Blood of Innocents (Book Two of the Sorcery Ascendant Sequence) (42 page)

“Thank you, thank you,” he whispered, then softly, “Don’t leave me here.”

Laughter met his words of weakness.

“If you’re alive, we won’t leave you,” said Aidan. “But better your heart give out under the strain than you slow us down and we all die.”

“Get him on his horse,” Chalayan said. For once, he didn’t sound harsh.

Cel Rau grimaced. “The nag’s almost done in.”

“We can’t do anything about that,” said Aidan. “I suspect we’ll leave them all behind before this is over. Doesn’t matter which one goes first.”

They lifted Vasile to his feet and, with grunts of exertion, manhandled him into his saddle. Vasile looked around wearily at them and nodded his thanks. Without a word, they continued ahead with tired steps, pushing themselves for the moment in order to save their mounts. He knew there might come a time when a burst of speed from their horses would save them, and he would likely be left behind.

He sat there, gathering his thoughts and strength, and noticed his horse was covered in dry sweat. It had been days since they’d been cared for properly.

Clenching his teeth, he slid out of the saddle, groaning in pain as his knees buckled. Wrapping the reins around his hand, he took a step forward, dragging his foot through the dust.

Suppressing agonizing moans, he trailed after his three companions.

•

“We’re far enough ahead to risk a few hours’ rest.”

Vasile wasn’t sure he’d heard correctly and shuffled along, head down, staring at the next spot to place his feet.

“Vasile,” snapped Aidan, shaking him from his reverie.

“I didn’t ride,” he croaked.

“I know. Good man. Wait here while we check the cave out.”

Aidan wandered off, and Vasile lifted his head, gazing around. A stream bubbled nearby, and Chalayan led three horses toward the sound, while over to his left, Aidan and cel Rau drew their swords and stood to either side of a dark opening gashed into a cliff-face. He glanced behind him and could only see forest. They must have left the rocky plains long ago, and he hadn’t noticed.

He shivered as a cold breeze brushed over him, rapidly cooling his sweat-slick skin. Daylight was fading, and the shady forest was a blessing after the last few days. His body felt hot, despite the breeze, and he was ready to collapse. His feet throbbed like they’d been hit repeatedly with hammers, and his legs were on fire. He coughed a few times then spat out brownish saliva, no doubt dust he’d breathed in.

Aidan and cel Rau disappeared into the mouth of the cave, and he waited a few moments. Chalayan appeared unconcerned, so hearing nothing, he tugged on his reins and followed the sorcerer.

A short distance away, he found him watering the horses at the stream, boots off and feet soaking in the water.

Vasile’s horse moved ahead of him, eager to drink its fill, and he dropped the reins, allowing it to drink with the others.

Slumping down next to Chalayan, he tugged his boots off to reveal red swollen feet covered in blisters. Sighing with relief, he lowered them into the cool water.

“Before we leave, wrap your feet with cloth, if you’ve a spare shirt or the like. Else you won’t be getting your boots back on, not with those blisters.”

Vasile nodded, not daring to speak. Those were the first temperate words the sorcerer had spoken to him for days. Could it be his attitude toward him was softening?

“Once they’ve cleared the cave, we’ll hole up and get some rest,” continued Chalayan. “Not long, though; can’t let up too much just yet. Mostly for the horses: they’re no good if we can’t use them when we need to. I’ll set up some
crafting
s to warn us if anything approaches.”

Vasile remained silent, content to let the sorcerer ramble on. It looked like he was in need of a good talk to let out some tension.

Someone shoved his shoulder.

“Eh? What?” he mumbled, rubbing gritty eyes.

“You nodded off. Come on, you need to help them set up in the cave while I…” Chalayan waved a hand in a vague gesture. “… do what I do.”

Groaning, Vasile struggled to his feet, which ached abominably. Watching Chalayan’s retreating back, followed by the horses, he limped along after him, wincing at every step. The water had helped relieve the pain somewhat, but now each step was agony, even on the soft earth.

At the cave, he ignored his discomfort and joined Aidan and cel Rau, who were dragging thick branches to cover the entrance and weaving sticks between them. After helping cel Rau move a particularly heavy log to the cave, he stopped for a few moments, breathing heavily.

“I take it we’re making the barricade because we’re expecting trouble?” he asked.

