A Soul for Trouble (20 page)

“As long as I know ahead of time, I can prepare for it.” He crossed the camp to Bynn’s tent. Inside, he found Arden sitting in the corner, massaging the wolf’s back. Her eyes met his, and he froze. He would be asking a lot from her, and he prayed she’d show as much mercy for his men as she had before.

I can’t afford to hesitate right now
. He shook his head and nudged his friend with his boot.

“Bynn, wake up. I can’t think with all the noise you’re making.” The corners of her mouth rose. “Imagine trying to sleep here.” Kell made a mental note to find another tent for to her sleep in tonight. “Arden, may I have a word with you in private?”

She cocked her head to the side, seeming more curious than anything else. He welcomed it over Bynn’s dark frown.

“Kell, don’t even think about it.”

“It’s too late. I have thought about it, and now I’m going to ask her.” Bynn jumped to his feet. “And you think we can trust her?”

“We’ve run out of options.”

“I’m glad to know I’m your last resort,” she said dryly. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

She didn’t stand when he entered the tent like most women did at court. She didn’t move when he told her he wanted to speak to her privately. And she didn’t speak to him with the respect any other commoner would have. If she’d been anyone else, he would have made an example of her rude behavior. But she only intrigued him further.

He crouched in front of her. “Arden, answer me truthfully: did you heal Dev with magic?” Her fingers curled so tightly in the wolf’s fur that Cinder nipped at her hand. She yelped and jerked it away. “Why are you asking?”

“Answer me first.”

“If this is some kind of trick to gather evidence and bring up more charges against me—”

“No tricks. One of my men is on the verge of death from an infected wound. I was wondering—hoping, actually—you’d be able to help him.”

“And you think magic will do that? Even if I could use magic to heal someone—which I’m not saying I can—what makes you think I’d risk breaking the law to help you out again?”

“Because I trust that somewhere deep inside you, you’re a good enough person not to let someone die when you can help him. I promise no charges will be brought against you.” The rings in her eyes flashed before she closed them and inhaled a long, slow breath through her teeth. She held her breath until her face turned red then exhaled just as slowly. “I’ll take a look at him.”

The wariness in her expression said it all. She saw this as a trap. He wished he could convince her otherwise. Instead, he smiled and said, “Thank you.” Cinder stayed so close to her side, she stumbled a few times on the way to Cero’s tent.

Apparently, the wolf shared her wariness. The protective loyalty the animal bore her spoke of her character and eased some of the doubts swirling in his mind. Everyone else thought he was a fool to ask her to help Ortono, but he would prove them wrong.

Arden wrinkled her nose when they entered the tent. The stench of rotting flesh seemed to have doubled in the few minutes he’d been away.

“Sweet Lady Moon,” she said under her breath. “Is this the man?” Kell nodded. “His name is Ortono.”

She inched closer, her face turning slightly green. He prayed she wasn’t the puking type.

“What have you been treating it with?”

Cero didn’t look up from his work. “Everything in my arsenal. Marigold and honey salve.

Imported tea tree oil from Thallus. Willow bark tea for the fever. I even tried cauterizing the wound yesterday morning in hopes I would burn the infection out. Nothing’s worked.” Holding her hand up to her nose, she knelt between the healer and the patient. “What is your prognosis, healer?”

He finally turned and acknowledged her. “I fear he’ll be dead before this evening, witch.” She frowned at the name, but that didn’t stop her from pressing her hand against Ortono’s flushed face. “Ortono, can you hear me?”

“Don’t waste your time. He’s so deep in his fever, he hasn’t made a lick of sense all night.” Cero began tearing strips of linen to form new bandages. “I should have amputated his arm last night.”

“No cutting,” came the feeble reply. Ortono fixed his fevered gaze on her and clasped her arm. “Please don’t let him remove my sword arm.”

She chewed her bottom lip. Wetness gathered in the corners of her eyes. “What would you have me do?” she asked him.

“Please help me, goddess.”

A bitter laugh burst from her lips. “Now I know he’s seeing things.” She brushed his sweat damp hair back from his face with the tenderness of a mother tending to a sick child. “Your Highness, you ask a lot of me.”

