Scent of Magic (27 page)

Midsummer’s day dawned with another cloudless sky. My horse seemed to understand we were returning home. She chose the path before I could direct her.

As we neared the camp, we crossed the area that had spooked the horses. This time, the horses broke into a panicked run, bolting as if chased. I took the hint and kept going.

When we rode into the camp, the horses automatically headed to their barn behind Estrid’s manor house. Something seemed odd, but it wasn’t until after we dismounted and left the horses in the care of their handler that we discovered the reason.

We rounded the corner of the house and stopped in our tracks. A section of the camp appeared...different. Tents remained, but some of them had toppled and others had rips in their fabric. Trash littered the ground, and the fire pits had been doused. The abandoned area appeared as if a strong storm had swept a path right through it. After a moment, I realized the section was where Ryne’s army was bivouacked.

I rushed over to Ryne’s tent and entered. It was empty.

KERRICK

Midsummer’s day used to be special. It had been the last day of school, and after the graduation ceremonies the students returned home for a two-month break. For Kerrick, it had been a bittersweet day for a number of years—the ones where he’d been in love with Jael. It had meant sixty days without her, but it had been balanced with being home with Belen and his father. His father... Kerrick wondered what King Neil would think of his son’s present circumstances—captured and cooperating with the northern tribes on this glorious midsummer’s day.

King Neil had always shown Kerrick how to lead by his own example. His father had him attend as many meetings, rulings and visits to the other realms as possible. Kerrick would observe the proceedings. After the session, his father would sit with him and they’d discuss the day’s events, and he would answer questions. That time together had been Kerrick’s favorite. He had his father all to himself, and even when Kerrick disagreed with his father, King Neil had never raised his voice in anger. Kerrick had gotten his temper from his mother.

The warriors escorting Kerrick and Danny relaxed once they exited the forest and entered the farm fields surrounding Krakowa. Kerrick felt his connection to the living green weaken with every step. When they reached the outskirts of the town, their progress slowed. The tribes had set up tents, and their passage drew a crowd. They stared at Kerrick and Danny with both hostile and curious expressions. Blond-haired children ran alongside them.

When they reached the edge of the town proper, a warrior waited. He was a head taller and thicker than Noak. He wore a necklace made from jagged snufa teeth, and his long, pure white hair had been braided into two ropes. Despite the age difference, there was no mistaking the resemblance between the two. Father and son.

Without a word, the older warrior pulled his dadao, strode toward Kerrick and swung the sharp blade. Kerrick braced for the blow, but Noak grabbed his father’s arm, stopping the weapon from slicing into Kerrick’s neck.

“No prisoners,” the older man said.

“Come.” Noak led his father away from the others.

Unable to hear them argue, Kerrick watched their expressions. Noak had saved his life, if only for the moment. His and Danny’s continued existence would depend on who won the discussion.

Danny wrapped his fingers around Kerrick’s arm. “He’s scarier than Noak.”

Kerrick glanced down at him. “Hard to believe, isn’t it?”

A brief grin, then it was gone. “But he’s not scarier than Tohon.”

“Really?”

The boy nodded. “The tribesmen are straightforward. They kill their enemies, not turn them into an army of dead soldiers.”

“True. But if you surrender to Tohon, he won’t kill you.”

“I’d rather be dead than help Tohon.”

“Me, too. But what if he threatened to harm Zila?”

Danny shot him a surprised look.

“It complicates things, doesn’t it?” Kerrick asked.

“Yes.” Danny swallowed. “I’m sorry, Kerrick. I shouldn’t—”

“Stop. Don’t apologize. It’s my fault you’re here.
I
made the mistake of not sending you back to Orel right away. Do you understand?”

“Yes, but—”

“And I want you to promise me something.” He didn’t add
if we live through the next hour.

Danny let go of his arm and turned to him with a wary suspicion mixed with fear. “What?”

Kerrick lowered his voice. “While I gave my word to cooperate, you didn’t. At some point there will be an opportunity for you to escape. I want you to promise me you’ll take it.”

The boy’s eyes were as wide as an ufa’s just before it pounced. “Where would I go?”

“South. Cross the Nine Mountains and find Prince Ryne. He needs to know what’s going on.” Kerrick waited a few heartbeats. “Will you do that for me?”

Danny met his gaze. “Yes.”

