Taste of Darkness (An Avry of Kazan Novel - Book 3) (16 page)

“If he stops, we’ll lose hours of entertainment,” Loren added.

Quain didn’t twitch, but his glower promised Loren future pain. Loren kept his amused expression, unfazed by his friend’s demeanor.

“Enough. Everyone needs to get some sleep. I want to cover at least twenty miles tomorrow.”

Ugh. The monkeys fixed their bedrolls and settled down.

My thoughts returned to Quain’s question. “I’ve never had to deal with any...man pain before, but if I do, I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Thanks,” Quain deadpanned.

Once again everyone quieted down. I was about to drift off to sleep when Flea said, “I miss being Flea.”

“You’re still Flea. Nothing’s ever gonna change that,” Quain said.

* * *

Dawn arrived far too soon. Groggy and achy, I balked at leaving the toasty warmth of Kerrick’s arms. The air had cooled overnight and a light frost coated the ground.

We ate jerky for breakfast and packed up, continuing east. Kerrick set a brisk pace. Gazing at the surrounding landscape, I searched my memories. When I’d traveled to Galee to become Tara’s apprentice, I’d cut through Pomyt Realm. While Grzebien was the largest city in Pomyt, the realm had many smaller settlements tucked around farm fields and wooded areas. That was true for all the realms. Most had only two or three large cities.

Which meant we shouldn’t have to go too far out of the way to remain in the forest until we reached Ozero. Now all we needed were some horses. Except Kerrick avoided all the small towns and farms we passed.

I understood his reluctance to ride the noisy animals, but time was critical. After we bypassed a farm with horses grazing in a pasture, I reached for his shoulder, or rather where I thought his shoulder should be, since he’d gone woodsy as soon as we had set off this morning. I touched nothing but air at first. Then he took my hand and my skin turned the colors of the forest.

“Hey,” Quain said right behind me. “Give a guy some warning before you just disappear, will ya?”

Flea stood next to him, but Loren stayed back in the rear-guard position.

“Sorry,” I said, but stared at Kerrick. When we both blended in, I had no trouble seeing him clearly. At those times, he was all mine.

“Something wrong?” he asked in a low voice.

“Yes, why did you pass that farm? They had horses, lots of them.”

“We’re not ready for horses.”

“We or you?”

“We. Trust me on this.” He squeezed my hand.

“All right.”

He let go and vanished once again.

“Welcome back,” Quain said to me. “Remember those times we wished Kerrick would disappear?”

“I can still hear you, you know,” Kerrick said.

“Is that so? I’d thought maybe you had vines growing out of your ears or something. Since you’re now...a weed of the forest?”

Kerrick the weed. My laughter bubbled up my throat, unstoppable. The boys joined in.

“Go ahead and laugh,” Kerrick said. “We’ll see who’s laughing when you all need to hide and I’m suddenly a rare plant, unable to be found.”

“Empty threat, weed boy,” Quain said.

“Oh, I think you know me better than that. I hope you look good in white, Quain. I’ve heard the Ozero priests make all their initiates wear white.”

“Really? I heard they don’t let them wear any clothes for the first two years,” Loren added.

“Wouldn’t they get cold?” Quain asked, sounding worried.

More laughter, but this time Kerrick joined in. Quain’s face turned red.

“Don’t listen to them,” I said. “Ever. You can trust me or Flea.”

“I’ve heard they tattooed the creator’s name on your...er...man part,” Flea said.

Loren high-fived the young man.

“Don’t encourage him.” I swatted Loren’s shoulder. But we all knew it was too late. Flea had been monkeyfied.

We resumed our trek. I tried not to count all the horse opportunities passing us by. Stopping for a quick meal, we pressed on until the sun dipped low.

Kerrick reappeared. He pointed to a narrow trail. “Keep on this path. It’ll lead you to a clump of Lilys, which will make an excellent camp for tonight. I’m going to do a little exploring. I’ll meet you there.” He met my gaze. The promise to return shone in his eyes.

Even though I’d rather go with him, I stayed with the others as we followed his directions. The scent of vanilla filled the air around the Lilys. While they waited, I walked up to the cluster of six. Five Peace Lilys and one Death Lily. It hissed, parted its petals and dropped two toxin sacks onto my open palms. Ryne might arrest us on sight, but he wouldn’t refuse more toxin. I thanked the plant, tucking the sacks into my pack.

