past twelve hours, I wouldn’t have the strength to defend myself if I assumed his injuries. However, his forest magic was more useful right now than my healing power. Plus he shouldn’t suffer anymore. It was my fault he’d been captured in the first place. If we were discovered, he could camouflage us. I really hoped it wouldn’t come to that.

His arm was wrapped around my waist. I laid my hand on his forearm, releasing the magic. It flowed into him. The cuts on his back throbbed, but didn’t sting as sharp as before. I collected the power, pulling it into me. My back blazed. My tunic irritated the lacerations. And my temple throbbed.

Then it seemed as if the roots in the earth swelled, enveloping me in a cocoon of living green and spring sunshine. The pain eased, and I drifted to sleep.

“Avry.” Kerrick managed to pack my name with both annoyance and exasperation.

I opened my eyes, but the darkness remained.

Kerrick’s hand pressed on my back. “Can you move?”

Stretching, I tested my range of motion. My muscles were tight. The fabric of my shirt stuck to my skin.

“Do I need to cover your back with mud?” he asked.

I sat up and reached under my shirt. Touching the welts along my lower back, I felt a line of scabs. “No.”

Kerrick slid from the lean-to. “Come out in the moonlight and let me see.”

An achy stiffness slowed me. I felt like an old grandmother as I joined him outside. A brisk wind sent goose bumps along my skin. He pulled up the back of my shirt. The icy air bit deeper. I shivered.

“The wounds are already half-healed.” His tone carried a note of awe. “Why? I thought you hated—”

“I do.” I yanked my shirt down and stepped away from him. Even for me, the cuts shouldn’t be so far along. Unless… “How long did we sleep?”

“About ten hours.”

Not enough time. But I wasn’t about to cre*** the faster recovery to Kerrick’s forest magic. That wouldn’t change anything. However, a little voice in my head wouldn’t be quiet. It reasoned he must have saved my life back when I had taken Belen’s injury. I threw the annoying voice down a deep well in my mind and locked the lid.

“What’s wrong?” Kerrick asked.

“Nothing. Shouldn’t we go? We need to intercept Belen and the guys before they storm the training camp.”

He offered me his cape, but his shirt hadn’t dried. It was frozen.

“I’ll be fine as long as we keep moving.” I ignored his hand, too.

But after stumbling through the woods for an hour, I didn’t protest when he laced his fingers through mine. Nor did I complain later when he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me in close, sharing his warmth.

We stopped at dawn. Without a word, we built a shelter and ate the nuts Kerrick had found. Lying next to him, I stared out at the gray landscape. Once again his arm hugged my waist, but I felt the tension in his muscles and knew he wasn’t asleep.

“I’m sorry about my sister,” I said.

“You couldn’t have known she’d ambush us.”

“She’d survived years on her own and had changed so much, but still, she’d given me plenty of clues when I talked to her the first time. I missed them. And look what happened…”

“It worked out.”

“Not without considerable…consequences. And it makes me wonder, what else am I missing?”

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“Not much gets by you, Avry.”

“But my sister—”

“That’s different. She’s your sister. We all have blind spots when it comes to family.”

I felt a little better.

“And there was one positive thing from all this,” he said.

“Hard to believe.”

“I know, I’m a bit shocked myself. But I figured if you came back for me, who you hate for all the right reasons, then there’s hope you’ll heal Ryne, who you hate for all the wrong reasons. In fact, I’m quite certain your own quick intelligence will change your mind.”

I huffed. “Quite certain? You sound like Belen.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

We caught up to Belen, Loren, Quain and Flea the next night. They had been en route to the training camp. Belen demanded an explanation for our delay.

“We ran into a bit of trouble,” Kerrick said.

Flea looked around. “Where’s Noelle?”

“She changed her mind,” Kerrick answered for me. “Let’s get moving.”

Glad to have my knapsack, I used my blanket as a cloak. Kerrick took the lead, heading northwest through the dark woods.

As we traveled, Loren walked next to me. “I’m assuming there’s more to the story than a bit of trouble,” he said.

“Not much,” I said. Even following Quain, I felt as if I would trip over an unseen root and fall at any moment. I missed the connection to the forest.

“Uh-huh. So where’s your cloak, what’s with that cut on your forehead and why aren’t you glaring at Kerrick anymore?”

