Touch of Power (31 page)

Hurrying through the castle, we slipped outside without incident. The moon was brighter than I’d wished, but we crossed to the outer buildings without raising an alarm. I paused in the stable’s shadows to listen for sounds of pursuit. After a few minutes of silence, we headed to the Death Lily garden.

Once there, I stopped next to the first one. Even though the petals were held open, I stuck my hand inside. A thorn pricked my palm. My awareness floated along the Lilys consciousness. Its misery consumed me.

How can we help?
I thought.

Images of the orange toxin sacks filled my mind. I still had them in my pack. Then it showed me squeezing the liquid onto the ground around the plants. Its own toxin would kill the Death Lily. It wanted to die. Except I had the impression killing these plants was more like cutting off a limb than ending the Death Lily’s consciousness.

It released my hand and I held another two sacks. I quickly explained to Danny and Zila what we needed to do. Giving them each one of my throwing knives along with a stern warning to be careful with the sharp weapons, I sent them to the other Death Lilys. After they started, I grabbed my stiletto and cut a toxin sack open. I poured the poison around the base of the plant, then moved to the next one.

We worked as fast as possible. While the kids went deeper into the garden, I stayed on the outer rows. Because of the plague symptoms, I moved slower than the kids. I hoped I would get them to safety before I entered stage three.

Dawn was only a couple of hours away when we finished. At least I succeeded in one more thing. Tohon would have to plant a whole new garden of Death Lilys and wait for the Lilys to mature before he could start again. Perhaps by then Ryne and Estrid would be victorious.

The three of us cut through the dying garden to the back wall. Danny and Zila hesitated when they spotted the Peace Lilys. I assured them they wouldn’t be snatched. We pushed through to the wall.

Danny climbed over first, then Zila and I followed. As I crested the top, I felt no guilt in breaking my word to Tohon. Kerrick had been right. Tohon was a madman and there was no way I’d leave Danny and Zila in his care.

A surprised cry sounded as I dropped to the ground. I straightened and spun. Standing at the edge of the forest, Tohon held Zila, and Sepp had Danny’s arm twisted behind his back. I almost wilted in defeat right there. Damn.

“So predictable, Avry,” Tohon said. “I puzzled over why you would stay behind once Ryne had been rescued. Then I figured you had discovered my experimental children. Once I understood, all I had to do was assign a nurse to watch and wait. You didn’t disappoint.”

I glanced around, counting the soldiers. He’d brought six guards.

“You don’t think we needed an army to handle a couple of kids and a dying healer?” Sepp’s sneering tone bordered on incredulity.

“A healer who saved your life. As I recall, you almost died because Tohon had his dead soldiers capture me on my way to the cave. If it wasn’t for Kerrick’s timely rescue, you would not have survived your injuries.”

Sepp glanced at Tohon with anger and horror creasing his brow. I used the distraction to pull a couple throwing knives.

“Don’t listen to her,” Tohon said. “I
allowed
Kerrick to rescue her. I needed to touch her before they discovered Ryne was missing to ensure she’d return to me.” He studied me. “Is that all you have?”

It might not have helped me now, but I had planted a seed of doubt in Sepp’s twisted mind. “I have this.” I brandished my weapons.

“And if you move, I’ll hurt this little girl. So I suggest you drop all your knives on the ground,” Tohon said.

When I didn’t, Zila cried out in pain. I tossed my weapons down.

“Now, lead the way back to the castle. If you try anything stupid, I’ll hurt her again.”

I noticed movement along the ground in my peripheral vision, but I kept my gaze on Tohon. “How could I do anything, Tohon? All I have left are these.” I reached into my pocket slowly and withdrew my stones.

“What are they?” Sepp asked.

“Juggling stones. See?” I juggled the three rocks. Belen was right. They were the perfect size and weight. I did a bunch of tricks, reversing direction, throwing them high, then low, using one hand and doing a spin-throw combination.

Tohon and Sepp looked at me as if I’d lost my mind, but the guards and the kids watched fascinated. Good. No one noticed the vines creeping around their legs. And Kerrick had called
me
stubborn. The man was supposed to be long gone by now.

