To Darkness Fled (67 page)

A burning sensation rose from Achan's chest.

TAKE YOUR SWORD AND GO.

Achan obeyed. He hefted himself onto his good leg, picked up Eagan's Elk, and limped toward the horses.

YOUR FATHER'S SWORD.

Achan wheeled around and reached for Owr. He had to kick Esek's gloved hand off the grip. His father's ring caught his eye, wide and gold against the black leather glove. He dropped both weapons and pulled it from Esek's finger.

Achan jammed the ring on his thumb, picked up the swords, and staggered back, glancing from the severed arm to Esek and Chora, to the circle of onlookers. "Give up this fight. You cannot resist Arman's will. I don't wish to harm anyone, but continue to attack me and you'll suffer the consequences, no matter how...v-vile. Sir Eagan, Shung, we ride."

Achan stepped over Khai's body and approached the horses. His wounded leg shook beyond his control and he tried to keep his weight on his good leg. He clipped both swords to the saddlebag on Esek's courser. Shung and Sir Eagan helped him mount the horse, who, compared to Dove, seemed small and bony. Achan spurred the horse away, east, toward Light.

Sir Gavin, has Sparrow arrived?

They are just opening the outer portcullis for her now.

She is wounded. We're on our way.

Shung and Sir Eagan slowed their horses alongside Achan.

"How is your leg?" Sir Eagan asked.

"I've had worse." The light faded fast as they left the camp behind them. "No torch?"

Sir Eagan pushed a hand though his loose hair. "Didn't think to grab one."

"Should we be concerned?" Achan had cinched his belt so tightly his leg had numbed. He loosened the knot.

"I doubt anyone will follow. You defeated their leader."

Achan pulled the belt free and tied it around his waist, leg tingling with feeling now. "Think he's dead?"

"Depends on whether they have a healer nearby."

Achan closed his eyes, still shaken from the sight of Esek's bleeding arm.
I'm sorry, Arman.

But was he? Esek had been trying to kill him, had taken Sparrow. It was the fool's own fault for never wearing armor.
Still, Achan could have finished him rather than leave him to suffer such a death.

When he opened his eyes, the torchlight from Esek's camp had faded. Achan's horse tensed; Achan could feel the anxiety running through the animal. He rubbed the horse's neck, patting him down. In the woods on his left, something rustled. Achan's horse stutter-stepped and turned. Achan held the reins tight, hoping to keep the animal on the road.

The other horses neighed and stomped their feet. One set of hooves trampled away.

"Whoa!" Sir Eagan called out in the distance. The hoof beats slowed on the dirt.

What is it?
Achan's horse rocked back on his haunches and whinnied.

Likely a wild animal,
Sir Eagan said.

"Easy, boy." Achan patted the horse's neck and urged him on. "It's just some deer."

The rustling increased. The courser whinnied, trying to turn back. Achan held fast to the saddle horn and fought to keep his balance. His left leg proved useless to steady him. Maybe Esek had trained the animal and it knew it belonged elsewhere. Achan connected with the animal's mind. Fear overwhelmed him. He thought calming thoughts, hoping to somehow evoke Sir Eagan's gift of calming emotions.

But the horse continued to panic. Achan's heart thudded, unsure of what might spook a horse so.

The Darkness lifted suddenly to a dim twilight. Evenwall mist coated Achan's face. He had never been so relieved to enter this place. Shung rode just ahead on the right edge of the road, almost in the brush. Achan could see Sir Eagan stopped up ahead, looking back, his horse sideways on the road.

"You are well?"

"I'm
fi
--"

Something slammed into the side of his horse, knocking Achan into a pine tree. The sharp limbs snapped against his chain coat as he fell through branches to the fern-covered ground, landing on his back. Orange light flashed on the road. A terrible roar stifled the horses' whinnying. Achan scooted back on his elbows and right foot, dragging his sore leg.

Sir Eagan's panicked voice burst in Achan's mind.
Your Highness! Where are you?

Achan paused under a patch of charcoal sky. He could see the dark shapes of Esek's half-downed, half-bucking horse and a massive animal.
I'm okay. I'm in the woods.
Another sudden burst of orange flame caused the horse to utter an unnatural scream and illuminated the beast. Achan lost his breath.

Arman help him. It was a cham bear, and his swords were with the horse.

Shung cannot connect with its mind.

Can you, Sir Eagan? Can you calm it?
Achan asked.

A moment of silence passed. Achan squinted at the scene on the road. The cham roared again, ears flat, eyes flashing in its own orange fire. It seemed intimidated by the bucking horse, though Achan could see the large gash in the horse's side. It smelled oddly like roasted venison.

Sir Eagan finally answered.
Someone controls it.

What? Who?

I know not, but its mind is shielded. An animal cannot do that.

Achan's shaking arms gave way, elbows bucking. He picked himself back up and stared at the road. The cham's dark eyes focused his way. Bile snaked its way up his throat. His movement had gained the cham's attention.

The beast crept toward him, illuminated in a flash of twilight between the trees. It was the size of a bull, shaggy, with matted, brown fur. Its paws looked as big as Achan's head.

He reached out, felt the shields around the cham's mind, and pushed past them.

Hello, Yer Majesty. Yer not the only one who can master an animal's mind,
Atul said.

