Mica (25 page)

He climbed back down and said to Sun, “You go first. If I get stuck I don’t want to ruin your chance to escape.”

“I’m not going anywhere without you.”

“Get up the damn chain.” He grasped her shoulders, shaking her. There was no time for arguments. The beginning of bog tremors was coursing through him. Soon he’d be useless. He needed to know she’d be safe.

Sun scaled the wall, difficult with only one good foot. She squeezed through the window then signaled for him to follow. Mica climbed the chains. He pushed himself through the small opening. Sun’s strong hands yanked him hard. Once his broad shoulders were through he knew he’d make it. They sat on the roof, observing their surroundings. The building was fairly low. Military tents were set up on the sand below. Karlus’ men fought a small troop of the emperor’s soldiers alongside the Bedouin army and a group of Knights. In the distance waves crashed upon the shoreline. Two ships were docked, one bearing the flag of the false emperor, the other with the black and red silk of the Ruby Order. Fighting raged on the decks of both ships.

“It’s Lock.” Sun pointed to a tall Knight with a mass of kinky brown and white hair.

He fought with a straight sword in one hand and a curved dagger in the other. Sun smiled, glancing at Mica. “He’s a friend. That’s his ship out there. We’ll be all right.”

“Not if we don’t get off this roof.” He pulled the chain through and let it dangle down the side of the building. It reached a little more than halfway to the ground. They would still have quite a drop but one they could survive.

This time Mica climbed first. He fell to the ground just as one of Karlus’ soldiers screamed a battle cry and flew at him with a bloodstained sword. Mica dodged the first blow. The blade struck the side of the building, scattering pieces of rock. Mica lunged at the man, grasping his sword arm and breaking the hold. He kicked the guard into the building and claimed the sword. Agony clawed through his entire body. The attack of bog tremors was strengthening. Blinking sweat from his eyes, he glanced at Sun who had reached the end of the chain.

Two more guards took notice of them and attacked. Mica blocked several blows, disarmed one guard and pierced the other’s side. His sword arm dropped and he staggered, almost falling. Someone jerked the weapon from his hand. His vision cleared in time to watch Sun raise the blade in defense against another guard. She spun, slashing the man’s chest.

Using the sword to support her injured leg, she grasped Mica’s arm. “Come on.”
“Just watch out for yourself.”

“Shut up, Mica.” She dragged him with her.

Why did she have to be so damn stubborn?

They neared the center of the battle. Soldiers attacked them from both sides.

Momentarily Sun and Mica broke apart. He spun to the ground, extending a leg and knocking one of their attackers into the man behind him. Sun’s blade clashed with an enemy’s sword. The man used his weight advantage well, backing Sun into a barrel.

Her injured leg buckled. Mica lunged, knowing he wouldn’t reach her in time. Her attacker was knocked aside by a whirling mass of hands and feet.

Blaze stood in front of Sun, fighting off a group of armed guards with skill that astounded Mica. The auburn-haired Knight’s face and tunic were drenched in blood.

Mica wondered how he managed to survive at all fighting without the use of a weapon.

As Blaze fought his way through the battle, Mica grasped Sun’s arm and dragged her along the cleared path. She leaned heavily against him. Several times he thought he might lose consciousness. Someone tugged Sun out of his grip. Blinking, he saw her in the arms of the tall, white-and-brown-haired Knight. They were surrounded by Knights and the emperor’s soldiers.

“I’ve got you,” someone told Mica. Strong arms wrapped around him. Through his dimming vision he realized Arsha, his face streaked with battle filth, supported him.

“How—”

“It’s a long story. I finally listened to you and sent my people to Ademene.”

The Bedouins were safe. Sun was safe. Mica’s lips flickered in a smile before blackness took him.

* * * * *

Sun awoke groggy from the sleeping potion Blaze had given her. Glancing around, she recognized her room in the palace at Ademene. She remembered little of the battle up to the time Lock picked her up and carried her to his ship. His wife Sparrow had begun cleaning her wounds. Not even bothering to tend his own injuries, Blaze had arrived soon after. He’d given her the brew to drink. In spite of her protests to take care of himself he proceeded to clean and stitch her injuries. The potion affected her quickly.

Though she asked about Mica she couldn’t recall the reply.

“Brightest Star?”

