Marked (24 page)

Gerart placed his hand on her shoulder. Even that insignificant gesture produced a warm sensation in her that spread from her stomach to her chest. The feelings this handsome prince inspired in her were getting stronger and more intense, and that both delighted and worried her. The Order and her Gift meant everything to her. She was wholly devoted to them and could not let herself be carried away by feelings for a man—feelings which she knew were magnified by the extreme circumstances they were in. She felt confused. Sorundi, the Master Healer of the Order, had warned them on numerous occasions, “The path of Healing and any intention of forming a family are incompatible, conflicting. Both require all our devotion and sacrifice. We must choose one or the other. We Sisters of the Order of Tirsar choose the duty of Healing.” Remembering her teachings, Aliana felt a pang of shame and remorse. She had to stay strong, to smother her feelings for Gerart and concentrate on her duty, her vocation, as a Healer.

The thundering, authoritative voice of the Sergeant startled her. “Let’s continue on foot, following the trail toward the southeast. I want to get on the other side of the summit so we can hide from the Usik,” he declared as he guided Lightning down the path.

Without delay, everyone did as the Sergeant Major commanded.

After traveling for a little more than an hour, Mortuc stopped and ordered the group to halt. The survivors came to a standstill.

“We will continue on foot through the forest as we head for the summit of the mountain,” he announced, pointing toward a large slope to his right that was covered with pine trees. “Leave your swords and shields on your mounts. We will be moving quickly, and the ascent will be long and arduous. We will take only a few provisions and water.” 

“What are we going to do with the horses?” asked Gerart as he walked toward the Sergeant.

“We have to leave them behind and hope they don’t find them. Hopefully they will think we followed the trail toward the east, but we’ll cut through the forest toward the north.”

“Do you think it’s advisable to leave the trail here?” asked Gerart, concerned, as he looked at the surrounding area.

“Yes. We have to hide and try to cross to the other side of the peak, heading due north as we cut through the forest.”

“Hmm... I don’t know if we can cross to the other side at the top...” said Gerart hesitantly.

“Indeed, Your Highness, but our destination is at the summit of that mountain, isn’t it? And it’s the best route to follow if we are going to lose our pursuers. We will find a crossing,” the Sergeant assured him.

“Why don’t we continue to ride up the trail?” suggested Gerart.

“The horses can’t take that kind of punishment and the trail goes around toward the east before it heads back north. We will likely encounter more natives up there. I prefer not to risk that, Your Highness.”

“I understand. You’re right. We’ll just hope we find a crossing at the top...”

“By the demons of the depths of hell we’ll find one, and if we don’t we’ll make one—even if I have to use my head to dig it out myself!”

“The peak is very high; you can see the snow covering it from here. It will be a difficult and dangerous crossing,” warned Aliana.

“The cave we are looking for is up there, and we are going to find it,” Gerart confidently affirmed.

“Lomar! Kendas!” called the Sergeant.

“Yes, Sir!” The two Lancers immediately appeared before him.

“Get all the horses tied together and get them out of here. Ride along the trail until it turns up on the mountain and you are out of the line of sight of our pursuers. We need to make the Usik think we are still following the trail. Once you’re out of sight, hide the horses in the forest. When you’ve gotten them well hidden, head north to the summit of the mountain. We’ll meet you there.”

“Yes, sir,” Lomar agreed.

“And make sure you hide those horses well; I want my mount back. Those damn savages better not lay a hand on my Lightning or I swear I’ll crush your bones to a pulp. Is that clear?”

“Don’t worry, Sergeant,” assured Kendas.

“The rest of you, follow me!”

Not waiting for confirmation, the Sergeant quickly headed into the forest and the rest of the survivors swiftly followed him in. Aliana watched for a few seconds as the shadows of the great forest devoured them, leaving no trace of their presence. She went in after them, more aware with each passing moment of just how serious the situation was. And how unlikely it was that they would make it off that mountain alive.

Two hours later, Lomar dismounted his spent steed and, holding it by the reins, stroked its sweaty hind-quarters. Behind his mount another half-dozen horses were tied together, resting. Their escape had gone well.

For now.

“They are at the point of exhaustion.” Kendas was still in the saddle, guiding another half-dozen horses.

“I know. Come on down, brother. Let’s take the horses into the woods toward the south.”

Kendas looked around and frowned. “Here? You think so?”

Lomar shrugged. “We cleared the bend; the mountain is protecting us now. We’re out of sight from the top of the hill. It’s a good time to get off the trail. We don’t know how much lead time we have over them. They could already be arriving at the crest of the hill. Well, that’s my opinion but if you prefer that we go more toward the east—”

“No, no. You’re right. Let’s veer off the path and hide the horses.” Kendas dismounted and guided his steed toward the interior of the forest.

For more than an hour they led the horses toward the south, penetrating ever deeper into the vast woods. The underbrush surrounded them like a deep green, surly fog bank. They walked in silence, listening intently for any noise or movement, fearful of coming face to face with the enemy at any moment. They found a small stream, and stopped to let the horses take a drink while they washed and cooled off a bit, soaking in the comfort and serenity the water provided. After a few moments of restorative peace, they filled their canteens, ready to resume their journey.

They continued walking, searching for a suitable place to hide the horses. Finally, they came to a deep ravine with massive white rock at the top, like some kind of half-sculpted marble statue.

“There,” pointed Lomar.

“Good spot,” Kendas agreed. “The horses will be totally hidden, and that rock is easily recognizable from a good distance away.”

“Finally! I was beginning to think we weren’t going to find somewhere to hide them.”

“Don’t let yourself get discouraged, friend. There is always a solution.”

