Emergence (Book 2) (12 page)

"Where's he going?"

Garek turned to her
, and a smile lit his face. "Away from me." He chuckled. "I have a habit of getting under his skin from time to time."

"Then you and I have something in common," Ciara said. "It seems I'm a constant source of aggravation to him."

"I can't imagine you being an aggravation to anyone," he said, his eyes sparkling.

Ciara dipped her head to hide the blush that crept across her cheeks. "You haven't known me very long."

"For certain," he said. "But I'm a fair judge of character. I see in you a determined, strong woman, with a gentleness of spirit such as only healers have."

Ciara laughed out loud. "If 'determined' is a polite way of telling me I'm stubborn, then I'll know you've been talking to Bolin about me."

"No such thing," Garek said. "I'm sure you've noticed he's not the grandest conversationalist."

That was an understatement. "You've known him a long time haven't you?"

Garek scratched as his beard. "Aye. Since I was a raw recruit. He took me under his wing for some reason, and we've been like brothers ever since. He taught me how to use a sword and sit a horse. I taught him how to drink. I'm not as good as him with a blade, though few are, and I stay in the saddle only through sheer grit. Yet he can drink me under the table. Not something many can do. Guess that makes me the better teacher."

"Or him the better student," said Nialyne, coming up on Garek's other side.

He guffawed at that. "True enough, Lady. True enough." He twisted in the saddle, rested his hand on his horse's rump, and surveyed the men behind him. "Berk, you and Sal see to the fire when we make camp. Sully, you and Duff have the horses."

A round of acknowledgments filtered back. "How far tonight, Commander?"

"Two, three leagues maybe." He turned back around and winked at Ciara. "Have to keep an eye on the lads, you know. Unruly lot if left to their own devices. Anyone of 'em gives either of you ladies any grief, you come straight to me."

"Having been trained by you, Commander," Nialyne said, "I doubt there is a single bad manner amongst them."

"Well, that's a fine compliment, Lady. In which case, I'll take credit for their gentlemanly ways, but no blame if they act a rogue."

They rode the rest of the way in companionable silence. Ciara had just started to doze
in the saddle when the scent of burning wood caught her nostrils, and she perked up. As they rounded a dense copse, an orange glow filtered through the trees, and the sharp snap and pop of a blazing fire carried to them on the breeze.

"Well, looks like Bolin's got things in hand, then," Garek said, as they drew closer.

Sandeen, already tied to a line stretched between two trees, craned his neck around and whickered a greeting to the other horses. Bolin tossed another log on the fire before coming to meet them. He held Nialyne's horse while she dismounted.

"I don't suppose you've cooked us a late meal, General?" Garek asked, climbing off his horse with an audible groan and passing the reins to one of the soldiers. "Riding always works up my appetite."

"Everything works up your appetite," Bolin replied, his tone flat. "You'll have to settle for cold rations or wait until morning."

Garek nudged Ciara with his elbow and talked from behind his raised hand. "He's not much of a cook anyhow." He took the reins from Ciara and started toward the men. "All right, lads, let's get these beasts fed and watered. I'm sure they'd appreciate a rub down, too, and seeing as there's no need to build a fire, I think you've plenty of time. Somebody fetch those bed rolls for the ladies. Get to it now."

Ciara started to object that she could see to her own horse, but Garek had already passed the mare to Berk and made for the supply cart.

"The men will see to everything," Bolin said. "Enjoy the luxury while you have it."

Ciara gave in and followed Nialyne to the fire, perching on a log within the ring of flickering light while Bolin went to help Garek. She sat sideways on the log, arms resting on her drawn up knees. It didn't take long for her to lay her head on her arms, staring into the firelight, the sounds of the activity around her fading to nothingness.

He should not have brought it.

Ciara startled. Andrakaos's dark shape replaced the fire in her vision. He stared off to her right, head up and alert, watching something.

I do not like the feel of it.

