Scent of Magic (11 page)

“I brought two children with me. Zila and Danny and their nanny, Berna. The kids are...special. And they’re going to need protection while I’m in the north.”

“How much protection?”

“A squad dedicated to keeping them safe.”

Izak dropped his arms. “That
is
special. What are you worried about?”

“Kidnappers sent by Tohon.”

He stood in alarm. “Why did you bring them here? We’re closer to Tohon. They’d be safer in Ryne’s castle.”

Kerrick agreed. However, with this new threat from the north, Ryne believed they’d be better protected in Orel. “You have the pass between Alga and Sogra guarded, right?”

“Of course. And I’ve a couple battalions along the coast in case Tohon decides to invade from the Endless Sea.”

“Tohon’s been too busy with Estrid to worry about the northern realms. The kids should be fine,” Kerrick said, trying to convince himself.

“I think you and Ryne are being rather naive regarding Tohon.”

An odd statement. Izak’s demeanor set off a warning, but before Kerrick could question him, the door burst open.

Great-Aunt Yasmin entered with a swish of skirts. She clutched her shawl tight, but her sharp gaze sliced right through Kerrick.
Uh-oh.

“Three years, Kerry.” She held up three gnarled fingers. “You’re gone three years and I have to hear about your return from my maid.” She radiated indignation, anger and guilt-inducing energy at him.

Izak’s smirk died when she rounded on him. “Don’t be so smug, young man. You haven’t seen your brother in years and you’ve been fighting with him! What kind of welcome is that?”

“How did—”

She harrumphed. “I’m old, not stupid. Now come here, Kerry, and give your favorite auntie a hug.”

Kerrick bent over and gave her a gentle squeeze. She was half his size and all bones. Her white hair had been pulled up into a neat bun. Great-Aunt Yasmin looked pretty good for a ninety-year-old.

She rested her hand on his cheek and smiled. “Ah, Kerry. You’ve found your heart. Who is she?”

He shouldn’t have been surprised. Despite her claim to have no magical abilities, she had a canny knack for reading a person’s soul.

“A healer, but she’s...gone.”

She patted his cheek as if consoling him, but the shrewd gleam in her gray eyes told him she wasn’t buying his act at all. Great-Aunt Yasmin stepped away instead of questioning him further.

“What have you boys been arguing about?” she asked.

They exchanged a glance.

“I’m old, not fragile. If it’s bad news,
you’d
be better off if I heard it from you and not my maid.”

Kerrick explained about the northern tribes invading Krakowa. “I want to take at least half of the Algan army and drive the tribes back into the wildlands.”

Surprised, Great-Aunt Yasmin turned to Izak. “Didn’t you tell Kerry about the deal?”

Izak’s face paled. “How did...? Never mind. Old, not stupid, I know.”

“What deal?” Kerrick asked.

Izak stepped back as if expecting a blow. “You weren’t here. I did what I could for
our
people.”

“He was too young when you left him in charge, Kerry. Don’t blame him for panicking and making a deal with King Tohon.”

CHAPTER 6

I scanned the soldiers’ faces a third and fourth time, hoping Kerrick had decided to arrive at Estrid’s camp incognito. It would have been an excellent idea since Jael had no qualms about killing him either. However, no one even resembled him or matched his build.

Disappointment and worry flared in equal measure. Had Tohon’s men caught up to him before he’d reached Ryne’s? Was he hurt? Captured? Or killed? Despite the danger, I edged closer to the procession as they paraded right past Jael’s tent and headed straight for the manor house.

Jael watched Ryne and his men go by with an icy glare. Would she try to harm them? Noelle stood by her side and studied the passing soldiers with a keen interest. Was she looking for me? Did that little smile mean she was happy about my absence?

Belen was far from happy. He strode right up to the procession and blocked Prince Ryne’s path. The horse stopped. Smart horse. Belen grabbed the horse’s cheek strap and spoke to Ryne.

He had to be asking about Kerrick. I hurried to catch up, but Ryne leaned forward and said something to Belen. It must have soothed him, because he released the horse and walked next to Quain and Loren. From atop their horses, both men gave Belen queasy smiles before returning their gazes to Ryne’s back.

