Sorceress (Book 2) (14 page)

Funny, she thought. A wizard and his manticore can’t touch me and some stupid archer wounds me. I don’t know whether to laugh or cry!

Retrieving a few bandages from her saddlebags, she used the bone knife to peel away the leather around the arrow shaft. She winced in pain when she prodded the flesh around the wound with the tip. Biting down on a rag, Kayleigh dug around the arrowhead, making the injury larger to remove it. She had another chance to practice her cauterization technique.

The pain was good in one respect. It distracted her from the anger she’d felt about the fracturing partnership she and Rheysurrah had.

It took only twenty minutes of hard riding to find the wagon. The female unicorn tied to the back was having some kind of fit that was clearly slowing them down. Kayleigh’s guess that Penelope Garrett was awake proved to be correct. As she approached, she saw that half the air maiden’s body was now encircled with rope and it was lashed through the sides of the wagon, effectively immobilizing the woman. A length of fabric that looked like it came from Rahzir’s head covering served as a gag.

Tamera’s really good with knots
,
Kayleigh thought, trying to reclaim a lighter mood. Orsa moaned, but remained unconscious.

“You didn’t find the others?” Tamera asked.

“No,” Kayleigh responded. “We got the west gate unblocked, but only townsfolk were there. What’s going on here?”

Tamera grimaced and gestured at the prisoner. “The unicorn was right about her driving it insane.”

Kayleigh let out an exasperated sigh and said, “Garrett, stop this. You’re only going to hurt your unicorn.”

The woman glared at her with those darkened eyes and the tethered unicorn broke into a fresh fit.

“We’re not going to get very far like this,” Rahzir said, fighting with the reins.

“I was thinking about knocking her out again,” Tamera admitted. “But if I hit her too hard…”

At least she’s not still talking about killing Garrett
, Kayleigh thought and considered the situation. She remembered helping Laurel and her unicorn calm down after fighting with Garrett the first time.
Would it work in this situation?

She hopped out of the saddle and winced on the landing. Her bandaged leg was still tender.

“Are you okay?” Rahzir asked.

“It’s nothing,” Kayleigh replied, trying to brush it off. “Just an arrow wound in the leg…more annoying than anything else.”

The female unicorn bucked and kicked as she approached. She went into the wagon instead of trying to touch the unicorn’s side and said, “Tamera, block Garrett’s view.”

Unfortunately, the horn of Garrett’s unicorn danced in front of Kayleigh. Raising her hand, she sent a flash of bright flame in front of the unicorn to momentarily blind it. With her other hand, she reached out and grabbed the horn.

Instantly, she felt darkness and rage pushing at her through the sudden connection. There was pain, inflammation on the unicorn’s flanks and it was the source of the agony. Kayleigh caught an image of the unicorn being whipped…by her rider!

The bond Garrett shared with the female throbbed with energy. Like any other bond, she perceived it as a rope, but this
rope
had dark threads all around the knot that twisted and moved like worms or small snakes, constricting on the side that pointed to the unicorn. The side coming from the rider seemed darker, as if dipped in tar. Using the same mental hand she used to forge a new bond with Rheysurrah, Kayleigh grasped the bond and shook it. One of the dark worms slithered toward her, but fell away from the bond, vanishing into wisps of smoke. More of the threads crawled out of the knot and Kayleigh brought her other hand down on Garrett’s side of the bond and squeezed.

From behind, she heard a muffled scream as her actions caused the air maiden pain. More of the worms fell away, but one struck her phantom hands and it felt like Kayleigh had been stung on her real one by a bee. Opening her eye, she saw a welt on the back of her right hand.

Mentally, Kayleigh took her
hand
and beat on the knot where the two met. Each blow seemed to cause Garrett pain, but the unicorn was now significantly calmer.

“Alright,” Kayleigh said, addressing the unicorn. “I think whatever I am able to do can block your rider’s influence on you, but I’ll have to ride you. Will you allow this?”

The unicorn nodded and Garrett began a muffled protest.

With a deep breath, Kayleigh got into the unicorn’s saddle and fought off another wave of those dark worms trying to slither out of the bond.

A hazy vision passed between Kayleigh and the unicorn she now rode. Kayleigh concentrated, but all she heard was a voice threatening someone named Cyemma.

“Cyemma? Is that your name?”

