The Sartious Mage (The Rhythm of Rivalry) (31 page)

We put the fire out. The longer it burned, the higher the chances someone could find us, and that someone probably would be Exo.

We decided to sleep within the cluster of trees nearby that would hide us from view. But we quickly found that the three of us couldn’t fit with all our belongings there, even if we all lay on each other’s limbs. Knowing Lisanda and I should keep our distance, but being reluctant to have her sleep on her own, I knew the best choice was for the two women to stay in the trees.

I left and went to a smaller cluster of trees circled against the mountainside farther down. There was plenty of room for me, though not much for anything else.

I lay down to rest and began the difficult task of trying not to think about the images I’d seen of Exo’s mutilated face and the dazed man with the shield getting killed.

As I began to drift into slumber, the realization that I was getting there made my heart jump. I battled to ignore the fear clutching my stomach tightly, but it only got worse the closer I came to sleeping. I was so tired, though, I couldn’t even lift my head if I tried.

Then something told me I should not only lift my head but open my eyes as well. With terrible dread I listened, struggling with all my might to sit up.

Kalli was running toward me, flailing her arms. “It’s coming for Lisanda!”

I wanted to run to her, but just sitting up had taken enough effort to dizzy me.

“What’s coming for her?” I tried to ask, but it only came out in a whisper. My sister didn’t hear me.

“Hurry!” Kalli waved me forward and then pointed behind her at the cluster of trees she’d come from.

I got to my feet and staggered. I tried to run but only managed to stumble into a clumsy jog. My eyes kept shutting on their own from weariness. I shook my head and slapped my cheek, but I couldn’t seem to rid myself of the drowsy feeling…until I saw what was moving toward the trees from the other direction.

Like a hundred leaves dancing in the wind, my darkness glided effortlessly into the cluster of trees, and I heard Lisanda scream.

“Run, Lisanda! Come to me!” I shouted, actually hearing the words this time. I finally was able to focus, to keep my eyes open. Though, my legs were still slow to respond, stuck in a faltering jog.

Lisanda darted out of the trees, hustling toward me. My darkness was right behind her, wielding a hatchet that was connected to its shadowed body like a hand.

“Don’t touch her!” I yelled, knowing this was wrong, so very wrong. It never went after anyone else. Why was this happening? “It’s me you want!”

My darkness lowered its weapon, stopping just for a moment to turn toward me. Like a hawk swooping down on its prey, it soared toward me with shocking speed. I felt some relief knowing Lisanda wouldn’t be hurt, but fear quickly pushed down on the relief, squelching it and forcing my breath out with a gasp.

My darkness slammed the hatchet into my chest, just below my shoulder. Sharp pain exploded within me where I was cut, and the force of it knocked me on my back.

Finally, the grogginess faded as I opened my eyes back on the real world. Kalli had her hand on my face.

“Easy, Jek, just a nightmare.” Her other hand was holding an oil lamp over my chest. “Doesn’t look too bad this time.”

I sat up and knew exactly where to look to find my wound—right where I was struck by the hatchet. Sure enough, there was a thin cut running down my chest.

“You’re right,” I said. “Not bad at all.”

Then I noticed Lisanda peering over Kalli’s shoulder at me. Her eyebrows were arched over large eyes that looked to hold pity. It was the first time she’d looked at me in hours. But the moment our eyes met, she looked down at the dirt, stood upright, and walked back toward the trees. The heavy ache to my heart returned.

“Thank you, Kalli. But I’m fine. You should go back to sleep.”

“I will. Just…” My sister stopped herself to peer after Lisanda. Then she leaned lower and whispered, “Has it been normal in the last year for you to speak during these nightmares? I don’t remember that happening when you lived with us on the farm.”

Shame made my heart feel heavier, causing it to sink in my chest. What had I said this time? Actually, I didn’t even know what I’d said last time, now that I thought about it. I’d never asked Lisanda.

