Wilde's Meadow (Darkness Falls #3) (6 page)

Arland passes through the Light, the tiny beings parting to make way for him, and the rest of us trail behind.

A sprite flies to me, blonde curls bouncing in front of her cherub like cheeks. Her humming wings are sweet songs to my ears.

I reach to touch her, to see what part of nature she represents, but the sprite spins up and away from me. She reveals a shiny, green leaf, then winks. Such a powerful piece of magic, and she’s playing—flirting almost. I can’t help but giggle.

Gavin looks up, eyes wide, skin glowing with warm light, then rushes around the other soldiers still too enamored by magic to care about our arrival. “Leaders Maher, I knew you could not be far.”

He peers around Arland and grins at me, displaying a mouth full of white teeth. “Thank you for sending magic. We met up with a handful of coscarthas about half a mile back. As soon as the sprites arrived, they took care of everything.”

“Kate? Is that Kate?” Kent, a boy I trained back at Watchers Hall, pushes his way out of the crowd, his sister Muriel in tow.

Why are they here? They’re so young, so inexperienced, and they’ve already been through enough. I know Arland wanted to send them on scouting missions oh-so-long ago, but things have changed. We’re not scouting for an occasional stray daemon at Arland’s base near the Clearing; we’re seeking out enemy strongholds in hopes to take them down. We’re searching out a powerful god for
me
to kill. These two kids have already watched so many they know die. They watched
me
die. They deserve to be comforted in a base.

Arland glances back, warning me with his narrowed eyes. “
Be strong, Kate. They are old enough to fight, and we need their talent to win this war.
”

“
Look at them though. They’re too excited to be here. They don’t understand the finality of war. They can’t.
”

“
Of course they do. They have experienced it, but being successful is more important. Now, remember not to show your fear.
”

“
Fine.”
Shifting on Mirain’s saddle, I force a smile and wait for the pair to reach us.

Kent fists his hand and holds it over his heart as he passes Arland.

Straightening, he mimics the gesture.

“We thought we might never see you again,” Muriel blurts, breathing heavily, palm pressed to her chest.

“
I
knew I would see you again.” Kent glares at his sister.

“
I forgot about my competition. Maybe he cares not for your Bound status?
” Climbing from Bowen, Arland winks then walks toward the large group of soldiers. “
I need to arrange duty assignments. Enjoy your time with them
.”

“Would you two like to help me tie up the horses?” I slide from Mirain.

Kent takes a step closer to me, an eager grin spreading across his face. “We tied ours over there.” He points to his right. “There is a stream. Would you like me to take Mirain?”

His nearness makes me question my concern for him. Kent is taller than me, his arms are defined—nothing near the muscular strength of Arland, but more defined than most thirteen-year-olds—and his confidence rivals that of many men twice his age.

I shake my head, reminding myself he’s just a boy. Just a
young
,
innocent
boy. “I will lead her and Bowen, but you should help the other Leaders with their animals. Muriel, can you please help Cadman?” I attempt to sound strong, older, fearless. I’m not sure how well it works, but both young soldiers do as instructed and head in the direction of the stream.

Perth and Flanna stride toward Arland and the others, then take places next to him, but my sister and Cadman stop beside me.

“Can I stay with you?” Brit asks, grabbing Bowen’s reins from my grip.

Something tells me Brit doesn’t want to stand in front of all the soldiers; she doesn’t want responsibility for anyone’s life … I’m not sure I blame her. “Okay. I just need to tell Cadman something, then we can tie the horses with the others.”

Cadman clasps his arms behind his back and holds my gaze with his knowing eyes. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Check for shifters. We don’t need any more attacks from within,” I whisper, hoping no one overhears. I don’t want to cause a panic. Not here. Not ever.

Cadman smiles, a proud smile. “I will begin making rounds now.”

He turns and walks alongside the magic, casting occasional glances at the men and women crowded around each other. His pace is slow, and when people catch him watching, he nods as if he doesn’t care they’ve noticed.

“You don’t think more of those things could be here, do you?” Brit asks, eyes boring a hole in the back of Cadman’s head.

