Taste of Darkness (An Avry of Kazan Novel - Book 3) (12 page)

Quain huffed. “You don’t know us very well.”

I hesitated. The desire to remain with Kerrick warred with the
need to rescue Estrid. Duty won.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I ordered Kerrick, stabbing a finger at
the ground.

“I won’t,” he said, but a haunted look clouded his eyes.

“Promise?”

“Oh, yes.” He leaned in and kissed me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

“Uh...Avry, time’s running out,” Loren said.

Breaking away, I gazed at Kerrick. “I’ll be back.”

He smiled. “You’d better.”

I joined the others.

“Our door leads right into the training ring. So we’ll check
the converted stables first, then the smaller buildings,” Loren instructed.
“We’re only saving Estrid. Most of the guards should be by the front entrance,
but the first sign of unfriendlies, we retreat. Understood?”

Nodding, I found it interesting how Loren had stepped up to
take the lead on this mission. He went first, followed by Quain, Flea, and
finally me. We crept to the complex. Built of large barn doors tied to thick
posts, the solid fence loomed over us. Keeping to the fence’s shadow, we
traveled a few yards to the west.

When Loren signaled a halt, Quain pulled a thin metal pick from
his pocket. He ran the edge of the pick along small cracks in the wood. Then he
hooked the pick into a divot and pulled a three-foot-high panel away from the
fence. Ah, the back door.

“Clever,” I whispered to Flea.

“Remember when the POWs escaped and Prince Ryne’s men helped
fix the fence?” Flea asked.

“They added this then?”

“Yup.”

Wow. Ryne had really been thinking ahead.

Loren shushed us and climbed through the opening. Quain
gestured for Flea and me to go next. He entered last, closing the door behind
him. We stepped on the soft dirt of the training ring. No longer used for
horses, this area had been the exercise yard for the POWs when Estrid had been
in charge. The roof overhead blocked most of the moonlight.

After pausing to let our eyes adjust to the darkness, Loren
continued. To me, the guys resembled darker blobs against the blackness. I
wondered how we would find Estrid without light.

Before entering into the main stable area, Loren dug in the
loose dirt off to the left. A faint metallic jingle sounded. Then he reached up
along the wall and this time a clang rang out. Quain passed me, joining Loren.
He muttered and cursed under his breath. Eventually a small yellow glow filled a
bull’s-eye lantern. Loren slid the shutter until only a thin beam of light
pierced the darkness.

They’d left a back door and an escape kit. Handy. We crept into
what had once been stables. Now the stalls all had metal bars and thick locks.
As Loren swept the light over one empty cell after another, I considered. Why
would Cellina bother to lock up people who couldn’t move? Who needed no
care?

I caught up to Loren. “She’s not here. Is there a storage shed
inside the complex?”

He glanced at Quain and Flea.

“There’s that hay barn,” Flea said. “There wasn’t anything
inside it except a couple straw bales.”

“Show us,” Loren said.

Flea took point and we stayed close behind him. He slipped from
the stables. Loren closed the lantern, hiding the light. We scanned the area for
any guards before crossing the open space between buildings. A creepy sensation
raised the hairs on my arms as I imagined hidden gazes watching us.

Leading us to the smaller barn, Flea paused outside the
entrance. Was another ambush waiting for us? He pulled on the door. The hinges
squeaked. We hunched over as if under attack.

“Sissies,” Quain said as if he hadn’t flinched, as well. He
entered first.

We filed in around him.

Loren moved the lantern’s slide, letting the light out.
“Bingo.”

Prone forms lay on the bales and were piled on the floor. They
appeared to have been tossed without care. They all wore yellow POW jumpsuits.
We spread out, searching the bodies for Estrid. Except Flea. He stood near the
door, almost pressing against it. His arms were wrapped around his stomach and
he had a panicked look on his pale face.

“Found her,” Loren said.

Estrid had been placed on a stack of bales near the back.

Loren waved Flea over. “Come on, Flea, we’re running out of
time.”

“I...” Flea swallowed. “Can you bring her over here?”

“Why?” Loren asked.

“He’s going to be sick if he gets too close,” I said, moving to
join Loren. “Quain, we need your muscles.”

Stepping on a few of the others, the three of us managed to
carry Estrid to Flea. With a queasy grimace, Flea crouched next to her. He
touched her forehead then spun to heave, spilling the contents of his stomach in
a wet plop. I placed my hand on the back of his sweaty neck, sending him energy.
After a few moments, he stopped.

“What—” Estrid started.

“We’ll explain everything later,” Loren said. He helped her to
stand.

“Who—”

I turned so she could see my face.