“Drent never told me if I said anything. Though we slept in different rooms, so I can’t say if he ever would’ve heard it.”

Kalli took a long look into my face. I could tell she was wondering whether she should tell me what I’d said. It made me nervous to ask, figuring it was probably something about Lisanda. I decided I didn’t want to hear. Bastial hell, especially if I was shouting it. I really hoped that wasn’t the case.

She moved her hand across my forehead, clearing some hair that had fallen over it. Her touch was warm, soothing.

“Goodnight, Kalli,” I said, showing her I didn’t want to speak about it anymore.

She nodded and left.

Chapter 26: Jug

When I woke, Kalli already was up preparing a fire. At the sound of her putting the rocks in place, Lisanda emerged from the trees. She met my eyes for a blink…no, actually longer than a blink. I just expected her to look away immediately. But she held my gaze for at least a breath before moving her eyes to Kalli. It was something, at least.

The sun was up. It was a nice relief from the chill that had settled deep within me last night. Though, Lisanda didn’t seem to be enjoying it. Her back stooped and her arms were limp, swaying to her sides as she puttered toward Kalli. She had an empty water pouch upside down in her right hand.

“Can I have some water?” she asked Kalli.

I noticed the massive jug next to my sister. Kalli bent to hoist it up with two hands. “Of course. Bring your pouch here.”

Straightening her back slightly, Lisanda picked up her pace and showed a thankful smile. But after just two steps, the long dress Lisanda had borrowed from Kalli got caught under her feet, sending her into a running stumble. On reflex, Kalli reached out to grab Lisanda’s arm as she fell forward. Kalli caught Lisanda before she hit the ground, but the force of Lisanda’s petite body still was enough to cause the jug of water to slip from Kalli’s arm.

Without enough time to draw my wand, I aimed my hand and tried to move all the Sartious Energy I could beneath the jug to stop its fall. But I only managed to create a small emerald cloud that did nothing but fizzle apart as the jug fell through it and smashed against the ground.

“I’m sorry!” Lisanda yelled, utterly distraught, “I forgot I had on this long dress.”

“It’s my fault also.” Kalli pulled her upright. “I should’ve just let you fall.” She let out a bitter laugh.

“Was that the last of our water?” I asked, nearly confident it was. We’d brought six pouches, each of them full, and had finished them before opening the jug to refill three—one for each of us that we’d continued to use. My only hope was that Kalli had brought water that I didn’t know about.

“Yes, except what you each still have in your water pouches,” Kalli said to my disappointment. I’d emptied mine into my stomach last night from the terrible thirst I had, and it was clear Lisanda had done the same by the look of her empty pouch.

This must’ve become evident to Kalli, for her head tilted and she raised a hand to her cheek. “Oh, this is bad. Sannil’s coming back today but probably not with more water than for himself.”

“I can get more from the river,” I said. “We have six water pouches. That should be enough for a while.”

Lisanda turned to me with a sad look. “Except you can’t carry six pouches, especially not when they’re full.”

“She’s right about that,” my sister added.

We fell into silence, knowing the dilemma couldn’t have a good outcome. Two people had to go. It couldn’t be Kalli and Lisanda in case Exo or someone else dangerous found them. It couldn’t be Kalli and me because then Lisanda would be by herself. As much as I trusted her, I felt she was too valuable to leave alone for the hours it would take to get back. We each nervously looked at the other, waiting for someone to suggest the inevitable.

“How far is the river from here?” Lisanda asked sheepishly.

“About two miles north,” I answered.

Again, silence came upon us, heavy and awkward. I could feel it pressing on the back of my head, making it hard to glance anywhere but at the dirt.

Lisanda shattered the quiet with a loud sigh. “Let me change into the other dress, and then we can get this over with.” She gathered the extra fabric around her feet and turned to Kalli. “Do you have any pins I can use for the ripped dress? It’s too loose on me with the tear across the collar.”

“Come, I’ll show you which bag they’re in.” Kalli waved her toward the cluster of trees.

