Kerrick lit a lantern and opened a book on herbal remedies. He read through the descriptions, but his thoughts returned to Avry. Lately, anything he did reminded him of her. The bone-deep ache never left him. To avoid slipping into a self-pitying sulk, he concentrated on the list of green ferns, which had different properties than the yellow variety. No surprise, his mind wandered again.
Kerrick and Danny had spent the past two days researching a possible cure for the sick tribespeople. After Kerrick had stopped the boy from healing him, Noak had questioned them on what they’d been doing with the stacks of books.
Although seeming to be perplexed that they would put so much effort in finding a cure for their enemy, Noak had allowed them to work together.
When Noak had left, Danny had grabbed his own stomach. “Avry was right. The desire to heal just...grew from my core and then tugged hard, pushing to get out. Why did you stop me?”
“I don’t want the tribespeople to know. Not yet. They could force you to heal this disease, and it might kill you. We need to learn more about it.” Kerrick rubbed his neck. The cuts had already stopped bleeding. “Besides, you don’t need to heal minor injuries.”
“But I’d like to experience how it works before I need to save someone. What if I do it wrong?”
“I don’t think there’s a wrong way, but when we have some privacy, I’ll cut myself someplace that’s easy to cover and let you heal me. All right?”
Danny had agreed to keep his new healing powers under wraps. Over the next two days Noak had stopped by from time to time to check on their progress. Otherwise, he left them alone.
Kerrick felt better having the boy close to him, but his dream about Avry still haunted him. Danny joined him after dawn, and by the time Noak arrived late in the morning, they had a list of possible plants that might work as a substitute.
Noak and two of his men escorted them into the forest to collect samples. Kerrick had seen the first plant when they’d searched for the venite, so he didn’t need his magic to find it. A slight breeze blew through the trees, and he breathed in the comforting scent of the living green.
As they hiked, Kerrick asked Noak about his ice magic. “Can anyone else in your tribe do the Winter’s Curse?”
“My father. That is why he’s our leader. Only those touched with power can lead.”
“Does Olave have magic, as well?”
Noak scowled. “No. His tribe is different.”
Kerrick considered. “Then how can he challenge your father?”
“When he marries my sister, he will control her power. She’s been touched by summer.”
“And she’ll let him?” Kerrick couldn’t mask his surprise.
“She has no choice. When they marry, they will be bound during the ceremony. This allows him to...use her power despite her wishes.”
“Is that how it works for all your people?”
“No. Only those who have been touched by one of the seasons.”
“So you would—”
“Yes. Only if my wife does not have power. If she has been touched, we would be able to use each other’s power equally. It is the ideal situation.”
“Is Rakel happy about the arrangement?”
“It does not matter. It is done.”
Kerrick marveled at Noak’s cold response. “If your father knows Olave will challenge him, why would he promise his daughter to him?”
“For our people. We are divided and need to be one. Father will either prove his right as leader of all, or die, proving Olave is the one to lead us.”
“Why do you need to join together?” Kerrick asked.
Noak scanned the forest, but his gaze grew distant. “We’ve endured too many harsh winters in the Vilde Lander, and my people can no longer survive on our own.”
That would explain why they were on the warpath. “My people are also struggling to survive. If you’re willing to share resources with Olave, then why not share with us?”
Noak stopped and turned to him. He huffed with amusement. “And who are you to offer such a thing?”
Ah. Kerrick considered but decided Noak would more likely kill him than try to ransom him. “I’m Prin...” No. It was time to face the truth. “I’m King of Alga Realm.”
If Noak was impressed, he didn’t show it. “Your people forced us off our land. We will not share.”
“That happened a long time ago. I had no part in it, nor did my people. I’m not going to apologize for the decisions made by my forefathers. But I can offer you land of your own where no one can chase you away again. In exchange for peace.”
“And I am supposed to trust—”
“I would give my word.”
“Why would you do such a thing?”
“To stop the killing.” He gestured to Danny, who hadn’t said a word the entire time. “So he can grow up, find love and have a family.”
