Set in Stone (63 page)

Chapter 73

When they reached the edge of camp, the earthen prison melted away and Gregor grabbed Connor's arm before he could try to run. Without breaking stride, the Sentry propelled Connor toward the command tent.

While they walked, Connor slipped a hand into his belt pouch and found a small piece of marble. As he ducked through the flap into the tent, he popped it into his mouth. The instant explosion of fiery spice helped clear his head and settle his nerves.

He'd burned one command tent down. He'd do it again if he had to.

General Carbrey, the captains, and Shona were all still gathered inside. "What is this?" Carbrey demanded.

"This boy attempted to free the prisoners."

Shona exclaimed, "You idiot, you didn't!"

Carbrey motioned her to silence and advanced on Connor. "After all the honors we granted you above your station, this is how you repay me?"

"With all due respect, sir, you betrayed the trust of everyone in Alasdair."

"You've been in league with Wolfram all along, haven't you?" He hefted the pouch of weakening powder he still carried. "This was all a lie, wasn't it? We'll learn this is nothing but dirt."

"Try it and find out."

Carbrey's face reddened. "You're going to talk yourself into an early grave, boy."

"You weren't complaining when I saved Shona, or when I captured Verena. I've done most of your job for you, and you won't even protect my people."

Carbrey raised a hand to strike, but Captain Rory interjected. "Sir, I think it would be wise to consider the matter a moment."

Shona added, "I agree, General. Don't do anything rash."

Carbrey rounded on Shona. "Me, rash? Listen to yourself. Your judgment is impaired, Lady Shona. Your infatuation with this commoner is twisting your vision."

Shona tossed her hair and huffed. "My judgment is clear, General."

Connor's hopes rose a little as she walked around the general and approached. She hadn't denied she cared for him. Maybe she could help.

"This boy holds a rare talent, nothing more. I wish not to waste it."

Connor's hopes shattered, as they had often of late in this tent.

Captain Rory spoke. "The lad has proven himself, sir. Yes, he acted rashly, but remember he is untrained, unused to the hard decisions of war. He is driven only by the desire to see his family safe."

Carbrey paced away. When he turned, he regarded Connor calmly once more. "What am I to do with you, boy?"

Connor shook himself loose of Gregor's grip and tried to gather his thoughts and rein in his own frustrated anger. He could not afford to waste this opportunity.

"I only want to see my family safe. It's what a Guardian is supposed to do."

"You're not a Guardian yet."

"I want to be. I want to serve, and help." Connor took a step forward. "Just show me you're a man of honor, keep the agreement I made with Wolfram, and save Alasdair. I'll swear my loyalty to you for life."

Maybe that wasn't the right way to put it.

Carbrey's eyes hardened and he advanced angrily and lifted a hand to strike. "You dare impugn my honor, you common Linn?"

Connor reacted instinctively. He tapped his basalt, leaped forward under Carbrey's swing, and grabbed the pouch of weakening powder from the general's hand as he ran past.

"Get back here," Carbrey shouted, but Connor poured on the speed. The hulking, plate-armored captain stepped into his path, thick-fingered hands grasping for him.

Connor leaned hard over and kicked off against the heavy captain. He shot back in the opposite direction and burst out of the tent. Behind him, the captains started to give chase, but none of them stood a chance at catching him.

Carbrey shouted, "Guards!"

Shona shouted, "Connor, don't!"

Connor poured on the speed, raced past the guards stationed outside the tent, and focused on the river beyond the far side of the camp. It saved him from the Grandurians. It could save him again.

Before he took ten blurring strides, the ground softened under his feet and, despite his great speed, he sank just a fraction of an inch into it.

That was enough.

The ground hardened to stone and yanked him to a stop. The sudden change whipped Connor forward to slam into the hardened ground with crushing force. He cried out from the pain and clutched at his screaming face.

He coughed and spat a mouthful of blood. He tasted smoke, and his teeth felt like the impact had loosened them in his jaw. He nearly swallowed the piece of marble he'd been sucking.

He grabbed the sandstone pendant around his neck and drank in its healing warmth. He'd fallen close to the central fire and, despite the very late hour, several soldiers had been sitting around it. They all leaped up and stared at him.

Connor forced himself to his hands and knees as Carbrey and the others boiled out of the tent.

"Give me that powder!" Carbrey roared.

"You don't deserve it."

Connor threw it in the nearby fire.

Shona screamed, "No!" and rushed to the fire. As she ran, her body hardened into the perfectly sculpted lines of granite. She thrust one hand into the flames and pulled the pouch back out. Ash coated her white skin, but she appeared unharmed. The pouch had started to smolder, but had not yet started to burn.

As Shona turned and held out the bag in triumph, Carbrey shouted, "You stupid Linn, do you realize what you almost did?"

Connor tapped marble.

