Set in Stone (54 page)

Kilian stalked forward, all trace of fire gone, with fingers of water again leading the way. As he approached the square, he called out, "Men of Obrion, we can do this the hard way if you prefer, but know my patience is at an end. Resist me at your own peril."

They didn't listen.

Slingers unleashed a volley of stones, and two dozen soldiers charged in unison.

A blur of water overwhelmed the soldiers. Their war cries changed to screams that were cut short into gurgling protests as the entire force of soldiers was carried away in a churning flood right through town and out the far gate.

Unopposed, Kilian strode into the square.

Townsfolk panicked. Men, women and children, who had come for healing, fled screaming. Jean was buffeted by the mob, powerless to help or to calm them.

Across the square, she caught sight of Connor's younger brother Blair, who had just entered the square carrying an injured child. The fleeing mob knocked him stumbling into the shattered remnants of the tavern where he fell hard against the front wall.

A heavy timber that had been balancing over the door, fell with a shriek of protesting wood.

Jean cried out in horror, powerless to do anything but watch. Before the timber could crush the children, a tendril of water whipped out and caught it. Then another wrapped gently around the children and lifted them from the rubble.

Jean turned back to face the approaching Kilian and studied him more closely. Despite his angry expression, for the first time she noticed the laugh lines around his eyes and mouth, and the slight bluish tint to his hair.

The inconsistency of his act of mercy startled her and left her feeling shaken, unsure of herself. How could this man, one of the violent invaders responsible for so much destruction, care what happened to a pair of children in a stampede he had triggered?

As Kilian approached, people began begging for mercy, and Jean moved to intercept him.

"What are you doing?" Hamish hissed.

Kilian noticed her advance, and paused, one eyebrow raised in surprise. Jean continued her advance despite the fear that set her limbs shaking, trying to focus on the act of mercy he'd shown Blair instead of his terrifying violence.

Before she could speak, Kilian surprised her by making an extravagant bow and giving her a dashing smile. "What can I do for you, little lady?"

Jean felt her face flush, and for a second she struggled to find words. That irritated her, and she drew herself up tall. "I will not allow you to harm my patients."

Kilian smiled, and his eyes twinkled with mirth. "You're a brave one, aren't you?" His voice was strong and clear, and he spoke with just a hint of an accent that Jean found surprisingly pleasant.

She reminded herself that he was part of the reason so many people had suffered that day. "Call it what you like, but I warn you not to cause any more suffering here. I didn't work so hard to treat these people only to have you murder them."

Kilian's face hardened with anger. "Don't blame me for the stupidity of your general."

"I blame you for your actions, and the destruction you caused here."

"Don't judge before you know the facts," he snarled.

How dare he echo one of the creeds by which Jean lived her life!

She advanced a step and pointed an accusing finger at him. "Don't try justifying your cruelty. The suffering here is entirely your fault."

"Your boldness is turning to folly, girl."

Hamish appeared beside Jean then and hefted a broken plank. "You lay a finger on her and I'll kill you."

Jean wanted to slap Hamish for interfering. She'd already pushed the man pretty hard.

Kilian surprised her again by laughing. He threw Hamish a cocky salute and winked at Jean. "I'm liking this town more and more. I’m glad to see Connor's not the only Obrioner worth knowing."

"You know Connor?"

"I do. He's a frustrating young man, with more bravery than good sense."

Jean smiled, "I'll tell him you said that."

"You tell him to look deep. He's in a position to do much good."

"I will."

"And I will respect your wishes, my brave young healer."

Kilian made a sweeping gesture with one hand. Fingers of water slithered across the square to each of the injured soldiers, spread beneath them, and gently lifted them a finger's width off the ground. Then they began floating across the square and down Market Street on those rippling beds of water.

"Those men will reach their camp safely. What happens to them after that is out of my hands."

He turned to the three Healers and said, "Remove your forces from this town. You have two minutes."

The men saluted and headed for the wall gate.

Kilian turned toward the far side of the square, but paused and made a gesturing motion. A finger of water appeared bearing a soldier's sword belt, complete with sheathed sword and dagger.

The Water Moccasin brought it over and handed it to Hamish. "If you're going to defend your girl, you need a real weapon, boy."

Hamish took the sword with a look of wonder.

Jean frowned, "I can take care of myself."

"Be that as it may," Kilian said gravely, "allow the young man to do his duty too."

He gave her another extravagant bow and walked away.

Near the wall gate, a trumpet sounded as the remaining soldiers in Alasdair began their retreat.

Hamish, clutching his new sword close, said, "So it was all for nothing, then?"