“Weak sentiments. It is why you lost.”
Kerrick shook his head. Why did he even bother? The tribes were looking for revenge. But when they crossed the Nine Mountains, they might view his offer differently. Especially if Tohon and his army of the dead waited on the other side.
Letting out a breath, Kerrick concentrated on finding the plants, using his magic to discern the location of a few. They spent the day gathering leaves and roots. By twilight he stumbled with exhaustion. Danny grabbed his hand. A zip of energy flowed up his arm. Avry had been able to share her strength with him, but he thought it had been an anomaly. Perhaps it was just a part of the healing magic.
When he felt a little better, he released Danny’s hand. He didn’t want the boy to use all his energy. They returned to the library after full dark. Lantern light blazed from the windows. That was the first clue something was wrong.
Inside, Noak’s father, Canute, and Olave waited with a dozen armed men. Another clue.
“Where is she?” Olave demanded.
Kerrick thought he referred to Avry. But the man had addressed Noak.
“Rakel is in seclusion as is proper,” Noak said.
“Not anymore. She is gone,” Canute said.
“Escaped?” Kerrick asked.
Olave glared. “Not without help.” His tone dripped with accusation.
“I would not aid her,” Noak said. “It is not proper.”
“Then she has been taken by another suitor,” Canute said.
CHAPTER 17
I stood and fidgeted with the sleeves of the long beaded pink gown that had been Jael’s, feeling naked without my weapons. I had surrendered my throwing knives and stiletto to one of Tohon’s soldiers that morning. It had taken them all day to collect and pile the army’s weapons into wagons, which then disappeared.
Estrid’s servants had been frantic to prepare a suitable feast and decorate the grand dining room. Word had just arrived that Tohon’s procession approached. Torches lit the path up to the manor house, and the invited “guests” lined the steps, waiting for his arrival.
The wind pressed the silky material against my legs. I kept my arms down at my sides despite the shivers that raced along my skin. My fingers curled into fists to keep my hands from shaking. Noelle’s injury throbbed in my head. Christina had pulled my hair back and arranged it to cover the gash.
As Tohon’s horse stepped into view, I focused on the single hope I held on to. When I had recovered from the blinding pain from her head wound, I had lain in bed thinking about all that had happened in the past couple of days.
My thoughts had snagged on my dream with Kerrick and Flea. Kerrick’s presence had been pure wishful longing. The jail had been the same one he’d rescued me from ages ago. Or so it had felt. More had happened to me in the past three seasons than the three years before.
However, Flea’s presence in the dream might not have been wishful thinking. He had been at my rescue last fall but hadn’t been hiding. I had clutched the sheet tight. Perhaps Flea was sending me a message. There was a jailhouse in Zabin. In fact, Flea, Quain and Loren had spent t
ime there when I’d been detained by Estrid. That was where they’d been hiding!
Unable to contain my excitement, I had asked Christina to fetch Saul. He’d arrived quickly. Concern had creased his forehead. I’d spent more time assuring him I was okay than I wanted.
Lowering my voice, I’d pulled him to me and said, “Remember when I said Ryne would be close by?”
“Yes.”
“He’s still inside the encirclement.”
“Wow. That must have been some blow to your head. Do you want me to get Christina?”
“Not funny, Saul.” How did I explain about my dream? And how I put the clues together. I didn’t. “They’re hiding—”
“In Zabin. We already thought of that. The town’s been searched. Plus all nonessential civilians have been evacuated well before midsummer’s day.”
“What about the jailhouse?”
“It’s too small to fit more than a dozen.”
He’d been right. I sunk back. What had Flea meant? I’d racked my brain. What else was located inside the encirclement? They could be hiding in the training forest, but that wasn’t a—
I’d sat up, startling Saul. “What about the POW camp? It’s big enough to hold them all. And who looks too closely at faces when they’re all wearing that bright yellow jumpsuit?”
Saul had stared at me. “That’s...that’s...genius! And they all left this morning.”