At the first shout of alarm, I threw my rocks as hard and fast as I could. One hit Tohon square on the forehead. The second cracked Sepp in his temple. Both men let go of their hostages when hit.

“Run,” I yelled to Danny and Zila.

They bolted into the woods as Kerrick, Ryne, Quain and Loren took advantage of the surprised guards whose feet were entangled in the vines. I dove for my knives.

But Tohon had already read the situation. Knowing his guards wouldn’t last long, he took off with Sepp close on his heels, heading back to the safety of his castle. And a lot more than six guards. I moved to give chase, but Kerrick clamped his hand on my shoulder, stopping me.

“We’re in enemy territory. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of Tohon another day,” he said. “Find the kids, we need to go. It’s not safe here.”

“No, it isn’t. You should be long gone by now.”

“Frustrating when someone doesn’t follow logic and common sense. Isn’t it?”

I opened my mouth, but he said, “We can argue about it later.”

I nodded and searched the woods for Danny and Zila. They hid under a bush. I coaxed them from their hiding spot and held their hands as we followed Kerrick to the north.

It was the longest, hardest, most exhausting trek in my entire life. Every inch of my body ached. Chills followed flashes of heat. Sweat gushed from my skin only to freeze a few minutes later.

The forest blurred into a green-hued watercolor painting. I lost track of time. When my body reached its limit, I tripped over my own feet and fell flat on my face. Content to remain there, I waved the others on. They wouldn’t leave me. Picked up and cradled like a baby, I nestled against Kerrick’s chest and fell asleep.

I woke…later. A bright campfire burned. Shadows danced on stone walls. Another one of Kerrick’s caves. I almost groaned aloud.

“Avry? How do you feel?” Ryne asked.

“Like I’ve been squashed by Belen.”

He laughed. “At least you still have your sense of humor.”

I sat up. The cave spun and I put my head in my hands to keep from passing out.

“Here, eat.” Ryne held out a bowl of meat. “It’s fresh venison.”

My stomach churned at the smell. “Save it for the kids.” I glanced around. “Where are they?”

“They’re with Kerrick. He’s giving them a tour of the caves. They were quite fascinated by them. And Loren and Quain are on watch.” Ryne filled a spoon with meat. He aimed it at me. “Are you going to eat or do I need to force-feed you?”

I growled.

“You’ll feel better. I know.”

“Fine.” I snatched the spoon and bowl. Once I started eating, my stomach settled. When I finished every last morsel, I asked Ryne why they hadn’t left for safer ground days ago. Once Tohon returned to his castle, I was sure he’d send out squads of his soldiers, both living and dead, after us.

“You know the answer.”

Because Kerrick wouldn’t abandon me. “Well, you’re all going to leave tomorrow. I don’t want anyone to stay and watch me die.”

“You’re going to need care.”

“No. I don’t want it.”

“I don’t think you’ll have the choice,” Ryne said.

“Then I’ll run away.”

He smiled. “Has that worked for you in the past?”

I huffed. “I saved your life—aren’t you supposed to be nice to me?”

“I don’t cater to whiners.”

Checking my pockets, I searched for something to throw at him.

Ryne opened my bag and pulled out my juggling rocks. “Looking for these?” He dropped them into my hand.

My ire instantly dissipated. He had taken the time to find them for me. I rubbed my fingers along the names. Belen, Kerrick, Quain, Loren and Flea. My keepers. “Can you read minds?” I asked.

“No. I’m good at reading people.”

Giggles echoed. Kerrick’s deep voice vibrated in my chest. I met Ryne’s gaze. “You’ll take good care of them?”

“I will.” He stood and waved Kerrick and the kids over. “The meat’s done and it’s delicious.”

The kids ran to Ryne. They wolfed their food down. Between bites they chattered nonstop about the caves, the stalagmites and milky deposits. Kerrick ate in silence, seeming content to listen to the kids.