The monkeys and Flea kept well away from the Death Lily. I ignored the Peace Lilys. After the debacle with Yuri, I never wanted to interact with another Peace Lily again.

Waiting for Kerrick was difficult, but I had to admit his choice of campsite was ideal. No one would dare approach a clump of Lilys.

Loren and Quain debated about setting a small fire. Tired of cold food, Quain hoped for at least a mug of hot tea.

“Just wait until Kerrick returns,” I said, setting up my bedroll. “There must be a reason he wanted to explore.” Like rounding us up a couple of horses, I hoped.

However when Kerrick arrived a few hours later, he was alone. And his serious demeanor said more than words.

“No fire. Pack your stuff, we’re leaving,” Kerrick ordered.

We assembled our gear.

“What aren’t you telling us?” I asked as we hustled through the forest.

“I’ll explain when we get there.”

Intrigued, I kept the rest of my questions to myself.

After a couple miles, he stopped and gestured to a rocky slope, covered with vegetation. “There’s a cave entrance hidden behind those vines. I want—”

“No caves,” I snapped.

“Just hear me out. We’re being followed by a couple of groups of soldiers. I don’t know if they’re just returning to Ozero as per Estrid’s orders, or if they are searching for us in particular. Just to be safe, I want you to stay out of sight, and that cave’s the best thing around right now.”

“And what about you?” I asked.

“I’m going to get closer to the groups and try to learn their intentions.”

My unhappy heart wished to protest. Wished to tag along. But my practical side knew I’d be a hindrance.

Quain and Loren swept the vines aside. A damp puff of rotten leaves and bat guano wafted out. Wonderful.

“Stay here until I return,” Kerrick said.

“Uh, no offense, but what do we do if you don’t?” Quain asked.

“If I’m not back by morning, go on without me. Ozero is a straight shot east.”

Loren shook his head. “You know we won’t. Just tell us which direction the squads are and save us all some time.”

I nodded in encouragement.

“Fine. One’s almost straight west, the other is southwest about two miles south of the first, but I don’t expect trouble.”

“Yet that’s the problem with trouble,” I said. “It has no manners at all and arrives unexpected most of the time.”

KERRICK

He waited as Avry and the others entered the cave. She lingered behind. Before ducking inside, she turned and met his gaze. Kerrick had kept his normal appearance, expecting this. Every time they parted, he understood her need to reassure herself that he’d return.

Even after she disappeared into the darkness and beyond the reach of his magic, Kerrick remained in place for a few more moments just in case she peeked out. Satisfied that all was well for now, Kerrick headed west, dropping his visage. Turning normal no longer drained him as much. He suspected he’d either regained some of his strength or pulling the power had turned into a reflex.

Interesting how they’d fallen back on old habits. And keeping Avry and his gentlemen safe in the forest remained his job. He dreaded the time when he’d have to stay behind while they continued into Chinska Mare.

Kerrick picked up his pace, hoping to catch the squads settling down for the evening. That was when they’d be the most chatty.

Voices drifted through the trees as he neared the west group. The forest had already counted eleven irritants. Eleven living things that didn’t belong in its borders. Kerrick used his magic to determine the intruders were a mix of men and women soldiers. Getting close was ridiculously easy for him. They’d posted a couple guards, but he was just about invisible. Still, there was no need to be in the center of activity. Kerrick leaned against a nearby tree and listened to the various conversations.

“Did you see Ron’s gash? Nasty with green oozing out.”

“Quit your jawing and fetch me more firewood.”

“You two have the third watch. Don’t fall asleep again or I’ll wake you with the pointy end of my sword.”

“If it doesn’t rain, we’ll be home in eighteen days. I haven’t been home in two years. I hope my girl hasn’t found someone else.”

Kerrick focused on the men talking about home.

“Two years? She’s probably married with a babe or two by now. I made sure and married my Sarah before leaving.”

“I didn’t think it would take this long or I would have,” the first man said.

“It sounds like we’ll be home for good. No more of this sneaking through the woods, poking at the enemy. It’ll be nice and simple just protecting our borders.”