Surprised, the unicorn snorted.

“I can see and hear your memories, but it’s muffled, like trying to hear a conversation with my head under water.”

“You can do some strange things, Reese,” Tamera said. Kayleigh glanced over at Rheysurrah and could see that he wasn’t that angry over her being on another unicorn. The fact that he wasn’t bothered by this irritated Kayleigh and spoke volumes about the current state of their relationship.

Maybe this is better for now,
she thought before saying aloud, “I’m getting used to it at this point. Go ahead and unhook Cyemma and let’s get going. If I had to guess, Garrett’s control weakens with distance. Otherwise, Danella would have done so much more to Majherri.”

As Tamera did so, Kayleigh saw another image of something with a dark coat. It was a unicorn, but other than the horn and mane it was black. Looking closer, she saw the familiar horn was missing its tip.

“Is that Majherri?” she asked, fear in her voice. “What has she done to him?”

Cyemma couldn’t answer and Garrett used her confusion to launch another assault on the bond. Cyemma bucked hard, but Kayleigh managed to hang on. Tamera must have realized what Garrett was doing, because she turned and kicked the air maiden in the gut.

This allowed Kayleigh enough time to help Cyemma regain control and they rode to the front of the wagon. To Rahzir she said, “I’ll stay in sight and will get back here in a hurry if something’s wrong. Rhey, stay with them for now.”

The male unicorn nodded, but showed no real interest. Kayleigh urged Cyemma forward with the muted groans of Penelope Garrett cursing them.

“I hope whatever is controlling your rider will eventually wear off,” she said. Cyemma responded with a vision of Penelope in chains over some kind of pot or cauldron. There were people all around. It was a tent. Kayleigh tried to focus on the bond and try to get a clearer picture. When she did, she noticed a tiny thread going off of Cyemma’s side of the bond. Following it back to the source, she was amazed at what she found on the other end…a tiny life, so faint, fragile, and beautiful. It made her gasp.

“Cyemma? Did you know you are pregnant?”

The unicorn stopped in her tracks and Kayleigh got the distinct impression of fear emanating from Cyemma.

“The man I whipped in Jaruciax,” Danella said in an offhand nature. “I want him under my new command. Bring him.”

“I’m afraid he was lost at Shiftla, Milady,” the cavalry leader replied.

“Pity,” she said. “It is also a shame that I will be without my sisters and that Majherri must wear these enchanted reins to make him appear as a pathetic beast of burden.”

In truth, Majherri didn’t care one bit for the reflection he’d seen in the fountain. He could still feel his horn, but the illusion was too convincing for his liking. The reasoning behind the move made sense. A black unicorn had never existed and would draw far too much attention. A Battle Maiden leading a score of warriors would also be noteworthy, but a woman riding a black horse amongst other riders would nothing remarkable.

It didn’t mean he was happy about it, but that could describe every day since he’d returned to Danella’s side.

His rider wore an enchanted necklace that made her eyes appear normal. When she’d first come to him, he’d saw her eyes and his spirit soared, only to be disappointed shortly after.

They would be riding light, which meant no wagons to slow them down. It also meant heavier saddlebags, laden with food, coins, and jewels. A portion of the treasury of Jaruciax would be a gift or bribe to the Yar - to buy their allegiance.

Humans and their shiny trinkets
, he thought.
I doubt that I’ll ever truly understand.

If their gifts weren’t well received, then Danella would take what she needed by force. Already, he could tell which his rider hoped for. The bloodlust consuming her, and him by extension, sickened Majherri. Certainly, they’d never turned away from a fight, but now she actively went looking for one.

Danella must have noticed his foul mood because she turned and said, “If you’d like to go somewhere else while I finish up here, I give you permission. In fact, I heard a rumor that they captured one of the trainees and her ’corn in Shiftla. Why don’t you go and see what you can learn, or entertain yourself by annoying the Master’s beast? I know how much you enjoy that.”

He bristled at receiving her “permission.” It was a subtle reminder of the power she wielded over him, but her suggestion had merit. Majherri moved close enough for his rider to remove the bewitched gear. He had no desire to travel in the guise of a lesser beast and fight off the hands of any who would try to claim him.

