“Not that way. Just for blood, when I’m thirsty.”
“I can’t believe you did that.”
“It worked,” she breathed in reply.
“But it was crazy reckless. What if—”
Kira felt a burst of anger. “Why did you use that word? Crazy?”
“Ummm… sorry,” Jason said.
He did sound sorry, and she couldn’t understand why she’d gotten so angry so fast, so Kira let it go. She also knew he was right. The man she’d jumped might have had a lot of friends close by, might have been able to counter her attack, might have responded by grabbing her instead of tossing her away. There were too many ways that move might have ended in disaster.
However, it had worked. They heard occasional shouts and raised voices after that, almost all from the direction of the road. But the mercenaries, apparently already unhappy with the deadly hunt through the dark, had been thoroughly spooked by Kira’s attack. She didn’t recognize many of the accents she was hearing, which told her that most of the speakers probably came from Ringhmon or the Waste near it. But there were others speaking in the accents of various parts of the Empire, Syndar, the Western Alliance, and even the Free Cities.
No matter how much whoever was in charge demanded that they go looking for Kira and Jason in the dark again, the mercenaries and Mechanics refused. Kira couldn’t tell from the snatches of words she caught whether they were all rattled by the teeth marks on one of their number’s neck. But all of them argued that they’d already lost some of their number to gunfire while stumbling around in the dark and that none of them wanted to be the next victim, regardless of whether the weapon was a firearm or Kira’s teeth.
Kira and Jason huddled among the rocks, waiting for it to grow light. Kira kept waking suddenly, having passed out from weariness. Jason seemed to be having the same problem.
She jolted awake as a rifle fired, the sound followed moments later by the crash of the bullet into the rock she was leaning against. Rock splinters hit her hand, raising a sudden pattern of bright red blood drops.
It was light enough to see better. Light enough for one of the enemy rifles to see her and try to kill her.
Kira shoved at Jason, who was already moving. They covered about a lance of distance, putting some of the nearby rocks between them and whoever had taken that shot. But as they crouched there, Jason looked around and back. “Kira! Run!”
She didn’t ask any questions, bolting up and running while Jason ran beside her. A fusillade of shots roared out behind them, the crack of bullets tearing past their ears lending speed to Kira’s flight. “When we moved we were exposed to anyone on the ridge above the road,” Jason gasped as they ran.
Kira spotted a familiar-looking cluster of rocks, a body in Mage robes lying just outside it. “There!” Another few lances of frantic running, their sudden change of path throwing off the aim of the rifles for a moment, and then she dove over the rocks into the sheltered spot they’d occupied the day before.
Kira was rolling to her back when Jason came over the rocks in his own headlong dive and landed on her, driving the breath from her.
Gasping, she managed to get out from under Jason and get him low enough to be protected.
“Home sweet home,” Jason said, breathing heavily. “Sorry I hit you.”
“Uffff,” Kira managed to reply, still trying to get her breath back.
A bullet struck a rock next to her and caromed off, leaving a metallic smear on the stone. As she fought for breath, Kira stared at that smear, wondering why it seemed to flicker in and out of existence.
Jason also stared at the smear of metal left on the rock by the bullet. “Is that lead? It looks awfully shiny for lead.”
Kira took a few moments to reply as she recovered. “No, that doesn’t look like lead. Definitely not a copper-jacketed round. Maybe an alloy?”
“Is it silver?” Jason asked as if not believing he was suggesting that.
“Um, it could be,” Kira said, then understood. “Oh, yeah. Silver. I guess some of the Imperials came prepared to deal with me, and after last night they’re not taking any more chances.”
“Your world believes that vampires can be killed by silver?” Jason demanded.
“If you’re talking about Mara, yeah. Although I’m supposedly the unnatural child of what you call a vampire, so the rules might be different there. I don’t know,” Kira said. “Why does that bother you?”
“I’ve told you how strange it is that your world, with no reference to the legends and literature of Earth, still came up with a vampire legend. And you’ve also all on your own come up with silver as a way to kill vampires!”