"The feel of what?" Ciara asked.

The magic he has entrapped. It intends harm.

Ciara followed his gaze to where Bolin helped Garek unhitch the cart horses. The scene wavered in her vision, the edges vignetted as though seeing it through a bubble. "What is it?"

Andrakaos raised his muzzle. His nostrils flared as he sniffed like a hound questing the air. A light flickered in his eyes, lightning across the night sky. His shudder trickled through her.

Evil.

***

The whisper of a warm caress trailed across the back of Bolin's neck. He turned, seeking the source, and his eyes found Ciara, perched on a log, head on arms, staring into the fire. She appeared lost in thought, but within the flames, something turned his way.

It is Darkness.

Bolin sucked in a startled breath. He left Garek to finish on his own, and went to where Ciara sat. The closer he got to her, the stronger he felt her power.

"Ciara." She didn't even blink. Bolin hunkered down in her line of vision
, and laid a hand on her shoulder. "Ciara?"

Her focus drew back as though from a great distance. Her eyes widened, and she pursed her lips, but didn't raise her head. "I didn't mean it."

"What?"

Her gaze slid away. "He just starts talking to me. I can't stop him. I don't ask him to. It's mostly when I'm tired." A flicker of fear crossed her face. "That's going to be a problem when we leave the Greensward, isn't it?"

"It's a problem now."

"Could you...how did you know?"

He could have opted not to answer her. It might have been the wiser course of action. "I can feel when you call him."

"I didn't call him."

Bolin rested his forearms on his knees. "When he calls you, then, you mustn't answer. I know you can manage that. You're quite good at not listening when people talk."

She frowned. "He sneaks up on me."

"Then turn away from him." She rolled her head on her arms, angling it away from him as she tried to avoid the conversation. Bolin laid his hand on her arm. "If you ever hope to control this power then you need to listen to me. You're the one in charge. You have to be. This is the first step. He doesn't get to decide that. You do."

They were fools making this trip. He should send Ciara and Nialyne back to Galys Auld and go to the Emperor himself. Dain had been angry with him before. One more time wouldn't make much difference. They could leave the supply cart, take what they could on the horses, and ride hard for Nisair.

Garek's loud laugh broke into Bolin's thoughts, and he canted his head in his friend's direction where he shared some joke with the men. The one flaw in an otherwise perfect plan: Garek would never allow it. Unlike Bolin, when the Emperor gave orders to the Commander, they were followed more or less to the letter.

Bolin blew out a short chuckle. He and Ciara were more alike on that score than he cared to think. She found it as difficult to do what he told her, as he did to do what Dain told him.

Ciara lifted her head and fixed him with an incredulous stare. "Did you just laugh?"

"It has been known to happen from time to time," he said.

"Can't say as I have that much experience with it, coming from you. So, are you going to share the joke?"

"It's nothing."

"Of course not." The spark of temper flickered in her eyes.

"I was just thinking how you have a tendency to listen to me about as well as I listen to the Emperor."

Her brows arched. "You argue with the Emperor?"

"Like daytime argues with night," Garek's voice cut in as he came up to them. "Each equally valid in their own right, and each equally immovable." He laid a pile of furs over the log beside Ciara. "This ought to keep you warm tonight. You're not opposed to sleeping beside the fire are you? We shifted things around a bit and made room for the Lady in the cart. Didn't seem right for her to sleep on the ground. If you'd rather, I could have the lads unload the rest of it to squeeze you in beside her."

"No, that's fine, Garek," Ciara said. "The ground here isn't so hard, and you've brought me more furs than I think I'll need."

"Then I'll take this one back." He snagged a deep ebony one from the top of the heap. It looked too small to cover much of Garek's bulk. He must have caught Bolin's appraising glance because he tilted his chin and assumed as haughty a stance as a man of his build could muster. "I intend to roll it up and use it for a pillow, if you must know. Years of sleeping on the ground have put a wicked mean crick in my neck any time I don't pamper it a bit. Being as this is the first night of many, I'd hate to give it cause to start pestering me now."