“Only because I know you can do it.” Her gentle compassion for Ortono stirred something deep inside him. Someone with an evil heart wouldn’t be moved to tears at the sight of a dying man. “He has a family back in Trivinus who need him.”

She played with the gold pendant around her neck. The struggle on her face intensified.

Her voice quivered. “I have your word?”

“If you can help him, I don’t think any man here will bear you ill will.” Bynn silently turned on his heel and stormed out of the tent.

She watched him leave and withdrew her hands from the patient. “Why are you testing me this way? You’re only going to make things worse for the two of us.” She tried to rise, but Kell caught her and held her next to Ortono.

“Arden, for some reason beyond any of our understanding, you’ve been blessed with an incredible gift. Not me—you. I’d give anything to be able to heal one of my men. Don’t tell me you would selfishly choose to keep this gift all to yourself.” She pressed her lips together in a thin line. “Dev’s not going to like this.” She touched the skin along the wound. “Ortono, will you let me heal you?” Kell sensed a change in the atmosphere. The air became charged like a storm was brewing.

He could almost taste the thick veil of magic that surrounded them, ready and waiting for her to gather and use.

The glazed sheen in Ortono’s eyes vanished. “Yes, I trust you.” She nodded. “He’s given his permission. Will anyone stop me?” The tone of her voice issued a challenge to those in the tent.

Kell looked at Cero. The healer’s mouth hung open, but he backed away with his head lowered. “I’ve done all I can. I turn my patient over to you.” He scanned the rest of room. Cero’s two assistants stood on edge, not sure if they should drag her away from the patient or follow their master’s lead. One nodded, then the other.

She now waited on him. “You have my word,” Kell said as he released her.

“Please don’t interrupt me. I need to concentrate.” Her eyes glowed with an intensity that made the hairs on the back of Kell’s neck stand up. All the powers she’d held in check flamed to life within her. The air practically crackled with magic now. She closed her eyes and pressed her fingers into the flesh around the wound.

He expected Ortono to cry out in pain, but a sigh of relief came from him instead. The ominous atmosphere vanished, replaced by warmth that rivaled the sunniest of days. Unlike the time she healed Dev, she made no effort to conceal the spell she cast.

Cero’s strangled cry jerked his attention from Arden. The healer pointed a shaking finger at the wound. If Kell wanted proof that she could heal with magic, he had it.

The discolored skin grew pink, erasing all signs of the gangrenous flesh that rotted away at Ortono’s arm. A river of pus erupted from the gash. Once it flowed away, the wound cleaned itself from the blood and debris, leaving only healthy tissue behind. It knitted together as easily as darned socks. A shiny white ridge of skin covered the opening, sealing it up in a neat scar that the soldier would carry the rest of his life.

“What are you doing to my soldier, witch?” a voice bellowed behind them. Larenis tore through the tent and knocked her to the ground with the back of his hand.

Kell reached for his sword at the same time Larenis grabbed his own. The sound of steel against steel rang in the air when he blocked the captain’s blade. A low growl filled the silence that followed as Cinder flashed his fangs at the men gathering outside.

Arden stared at the ceiling with a blank expression on her face. He couldn’t tell if she was stunned, scared, or still under the influence of the spell. An angry red welt formed on her cheek.

Kell’s rage threatened to choke him. “How dare you strike her?”

“She was bewitching one of my men,” Larenis replied through gritted teeth. A vein on his forehead throbbed, and he leaned his weight forward.

“And how did you know she was here?” Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bynn hover at the entrance and look away from the scene. An admission of guilt, if he ever saw one.

“Stop this immediately,” a new voice ordered. Ortono reached between them and shoved them aside with a strength that surprised everyone in the tent.

Larenis dropped his weapon. His eyes widened like he had seen a ghost. “What kind of spell is this?”

“One I accepted.” The young soldier stood between Arden and the other men. “She healed me, and I owe her my life. If any man harms her, he’ll feel the edge of my blade.” The captain of the guard backed away, his face sheet-white.

Dev burst into the tent. “What happened?” He didn’t have to raise his voice to send shivers down Kell’s spine. The low, even tone spoke volumes.

“She was an angel of the goddess and healed me,” Ortono replied.

Dev narrowed his eyes, focusing his glare on Kell. “Why?”