They dismounted in the courtyard in front of the manor house and then entered with Belen in tow. I grunted in frustration. Who could I ask about Kerrick? None of the soldiers waiting patiently outside looked familiar. I couldn’t just stroll into the building with both Estrid’s and Ryne’s armies watching.

Frustration welled. I would just have to wait for the camp gossip to reach our company. Or did I? One of the reasons for this ruse was so I could gather information about Estrid’s army and operations. Who could I tell this to now? I’d have to reveal myself, and I still hadn’t talked to Noelle or found Melina.

I sucked in a breath, settling my racing heartbeat. No need to rush into a decision. News about Avry the healer and Prince Kerrick would reach me, and I’d get a better sense of how to proceed.

Having a plan didn’t make me feel any better, so I decided to spend my morning searching for Melina. I walked through Dagger, Cutlass and Garrote’s companies’ areas, asking a few young girls Melina’s age if they knew her. Nothing. Then I swept through the others, scanning faces. No Melina.

On the way back to my area, I heard Ryne’s name. Without thought, I stopped to listen.

“...left half of his soldiers behind. The marauders had invaded,” a private said.

“Sergeant Vic said they’ve taken over the northern realms and everyone is dead,” another said.

“Then why would Prince Ryne leave, you dolt!” He smacked his companion on the head. “You can’t believe anything Vic says.”

“I heard Prince Kerrick is working for King Tohon as a double agent,” yet another chimed in.

Wild rumors and speculation weren’t helping me. I would have to check with a more reliable gossip source, such as Lieutenant Thea or Major Granvil. Continuing on, I wondered how long I should wait before approaching them. Perhaps tomorrow.

Hurried movement caught my attention, and I spotted Noelle running an errand for Jael. I needed to talk to her alone, but she was either out in the camp in plain sight or with Jael. Fingering my stiletto, I considered another option.

“Excuse me, Sergeant,” a voice sounded behind me.

I turned around. A very young private snapped to attention. He appeared to be eleven or twelve years old, but had to be at least fifteen—the minimum age to be a soldier in Estrid’s army.

“At ease,” I said.

He relaxed his stance but ran his hands down his shirt as if nervous. “Uh...are you the one looking for Melina from Mengels?”

“Yes. Do you know where she is?”

He wiped his hands on his pants, leaving damp stains behind. “Uh...can I ask why you want to know?”

“I’m a friend of her mother and I promised to check on Melina.”

His gaze darted to the side before returning to me. “I mean no disrespect, Sergeant, but you’re new here, aren’t you?”

I wouldn’t consider two months new, but I nodded.

“I’m guessing you haven’t encountered the Purity Priestess yet?”

Uh-oh. I had dodged her and her goons before. “Go on.”

“Um...well, as members of the army, we are the creator’s weapons and we must be pure of heart and soul. But Melina didn’t pass...inspection.” His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “She was sent to the monastery in Chinska Mare to atone for her...misdeeds.”

Various emotions swept through me. First, relief that Melina was alive and reasonably safe. Second, outrage that she had been incarcerated for life because she wasn’t a virgin. And third, surprise that she hadn’t passed. Sixteen seemed too young to me. Regardless of my views, it didn’t change my feelings for her. Or the fact that I needed to rescue her...somehow. Yet another worry, and an addition to my already long to-do list.

“Thanks for telling me, Private.”

He dashed off.

That solved one mystery. Feeling better about my situation, I found a comfortable place to sit and watched the manor house.

Ryne, Belen and the monkeys emerged after sunset. Shouting orders to his troops, Ryne directed them to bivouac in the fields north of the manor. Loren and Quain guided them to the proper spot while Ryne and Belen were joined by the High Priestess Estrid.

A ripple of sound emanated all around me as Estrid’s army jumped to attention at her appearance. She wore a red silk gown with gold brocade glinting in the lantern light. From this distance she looked elegant and younger than her fifty-two years. Ryne offered his arm, and she rested her hand on the crook as they descended the steps.

Her hand remained on his arm as they crossed to Jael’s tent. A sign to her troops that they were working together as equals. Impressive. My opinion of her intelligence rose a couple notches.

Followed by a scowling Belen, they entered Jael’s tent. I wondered if Ryne had broken the news to him about me. Or perhaps his uncharacteristic demeanor meant Kerrick was missing or worse. The temptation to sneak up to the tent and listen through the fabric pulsed in my chest. Before I could act on my impulse and be caught snooping, I turned away and headed for the sergeant’s fire, skipping supper. My stomach already felt as if I’d swallowed a twenty-pound rock.