“I guess that is sort of odd, Jason. But the stories say that Mara could also be killed by wood through her heart, so—”
“Wood through the heart? Like a stake of wood?”
“No. Any wood at all. Mara supposedly doesn’t like even touching wood.”
“That’s so strange,” Jason said. “And they’re actually shooting silver bullets at you.”
“Yeah,” Kira said, getting annoyed. “Could you stop sounding like that’s some really cool thing? Because they’re shooting silver bullets at me, Jason!”
“They’re shooting them at me, too! I’m a demon, remember?”
“Yeah, great, you’re a demon,” Kira muttered. “Sorry. I’m kinda on edge, and kinda tired.”
“Me, too,” Jason said, sounding apologetic. “Sorry.”
They lay there, waiting for another attack, as the sun slowly climbed into view. But aside from occasional rifle shots ricocheting off the rocks around them, nothing else happened.
Feeling incredibly tired and stressed, Kira found herself looking at a small rock on the ground before her face. The pebble seemed to take on more and more significance the longer she looked at it.
Finally, she figured out why. The pebble wasn’t there.
She moved her hand enough to press down on the pebble, feeling it against her palm, knowing it was really there, and also knowing she was only feeling the illusion of feeling that pebble. Both things were true.
“Kira?”
“Yeah?”
“What are you doing?”
She looked over at him, seeing his puzzled expression and trying to figure out why Jason needed so many things explained to him lately. “I’m looking at this rock.”
“Uh, yeah,” Jason said. “Why?”
“Because it’s an amazing rock, Jason. It’s not there.”
He stared at her for a long moment before speaking unusually slowly. “Yes, it is there.”
“I know, Jason,” Kira said patiently. “It’s there and it’s not there. At the same time. That’s amazing, isn’t it?”
He took a little while to think, seeming tense as he did so, then smiled slightly and nodded. “Yeah. That is amazing. Maybe… maybe it’d be a good idea to suppress your Mage powers now.”
“Why would I need to suppress my Mage powers? They’re already suppressed.” She paused, closing her eyes to focus on those internal barriers before looking at him again. “Yes. One hundred percent suppressed.”
“Really?”
Why did he look alarmed? “Jason, I’d know if—" She felt something, the draw on power in this area that meant a major spell was being prepared. “Lightning! Down!”
They huddled together, as low as possible against the dirt, while lightning lashed the boulders sheltering them. As the attack ended, Kira felt something else, concentrating to try to understand it. “Jason, he’s moving. The lightning Mage. He’s… he’s running, Jason!”
Jason reared up, his carbine ready, searching for a target.
But before he could raise the weapon, Kira grabbed him and pulled him back down just before the crack of rifles heralded the impacts of bullets nearby. “You promised me you wouldn’t do that any more!”
Jason pressed his head against the ground, the muscles in his face tight. “I’m sorry. I thought I could get a shot at him.”
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“And they nearly got you!” Kira paused as she felt something else. “Someone’s coming.” She turned her head trying to sense the direction. “There. Up the road toward Altis. A Mage is coming this way. Trying to hide their presence but… she. She’s not very good at it.”
“Whoever she is, she’s scared the guys we’ve been fighting,” Jason said, looking around cautiously. “Look. They’re keeping under cover, but those guys who’ve kept us pinned down are running. If they’re running, maybe she’s with the good guys.”
“The relief column,” Kira said. “That’s who it has to be.” She smiled at him. “It looks like we survived another one.” Leaning in, she kissed him, holding it. Wow. That felt good. “Hey, Jason,” she whispered, barely breaking the kiss, her lips still close to his, and trying to catch her breath, “want to have some fun while we’re waiting?”
“You want to make out while we’re waiting for the relief column?” he asked, also short of breath.
“Something more,” she suggested, smiling wider and wondering if they had time. How much time would it take, anyway?
He surprised her with a laugh. “You had me going there for a moment.”
