The Fourteenth Key (The Chronicles of Terah Book 3) (41 page)

As they rode through town, Landis and Rhianna attracted a lot of attention. No one had any idea who they were, or why they were with Marcus and Alek, but speculation was rampant, and by the time they reached the chapel, gossip had spread like wildfire.

Hayley had gone out that morning to deliver some herbs, and had just gotten back when Marcus and the others rode into the backyard of the chapel. After everyone dismounted, Marcus introduced Landis and Rhianna, and asked if Brandon had given her his note about lunch.

Hayley shook her head. “I left after breakfast, but that’s all right. I’m sure Brandon told someone. Let me get unloaded and we’ll see what we can find to eat.”

Rhianna stepped around to the back of the buggy to begin unloading at the same time that Marcus turned to hand Alek the reins to his horse. Out of the corner of his eye, Marcus caught a motion. Before he even realized what he’d seen, he threw himself in front of Hayley and yelled.

Alek didn’t know what was happening, but he dove on top of Landis and took her to the ground a split second before he heard the soft thud of an arrow hitting flesh. When Alek lifted his head, he saw an arrow sticking out of Marcus’s shoulder.

“Landis, under the buggy. Now,” Alek whispered as he half pushed, half dragged her the couple of feet to the buggy. After she was stashed between the wheels, Alek crawled over to Marcus. “How bad?”

Marcus shook his head. “Hurts like the devil, but it’s okay.”

“Where did it come from?” Alek asked as he took hold of the arrow to pull it out of Marcus’s shoulder.

“Not sure,” Marcus said with a groan as the arrow came free. “Give me a minute and I’ll look around.”

Hayley struggled against Marcus in an effort to get up. “Marcus! Move over! You’re bleeding. Let me up! I’ve got to find Theresa!”

Marcus shook his head and shoved Hayley back down. “I’ll be fine. Stay put.”

While Marcus was trying to catch his breath enough to focus his seeing eye, Alek looked around the buggy. “Where’s Rhianna?”

“No idea,” Marcus said.

Rhianna’s instincts had kicked in when Marcus yelled and she’d translocated. From her new vantage point, she had a good view of both the area around the buggy and the woods. It didn’t take her but a moment to spot the archer perched fifteen feet above the ground between two main branches of a thick spruce.

While she watched, she heard the whisper of an arrow being drawn from its quiver. She drew her knife from its ankle sheath and waited. She watched as the archer notched his arrow, and just as he began to draw it back, she threw the knife at his shoulder.

Marcus managed to get his seeing eye focused right before Rhianna threw her knife. He hadn’t seen the man perched in the tree but he watched the track of the knife and saw it hit its mark. The man uttered a muffled curse, scrambled for a few seconds as he tried to regain his balance, and then fell out of the tree, hitting the ground with a solid plunk and the unmistakable snap of a breaking bone.

“I found Rhianna,” Marcus said. “She just took down the archer. He’s on the ground fifty feet back in the woods, and it looks like his leg is broken. I don’t think he’s going anywhere any time soon.”

“Let me up,” Hayley said, pushing against him. “You’re bleeding!”

Marcus tucked her back under him. “Stay put and quit squirming. There could be someone else out there taking aim at us.” He scoured the woods behind the archer. One man was running in the opposite direction, but there was no way to know whether he was running away to avoid capture or to avoid getting shot. But he was leaving the area, so he wasn’t a threat at the moment.

After Marcus was satisfied there wasn’t anyone else in the near vicinity, he leaned up and turned towards Alek. “I think we’re in the clear now. I’ll set up a shield behind the archer just in case there’s anyone else left in the woods. You get everyone inside.”

Alek stood up, and offered Landis his hand, but she ignored it as she wiggled out from under the buggy and stood up. While she brushed off her clothes, Alek turned to help Hayley up, but she was already on her knees, fussing with Marcus’s shoulder.

Hayley pulled Marcus’s tunic back, tore a piece of her apron off and used it to wipe away the blood so she could get a good look at the wound. She pressed her hand over the hole to slow the bleeding and all but dared him to move until a sister could get out there to take care of it.

Alek left Hayley for Marcus to deal with and alternately pushed and pulled Landis into the chapel. Once he had her in the kitchen, he pointed to a chair. “Stay here until I get back. I need to take charge of the prisoner so Rhianna can get inside. I don’t want either one of you out in the open until Myron gets here.” Landis nodded and sat down at the table.