“Your ‘wisdom’
always leaves me speechless. One of these days, one of your small-town, stating-the-obvious proverbs will be the end of me,” Lomar teased.

Kendas let out a loud guffaw, then quickly stifled his laughter.

They led the horses to some trees in the deepest part of the ravine and tied them up there. After giving them grain from the saddlebags, they covered them as best they could.

“Now what?” asked Kendas.

“Now we head north to meet up with the rest of the group,” said Lomar, pointing at the summit of the highest mountain in the northern range.

“We’re going to run into the Usik...”

“I know, but we don’t have any choice. We’ll have to be stealthy and cautious to avoid being spotted. Let’s leave anything shiny or light-colored here,” said Lomar as he took off his blue cape and helmet.

“Good idea. Off with the helmet and breastplate; they’d see them shining from miles away,” said Kendas.

“Like they always say in the city, ‘If you don’t want to be robbed, don’t show off your gold.’”

“Oh, really? Now who’s the one with the useless proverbs? Let’s focus. I think we should camouflage our clothes and faces with mud and dirt so it will be harder for them to make us out from a distance—or so we hope.”

“Yeah, and it’s almost twilight. And today, nighttime is our ally,” said Lomar, checking his weapons.

They walked in silence, alert. It was already getting dark when they got to the trail. They stopped there and, from behind a fallen pine tree, they could see a dozen savages standing guard at the bend in the mountain.

Kendas looked at his partner and signaled for him to turn around. Lomar nodded. They headed east and then, surrounded by thick underbrush, they stretched out face down on the ground and waited for nightfall. When the darkness was finally impenetrable, the two Royal Lancers crawled across the ground, trying not to make a sound as they crossed the trail out in the open, hoping their presence would not be detected.

They were not sighted.

When they’d made it to the other side, they stood up and slipped into the forest toward the summit of the mountain.

The battered column of surviving Lancers was resting in a circle among the undergrowth. Thick clouds swept across the cool night sky, keeping the light of the stars from penetrating the shadows of the steep mountain slopes. Absolute stillness and darkness enveloped them.

Mortuc had ordered there be no fires and no conversation. The enemy could be nearby. A fire—especially in the darkest of nights—would be visible from a great distance and their words would ride through the night on the back of the traitorous wind. They had climbed for hours toward the peak and finally, nearly collapsing, they had stopped to camp next to a sheer rock wall. The mountainside would protect them from the harshness of the night and the altitude.

Aliana had just finished healing the survivors’ wounds. Fortunately, they were minor and she’d been able to take care of them without too much difficulty, and she had not exhausted all her curative energy. She could feel it even now, regenerating inside her, and could almost touch the bluish presence in her chest with her fingertips.

Both physically and emotionally fatigued, she needed to rest. But sitting there with her back against a massive fir tree she could not relax. The day’s bloody events continued to torment her... So many lives had been lost on the way, and she had a bad feeling that they would not be the last. Nothing could alleviate the sorrow she felt over the loss of so many young lives.

“Thank you for healing the men, Aliana.” Gerart sat down beside her. He looked worried.

“Shhh,” scolded Aliana, indicating he should lower his voice. “There is nothing to thank me for; it is my duty,” she whispered, smiling shyly.

The Prince softened his voice to a whisper. “You healed and comforted us after an extremely difficult experience. I think that deserves a sincere expression of gratitude.”

“It really is not necessary...” she insisted.

With a gesture Aliana was not expecting, the young prince took her hand affectionately between his.

Aliana blushed. The pleasant sensation of skin-to-skin contact coupled with the comforting warmth of Gerart’s hands had turned her cheeks a tell-tale crimson as she was overcome by conflicting emotions yet again... The sense of well-being, of joy, of passion that Gerart aroused in her was rapidly becoming clearer and more fervent. But almost immediately she was seized by guilt, feeling as if she were betraying her Order, her duty as a Healer—and the irresistible, intoxicating feeling was instantly quashed.

“Your Highness,” she said, trying to conceal her embarrassment as passion stirred within her.

“Don’t call me ‘Highness,’ Aliana; you know my name.”

“Gerart...” Just the sound of his name in the night awakened the butterflies in her stomach. She quickly withdrew her hand, not daring to look him in the eye.

Gerart looked down and, after hesitating a moment, apologized. “I’m sorry... It wasn’t my intention to...”

Aliana hurried to lighten the uncomfortable situation. “There’s nothing to apologize for, Gerart.”

“If I offended you... please accept my—”

“It’s all right,” she interrupted, “it’s just that we Healers are not used to physical contact... with a man... But we’re friends, so I suppose it’s acceptable.”

“Friends...” Gerart drug out the pronunciation of the word in such a way that it sounded like it had been an insult.

Aliana read the disappointment in the Prince’s eyes and immediately changed the direction of the awkward conversation.

“Thank you so much for your support through these terribly difficult times, Gerart.”

“You don’t need to thank me, Aliana. It is my duty to help and protect you. I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself if something happened to you...”

“I am not your responsibility. I am here because I chose to be here and I don’t regret it.”

Aliana smiled at him and diverted her eyes toward the steely sergeant who, just a few steps away from them, was still working tirelessly. His energy and vitality were incredible.

“A born leader,” affirmed Gerart, casting an admiring look toward the Sergeant who was slipping into the shadows to look for the guards posted around the campsite.

“Yes, he really is. It’s unbelievable how much strength and energy he has. Quite a marvel,” attested Aliana as she watched him walk off.

“The men respect him. It’s more than that; they adore him. They all follow his commands without the slightest complaint.”