“Because I knew she could save his life.”

The knight’s fingers twitched, and his gaze flickered to the swords in the men’s hands.

“I’ll deal with you later.” With a swift grace that humans could only dream of having, he picked up Arden and carried her out of the tent.

Ortono jumped to his feet and followed them. Any signs of his illness lingered only in the memory of those who had seen him on the verge of death. The newly healed soldier looked like he could take on any member of the Royal Guard and win.

Kell’s pulse pounded in his ears from the mixture of fear and anger that flowed through his veins. He tightened his grip on his sword’s hilt. “Larenis, I have half a mind to place you under arrest for drawing a weapon against me.”

Two bright spots of color appeared on his weathered cheeks. “You would be within your bounds to do so, Your Highness.”

He crossed the tent in three long strides to address the men standing outside. “For those of you wondering what happened, I asked Arden to help one of your comrades. Ortono’s wound became infected to the point that he probably wouldn’t live to see Trivinus again. Any of you who are battle-hardened know what it’s like to watch one of your fellow soldiers die from a gangrenous wound.”

A few heads nodded in the crowd.

“Although she had no obligation to help him, she offered to heal him. Ortono gave her permission to use magic on him, and he’s alive and well now because of it. If any of you feel she deserves death for her actions, speak now.”

Silence answered him.

“Then let it be known that I second Ortono’s threat. If any one of you so much as lays a finger on her, I’ll make the undead seem merciful.” He turned and went straight for Bynn. “I thought I could trust you.”

His friend stubbornly looked him in the eyes. “I acted as I saw fit.”

“So you questioned my judgment and told Larenis what she was doing?” Bynn opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

“We are treading upon a fragile ledge here,” Kell said. “One false move, and we could all die for it. And you and Larenis just started the equivalent of an avalanche. When she comes to her senses, let’s hope she’s in a more forgiving mood than her protector, or we’ll all know a witch’s wrath.”

He sheathed his sword and proceeded directly to his tent. His rage waned with each step, leaving just his fear in its wake. He’d sensed her power in the tent, and the intensity of it terrified him. Now more than ever, he needed Arden as an ally, not an enemy.

But something else bothered him—his growing admiration for her. It took someone with real courage to risk her life to save another. She’d done it twice now, not because she wanted to gain his princely favor, but because it was the right thing to do.

And that left an odd ache in his chest.

Chapter 21

Dev couldn’t decide if the new, self-proclaimed guardian of the Soulbearer was more of a nuisance or an overly eager helper. Either way, he didn’t like the way the young human fawned over Trouble. He glared at the ring on the soldier’s finger. “Don’t you have a wife?” The human had the decency to blush. “Yes.”

“And what would she think if she saw you looking at Trouble that way?” The color deepened until his ears practically glowed. “She’d probably smack me.” He grunted in agreement and bent over Trouble. Her blue eyes stared blankly ahead. A curse broke free under his breath. Either Loku had finally pushed her over the edge of sanity, or she was still wrapped up in her casting. And he didn’t want an audience watching when he tried to determine which one it was. “Go get me a cloth and some water.” The soldier jumped to his feet, running to fetch the items.

One problem taken care of. Now for the next one. He pressed his palms on either side of her face. “Trouble, can you hear me?”

The rings in her eyes intensified until the green overwhelmed every hint of blue.

“Worried, Dev?” Loku’s voice said from her mouth.

Although the rest of his body jerked in response to hearing the chaos god speak, his hands remained fastened to her face. “Let her go, Loku.”

Her lips curled up in a sly grin. “That’s where you have it all wrong. I’m trying to bring her back, just like you.”

“Where is she?”

“Here, but a bit stunned from having her spell interrupted. You know how disorienting that can be.”

“Enough with the games.” He focused his magic toward her mind, searching for a way to snap her out of her trance. He sensed another magic within her, dark and green and filled with random disorder. They both searched for cracks in her shield, poking at them when they spotted one.

He closed his eyes, applied more force on a particularly large crack.
Arden, wake up
, he silently ordered. His heart skipped a beat. He hated to admit how much he worried about her. It made him think irrationally. He almost slaughtered the prince for doing this to her. But once he brought her back to reality, he would settle the score with Kell.