Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (18 page)

She dropped her spade, dusted off her hands and ran towards us. “Jericho!”

Jericho jumped off his horse, and she threw her arms around him.

“Hello, Anna.” He hugged and kissed her.

“I was worried when you didn’t come back. No one knew what happened. Where have you been?”

“It’s a long story, but first, I’d like you to meet Derrick and Avikar.”

She turned to us and smiled. “Hello boys.”

“Hello,” we both said.

“I ran into them on the road,” Jericho said. “They saved my life. They wanted to see Daath. I thought it was a fair trade and invited them to stay with us.”

Anna’s smile faded. “Jericho, you know visitors are forbidden. What if someone notices? You’ll be executed!”

“Everyone will be busy with the summer festival. You forget how big Daath is, dear. If anyone asks, I’ll say they’re from the shores.”

Anna cringed. “Those people are savages, but they do keep their distance.” Anna sighed. “Very well, you boys come inside and I’ll fix you something to eat.”

Anna served pork that had been smoked and glazed with apple. It was the most amazing thing I’d ever tasted. Derrick ate a good portion of the pork and half of the almond bread. Back home, we ate rue, lots and lots of rue. There were other things, like beans, potatoes, fanna, but never anything as delicious as this.

After we ate, Jericho showed us to a room upstairs where we could sleep. Derrick threw himself onto one of the cots. “It feels like forever since I slept in a bed,” he said. “We’ll sleep well tonight.”

I sat across from him, untying my weathered boots. “Not me,” I muttered.

Derrick laced his arms behind his head. “Still having nightmares?”

I leaned against the wall, thinking about the drowning dreams and the spirit that attacked me before battle. “Yes.”

“Want to talk about it?”

I crossed my arms. “Not really.”

“We’ve been friends since we were kids. I know how hard Jimri’s death was for you, but talking about it would help. It’s okay to cry. Here rest your head, little one.” He rolled his shoulder in my direction.

Is he kidding me?

“Don’t give me that look. We can talk about our feelings and cry our eyes out until morning. Oh, it will be splendid!” Derrick’s voice ended in a girlish pitch, and he cradled his hands to his chest.

I threw a pillow at his head, but he ducked and it just missed him.

“You’ve been hanging around my sister too much,” I said.

“Probably,” he huffed. “I still can’t believe we’re staying with her kidnapper.”

“The man saved your life!”

“This has to be the stupidest thing we’ve ever done.”

I smirked, remembering all the trouble we used to cause. “What about the time we sneaked in on Susan Beatrice?”

Derrick grinned. “That was only stupid because we got caught.”

And boy did we get caught. “I know working with Jericho feels wrong, but what choice do we have, and after what he did today, well, he’s okay.”

“I don’t care that he saved me. It doesn’t excuse what he did.” Derrick stared at the ceiling. “We have to find her.”

“We will. We were lucky. I don’t know how we would’ve found Daath on our own.”

“I know,” Derrick murmured. “I’m going to sleep. Try and get some yourself.” Derrick pulled the blanket over his head and rolled onto his stomach.

Leaning against the wall, I thought about Jeslyn—my annoying, good girl sister who I loved to prank. We used to be closer when we were younger, but after Jimri’s death, and Derrick courting her … we grew apart. Unimaginably, I actually missed her nagging.

Sitting in Jericho’s house, my head spun. I wanted to hate him, but he saved Derrick. If Jericho wasn’t there, I would’ve been responsible for another death.

“Ugh, what is that smell?” I covered my nose and bolted towards the window.

Derrick chuckled.

“Derrick, what did you eat?”

“Not sure. I ate a lot. Uh-oh, hold your breath.”

I poked my head out the window. “No more pork for you, or you’re sleeping in the barn.”

“I’m nice and relaxed.” Derrick yawned.

I fanned the putrid air outside, wishing I was sleeping in another room.

Jericho took us into town. He planned to talk to one of the other guards, who he swore was a loyal friend. He had wanted us to stay at his house, hiding, while he investigated. Derrick nearly cleaved off his head after that suggestion, and Jericho agreed to bring us with him. He gave us a quick overview of the surrounding area and told us not to bring any attention to ourselves.

Derrick and I headed towards the crowded market. The air smelled of fresh bread, reminding me of home. Houses made of green and orange mosaics with curved archways and round windows loomed on each side of the cobblestone street. Roofs resembling dragon scales created a unique architecture.

While we walked, I rolled one of my marbles in my hand. I didn’t trust anyone and this place seemed otherworldly. Every townsfolk seemed either strong and tall, or lithe and beautiful. Women dressed in bright colors, filled the street. I’d never seen so much color in one place. I caught the sight of a girl with mesmerizing green eyes. Derrick said something, but I was locked in her hypnotic gaze and voluptuous chest.

I bumped into a hard structure.

Stupid.
I grinned at the girl, pretending I did it on purpose—I don’t think she believed it. When I looked at the obtrusive object, a large snake head stared back. I grabbed my sword and jumped away from it.

“That’s from that snake cult,” Derrick said.

“What cult?” I stepped around the statue.

