Touch of Power (28 page)

“Something wrong?” Tohon asked.

“I need some fresh air.”

He pulled us from the dance. Releasing his grip, he kept his hand on my back as we headed toward the exit. Right before the open doors, he swung around in front of me and kissed me.

Overwhelmed with sensations, I wrapped my arms around him to keep from falling. His hands stroked my bare arms and back. I was soon lost and the music and ballroom full of dancers faded to nothing.

“Er, excuse me, Your Highness.” A voice pierced the haze. “Hate to bother you…but it’s an urgent matter.”

Logic returned to me when Tohon pulled away. “It better be an emergency, Dewan.” Tohon’s tone held a dangerous edge.

The man cleared his throat. “We’ve gotten some intelligence on Estrid that we need to discuss.”

Tohon still didn’t look happy, but he nodded. “I’ll be right there.” He gazed at me. “Sorry, my dear. Business. Should I return you to your corner?”

“No. I still need that fresh air.”

“Stay in the gardens. And just in case you get any ideas, there are guards all around the perimeter.”

“Too bad ’cause I’d probably get really far in this gown.”

“Sarcasm is another one of those things that try my patience.”

I bit down on my next comment, equally sarcastic. Satisfied, he followed Dewan and I hurried into the garden.

I pulled in deep lung-filling breaths of the night air. My head cleared as my body cooled. A few more of Tohon’s kisses and I would be a drooling mess and unable to help anyone. Walking around the garden, I planned a way to contact Sepp during my shopping trip with Winter and Cellina. I hoped he’d be waiting in a public place so I could give him the signal. He’d been in town for two weeks and should know about the Death Lilys around the wall. Maybe he would arrange a distraction so I could talk to him. Not the best plan, and I was at a loss if I didn’t see him at all, but it was all I had.

Torches blazed, casting a warm glow on early-spring blooms that swayed in the slight breeze. I marveled at the delicate plants nestled between evergreen bushes, ornamental trees and willows fuzzy with velvet catkins. Memories of my childhood flooded. Collecting the willow branches for my mother had been a rite of spring for my siblings. I touched one of the soft white buds. A little zip of magic tingled along my fingers. Odd. I glanced behind me, searching for Tohon. No one.

Then a hand clamped over my mouth as an arm wrapped around my waist. Yanked off the path and into a dense clump of greenery, I didn’t have time to resist.

A familiar voice whispered in my ear. “Easy.”

Various emotions swirled around my heart. From relief to anger to annoyance to fear, to…delight and back. I settled on annoyance as he released me.

I spun around. “Kerrick, what…?” The rest of my question fizzled in my throat as I looked at him. Anger hardened his expression. He must have seen Tohon kissing me. “I can’t avoid his touch altogether. A couple of kisses in two weeks is pretty damn good.”

Kerrick studied me, taking in my green gown in the weak moonlight. I crossed my arms in front of my chest, feeling very exposed.

“Have you been following me since the Nine Mountains?” I asked.

“Yes.”

It explained a few things. “That’s why Belen settled down. Are the guys—?”

“With Estrid. Or they should be by now. They
follow
my orders.”

I ignored the comment. “You shouldn’t be here. It’s too dangerous. Tohon hates you. He even has a glass coffin ready for you.”

Kerrick failed to show the proper concern over his own welfare. “Have you found Ryne?”

“Yes. He’s in one of those coffins. Along with King Zavier and another man.”

“Who is he?”

“I don’t know. Big blond guy. Young. Dead. Has a scar on his forehead.”

“Stanslov?”

“Could be. He hated him, too.”

“But he’s quite taken with
you,
” Kerrick said.

“Only because of
you
.” Ha. I’d surprised him.

His anger slipped a bit.

I told him why Tohon had attempted to lure Jael away. “He’s under the mistaken impression that luring me away from you would hurt you. Which works for now. Once Ryne is healed and this is over, he won’t consider me a challenge and hopefully leave me alone.” I suppressed a shiver and rubbed my hands along my arms. The night air had turned cold. Or was it due to Kerrick’s gaze?

Kerrick didn’t respond so I asked, “Have you seen Sepp?”

“Yes.”

