Touch of Power (16 page)

“But my sister—”

“That’s different. She’s your sister. We all have blind spots when it comes to family.”

I felt a little better.

“And there was one positive thing from all this,” he said.

“Hard to believe.”

“I know, I’m a bit shocked myself. But I figured if you came back for me, who you hate for all the right reasons, then there’s hope you’ll heal Ryne, who you hate for all the wrong reasons. In fact, I’m quite certain your own quick intelligence will change your mind.”

I huffed. “Quite certain? You sound like Belen.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

We caught up to Belen, Loren, Quain and Flea the next night. They had been en route to the training camp. Belen demanded an explanation for our delay.

“We ran into a bit of trouble,” Kerrick said.

Flea looked around. “Where’s Noelle?”

“She changed her mind,” Kerrick answered for me. “Let’s get moving.”

Glad to have my knapsack, I used my blanket as a cloak. Kerrick took the lead, heading northwest through the dark woods.

As we traveled, Loren walked next to me. “I’m assuming there’s more to the story than a bit of trouble,” he said.

“Not much,” I said. Even following Quain, I felt as if I would trip over an unseen root and fall at any moment. I missed the connection to the forest.

“Uh-huh. So where’s your cloak, what’s with that cut on your forehead and why aren’t you glaring at Kerrick anymore?”

“My sister has it, I fell and I’m saving my glares for the next time he pisses me off.”

Loren grinned. “That won’t be long.”

I agreed. Although I did wonder why he didn’t tell them about the ambush or the whipping. And why was I reluctant to mention it? I kept many of Kerrick’s secrets. Why? No immediate reason sprang to mind. Perhaps I could use them as leverage. Something along the lines of if Kerrick didn’t do X, I would tell the others about his magic. Except, it wouldn’t work. As I’d just seen, he wasn’t the type to cave in to threats or demands.

We stopped near dawn. Lying low during the day and traveling at night would be our new routine. Loren built a small fire. I sat as close to the flames as possible, trying to drive out the cold that had settled deep in my bones. My muscles ached, and the healing cuts on my back itched like crazy.

“What’s the plan?” Belen asked Kerrick.

Everyone had gathered close to eat Loren’s squirrel soup.

“We’ll stop at Zabin and purchase a few provisions.” Kerrick tapped his spoon against his lower lip.

“But you said the bulk of Estrid’s army was camped outside Zabin,” I said.

“They’re camped east of the city. As long as we avoid them and not linger in town, we should be fine.”

“Then what?” Belen prompted.

“Then it gets a bit…tricky.”

Belen glanced at me as if I knew what Kerrick meant, but I was also in the dark.

“Tricky how?” Loren finally asked.

“Estrid will soon know Avry’s not dead. And what Estrid knows, the mercs and Tohon will also learn,” Kerrick said.

“So that bit of trouble was Estrid’s people discovering Avry’s miraculous survival?” Belen asked.

“Yes.”

“Then we need to get to the mountain pass before they do,” Belen said.

“That would be the logical next step.”

“I sense a
but
coming,” Quain said.

“But,” I said, “everyone knows that’s the next logical step.”

“Right. Estrid’s and Tohon’s mercs will head to the pass,” Kerrick said. “And there are two possible outcomes. We reach it first and we’re chased over the Nine Mountains. The pass is treacherous in good weather. If we rush, we could fall, and these past two years are for nothing.”

“What’s the second outcome?” Belen asked.

“Estrid or the mercs reach the pass first and we’re blocked.”

“We might as well wait for spring,” I said. “Then we have a few different routes to choose from.” Ugh, more time spent with Kerrick and his men all trying to change my mind about Ryne.

“Wouldn’t that be obvious, as well?” Loren asked. “Estrid has plenty of soldiers. It’ll be three months until the snow thaws, she could block all the passes.”

“Not if we’re already hiding in the foothills,” Kerrick said.

“I think I’d rather take my chances crossing the mountains in winter.” Quain voiced what I’d been thinking.

