Taste of Darkness (An Avry of Kazan Novel - Book 3) (23 page)

“Cold.” I shivered, but joined him.

“No worries, my love. I’ll warm you up in no time.”

One of the things I loved about Kerrick—he kept his promises.

* * *

I had to admit, Hux’s ability to move through the forest with hardly a sound was impressive. Even with two people on his back, he galloped as if we weighed nothing. However, every jolt reminded me of my broken ribs. We’d been on the road for a day and, according to Kerrick, we’d traveled at an angle, which was how we’d arrived at the border a few hours before the women.

“They have to keep to the paths,” he explained. “The briars would rip their legs to shreds.”

About to ask why Hux didn’t have any trouble, I realized the answer. Kerrick’s forest magic. He made full use of his power as we waited for the women. Leaving me next to a bonfire, he took Hux hunting and returned with two stags. I helped him butcher the animals and threaded thin ribbons of meat onto twigs to cook.

When the women arrived, they were grateful for the fire and the food. They took turns standing close to the flames, warming up. Everyone looked worn out, including Kerrick. He’d eaten and then disappeared.

Flea, Ives, Odd, and the monkeys found a spot to plop. I joined them.

“Any problems?” I asked.

“Just the usual,” Loren said. “Cold nights, hungry women, blisters, and lots of whining from Quain.”

No response from Quain. He leaned his head back on a tree trunk with his eyes closed.

“Estrid’s troops?” I asked.

“Our change in direction gave us a little more time,” Odd said. “But they’re about half a day behind us, and finding us won’t be a problem. We’ve left a gigantic trail.”

“Where’s Kerrick?” Flea asked.

“Resting, I hope. He’s beyond exhausted,” I said.

Flea met my gaze. “Do you think I could...”

“You don’t look any better, Flea.”

“Yeah, well, it’s a different kind of...tired.”

True. Expending magical energy was unlike using physical energy, but there was a hard limit to both. “You can try, but don’t go overboard like Kerrick does.”

Flea stood and scanned the trees. “Where...”

“Just look for Huxley...the horse. He stays close to Kerrick.”

No one commented—more proof they’d all sapped their strength.

“Now what?” Odd asked.

Loren gestured to the clumps of women. “Once we cross the border and find the ladies some decent clothes, they should break up into smaller groups and disperse to the other realms.”

“Will Estrid’s troops chase them over the border?” I asked.

“Depends on how pissed she is,” Odd said. “Technically she’s not allowed, but since the plague...”

All bets were off.

I gazed at the quiet women. They resembled a brown carpet spread along the forest floor. Fydelia moved among them, talking and checking on their cuts and bruises. Melina stayed with the wounded, whom I’d been neglecting. Grunting in pain, I stood, intent on helping.

Fydelia noticed me and came over. “Avry, I want to thank you for—”

I held up my hand. “Still not out of the woods yet.”

She smiled at the pun. “We won’t go back without a fight.”

“We’re thinking you’ll need to separate into small groups of five or six at some point,” Loren said. “You can all disperse back to your lives.”

“Oh, no,” Fydelia said. “We won’t be doing that. We’re trained soldiers. Avry told us about Prince Ryne and his efforts. We plan to fight for him.”

Shocked, I gazed at her. “All of you?”

“At least ninety percent. A few are older, and the years in the monastery affected others.” She tapped her temple.

“That’s generous,” Loren said.

“It’s logical. What’s the point in going home? If Cellina’s army wins, or that Skeleton King, we all suffer the consequences. Better to not let that happen.”

“I wish Estrid believed that,” I said.

Quain had opened his eyes while Fydelia talked. His brow wrinkled as he pursed his lips. “Do you think Prince Ryne would welcome us back now?”

“Oh, yes. With open arms,” Loren said.

“Do we
want
to go back?” he asked.

“It’s not a matter of desire. It’s like Fydelia said, logic. He needs us, and he’s going to be very happy to have twenty-three hundred more soldiers,” I said.

“Maybe he won’t argue with you anymore,” Quain said.

“I doubt it,” Kerrick said.

He and Flea joined us. The dark smudges under Kerrick’s eyes were lighter and he moved with his usual grace. Flea must have successfully shared his energy. Flea’s bangs covered his eyes. I studied him, seeking signs of fatigue. He hunched his shoulders and plopped next to Quain.

“Why?” Quain asked Kerrick.

“They have different views. He’ll do what needs to be done for us to win the war, even if that means sacrificing squads. Avry’s more focused on the individual.”

“If that was true, we’d be sitting here with just Melina,” Loren said.

“We set out to save Melina because of Avry. She had no idea this would happen,” Kerrick said.

