Set in Stone (32 page)

"How is it different?"

"He uses a different stone."

Jean said, "Connor, this is serious business. These soldiers plan to kill each other, no matter what Ilse told you. It's a wonder you survived."

He did not want to admit how true she spoke, but he could not hide. He needed to prove himself to Shona.

"I know. That's why I came here first. Things are going to get bad, and I need you two to help prepare the village."

"How?" Hamish asked.

"Rory won't stop. If he fails in the next attack, Ilse will start killing people. If it comes to that, we'll need to get everyone we can to safety."

"That's going to be difficult," Jean said. "They already threatened to kill more people if everyone leaves town, and Lord Gavin threatened Daor for anyone who leaves."

"We have to find a way," Connor insisted. "Once they start killing people, do you think they'll stop just because people listen to Lord Gavin?"

To Hamish, he said, "Take any excuse to meet Verena. They may call for men to do work tomorrow. Volunteer."

"How will that help?"

"I told you how she unlocks powers in stones. She said it's something new, but I don't understand it. I think you might."

"She tastes rocks, too?"

"Yes, like you tasted the oven."

Jean gave Hamish a hard look. "You didn't tell me about the oven."

"It was an accident."

"Talk with her," Connor said. "She's already interested in meeting you."

Hamish grinned. "And she's a Grandurian magic girl?"

Connor chuckled. "I don't know what she is. She's very cute, but don't underestimate her. She's deadly."

If anything, that only made Hamish more eager to meet Verena.

Connor turned to Jean to explain what he wanted from her, but she was giving him a hard look.

"So, this Verena is cute, is she?"

Connor shrugged. "Sure." Behind Jean, Hamish started gesturing to Connor to stop talking. Too late.

Jean rose abruptly to her feet, "I have to see to my patients." She turned and walked quickly from the room.

Connor stared after her and Hamish punched him in the shoulder. "For the guy trying to outsmart two armies, you're amazingly dense."

Chapter 34

Connor easily slipped out of town. In fact, most of the townsfolk probably could have joined him without Ilse learning of the escape until they were all free. He fought to control the seething frustration at how easily she'd gained control of the town.

He had to find Rory and deliver Ilse's message before Rory decided to attack again and his father paid for it with his life. Besides, there might be a Grandurian hidden somewhere in the village. Someone had helped the Grandurians escape Rory's scouts earlier, and Connor couldn't take the risk of it happening again.

Not yet.

Connor trotted south along River Road, parallel to the looming cliff of the plateau, until he met the gentle southern slope that ran the mile back up to the plateau. Downriver, the open slope met the tree line, and Connor moved off into the trees, looking for tracks.

It didn't take long. The army was camped near the banks of the river about two miles downstream in a large clearing. A sentry materialized out of the darkness, but recognized him and waved him on.

Large campfires burned in the corners of the clearing, with another in the center. Rows of groaning men lay on blankets at the far end of the clearing, waiting their turn with the Healer, who was busy working on a man with a badly broken leg. The end of the bone protruded up through the skin at a sharp angle.

While his beefy assistant held the soldier down, the Healer yanked the man's foot down hard to set the bone. The soldier screamed and writhed in the assistant's hands and bit clean through a leather-wrapped stick held between his teeth.

The Healer gently applied light brown mud, smearing it on liberally until the entire lower leg was coated. Then he wrapped the entire muddy limb in a canvas sack. Two waiting soldiers carried the man to a blanket.

Most of the soldiers not lying in the queue waiting for the Healer's attention sported bruises, scrapes, and burns. Few looked unscathed. Connor breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Donald sleeping near one of the fires.

Captain Rory, who sat conferring with Shona and Tomas at the central fire, caught sight of him. His craggy face split with a smile. "Connor, lad, I thought you'd gone and died on us."

"So did I."

"Glad to see you're back safe."

Shona turned toward him. One eye was swollen shut, and a deep bruise marred the opposite cheek. Her skin was scraped and puffy.

"How'd you get back here without a scratch?" She asked through swollen lips

"I got beat up pretty bad."

She huffed. "Doesn't look like it."

Only then did Connor realize he actually felt remarkably well. The wild tumble into the manor house had left him scraped and bruised and sore, but now he felt great. Even his throat where Verena sucker-punched him felt fine.

If his Curse healed him this fast, why hadn't Shona's?

He glanced around the fire at the battered army. "Did everyone else make it back?"

Rory frowned. "Lost four from the slinger missiles they used."

He tossed one of the jagged pieces of Alasdair White to Connor, who frowned over the missile. Granite was tough, but the soldiers' steel helmets and armor should have protected them.

Rory continued. "Seven men are in very serious condition. Hopefully they'll make it."

The Healer dropped to the ground next to Rory with a groan, "I told you, Captain, they'll live." At Captain Rory's raised eyebrow he added, "The rest can wait a minute. I can't heal if I'm too tired to stand."

He gave Rory a meaningful look, "If we had even a puff of granite powder left, I could still be working."

Rory frowned. "Leave off, Marcas. You're not the only one feeling the lack."

