Cursed (21 page)

Rowan kept up his steady touch. My heartbeat steadied. Huge gulps of air finally made their way into my lungs. I leaned into Rowan's shoulder. I couldn't remember any place that felt more soothing.

“Caster power comes from the Lady of Creation. The first thing we teach young Casters is to picture her. After that, you ask her for what you need, like you heard me do.”

The cobwebs in my head started to clear. I understood exactly what he was asking for. “Go on.”

“The Lady is tall and lithe with golden hair that hangs in waves to her waist. Her home is a garden of green trees, sparkling brooks, and mossy stones. Every beast imaginable roams there, free and at peace.” He brushed the backs of his fingers against my cheek. More warmth flowed into me. “Can you see it?”

I closed my eyes. An image of rolling green hills filled my mind. My muscles loosened. Pain still sliced through me, but the cuts weren't as deep. “Yes.”

“Good. The Lady wears a crown of daisies. Tiny bluebells are woven through her hair. Can you picture her?”

My mind cleared. I could see the Lady standing on a rolling green hill, her loose yellow dress fluttering around her legs. She had bright blue eyes, long golden hair, and strong cheekbones. “I can see her.”

Rowan slid a line of paste down my throat. “Now, ask her what you need.”

I kept the image of the Lady bright in my mind. “Heal me.”

A trickle of magic wrapped about my wrist, right where Rowan had rubbed on the paste from Oni and Yuri. The pain inside my skull lessened. A purple light began to glow beneath the manacles.

Rowan's eyes brightened as he pressed the paste onto my lips. It tasted of berries and spice. “Keep fighting, Elea. Allow her power to move through you.”

The image of the Lady seemed closer now. I could see the strong line of her chin and a sprinkling of freckles across her nose. Her green eyes locked with mine.

All of a sudden, gusts of ethereal power drove through my soul. My body felt weightless. A loud cracking sound filled the air. My manacles tumbled to the floor. The biting pain around my wrists vanished.

The irons are gone. I'm free.

The bite marks burned into my skin, and my leg ached from where it had been skewered by the wagon. I'd gotten rid of one kind of hurt, but so much else remained.

“Don't worry,” said Rowan “I can heal you.” He rubbed my back in soothing strokes as he began another incantation. Soon his healing energy flowed through me. While the Lady's power felt like a gust of air, Rowan's energy was all solidity, warmth, and comfort. I don't know how long I sat there, soaking up his strength, but some part of me never wanted to leave. At last, I remembered Petra's warning about emotion and control. I started to move away, but Rowan's hold on me tightened.

“You need more healing. A few more minutes.”

I rubbed my wrists, not believing the manacles were gone. “We did it.”

Rowan rested his chin on the top of my head. “Yes, we did.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

More of Rowan's warm power flowed through me. Suddenly, I couldn't remember when my eyelids felt so heavy. Maybe I'd just doze off for a second or two. I wanted to ask Rowan a question, but other words fell from my lips instead.

“Must… Sleep…”

“That's all right, Elea. You can sleep now. I'll finish your healing.”

And I drifted off into the finest rest I'd had in years.

Chapter Nineteen

When I opened my eyes again, I was curled up on a pile of furs and wrapped in soft blankets. On the other side of the cave, Rowan lay on his side, fast asleep. It felt wrong for him to be uncovered when I'd been so carefully tucked in.

Rowan opened his right eye. “You're staring at me.”

I shrugged. “You gave me all the blankets. Now, I feel guilty.”

He grinned one of his crooked smiles. “All part of my master plan.”

“I always suspected that you had one, you know.” I rolled onto my back and looked up through the hole in the cave's ceiling. A full moon shone in the night sky.
Oh, no.
I sat bolt upright. “How long have I been asleep?”

“Only a few hours.”

I exhaled. “Good.”

Rowan sat up slowly. “How do you feel?”

“Better.” My wrists and thigh still hurt, but I supposed that was to be expected. Beside me, the flames on the campfire crackled and flared. An ember landed on my ankle, setting off a tiny burst of pain that quickly disappeared. It was a small reminder of the agony that awaited me on Sunday. I shivered at the thought. “What day is it?”

