Broken Forest: Book One of the Daath Chronicles (10 page)

“Hold my right arm,” I said. “I don’t want to accidentally punch Reaper when he burns it.”

Derrick smirked. “Sure.”

I took a deep breath; put the belt in my mouth.

HOLY-BEARDED-MOTHER!

Loud shouting woke me. The cut on my arm throbbed, and I winced while stretching to see who was yelling. A small crowd had gathered around the wagon holding the prisoner. I scrambled to my feet and headed over. There, shivering and lying in a pool of vomit, was our only prisoner.

Derrick and Henry began pulling the man out, until Derrick noticed the snake tattoo. He yelled, stepped back and unsheathed his sword. I moved in front of him and grabbed his arm.

“Don’t,” I said.

Derrick glared at me and lifted his claymore. “Get out of my way.”

“I know how you feel, but we need him alive.”

He cringed. “This man kidnapped Jeslyn. He’s the reason for all of this and you’re protecting him!”

“No. I want him dead too, but we don’t know where to find her. He does. Once we rescue her, we’ll deal with him. I promise.”

Derrick growled and lowered his sword. “You better be right about this, or you’ll be my next victim.” He stormed off into the woods.

“Give the boy some time. He’s angry. He didn’t mean it.” Rudy helped Henry bring the prisoner to the fire.

A young girl touched the prisoner’s forehead. She ripped a piece of her dress and patted the sweat off his face. I ran my fingers through my hair, watching the scene in a daze.

“He burns with a heavy fever,” she said. “I’ll need water.”

At least we saved them. With all the chaos, I’d forgotten we rescued nine other girls.

I bent down and untied the man’s hands. The fever burned through his skin.

“He was fine before,” I said. “I don’t understand.”

The prisoner heaved, and the girl rolled him over on his side. “He’s been poisoned,” she said.

One of the twins brought over a pale of water. The young girl dipped the cloth into the bucket and washed the prisoner’s face. This man could be our only link to finding Jeslyn. “Can you get rid of it?” I hoped she’d say yes.

She shook her head. “If I knew what it was, maybe, but this? Look at his veins.” She showed me his arm laced with greenish lines.

I searched his body for anything unusual and found a tiny dart lodged in the back of his neck. Slowly, I pulled it out. “What is this?” I turned it over, looking at the tiny runes on it.

“Let me see that, boy.” Reaper held out his hand and I gave him the dart. He held it between his two fingers. “This is odd. I don’t recognize the metal.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Reaper ran his bony fingers through his oily hair. “This dart is not from our lands. Could be from one of his own men.”

I reached for my sword, expecting a dart to come flying at me.

“Find Nathaniel and Davin,” Rudy said to Reaper. “Tell them to do a perimeter check and have everyone else on guard.”

The prisoner wheezed and blood trickled out the side of his mouth.

“Where’s a priest when you need one?” I mumbled.

A small plump girl stepped forward. Her red curly hair resembled fire and matched the shade of her freckles. “I can help,” she said.

“Thank you,” I said, trying not to be rude. “But what we need is a priest.”

“My name is Manna, and I am a priestess.”

Did she say a priestess?

“Welcome,” I said and dipped my head in a bow. Priestesses were rare, very rare and their healing abilities were powerful.

Manna prayed over the prisoner. Then she sang, raising her hands high in the air, reaching to the stars. Her voice was a deep baritone with a hint of femininity and power. The campfire backlit her with a golden halo. Her voice echoed off the trees.

It reminded me of a day, long time ago, when I’d gone to temple with Mother. I watched two people standing in the front, singing a hymn. I hadn’t understood what they were saying, but I’d felt it. And just like then, Manna’s song pierced every barrier around my heart. The air tingled with a foreign sensation both uplifting and terrifying. No one moved. No one spoke.

Her voice reached a crescendo, and she bent over the prisoner. She placed her hands on his chest, leaned down and whispered in his ear.

“Sleep now, but when you arise, know that by grace you have been saved. Right your wrongs.” Manna slowly rose and lifted her hands. “Praise be to The Creator!”

She touched my shoulder, smiled and disappeared amongst the rescued girls.

I wanted to run after her and tell her she was amazing. Instead, I watched the sickly green leave the prisoner’s body, and wondered why my cheek was wet.

Morning arrived and everyone prepared to leave for Crain Village. We decided it was the closest place and we could escort the missing girls to the temple there. The men circled Derrick. They were pointing to a map. I started to walk towards them when I noticed Manna talking to the prisoner who was awake and untied. He sat on a log with his head buried in his hands.

I gripped the hilt of my sword and marched over.

Manna stood and intercepted me. “Be still,” she said softly, placing a hand on my chest.

