Heritage: Book Three of the Grimoire Saga (15 page)

Her mentor’s voice continued, low and just out of reach. Kara didn’t try to understand the words. She didn’t want to.

“...and what do you think, child?” he asked.

Kara blinked herself back to reality. Stone squatted before her at eye level, his elbows resting on his knees.

She smirked. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”

He smiled. “Not bad.”

“Is my reward a bath and an early bedtime?”

Stone laughed. “I think you’ve earned that much.”

She sat upright. “Really?”

“There’s nothing else I can do for you, not in what time we have left. You should go back to your vagabonds and discuss strategy. You’re not done, of course—you need to keep practicing on your own. But I do think our work together will give you a strong foundation on which to build.”

“Thank you, Stone.” Kara hugged him.

He grunted. “Please don’t.”

She nodded and pushed away, but couldn’t keep a smile from spreading over her face. She’d done it. She could control herself, at least mostly. She could be the Vagabond again, which meant she could finally get back to Braeden.

“You’re not done,” Stone repeated. “But you should enjoy your evening. The real work starts tomorrow when you face your vagabonds again.”

The next morning, a bird tapped on Kara’s window. She groaned and shoved her face under a sheet. Last night, she promised herself she would get up with the sunrise and check in on Twin, but so far she’d spent the last three hours of daylight burrowing back under the covers. The world could wait five more minutes.

Whump!

She flinched. Something had definitely banged against her wall. Her eyes fluttered open. Her bedroom door bled into view, its edges blurry. She rubbed her face.

Bang!

The door rattled. The knob shook.

“I don’t care!” someone shouted in the hall. A man.

“Let her sleep!” someone else yelled. A woman. Twin?

Kara pushed herself to her feet. Blood rushed from her head. White specks dotted her vision, and the room spun. She grabbed the bed post to brace herself, but as soon as the room came back into focus, she crossed to the door and swung it open.

Richard stood in the hallway, mud still stuck to his traveling boots. He had his back to the door, his full focus apparently on Twin. She stood close behind him, a green dress flattering her curves. She caught Kara’s eye and frowned.

“You’ve gone and woken her up, Richard!” Twin said.

Richard twisted around and glanced Kara over. His brows furrowed, but Kara couldn’t figure out if it was anger or worry.

“What on Earth is going on?” she asked.

Twin shook her head. “Richard just got back from giving those last Grimoires to our final recruits. I told him what happened with...you know...”

“You’re an isen!” Richard shouted.

A flash of fear squeezed Kara’s heart. She explained her isen nature with the other vagabonds when she first returned from her time at Stone’s home. In the matter of a few hours, she told them everything about her grandfather, her new power, and her isen mentor. Some of them left because of what she was. Some yakona wouldn’t fight for an isen, even if she was the legendary Vagabond.

She’d forgotten Richard wasn’t there to hear the news. He
hunted
isen. Murdering soul suckers was what he did best. Before Kara found Ourea, Richard taught Braeden how to be one of the best isen hunters in the world—Richard hated isen. He always cherished the legend of the Vagabond, but Kara doubted that would be enough to sway his hatred for what she’d become in his time away.

She straightened. Her hand tightened into a fist, but she didn’t say anything.

He arched his back and sniffed the air, eyeing her the whole time. “You even smell like one. You really are an isen. I can’t believe it.”

“Is that a problem?” she asked. Sweat licked her palms.

His eyes softened. “But how...?”

Kara shook her head. “I didn’t know, either. Only a few did, and they didn’t tell me until it was too late.”

“You didn’t choose this?”

“I didn’t want to turn, but I would have been forced into this life eventually. It happened the way it needed to. I’m an isen, Richard, but I’m still the Vagabond. That will never change.”

He broke eye contact and rubbed his neck. Kara let him simmer. Interrupting him or rushing him would only push him away.

Richard turned to Twin. “Are you sure she’s really her?”

The Hillsidian girl nodded. “She was tested before we let her back in the village.”

Kara cringed and suppressed a shiver. The test wasn’t something she wanted to relive.

“Will you stay?” Kara asked Richard.

“Does what she is really matter?” Twin added.

The retired king leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “I’ve hunted isen all my life, so yes, this is important to me. But I know you, Kara. Your race doesn’t define you. Deep down, I wanted to be sure. I had to know. I never imagined the Vagabond would be an isen. I was always told they were evil beasts with no souls of their own.”

Kara flinched and glared down the hall.

Richard sighed. “But with all you’ve done, Kara, I couldn’t possibly hate you simply for what you are. You’re more than the horror stories. You’re the Vagabond, and I trust you. Those who left were fools to go.”

Relief pooled in Kara’s shoulders. “Thank you, Richard.”

He offered a thin smile in return. “Of course, my girl. We apparently have a lot to talk about. I brought you more vagabonds, and they’re itching to meet with you. But before you go down to them, I have a few things for you.”