“Oh, Avry.” She glanced around. “My staff?”

“No time,” Loren said. “Let’s go.”

With Estrid in the middle, we retraced our steps back to the
stables and out the back door. Estrid tsked over the hidden exit, but otherwise
remained quiet. Impressive. My anxiety increased as we entered the forest. Would
Kerrick still be here?

We returned to the location we’d left Kerrick and Eva. Sounds
of moving soldiers filled the forest around us, but that wasn’t why I panicked.
Kerrick had disappeared again.

“Now what?” Quain asked.

Loren scanned the forest. “North?”

“You asking or telling,” Quain said to Loren.

“Kerrick said north,” I said before they could launch into an
argument. “We go north.” And hope we’d find Kerrick and Eva on the way.

This time, I took point, moving slowly to compensate for
Estrid’s noisy inexperience. Dawn’s rays helped with our progress, but the
sunlight reflected off of Estrid’s bright yellow jumpsuit. I worried the garish
color would make her visible for miles. Digging into my pack, I removed my cloak
and gave it to Estrid. The gray color didn’t clash as much against the browns,
reds and yellows of the forest. That thought led right to Kerrick as all my
thoughts had since we rescued Estrid. Had his eyes changed color with the
season? Where was he?

After a few hours of dodging patrols, Loren asked, “Where are
we going?”

Good question. If we turned to the northeast, we could reach
Ryne’s headquarters. If we went east, we could rendezvous with the others and
return to the infirmary. But without Kerrick’s forest magic, I’d no idea how
many of Cellina’s troops were between us and either destination.

“I’m open to suggestions,” I said to Loren.

He glanced at Flea. “I think we should find a safe spot to
rest.”

A good idea, except I didn’t know where we would be safe. I
considered my options. A cave? Perfect if we could find one. The trees? I gazed
into the canopy. No low limbs and the coverage would be thin. A cluster of
Lilys? They would keep any sane person away. I pulled off my pack and found the
Lily map.

“Where are we?” I asked.

“North of Zabin,” Quain said.

“Really, Quain? Do you think that’s helpful?” I snapped, then
regretted my irritation. “Sorry. Any idea how far north?”

“Six miles,” Eva said, surprising us all.

Just like his namesake, Flea jumped a foot.

“Where’s Kerrick?” I asked.

“He should be here soon.”

“Why didn’t you wait for us?”

Eva frowned at my harsh tone. “A patrol came through and we had
to move. Since then we’ve been clearing a path for you.”

“And you couldn’t tell us this?” I demanded.

She put her hands on her hips. “We didn’t have time to come
back and tell you what you should have figured out on your own.” Eva gestured to
the surrounding forest. “Why else would there only be a few patrols around?”

I bit back my reply. With all my other worries, I hadn’t
thought about the ease of our travel.

“I’m sorry, Avry,” Kerrick said into the silence. “I know I
promised to stay, but we had the opportunity to lead the enemy on a merry chase,
enticing them farther away from you.” Lines of exhaustion marked his face. He
all but swayed on his feet.

My anger dissipated. “We need to find a safe place to rest. Any
ideas?”

Kerrick smiled. “There’s a cave nearby.”

I groaned. “I had a feeling you’d say that.”

Nearby to Kerrick didn’t match my definition of nearby. We
hiked four miles to the northeast. I held his hand and shared my energy with
him. His magic vibrated up my arm with a pleasant tingle. He squeezed my fingers
in gratitude, which alarmed me. Normally, he’d have shaken off my efforts,
claiming he didn’t wish to sap my strength.

He must have depleted his energy luring the enemy patrols away.
Guilt over my earlier anger surfaced. Even though he had a legitimate reason, I
still felt...bereft.

We reached the cave system by midafternoon. Kerrick and Eva
collected firewood while we gathered stones to build a fire pit. Flea
supervised. He’d refused my offer to help him during the trip and had plopped
onto the ground as soon as we arrived. Estrid sat next to him. She huddled under
my cloak. I studied her expression for a moment. She hadn’t said anything all
day and I worried she might be in shock.

After we arranged the pit to Loren’s liking, Eva entered
carrying an armload of kindling. “There’s another pile of thicker logs just
outside.” Eva dropped the thin branches into the pit.

“Hey!” Loren pulled them out. “You can’t just dump them
there.”

“Why not?” she asked, confused.

“He has a whole
system,
” Quain
explained. “Each branch must be in its proper place to construct a pyramid,
which is the optimal configuration for wood-burning perfection.”

“I don’t hear you complaining when you’re warming your fat a—”
Loren glanced at Eva “—rear end.”

“It’s not fat, it’s all muscle,” Quain said.