“My sister has it, I fell and I’m saving my glares for the next time he pisses me off.”

Loren grinned. “That won’t be long.”

I agreed. Although I did wonder why he didn’t tell them about the ambush or the whipping. And why was I reluctant to mention it? I kept many of Kerrick’s secrets. Why? No immediate reason sprang to mind. Perhaps I could use them as leverage. Something along the lines of if Kerrick didn’t do X, I would tell the others about his magic. Except, it wouldn’t work. As I’d just seen, he wasn’t the type to **** in to threats or demands.

We stopped near dawn. Lying low during the day and traveling at night would be our new routine. Loren built a small fire. I sat as close to the flames as possible, trying to drive out the cold that had settled deep in my bones. My muscles ached, and the healing cuts on my back itched like crazy.

“What’s the plan?” Belen asked Kerrick.

Everyone had gathered close to eat Loren’s squirrel soup.

“We’ll stop at Zabin and purchase a few provisions.” Kerrick tapped his spoon against his lower lip.

“But you said the bulk of Estrid’s army was camped outside Zabin,” I said.

“They’re camped east of the city. As long as we avoid them and not linger in town, we should be fine.”

“Then what?” Belen prompted.

“Then it gets a bit…tricky.”

Belen glanced at me as if I knew what Kerrick meant, but I was also in the dark.

“Tricky how?” Loren finally asked.

“Estrid will soon know Avry’s not dead. And what Estrid knows, the mercs and Tohon will also learn,” Kerrick said.

“So that bit of trouble was Estrid’s people discovering Avry’s miraculous survival?” Belen asked.

“Yes.”

“Then we need to get to the mountain pass before they do,” Belen said.

“That would be the logical next step.”

“I sense a but coming,” Quain said.

“But,” I said, “everyone knows that’s the next logical step.”

“Right. Estrid’s and Tohon’s mercs will head to the pass,” Kerrick said. “And there are two possible outcomes. We reach it first and we’re chased over the Nine Mountains. The pass is treacherous in good weather. If we rush, we could fall, and these past two years are for nothing.”

“What’s the second outcome?” Belen asked.

“Estrid or the mercs reach the pass first and we’re blocked.”

“We might as well wait for spring,” I said. “Then we have a few different routes to choose from.” Ugh, more time spent with Kerrick and his men all trying to change my mind about Ryne.

“Wouldn’t that be obvious, as well?” Loren asked. “Estrid has plenty of soldiers. It’ll be three months until the snow thaws, she could block all the passes.”

“Not if we’re already hiding in the foothills,” Kerrick said.

“I think I’d rather take my chances crossing the mountains in winter.” Quain voiced what I’d been thinking.

“I remember a certain gentleman who hugged the cliff climbing down into a hundred-foot-deep ravine. I wonder how he would fare climbing a steep icy path that’s only a foot wide with a two-thousand-foot drop on the right and a sheer rock wall on the left?”

Quain looked queasy. He swallowed his next comment.

“I don’t like hiding in the foothills, either,” Kerrick said.

Quain and I said, “But…”

Kerrick gave us a wry smile. “But it’s our best option at the moment.”

We arrived in Zabin early the next morning. Located northwest of Grzebien next to the border between Pomyt and Vyg, the town was bigger than Grzebien. I tucked my blanket back into my knapsack before we entered the town’s limits. As we headed toward the center, the sight of so many people in the streets was overwhelming after spending so much time with just the guys. Unfortunately, uniformed soldiers and robed acolytes also walked among the citizens.

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“Should we leave?” Belen asked when we spotted a trio of soldiers watching the market stands.

“We need supplies. There’s not another market until Peti, and that’s too far,” Kerrick said. “We’ll split up so we don’t attract undue attention. Flea, you’re with Belen. Loren and Quain. Avry’s with me.” He distributed coins and a list of items for each team to purchase. “We’ll meet up along the northern road.”

Kerrick and I headed to a woman selling cloaks, capes and gloves. He didn’t waste time looking through the goods. “Do you have any gray traveling cloaks in her size?” He pointed to me.

The woman peered at me over her glasses. “Goodness, dearie. Aren’t you frozen?” She shot Kerrick a nasty look.

I liked her right away. She reminded me of Mom.