All five of Lieutenant Thea’s sergeants lounged by the fire. No surprise the conversation focused on Ryne’s troops. Ursan watched me as I settled between Odd and Liv, his gaze contemplative. The others hardly noticed my arrival.

“...he’s holding back,” Odd said. “He has to have more soldiers.”

“Yeah,” Liv agreed. “No way he could have driven the marauders from the northern realms with only four hundred.”

“The captain of Falchion Company thought there’d be at least a thousand,” Wynn said.

“Oh? Did you just happen to run into Captain Lynton today? Or are you stalking the poor man again?” Liv asked.

Wynn punched her on the arm.

“Why would Prince Ryne hold back troops?” I asked Odd.

“There could be trouble in the north or it could be a strategic thing. Perhaps he’s keeping them in northern Pomyt just in case the battle doesn’t go well here and he needs to make a fast retreat.” Odd shrugged.

He
could
shrug. Trouble in the north meant
nothing
to him, but it made my heart shuffle.
Deep breath, Avry.

Once my fears settled, I considered his guess. Knowing Ryne, I dismissed the protection for a retreat scenario. Ryne wouldn’t waste resources. A strategic move made more sense. Perhaps they were planning to cross the Nine Mountains through the Orel pass and drop in behind Tohon’s army. And Kerrick had been assigned to lead them.

It was a nice fantasy. It included Kerrick being alive and well and probably pissed off because he had planned to meet up with me in Zabin. I clung to it for a bit. But it didn’t take long for my healer side to worry that he was injured and dying somewhere and here I was, playing soldier.

“...you think, Irina?” Ursan asked.

It took me a moment to realize he was speaking to me. “Think about what?”

“You seem distracted tonight. Something wrong?” Ursan appeared to be the soul of concern, but I knew better.

“Nothing’s wrong. Just tired. What did you want to know?”

“We were discussing Prince Ryne,” Ursan said. “The last thing we need is some pampered, spoiled prince draining our resources. But I’m curious as to his timing. Don’t you think it’s rather convenient that Ryne arrives now? He’s been missing for over two years, and now he just shows up out of the blue.” His expression said what he hadn’t—
just like you.

“He’s probably been guarding his realm all that time,” Odd said.

“Coming down here is a big risk,” Liv said. “He’s safer on the other side of the Nine Mountains.”

“Irina?” Ursan waited as if I alone possessed the answer.

Before I could offer an opinion, a figure approached our fire. My heart flipped when I recognized my sister.

“General Jael wishes to speak to Sergeants Ursan and Irina. Now,” Noelle said.

Not good. “What does she want?” I asked.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” she snapped. “Let’s go.”

I stood on weak legs. Ursan had been watching my face, so I smoothed my expression to, I hoped, one of mild curiosity.

Bright lantern light shone through the fabric of Jael’s tent. I squinted as I followed Noelle through the flaps. As I had suspected, this was used solely for the planning of a war. Huge conference tables ringed with chairs filled the tent. Maps hung from the walls along with charts and diagrams. Officers sat in groups, discussing important matters. Or, at least, it appeared, by their stern faces and tight muscles, to be vital. Thank goodness I didn’t recognize anyone except Jael.

Would she see through my disguise? Noelle hadn’t, but Jael’s magic might remember me. Jael stood at the end of a small table, talking to a couple of colonels. Noelle waited until she was noticed and then informed Jael of our arrival. The general flicked her gaze to us before she dismissed Noelle. Jael gestured us closer.

Ursan stayed one step behind me, and I felt his body heat on my back. We saluted, although I had to stifle the desire to stab my stiletto through Jael’s heart as payback for killing Flea.

Despite the lines of strain in her face, she was beautiful. Her long blond hair flowed down her back. Big blue eyes assessed us with mild interest.

I braced for her to recognize me. Would she cry out in surprise or attack me or order her guards to arrest me? With her, any or all of those reactions were possible.

“I’ve been hearing good things about you, Sergeant Irina,” she said. “Major Granvil is very satisfied with the work you’ve been doing.”

Not sure where this was going, I said, “Thank you, sir.”