I walk toward the stream where Kent and Muriel tied up the other horses, tugging Mirain behind me. “Why not? Gavin said they encountered coscarthas; a shifter could have easily taken control of someone here. We can’t let what happened to—”

“I get it.” Brit shudders and chases after me. “I really want to go home, Kate. This place isn’t where I want to be.”

I understand her desire to go home, but Encardia is our
true
home. No matter where we were raised. Even in the Darkness I feel right here, solid. But I wonder if I would feel this way without Arland? Would I still want to save all these people if I wasn’t also part of him? Maybe I wouldn’t. Maybe I’m selfish and doing this all for the wrong reasons … but is love really wrong? If Arland and I weren’t together, Encardia would have no chance for survival, no chance of seeing the sun again.

What I’m doing isn’t for the wrong reasons, and maybe Brit’s desire to go
home
isn’t wrong either. She doesn’t want to fit in. She makes no attempt to lead. Knowing her heart lies with Brad tells me she doesn’t care to meet anyone new.

“I’ll miss you.”

Brit snorts, mouth twisting up into a sly smile. “What kind of sister would I be if I left you?”

“What kind of sister would
I
be if I didn’t let you go?” My boot sinks into the earth; mud slurps under my sole.

We’ve reached the stream. Kent and Muriel are busy tying up the horses to trees close to the water’s edge, while a few of the animals stand in the water, taking drinks.

“I’ll lead Mirain. Go wash your boot,” Brit says.

I hand off Mirain to my sister then grab onto a nearby trunk, using it as support while I lift my boot from the sticky mud. She tosses some fallen timber my way. I spread it on the ground to serve as a mat, so I don’t get any dirtier.

“Do you need help?” Kent asks, one arm outstretched, the other wrapped around the tree, avoiding stepping in the same mess as me.

“No, thank you. Just stay back so you don’t get covered in muck, too.”

The three of them stand around in a cluster, the golden light from the protective wall of magic making them glow like angels—rotten angels who laugh and whisper while I’m left muttering under my breath. I don’t mind being dirty, but having one shoe wet and covered in gunk while we’re exposed to the cold chill of Encardia’s forests isn’t exactly comfortable. I bend and sink my hand under the shallow, frigid water, splashing my boot until most of the mud is off, rinse my hands, then dry them on my pants.

“K-Kate?” Brit stumbles over my name as though she has a severe case of the shivers.

I glance over my shoulder; Kent, Muriel and Brit stare open-mouthed across the stream. Following their gaze, I see Brad standing a few feet away from me. His eyes lock with mine, flashing between the bright baby-blues I know and love so well to the narrowed, black slits of Dughbal. My knees tremble, and I fall on my butt. Water and mud soak into my leather pants; the cold only raises my awareness of the situation. Why is he here?
How
is he here when Arland is protecting me? This is impossible … .

Brad smiles, warm and enchanting—so familiar—but then it grows too wide for him, too excited. “Nothing is impossible, dearest Katriona. I am a god, and this boy’s soul yearns to be near you.”

“
Arland, he’s here.
” Goose bumps raise the hairs on my arms. I’m going to have to drive my sword through his chest. He’s who I’m seeking, and he’s a mere few feet from me. I should cross through the protective magic and get the killing over with now. Many lives will be spared if I end him. My hands shake violently. If I’m going to move, I’m going to need more courage, less fear, more power. I grab the hilt of my sword, squeezing the brass in my palm.

Brad laughs, shrill and mocking, then bends over, hands pressed to his temples. He’s fighting … and losing.

“Kate?” he squeaks, revealing his internal struggle.

“It’s going to be okay. We’re going to help you.” I hold my blade in front of me, ready to strike through him, ready to end this … but … will Dughbal’s death hurt Brad? Will he feel the iron pierce his heart?

Will Griandor truly restore my friend’s life?