Alek turned to the chapel aide who was washing dishes. “I need someone to go to the castle and get Cpt. Darrell and Gen. Crandal. Could you find someone to do that?” When the aide nodded and started wiping her hands, he added, “And see if anyone has any idea where Myron might be. We need him, too. And if there’s a sister around, we’ve got some injuries out here.”

The young woman’s eyes opened wide, but she asked no questions, just took off at a run.

Meanwhile, Marcus used his outstretched hand to move the archer’s bow and quiver out of his reach. Rhianna picked them up and joined him and Hayley near the back of the buggy. As soon as Rhianna was away from the archer, Marcus set up a second shield isolating him.

Alek stopped by the buggy to tell Marcus help should be on the way soon and to ask if he still had the shield in place. Marcus nodded.

“Can I get to the archer? Or is the shield between us and him.”

“I’ve got two up, a large one on the other side of the archer blocking the woods, and a smaller one shielding us. I can let that one down if you want to go check on him.”

Alek nodded and headed in that direction. “But put it back up once I’m past. I don’t want to take any chances.”

The first person the chapel aide found was Theresa. When she told her what Alek had said, Theresa sent her to the tavern to see if anyone there had seen Myron. She sent another aide to the castle to find Darrell and Gen. Crandal, and then she ran outside to tend to the injuries.

When she saw Hayley kneeling beside Marcus and all the blood on Marcus’s clothes, she made herself slow down and take a deep breath. He was sitting up and didn’t look like he was about to fall over, so it must not be too bad. She knelt beside Hayley and gently touched Hayley’s hand. When Hayley didn’t move, Theresa slowly peeled Hayley’s hand off Marcus’s shoulder.

With a heavy sigh, Hayley leaned back so Theresa could examine the wound. Theresa wiped the little bit of fresh blood away and looked at the wound. Then she sat back on her heels, grinning.

Hayley frowned when she saw Theresa’s smile. “Theresa, do something! Close the wound!”

Theresa shook her head. “No need.”

“What do you mean no need? He’s been shot! He’s bleeding! Look at all the blood! Theresa! Do something!”

Hayley was on the verge of becoming hysterical, so Theresa took hold of both of Hayley’s hands and said, “Look at me.” But Hayley kept staring at all the blood on Marcus’s tunic. Theresa shook her. “Hayley! Look at me, not at him.”

Hayley finally tore her eyes off Marcus and turned towards Theresa. Her face was pale, tears were flowing down her cheeks, and her eyes were filled with fear. Theresa gripped Hayley’s shoulders and said, “Take a deep breath. Now another.”

As Hayley breathed, she started to calm down. Theresa nodded and leaned back. “Now look at the wound and tell me what you see.”

Hayley forced herself to look at the spot where the arrow had gone in Marcus’s shoulder. The hole was closed. It was pink and it looked sore, but it was no longer an open wound. Hayley let out a long sigh. “I didn’t see you close it. I’m sorry I yelled at you. I’ve never seen anyone get shot before, and it was Marcus!”

Theresa smiled and shook her head. “I didn’t close it, Hayley. You did.”

Hayley’s eyebrows knitted together as a deep frown took over her face. She shook her head. “I couldn’t have. I’m not a sister. I don’t have the power. I can’t heal. You must have done it without realizing it.”

Theresa shook her head. “You’re the one who did it without realizing it, Hayley. I promise you, I did not close that wound. It was already closed when I peeled your hand away. You did it. You do have the power. Congratulations! You’re going to be a sister.”

Then Theresa looked over at Marcus. “But what a horrible way to find out. Are you all right? I mean other than having been shot. And who shot you?”

Marcus leaned around Theresa and pointed towards Alek. “Over there with Alek. He fell out of a tree when the knife hit his shoulder. I think his leg’s broken, too.”

“Who threw the knife?” Theresa asked as she stood up.

“Rhianna. She was over there.” Marcus pointed towards the edge of the woods to his right.

Theresa looked over at Rhianna and nodded. “Good aim.”

Rhianna smiled. “After you remove the knife, could I please have it back? My father gave me that one when I turned thirteen. It’s my favorite and I’d hate to lose it.”

Theresa grinned. “I think that can be arranged.” Then she looked at Marcus. “I’ve sent someone for Darrell and Gen. Crandal, but I have no idea where Myron is. Do you?”