She sorted through a rack. “I’ve a dark gray that might fit.” Pulling out a cloak, she wrapped it around my shoulders. “Fur-lined and lots of pockets inside, dearie. Two big pockets on the outside. Do you have gloves?”

“Yes.” I had shoved Belen’s gift in my pants pocket when I’d rescued Kerrick.

She fussed around me, checking the length. “Those boots are too thin for this weather, dearie. The hair on the Lilys is thicker than last year. We’re in for a bad one.”

“They’re fine,” I said.

But she was determined. “I’ve a pair so soft…” She uncovered calf-high boots the same color as the cloak. “Try them on.”

I glanced at Kerrick.

“Go ahead,” he said.

The woman had been right. Not only soft, but the fur inside cushioned my feet in warmth. The soles gripped the ground nicely.

“You can walk all day in those and nary a blister.” She brandished her own boots. “I won’t wear anything else. I thank the maker every day that the cobbler survived the plague.”

Which meant the boots probably cost a fortune. I shouldn’t have tried them on. “They’re wonderful.” I agreed. “But I don’t have any…enough money.”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll give you a good price for both.”

“But—”

“We’ll take them,” Kerrick said. He didn’t bother to haggle over the price because the woman was true to her word.

He paid her and we continued along the row of merchants. I needed the cloak, but not the boots. What was Kerrick up to now? Trying to bribe me? Not his style, but I wondered about the gold. When the mercs attacked Belen, Kerrick had forty gold. Considering they’ve been on the road for over two years, he probably started with a fortune.

“Did Ryne give you the money?” I asked.

“Yes. He also gave me a list of healers he had gotten from the Guild.” Kerrick’s gaze grew distant. “You wouldn’t have been on that list. How did Ryne know your name?”

Because I’ve had the misfortune of meeting the bastard. But I wouldn’t tell Kerrick that. Why? Cowardice? If he convinces me Ryne’s worth saving, then I’d die. Scary, right?

Or was it anger? Kerrick was well aware of what would happen to me after I healed Ryne and yet he showed not the slightest regret. I’d even listen to a speech about the greater good, or about being a martyr, or a hero like Loren had claimed. Yet, I’d gotten nothing. Perhaps he was worried about Belen’s reaction. Perhaps he shouldn’t keep so many secrets from Belen.

“Avry?”

I met his gaze. “They must have listed the apprentices, as well.”

No answer. My thoughts lingered on the Guild. They had been collecting information about the plague until they’d been overwhelmed. I wondered if the Guild House survived. Hoping to change the subject, I said, “The Guild House is a few miles east of the border between Vyg and Pomyt. Won’t we pass it on our way to the foothills?”

“We’ll come close. Why?”

“If any of their records survived, it could help us.”

“How?”

I explained about the medicinal plants. “And since we’ll be hiding for a couple months, it will give me something to do besides practice knife fighting.”

“As long as there isn’t any danger, we can stop. It’s a good idea.”

He had agreed too quick. That worried me.

We bought a few more supplies. Then Kerrick stopped at a stand selling weapons. “Last place.” He sorted through the daggers, hefting a few.

Sensing a sale, the owner approached. “They’re all crafted from the finest Zainsk steel.”

“They’re too heavy. Do you have any throwing knives?” Kerrick asked.

“Yes, sir.” The man rummaged under the table and returned with a black pouch. Unrolling the case, he revealed a half dozen narrow blades with small leather-wrapped hilts. “These were hand forged and blessed by the priests of Casis.”

Kerrick slipped one out and handed it to me. “What do you think?”

I covered my surprise by gauging the weight and fit of the weapon in my hand. “Easier to handle than Belen’s.”

“I have a target in the back. You’re welcome to try them out,” the owner said.

He showed us a red circle painted on a wooden fence. I flipped the right side of my cloak over my shoulder to free my arm. Aiming for the middle of the circle, I snapped my wrist. The knife flew straight and fast. Fun. I sent the other five. They clumped together in the center.

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“Your aim has improved,” Kerrick said as he yanked the blades from the fence.

“They’re so light. It makes it easy,” I said.

The owner beamed.

“Do you have any that are a bit sturdier, but still lightweight—more for self-defense?” Kerrick asked.

“I have a sweet little stiletto that’s like a feather in your hand, but it’s strong. Come.” He bustled back to his stand. Pulling a short leather sheath from a box, he handed it to Kerrick. “Made from liquid metal extracted from the bottom of the Nine Mountains, the edge never dulls.”