Tomas handed Marcas a tin cup full of water, which he gratefully accepted and slurped down. The burly Fast Roller said, "I tried pounding one of those missiles to dust, but it wouldn't break. They're harder than steel."

"How is that possible?" Connor asked.

Rory poked the fire with a stick, "One more mystery we'll beat out of Ilse when we take her." Then he forced himself to relax. "You've done great work tonight, Marcas."

"I've never seen so many broken bones from one engagement."

Tomas said, "Well, not on our side, anyway."

Marcas raised his cup in silent agreement.

"That wall struck hard," Shona muttered. "Half the army's unfit for battle."

"Not to worry. The bones will be mended by morning."

"You can't be serious," Connor said. He broke his arm once, and it took months to heal.

"Sandstone casts, boy. If I don't run out of sandstone afore I finish setting them all, those bones will be strong enough to fight on by breakfast." He gave Captain Rory another meaningful look. Rory only scowled at him. "My casts are the fastest way to heal a bone."

He gave Connor a thoughtful look and muttered, "Well, almost the fastest."

"Connor, where have you been?" Shona asked.

"Well, I was Ilse's prisoner for a while."

Shona's one good eye blazed with fury at Ilse's name, "How did you escape?"

"I didn't. She sent me to deliver a message."

At Shona's disappointed look, Connor wanted to hit himself in the head with a rock. She might appreciate not being the only deformed person in the circle of firelight, and he was such an idiot. He should have come up with a better story.

"Before we get to the message lad," Rory said, "I need to know, did you really use basalt or did I just take one too many hits to the head?"

"I did, sir. I took it from Donald's pouch."

Shona gaped. Given her swollen lips and battered face, it made her look ridiculous. "You did what?"

"I thought it was granite."

Shona scooted over on her log and gestured for him to sit beside her. "You really used basalt on your first try?"

He shrugged. "Wasn't very good at it. I fell right into their . . . hands."

"But you did it!"

"Aye. What's the first stone you used second?"

Marcas barked a laugh, and Rory rubbed his face to hide a grin.

"Connor, that doesn't make any sense at all."

"You know what I mean."

"I know what you mean." Shona scowled and added softly, "I've never achieved affinity with anything but granite."

"Most people can't," Marcas interjected. "Boy, what's got us all flummoxed is you used another igneous stone."

"I thought you said half the Guardians can do it."

"You weren't listening. Half can get a flicker out of a sedimentary stone as a secondary. Never a second igneous stone."

"Why not?"

He shrugged. "Why are young folks full of curiosity and stupidity in equal measure? It's just the way things are."

Rory said, "He's right. Using two igneous stones is as rare as the Tallan's own curse."

Connor shivered. He'd never heard of the Tallan's curse, but it had to be doubly evil.

Why would Rory even mention it?

Tomas added, "Maybe not quite that rare, although I haven't heard of a Guardian-Agor in a generation."

Shona shuffled closer to Connor, "Never mind all that. The fact that you did it, and while so new to granite, is nothing short of amazing. Dangerous, but amazing. Tell me how it felt."

He almost said, "Like tasting rocks," but that wouldn't work with her.

Wait a minute, how was it dangerous?

Before he could ask her to clarify, Rory said, "Later. Tell us about Ilse's force. Was there really a Sapper hidden among them?"

"A what?"

"A Sentry?"

"Ah, they were definitely keeping watch."

Shona took his hand. Her fingers felt cool and a little rough. "A Sentry is a Petralist with powerful slate affinity. A strong Sentry can move earth like they did tonight, raising walls, tossing us off the plateau."

Rory nodded. "Weren't expecting a Sentry, or Sapper as they call them. Changes the battle plan completely."

Connor shook his head. "They don't have a Sapper. It was Verena."

"Who's Verena?" Shona asked.

"You remember, the girl who brought me to their camp by the river." At her blank look, he added, "About our age, cute, dressed nice."

Shona frowned. "I remember her. She didn't look that remarkable to me, and you have terrible taste in clothes."

"Well, not dressed like a soldier."

"I thought she was a servant."

"Not hardly. She called herself a Builder."

Rory frowned. "A Builder? Are you sure?"

"You've heard of Builders?"

Shona said, "There hasn't been a Builder in Obrion since the time of the Tallan. The Speedcaravan's about the only artifact left. I'm surprised they risked one on this mission."

"They have a rare gift for working with stone," Rory added. "Talent was lost for centuries, and only just reappeared in Granadure a few years ago."

"One more reason to kill her," Shona added. "The king's law still calls for death to all Builders."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "I have no idea, but I'll enforce it."

Connor decided that would be a good time to mention Ilse's statement that they didn't want to kill anyone.

Shona laughed. "They shouldn't have invaded."

Rory turned to Tomas. "Spread the word. When we capture Ilse, we must take this girl too. It is imperative we understand what these new Builders can do."

"Then we kill her," Shona added.

Connor wished he'd kept his mouth shut, and he was deeply grateful he hadn't mentioned Hamish to them. Even though Verena had punched him, he didn't want her getting hurt.