"By all means," Bolin said. "We wouldn't want discomfort making you ornery."

Garek laughed. "Ornery? Me? Ah, that's ripe coming from the man who defines the word even in his sleep."

Ciara made a noise and quickly covered her mouth with her hand. Her eyes looked bright in the dancing flames, her features soft and relaxed. She looked...happy. Bolin hadn't seen her like that in a long time, and something stirred inside him. His skin warmed where the pendant hung tucked beneath his tunic. A warmth that spread to other parts of his body as well.

Bolin stood abruptly. "If you'll excuse me, I think I'll go make sure Danya Nialyne doesn't need anything else." He tried to remove the husky tone to his voice by clearing his throat. "No watch tonight, Garek. Everyone should get as much rest as they can. We'll need it."

"Aye, General." Garek's mustache twitched. "I'll just stoke up the fire a bit and turn in then." He waited until Bolin had started toward the cart before adding, "There's some sweet wine by my pack if you'd like something to clear that burr in your throat."

Bolin twisted back, but clamped his mouth shut on his retort. "Good night, Commander."

"With the morning, General."

CHAPTER TEN

Another day and a half of travel through the Greensward passed without event. The weather favored them with light breezes during the day, and calm nights that made for peaceful sleep. The men were in good spirits, and Nialyne had Ciara laughing more than once. Sandeen even accepted the crystal in his pack with more grace, though first thing in the morning it still made him uneasy. Garek did his best to lighten Bolin's mood but less than a handful of leagues lay between them and the Greensward's eastern-most border and after that, the sense of safety that surrounded them would vanish as quickly as carrion to the crows.

"You're brooding again," Garek said.

"We'll be at the border before nightfall."

Garek grunted. "I figured that was what you had stuck in your craw. Let's worry about that tomorrow morning, shall we?" Bolin slid him a look and Garek made a silent 'oh' with his mouth. "Cover of dark, then."

Bolin could feel Garek mulling that over as they rode. His friend turned to look behind them, most likely assessing who was within earshot, then leaned Bolin's way in the saddle. "Not arguing with your decision, mind you."

"Garek, you do realize when you start off with those words I immediately know you're doing exactly that?"

"I'm just making an observation is all. We've those wolf creatures to worry about at night."

"Eventually, yes. But Donovan likely doesn't even know we're on the move yet. He won't get a sense we've left the Greensward until we pass
through the wards. Then he still has to find us."

Garek sniffed. "Unless he's watching the borders."

"That's a lot of border to watch. I don't think he has the resources."

"See now, you're using phrases that make the hair on my arms itch. 'Likely doesn't know.' You don't 'think' he has the resources."

Bolin clenched his jaw. "Had I been given the opportunity--"

Garek held up a hand. "How much time do you think we have?"

"I'm hoping at least a couple of days. Perhaps four before he can reach us."

"So we ride hard under cover of darkness?"

"Unless you'd rather face rocs during the day."

"Well, let's pray to the Goddess then, that we get four days of peace first. I'm going to have a chat with my lieutenant." Garek turned his horse
, and rode to the back of the column.

Four days of peace. A fool's hope, that.
In all honesty, he really had no proof Donovan still lived. Well, none beyond the certainty in his gut. And whether Donovan had returned to his fortress, or still lingered in the crone's swamp, also remained an unknown. The swamp would put him even further from them, and less likely to be able to acquire the mercenaries he preferred to hire for his dirty work. The question of the crone's fate also lurked in his thoughts. Goddess's blood, he hated not knowing for sure what they were up against, like a blind man stumbling about in an unfamiliar room.

He rubbed his arm. Then again, perhaps they weren't as blind as he thought.

"It worries me when you do that." Nialyne came up beside him, taking Garek's place to his left.