“I don’t care why you came,” Fydelia said. “I’m just happy you did. We owe our freedom to Avry.”

“No. You owe it to yourselves. If you hadn’t kept training, you’d still be inside the monastery,” I said.

“Yes, yes. You’re all wonderful,” Odd said. “However, we do have a company of soldiers on our tail and probably should get moving.”

The monkeys and Flea looked at Kerrick.

“One hundred and sixty-two soldiers.”

“Find us more swords and we’ll take care of them,” Fydelia said with confidence.

“Best to outsmart them for now,” Kerrick said.

I recognized the glint in his eyes. “You have a plan?”

“Yes. I’ll hide your tracks and plant a false one for the soldiers to follow.”

“That’s a big job,” Odd said. “Think you can pull it off?”

Kerrick didn’t answer.

“If Kerrick says he can, then he can,” Loren said.

Quain smiled. “Yeah, he’s king of the weeds now.”

Instead of throwing an acorn at Quain, Kerrick’s expression turned queasy. I suspected there was something he hadn’t told us.

* * *

The guards stationed outside the infirmary blocked our way. They pointed their swords at me, Kerrick, and the monkeys. The bulk of the women stayed behind with the others and Huxley. Kerrick’s trick with the tracks had worked long enough to give us a nice lead. And once we’d crossed through Tobory and into Pomyt, Estrid’s soldiers abandoned the chase. With stops for provisions and sleep, the trip to the infirmary had taken us a total of twenty days.

“We’ve orders from Prince Ryne to arrest you on sight,” a sergeant said.

Quain laughed. “You can try.”

“Easy,” Kerrick said.

“Where is Prince Ryne?” I asked.

The sergeant puffed out his chest in indignation. “You are traitors. We will not divulge his location to you.”

“Uh-huh. Did he return to HQ?” I asked.

But the sergeant would not be deterred. He yanked out a pair of manacles and his squad followed suit.

“How many of those do you have with you?” Quain asked.

“Enough for all of you.”

“Are you sure?” Quain whistled.

The bushes rustled and a hundred armed women surrounded us.

“You want to answer that question again?” Quain smirked.

* * *

“Two thousand, three hundred and forty-six,” Ryne repeated in disbelief.

Haggard, thin, and haunted, Ryne appeared to have had a rough time of it since we’d left over a month ago. Guilt for leaving tweaked in my chest until I remembered our argument.

“Are we still traitors, Ryne?” I asked.

“Careful how you answer,” Kerrick warned him.

We sat around a campfire outside the infirmary with the monkeys and Flea. Fydelia remained in the infirmary with Odd. Ryne had just arrived. He rode in on the horse that had carried the soldier with the message that we’d returned. It took a total of six days, and we’d all rested in the meantime. Although Kerrick still moved as if a deep weariness had soaked into his bones. I worried he was getting sick, but he was quick to wave off my concerns as soon as I’d voiced them.

I’d also checked on the patients and found they’d been well taken care of in my absence. But what had upset me the most were the four cases of the new plague. Ginger and Christina had isolated them, and had been careful to wash their hands after treating them. However, I wouldn’t let my caregivers risk getting sick now that I’d returned. I couldn’t heal them, but I could ease their suffering with various herbs. Although seeing them had been a painful reminder of my horrible mistake.

Yuri had accompanied Ryne to HQ. It made sense for him to be there, but an uneasiness drifted in my chest. I still felt he was my responsibility.

Without any clouds to obscure the stars, the night air had cooled fast and there would be frost on the ground by morning. The official start to winter was nine days away.

“Yeah. Don’t piss us off, or we’ll take our girls and go,” Quain said to Ryne.

Kerrick shot him a look, but Quain kept his smug expression.

“No, you’re not traitors,” Ryne said. “I regretted my harsh words after you left. However, I still believe your decision to go was unfounded and reckless.”

“Even after we’ve given you two thousand, three hundred and forty-six reasons that it was well worth the effort?” I asked.

“Are you telling me you knew this would happen?” Ryne challenged.

“No. And I’ll admit there were times...” I shuddered at the memory of kneeling for hours “...that I agreed with you.”

“And I should learn to trust your instincts. Shall we call a truce?” Ryne asked.

“Agreed.” I shook his hand.

“Aww, nuts. Avry, you should have gloated some more,” Quain said.

We all ignored him. Flea poked at the fire with a stick. Bright sparks spiraled up into the air. He’d been extraquiet ever since we returned from Chinska Mare.

“How’s the war going?” Kerrick asked Ryne.

“Aside from a few skirmishes along the border, it’s not.”

“Isn’t that a good thing?” Loren asked.