Kira hesitated, suddenly wondering herself whether she’d been serious. Had she been? Under these circumstances? Aside from being incredibly reckless, this wasn’t exactly a private spot. Let alone a safe one. “Right. Sorry. I shouldn’t have teased you about that.” As if to emphasize how foolish the idea would have been, the boom of a rifle shot was followed by the crack of a bullet hitting a nearby rock.
“Was that a parting shot?” Jason wondered, rising up slightly to quickly scan what they could see of the surrounding heights before he dropped low again. “Or did they leave at least one sniper to keep us pinned down? We’ve got no way of knowing.”
It was perhaps half an hour later that Kira heard something and took a cautious look up toward the road. Figures moved there. Dismounted cavalry, scouting ahead of the relief column.
If there had been a sniper waiting, they must have fled by now. Kira started to get up, realized there was something in her hand, and looked at it. Her pistol. She should… what? Put it away. That felt right. Kira shoved the weapon into its holster and stood up, her empty hands held out. “On the road! We’re friends!”
Two weapons aimed her way while the other scouts continued to watch in different directions. “Who are you?” one of the scouts called down.
“Lady Mechanic Kira of Dematr!” she cried, feeling elated. “And Jason of Urth! It’s safe! We kept the ambushers occupied, and they ran when you approached. The road’s clear from here to where Captain Vanza is waiting with the wounded!”
She saw the scout in charge of the group speaking into a far-talker, then waving to them. “Come on up!”
By the time Kira and Jason made it back up to the road, the main column had arrived, at least two troops of cavalry and several healer wagons. Kira saw a young woman in Mage robes among the riders. She must be the Mage Kira had felt approaching earlier.
She didn’t have to worry about a Mage being here, though. Her powers were completely suppressed.
Why was the Mage looking her way, openly perplexed?
Colonel Patila rode forward, her eyes on Kira. “Lady Kira? Why are you out here alone?”
“I’m not alone. Jason’s here.” The colonel seemed momentarily lost for words as Kira continued. “We came out to make sure the ambushers would let the message get through to you that Captain Vanza needed help. That worked, right? There shouldn’t be any ambushers left between here and Captain Vanza’s force. They fled inland, though I guess they’ll circle back to the road. Oh, Captain Vanza tried to stop us and I threatened to shoot her, so it’s not her fault we’re out here. You need to keep going fast. Those wounded soldiers need help.”
Colonel Patila stared at Kira. “I guess we can sort everything out later. Go ahead and get into one of the healer wagons.”
Just like that, Kira knew what she had to do. She shook her head as she felt everything click into place again. “My apologies, but Jason and I are going to head for Altis. Anyone left watching will follow us. Actually, I need them to follow us.”
“You both look ready to drop,” Colonel Patila protested.
“Oh, we’ve been through worse. Right, Jason?” She looked over at Jason and he did look awfully ragged. Why was he so worn out when she felt fine? “I need a couple of mounts. And some water.”
“And some food,” Jason added after a moment.
“Lady Kira—" Colonel Patila began, everything about her signaling reluctance.
“This is the daughter’s business,” Kira said. “My mother’s business. I’m speaking for my mother, with her authority. Two horses. Please.”
The colonel stared at Kira, shook her head, then called back along the column. “Bring up two of the spare mounts! Make sure they have canteens and field rations in the saddlebags!” Leaning down, Colonel Patila eyed her again. “Lady, are you certain?”
“Yes. Thank you.” Remembering something, Kira turned to Jason. “You’re all right with that, right?”
“Um, okay,” Jason said. “Thanks for asking this time.” He leaned close. “Kira, what’s going on?”
“Trust me. I’ll explain.” As Kira thought about her idea, she felt a growing sense of excitement that she had trouble controlling.
“Lady.” Kira looked to see Colonel Patila watching her. “Our Mage says there is another Mage nearby.”
“That’s right,” Kira said. “The lightning Mage. Mage Ivor. But you don’t have to worry about him. He’s going to come after me.”
“Our Mage says the other Mage is female.”