“Saturday. Barely.”

“The Tsar arrives tomorrow. How far are Oni and Yuri?”

“A day's walk away from here.”

Might as well be a month, with the way I was feeling. “I wish I were strong enough to cast a transport spell.” I sighed. “Or any spell, really. The Midnight Cloister still has some of my magick. If I cast anything at all, they'll find me in a heartbeat.”

“I can cast as transport spell to get you there and then, I'll cast another so I can join you.”

“That has you casting two transport spells just to go to the fair.” I remembered how exhausting it was for me to cast one transport spell, let alone two. “Until I can cast again, you'll need to do spell-work for both of us. You can't waste your energy on transport spells. We'll just have to secure another way to get there. Perhaps we can find a new wagon?”

“Something like that. I have a few ideas. Not to worry.”

I didn't worry about Rowan finding us a wagon, but I didn't like way Rowan was staring into the fire. His expression was darkening.

“What's wrong?” I asked.

Rowan huffed out a long breath. “I have some news for you.”

I didn't like the note of worry in his voice. “What kind of news?”

“It's about your friend, Tristan. Jakob turned some things up.”

I scrubbed my hands over my face. More bad news? I was still reeling over finding out that Tristan had traded my life for Quinn's. “Whatever Jakob has heard, I'm not ready for it yet. All my focus needs to stay on ending m curse by Sunday.”

“I understand. The offer is there when you're ready.”

“Thank you.” I shifted my weight, trying to find a better way to sit. My thigh felt like it was getting worse, but that might be a trick of my mind. In any case, didn't want Rowan poking around my injuries right now. We needed to get to Oni and Yuri. “You said you had some ideas about how to get to the Sanctuary Fair?”

“Yes.” Rowan stood up and stretched. “In fact, I already cast a spell.”

I rolled onto my side and winced. I wish I could sleep for a year. “Horses?” As long as it was a short ride, I should be fine.

“No, snow tigers. Remember when I told you about my familiars?”

“Sure, you told me about them back at the oasis.”

Rowan set his fingers in his mouth and let out a loud whistle. Two white tigers stalked into the cave. I'd never seen anything like them. Their heads came up to Rowan's shoulders. They had great green eyes and red swirls painted onto their pristine white fur. Long fangs hung out of their mouths. “Elea, I'd like you to meet Radi and Umeme, my snow tigers.”

“Aren't you lovely?” Seeing them made me miss the presence of my little beetle, though. “I have a familiar, too.” I looked around. “You can come out now.” My tiny scarab didn't appear. I nibbled my lower lip with my teeth. “I hope he's all right.”

“An insect familiar?” Rowan shrugged. “He's fine, I'm sure. Those things could live through the end of the world.”

I stood and realized that the tigers were almost as tall as I was. I eyed them warily. “How does this work?”

“They pick who can ride them.” Rowan scratched the one on the right behind the ears. “Umeme has chosen you, I think.”

“Ride, eh?” I rubbed at my inner thigh, which still burned from my injury.

“They're much more comfortable than a horse, I can assure you. Although, if you'd rather find a wagon—”

“No, I can ride.” It was Saturday already, for the Sire's sake. I had precious little time left before my curse struck. A queasy feeling crawled up my throat. I'd just spent a few short hours in excruciating pain. What would an eternity do to my soul?

“Excellent. If we leave at first light, we'll arrive at the Sanctuary Fair by noon.”

“Are you certain that we can't leave now?”

“Positive. Besides, this will give you time to eat and wash up.”

“I suppose so.” I tried to run my fingers through my hair, but it was nothing but a tangle. I didn't even want to sniff my robes. “I suppose it wouldn't do to meet the mightiest mages in the realm looking like this.”

“Everyone feels better after some food and a bath.” Rowan leaned over a small basket that was set against the wall. “What do you think of hard tack?”

“That's a block of dried bread, right?” Tristan used to keep some on his ships. He said it was only for emergencies since it tasted so foul.