"Do what?"

She glanced over, and Bolin put his hand back on the reins.

"Nervous habit
," he said.

"I wonder."

"Well don't." He sucked in a deep breath, and slowly exhaled, reeling in the spark of temper before it got the better of him. "I'm sorry, Alyne. It's fine, I assure you."

She peered up at him, the look of a hawk surveying its prey. "What are you contemplating?"

A hawk with incredible instincts.

"Many things
," he said, but not ungently. "None of which you would approve of, so there's little sense in my sharing them with you. Just remember what I told you before we left. If anything happens look out for yourself."

"I'll not desert Ciara. Or you, for that matter. I understand and appreciate your concern, Bolin. But you need to keep in mind that I'm not exactly helpless. Even outside these borders."

"I never claimed you were."

"And you don't need to take responsibility for my safety."

He snorted. "I may not need to, but I always will."

***

Ciara decided she could easily enjoy the ride to Nisair if the entire way were as beautiful and gentle as the Greensward. The forests around her aunt's house had been thick and old, but they had an unkempt appearance when compared to the land around Galys Auld. Here the ground wore a soft blanket of fallen leaves and the trees didn't crowd in on one another, as though someone had planted them knowing they would need their own space to grow tall and healthy. It gave a sense of openness and grandeur. And the land pulsed with a deep, natural magic, strong and unyielding, but at the same time incredibly peaceful. Ciara could feel it like her own heartbeat. No wonder Bolin loved it here.

"Do you mind?"

Ciara startled and glanced over to find Berk had ridden up next to her. She smiled at him. "Not at all."

"This is beautiful country," he said, looking around.

"I was just thinking the same thing."

Like the rest of the men who had come with Garek, Berk wore the full uniform of an
Imperial Guard, including a cowled mail shirt beneath the deep blue tabard. Weapons were definitely not in short order among this group either. Berk not only had a sword at his hip, but a knife on the opposite side, a dagger at the small of his back, and Ciara had noticed the hilt of another peeking above his left boot. A crossbow hung from the front of his saddle, a quiver of bolts beside it. He rode easily, one hand on the reins, the other resting on his thigh, eyes constantly scanning their surroundings with an occasional sweep of the sky through the trees. It gave him an air of readiness that seemed so unnecessary here.

"Do you live in Nisair?" she asked, as much to fill time as to keep her mind from worrying.

"I have," he said. "We were stationed in Trombachue since last summer, though. We go where the Emperor has need of us."

"That must be hard, moving around all the time. Don't you have a family?"

"Besides these louts?" He jerked his thumb back to indicate the riders behind them. "I was born in the Reaches. My father is Lord Verrun's huntsman now. He used to serve with General Bolin. I suppose that's why he thought joining the guard would be good for me as well."

"And has it been?"

"In a lot of ways, yes." His brow furrowed. "I miss my family. I've a sister and two brothers, all younger than me. They sometimes come down for festival, but I've not seen them for several years now. What of you? Have you family somewhere?"

Ciara shook her head and looked away. "Not any more. I never had much to begin with. My mother died when I was thirteen. I went to live with my aunt after that. It's been only a few moon cycles since she passed."

"I'm sorry to hear. What of your father?"

Ciara stiffened. Her mare's ears flicked back, and she s
hifted sideways with a toss of her head. Ciara settled her, and when she spoke her voice came hard. "I have no father."

Berk stayed quiet for a long time. "I didn't mean to pry."

Goddess's light.
"It's all right. I shouldn't have snapped. It's just--" She sighed. "Complicated."

"Then we'll talk about something less so. Unless you'd rather I go back to riding beside Duff? Though, to be honest, I've been riding next to him far too long as it is. I think I have all his tales memorized." Berk dropped his voice to a conspiratorial level and leaned toward her, his dark eyes sparkling mischievously. "If he ever asks you if you've heard one of them, any of them, just tell him yes and walk away. Trust me on this."