“Good.” Another knot in his chest eased just a bit. However, it didn’t last.

Their conversation finished, Noak’s father approached Kerrick with his dadao still in hand. He pointed the dangerous weapon at Danny. “You betrayed your people for this boy. Why?”

Just the same question Kerrick had asked himself a week ago.

“What you learn from me won’t make a difference in the end. My people have already been warned of your arrival. I failed to stop you from invading my land, but if I can save one boy...then I will.”

Noak’s father relaxed his arm. The dadao’s tip no longer threatened Danny. He glanced at Noak. “All right. The boy lives.”

“Do you give your word?” Kerrick asked.

The man’s full attention slammed into Kerrick. It felt as if he’d been pierced with a thousand daggers of ice.

“You dare question me?” In a blur of motion, his thick sword cut toward Kerrick’s neck, then stopped. The man lowered his weapon, stepped closer and peered at him. He pointed to the scars on Kerrick’s throat. “Who marked you?”

“An ufa.” Kerrick’s voice remained steady, despite his racing heart.

He grunted and sheathed the dadao. Glaring at Noak, the tribesman turned and strode away. Kerrick blew out the breath he’d been holding. Had his scars just saved him? That would be a bizarre twist of fate, but he’d gladly take it. He knew it was just a matter of time before they killed him. In the meantime, he would do all he could to ensure Danny’s survival.

Noak barked orders at his men. One dragged Danny away. The boy shot him a terrified look.

“It’ll be all right,” Kerrick called to him. “Just remember what I’ve told you.”

Then two grabbed Kerrick and led him deeper into town. The tribes had moved into the abandoned houses and businesses of Krakowa. Their pale skin and clothes stood out among the dark wood and red bricks. It almost seemed fitting. The plague had killed this town and now ghosts lived here.

His escorts brought him to the jailhouse. They untied his wrists and shoved him into a cell. The door clanged shut behind him. When he turned around, they were gone. Kerrick scanned his surroundings—iron bars, a pallet to sleep on and a slop pot. The place smelled of mildew and musty sweat. Only a few cells occupied the space—all empty except his. He examined his raw and bleeding wrists. A wave of dizziness hit him. He sat on the thin straw-filled mattress. Rubbing his hands over the week’s worth of growth on his cheeks, he wondered how long he’d be incarcerated.

The last time, he’d been locked up for two weeks. Two miserable weeks worried about Avry. He still was concerned about her, but by now Ryne and the monkeys should be with her and protecting her—if she’d let them. Had the war with Tohon started? Kerrick stretched out on the bed. Better to recover his strength than to fret about things he couldn’t control.

* * *

Danny woke him later that afternoon. Sunlight streamed in through the one barred window. The boy stood between two warriors. He held Kerrick’s pack along with his own.

“What’s going on?” Kerrick asked Danny.

“They’re letting us get cleaned up. Your cuts need to be washed or they’ll get infected.”

The guards unlocked his cell, and for the first time since he’d been caught, they didn’t secure his hands. Kerrick followed them to the bathhouse and washed away almost ten days’ worth of grime and blood. All his weapons had been taken from his pack, but there was a rustle of consternation when Kerrick pulled out his razor. His guards grabbed the hilts of their dadaos, but he ignored them and shaved, feeling better with every stroke of the sharp blade along his skin.

His razor was confiscated when he finished, but he was allowed to keep his pack. It felt like a luxury to wear clean clothes. And the set of lock picks hidden within them was a nice bonus. Kerrick wasn’t sure if or when he’d use them; it was just nice to have the option.

Danny smeared the cuts on his wrists with a sweet-smelling goo and covered them with bandages. The boy seemed jumpy. When they returned to the jailhouse, Kerrick asked Danny where the tribes had taken him.

“I’m in a house with other boys,” Danny said, darting a glance at the guards. “I’m to take care of you. Bring you food and stuff like that.”

“Good, then I’ll know you’re well.”

Danny nodded, but he gnawed on his lower lip.

Kerrick knelt next to him and took his hands. “Tell me what’s upsetting you.” Besides the obvious.

Danny dropped his hands and threw himself at Kerrick, wrapping his arms around his neck, hugging him tight. “It’s the other boys in the house,” he whispered in Kerrick’s ear. “They’re not from the tribes. They’re from Krakowa.”