“That's the stuff.” He tossed me a small bar and I nibbled carefully at one corner. A delicious, nutty flavor filled my mouth. I stuffed in a huge bite. “This is good.”

“Glad you approve. Once you're done, I'll let you know where to wash. There's an underground spring in one of the caves that connects to this one.” He looked up at the moon. “We've a few more hours until dawn. That should give us plenty of time to heal that leg of yours.”

I made a great show of scanning my arms and legs. “All the bite marks from the seekers are almost gone. There's nothing to heal.”

“You know that isn't the injury I meant. I was talking about your inner thigh. It could use a little more magick.”

“No, it's fine.”

“And you're still a terrible liar.”

He was right. I should let him touch and heal me. But last night was one-time situation. From here on out, I was healing on my own terms. “It's not perfect, but it'll get better soon.” I gave him a sly look. “My body does heal its own without any magick involved, you know.”

Rowan chuckled. “I'll try to remember that.”

I stuffed the last bite of tack into my mouth. Now that I'd eaten, I couldn't wait to wash up. “Where is that underground spring?”

“Just down the passage. There are soap and things in one of the baskets, as well as a fresh set of clothes, too. I'm going to check things out with Radi and Umeme. We'll return by dawn.”

“See you then.”

Rowan walked away down the outer passage. His huge frame seemed to dominate the entire cave. I cupped my hand by my mouth. “And thanks.”

“Nothing to thank.” He glanced over his shoulder. “We're a team, right?”

“Right.” My heart began to beat at double-time. Last night, Rowan's touch had felt so warm and right.

Watch your emotions, Elea.

This was exactly the kind of situation that could destroy a Necromancer's focus. Of course, I'd have some intense feelings about Rowan. He saved my life last night. But I couldn't let that distract me. If I didn't figure out a way to kill the Tsar, I was in for an eternity of pain. I needed to take back my mental control and fast.

Chapter Twenty

I leaned forward on Umeme's back as we scaled another sand dune. Her white fur felt lush and cool under me, which was a nice difference from the baking sun overhead.

If I lived through this quest, I was visiting the woods. In the wintertime. For an entire year.

“I can cast one for you, if you like,” said Rowan.

His deep voice startled me. We hadn't spoken much since leaving the caves for the Sanctuary Fair. I looked to my left. Somewhere along the line, Rowan had snuck up beside me on Radi. That man could be positively stealthy.

“Cast what?” I asked.

“A cooling spell. I put one on Umeme, and I know you can't do any spell-work right now.”

I wiped my forehead with my sleeve. I'd changed back into a Commoner's dress before we left the cave and already, the fabric was sticking to me. Rowan didn't have so much as a drop of sweat on his skin. Clearly, the man had cast a cooling spell on himself already. I fanned myself with my hand. “Is it that obvious?”

His mouth slowly wound into a crooked smile. “Maybe.” I had the urge to brush my fingertip along the dimple in his cheek.
The sun must be getting to me.
Rowan was nothing more than a useful ally.

“I'd like that,” I said.

“Won't take long.” Rowan reached toward me. The veins in his right hand glowed red as he whispered an incantation. The air became heavy with the sense of magick. His palm flared with crimson light and then, the perfect level of cool air wrapped around me. Rowan knew his spell-work, that was for certain.

I sighed. “Thank you.”

“Anything else troubling you?” Rowan shot at a pointed look at my thigh. It was still hurting, but that would surely heal in time. I was having enough odd feelings just looking at his dimple. This week was doing strange things to my brain.

“No, thank you. I'm fine.”

Rowan raised his right brow in a movement that said ‘you're a terrible liar.' He opened his mouth, ready to push the point. Fortunately, I remembered a key piece of information that I'd forgotten to share.

“Oh, in all the excitement, I didn't tell you something.”

“Really.” His flat tone said that he knew I was avoiding talking about my leg. It was true—I was attempting to change the subject—but that didn't alter the fact that I had some genuine news.

“I met a Changed One at the Cloister.”

Rowan's full mouth tightened into a thin line. “What did they look like?”

“When you said your people had familiars, could those be huge insects?”

“Easily. Insects are some of the most powerful forces of nature.”