Rapid sounds of feet pounding the earth fill my ears, but within a matter of seconds, the thumping of my heart drowns them out. Small hands grab me by the biceps, forcing me to my feet and squashing my half-hearted plan of attack. I stumble back, never taking my eyes from Brad. He doesn’t come any closer, doesn’t threaten. He takes a deep breath, straightens, and smiles.

“Where is she?” Arland shouts, voice firm, booming.

“There, sir,” Cadman says, “Near the water.”

Grinding his teeth, Brad turns his gaze on Arland. “My servants may not be able to see beyond this wall, but I will always find you. Your protector cannot spend every moment by your side. One of these times, he will venture too far, and you will be mine.”

Crack
.

Arland hooks his arm at my waist then spins me around to face him, pressing his warm, strong hand at the small of my back. He forces me close to him; his heart beats rapidly against my shoulder. “Did he touch you?”

“No.” Part of me wants to cry. I should have killed Brad. I shouldn’t have shown my fear. The children certainly witnessed my hesitation. Will they be scared now? “I fell, Arland,” I whisper, “I was too afraid to kill him. I was afraid I’d hurt Brad.”

“He was baiting you. Attacking would have been suicide.” Arland pulls me close, soothing away my anxiety, my fear. “Do you think you can handle holding up this concealment spell for another half hour?”

“What are you planning?” I lean back to get a good look at his face.

Concern lines his forehead, and his eyes scan our surroundings. “We need to complete assignments, but we cannot stay here much longer. If Dughbal knows our location, he will send daemons to wait us out.”

“I can help her,” Brit says, marching up to us.

Arland releases me and faces her. “Do you know what to do?”

She peers around him. “Love is your power, right Kate?”

Exhaustion ripples through me. Missing breakfast was not a good idea. “Part of it.”

“I understand love. I may not have it, but I understand it well, and that god stands between me and everything I want.” She balls her fists at her sides. “I’ve been in your head enough to know how you summon magic, and I know how rage is really what causes your fire to flow.”

Reaching for her, I take Brit’s hand in mine, then rub the tops of her white knuckles. “You will get what you want.”

“We should move away to the center of the wall of magic.” Arland presses his palm between my shoulder blades and urges me forward until we approach Kent and Muriel. “How often did you train after we moved to Willow Falls?”

“Every day, sir.” Kent squares his shoulders and holds his head high, but the muscles around Muriel’s cheeks twitch.

She laces her fingers with Kent’s. “I spent more time with the Healers.”

“
We cannot separate them, Arland.
” We’re heading into the thick of the battles, into the most dangerous areas—wherever Dughbal is. I cannot imagine Arland would want to bring Muriel if she hasn’t trained, but splitting up siblings who’ve already lost so much is unfair. I know I wouldn’t want to be without my sister.

“You two should travel with our group. Our only Healer is Flanna, and she is also our best archer. Do you see the issue?”

Brit crosses her arms over her chest. Thankfully she keeps her thoughts private. She’s not such a bad archer.

“Yes, sir,” they say in unison.

“Good. Sit with Kate and her sister while they uphold our concealment spell. You are familiar with that magic, no?”

“We will assist, sir.” A tear runs down Muriel’s face and then hangs from her chin.

She and her brother turn and head toward the gathered soldiers while we remain in place.

“Thank you,” I say.

Arland cups my cheek in his hand; his warmth radiates, and I lean into him. “I never planned to separate them, Kate.”

“Why did you ask what they were good at?”

“I asked so I would know where to assign them.” He half-smiles. “I am not cruel.”

“I know you aren’t.” I sigh. “I just remember how difficult it was when Brit wasn’t with me, when I was afraid for so many reasons, and I didn’t want them to have to deal with that, too.”

“I love you, too, Kate,” Brit says.

Arland kisses my forehead, then casts another glance toward the water’s edge. “Clearly Brad’s bond to you is what draws Dughbal to your location. I could not see you, nor was your sister near me to maintain a connection to you as we did at Willow Falls. We need to be more careful.”

“No more separating anyone, then.” Brit laughs. “One big happy, connected family.
Great
.”

I can’t wait for the day she finds happiness. Right now, it seems everything just makes her miserable.