Taste of Darkness (An Avry of Kazan Novel - Book 3) (17 page)

CHAPTER 12

The off notes woke me from a light sleep. Quain stood a few feet away. His sword reflected the weak moonlight. More faint rustles sounded. Not Kerrick. Even if he was angry at us, he would be soundless. Unless something was wrong.

“Should I wake the others?” I whispered.

“We’re awake,” Flea said.

“What do you think, Quain, five or six?” Loren asked in a low voice.

“Maybe more. They’re good.”

Fear chased away all sleep fuzziness. I pushed my blankets aside and stood. “Let’s move closer to the Death Lily.”

“And be breakfast? No thanks,” Quain said.

“It won’t eat you if you’re with me.” I palmed two throwing knives.

We backed toward the Death Lily. The intruders would have to pass the Peace Lilys to get to us, but hopefully they’d balk at the sight of the Lilys. We had returned to our original campsite after the fumes from the bat guano had overwhelmed Flea.

“Flea and Quain, you take the left side. Avry and I’ll get the right.” Loren gripped his sword as he stared at the patch of forest where the slight noises emanated.

I considered who’d attack us in the middle of the night. Cellina, Jael, Estrid, Ryne—we certainly didn’t lack for enemies.

The off notes stopped and Kerrick materialized on the far side. I relaxed until he focused on me. Exhaustion and anger creased his face. Was that why he’d sounded like a whole squad of soldiers?

“Why didn’t you stay in the cave?” Kerrick asked in his flat tone.

“The place stank of bat sh—” Quain started.

“Flea fainted,” I interrupted. “It was unhealthy to be in there.”

Kerrick’s shoulders drooped. I hurried over to share my energy. But before I reached him, he turned and called, “All clear.”

A group of people entered the clearing. Surprised, I stopped until I recognized Odd. I glanced at Kerrick. “What’s going on?”

“They came to help you.”

All my fear and uncertainty fled and I rushed over to Odd, hugging him. “Oh, Odd, I’m so sorry.”

His arms paused halfway around me. “Sorry about what?”

“For thinking bad thoughts about you.”

He squeezed me tight. “Ah. Well, I had a hard time deciding between the High Priestess and Prince Ryne. But when I found out what you were up to, it was easy to decide.”

“Thank you.”

He pulled away, smiling at me. “Anytime. So what’s the plan?”

“Um.”

His smile faded. “You do have a plan, right?”

“I’m working on it. First we need to find some horses.”

“What about getting into the monastery?”

“I have an idea, but...” I met Kerrick’s gaze.

A hard expression gripped Kerrick’s face. “I’m not going to like it. But let’s face it, I’m not going to like
anything
that puts you in danger, but that can’t stop you. We all knew this would be a dangerous mission.”

I stepped over to Kerrick, lacing my fingers in his. “Are we ready for horses now?”

“Yes.”

* * *

“Do I really have to wear this thing?” Quain asked in outrage. He held an acolyte’s robe at arm’s length. “I thought I’d be on the escort team.”

“You don’t have a uniform, and none of ours will fit you,” Odd said with an amazing amount of patience, considering it was the fifth time he’d repeated it.

“That’s what you get for being so fat, Quain,” Loren said. He pulled an identical red robe over his head.

Quain fisted his hand and bulged an impressive bicep. “Oh, yeah, do you want to see what this
fat
can do?”

“That’s enough, boys,” I said, donning my—what do I call it?—not-a-virgin robe? It matched the monkeys’ except for the color. Mine resembled dark brown mud and I wore it over my black travel clothes. Thick and heavy, it’d be hot as hell in the summer. “Ooh, pockets! Lots of pockets to hide stuff in.”

“As long as they don’t search you,” Odd said, killing the mood.

That was one of our big what-ifs. We had a number of those this-will-work-if parts of our plan. No plan was perfect...right?

We’d gotten horses to travel to within a couple miles of Chinska Mare. It had taken us six days, half the time as if we had walked.

In order to get past the city guards, we needed a cover story. My idea would not only get us into the city, but into the monastery, as well. Quain and Loren would impersonate priests returning from Sectven Realm with an impure, unmarried girl—me as Irina—in tow. They’d deliver me to the monastery and hopefully be allowed to stay and pray.