"No," Jean said. "We learned something. Lilias was right. It's time to make our own freedom."

Chapter 60

Connor startled awake and sat up on his blanket. Night had fallen, and the camp lay quiet. He felt surprisingly good, despite the long day. He patted his worn sandstone amulet and wondered what he'd do when its healing powers ran out.

He looked around, trying to figure out what had awakened him. He guessed he'd slept maybe a couple of hours after a long afternoon spent helping Marcas. He'd tried to learn as much as he could without showing off the power of his sculpted pendant.

As night fell, he'd learned from Tomas that the general considered the day's foray a success. The Grandurian Solas and one Wingrunner had died while none of the Obrioner Guardians perished. He did not seem to count the many men who died fighting in Alasdair.

What angered Connor the most was news that Kilian had driven the army from Alasdair. After paying such a high price to take it, he'd been furious that they'd left the broken town to the Grandurians.

Tomas had explained, "More fighting there would have been pointless and cost both sides many lives. Better to leave them in peace."

"In Grandurian hands!"

"Would you prefer they kept fighting until everyone lay dead, and the town shattered to ruin? Because that's what would have happened."

A little later, there was a stir among the Fast Rollers. Tomas had explained that the prisoner had arrived from Merkland and was being held in a tiny cave in the mountain nearby, reachable only via a narrow ravine.

Connor knew the area well. He and Hamish had played there as kids, storing their 'treasures' as part of a game of Guards and Robbers. He wished he could see the heavily guarded prisoner who General Wolfram wanted so badly.

Could they really be a child?

A voice called his name so softly he barely heard it. It sounded like Verena, and his heart quickened to hear her.

He slipped into his boots and moved toward the trees, searching for her. He was surprised by how much he wanted to see her big blue eyes, but worried what could have driven her to risk approaching so close. How did she pass the scouts? How did she pass Gregor?

Her voice came again, faint but close. "Connor, come to the river."

He slipped past sleeping men and into the deep shadow along the banks of the Lower Wick, but saw nothing.

How could Verena speak so softly and still remain unseen? Was this another of her powers?

Down by the river, when he was sure no soldiers lurked in the shadows, he called softly, "Verena, where are you?"

Nothing. He waited for three long minutes, but saw nothing in the darkness, heard nothing but the steady gurgle of the Wick, and the normal night sounds of frogs and insects.

Frustrated, he moved further downriver, scanning the bank for any sign of her. It was too dark to look for tracks even though the moon had risen.

After a few more minutes of steady searching, Connor was about to turn back when he heard a splash and what sounded like a girl humming.

The underbrush grew thick there along the river, so it took him a few minutes to find a narrow passage. He ghosted through, not wanting to scare Verena away.

He stepped through the last screen of brush into a narrow space right at the water's edge. Thirty feet out in the river, a woman surfaced and threw her long hair back over her head.

It wasn't Verena.

It was Shona.

Her skin glowed softly white in the dim moonlight, and Connor stared until she dove again. Only then did he realize she wasn't wearing her battle leathers.

They were piled right at his feet, close to a white towel that hung from a nearby branch.

"Connor, are you spying on me?"

She had surfaced again, much closer to shore this time, and stood in water up to her bare shoulders.

Instead of shrieking or shouting for him to leave, Shona was smiling. She took a step forward and rose a little out of the water.

Connor threw out a hand and cried, "Wait. Stay where you are?"

Shona's rich laugh floated over the water and caressed his ears. "Why so shy? We've floated this very river together."

"That was different."

Panic set his hands shaking. Even though he and Hamish had tried to spy on Jean this summer, they hadn't actually expected to see the girls bathing. He liked kissing Shona, but the thought of seeing her unclothed terrified him.

She was beautiful, but she was a high lady. When her father found out she'd kissed him, his life would be in enough peril.

If he found out about this . . .

Connor started to back away.

"Don't you leave me, Connor," Shona snapped and took another step toward shore. The water slid lower, and her skin glowed brighter. His heart pounded in his ears, and his face flushed with rising heat.

"Fine, but stay where you are."

Shona cocked her head and smiled again. "You dare command me?"

"Of course not. It's for your own good, though."

"I know what's good for me, Connor."

She leaned forward, "You either come in here and kiss me again, or I'll come out and kiss you."

I am so dead
.

Chapter 61

Connor found it hard to think.

He should just run and risk Shona's wrath. Then again, if her father was going to kill him anyway, why not really earn the old man's wrath? The sight of Shona standing in the water, with the soft light playing over her shoulders was rapidly convincing him to accept her offer.