Kara (23 page)

“Ask the wizard?” Snow yelled back.

“Just a little farther.” Ynob exclaimed,
pointing ahead.

Grace was the one who was at the greatest
disadvantage. The only disguise she could have pulled off would be
a light. They didn’t have a lamp, so she hid in one of Hambone’s
pockets. She grumbled softly to herself.

It seemed like they had left the wall quite
some time ago, but all trudged on for Kara’s sake. The land on this
side of the river looked no different than in the Territories.
Hambone hadn’t seen any other humans yet, but they had passed an
animal he had never seen before. Ynob called it a cow and said that
humans would get milk and beef from the animal.

“What’s milk?” Hambone had many
questions.

“It’s a white liquid that comes from the
cow’s udder.” The wizard pointed to a sack that hung below the
cow.

“What’s beef?”

“Beef is meat.”

“And where on the cow does that come from?”
Hambone was very curious. Maybe he would get some meat from the cow
and milk to go with it.

The wizard quickly hurried them on without
answering his question. Now that they were farther on, Hambone
dreamed of eating meat and drinking milk. Or at least eating
something.

“There’s a house nearby. Stay here while I
check it out.” They gathered around a small pine tree, as the
wizard approached the house. He disappeared from sight.

“I hope there’s food here,” Hambone said as
his stomach growled.

Snow nodded. She was busy looking around when
all of a sudden she froze, looked in another direction, and bolted
from under the tree. They heard barking, and soon a small dog
started to chase after Snow. It gained ground on her, as she tried
to double back.

“Go…away…”
Schunk
. She transformed
mid-stride and skidded across the grass on her face. The dog
stopped in its tracks, startled by the new development. Grace came
out of Hambone’s pocket to have a look.

The dog barked at Grace, who twittered back
at the dog. This dialogue went on back and forth a few times.

“Grace, do you understand that dog?” Hambone
asked. Snow picked herself off the grass, massaging her stained
face.

“That dog will understand me in a minute.”
Snow walked determinedly at the dog, until Grace intercepted her.
Grace sprite-spoke.

“I don’t care if he was only playing.” Snow
complained.

More twittering from Grace.

“His master was taken from him? Oh, boo hoo.”
Snow turned away from the dog to address Hambone. “Is the wizard
back?”

Ynob parted the shrubs. “Yes I am, and I
thought I told you to stay in your were form?”

“I did it to escape this little terror.” Snow
pointed behind her at the dog.

The wizard gave her a patronizing look.

“Well, you try being a rabbit and being
chased by a mutt.”

“Come on. No one’s home. We can stay for a
bit. And yes Hambone, there is food.”

Hambone quickly followed the wizard and Grace
flew after him. The dog at first started to follow the sprite and
then sat next to Snow.

“Don’t try to make friends with me now,
buddy.” She made a move toward the dog and it backed away. She then
followed the others with the pup trailing her.

It was a blacksmith’s home, or at least
that’s what it looked like. A huge forge sat toward the opening. A
sword rested next to it. The inside of the house was in shambles as
if someone had ransacked it.

Hambone quickly sought out food, while Ynob
inspected everything. Grace flew down by the dog, and Snow sneered.
Grace twittered with the dog.

“I’m going out back to search around. Stay
here.” Ynob said.

“Yes, master.” Snow mocked him, but the
wizard was already gone.

Hambone busied himself by gobbling down food
found in the pantry. He wasn’t stopping to take a breath in between
bites. Snow watched him disgusted. “You want some?” The dwarc held
out an ear of corn. Snow turned away.

The lonely sword drew her attention. It
looked like fine craftsmanship as far as she could tell. Maybe it
was a sword for royalty or a noble. She knew there were classes of
humans in this land. The Territories had little of the class
ranking and more of a race ranking.

Grace flew up to Snow and twittered loudly.
“What? The dog knows something?” The sprite became excited again
and chirped on. Hambone listened in as the sprite-speak became
louder.

“Kara’s dog?” Hambone interrupted, bits of
corn falling from his mouth. Grace continued her story. Snow
listened intently. After the sprite finished, she looked at both of
them. There was still an excited jitter in her flying.