Sun turned in the direction of Blaze’s voice. The Knight sat on the edge of her bed and touched her face. She noted a gash stitched below his left eye. “Blaze, are you all right?”

His delicate lips twitched in a smile. “I should ask you.”

“I’ll be fine.” Sun raised herself to a sitting position, trying not to wince. Her entire body ached. “I need to bathe.”
“Sparrow made sure you were properly cleaned.” Blaze reached for her hand, his eyes shining with fierceness Sun had never seen. “Such pain to my daughter drives me toward eternal bloodshed.”

“No, Blaze.” Sun squeezed the graceful, callused hand that held hers. “You aren’t a killer. You live with the spirits of the dead. Killing would cause you more pain than the rest of us and I couldn’t live knowing that.”

“Then you know how I feel living with what’s been done to you.”

“How is Mica?”

He hesitated in replying. The expression in his eyes made her stomach lurch.

“Blaze?”

The Knight touched her face again. “Your feelings for him are deep. I don’t need the spirits to tell me that.”

“It’s the bog tremors, isn’t it?”

“I fear he won’t survive the night.”

Sun’s throat constricted. Blinking back tears, she swung her legs to the edge of the bed. She was dressed in a clean, loose tunic of tan muslin that left her arms bare. Slices from the guards’ knives marked her flesh. Most had clotted without the help of stitches but some Blaze had closed with his needle and thread. Her injured ankle was wrapped with bandages.

“I want to see him.”

Blaze nodded, offering her his arm. “He asked for you many times when he was able.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Nearly a day and a half.” Blaze forced her to slow her pace, which was fast in spite of her injured ankle. “Brightest Star, I realize you’re accustomed to illness and death but—”

“He’s very bad. I know.” Sun drew a deep breath. She’d never been in love before, never thought she
could
fall in love but it had happened and he was to die before they could explore their newfound emotions. “How did Lock and his crew end up at the battle? And the Bedouins?”

“Mate of the Key saw the battle days ago in a dream. He turned his ship and joined us when we were about to launch a rescue. The Bedouin leader decided to send all his people to safety. Some were scouting when you and Mirrored Rock were captured.

They alerted us to your fate.”

“So Arsha decided to listen to Mica after all.” Sun wasn’t sure if she felt relieved or angry. Perhaps a bit of both. “Did Mica know?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’m sure that made him happy.”

In the Priests’ quarters they stopped outside Mica’s room. Blaze tapped on the door
before opening it.

Sun tried to harden herself to face Mica’s illness but didn’t quite succeed. Zareb sat in a chair by Mica’s bed. The Messenger turned worried blue eyes toward Sun and Blaze but she only noticed him for a moment. Mica absorbed her attention. During the bout of illness she’d last witnessed he’d appeared gaunt, drained. Now there seemed to be nothing left of the man she knew. A bandage swathed his head, covering the patches of raw skin where Karlus had scalped his raven hair. A dark bruise spread from the stitched gash above his left eyebrow, marring his temple and blackening his eye. Lips that she remembered as soft and moist looked parched and trickled blood from several splits. Sweat dampened his ashen flesh and bled through the thin, tan tunic similar to the one she wore.

Zareb stood, joining Sun and Blaze before they stepped closer.

The Messenger whispered, “The last bout ended a few moments ago.”

“What have you given him for pain?” Sun brushed by Zareb and sat on the edge of Mica’s bed, resting her hand gently on his chest. Had it not been for the faint motion of breathing beneath her palm she would have thought him dead already.

“Star root,” Blaze stated.

Sun’s brow furrowed. Star root. The powerful herb was generally used as a last resort to ease the unfathomable pain of the dying. The herb itself often caused death.

Zareb stood beside her. “I don’t think he feels pain any longer, Dame Sun.”

She knew his words were meant as comfort but she was beyond consolation.

“Mica and I have been friends for a long time,” Zareb continued. “I know he cares for you deeply. He felt very guilty about you being captured. He wanted you to know how sorry he was. I don’t mean to make this more difficult for you, Dame Sun, but I promised him I’d tell you how he felt.”

Glancing briefly at the Messenger, she nodded.

“We’ll give you privacy. If you need us we’ll be right outside.” He and Blaze left the room, closing the door behind them.

