Wicked Path (The Daath Chronicles Book 2) (6 page)

or two days, Raven and Cael reminisced about their childhood, laughed about old stories I knew nothing about, and sparred as if I didn’t exist. I couldn’t watch the two of them any longer.

Brushfire galloped through the pasture, her strong legs carrying us over the grass and through the air. Riding removed every anxious feeling from my body. There was no Raven, no Blond Boy, and no worry. Just my girl and me, flying.

We rode past the lake and straight to town. Rufus, the weapons merchant, had constructed a new sword for me. The weapon cost me almost all the coin I’d made from training horses for Jericho, but the blade was worth it. I tied Brushfire to one of the posts near the inn and walked to the market.

I remembered the first time I arrived in Daath… the way every citizen was a potential threat. I couldn’t enjoy the colorful architecture or the decorated houses then, or the beautiful streets cobbled with different colored stones. I couldn’t appreciate that those stones had been laid in such a way to create spirals of orange and blue. I’d asked Raven about the town and who built it, learning Lucino had brought in architects from beyond the mountains whose skill surpassed any others. She’d explained Daath consisted of the best of the best from all the different lands. When I asked how he did that without raising suspicion, she’d shrugged.

Everyone in Daath accepted the weird history of the town, content to live in this beautiful land, regardless of what it cost.

This morning, merchants worked quickly to set up their tables in the market. Quiet and cheery, they were ready to take on the day. Rufus stood beside his stall, unloading a cart full of weapons.

“Morning,” I said as I reached him.

“Avikar. Good to see you.” He lifted a giant bag and placed it on the ground. “What brings you to the market today?”

“I was hoping my sword was ready.”

“You mean this?” He pulled out a long sword with a thin blade. “Finished yesterday.”

I took the sword and swung it in an arc, testing its balance. “It’s so light. What metal is this?”

“It’s a special ore that one of the miners found during the last dig. Stronger than iron and lighter than silver.”

The blade gleamed. I ran my hand along the flat, smooth edge, then whirled the weapon around, amazed at how fast I could maneuver with it.

Rufus continued taking his stock out and placing his weapons on the table.

“This is more than I paid for,” I said.

“It is.”

Did he know about that night in the temple? A few townsfolk had been overly nice, or had given me extra goods whenever I purchased from them. Jericho’s resistance had enlisted a few of the merchants. I shouldn’t have been surprised if Rufus was connected to them.

“Thank you.”

“Just make sure you put it to good use,” he said as he handed me a black scabbard.

I looped it onto my belt, then studied the weapon in my hands. The hilt had a simple black leather grip with a green stone in the center of the crossguard, with an etching of a large tree surrounding the gem.

Being best friends with a blacksmith, you’d think I’d have my choice of weapons, but Derrick only ever gave me repaired blades. This was the first sword I’d bought with my own coin.

With my sword in hand, I strolled around the other tables, watching the day begin.

“One mushroom cap with every five bought!”

“Beautiful cotton scarves!”

“Eggs, milk, and cheese!”

People started filling the space around me and I walked off to the side, trying to move out of the way. The merchant in front of me had a table full of beaded hairpins. Red, crystal, purple, black, all different shades bouncing around his stall. I spotted a hummingbird pin with navy blue beads. It would look nice in Raven’s hair, if I could convince her to wear it. She’d probably love a new dagger, but I could imagine my mother’s horrified expression if I bought the girl I loved a weapon.

Pin it is.
I dug through my pockets to a take out a few coins.

A lyrical voice filled the air around me, sweet, melodic. I stopped to listen to the feminine singing, then turned to search for the beauty it came from.

“Purchase that pin, sir, and I’ll give you half price on another.”

The merchant showed me another beaded pin with a rose, pulling my attention back to the goods before me, and away from the woman who stood somewhere in the crowd behind me. I threw the coin on the table and grabbed both pins before turning away.

The song sounded distant, as if the wind was sweeping the music away. I had to find that voice.

“Hey, this isn’t enough!” The merchant yelled, causing the closest townsfolk to turn in my direction.

“Sorry,” I mumbled. “Do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

I pulled one more coin from my pocket. The merchant frowned, but I couldn’t stay to barter. I walked away from the table, rushing, but not too fast. I rounded the corner, following the song into a small alley.

“Hello, Avikar.”

Lucy.

She smiled, her lips a delicious red. “Did you like the song?” She stepped closer to me.

“It was beautiful…” I rubbed my head.
Why did I say that?

Her black hair contrasted against her perfect porcelain skin. “We never did finish that conversation in the tavern.”

“No, we didn’t.” My mind clouded and my mouth went dry.

“Let’s go somewhere a little more private. There’s so much we need to chat about.”

“I shouldn’t…” Something was wrong. Why did I
want
to go with her?

She put her hand on my chest. “You should. You want to.”

The singing entered my head, but her lips weren’t moving. Her hand touched the skin on my neck. I grabbed a marble in my pocket and rolled it between my fingers.

An image of Jimri laughing and running by the lake entered my mind. I smiled.

“Run,”
he said.

Why would I run?

Lucy whispered, her words lost in my head, another hand on my chest, sliding back and forth.

“Run, Avi.”
Jimri’s voice pounded in my head. I spun around and dashed out of the alley.

Lucy’s boisterous laugh sent chills through me. She had put us to sleep that time in the tavern, all because of a song. I smacked my face while I ran, trying to disrupt her magic.

I hummed while running. If Lucy could control me with her wicked voice, who knew what she’d make me do.

When I was a safe distance away, I turned around.

Lucy stood on the other side of the market, glaring, the ice in her stark blue eyes freezing me.

Slowly, I grabbed the hilt of my new sword, watching her carefully, and humming to myself. Would she attack?

Her hands flicked forward and four darts zipped through the air.

I dove right and rolled once I hit the ground. A boy stood where I had just been, the darts deep in his chest.

A wail, so loud and terrifying it shook me to the core, blasted through the market. I held my hands tight against my ears and tried to block out the sound. Lucy ran forward, her mouth wide open and hands raised.

The crushing sound kept me on my knees, but I fought against it, slowly rising.

Chaos erupted around me as the villagers shouted and ran around, some holding their ears others waving their arms wildly.

“Run, now!” Rufus appeared in front of me holding a broadsword.

I stood, shaking my head. “I’ll fight with you.”

Lucy launched a set of daggers that Rufus and I both dodged.

“Now’s not the time. Go, before she reaches you!” Rufus charged at Lucy.

Guards began running into the market, too many for Rufus to fight alone, and too many for us to beat together.

He won’t survive this.
Torn between duty and honor, I watched Rufus attack and defend.

I had to drive Lucy away. She wanted me and only me.

I grabbed my bow and quickly notched an arrow, then set it loose near Lucy and Rufus. The arrow hit the cobblestone and she looked in my direction.

Once her gaze was on me, I ran.

a, ya!” I slapped the reins against Brushfire’s side. I had to get out of Daath. Everyone I cared about was in danger.

“Hurry, girl,” I urged Brushfire on, desperate to be away from the market.

I was stupid to think what happened at the temple would be over. No one had come after me, and none of Jericho’s men had heard any news of Lucy’s return, but we should’ve been smarter.
I
should’ve been smarter.