Odd and his squad would be escorting us since they just had happened to run into us on their way back to Ozero. Claiming they were obeying the High Priestess’s orders to return to relieve a few of the guards on duty at the monastery, Odd and his squad would become part of the security team while Flea and Ives would remain in the city to explore the aqueducts and map an escape route.

As one of the men who had lived and worked in Chinska Mare before the war, Ives was familiar with the day-to-day routines. He’d been the one to steal the robes from one of the creator’s houses of worship. Since we’d been in Ozero, there appeared to be a worship house in every town.

My job would be to find Melina as quickly as possible while the others figured a way out of the monastery. It sounded simple...right?

As we changed and practiced our stories, Kerrick fed and watered the horses. He’d find a stable for them once we left. He’d been unusually quiet ever since Odd and his men had joined us. While we were gone, he’d planned to find that southern aqueduct exit and meet us there. Once we reached that point, he’d be in charge of getting us out of Ozero without encountering any trouble. And he’d help us lose any pursuers.

We had all the angles covered...right?

“We’ll leave two hours before the shift change,” Ives said. “That will get us there right at the end of the day shift. At that time, those guys won’t care who they let in. They’ll be more interested in when their replacements arrive than anything else.”

We finished going over the plan. I handed Odd the container I’d swiped from the infirmary and explained how it worked. With about an hour left before we needed to leave, I packed my bag and then headed toward the horses. Kerrick had found six hardy Tobory horses so we could double up. Yet only five stood.... Oh. It popped into sight along with Kerrick. He cleared a stone from the horse’s hoof.

I smiled. “For someone who doesn’t like horses, you sure know a lot about them.”

“It’s not a matter of like or dislike,” Kerrick said. “They’re useful at times and must be cared for. And since I’ve nothing else to do...” He checked the horse’s other hooves before moving to the next one—the large chestnut-colored stallion shifted his weight obligingly.

Ah. The reason for his...moping? I’d been so busy planning Melina’s rescue, I hadn’t had much time to spend with him. We shared a mount and a bedroll, but hadn’t had any privacy.

When he finished with the stallion, I blocked him from checking another. I wrapped my arms around his neck. His magic buzzed along my skin. “That can wait. I’ve something else for you to do.”

He met my gaze as he pulled me closer. The tingling sensation intensified, going deeper.

“I understand that staying behind is hard,” I said. “I’ve been on the waiting and wondering side of things too many times to count. All I can do is promise to be as careful as possible. Knowing you’re here is plenty of incentive for me to hurry back.”

“If you don’t, I’ll come get you.” A stubborn resolve flashed in his eyes. “I might be trapped in the forest, but I’m not without
other
resources.”

“I believe you. After all, you’re skilled at a variety of activities.” I raked my fingers through his hair. It had grown just past his shoulders—the longest I’d seen it.

“A few,” he admitted in a husky voice.

The heat from his body reached me through two layers of clothes. Or was that from my own internal fire? “Don’t be so modest. I’d bet you could find us a nice secluded little—”

Kerrick picked me up. His magic disappeared, but my body still hummed as we turned the colors of the forest. I hooked my legs around his waist. He kissed me as he carried me to...I’d no idea. All without missing a step.

When he laid me down, we broke apart for a moment. “Impressive.” I panted even though I hadn’t done any of the work.

“I’m just getting started. Next step, getting rid of all these annoying layers.” Impatient, he tugged on the brown robe.

“Yours, too,” I said, pulling on his short cape.

Soon we had a pile of clothing next to us. I shivered in the cool air. But I wasn’t cold for long. Kerrick warmed me up until a bonfire raced through my body.

* * *

A few heartbeats later...or so it seemed, time ran out. With great reluctance, Kerrick and I untangled and dressed.

Before we headed back to the others, he drew me close. “Do I need to lecture you?”

“No, I already promised to be careful.”

“Get in and get out. Don’t dally.”

“Dally? Seriously?”

His expression darkened. “Avry.”

“All right. No dallying and no more lecturing.”

Kerrick pulled an orange leaf from my hair. “Sorry. It’s...difficult for me to remain behind. You have my heart, my soul, my life. I’m an empty shell without you.”

Emotions lodged in my throat. I squeezed him tight. “You’re never alone, Kerrick. You and I are linked. Inside you is all of me. And I’ll be there forever.”