Achan withdrew, concerned Atul might be able to storm him.
Atul controls it. Should I run? Climb a tree?

No!
Shung's deep voice resounded.
Stay still. Curl into ball. Back facing the beast. We hunt it.

Achan rolled to his side, wounded leg down, and tucked his head, thankful Shung, the cham hunter, was here. He held his breath, listening, praying the animal would bound past, into the woods, after a deer or fox, some more common meal, though he knew deep down that the cham would obey Atul.

He gagged at the smell of sweaty fur and dung. Hot breath wafted over his neck as teeth sank around his right shoulder. Multiple throbs pierced through the chain armor as the cham clenched down and dragged Achan's left side over roots and thorny bushes. His whole body burned from within, but he stayed still, hoping compliance would at least keep the cham from charring him with a burst of flame.

His chain coat snagged. The cham jerked its head. When Achan's body didn't budge, the cham tugged again. Achan's mind got lost in the blinding pain. A man screamed. Or had that been him?

Sir Gavin's voice came first.
Achan, what's happening?

Be closing your mind, boy!
Inko said.

Who are you?

You're hurting me. Please close your mind.

Dear one
, a kind woman said,
you must shield yourself.

Your Majesty, you must relax.
Sir Eagan sent his calm and the pain faded some.
We are right behind it.

Shield yourself, eh Pacey?
Kurtz said.

The cham let go. A roar vibrated Achan's eardrums. Orange light flashed. Shung screamed. A sword entered flesh. Something thumped. Branches cracked. A man grunted.

Sir Eagan? What happened? Shung?

Somewhere behind Achan, Shung groaned.

The cham bit Achan's shoulder again. Achan's head swam with agony. Darkness closed around his vision.

Achan!
Sir Gavin said.
Your guard is down and you're spilling out. You must focus. Tell me what's happening. What's wrong?

If Achan was dying, he didn't want every bloodvoicer in Er'Rets privy to it. He drew up his shields and fixated on Sir Gavin's voice.
A cham. Sir Eagan and Shung are trying to fight it.

Call on Arman,
Sir Gavin said.

Achan's cheeks flushed at this obvious conclusion. He closed his eyes and recited the words Sir Gavin had taught him, knowing in his heart Arman
could
help him. But would he?

Arman hu elohim, Arman hu echad, Arman hu shlosha be-echad. Hatzileni, beshem Caan, ben Arman.

Achan had to act. For all he knew the cham had roasted Shung. He reached his trembling left hand to his chain armor and slipped the rings free from a root. The next time the cham tugged, Achan's body scraped easily over the forest floor.

He felt for the sheath that held his dagger. It took more patience than he liked to cajole his trembling fingers to the right place, but he managed to draw it. He clutched it to his chest, squeezing the ivory grip. He'd only get one try. If he missed, the bear would roast him.

Shung had suggested the way to kill a cham was an arrow to the side, behind the shoulder. The knife wouldn't go deep enough to reach any vital organs. He needed to cut its throat.

The bear pawed him, its massive claws clicking over the chain. It clamped down on Achan's torso, just under his arm. Its teeth seemed made to pierce chain armor. The pain made Achan so lightheaded he almost blacked out. He squeezed the handle of his knife and mumbled, "
Arman hu elohim, Arman hu echad, Arman hu shlosha be-echad
," a half dozen times, waiting for his moment, praying he'd have the strength.

The bear released him. Achan rolled onto his back, onto a furry paw, brought the knife up over his opposite shoulder, and slashed back across the bear's neck, screaming as he did.

Hot blood spurted over Achan's face and chest. His breath hitched. He clamped his mouth shut. The bear groaned, thrashed in the brush, and loped away. Achan rolled the opposite direction until his body hit a tree trunk. He struggled to maneuver behind it, unable to see the bear. Off in the forest ferns rustled, twigs snapped, and a keening moan gave Achan hope.

Sir Eagan! Where are you? Shung?

A cool breeze filtered past the trees and Achan shivered. Saliva and blood matted his shirt to his shoulder and chest. His right arm hung limp. His shoulder and torso throbbed. His thigh still ached. Should he stay put? Esek's horse was likely dead. Should he climb a tree to get out of the bear's reach? What had Shung said about chams climbing trees?

Sir Gavin's panicked voice burst in Achan's head.
Achan! The cham?

I
dunno
. I think I killed it.

A man groaned nearby.

Shung? Sir Eagan?
Achan's voice came slow in his head.

Little Cham?

Shung! Are you hurt?

Shung will live. The cham burned Shung's arm.

What of Sir Eagan? He doesn't answer.

"Did I kill it?" Sir Eagan's voice sounded groggy.

The cham knocked Elk into a tree.
Footsteps crunched and Shung's hairy shadow crouched before Achan.

"I'm fine," Achan said. "Check Sir Eagan."

"No need." Movement swished past Achan's boots. "A little dizzy, but I'll live."

With Shung and Sir Eagan's help, Achan staggered to his feet and limped to the road. He could see the dark shape of Esek's horse. Dead. Achan's limbs trembled, his body cold and sweaty.

Sir Eagan and Shung boosted Achan up to Sir Eagan's horse. His right side seized, and he held his breath to keep from crying out. He wanted to lie down. His body throbbed. The smells of saliva and blood sickened him.