CHAPTER 14

Saul glanced at me. His shocked expression matched mine. “Did you know Prince Ryne was leaving?” he asked.

“No.” I glanced around the abandoned tent, searching for a note or clue as to where Ryne had gone. “Maybe he repositioned his army as part of a military strategy to counter Tohon.”

“Who are you trying to convince? Me or you?”

“Let’s find Thea.”

She pounced on us as soon as we drew close. “You’re back,” she said with a note of accusation in her voice.

I bristled. “Of course we’re back. You and Major Granvil knew our mission.”

“In light of what has happened, your task could have been an elaborate ruse. Everyone believes you snuck away to meet up with the prince.”

“With Saul along?”

She shot him a glance. “He could be an accomplice.”

“Ouch,” Saul said.

“What exactly has happened?” I asked.

Thea swept her hand out, indicating the empty tents. “It’s midsummer’s day. Ryne’s cowards left last night without a word, so they wouldn’t have to face Tohon’s attack.”

“How do you know why they left if they didn’t say a word?” I asked.

“Why else? If it’s a strategic move, Prince Ryne would have notified General Jael of his plans.”

Not if he didn’t trust her. But I wasn’t going to add fuel to Thea’s anger. “Perhaps he did tell her, and she’s keeping it quiet.”

“I might believe that if she hadn’t sent a whirlwind through their camp.”

That explained the mess. And then it hit me. “Did you tell Jael where I was?”

“No. She thinks you’ve left, too. You’re going to have to explain it to her.”

Lovely. “Look, Thea. I don’t know where Ryne went or why. I’m just as surprised as you. However, I do know he did it for a reason. A very good reason, and I trust him.”

Unconvinced, she said, “Uh-huh. Let’s see how you feel about him when Tohon’s soldiers are sending you a steady stream of injured and dying. Prince Ryne abandoned you, too.”

* * *

Thea’s words didn’t sink in until I reached the infirmary. I stopped in my room to drop off my pack and froze. Flea’s scant belongings were gone. Ryne had taken Flea with him. A memory tugged—Loren relaying a message from Ryne about trusting him regarding Flea.

I sat on the edge of my bed, remembering. Ryne had changed the plans after I’d told him about my theory of Tohon burying his dead. What if he’d returned to his tent and read that book on magicians and learned something horrifying? Had he spooked? He’d certainly acted like it, and Loren mentioned he’d been agitated. Then why didn’t he confide in me? Maybe he didn’t have time or maybe because he knew I wouldn’t break my word to Estrid by leaving. And it was safer for me if I didn’t know.

Quain and Loren had promised to protect me from Tohon. Not that they could, but still...I felt forsaken, despite knowing there had to be a good reason why they had left.

My door flew open. It banged against the wall as a blast of air slammed into me, knocking me down. Jael stormed into my room. The air around me thickened like syrup. It picked me off the floor and held me suspended in midair. My legs dangled.

“Where is he?” Jael demanded.

“I don’t know.”

With a whoosh, I hit the wall hard enough to rattle my teeth.

“Tell me.”

“I don’t—” The air pushed me up until I banged my head on the ceiling. Hard. Pain flashed, dimming my vision.

“Where were you?” she asked.

“Collecting medicinal...herbs.” I gasped. Her power still held me aloft. “Ask Sergeant Saul.”

“You’re lying.”

My air support disappeared, and I plummeted. Crashing to the ground, I rolled until I stopped flat on my back. My wrists burned with agony, and my knees and right hip hurt. Before Jael could pick me up again, I asked, “Why else would I return?”

“A guilty conscience,” she said.

“I’m not a glutton for punishment, Jael. He left me behind. I’m sure he has an excellent reason. I just don’t know it!”

“I do. He’s been scheming with Tohon all this time, feeding him information. It explains how you managed to escape Tohon, cure Ryne and live through the plague. I don’t believe that nonsense that Kerrick’s magic saved you. Tohon, yes. Kerrick doesn’t have that ability.” Jael considered. “Now all I need to decide is if you’re in collusion with them or if you’re a patsy. Tohon can be quite...persuasive when he applies his full power.”

She revealed quite a bit in her comments, but I focused on the problem at hand. I caught movement behind her. Noelle hovered near the door. Great. All I needed was Tohon to complete this little get-together.