Freed from both the whims of his rider and the wretched thing that made his horn disappear, he wandered away in search of the new unicorn. Try as he might, he barely remembered any of the names of the trainees. The only other experienced unicorn in the group that went through the portal was that arrogant colt, Rheysurrah. He’d carried that fire maiden who Kayleigh was fond of, the one with the annoying high-pitched voice. As much as he didn’t like that unicorn, he would not wish this fate on an enemy.

The streets of Jaruciax did not have nearly the numbers of humans Majherri had recalled during more peaceful times but, even so, people still ventured into the streets for reasons the unicorn could not fathom.

“Look, Mother! Father,” a girl said from the stand where her parents sold pottery. “Is that a unicorn?”

The child reached her hand out, but her mother snatched it back, saying in a hushed whisper, “Don’t even think of touching that thing! They say a spawn of the nether rides the monster.”

Majherri considered stopping, but thought better of it.
What would it accomplish, outside of frightening a peasant family? Sadly, I cannot be certain those rumors are far from the truth.

His journey through the streets only reinforced the aura of fear surrounding him. Before, when his coat was light and his rider had free will, he’d enjoyed the attention of the other humans. Now, they had good reason to fear. From an outsider’s view, wherever he went in this city, death followed.

Soldiers from the occupying army stood at each intersection. The first group looked bored and he ignored them, but the second seemed intent on intimidating any who passed. Shattered pottery littered the wet cobblestones.

“Another with no tithe for their new rulers!” one of the three men shouted. “No water for you either!”

The man held at spear point was forced to dump the water he carried onto the street.

“Go on,” the soldier threatened. “If you don’t I’ll break it and something else.”

The fearful man dropped the clay pot onto the ground and it shattered. The taunting nomad took three quick steps forward and kicked the broken container, ensuring it would not be salvageable.

“There is a water tax in effect! If you want water, you’ll pay the tax.”

If this was the desert,
Majherri thought,
they wouldn’t dare waste water like that.

Unfortunately, Majherri was part of this army and their actions, in a way, reflected poorly on him. He decided, after only a moment’s consideration, to intervene. He trotted past the small crowd that had gathered. Most held empty jugs and were too frightened to try their luck with the warriors.

The men failed to notice his approach until he snorted loudly. They turned, no doubt expecting one of their officers, but found him instead.

“It’s that woman’s unicorn!”

“Relax, it’s on our side,” the person who had been doing most of the talking said. What amazed Majherri the most was how humans could say so much and have their words mean absolutely nothing.

“It doesn’t look happy,” one of his comrades warned.

Majherri snorted for a second time.

“It’s just a stupid ani...”

The man didn’t get to finish his statement. Majherri pivoted and pointed his horn at the man, who immediately took awkward steps backward.

Rearing, he expressed his displeasure.

“Does it want the money?”

“I don’t know!”

“I think it wants us to leave!”

Majherri nodded and dragged a hoof across the ground and the warriors walked away. It was a tiny victory, but that was the only kind available to him for now.

He searched until he found the wagon and cage to which Osalon had previously been shackled to. This time, the cage contained a younger girl, one from Kayleigh’s class. The female unicorn stiffened and took a defensive posture as he neared.

“Stay back!”

“I mean you no harm, youngling,”
Majherri said to the female.
“I may look different, but I am still Majherri. Forgive me, but I do not recall your name.”

“I am Farlana. What have they done to you?”

“My first rider is tainted by very dark magic and it spreads across my bond. Before you ask, I don’t know if it will happen to you or your rider. I think my situation may be somewhat unique. How were you captured?”

The female said,
“Amanda and I were at the docks in Shiftla when the city was attacked. The humans panicked and we were trying to keep things from getting worse when we were attacked by men using weighted nets. My rider was dragged from my saddle before I could mount an effective defense.”

“Human cities are treacherous places under the best conditions,”
Majherri said and tried to reassure the female.
“There is little room to maneuver and from your description, it sounds like the humans were trained to ambush Battle Maidens. I’m sure you did everything you could.”

“What will happen to Amanda? Can you free us? She’s been treated roughly by our captors, but not as badly as I’d feared.”

He shook his head side to side.
“I cannot. They will probably use the foul heart of the netherbeast to convert your rider to the cause of Count Darius. You won’t be allowed any physical contact with your rider until her eyes become like those of the other thralls. Your rider will be able to control your movements and even your moods through the bond. I doubt you will like the feeling any more than I do.”