“I remember a certain gentleman who hugged the cliff climbing down into a hundred-foot-deep ravine. I wonder how he would fare climbing a steep icy path that’s only a foot wide with a two-thousand-foot drop on the right and a sheer rock wall on the left?”

Quain looked queasy. He swallowed his next comment.

“I don’t like hiding in the foothills, either,” Kerrick said.

Quain and I said, “But…”

Kerrick gave us a wry smile. “But it’s our best option at the moment.”

We arrived in Zabin early the next morning. Located northwest of Grzebien next to the border between Pomyt and Vyg, the town was bigger than Grzebien. I tucked my blanket back into my knapsack before we entered the town’s limits. As we headed toward the center, the sight of so many people in the streets was overwhelming after spending so much time with just the guys. Unfortunately, uniformed soldiers and robed acolytes also walked among the citizens.

“Should we leave?” Belen asked when we spotted a trio of soldiers watching the market stands.

“We need supplies. There’s not another market until Peti, and that’s too far,” Kerrick said. “We’ll split up so we don’t attract undue attention. Flea, you’re with Belen. Loren and Quain. Avry’s with me.” He distributed coins and a list of items for each team to purchase. “We’ll meet up along the northern road.”

Kerrick and I headed to a woman selling cloaks, capes and gloves. He didn’t waste time looking through the goods. “Do you have any gray traveling cloaks in her size?” He pointed to me.

The woman peered at me over her glasses. “Goodness, dearie. Aren’t you frozen?” She shot Kerrick a nasty look.

I liked her right away. She reminded me of Mom.

She sorted through a rack. “I’ve a dark gray that might fit.” Pulling out a cloak, she wrapped it around my shoulders. “Fur-lined and lots of pockets inside, dearie. Two big pockets on the outside. Do you have gloves?”

“Yes.” I had shoved Belen’s gift in my pants pocket when I’d rescued Kerrick.

She fussed around me, checking the length. “Those boots are too thin for this weather, dearie. The hair on the Lilys is thicker than last year. We’re in for a bad one.”

“They’re fine,” I said.

But she was determined. “I’ve a pair so soft…” She uncovered calf-high boots the same color as the cloak. “Try them on.”

I glanced at Kerrick.

“Go ahead,” he said.

The woman had been right. Not only soft, but the fur inside cushioned my feet in warmth. The soles gripped the ground nicely.

“You can walk all day in those and nary a blister.” She brandished her own boots. “I won’t wear anything else. I thank the maker every day that the cobbler survived the plague.”

Which meant the boots probably cost a fortune. I shouldn’t have tried them on. “They’re wonderful.” I agreed. “But I don’t have any…enough money.”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll give you a good price for both.”

“But—”

“We’ll take them,” Kerrick said. He didn’t bother to haggle over the price because the woman was true to her word.

He paid her and we continued along the row of merchants. I needed the cloak, but not the boots. What was Kerrick up to now? Trying to bribe me? Not his style, but I wondered about the gold. When the mercs attacked Belen, Kerrick had forty gold. Considering they’ve been on the road for over two years, he probably started with a fortune.

“Did Ryne give you the money?” I asked.

“Yes. He also gave me a list of healers he had gotten from the Guild.” Kerrick’s gaze grew distant. “You wouldn’t have been on that list. How did Ryne know your name?”

Because I’ve had the misfortune of meeting the bastard.
But I wouldn’t tell Kerrick that. Why? Cowardice? If he convinces me Ryne’s worth saving, then I’d die. Scary, right?

Or was it anger? Kerrick was well aware of what would happen to me after I healed Ryne and yet he showed not the slightest regret. I’d even listen to a speech about the greater good, or about being a martyr, or a hero like Loren had claimed. Yet, I’d gotten nothing. Perhaps he was worried about Belen’s reaction. Perhaps he shouldn’t keep so many secrets from Belen.

“Avry?”

I met his gaze. “They must have listed the apprentices, as well.”