“You would think so, but Cellina’s up to something big. Our scouts who returned from Vyg have reported seeing fewer living soldiers than there should be, and more activity from the squads of dead soldiers, which is the opposite of how it’s been these past few months. She also pulled her troops from Zabin. Which makes me wonder where her soldiers are going.”

“Any ideas?” Kerrick asked.

“Nope.”

They exchanged a significant glance. My heart squeezed as I realized Kerrick would offer to scout for Ryne. Maybe not tonight, but soon. And while I understood the need, I already missed and worried about him.

“Any word about Belen?” I asked.

“Nothing, sorry. But lots of reports on the Skeleton King,” Ryne said.

Now it was Quain and Loren’s turn to exchange a look. This one was full of horror.

“We ran into him when we were searching for a healer,” Loren said.

“That’s one sick bastard,” Quain said.

“His army is on the move. And he sent me another message.” Ryne rubbed a hand over his face.

Oh, no. “Another bitten and tattooed soldier?”

“Worse. He sent me a box of bones with a letter. The bones belonged to two of my scouts that had gone missing. He taunted me, saying to stop with the sweeps and scouts, to bring my army to Sectven Realm because his troops were hungry for a fight.”

“Wait, I thought he was down in Ryazan Realm?” I asked.

“Not anymore. He’s invaded half of Sectven Realm.”

I leaped to my feet. “Sectven! Mom lives there. And we just rescued Melina.”

KERRICK

Kerrick understood Avry’s concern. He felt it, too. Mom meant a great deal to him. And from the worried expressions on Flea’s and the monkeys’ faces, they cared for her, as well.

He grasped Avry’s hand before she could rush off to organize a rescue party. Pulling, Kerrick tried to get her to sit back down next to him.

She resisted. “We need to warn Mom.”

Ryne opened his mouth to respond, but Kerrick shot him a let-me-handle-this look.

“It’s
Mom,
Avry,” Kerrick said. “She has her sources of information. She probably knows more about the situation than we do right now. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if she hasn’t already cleared out of her inn and has traveled somewhere safe.”

“Nowhere is safe. Plus she wouldn’t leave without knowing what happened to Melina.”

Ah, hell. Avry had a point. He considered their options and found a solution that would appease both Avry and Ryne.

“I’ll go,” he said. “I’ll take Hux and be there in three days. If Mom’s still there, I’ll tell her about Melina and escort her here.” Kerrick glanced at Ryne. “I’ll also gather better information about where this Skeleton King is and how big his forces are.”

Avry rounded on him. “Didn’t you just hear Ryne? He sent the
bones
of the last two scouts in a
box.
”

“Those scouts weren’t forest mages,” he said. “You know I’ll be careful.”

“What if he already invaded Mengels?” Loren asked.

“Then I won’t go near the city. Mom’s inn is at the edge, but if it looks like it’s been commandeered, I’ll keep away.”

Except Ryne, no one seemed overly pleased with his plan, but despite Avry’s outburst, no one else argued. It made sense. Ryne kept his face neutral, but Kerrick had known him long enough to recognize the subtle change in his demeanor. Between the addition of two thousand plus soldiers and Kerrick scouting for him again, renewed hope flared in Ryne’s eyes.

Avry returned to her place next to him. She leaned on him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her close. The warm scent of vanilla filled his nose.

She sighed. “I’d go with you, but I’d just slow you down. Besides...” Avry glanced at Ryne. “I’m needed here.”

Again, Ryne impressed Kerrick by not showing his approval over Avry’s good sense. Or commenting on it. Instead, he stood. “I need to talk to Fydelia and determine how to best integrate her women into our forces. Kerrick, let me know if you need anything for your mission. Do you know when you’re leaving?”

Avry stiffened. They both knew he should head out right away.

“In an hour or so,” he hedged.

Ryne nodded and returned to the infirmary. The monkeys lumbered to their feet, stretched, and yawned with jaw-popping exaggeration.

“We’re beat,” Loren said.

“Yeah, dog tired,” Quain agreed. “Time for bed. Come on, Flea.”

“I’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Flea said.

They peered at him, but then ambled off.

Once they were gone, Flea shoved his stick deep into the fire and met Kerrick’s questioning gaze. “I’m going with you.”

Avry drew a breath, but he squeezed her shoulder, warning her to keep quiet.

“Why should I take you?” he asked.

“I can help you when you can’t leave the forest. Like purchasing feed for Hux and blending in with the street rats to find out information. That’s how I survived before I met you, remember?” Flea inclined his head toward Avry. “And I’m not useful here. Besides, all these soldiers think I’m just a kid—even the caregivers. You
never
treated me that way.”