Derrick scrunched his brow. “My father got a shipment of weapons from Crain Village. A lot of it had that emblem. Father said a serpent cult was spreading, very big in Lord Belfur and Lord Thebas’ regions.”

A serpent cult? I remembered the strange girls from Crain Village, chanting, and the symbol drawn on the wall and in the book. The symbol I saw in Crain Village bore a striking resemblance to this statue, but how could that be? No one else in Tarrtainya knew Daath existed. It had to be a coincidence.

I tightened the hood on my cape. “Let’s keep looking around.”

We veered off the main street and headed down a cobbled alley. The town was designed as one big maze with the market as the center. The side streets were narrow and twisted into dead ends.

I heard yelling and held out my arm to stop Derrick. I pointed ahead and we crept forward. Around the bend, two men cornered a slender girl and a big shaggy dog. The dog growled, but the girl seemed calm.

“Don’t be afraid little lady, we won’t bite.”

The girl glared back. “But I do.
Now
Bruno!” The dog bolted at the nearest man, grabbed his leg and shook his head back and forth.

“Ahh, get him off me, he’s biting!” His friend ignored the plea and met the girl head on.

She charged, and when she was in range, kicked out her right leg, sweeping the thug off his feet. The fall knocked the wind out of him, and before he could get up, she planted her black boot on his throat.

I stepped into view. “Nicely handled. I’m impressed. I thought we were going to have to save you.”

Her doe like eyes peered curiously at me. “As you can see, I can take care of myself,” she replied. “Down Bruno.”

Bruno let go of the man’s leg and she took her foot off the other. The two men ran shamefully down the alleyway. Bruno trotted back to her and she rubbed his floppy ear.

“You two don’t look familiar. Where are you from?”

I glanced back at Derrick who suddenly looked vexed. “My name is Avikar and this is Derrick. We don’t often come to this part of town.”

Her face scrunched. “I’m pretty good with faces, and I know almost everyone my age.”

“We came from the shores,” Derrick said.

That seemed to pique her interest. “The Shores? We never get visitors from there. My name’s Raven. Nice to meet you.” She smiled.

A smile like that could change a man’s heart.

She had smoky brown eyes with big curled lashes and long straight hair. Just my type, and she was the first girl I’d met who didn’t wear a dress. I never thought a girl could look cute in a pair of tight-fitted breeches.

“And this,” she said, patting the dog’s shaggy head, “is Bruno.”

Bruno barked.

Derrick leaned over to me and whispered, “Whip out that charm of yours and learn what you can about Lucino. I’ll meet you at Jericho’s later.”

Easy.

“What brings you to town?” Raven said. “I thought the shore people never left their homes?”

I slipped my hands into my pockets and took a step towards her. “We grew curious. Derrick and I were venturing here when we ran into a local who offered us a place to stay.”

She folded her arms and eyed me suspiciously. “Who?”

I ran my hand through the front of my hair. “You probably don’t know him.”

Her lips pursed, and I got the feeling I’d have to do some fast talking.

“Jericho, didn’t catch his last name,” I said.

Her button nose crinkled. “Jericho? He’s back?”

She knows him? What are the chances of that? Keep calm.

“Is something wrong?” I asked.

Raven bit her bottom lip which made me realize she had very nice lips. “I don’t understand. I thought he was dead?” she murmured.

“Dead, why would you think that?”

Her eyes darted left then right. “We can’t talk here, follow me.”

Raven led me out of the town and into the nearby woods. I kept my hand on my sword just in case she tried to attack.

The woods opened. In its midst was a giant lake.

Raven breathed in and stretched out her arms. “I love this place. It’s peaceful. We can talk safely here.”

My eyes fixated on the immense lake in horror. Tall drooping trees surrounded the dark water; a sight too familiar. There could be no peace in a place this monstrous. I imagined Jimri running around laughing … then his still body floating on the water.

“Avi, you promised we’d go swimming,” Jimri had moaned.

“Go play, Jimri,” I said while circling Derrick.

“But, Avi … .”

I groaned “Jimri, the tournament is next week. We need to practice. It won’t take long. Now, go away or I’m never bringing you with us again.”

Jimri frowned and wandered off.

“Don’t go far!” I yelled.

Derrick watched Jimri walk away. “We should let the little guy join in. Teach him a few tricks.”

“I should have just left him home,” I grumbled. “Let’s get a few rounds in before he annoys me again.”

I closed my eyes. I didn’t want to remember. But no matter how hard I tried the facts stayed the same: my little brother died because I didn’t care enough to play with him.

Invisible daggers ripped at my stomach in a repeating crescendo. I wasn’t ready to face this, especially around some girl I was supposed to be questioning.

A gentle hand touched my arm. “Are you okay?”

My hand clenched my belly as a sharp pain dug into my side. “I’m fine.” I don’t think she believed me, but I couldn’t tell her the truth. I scanned the area. “Mind if we sit over there?” I pointed to an old weeping willow.

“Sure.”

Bruno ran off and jumped in the water while we sat beneath the tree. Raven plopped down and leaned against the trunk.