Fiery agony exploded in his mouth, and he vomited fire. Flames washed over the pouch and Shona. He tried to concentrate the flames, narrow them, and after a second he figured out how.

Shona screamed and stumbled into the central campfire, with Connor's marble flames roaring over her hand.

The pouch of weakening powder disintegrated under the intense heat. Shona's silk blouse and skirt began smoking under the onslaught, and the smell of burning hair grew strong.

Connor bit off the stream of fire and extinguished the marble. Shona stumbled out of the fire. Her clothing looking like it had melted to her granite-hard, perfect body.

Connor gaped as she hopped around, shrieking, until

Captain Rory wrapped her in her heavy cloak and patted out the still-burning ends of her once-luxurious long hair. Only charred ends remained, making her look more than a little scary.

Carbrey dropped to his knees where the remnants of the pouch had fallen, vainly trying to salvage something. He rounded on Connor, "You'll die for this, boy."

Shona grabbed Connor and lifted him with one hand. She pulled him close and shouted, "Look what you did to me!"

She punched him in the face.

The blow drove him back to the ground where blackness welcomed him with open arms.

Chapter 74

Connor awakened to the sensation of movement. His toes scraped forward across the ground and he blinked a couple of times and managed to focus on the hard-packed earth sliding slowly past under his hanging head. His face throbbed so hard where Shona had punched him, it felt like someone was still beating him.

He groaned and raised his head to look around. The two Blades were dragging him by the arms toward a towering tree in the center of camp not far from the command tent. A large fire burned nearby, and the army stood on the far side, hundreds of soldiers standing at attention, silently watching.

As soon as he moved, the Blades paused and hauled him to his feet. His knees nearly buckled, but he caught his balance. Everyone was watching him, so he refused to let them see how much he hurt, how terrified he felt.

The heavily armored captain who Connor had pushed off against in his escape attempt, stepped up to the tree with a long rope. He tossed the knotted loop on one end over a heavy branch ten feet up.

A hangman's noose.

No. No no no no no, this couldn't be happening.

Connor glanced around, but only stone-hard stares met his gaze. His legs started to shake, and his mouth went dry. Vestiges of the spicy marble lingered under his tongue, but the burning power had dissipated.

The fire popped loudly in the silence, and General Carbrey approached, flanked by his other captains and by Shona, her head covered by the hood of her cloak. Carbrey ignored Connor, as did most of the captains. Captain Rory met his gaze for a moment and, although he maintained an expressionless mask, his eyes looked sad.

The Blades propelled Connor forward. He tried to struggle, but one of them cuffed him in the back of the head. While his vision swam and his ears rang, they pushed him forward until he stood before the noose.

The giant captain fitted the noose over Connor's head and drew it tight until it bit into his skin. Connor tried to breathe normally, but started to pant. He didn't dare exhale all the way for fear the brute would pull the rope tight and strangle him.

His mind raced, but he couldn't think. The terrible truth chilled him to the bone and made him want to howl with terror. They were going to kill him. There was nothing he could do about it.

General Carbrey spoke into the silence. "We are assembled here, at the dawn of the day of our victory, to celebrate the freedom we defend, to renew our dedication to the cause of justice. To witness the tragedy of one who succumbed to subtle Grandurian lies."

He pointed at Connor. "This boy, who showed such great promise, who played a key role in positioning us against the invaders, has fallen."

As he spoke, the stares of the gathered soldiers became angry. Connor looked to Shona, but could not see beneath the shadow of her cloak.

Carbrey continued. "This boy, who could have become a powerful Guardian, has chosen treason. Not only did he conspire with the enemy to free our prisoners, but he fought to maintain the secret of how they weakened our forces.

"His actions directly threaten the lives of everyone gathered here today."

Connor shook his head in denial and shouted, "You lie!"

One of the Blades cuffed him hard on one cheek, snapping his head around. He blinked through the tears, searching for someone who believed him.

His gaze picked out Marcus, Tomas, Cameron, and a handful of soldiers he'd healed in past days. Many of them looked sad, confused, but none of them protested or challenged Carbrey.

For the first time, he noticed Lord Gavin and his family standing off to one side. Lord Gavin looked shaken, while Lady Isobel grinned and fingered her scorched hair. Moira met his gaze briefly, wide-eyed and ashen-faced.

Hope lay cold and dead in his heart. He would join it soon.

The ground felt cold under his one foot that still lacked a boot, but he tried to dig his toe into it anyway. He wanted to feel the clean earth on his skin. He'd acted in good faith. He only wanted to protect this land, his people.

How did things get so confused?

Carbrey's voice rang through the silent clearing, "His crime is punishable by death. Sentence to be carried out immediately."

The general nodded to the hulking Boulder. The man took up the rope, but stepped closer to Connor. He extended a leather pouch and spoke in a surprisingly gentle voice.