Kerrick drew the weapon. It looked small in his hand. He inspected the shaft before giving it to me. “It weighs nothing.”

I wouldn’t go that far, but it was well-balanced.

“As you can see,” the owner said, “the blade is a few inches longer than a standard dagger, which will give your wife an advantage if she’s attacked.”

Keeping my gaze on the stiletto, I wasn’t about to correct the man—better for us if he thought we were a couple. And I had no interest in Kerrick’s reaction. None. Instead, I swung the weapon like Belen had taught me.

“How’s the grip?” Kerrick asked me.

The round leather hilt fit nicely in my hand. On the end was a ball-shaped counterweight, and the protective guard wasn’t too long. “About perfect.”

“I’ll take the stiletto and two sets of throwing knives,” Kerrick said.

The owner’s eyes about popped from his head. “Yes, sir!” He bustled about, gathering the weapons together. Kerrick haggled this time, seeming more comfortable with the price of weapons than clothing.

He handed me the stiletto and its sheath. “Thread it through your belt.”

I did, settling the sheath on my right hip.

Giving me the leather pouches of knives, he said, “Put a few in those inside your cloak and the rest in your knapsack.”

We cut through the market as we left. Warm and well-armed, I felt better until I glanced back at the arms merchant. He talked to a couple of soldiers, then pointed our way. The soldiers headed in our direction, calling to their colleagues for assistance.

“Kerrick—”

“I see them. Thought we might have trouble. I’m sure the soldiers keep a close eye on the weapon seller’s customers.”

He didn’t seem concerned. I hurried after him as we entered the side streets leading away from the town’s center.

“We’ll lose them, then meet up with Belen and the others,” he said.

A good idea, except the soldiers kept multiplying as they chased us through the town. Surrounded by buildings, Kerrick didn’t have access to his forest magic.

Halfway down a rank alley, he stopped. Three people waited at the far end. They just stood there as if they knew we’d be coming. The drum of many boots sounded behind us, echoing off the bricks.

I didn’t know why he’d hesitated. There were only three in front of us. “Should I use my knives and clear the way?”

“Won’t work,” he said.

“Why not?”

Kerrick didn’t answer. Instead, he walked up to the three. I followed a step behind. When we drew close, I saw two of the three were women. The lady in the middle was stunning. Tall and slender with long glossy blond hair, large blue eyes and full lips that stretched wide into a smile, she radiated beauty and powerful magic.

“Hello, Kerrick,” the lady magician said in a soft purr. “I see the rumors of your demise have been greatly exaggerated.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, Jael.”

Jael? The same woman Belen had mentioned? The soldiers had stopped a few feet behind us, as if waiting for orders.

“Oh, I’m not disappointed. Not a bit. After all, you’ve brought me a present.” She stepped toward me and extended her hand. “You must be Avry of Kazan. I’m so pleased to make your acquaintance. I’m Jael of Alga. Kerrick’s wife.”

Chapter 14

Kerrick’s wife? Quite the surprise, but that would explain why he refused to talk about her. Jael’s gaze remained on my face as I shook her hand.

She clasped my fingers in both of hers and held on. “Interesting. No heartbreak. What have you been telling her about me, Kerrick?”

He didn’t answer.

“He said nothing to me,” I said. “Why would I be upset?” Aside from the dozen soldiers behind us.

She pursed those full lips, considering. “Because I might steal him back.”

I laughed. “Please do. He’s been a pain in my ass for the past two months.”

Jael dropped my hand. “I see you haven’t changed in four years, Kerrick.”

“Neither have you. You can still lie with a straight face.” He glanced at me. “She’s not my wife. Jael enjoys playing head games.”

“Still bitter after all these years?” She tsked. “No wonder the pretty healer is happy to be rid of you. Kerrick and I were betrothed and almost to the altar when a stronger suitor stole my heart.”

“It’s been unpleasant reminiscing with you, but we need to go.” Kerrick grabbed my arm and stepped around her.

The air surrounding us thickened until we could no longer move. Magic rolled along my scalp like static.

“Cute,” Jael said. “You know better, Kerrick.” She faced us. “My magic is a gift from the air. It obeys me. I can even take your breath.”