“How many?”
“I don’t know. But now that I’m thinking about it...more than we had. What if they’re all gone?”
“That would be too risky. Tohon’s army might accept a few they don’t recognize but not four hundred. Probably just a handful so they had a bridge to the outside. You need to deliver that package I gave you before you swear loyalty to Tohon.”
He had agreed to check the camp before hurrying away. All day, I’d had mixed feelings about it. If Tohon suspected I knew Ryne’s location, it wouldn’t be hard for him to extract that information from me. But I couldn’t help clinging to that one bit of hope as I waited for the start of what was sure to be a horrible evening.
The procession entered the courtyard. Tohon wore a huge crown that sparkled with diamonds. I wondered if he had pried the gems from his father’s throne. In comparison to the crown, his silk tunic and pants were elegantly tailored without decoration. His gaze swept over the steps with a possessive glint. At least he wasn’t smirking outright. His smile was closer to smug.
When he spotted me, his demeanor changed for an instant, and I caught a glimpse of molten anger before he hid it. His face smoothed back into his handsome and charming expression. With his black hair, long eyelashes and deep blue eyes, he looked every bit a prince.
Only after he passed me did I notice Cellina. She wore a dark purple gown, and amethyst flashed from her hair. Sepp walked with her. His hair had turned all gray since I’d seen him last. And his resemblance to Kerrick still seemed creepy. Sepp didn’t hide his displeasure at seeing me. The feeling was mutual. Sepp had betrayed us when we’d rescued Ryne.
I wondered why Tohon brought him along. To intimidate Estrid? Or for something more sinister?
A few of Tohon’s generals and a couple bodyguards followed Sepp and Cellina. Behind them marched Tohon’s living army in perfect step. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, they fanned out into rows, filling in all the space between the tents and Estrid’s army. The numbers were overwhelming.
Tohon waited at the top of the stairs for his soldiers to get into position before turning to Estrid. She wore her High Priestess gown. Curtsying, she invited him in for the feast.
He said something to her that I couldn’t hear. Her face turned bright red as she knelt in front of him. Tohon waited. Slowly the rest of Estrid’s party knelt, and then those on the steps did, as well. Except me. I just couldn’t do it.
That anger he’d hidden earlier rushed to the surface as he gestured to two of his guards. They grabbed my arms and dragged me up the stairs.
“You must kneel before your king, Avry,” he ordered.
“You’re not my king, Tohon.” The terrified part of my mind squeaked at me to shut the hell up.
“I will be, once you swear loyalty to me.”
“I can’t do that.” And it seemed I couldn’t keep my mouth shut either.
“Why not?”
“I’m sworn to another king.”
“Kerrick’s dead, my dear. Cellina’s ufas chased him down on his way to Ryne’s. I think it was a fitting end for him, don’t you?”
His words twisted inside me like a dagger, shredding my already fragmented heart. I refused to answer. Instead, I said, “You are mistaken. I gave my life for King Ryne. That act is akin to swearing loyalty.”
“And he has abandoned you, my dear. Therefore he has rejected your fidelity.” Tohon grasped my wrist. “You will kneel.”
Pain burned up my arm and spread through my body. My head pounded with renewed fury as my muscles trembled. It didn’t take long for my legs to give out, and I fell to my knees. The pain faded, but he didn’t release his grip.
“Better,” Tohon said. He scanned those kneeling in front of him. “Where’s Jael?”
“She ran away last night,” Estrid said.
Tohon’s fingers dug into my wrist, drawing blood, but his voice remained even. “We will discuss this later.” His gaze met mine. “Including your little adventure, my dear.” He gestured for everyone to rise with his free hand. Yanking me to my feet, he towed me along as he entered the manor house.
When we reached the grand dining room, the group paused as everyone took in the elaborate decorations. Platters laden with cold meats, cheeses and fruits lined the tables. A string quartet played softly as servers waited to seat the guests. Tohon dragged me up to the head table, and I sat on his left with Estrid on his right. Sepp and Cellina joined us.