As they argued, I retrieved the bigger pile, noting another one
had been stacked next to it. I scanned the woods, searching for Kerrick.

Eva joined me and scooped it up. “Are they always like that?”
she asked.

“Yes. Another friend of ours nicknamed them the monkeys.”

“Fitting.” She returned to the cave.

I waited, but Kerrick must have gone for another armload of
wood. Inside, flames stretched toward the ceiling, merrily consuming Loren’s
pyramid. Quain joked with Flea and it almost seemed like old times. Kerrick was
no longer missing and we just needed to find our lost Poppa Bear.

Eva ducked back outside while I placed my load of wood onto the
growing pile next to Loren.

She brought in another stack. “Prince Kerrick said he’d take
first watch.”

“Oh, no. He has lots of explaining to do,” I said.

“So do you,” Estrid said.

Glad she appeared to be snapping out of her funk, I didn’t look
forward to filling her in on the events of the last two months. “After we eat,”
I promised before dashing outside.

Another pile of wood had arrived, but Kerrick wasn’t in sight.
I waited for a few moments. Unable to keep still, I strode into the forest. The
desire to yell for him climbed up my throat. Instead, I stomped through the
fallen leaves, crunching them under my boots and not caring that I made
noise.

“Avry, settle down,” Kerrick said. He leaned against a tree
trunk a few feet away.

“What’s going on?”

“Someone has to keep watch.”

“Uh-huh. What’s going on?”

He sank to the ground and rested his forehead on his knees.
Alarmed, I knelt next to him. Touching his arm, I said, “It can’t be that bad.
You’re alive! Whatever else is going on we can deal with it. What happened to
you?”

Kerrick lifted his head. Leaning back on the trunk, he pulled
me close, wrapping his arm around me. I snuggled in, pressing my cheek against
his chest, almost content to listen to him breathe. Did it matter what happened?
He was here with me.

After a few heartbeats, he said, “I promised you I wouldn’t die
from the Death Lily toxin. Do you remember?”

“Of course. I’ve thought of nothing else since that night. It’s
what kept me going when everyone said you’d died.”

“Your faith is what kept me alive.”

Warmth spread through my chest, but I waited, sensing there was
more.

“But it came with a price.”

KERRICK

Avry pulled away from him. It was what he’d feared all
along. Ever since they’d reunited, he wondered how they could be together when
he couldn’t leave the forest, when he had to use magic to appear normal. Misery
settled in his chest.

“How bad?” she asked.

He explained everything to her, from getting sick to waking in
the forest and all the limitations he’d discovered so far. She remained quiet
the entire time, and he knew she’d eventually put the pieces together. “And here
I am, trapped out here while you and the guys are joking around inside. We’ll
never have a normal life.”

She laughed. Shocked, he stared at her as she struggled to
control the fit of giggles.

“Sorry,” she puffed. “But what made you think we’d ever have a
normal
life before?”

His guts twisted. “Well...after the war...I was hoping
for...you know...marriage...”

Her sea-green eyes softened. “And it will be lovely. However,
I’m a healer and you’re a prince—our lives will never be normal.”

“Not now that I’m stuck in the forest.”

“That’s a minor problem. We can live in an elaborate tree house
or plant trees all around the castle in Alga. If Tohon can build a garden on his
roof, we can make it work.”

“I can’t travel to Alga.”

“Who says? I can still share my energy with you and there are
woods between the ridges.”

His dark mood lifted. “You know, you’re making it hard for me
to sulk.”

“Good.” She leaned in and kissed him.

Desire shot right through him. At least that hadn’t changed. He
deepened the kiss and drew her closer.

She broke away far too soon. “I have to explain a few things to
Estrid first and see that the guys are settled. I don’t want them disturbing us
later.” Her gaze burned with promise.

Kerrick didn’t want to wait. “They won’t disturb us now. Even
they can figure that out.”

“Should we tell the monkeys and Flea about you?”

“Yes, they need to know. But not Estrid or Eva.”

“Agreed.” She chewed on her lower lip. “Let me try something
before I go.” Avry took his hand in both of hers.

Her magic spread through him with a soothing warmth. He
resisted soaking it in and reenergizing.

“You’re not sick, just exhausted. Hmm... I sense the connection
you have to the living green. Oh.” She released his hand.

“What?”

“I think if your link to the living green was broken...” Avry
paused.

Kerrick braced for bad news. He’d memorized her every
expression, her every mannerism. The way her long graceful fingers worried the
sleeve of her tunic said more than her words.

“It’s just a guess, but that bond is keeping you alive,” she
said.

No surprise. “Break it and I die.”