After they finished eating, Ryne took them out to surprise the monkeys. “I’ll bet they fell asleep on duty. Who wants to bet me?”

“I’ll bet you they didn’t,” Zila said.

“Loser washes the dishes?” Ryne asked.

“Deal.” She shook his hand.

I smiled. She was going to be trouble. My grin faltered when I caught Kerrick staring at me.

He moved closer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

This was the conversation I wanted to avoid. “I thought you knew.”

He sputtered. “How could you think…? You’re smarter than… No wonder you hated…”

It was fun watching him be so…flabbergasted—a whole new side of him. I suppressed a smile. “You did tell Belen that Ryne was all you cared about. That was after you hit me. Not your best moment.”

Sad acknowledgment smoothed Kerrick’s face. “No, it wasn’t.”

“What would you have done if you knew?” I waited even though his conflicted emotions shone clear.

“I wouldn’t have pushed you so hard,” he said.

“And if I’d decided to heal Ryne and you knew the consequences, you’d feel guilty. I’m right and you know it.”

“I still feel guilty,” he said.

“You shouldn’t. I told you from the beginning that it was
my
decision. And as I recall, you couldn’t threaten, bully, coerce, bribe or otherwise make me decide in Ryne’s favor.”

“I remember. It’s etched in my brain.”

“Good to know I made a lasting impression.”

“Oh, you made an impression. Like a stone caught in my boot.”

“Gee, Kerrick, don’t get all mushy on me.”

He appeared chagrined. “Sorry. It’s been over four years since… I’m a little rusty.”

“Just be yourself. No. Wait,” I said in mock panic. “Don’t be yourself. Be like Belen. A sweet, lovable type.” I grinned.

“And what do you consider Belen?” he asked.

“A good friend. Why?”

“I don’t want to be your friend, Avry.” Kerrick stroked my cheek, then leaned in and kissed me.

It was a wonderfully sweet kiss at first. But he soon let me know sweet and lovable wasn’t his style at all. Intense and passionate would be a more accurate description. As desire swept over me, I didn’t want to be his friend, either.

We broke apart when Zila rushed up to us to inform us that Prince Ryne would be doing the dishes tonight.

“Good,” Kerrick said. “If you had found the monkeys asleep, then they would be doing the dishes for the rest of the trip.”

She giggled. It took a while to settle both kids down, but soon their exhaustion caught up to them and they passed out.

“Here’s the plan for tomorrow,” Kerrick said. “Ryne, Quain and Loren will take the kids over the Nine Mountains to Ivdel. I’ll meet up with you after—”

“You should go with them,” I said. “With Tohon’s patrols, they’ll need your magic—”

“Not happening. Unless you’re coming with us?”

I had depleted my strength getting here, and I wouldn’t let Kerrick carry me again. “I can’t.”

“Then I stay with you.”

“Can’t I at least—”

“No.”

Biting my lip, I kept quiet as Kerrick and Ryne discussed routes and strategy. Relieved to have company for my final days, I still worried over the unnecessary risk of sending the others on without Kerrick. Since changing Kerrick’s mind was impossible, I decided to stop fretting over everyone else. It was time for me to be selfish for once.

In the morning, I pulled Danny and Zila aside. I gave Danny my journal, explaining as much about healing and a healer’s powers as I could.

“I’m sorry, but I won’t be here to teach you, but when you feel that tug, that desire to help another, to heal him, just let it go.” I described the sensation.

Danny didn’t like the idea of leaving me.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “These men are good. They’re going to heal the world.”

“But no one likes healers,” Zila said. She was unusually subdued.

“If you develop the power, they’ll accept you both. You’re not tainted by the past. You’ll be considered miracles.” I hugged them. “You are miracles.” Then I said goodbye to Ryne, Quain and Loren and shooed them all on their way before I cried.

Kerrick accompanied them for a bit, showing them the path. When he returned it seemed as if the cavern warmed. Or it could be due to the plague. Stage one had lasted seven days, and I was three days into stage two. I estimated I had another five days until stage three. Five days with Kerrick and then…