No answer. My thoughts lingered on the Guild. They had been collecting information about the plague until they’d been overwhelmed. I wondered if the Guild House survived. Hoping to change the subject, I said, “The Guild House is a few miles east of the border between Vyg and Pomyt. Won’t we pass it on our way to the foothills?”

“We’ll come close. Why?”

“If any of their records survived, it could help us.”

“How?”

I explained about the medicinal plants. “And since we’ll be hiding for a couple months, it will give me something to do besides practice knife fighting.”

“As long as there isn’t any danger, we can stop. It’s a good idea.”

He had agreed too quick. That worried me.

We bought a few more supplies. Then Kerrick stopped at a stand selling weapons. “Last place.” He sorted through the daggers, hefting a few.

Sensing a sale, the owner approached. “They’re all crafted from the finest Zainsk steel.”

“They’re too heavy. Do you have any throwing knives?” Kerrick asked.

“Yes, sir.” The man rummaged under the table and returned with a black pouch. Unrolling the case, he revealed a half dozen narrow blades with small leather-wrapped hilts. “These were hand forged and blessed by the priests of Casis.”

Kerrick slipped one out and handed it to me. “What do you think?”

I covered my surprise by gauging the weight and fit of the weapon in my hand. “Easier to handle than Belen’s.”

“I have a target in the back. You’re welcome to try them out,” the owner said.

He showed us a red circle painted on a wooden fence. I flipped the right side of my cloak over my shoulder to free my arm. Aiming for the middle of the circle, I snapped my wrist. The knife flew straight and fast. Fun. I sent the other five. They clumped together in the center.

“Your aim has improved,” Kerrick said as he yanked the blades from the fence.

“They’re so light. It makes it easy,” I said.

The owner beamed.

“Do you have any that are a bit sturdier, but still lightweight—more for self-defense?” Kerrick asked.

“I have a sweet little stiletto that’s like a feather in your hand, but it’s strong. Come.” He bustled back to his stand. Pulling a short leather sheath from a box, he handed it to Kerrick. “Made from liquid metal extracted from the bottom of the Nine Mountains, the edge never dulls.”

Kerrick drew the weapon. It looked small in his hand. He inspected the shaft before giving it to me. “It weighs nothing.”

I wouldn’t go that far, but it was well-balanced.

“As you can see,” the owner said, “the blade is a few inches longer than a standard dagger, which will give your wife an advantage if she’s attacked.”

Keeping my gaze on the stiletto, I wasn’t about to correct the man—better for us if he thought we were a couple. And I had no interest in Kerrick’s reaction. None. Instead, I swung the weapon like Belen had taught me.

“How’s the grip?” Kerrick asked me.

The round leather hilt fit nicely in my hand. On the end was a ball-shaped counterweight, and the protective guard wasn’t too long. “About perfect.”

“I’ll take the stiletto and two sets of throwing knives,” Kerrick said.

The owner’s eyes about popped from his head. “Yes, sir!” He bustled about, gathering the weapons together. Kerrick haggled this time, seeming more comfortable with the price of weapons than clothing.

He handed me the stiletto and its sheath. “Thread it through your belt.”

I did, settling the sheath on my right hip.

Giving me the leather pouches of knives, he said, “Put a few in those inside your cloak and the rest in your knapsack.”

We cut through the market as we left. Warm and well-armed, I felt better until I glanced back at the arms merchant. He talked to a couple of soldiers, then pointed our way. The soldiers headed in our direction, calling to their colleagues for assistance.

“Kerrick—”

“I see them. Thought we might have trouble. I’m sure the soldiers keep a close eye on the weapon seller’s customers.”

He didn’t seem concerned. I hurried after him as we entered the side streets leading away from the town’s center.

“We’ll lose them, then meet up with Belen and the others,” he said.

A good idea, except the soldiers kept multiplying as they chased us through the town. Surrounded by buildings, Kerrick didn’t have access to his forest magic.