“We should tell Ynob about this right away.”
Snow said and turned toward the door, but suddenly the wizard
appeared right there. His face looked white and scared. “What’s the
matter?”

“There is something terrible in this land…and
it knows I’m here.”

***

Four hours after Katrena secured her in a
church pew, Kara was able to break the binding spell. With some
coaxing from Rose, she began with flexing just her fingers and toes
and then slowly moving her legs. Rose suggested using the muscles
could thwart the effects of the spell. Kara tested her movements
during the last hour so she wouldn’t overexert and call attention
to herself by falling flat on her face. Finally, Kara felt able to
leave her pew, even leave the church. She assumed her illusion
charm dissolved as well, but so far none of the pilgrims or
religious folk acted any differently toward her. Slowly and calmly,
she exited her pew and then made her way out of the church.

A few of the soldiers remained at their
posts, but they were regular lookouts and not members of the Witch
Guard. One sentry stood near the back door. Kara wished she could
go around him, but that was the way Katrena had brought her in.

Go slow. Act normal. Act like you
belong.

Rose’s coaching helped greatly. It made Kara
calm. She approached the guard, and his eyes turned to her. But
then, they quickly looked elsewhere. Kara took that moment and
exited, her heart beating rapidly. Maybe her disguise still
worked.

Outside the church, there was minor hustle
and bustle with carts going along the castle road and people
traveling every which way. The chaos before her was overwhelming,
but Rose again reminded her to act normal. Kara blended right
in.

Parked on the side of the church was
Katrena’s cart. Kara had remembered that part. Peasants couldn’t
leave their transportation out in plain sight without someone
stealing it.

Turning the corner, she stuttered to a halt,
slightly gasping. A silver and violet Witch Guard soldier stood
looking over at Katrena’s cart. He saw Kara before she could
scramble away.

“Old woman, this cart, is it yours?” His eyes
were penetrating, as if they could see right through her.

“Uh, uh…” Kara couldn’t get her mouth to
work.

“You should not leave it unattended. We live
in dangerous times. Let me help you up.” The guard extended his
hand. Cautiously, she extended her own, not sure if this was a
trap.

The guard was gentle, helping her up into the
driver’s seat. She smiled a weakly and then nodded. But now a
different panic set in. She had never driven a cart before. Of
course, she had been with her father as he controlled their horses,
but she never did pay much attention.

She shook the reins weakly against the
horses’ flanks. Nothing happened. She tried once more with the same
effect.

“Let me. Ya!” The Witch Guard slapped the
rear of the nearest horse and yelled. It suddenly let out a whinny
and jolted forward. Its partner followed suit. As the cart moved
away, Kara turned to look at the guard to wave a thank you. When
she caught his gaze, he held a confused look. Quickly, she ducked
back out of sight. Had her disguise worn off?

***

Black smoke clogged the air of the dungeon,
making it impossible to see. Kirt and Jesset crept through the maze
hunched over, not wanting to crawl if they had to make a run for
it.

“I think…
cough
…the exit
is…
cough
…” But Jesset couldn’t finish. His lungs expelled
puffs of soot.

The rat named Vern was Jesset’s guide.

Yeah, I can smell the market. Just tough
it out a little bit longer.
Vern waddled ahead.

Jesset grabbed his brother’s hand and
squeezed. Soon they would be out of here.

“Halt!”

Behind them came a coughing command. Both
prisoners quickened their steps. Light penetrated the smoke farther
down the corridor. Hope filled Jesset.

“Prisoners escap—” The rest of the cry was
muffled by a cough.

The day sky blinded them both as they erupted
out of the smoke-spewing doorway. Kirt fell to his knees, knocking
Jesset to the ground. Coughs wracked each of them, but it was good
to breathe fresh air.

If only they had a moment to rest. But a
guard also emerged from the same doorway, disoriented, but ready to
inform everyone about the escaping prisoners.

Kirt was up first, pulling Jesset to his
feet. They ran into the crowd of onlookers, trying to quickly blend
in.