Kerrick watched as the squad set up their camp with practiced ease, joking with each other as they completed their tasks. Kerrick had heard and seen enough. This squad wasn’t a threat.

He headed south toward the second group. Smaller, with seven male intruders, the squad hiked through the woods at a cautious pace. Quiet, too. Kerrick wondered if Avry had trained these men.

Memories of teaching her how to move with the sounds of the forest came unbidden. He’d enjoyed those lessons. Probably more than her, as she’d hated him then. And then the game of hide-and-seek... Kerrick grinned at how she had sniffed him out. Avry might have learned a lifesaving skill, but he’d learned again not to underestimate her. She was one smart cookie.

Kerrick followed the squad until they stopped for the night. Using his magic, he concentrated on the men and cursed under his breath. He recognized one of them. Kerrick eased closer. They kept their conversation to a minimum, lit a small fire, and posted more guards than the other.

The weak firelight reflected off their strained faces and they froze at any animal rustle or natural forest noise. Kerrick put the few clues together. They weren’t supposed to be here, and he suspected the leader had given his men a choice and four members had decided to remain behind. Kerrick stretched his senses along the roots of the forest, seeking another squad that might have been sent after them. Nothing.

He could stand here and guess all night, or he could ask. Pulling power, Kerrick uncamouflaged. Testing their abilities, he scuffed the dirt as he walked and rattled a few leaves.

Four of the seven men had their swords out and faced in the right direction, including Sergeant Odd. Impressive.

The sergeant relaxed when he recognized Kerrick. “At ease.”

His men sheathed their weapons, but stayed alert.

“Running home to hide under your High Priestess’s robes?” Kerrick asked, baiting him.

“My home is in a small town near Koo in Ryazan Realm,” Odd said.

“Well, then, you’ll want to make a right at the next tree and head straight south.”

“Cute, but I’m not planning on going home until I see this through.”

Kerrick waited.

“I’m not going to explain myself to you. What do you want?”

“Confirmation.”

“Of what?”

“That you’re not a threat.”

Odd grinned, but there was nothing humorous about it. “To who? Because the answer changes depending on the person.”

Nice. “To Avry.”

“Do you mean the woman you left in the middle of the night without so much as a word? The woman you tortured by disappearing for over a month?”

Kerrick refused to be provoked. He had started this, and Odd’s comments revealed quite a bit. Keeping what Avry called his flat stare in place, Kerrick said nothing.

“If you’re referring to her,
she
has nothing to fear from us.”

“And her companions?”

“We’ve no problems with the monkeys or Flea.”

“Good. And since you’re no threat to me, I’ll be—”

“So the mighty Prince Kerrick can fight off seven men now? Did you disappear to a secret training camp?”

“Avry understands what happened and that’s
all
I care about. I do like the secret-training idea, but you can go ahead and assume whatever you wish. However, there’s one thing that’s indisputable.”

“And what’s that?”

“You can’t fight with a tree in your lap, or vines wrapped around your legs.” He nodded to Odd. “Until the next time.” Then he dropped the normal camo just in case they doubted his abilities.

No reaction from Odd, but a couple of his men started. Kerrick backed away, thinking if he hurried, he could return in time to get a few hours of sleep before dawn. With Avry wrapped in his arms and tucked in close, sleeping had been his favorite part of the day.

“Kerrick, wait,” Odd called.

He paused.

“We came to help Avry on her mission.”

Kerrick rematerialized. “Help how?”

“Some of my guys grew up in Chinska Mare. Plus as soldiers in the High Priestess’s army, we blend in better.”

“Until the High Priestess learns of your treason.”

“Which is why I hope the plan has us well away before that unfortunate time.”

There was no sense letting Odd know they hadn’t discussed strategy yet, so Kerrick mulled over Odd’s offer. Could they trust him? What if Odd was working undercover for Estrid and planned to sabotage their mission? Odd’s comments about Avry clearly indicated where Odd’s loyalties belonged...with Avry. Better than with Estrid.

“All right, get your things packed. We might as well travel together.”

When they finished, Kerrick led them toward the cave. He’d just about exhausted all his energy, so he trained his attention only on the immediate area. Big mistake. By the time they reached the cave, it was empty.