He tipped my head back and kissed me with such passion that I forgot about the mission and all the world’s problems in that moment of utter bliss.

“Hey, lovebirds,” Quain called. “Stop raking the leaves. It’s time to go.”

I broke off the kiss. “Raking the leaves? Is this one of those guy euphemisms?”

Kerrick sighed. “No that’s a Quain-ism. He has many of them.”

“Don’t tell me.”

We returned to the campsite hand in hand. The others had shouldered their packs and waited for me.

“I’ll be at that southern exit,” Kerrick promised, whispering in my ear.

“I’ll see you there.”

Kerrick and I shared one more kiss before he pulled power and we appeared normal.

Odd frowned at us. “We need to leave now or we’ll miss the shift change.”

I squeezed Kerrick’s hand before letting go. Picking up my knapsack, I slung it over my back. “I’m ready.”

The monkeys and Flea said goodbye to Kerrick. I tapped my chest over my heart in a silent goodbye to him. He smiled.

Setting the pace, Odd walked in front with Flea next to him. I stayed between Quain and Loren, and the rest of the odd squad followed behind. After a few steps, I glanced back. Kerrick stood in the same spot, watching us. His hand rested on the center of his heart.

Unable to stop the silly grin from spreading over my face, I faced forward. Who’d have thought Kerrick had a sentimental side? Not me.

“Uh, Avry, or rather, Irina. You’re supposed to be contrite and repentant,” Quain said.

“I will be once we get closer.”

“As long as we’re not surprised by a patrol. Without weed boy, we don’t— Ow!” An acorn clipped Quain’s forehead, leaving a red mark.

“You were saying?” I asked.

“Forget it.” Quain rubbed his temple and glared into the woods.

We continued on in silence. Before we reached the city’s gates, I tucked a few essential items into the various pockets of my robe and clothes underneath. They’d probably confiscate my pack and search it.

A two-story-high cerulean-blue marble wall surrounded the city of Chinska Mare. Thin white veins snaked through the smooth marble. According to Ives, the city had two gates, one on the west side and the other on the east.

A line of people and wagons waited to enter the city. Odd led us to the end of the queue. A few of those waiting nearby turned and stared at us. I gazed at the worn cobblestones as if dejected. We shuffled forward until it was our turn to state our business.

Odd started to explain, but the guard waved us through with an impatient gesture, just like Ives had predicted. Ives and the men who knew the city the best moved up to the point position and led us through the narrow unmarked streets.

The rows of buildings leaned against each other. Skinny houses mixed with businesses in a haphazard way. Factories sprawled in all directions as if plopped there from high above. I imagined old buildings squashed underneath them. The odor of rotting garbage dominated. A plume of gray smoke engulfed us. We choked on the acrid fumes that burned our eyes.

The citizens hustled by, avoiding eye contact. Red-robed acolytes patrolled the streets. They peered at us with suspicion, but no one approached. It took me more than a few moments to figure out what was off about the tight and cramped city. Even though it was a large city filled with people and industry, it was quiet. No one laughed, talked, yelled, or said much of anything. Even their footsteps were muted, as if they wore rubber-soled shoes and boots. Creepy.

After an hour, I’d lost track of the turns we’d taken. The sunlight faded and the lamplighter crews lit the city’s lamps. Even they went about their work with hardly a word. After a few more hours of navigating the dark streets, Ives stopped us and warned the monastery was around the corner.

We checked our disguises one more time, and I adjusted my hidden contraband. Turning the corner, we all stopped and stared. Made of pure white marble, the building stretched for blocks in either direction. No windows marked the walls that stretched upward in multiple tiers. Each tier was smaller than the one below like layers on a giant wedding cake. Halfway up the eight-story structure, towers soared above the monastery, resembling candles. And this was just what we could see in the semidarkness.

This humongous structure made a fortress look tiny in comparison.

* * *

I stared at the monastery as my heart did flips in my chest. I’d be lucky to get out, let alone find Melina. Our plan seemed too simple for this monstrosity. Plus we only had a week at most before Estrid and the bulk of her army returned. Kerrick had sensed her in the forest along with many others just before we crossed Ozero’s border.

After I lectured Flea on staying out of trouble and made him promise to be careful, Flea and Ives said goodbye and slipped away. I met Odd’s questioning gaze.