“Perhaps. This is...unprecedented. I’m sure we’ll figure it
out.”

“Yeah, add it on the list right after defeat Cellina’s army,”
he grumbled.

“Remember when the Peace Lily saved me?” Avry took his hand
again.

A strange change in subject, but he trusted her. “Of course.”
It had been the best moment of Kerrick’s entire life.

“And I wondered why it saved me and how. Do you recall what you
said?”

“I said I didn’t know nor care. That I considered it a
gift.”

Avry pressed his palm against her cheek. “This is exactly the
same thing. I consider it a gift.”

He caressed her smooth skin with his thumb. “I also remember
how we celebrated.” Heat built deep within Kerrick. He slid his hand to her
neck, pulling her against him.

She gazed up at him. “We were alone then.”

“We’re alone now. No one within...” He concentrated, letting
his senses extend throughout the forest. “A couple miles.”

“Did the living green tell you that?” she asked.

“No. I’m part of the forest, I just...know.” It was hard to
explain.

“You told me before it has a voice.”

“It does, but with this...” Kerrick gestured to the surrounding
forest. “It doesn’t need to say anything.”

“What does it sound like?”

“It’s neither male nor female. I hear it in my head. Why?”

“The Lilys speak to me the same way, and I wondered if perhaps
it was the living green instead.” Her gaze grew distant. “No, it’s another
consciousness. Otherwise the Death Lily would have known where you were.” Her
forehead crinkled. “That means there are three living beings that can
communicate. I wonder if there are more.”

He loved watching her puzzle out a problem. “I thought you said
the Peace Lilys didn’t talk to you.”

Pain creased her face. “Twice now. Once after Noelle died.”

“Sorry, I’ve forgotten.”

Avry shook her head. “So much had happened while you were in
the north, and again in the last month.”

“When was the second time?”

A mix of emotions flashed before Avry said, “I’ve done a
horrible thing, Kerrick.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Impossible.”

“But you don’t—”

“Have you refused to heal someone in need?”

“No, but—”

“Have you put your well-being ahead of another?”

“No, but I—”

“Have you ignored a plea for help?”

“Kerrick—”

“Have you harmed a small furry animal?”

“Now you’re being—”

“Have you slept with another man?”

“Kerrick!”

Her face reddened in what he hoped was outrage and not guilt.
“What? I’m thinking of horrible things. That’s one.”

Avry straightened, breaking his hold. “Well, here’s another
one. Have you animated the dead?”

He searched her expression. No humor sparked in her eyes. He
thought back to their conversation. They’d been talking about Peace Lilys.
“Animated like Flea?”

“No, like one of Tohon’s. Are you going to add that to the
horrible list?”

Torn between being impressed by her ability and wishing to
comfort her, Kerrick chose his words carefully. “Tohon’s, yes, but not
yours.”

“Why not? The result is the same.”

“But the intention isn’t. Your intent was to save a person’s
life.”

She seemed surprised. “How did you know?”

“Because it’s
you.
You will do
everything you can to save a life.”

“But—”

“Tell me I’m wrong.”

Avry tried. Explaining what led up to the “horrible thing,” she
never mentioned anything he’d consider even bad. Her actions were logical,
practical and kind—Avry to a tee.

“...and now Flea is freaked out and avoiding me.” She hunched
down as if guilt pressed on her shoulders.

“He’s young. He doesn’t understand. Unless you’re planning on
creating a whole army of them...?”

She gave him a flat stare.

“I didn’t think so. Concentrate on the positive. This is an
opportunity for us to learn more about Tohon’s creations. Does Ryne know?”

“Probably.”

“He’ll know what to do with...Yuri. In the meantime, don’t let
this affect you. There was no way you could have predicted that would have
happened. Unless you can see into the future...?”

Another sour look, but he suspected her heart wasn’t in it.

“Too bad, because that would come in handy right now.”

“Like who will win this war?” she asked.

“I’m thinking more of the immediate future. I would ask my
beautiful prophetess if I will get lucky tonight.” He stroked her arm and twined
his fingers with hers, drawing her toward him.

“I know the answer to that.” A sly smile tugged on her full
lips.

“Do tell.”

She leaned closer and whispered in his ear, “Not tonight.”

Kerrick pouted.

Avry slid her arms around him. “Your prophetess says you’re
getting lucky
now.
Estrid can wait.” She nuzzled his
neck with her nose, pressing her body against his.

Heat flushed through him. He shifted to lie back onto the
ground, taking Avry with him. Now side by side, Kerrick kissed her deeply. His
hands slipped under her tunic, seeking skin as he proceeded to make her
prediction come true.