“She’s mistaken. I know something about this. My father is the Master of Mages. Are the horses ready?”
Two mounts were led up. Kira swung into the saddle of one of them, feeling a new burst of energy and waiting impatiently as Jason wearily pulled himself up onto his mount. “Let’s go.” She snapped the reins, kicking the horse into a trot down the road toward Altis.
Jason caught up on his horse, staying silent until they rode past the end of the column. “Kira? Isn’t this kind of… what’s the word… incredibly reckless? Two words.”
Kira shook her head, wondering what was bothering him. “No. Jason, this is brilliant.”
“Brilliant?” He shook his head in turn, as if trying to order his thoughts. “Because?”
“They won’t expect it. That’s one.”
“I’ll give you that.”
“The other thing is… Maxim.” Kira smiled at Jason. “He’s alive, and if he stays hidden they’ll never find him. Even Sabrin can’t find him. You saw the letter! But Jason, if he knows I’m out there, that I’m out on my own, he won’t be able to resist coming for me. I ruined everything for him. He’s not going to leave killing me to someone else. No, Maxim is going to want to watch me being killed bit by bit, piece by piece. He’s going to want to watch every single moment as they slowly torture me to death. And when I’m almost gone, Jason, when I can’t hold on any longer, Maxim is going to want to be the one who deals the final blow and ends my life! Why are you looking at me like that, Jason?”
His expression combined bafflement and distress. “Why am I looking at you like that? Maybe because you just said what you just said as if it was the greatest thing ever.”
“It is the greatest thing ever!” Kira insisted, wondering why Jason had to have that explained to him. “It’s what will make my plan work.”
“Your plan?”
“Yes! He’s going to come after me. Oh, and after you, too! He wants you dead also. Maybe he’ll keep you alive, though, to help him use those weapons under Pacta, and make you watch me die and stuff before he finally kills you. But that’s all good! He won’t be able to resist it, Jason! And when he comes for us, we’ll have him. We just have to leave ourselves open. As vulnerable as possible. Away from guards and soldiers and stuff that might scare him off.” She smiled tri
umphantly at Jason.
He gazed back, seemingly even more confused. “You think that’s a plan?”
“Jason, this is the greatest plan ever.” She waited for him to agree, to smile and congratulate her.
Instead, Jason got inexplicably angry. “No, it’s not! You want to know a great plan? Yesterday’s plan! The one where we weren’t going to die! That was a great plan!”
She stared at him, confused by his reaction. “You don’t like my plan?”
“Kira, do you feel all right?”
“I feel great! I have never been able to think this clearly before! It’s all there! Why aren’t you happy for me?”
“You promised to tell me if anything was wrong!”
“Yeah. So? Nothing’s wrong. Everything’s perfect. I’m perfect! I never realized that before!”
Jason shook his head once more, his gaze on her growing more and more troubled. “Kira, ummm, are you there? You’re not blacked out, are you?”
She glared at Jason, sudden anger rising inside her to instantly burn away the euphoria of a moment before. “Why would you ask me that?”
He hesitated at the sudden shift in her tone. “We haven’t really slept for almost two days and nights, and—”
“You think I’m acting crazy?” Kira hauled back hard on the reins, stopping her mount abruptly, the gelding jerking his head in protest. “Like you said last night? Is that what you’re saying?”
Jason hastily stopped his own mount, looking back at her anxiously. “I’m just saying that maybe we both need a chance to rest before we make any plans.”
“Why? What’s wrong with my plan?”
“It’ll get us killed.”
“No! You’re the one who’s not thinking clearly!” Kira tugged her horse to one side to ride around Jason. “Fine. I’ll go it alone. You go… wherever you want to.”
“I’m not leaving you,” he insisted, riding alongside her again.
“Why?” Kira snapped, still furious. “Because you think I’m blacked out and I’ll haul you into bed again? That’s what you’ve been hoping for, isn’t it?”
“Kira—”
“Try it, Jason! Make a move! I’ll kick your teeth in!”