Relief puddled in my stomach. Finally something going right. “I heard one of Tohon’s men talking about Estrid. Hopefully in the next week, Tohon will leave the castle to deal with the attack. Tell Sepp to come after midnight the first night Tohon is gone.”

“What if Tohon doesn’t leave?”

“Then tell him to come one week from tonight. Sepp can climb over the outer east wall at the midpoint—the Death Lilys won’t bother him. And if he heads straight west, he’ll see the infirmary. I’ll be waiting there.”

“All right. Do you need me inside?”

“No. Stay near the wall. We should be able to get Ryne past the Lilys.” I explained as fast as I could about the Lilys and Tohon’s experiments. Ryne would need to know. “And his dead soldiers are located in the barracks—”

“Avry,” Tohon called from a distance.

I jerked. “You need to disappear. If he finds you…” I shooed him away, then turned to find the path.

“Avry,” Kerrick said.

I stopped. He stepped behind me. I felt his warmth on my bare back and I resisted the urge to lean against him.

“Tohon isn’t mistaken.” Kerrick traced one of the scars along my shoulder blade. “I would be…upset if he succeeded in luring you away.”

Chapter 24

Kerrick had lousy timing. And what exactly had he meant by being upset? Upset as in, too bad I’ve lost another soldier for our side? Or upset as in, I’ve lost someone I care for?

“Avry,” Tohon called, louder this time and more annoyed.

I turned to Kerrick to ask him, but he had disappeared. Typical. “Keep out of Tohon’s sight,” I said to the bushes, then hurried to the path. Maybe it was better I didn’t know what he’d meant. I couldn’t allow myself to fall in love with him or with anyone else since I had no future if I healed Ryne. A little voice in the back of my mind said, Too late. I squashed it.

When I reached the path, I tripped over the edge on purpose. Hitting the stones hard with my hands and knees, I grunted as the sharp edges cut into skin.

“Over here,” I yelled to Tohon. I sat on the ground and yanked off my left shoe, breaking the heel.

When Tohon strode into view, his scowled transformed into concern. “My dear, what happened?” He crouched down.

“I caught my heel. I think I twisted my ankle.”

He helped me to stand. I wobbled.

Tohon cupped my elbow to support me. “Can you walk?”

“Yes.” I limped beside him.

“I’ll call for the carriage.”

“You don’t have to leave for me. I’ll be better in a couple hours.”

“Nonsense.”

Within fifteen minutes the horses and carriage pulled up to the entrance. Tohon helped me up the steps, but before I entered, I glanced back at the garden. Was Kerrick still there?

“Something wrong?” Tohon asked.

Yes. Damn Kerrick. “Just a twinge.” I sucked in a breath and settled into the seat.

Once again he wrapped a blanket around me. “Looks like you’ll have to postpone your shopping trip a few days.”

“My ankle will be healed by morning.”

“But I’m going to need Cellina. Unless you’d rather take the bodyguards?”

“No. I’ll wait.” I sagged back against the cushion. Exhaustion settled over me like a heavy gown, sapping my strength.

Kerrick had given me no sign he cared for me before. Unless I missed it. Or was in denial. No. I’d heard it from Tohon, and he was either a master manipulator or a sociopath—probably both. Tonight was a perfect example. He’d thrown a fit over the dress, then acted like a gentleman the rest of the evening.

It would be best to concentrate on freeing, healing and delivering Ryne to Kerrick. And
not
dwell on an impossibility.

In the days following the party, Tohon spent all his time in meetings with his generals and Cellina. Taking advantage of his distraction, I continued my early-morning snooping to collect as much information about Tohon as possible. With a lit lantern in hand, I headed for his lab. The stolen key worked.

I entered and relocked the door behind me. Tohon’s ledger remained on the counter. Flipping through the pages, I read his notes on the Death Lilys’ harvest schedule, but nothing indicated what he did with all those sacks of toxin. I rummaged through the drawers and cabinets. They were filled with lab supplies, syringes and clippings from plants. I couldn’t find any other books or notes.

Taking a last look around, I noticed a door behind the chair Tohon had strapped me into. Guess I had been too focused on the syringe full of toxin to see it before. I unlocked it and pushed it open.