Is she crazy?

“Listen to his tale. Your heart will tell you the rest.”

I grunted and pushed past her. Priestess or not, she had no right to untie him. The prisoner looked up, then back down. I folded my arms and glared at him, focusing on talking and not walloping him.

“Tell me everything,” I said. “And I mean everything. You can start with your name.”

The man swallowed and cleared his throat before talking. “My name is Jericho.”

“Where were you taking the girls?”

“Back to Daath.”

That can’t be right. “Daath?”

He nodded.

He had guts to lie. I took a deep breath and tried to calm myself. “Daath is a myth.”

“It’s real.”

I pulled out my sword and pointed it at his lying face. “The thirteenth land is an old fable. Don’t lie to me! If you don’t tell me where my sister is, I swear I’ll kill you.”

He held up his hands in defense. “I swear. It’s the truth. Lord Lucino gave us specific orders on where to take the girls. We had only a few more stops before returning back home.”

“You were specifically told to take my sister?” I paced back and forth, hands trembling. “First, you tell me Daath exists. Then you tell me some lord is kidnapping girls from everywhere. Am I supposed to believe that?” In a rage, I kicked the log next to him. His eyes widened.

“Lord Lucino is searching for a bride, and he is very particular when it comes to women.”

“Why should I believe you?” I gauged his expression, trying to figure him out.

“Because I have no reason to lie.”

He looked right at me when he said it. I was pretty good at reading people and I almost believed him. “Let’s pretend I think you’re telling the truth. Where is Daath?”

“If I tell you now, you’ll kill me, and you need me alive in order to pass through the barrier.”

Barrier? What is he talking about? My head ached, and I needed to think. It would be a risk trusting him, but what other choice did we have? I could try and locate the kidnapper’s trail, like I did before, but if this man was telling the truth about a barrier … .

“Fine,” I said. “You’ll take us to Daath and help me get my sister back.”

“Lord Lucino is very powerful.”

“I don’t care how strong he is. He kidnapped my sister, and for that, he pays.”

“I understand, but trying to go after Lord Lucino is impossible.”

In a flash, I had my sword tip pressed against his throat. “Because of you my sister is gone. By all rights I should kill you.” I pressed the blade in, nicking his skin. “Do you have family in Daath?”

“Yes,” he whispered.

“Any children?”

“Yes.”

“Any happen to be a girl?”

He glanced down.

“What would you do if Lucino took your daughter?”

“Same as you.”

“Then we understand each other. I can’t abandon her, no matter what the odds are.”

Jericho nodded slightly. “I’ll escort you to Daath and help you find your sister.”

I pondered his so called oath. I lowered the sword and stepped back. “Remember, if you turn on us …”

Jericho bowed his head. “You have my word.”

Satisfied with his answer, I led Jericho to Derrick. Men grumbled and glared at Jericho. Derrick straightened.

“I know where Jeslyn has been taken,” I said. “Daath”

“That man be telling lies!” Rudy yelled. “Everyone knows Daath’s an old wives tale. They’ve been talking about that hidden land for centuries!”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Derrick grip his sword. “I thought so too, but I believe him,” I said, even though I wasn’t really sure myself.

“You gonna tell me next that legendary guardian is real too?” Rudy scoffed.

“May I say something?” Every man glared at Jericho, as if he’d suggested executing our King.

“You don’t hear about Daath because no one but the guard is allowed to leave, and the entrance is concealed. And yes, the guardian is real, but as long as you bear the seal you’re safe.” Jericho lifted his sleeve revealing the snake tattoo on his right arm.

“I can’t ask any of you to risk your lives for me,” I said, turning to the men. “You’ve done enough. Derrick and I will go to Crain Village with you; after that, we’ll be on our way.”

Lucas approached me, holding Rudy’s daughter’s hand. “If it wasn’t for you, I never would have found Charlotte.” He glanced at her and squeezed her hand. “I’m indebted to you, and I’m going with you to Daath.”

“Now, now, don’t you be making promises.” Rudy scrunched his bushy face at Lucas. “You’ll be taking my Charlotte back home.”

“But … .”

Rudy raised a hand. “No butts. I need someone I can trust. I’ll follow these lads.”

“Don’t forget about us,” the twins said in unison, grinning at me.

Days ago, we were strangers. Now they’re willing to risk their lives for me.

Deep down, I knew we needed the help, but what if one of them died? More blood and more death. I couldn’t allow them to do that.

“Thank you,” Derrick said, before I could convince them not to come.

I was ready to argue with Derrick when he grabbed my arm and pulled me to the side. “I know what you’re thinking.” He held up a finger. “We need them. This is too big for us, and I’d feel a lot better if we weren’t alone with that guy.”