Marcus shook his head. “He could be anywhere by now.” Marcus shot several energy bolts into the sky, one after another. “I have no idea whether or not he’ll see those, or if he’ll come check it out if he does, but that’s the best I can offer.” Then he turned to Hayley. “Now that you know I’m all right, would you and Rhianna go in the chapel and keep Landis company? And see if you can find us something to eat. I’ll take care of your horse and buggy.”

Chapter 37

Saryn

An hour later, Theresa stepped out of the treatment room where she had been taking care of the archer. Rigel and Alek were standing in the hallway waiting to take charge of the prisoner. Theresa nodded to them and said, “You can go on in, but he’s not going anywhere unless you have some type of stretcher. I don’t want him putting any weight on that leg for at least a week.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Alek said as he took up a position inside the room.

Rigel remained in the hall. “We’ll see to it as soon as Myron is finished with him.”

“Is he in the kitchen?”

Rigel nodded.

When Theresa reached the kitchen, she returned Rhianna’s knife and looked at Gen. Crandal. “I don’t want him moved until you have a stretcher and a wagon. Where is he going to stay tonight?”

“We can leave him here if you want,” the general answered. “I can put some soldiers down here to keep an eye on him, but I’d rather take him on to the jail.”

Theresa fingered her pendant. “He won’t hurt us, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“I’m not sure what I’m worried about until I have a chance to talk to him,” Gen. Crandal answered.

Darrell nodded. “Can we all fit in his room?”

Theresa glanced around the table. “All of you?”

Kevin nodded. “It would be best. That way we can all hear his answers, provided he has any.”

Theresa glanced at Landis and Rhianna. When they both nodded, she said, “All right, but I want this done orderly. We have other patients in the chapel right now and I don’t want them disturbed.”

“They won’t be,” Darrell said. “We’ve already talked about it. Gen. Crandal will ask questions, and the prisoner will either answer or he won’t.”

“And if he doesn’t?” Theresa looked at Gen. Crandal.

“We’ll wait until we have him at the jail and try again there.”

“Well, I do have some tea that might make him a little more cooperative.” Theresa shrugged. “He hit Marcus with an arrow. I want answers as much as the rest of you.”

Gen. Crandal smiled. “I wasn’t going to suggest it, but as you offered, I think a cup of tea is just what he needs to help him relax. I’d be willing to wait while you fix it.”

Theresa nodded and stepped over to the counter. “This won’t take but a minute. If you want to go on in and introduce yourselves, I’ll bring it in when it’s ready. And his name is Saryn, by the way.”

They all stood up and filed out of the kitchen.

By the time Theresa had the tea ready, all five of them were in the archer’s room and Alek and Rigel were back on guard duty in the hall. Theresa opened the door and stepped inside.

“Sister Theresa wants to give you some tea to help you rest after your injuries,” Gen. Crandal said. Then he turned to Theresa. “I’ve explained that we have a few questions. He doesn’t object to answering them.”

The archer, Saryn, sipped the tea and then shook his head. “He said he’d pay me to kill her. He didn’t say anything about paying me to keep my mouth shut. I’ll tell you what you want to know, but it won’t do you any good. There are plenty more just like me out there.”

“Who is ‘he’?”

“Rolan. He’s the one who sent me.”

Gen. Crandal shot a quick glance at Kevin.

“Rolan, of the House of Gergin?” Kevin asked.

“That’s the one. The Seated Sorcerer of Brendolanth.”

Kevin nodded at Gen. Crandal and leaned back against the wall.

“You said he was going to pay you to kill her. Who were you supposed to kill?”

“Her.” Saryn pointed at Landis. “Landis. Tsareth’s youngest daughter. Rolan’s sister.”

Kevin looked over at Landis while Saryn was talking and watched the blood slowly drain out of her face. Then he saw Rhianna slip her hand into Landis’s and give it a slight squeeze.

Landis straightened her shoulders. “You must not be a very good archer. You missed.”

“Why did you shoot Marcus?” Gen. Crandal asked at the same time.

“I wasn’t aiming at you,” Saryn said, looking at Landis. “My first arrow was meant for the sorcerer.” He gave a quick nod towards Marcus. “Why did you jump like that? I’d have had you if you hadn’t.”

Marcus shrugged. “I saw a movement. I wasn’t sure what it was, but I didn’t stop to think about it. I just jumped.”