Kerrick sensed there were more reasons, but he refrained from asking. Avry had said to be subtle with him. While it would be harder to scout with Flea along, he thought the young man had presented a valid argument. Plus Kerrick had a bad feeling he might need Flea’s energy. Every day it was harder to keep the relentless fatigue at bay.

“All right. Go pack and be back here in one hour.”

Flea jumped to his feet. “Yes, sir.” He dashed toward the infirmary.

Bracing for Avry’s anger, Kerrick waited. The silence extended and he worried he’d upset her.

Instead, she relaxed against him, snuggling in closer. “At first I thought it was a horrible and reckless idea to take Flea, but—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—he needs this. It’ll be good for him. And you’ll protect him.”

She had such confidence in him, but Kerrick remembered failing Flea. He’d died under Kerrick’s care before. Only dumb luck had saved him. A Peace Lily and not a Death Lily had accepted Flea’s body, preserving it until Avry returned to awaken him.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Avry said, reading his mind. “Jael—”

“Was after me.”

“No, she was after
us
.
All
of us. She didn’t want Ryne healed and knew it would take all of us together to rescue him.” Avry pulled away and gazed up at him. “I think Flea will be good for you, too. I won’t have to worry about you as much.”

Interesting. “Why not?”

“You’ll be extracareful. And he’ll keep you from doing something dangerous or stupid.”

He widened his eyes in mock horror. “Me? Do something dangerous? No way.”

She laughed. The sound flowed through him like a warm brandy, igniting a fire in his heart.

“I noticed you didn’t protest the stupid part,” she teased.

“Ah, my love, I’m guilty on that one.”

“Well, I can’t think of any examples right now.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her toward him. “I have one example of my stupidity.”

“Do tell.”

“I should have told Flea to come back in
two
hours.”

* * *

Huxley arrived at the same time as Flea. Kerrick marveled over the horse’s ability to sense when Kerrick needed him. After giving Avry another kiss goodbye, he slung his pack over his shoulder and mounted Hux. Flea hopped up behind him.

He spurred Hux into a gallop, heading southwest toward Mengels. Just as he’d predicted, it took them three days to reach the outskirts of town. They hadn’t encountered any of Cellina’s patrols, but he sensed a few squads for the Skeleton King’s army. They also didn’t see any citizens once they crossed the border and entered Sectven Realm. Not a good sign.

And his connection with the living green tugged at him, pulling him down even though he remained in the forest. He had noticed it before when it had dug its roots into him to save his life. He’d hoped it would dissipate after he rested. But it seemed more pronounced. Was it just another quirk of his bond with the living green, or something more dire?

Could he be transforming into more a part of the forest? One with roots? Not a pleasant thought. Kerrick sighed. Not much he could do about it. Instead, he focused on the task at hand.

From their vantage point in the woods to the east, Mengels appeared to be a ghost town.

“It’s almost winter. Maybe they’re all inside,” Flea said in a hopeful tone.

Kerrick just looked at Flea.

“Yeah, well. It’s better than them all being captured or killed by the Skeleton King.”

Pointing to the buildings, Kerrick said, “There are no signs of a fight. The windows are intact. No burned buildings. No scuffs in the dirt. No bloodstains. There’s another explanation.”

“And that is?”

“You tell me.”

Flea huffed, but gazed at the town. One of the larger towns in Sectven, it had survived the brutal plague years almost intact, a rarity in the Fifteen Realms. Kerrick believed it was the cool heads of Mom and other town officials who had kept the population calm, plus the dedication of the surviving town watch who’d stayed at their posts even when friends and family died around them.

“There’s no smoke coming out of the chimneys,” Flea said. “And there are no wheel tracks in the mud from yesterday’s rain. No sign of wagons or horses, either. They’ve left town.”

“Very good. How long ago?”

Flea drew in a deep breath. “There’s a slight odor from the chamber-pot dumps and no fresh horse droppings—just a few dusty-looking piles. A week, maybe two?”

“Which one?”

“I don’t know.”

“Think about the past few days, Flea.”

He dipped his head, letting the bangs cover his eyes. “If they’d left within a week, we’d have seen them because the only safe place is east to Tobory Realm or northeast to Pomyt Realm. So two weeks.”

“I concur. You’d make a good scout.”

Flea stood a little straighter. His swiped the hair from his face, exposing a glimmer of humor in his eyes. “And trade in the luxurious life of a death magician? No, thank you.”

“You’ve been hanging out with the monkeys too long.”

“I consider them my mentors.”

“No, no, no. I can think of a better mentor for you.”

Suddenly wary, Flea crossed his arms over his chest. “Who? Avry?”