The lantern light illuminated two rows of beds, one on each side of a long room. As I walked down the aisle, my stomach churned with nausea. Ten- to twelve-year-old children occupied the beds. Most were unconscious, but a few tossed and turned, caught by fever dreams. One girl moaned in pain. Another had curled into a ball and rocked on her bed.

Although my heart swelled with the desire to heal them, my magic didn’t stir. Which confirmed my fear that Tohon had been injecting Death Lily toxin into these children in the hopes of creating more healers. Horror rose like bile in my throat.

I checked on each child, working my way down one side. At least they were being cared for. Glasses of water sat on tables next to each bed. The room smelled clean. No bed sores marked their skin, and the unconscious patients wore diapers. Tohon must care more for them than his soldiers.

When I reached the end of the left side, I paused to gather my strength. Three of them would soon die. Rage burned. How could Tohon do this to children! Where were the people who cared for these kids? The thought
Probably killed by the plague
doused a little of my fury, but not the part directed at Tohon.

Resuming my inspection, I examined the children on the right side. The second-to-last patient stirred at my touch. He woke, squinting in the lantern light.

“Are you a new nurse?” he asked.

Mindful that this boy could tell Tohon or his nurse about my visit, I chose my words with care. “No, I’m just stopping in to check on everyone. How do you feel?”

“Much better now.” He sat up in bed. His black hair stuck straight up on one side. He glanced around the room with a sad resignation. “I’d thought I was going to die, too.”

Hope touched my heart. Maybe he’d survived the toxin. “How long have you been here?”

He shrugged. “Don’t know. Awhile. Why?”

“Just curious. So you were very sick?”

He nodded. “Everyone here is very sick. This is the dying room.”

I stared at him for a moment. It was all I could do as waves of dismay swept through me.

He stared right back. Suspicion lurked in his golden-brown eyes. “Shouldn’t you know all this?”

The boy acted older than he looked. I crouched down next to his bed so we were eye level. “You’re half right. I am new here so I don’t know everything. But I want to.”

“Why?”

“Because I don’t like it when kids are sick.”

“I don’t, either, but no one can stop it.”

“Why not?” I asked.

“We’ve been chosen by King Tohon for an important job. He says we’re helping him learn what medicines are good for his soldiers. And no one disobeys the king.”

The boy reminded me of Flea—wise beyond his years. “How many rooms are there?”

“Three.”

It was difficult to keep my expression neutral. Tohon must have a room for each stage of the toxin. “All filled with kids your age helping the king?”

“Yep.”

“Is there a room for those who have survived?”

Another shrug. “Don’t know.” Then he smiled. “Guess I’ll find out.”

“What’s your name?” I asked.

A guarded look replaced his grin. “Who wants to know?”

“I’m Avry. I’m working for King Tohon, too, but it’s like you said, I can’t refuse the king.”

“I’m Danny.”

I shook his hand. “Danny, can you do me a favor and not tell anyone I was here?”

“Why not?”

“It would get me into trouble with the king. I doubt anyone will ask you, but just in case.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks.” I stood to leave.

“Will you come back and visit me?” Danny asked.

“If I can, I will. However, I have a feeling the king might bring you to me at some point.”

“Why?”

“To help care for his soldiers.”

He hugged his thin arms around his chest and shivered.

I rushed to assure him. “But not as a test subject. As a…nurse.”

“Oh. That would be fun. I hope he does.”

Smiling, I pulled his blankets up as he lay back on his pillow, tucking him in. If he considered being a nurse fun, then he would make a great healer.

My thoughts swirled as I left the room and Tohon’s lab, locking the doors behind me. How many more children would die because of his experiments? How could I stop Tohon? Cutting off his supply of toxin would mean killing all the Death Lilys in the compound. And what would keep him from planting more? Assassination was the only solution I managed to produce. My contract with him hadn’t included a clause for attacking or harming him. But could I? One-on-one, my magic wasn’t strong enough. But with Kerrick’s? Maybe, and only if we fought him in the woods.

I arrived at the infirmary without any memory of the trip. My workers moved around the main room, snuffing the lanterns and attending to the morning chores. Once they understood that the new procedures improved a patient’s health, they were quick to adopt them. Those who refused had been replaced.