Ciara peered over her shoulder. Duff had fallen back to ride alongside the cart. He was talking and gesturing non-stop and by the look on Salek's face, Berk hadn't exaggerated.

"Maybe he should have been a bard," she suggested.

Berk laughed loud enough to draw everyone's attention, his cheek's dimpling as he smiled. "Oh, you've not heard him sing."

"Ho, bowman!" Duff rode up on Ciara's other side. "I get the sense I'm being disparaged."

"Nonsense, Duff." Berk assumed a more serious expression with obvious effort. "You've just been given a high compliment."

"Oh?" Duff narrowed his eyes. He looked several years younger than Berk, and quite a bit rounder. He seemed to be as equally well-armed
, though instead of a crossbow he had an axe across his back. He just didn't look the type to use it, or the two short swords at his waist. "And what compliment was that?"

Berk angled his head toward Ciara, and she shook hers
, eyes wide, when she realized he wanted her to repeat what she'd said.

"You don't believe a word of what this scoundrel tells you," Duff said. "It's a known fact he spins tales only to make himself look good in the lady's eyes. I should tell you of this one time in
Hillsboro--"

Berk groaned. "I already told her that one, Duff."

"You didn't!"

"Duff." Garek's bellow from the back of the procession sent birds screeching from their roosts. "Tell them about the time you saved that farmer's cow."

Duff nodded vigorously, his curly blonde hair bouncing. "Oh, aye, that's a good one, to be sure."

"Ah, Commander." Berk shot a long-suffering look over his shoulder. "What have I done to deserve your ire?"

"In specific? Or generalities?"

Duff hooted and slapped his thigh. He jutted his thumb at Berk. "Likes to come across as a ne're do wrong, that one. But I can tell you some tales about his antics that would put him to shame right quick."

Ciara glanced at Berk, and he rolled his eyes. She stifled a laugh. Duff would have launched into a story for sure if Garek hadn't ridden up just then and cuffed him in the back of the head.

"Tell your own tales, Duff, and no one else's," Garek said. "In fact, tell none at all for now. Back in line with you."

Duff gave a theatrical pout, then flipped his hand in a quick salute and checked up his horse to let the others pull ahead. Soon his voice rose from behind them, chattering to Sully and Salek about an incident having something to do with a muddy pit and catching a hog for slaughter.

"You encouraged him, Commander," Berk said. "Just remember that."

Garek scratched his beard. "He gets out of hand and we may have to gag him."

"It'd be a sad thing, indeed," Berk said solemnly. "But if it needs doing, as much as I'd hate to, I'd volunteer for the duty, sir."

"So noted, soldier."

Garek gave them a nod and continued up to the front of the line. Nialyne looked like a child on a pony between Bolin and Garek. She laughed at something Garek said when he pulled his horse to a walk next to hers. Bolin shook his head and then turned to look back. Ciara couldn't read his expression over the distance, but she saw his gaze slide from her to Berk, and linger there for a long moment.

***

"Short camp, boys," Sully said as they came to a
halt alongside the river again.

The sun
cut through the trees, slanting in from the west. It would be some time, even under cover of the leaves, before night came in earnest.

"What
does he mean?" Ciara asked.

"Berk, you and Duff see to the horses."

"Aye, Sul," Berk tossed back. He swung out of the saddle and led his horse around Ciara's mare so he could hold the bridle for her as she dismounted. "Short camp? Means we're not staying here the night. Just long enough to get the horses fed and watered, and have a cold bite ourselves."

Ciara stretched stiff mu
scles. "I can see to my horse."

She tried to claim the reins from Berk but he dodged her.

"I've got my orders," he said, and led the pair away.

Garek strolled past with not only his sorrel and Nialyne's bay mare, but Sandeen as well. Ciara swiveled to find Bolin, and spotted him getting on one of the spare horses. Before she could say anything, he cantered off.