As Farlana protested this and then bemoaned her plight, Majherri noted that she gave no reaction to him naming Count Darius and he was annoyed that the younglings seemed to spend less time learning about human history than when he was first at The Academy.

“What do you know of my other rider, Kayleigh Reese?”
he asked when he could not take her wallowing in pity any longer.

“She rides Rheysurrah now and has admitted to my rider and several others that she is not really a Battle Maiden. I don’t know if she survived the battle. I am sorry.”

Majherri’s head drooped at her words. He did not like Rheysurrah at all. The male was arrogant, disrespectful, and thought far too much of the meager skills he possessed.

“I know that Kayleigh did. I have already learned that much. What of Rheysurrah’s original rider?”

“She was slain and the girl was able to forge a bond to prevent Rheysurrah’s wasting,”
Farlana reported before returning to her comments about how unfair her situation was. Majherri lost interest in her instantly and felt badly for Kayleigh. She’d liked the other human, even if he hadn’t.

“Majherri? Aren’t you listening to me?”

He hadn’t, but didn’t want to admit it.
“What did you say? I was thinking about Kayleigh and Rheysurrah.”

“I asked you to please come closer.”

“Why?”

“Do you need me to confess it? Fine! I am scared and in need of any comfort you are willing to provide.”

This made him worry about what happened between him and Cyemma. He observed Farlana. Her nostrils flared, and she had repositioned herself so that he could see her entire body. The female was only in her third year of training and too young to mate. She probably didn’t even realize what she was doing.

“It’s affecting you as well,”
he said.

“What are you talking about?”
she asked, confused, but her body’s movements told a completely different story.

“The dark magic afflicting me causes an unusual reaction among females. It will drive you into a mating frenzy.”

“I just want some comforting,”
she neighed, confused.

“All I can offer is my apologies, Farlana. You’re too young to mate and even if I were interested, you are chained to your rider’s cage. The prospect does not entice me. I wish you and your rider safe journeys, wherever fate may take you.”

He began to back away over her protests. Perhaps she wasn’t offering what he thought, but he would rather not get closer to find out. At least this time, he remained in control of his actions, unlike with Cyemma. That made him feel better, but only slightly.

After leaving behind the confused and frustrated female, Majherri went to one of the city’s closed marketplaces and stared up at the spirits of his ancestors in the sky. He wondered if his light would be welcome there when his time in the mortal realm ended.

The area was blissfully free of humans, except a couple of bored-looking men guarding the area. They weren’t part of the invading army, nor of the city guard. Majherri guessed these were mercenaries, hired by the merchants to protect their interests.

Danella would be pretending to be such a person when they left this city and Majherri would be forced to act the part of a common animal. As he considered his existence, he heard a set of hooves approach. He snorted and shook his head, in no mood for anyone’s company.

“I am surprised I could get this close before you’d noticed me,”
Osalon said.

“My mind is occupied, Osalon. Is there something you need?”

“I have spoken to a few of the others,”
Osalon started.
“They believe you are cursed.”

“They are probably correct. Is that what you think?”

“No. You’re considerably saner than when we were in the desert with the trainees. Now that Sandra is free of her physical shackles but wears a set of another kind, I am allowed to walk the city as you do. What occupies your mind so much that a noisy lancer can get so close to an observant scout?”

Osalon’s attempt at sarcasm actually amused Majherri and he responded,
“I was wondering if we will be cast from the sky and not allowed to shine our light down on our kin after what has happened.”

“Interesting,”
Osalon said with a swish of his tail.
“I didn’t take you for a spiritualist.”

“I am more than the stories make of me,”
he replied. His amusement quickly reached its limit.

“So it would seem,”
the other acknowledged.
“Sandra has dedicated herself to turning this migrating pack of scavengers into a functioning army.”

“She will have to settle for disappointment,”
Majherri stated.

“Sandra is eager to prove her worth. She had hoped to one day be leading her own battalion of riders. As I am certain you are aware, this darkness removes the restraints on her ambition.”

He nodded, all too familiar with how the corruption worked and hoped the air maiden would retain some semblance of her identity.

“Still, the army consists of men from a culture ill-suited to taking orders from females,”
Majherri said.
“Your rider will face more obstacles than simple incompetence.”