“Oh, no. She’d smother you. I had someone else in mind.” Kerrick waited to see if Flea’d take the bait.

“Who?”

“My Great-Aunt Yasmin. She’d set you straight in no time.”

Flea gaped at him. “Isn’t she, like, a hundred years old?”

“She’s ninety, no, ninety-one by now. But don’t let her age fool you. Grown men are terrified of her.”

“Uh-huh,” Flea said, catching on to the joke. “Nice one,
Kerry.
”

Surprised and impressed that Flea knew Great-Aunt Yasmin’s nickname for him, he said, “Touché. Who told you?”

“Belen. He told me to never use it or you’d pound me. You won’t, will you?”

Kerrick laughed. “Back before the plague, I would have. Now I think it’s very foolish to fight over something as silly as a nickname.”

“The stakes are a lot higher now,” Flea agreed.

“Yes, and we should get back to the task at hand.” Kerrick sniffed the air. “I think there are a few citizens still in town.”

“How can you tell?”

“From the smell. After two weeks, the dumps wouldn’t be pungent and there’s a faint tang of lime which means someone is making sure the smell isn’t worse. Come on.” Kerrick retreated deeper into the forest.

“Where are we going?”

“The Lamp Post Inn is on the western side of town.”

“Do you think Mom’s still there?” Flea hurried after him.

“If she’s not, I’m sure she left a message for Melina.”

Hux waited for them. They mounted and Kerrick urged Huxley into a gallop. The sun hung low in the sky and he didn’t want to lose the light.

Taking Huxley almost to the edge of the forest, Kerrick stopped the horse when he spotted the red wood of Mom’s inn through the bare trees. He and Flea inched closer and studied the inn. The shutters were closed and no smoke curled above the roof. No lights gleamed under the door or through the slats. All seemed quiet.

He signaled Flea. Since the forest almost grew to the inn, it didn’t tug as hard on Kerrick as they crept toward the back door. It was locked. Flea grasped his sword’s hilt and kept an eye out while Kerrick popped the lock. They entered the common area. Dust coated the bar, tabletops, and Mom’s teapot collection. No tablecloths or silverware in sight and only a pile of ashes remained in the hearth.

Kerrick checked the kitchen while Flea searched the guest rooms upstairs. The oven was cold. No dirty dishes had been stacked in the sink. Food hadn’t been abandoned. Which meant they hadn’t left in a hurry.

Returning to the common area, he joined Flea.

“The rooms are empty,” Flea reported. “Beds are stripped and the lanterns are cold and without oil.”

“Thoughts?”

“They’re gone. But they had enough time to pack.”

“I’d agree with you except for one thing.”

“And that is?” Flea asked.

“Mom’s teapot collection on the mantel. No way she’d leave without it.”

“Maybe that’s the message for Melina.”

“Excellent point. Check inside them.”

Flea stood on the hearth and lifted the lid on each pot.

“Be careful up there, dearie. Them’s my favorite pots,” Mom said.

Kerrick spun. She stood behind him. Her white hair had been pulled up into a tidy bun and she wore a clean white apron over her full-length skirt.

“Where did you come from?” he asked.

An impish gleam lit her face. “Good evening to you, too, Mr. Kerrick.”

“Sorry, Mom.” He pecked her cheek. “Good to see you well.”

“And you and your young pup are a welcome sight. Have you got news for me?”

“Yes.” He told her about Melina’s rescue.

When he finished, she groped for a chair and sank into it.

Worried, Kerrick knelt next to her. “Melina’s fine. She’s helping in the infirmary near Grzebien.”

She shooed him away. “Don’t fuss over me. You’ve taken such a weight off my shoulders, my legs didn’t know how to handle it.”

“I can’t take all the credit. Avry is the one who insisted.”

“She’s a miracle that girl. She promised...” Tears spilled from Mom’s eyes. She dabbed at them with a corner of her apron. “She kept her promise.”

“That’s Avry. She’s true to her word.”

Mom drew in a deep breath and glanced around the inn. “Now I can leave.”

“To catch up with the others?” Flea asked. He remained on the hearth, leaning against the bricks.

“Oh, heavens, no. I’ll go help Melina and Avry. I’m sure those soldiers don’t know how to cook a decent meal.” She bustled to her feet. “Let me grab my bag of cooking pots and utensils.”

“Uh, Mom?” Kerrick asked, stopping her. “Where is the rest of the town?”

“Scattered. As soon as the Skeleton King crossed into Sectven Realm, they started the evacuations.”

“Yet you stayed.”

“Of course, dearie. I wasn’t going to leave until I heard from Melina. Besides, Mr. Belen still needed care.”