Sun leaned forward and touched her cheek to Mica’s. “You probably can’t hear my words, Mica, but I know you can feel what’s in my heart. Please don’t blame yourself for what happened. I don’t. We’ve chosen paths that include such risks. You’re a good man and you were following a good cause. I love you.”

She touched her lips to his forehead.

Sun wasn’t sure how much time passed before Blaze joined her. She’d bathed Mica with cool cloths in an attempt to lower his fever and had touched him with all the affection she’d grown to feel. Not once did he open his eyes or so much as move.

“His mother watches,” Blaze said, pointing across the bed. “There. She likes you, Brightest Star.”

Sun’s attempt at a smile turned to a frown as tears threatened again. She drew a calming breath. “Is his father here too or is he burning in hell?”
“His father is not here.”

“I hate him. He’d dead but he’s still stealing from me, Blaze. He took my village, my parents, my hope for a family of my own and now Mica. If he hadn’t put him in that stinking prison Mica wouldn’t be dying right now. How can I defeat an enemy who haunts me from the netherworld?”

“You and Mica both defeated him long ago when you became a Dame and he chose a better path than one of destruction.”

“Many times Mica said he was horrible in the past but he made up for it. He’s helped so many people, Blaze.”

“He’s earned reprieve.”

“I know what you’re saying but it doesn’t make accepting his loss any easier.”

Blaze drew her into his arms. “Never is.”

Sun clung to the Knight tightly for a moment before pushing away. She touched Mica’s shoulder. Tremors coursed through him, faintly at first then growing in intensity. She’d never felt so useless in her life but she could do little more than watch as the disease consumed a man she once sought to kill but whom she would now give her own life to spare.

“Blaze,” Zareb called, thrusting open the door. Sun glanced over her shoulder at the Messenger whose eyes looked wild. He held a brown leather pouch out to the Knight.

Valor’s tall, muscular frame filled the doorway. The Nalmite looked more disheveled than ever, his skin, beard and clothing covered in layers of dirt from hard travel. His deep voice rumbled throughout the room, “I came as soon as I could.”

“Our thanks,” Blaze said, opening the pouch and peering inside. “I pray your diligence was not wasted.”

Sun assisted Blaze in preparing the portia.

“Anything I can do?” Valor asked.

“He’ll need to be held.” Blaze glanced at Mica who was caught in the violent tremors that marked his disease.

The Nalmite crossed the room and helped Zareb hold Mica steady while Sun and Blaze forced the medicine down his throat.

“How long before we know if it works?” Sun asked, covering Mica’s trembling form with another blanket.

“You understand he’s very advanced,” Blaze said.

“I know,” Sun snapped then glanced at Blaze. “I’m sorry.”

He touched her shoulder before leaning against the wall. Zareb settled into the chair.

Valor said, “If I’m no longer needed I’ll return to the barracks. Some Nalmite troops have accompanied me.”

“Troops?” Zareb asked.
“The Unownland is not far from the Kennas. Should this false emperor take control, who’s to stop him from trying to invade us? Better to help you crush him now.”

“I’m sure all assistance is appreciated,” Blaze said. “By morning I’ll be joining you on the training field one way or the other.”

Sun glanced at her mentor. She knew he meant by morning Mica would either be dead or on his way to recovery.

Several moments later Mica’s trembling stopped completely. Panic tightened Sun’s chest. She touched her fingers to his neck, praying for a pulse. Apparently the sudden vanishing of the symptoms worried Zareb as well. He stood close by, staring at his friend.

Blaze approached, a slight smile on his lips. “It’s doing its work. Nothing short of a miracle at this stage.”

“Thank the Spirit,” Sun murmured, closing her eyes and squeezing Mica’s limp hand. This had to be the happiest moment of her life.

“At least now he has a chance,” Zareb said.

“He must drink the portia two times a day for the next seven days,” Blaze ordered.

“And he must rest until his health is completely restored. He’s weak and it will take time. It’s good that you need recovery time as well, Brightest Star. Watch over him until he’s better.”

“I will.” Sun couldn’t tear her gaze from Mica. She watched the faint rise and fall of his chest and the slight movement of his eyes beneath the closed lids.

“You should rest as well,” Blaze told Zareb. “Two days and nights you’ve been watching.”

“I will.” The Messenger yawned, running a hand through his hair. Sun noted both Zareb and Blaze looked tired.