Richard lifted a sack from the floor. With the anxious reunion, Kara must have overlooked it before.

Twin crossed her arms. “Can you be ready in an hour, Kara? Now that Richard’s back, we need a plan. Fast.”

Kara nodded. “Just let me get dressed. Richard, I can meet you in my office if—”

He laughed and slipped past her into the room. “Not necessary. This will only take a minute.”

She caught Twin’s eye and frowned. Once a king, always a king. Pushy man.

Twin smiled and shook her head. “I’ll see you downstairs in a bit.”

“Sounds good.”

The Hillsidian turned back down the hallway and headed off toward the stairs. Kara shut the door, leaning against it as she examined the retired king. Richard stood with his back to the window. When he caught her eye, he smiled and tossed the bag on the bed. Metal clinked. Despite the smile, his eyes narrowed a bit more than they used to. His stance remained tight, shoulders tense and squared. He crossed his arms, but left his hand free—probably so he could grab the sword tied to his waist if need be.

“Are you nervous?” Kara asked.

His jaw tensed. “Old habits. You smell like an isen. It’s intense.”

“It’s what I am.”

“Does Braeden know?”

“Of course.”

“How did he react?”

Kara smiled. “He tried to kill me at first. Thought I was Stone.”

“Who?”

“My master.”

Richard cleared his throat and eyed the floor with sudden interest.

She suppressed a groan. “If this is going to be a problem, we need to clear the air now.”

“I’ll be fine. I need time to adjust.”

“Suit yourself. What’s in the bag?”

“A few things you left in Ethos after the Gala unraveled. One of my Hillsidian friends grabbed them for you.”

Kara untied the drawstring and peeked in. Light glinted off of silver. She pulled out a small box on clawed feet. Several other boxes sat at the bottom of the bag. Recognition tugged at her mind.

“Are these the presents I got at dinner during the Gala?” she asked.

Richard nodded. “I figured you would want them. Who knows? They may come in handy.”

“Maybe.” Kara set the silver box back into the bag. She would deal with the gifts later.

“I have to say, Vagabond, I’m impressed you let those vagabonds leave. A Blood would have had them killed.”

She shrugged. “We’re vagabonds. We value freedom. I don’t feel I had much of a choice but to let them go.”

“Well, at least they don’t remember where we are. That’s a plus.”

Kara glanced up. A thread of worry pulsed in her chest. “What are you talking about?”

Richard frowned. “No one told you?”

“Told me what?” Frustration bubbled in Kara’s stomach. He didn’t have to be so cryptic.

He sighed and sat on the edge of her bed. “Apparently, Remy rounded the deserting vagabonds up by the lichgate in what he claimed was an expedition to lead them safely back. Instead, he used some technique I’ve never heard of before. It knocked them unconscious and blurred their memories in such a way they won’t remember where they’ve been or who they were with. It’s a bit like the aftermath of a night of heavy drinking, only this mars the entire memory of the village. I’m pretty sure he and Twin dumped each of them near their respective villages afterward.”

Kara grumbled. “When exactly were they going to say something?”

Richard shrugged. “It’s my understanding you haven’t exactly made yourself available, my girl. Remy tried to get your attention a few times but said you never gave him the time of day.”

“He could have found me. I never flat-out ignore anyone.”

“Perhaps not intentionally.”

She thought back over the last few weeks, but her memories mostly involved training, burnt food, and sleep. Though—she sighed. Perhaps that wasn’t true. On more than one occasion, she’d heard someone call her name as she focused on the brick wall or when she’d run away from Stone on her first day of training. She hadn’t had the willpower to lose focus, so she’d carried on. During her training, she hadn’t been there for her vagabonds at all.

“I guess I can’t be angry,” she said.

“You really can’t. Remy was only protecting the village. He was looking after you and his fellow vagabonds. You gave all of us a second chance. We’re free for the first time in our lives.”

She nodded. “Well, I’m here now. I won’t ignore anyone again.”

Richard stood, set his hands on her shoulders, and smiled. “I meant what I said, earlier. Isen or not, you have done far too much good to be evil. Never forget it.”

Kara’s mind drifted to Agneon’s cottage, to the memories of him burning and destroying the family he always tried so hard to protect. She patted Richard’s hand, and her eyes snapped back into focus.

She smiled. “That means more than you know.”

“I’ll let you get ready. We have a long road ahead of us.”

He headed to the door, but Kara stayed by the bed. The door clicked shut as he left, a cold echo that shot through the room. Her training was over, and suddenly that seemed like the easy part. Until this war ended, she would not have a peaceful moment to herself.

It took a few minutes for Kara to throw on clean clothes and a pair of boots. She tied her hair in a ponytail and headed downstairs for some breakfast. If she had to spend the entire day making war plans and meeting with people, she might as well enjoy the morning sunshine and a good meal first.