It was calming to see that my sister and Lisanda were getting along so well, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit spiteful toward Lisanda for avoiding me so plainly. It made me miss when the Princess had been infuriated with me. At least then we could talk to each other, even if it was all bickering. At least then she didn’t avoid my eyes like they would give her a curse.

Every time she turned away from me, I felt a dull pain in my chest that was getting worse the longer this continued. That kiss was like poison to us, quickly killing all the friendliness we’d built through so much trouble.

I knew I shouldn’t think about the kiss, but I couldn’t help doing so…couldn’t help wanting it again. I saw her lips in a new way now, feeling them pressing against mine whenever I looked. It made my heart flutter and then sink in disappointment, for I knew it was a stupid, stupid thought.

Kalli came out of the trees soon after entering, approaching me with a frown.

“I know,” I told her before she could say anything. “Lisanda and I shouldn’t be alone together. She’s just for the cure, nothing more.”

“I'm glad to hear you say it.” Kalli wiped some dirt from my back I wasn’t aware of. “I’ll clear the fire I was making and be out of view while I wait for you, in case Exo stumbles into our camp. Be careful out there. Don’t speak too loudly…actually, don’t even talk at all. It’ll just make it easier for you to be found.”

“I want to find him out there.” I looked Kalli in the eye to show her how serious I was. “I’m confident I can beat him. Only if he surprises me will he have the upper hand.”

Kalli studied my face for a moment, trying to determine if my confidence was appropriate or idiotic. Soon, she bent her mouth into a wry smile and nodded. She believed me.

“Hurry back.” She jabbed me in the chest with her finger. “Don’t make me worry like that again. It’s too much with Father out there already.”

I hugged her. “I can imagine how it felt.”

Lisanda came out of the trees just then, and my sister and I let go of each other. I was stunned by the sight of her. My heart tried to leap out of my chest.

Lisanda had pulled the light blue dress tightly around her body to keep it from slipping and had pinned it in place. There was no way to deny it. She was beautiful. One breast was sprouting from the dress that pushed against her, and the sharp curve of her hips under her thin waist was enough to make the moon jealous.

“My Bastial stars,” Kalli commented. “I didn’t get a good look at you last night, but now in the light…Bastial stars. If I had curves like that—”

Suddenly, there was a strong slap to my stomach. I would’ve lost my breath if the sight of Lisanda hadn’t already knocked it out of me. It took me a moment to realize that Kalli had hit me.

“Stop staring.” She lifted my chin upright with a finger.

Embarrassment flushed my face. Lisanda looked down at the dirt again, but I found a smile on her lips this time. She seemed to be flattered. She brushed her hair over her ear and peevishly came to my side, refusing to look at me the whole time.

“Thank you, Kalli,” she said sweetly. “The dress is still damp and sticking against me, but it’ll dry off soon in the hot sun.”

I felt Kalli squeezing my cheeks with one hand. She turned me toward her and only then did I realize my eyes had been clinging to Lisanda again. Kalli shook her head at me in a motherly way that made me even more embarrassed.

Completely flustered, I hustled around the camp looking for the six water pouches we needed. But I found only one.

“Where are the others?” I asked with a panic I knew was misdirected but still couldn’t stop it. Then I saw two more on the ground. “That’s three, what about the other three?” In my rush to look in each direction, I eventually noticed Kalli and Lisanda wiggling their water pouches back and forth with taunting smiles.

“And you have one in your pocket,” Kalli added, handing hers to Lisanda to carry.

Holding back a laugh, Lisanda strolled up to me with her usual confidence back in her stride. “Let’s go,” she said.

Next thing I knew, we were walking beside each other toward the river.

For a breath I felt the tension gone between us. But in the silence that grew longer and longer as we walked, it started to creep back like a fever coursing through my body. Soon, it reached my neck and made my head heavy.

It kept me from looking at Lisanda, stopping me from saying anything in fear it would only make it worse—especially because all I could think about was that kiss.