Tohon released his grip on me after the wine was poured. He grasped his glass and stood. The low buzz in the room ceased as he raised his wine, proposing a toast.
“Now that our conflict has ended, it is one more step to peace and prosperity. Here’s to the unification of all the plague survivors into one realm.”
Everyone clinked glasses and drank.
Cellina hopped to her feet. “Here’s to the man who will lead us to peace, King Tohon!”
More clinking and drinking. I went through the motions but only touched my lips to the edge of my glass. No doubt I would need a clear head for later. Also my thoughts had snagged on a comment Tohon had made about Kerrick. He had said the ufas tracked him down before he reached Ryne’s, but according to Ryne, Kerrick had not only arrived, but then was sent to the north.
Why would Tohon lie about the timing? Unless Ryne had been lying all along to save my feelings. Perhaps he thought I’d be too upset over Kerrick’s death to function. As much as I’d like to curl into a ball and sob, I knew Kerrick wouldn’t want me to give up. Tohon had to be stopped. And if the opportunity to do him harm presented itself, I wouldn’t hesitate.
The feast seemed endless. Servers brought out so many courses, I lost track. The tables filled with steaming bowls of soup, spicy beef, buttered potatoes and sugar beets. Unable to eat, I pushed the food around my plate.
Tohon appeared to be enjoying himself. He talked to Estrid during most of the meal. From what I could tell, he was pumping her for information. Not that it mattered. I wondered if Ryne was indeed hiding in the POW camp. Would he attack tonight? It would be quite the surprise. But when I remembered Ryne’s troops only numbered around four hundred, the odds wouldn’t be ideal.
Perhaps I shouldn’t try to guess Ryne’s plans. Tohon would eventually turn his full attention to me, and I didn’t know if I could refuse to answer his questions.
Tohon reclaimed my wrist after the dessert course had been cleared away. He ordered Estrid to lead him, Sepp, Cellina and all his bodyguards to her study. Tohon also requested that her top-ranking officers accompany us, as well. Dread lumped in my stomach a
s he pulled me along. This was it. He would demand all of us to swear our loyalty.
Settling behind Estrid’s massive desk, he pushed me to my knees next to him. I considered rebelling, but he still had a tight grip on me. Then he asked the High Priestess to explain Jael’s absence.
“She failed to attend our morning meeting, and when I sent a runner to fetch her, he found her page unconscious on the floor and Jael was nowhere to be found,” Estrid said. “When we revived her page, the girl said Jael had left during the night.”
“Did Jael tell her page where she was going?”
“No.”
Tohon pressed his lips together. “Bring her page here. I wish to question her.”
Oh, no. Not good. “She doesn’t know anything,” I said.
His annoyance transferred to me. “I didn’t ask you. But don’t worry, you’ll get your turn soon enough.”
Estrid sent one of her officers. While we waited for Noelle, Tohon questioned Estrid on her staff and troops. How many, who was in charge of the companies, and who had been left behind in Ozero.
When Noelle arrived, I held my breath, hoping she wouldn’t mention being my sister. Aside from a quick look at me, she kept her gaze on Tohon. He stared at her for a full minute before asking her to recount the events of the previous night.
Noelle glanced at Estrid.
“Tell him everything,” Estrid said.
She repeated the story. “I blocked the door, hoping to keep her from leaving, but she used her magic, and the next thing I knew I was in the infirmary.” Noelle also confirmed that she didn’t know where Jael was hiding.
Tohon leaned forward. “What is your name?”
“Noelle, sir.”
“It’s sire. Or you can say your highness or my king.”
“Yes, sire.”
“Do you know what happens to people when they lie to me, Noelle?”
She stammered. “No, sire.”
He raised his hand, showing her that he held my wrist. “This is what happens.”
Although I braced for the pain, I still gasped as the wave hit me. Stronger and faster than what he’d sent me before, every part of me felt as if it were on fire. My world shrank to a pinpoint of agony.