Cel Rau shook his head. “Being cautious.”

“If anything does happen, it’s best to be prepared,” said Aidan. “Expect the best, prepare for the worst. Caitlyn always used to…” He broke off and looked away.

Cel Rau flicked Aidan a glance then busied himself wedging more sticks into the barrier.

A colleague? wondered Vasile, then out loud. “Caitlyn?”

“Yes,” replied Aidan curtly, then paused. “She was a great woman, who ventured too close to evil herself.”

“Someone you respected. Even… loved?”

“Once. Our leader. Then she… died.”

There was more to this story then Aidan let on. Vasile remembered when they’d first met and he’d told Gazija circumstances had led to him taking over the leadership.

“How did she die?”

Aidan glared at Vasile, nostrils flaring. While they stared at each other, cel Rau continued working.

“Curse you and your talent,” hissed Aidan. “I killed her.”

Vasile held up a hand to placate him. “I’m sorry. It must have been terrible. But I’m sure you had reason.”

“Reasons don’t make things easier.”

“Sometimes they do.”

“Not this time.”

“I… didn’t mean to pry.”

“Of course you did. It’s what you do, isn’t it, Magistrate?”

Vasile hesitated then nodded slowly. “I guess it is. Part of my curse, I think. The need to know the truth, to push past the veneer people present, though it may hurt them.” He looked away, eyes watering. “It’s what drove her away in the end.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. You can’t change the past.” If only he hadn’t pushed her to reveal her secrets. But knowing each time she lied, he hadn’t been able to let it go. Some stones were better left unturned. Vasile looked around for more sticks, but the ground around the cave had already been stripped. “I’ll get some firewood.”

“No,” said Aidan. “No fire tonight.”

Vasile sighed. “Of course.”

“Start unsaddling the horses while I help cel Rau finish this. Then you can rest.”

Wearily, Vasile nodded, knowing the horses were as tired as he was, if not more. And without them, they were likely doomed.

•

“Oof,” Vasile exclaimed, struggling to wakefulness as a hand clamped over his mouth and something jabbed his ribs. He blinked, and a shadowy Aidan materialized above him, a finger in front of his lips.

“Quiet,” he said in barely a whisper.

About to reply, Vasile heard the horses outside moving and whinnying. A cold dread crept into him. He met Aidan’s eye and nodded, and Aidan removed his hand and crept toward the cave entrance. Cel Rau and Chalayan were peering out through the entrance hole in their makeshift barricade.

Vasile rolled out of his blanket onto the dirt, and felt around for the sword they’d given him. It had been so long since he’d used a blade, it felt awkward in his hands. He stood and followed Aidan’s lead, moving as quietly as he could to join them.

Chalayan cast him a withering glance before whispering to Aidan.

“I’m sure. Something passed the
crafting
I placed down the trail.”

“Could it have been an animal?” asked Aidan.

Chalayan shook his head. “Not unless it’s a big one.”

The sorcerer was sweating, despite the cool night air in the cave, and he stopped to wipe his hands on his trousers before continuing.

“We can’t lose the horses.”

“You can’t tell how many there are?”

“No. But where there’s one, there’s more.”

A frightened whinny penetrated the night, and the horses snorted, clomping around.

Cursing under his breath, Aidan drew his sword.

Chalayan grabbed his arm. “We don’t know how many there are, and… there could be vormag.”

So filled with dread were his words, Vasile began to regret not asking more about the vormag, but he’d had other things to worry about on their way here. Somehow, cel Rau had drawn both his swords without him noticing and pushed them into the hole in the barricade, wriggling his way through.

“Me next,” Aidan said. “Then Chalayan, then you, Vasile.”

As cel Rau’s feet disappeared through the hole, Aidan followed.

“Why did we make the barricade, then?” Vasile hissed to Chalayan, who had one hand frantically searching through his pockets and the other clenching an amulet around his neck.

“It’s a last resort,” explained Chalayan. “In case we’re surrounded.”

“If there are enough to pen us in here, we won’t stand a chance. We’d just prolong the inevitable.”

Chalayan knelt beside the hole as Aidan’s feet disappeared. “That’s right. It’s to give us enough time to kill ourselves.” With that, the sorcerer shoved himself into the hole and wriggled through.