Starting near the door, I checked on each patient. A few slept, but most woke with the activity and brightening sunshine. Sweat beaded on the forehead of one soldier, who didn’t stir when I placed a hand on his cheek. His skin burned.

“Emre, when did you last check on Gantin?” I asked.

“Before bed. He was sitting up and making jokes with Lieutenant Fox.”

In the bed next to Gantin, Fox pushed up on an elbow. “He didn’t complain of anything.”

I glanced at the lieutenant. “Gantin wouldn’t. Don’t you remember how he kept quiet the whole time I stitched him up?”

Fox grinned. “No, ma’am, I believe I passed out after the first sight of blood.”

“And you call yourself a soldier,” I teased.

His humor faded. “I call myself a farmer, but King Tohon called me a soldier.”

“We have something in common. He called me, as well. And he’s a hard man to refuse.”

“We could resist,” Fox said. “But then we’d be dead and
still
working for him.”

I shared a sympathetic look with Fox before I turned to my helper. “Emre, fetch me a tablespoon of fever powder, please.” I inspected Gantin’s stomach wound. It had been stitched closed five days ago, and the sutures would be removed in the next couple of days. No puss or red streaked his skin, therefore no infection. Which meant the cut had gone deeper than it looked, causing internal bleeding or it could be another problem altogether.

Emre returned with the medicine.

I mixed the white powder in a glass of water and handed it to Emre. “Dribble a little of this into his mouth at a time, letting him swallow between them. It should reduce his fever.”

“What if it doesn’t?” Lieutenant Fox’s face creased with concern.

“Then I’ll take care of him personally. Don’t worry.” I moved over to the lieutenant’s bed to let Emre finish the job. “How’s the leg?” I asked him.

“Better.”

“Ready to put weight on it?”

He gave me a queasy look. “No.”

I pulled back his covers and pressed my hands to his right leg. The thigh bone had been broken in three places and I’d had to heal him. His shin bone had also been fractured, but I allowed that one to heal on its own. The leg felt strong.

“I know you’re enjoying being spoiled, but you have to work your muscles. Come on, up on your feet.” I pulled his legs off the bed.

He groaned, but not in pain. “You’re a hard lady to refuse.”

I put his arm around my shoulder and helped him stand. Fox wobbled on one foot, leaning on me.

“Put the other foot down. Your leg will hold. Trust me.”

He cringed in anticipation, but blinked with surprise. Distributing his weight, he straightened.

I beamed at him. “See? I wouldn’t lie to you.” I called another one of my workers over. “Please take the lieutenant for a walk. Once around the room.”

As she led Fox down the aisle, I checked on the next patient. “How’s the arm, Henson?”

He didn’t get a chance to reply. A bang sounded as a group of bloody soldiers pushed through the door. They carried six wounded men. I rushed to them, calling for a few helpers. The injured men were all unconscious, which, considering the severity of their wounds, was a kindness.

It was times like this that I wished for another five healers. All the men needed extreme measures. One died as I inspected the gaping hole in his stomach. Three others wouldn’t make it another hour. The remaining two had the best chance. But which one should I take first? I chose the weaker of the two. Before assuming his injuries, I instructed my helpers on how to keep the other alive. And how to assist with the walking wounded who had carried their buddies here.

My magic felt as if it jumped when I placed my hands on the first soldier. He had broken five ribs and one had pierced his lung. Breathing became difficult as pain ringed my chest; I collapsed on an empty bed. The commotion in the infirmary faded.

Darkness had fallen by the time I woke. Voices muttered, but no one in the infirmary was awake. In fact, it appeared as if everyone had been tucked in for the night. I reached over to the man lying in the bed next to me. The second man had survived the day and his pulse felt strong. Emre dozed in a chair next to him.

Before healing the soldier, I woke Emre.

“What’s the status on Gantin?” I asked.

“Better. No fever and resting quietly.”

“Good. Go to bed, Emre. I’ve got this one.” Plus the night nurses would be doing their rounds soon.

The voices outside stopped when Emre left. I would have ignored them except I heard Estrid’s name. The injured man would last a few more minutes. My ribs ached as I stood and searched for the source of the voices. They came from behind the infirmary. I crept back to my office. Glad the high window had been opened and no lanterns had been lit in here, I climbed up on my desk to peek outside.