More cries from the dungeon guard alerted
other soldiers. Two followed the fleeing brothers into the
crowd.

The main road approached. Wagons and horses
rumbled past, forcing Jesset and Kirt to pause. They looked back
and saw their pursuers gaining. One had his crossbow in hand, while
the other had drawn a sword.

“Pick a wagon and jump in!” Jesset yelled to
Kirt.

An old woman driving a cart erratically
passed by. Jesset snagged the tailgate. He gave a small run and
hopped, pulling himself up into the bed. Kirt ran a few steps
behind.

“Take my hand!”

Kirt’s fingers clawed at Jesset’s upper arm
not finding purchase.

“Halt!”

Suddenly, the wagon shot forward with new
speed. The old woman whipped the horses again as if in a panic.

Jesset grabbed Kirt’s arm with both hands,
pulling him only slightly into the cart. He glanced back at the
soldiers. The one with the crossbow was aiming straight for
them.

“Quickly!”

The cart hit a rock and jounced the two men.
Kirt landed on top of Jesset.

They had escaped.

Jesset started to laugh, but then saw the
look of pain on Kirt’s face. He craned his neck and saw a crossbow
bolt protruding from Kirt’s shoulder. Blood was slowly staining his
tunic.

Chapter Twenty

Enter,
the voice commanded even before
Kreitan touched the knob. He opened the door and peered in.

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Kreitan stepped over the
threshold into the room and stood at attention near the door.

Euphoria sat by the fireplace. The king’s
garments were gone. Her hand beckoned him closer.

The princess looked radiant, the firelight
dancing off the silk clothing she wore. Her azure eyes stared into
the flames, as if mesmerized. Everything sparkled about her, except
the voice.

I could get used to that. Your majesty….

“I was in the middle of—”

I know what you were in the middle of. She
escaped anyway.
Euphoria turned to look at the captain’s
expression.

“That is not—”

Again, she interrupted him.

Quite possible for a master thief and
assassin who is also a dark elf. You humans are so pathetic. No
magic. No interaction with the races. Very self-centered.

Kreitan was visibly stunned, but he quickly
gathered his composure. “Then I will quickly send out—”

No need. She does not have the pendant. The
girl does.

“And how—” But again he was cut short. His
composure started to come undone again.

When you used your little demon-in-a-box
trick, I scanned her memories. Wraiths and demons are kindred
spirits, linked through our creation. What one spirit has access
to, so does another. The necklace and the mirror are linked, but
only when the magic is used does it become visible to me.

“But there was no girl in the church.”

She was there disguised by magic, foolish
human.

“Then I will—”

She is no longer there. Neither is your
assassin.

“What?”

Oh, and by the way, the elf took your
box.

He spun on his heel and looked for the
nearest thing to throw. On a small table was a porcelain jar. He
picked it up and whipped it into the fire. Instead of glass
smashing, the jar exploded, sending a small heat wave out that
caused the captain to flinch.

Euphoria made no movements in reaction to the
blast.

And I bet you don’t know there was a fire in
the dungeon either. My guess is the Mordock escaped.

Kreitan stared back unbelieving.

Maybe you are not ready to be king, if all
this chaos happens right under your nose and you know nothing.
Euphoria stood and approached Kreitan. He remained where he
was.

After a long moment, he spoke. “What is your
bidding?” The words came out forced.

There is a presence in the land that could
be very dangerous. A magical presence.
She paused waiting for
him to interject, but he remained tight-lipped.

Good, I can see you are learning your
place.

Inside, Kreitan boiled. Never with La’ard had
he been this angry. Outside, he showed little turmoil.

Bring me a map, and I can show you where
this wizard currently is.

“Wizard?” The word slipped out before he
could stop it.

Yes, I believe so. Map.
She emphasized
the last word.

Kreitan quickly went to a nearby desk. La’ard
had given his daughter a diagram of Faldoa. It was similar to the
one that hung in the great hall.

With the drawing spread before her, Euphoria
pointed to a spot, a spot he knew.