Vasile squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. Drawing a few deep breaths, he clenched shaking hands. Swallowing, he threw his sword through the hole and went to join his companions. As he emerged, he saw cel Rau fade into the night to his left, and Aidan crouched low, scuttling behind some bushes to the right. Chalayan was hunched over what looked like a few small rocks covered in runes, muttering to himself.

Vasile half-stood and brandished his sword, peering into the darkness.

Without warning, the horses shied, straining against their tethers. Wild-eyed and snorting in fear, they moved to the right, making him think whatever danger there was came from the left.

By the ancestors, he needed to piss. Where were cel Rau and Aidan?

Thrashing noises came from the night, followed by a howl, which trailed into silence.

Vasile gripped his sword tighter.

“What do I do?” he said to himself.

“Nothing,” answered Chalayan, unexpectedly. “Wait a few moments.”

The sorcerer ran around the clearing, dropping his rocks in what seemed like random places, finally rolling one under the horses before scurrying back to Vasile.

“Now!” Aidan’s command pierced the air.

Chalayan stood, lifting his arms.

Flashes of light as bright as the sun sliced away the darkness, and Vasile shielded his eyes, blinking furiously as spots swam in front of him.

Growling erupted from around them, and he forced himself to look.

Sorcerous crafted globes hung from trees around their cave, illuminating the forest. Chalayan must have used some sorcerous trick to cause them to shine brighter than normal… and if they blinded Vasile, they must have done the same to whatever was out there.

Cel Rau ran back into the clearing, leaping a fallen tree that’d been too heavy for them to move. He looked around and positioned himself above one of Chalayan’s strange rocks. Twigs snapped, and leaves rustled from the direction he came from, then a large shape leapt over the same tree.

A jukari.

The monster bellowed, dripping saliva onto the dirt. It held a rusty blade, the sword looking like a dagger in its huge hand. Blinking in the light, it took a step back.

Cel Rau hissed at the creature, but it didn’t attack, waiting for something. It scanned the clearing, taking in the horses, then Chalayan and Vasile. There was something in its eyes, an intelligence Vasile hadn’t expected.

Another jukari pushed through bushes into the open. Seeing cel Rau, it moved to join the other beast. This close, Vasile could see their gray skin was scarred with lines and symbols, like crude tattoos.

Cel Rau remained still as one took a few steps to its left, and the other jukari moved to its right, attempting to get on either side of the swordsman.

“You will not escape,” grated one of the jukari in a guttural snarl.

It sounded strangely human, though deeper and menacing, and Vasile shivered.

Cel Rau spat at the monster. “You will die first.”

Both jukari snorted and laughed, a chuffing noise full of menace.

Vasile hoped he’d never hear the sound again.

“Our master is coming, and he’ll suck the marrow from your bones.”

“Vormag,” cursed Chalayan beside him, fear in his voice.

Cel Rau turned his head and gave a quick nod to the sorcerer. “Now,” he said, and placed his foot on top of the rune-covered rock.

The jukari both leapt at cel Rau, only to be met by a hazy blue shield that sprang up around him. Echoing howls of pain erupted as they thudded into the glowing shield, which slammed into them with crushing force as it pulsed outward from the rock.

Both jukari flew backward, landing in the dirt. One beast lost its grip on its sword, which clattered to the ground. The shield winked out, and cel Rau struck.

The swordsman darted forward faster than Vasile had seen anyone move, blade piercing the side of the still-armed jukari. It howled and gurgled, coughing black blood. Answering howls came from the forest.

Cel Rau ran to its companion, which was scrabbling in the dirt for its sword.

Too late. Cel Rau stuck it twice in the back, then again. It twitched feebly, gray hand a yard from its lost blade, then went still.

Beside him, Vasile heard Chalayan snicker.

“Two down,” the sorcerer crowed. “Who knows how many more, eh, Magistrate? Better start swinging that sword soon.”

Vasile’s mouth went dry.

Aidan entered the glow of a sorcerous crafted globe to the right, sword dripping black blood. He took in the scene and grunted. “That’s only three, then.”

“Four,” said cel Rau, indicating he’d killed one earlier, and Aidan nodded.

Chalayan cursed. “Four means a band, so maybe ten, which means a vormag.”

“You’ll have to counter it,” Aidan said. “I know you can do it; you’ve done it before.”