by K. T. Webb
“No one can see what they aren’t looking for.” Harcos seemed to be grinning.
His fur had begun to change in preparation for the coming snow. The mottled orange, red, and brown was disappearing as he shed. A canthion’s winter coat was pure white. The transition almost made Honor think of a man aging from youth to maturity.
“Okay, then what are you doing in here?” Honor tried a different approach.
“I needed to speak with you before you left for Milltown.”
Honor sat on her cot, waiting for him to continue. Even though she felt the undeniable connection with the canthion, it was not going to be easy to get used to the idea of chatting with him like an old friend.
“I am concerned that you aren’t focusing on what we must accomplish.” Harcos’ vibrating voice was low.
“Well, considering that I do not even know what it is that we are supposed to accomplish, you are probably right.” Honor maintained eye contact with the intimidating creature.
“There is much for you to learn before you begin your journey, but we have not the time to discuss it. I know you are set on bringing the boy along. I do not know how well he will adjust to traveling with us.”
Honor knew Harcos had a point. Rowan would not be too keen on the company of something he did not understand, but she was confident his feelings would change if she showed him he had nothing to fear.
“Rowan goes with me. There will be no arguments on that.”
A low growl rolled out of his chest. “I figured as much. Fine. Then, to begin with, I will stay out of sight. It will become increasingly more difficult for us to be apart. You will need my protection for what you will face.”
“Would you stop being so cryptic? I am going to let you in on a little secret, I have no idea what any of this is about.” Honor failed to hold her frustration back. “You have no idea what it is like for me, do you? I am sitting here talking to a creature that could kill me with one paw swipe. I was healed by something that my friends did not know still existed. I have a mark that basically sets me up to be a murderer. And you are sitting here telling me I need to focus on some mission we’ve been given.”
Harcos looked bored. “Are you done?”
Honor narrowed her eyes slightly. “No, I am not. Did it ever occur to you that I may need a bit more information than you’ve been willing to share?”
Harcos nodded. “You are right. I have been raised my whole life knowing that one day I would be expected to embark on this journey. You were thrust into this overnight and have been ill-prepared for what lies ahead.”
“Well, good. I am glad you can form an understanding of my feelings. Now, what did you really come here for, Harcos?”
“Eirny has chosen to stay with us.”
Honor was surprised by this news. From what Maris had told her, impaisos were a dying race. It seemed dangerous for Eirny to follow Honor across Alderwood.
“Delta regrettably cannot join us as ambassador for the Kingdom of Earth. She is working tirelessly to find someone more . . . mobile.”
“I see.” Honor did not really see what he was saying at all. She was just as lost as before.
“Our journey will begin soon. You must remember to watch your surroundings and stay away from the Makt.”
Before she could respond, the canthion disappeared. Of course she would stay away from the Makt. Who would purposely seek out the murderous men? With a huff of frustration, Honor grabbed what she needed from her tent. She was still irritable when she met up with Rowan moments later.
Their walk to Milltown seemed to take less time than it had just weeks before. Perhaps it was that the anticipation was gone, perhaps she was not as tired. Either way, before she knew it, they had arrived at the edge of the village. Almost immediately upon their arrival, Honor felt something was wrong. The usually bustling streets were vacant. As they drew closer to the center of Milltown, a strange odor began to fill the air. The smell of destruction. It was the odor left behind by a raging fire. Rowan gripped her by the elbow and yanked her off the main road.
“That smell is not right. Something happened here,” Rowan whispered as he peered around the wall he had hidden them behind.
From their position, they could see much of the main square. The charred remains of the various huts and buildings sent a shock of dread through Honor. The town seemed to be abandoned. A shard of ice struck through her heart as she realized the correlation between the two Makt soldiers she had seen and the destruction of Milltown. Why had it not occurred to her that they’d been scouts? Could she have warned the people in the village? Honor shook her head, she knew if the Makt decided to attack, nothing would stop them. Everything around them was silent. The only thing she could hear was the pulsing of blood pounding through her head. The silence was troubling; the overpowering odor was disturbing.
“We have to keep going, Rowan,” Honor whispered, trying desperately to take shallow breaths through her mouth.
Rowan finally relented, allowing Honor to take the lead. Before they got too far, she turned and handed him one of the daggers she kept strapped around her waist. He gripped it tightly and nodded for her to continue. Honor knew if it came down to it, a dagger and bow would not do anything to protect them from the Makt.
They crept further toward the center of Milltown. With each step, fear raced through her veins. She had no idea what they would find. The intense smell could only be described as rancid. As they rounded the corner of the inn they’d eaten at on their previous visit, Honor immediately regretted the decision to explore. They both stood in shock, staring at something from a nightmare.
Rowan turned and violently expelled the contents of his stomach. Honor managed to suppress the urge to vomit. In the center of Milltown lay a smoldering pile of charred human remains. Men, women, children, and the tiny burned body of an infant lay rotting in a black pile that must have burned for hours. Before her brain could fully process what she was seeing, Harcos bounded into sight. Rowan stood still. He was not yet comfortable with the constant reappearance of such a dangerous creature, but he had come to understand Harcos posed no threat to them.
“We have to leave, now. Your family is in danger,” Harcos growled.
Honor shook her head, “What do you me—?”
The visions. Maris. They were going to die. Without warning, Honor grabbed Rowan and sprinted away from the horror they’d found. He did not question her. He, too, wanted to put as much distance between them and the terrible things that happened in Milltown.
“Do you think there’s anyone left alive?” Rowan asked, slowing before they reached the edge of the ruined village.
In her desperation to leave, the thought had not occurred to Honor. She turned to look over her shoulder at the canthion who had been keeping close behind.
“You do not have time. I caught their scent heading for your camp. It is a wonder they did not cross paths with you on your journey.”
“Harcos, is there anyone left alive here?” Honor demanded.
Rowan looked between his fiancé and the beast. He could not understand the grunts and growls of the canthion, but at least he was not accusing her of being crazy. Harcos tilted his head slightly and sniffed the air. He was irritated with Honor. She could feel it. She did not care. After a few agonizing moments, the animal hung his head.
“No. Any who may have lived fled when the attack started. Some went north. I think a few were taken prisoner, I can smell their fear trailing along with the blood-soaked scent left behind by the Makt.”
Honor nodded. “He says there are no survivors left here. Some got away, others were taken prisoner. Most importantly, you need to know the Makt are heading straight for our family.”
Terror ripped across Rowan’s face as he set off at a run back the way they had come. Honor knew they could not go barreling into camp if they planned to survive. She ran behind, the canthion falling into step next to her.
By the time they reached the path leading off the main ro
ad, Harcos told her it did not look promising. She did not know what to tell Rowan or what they would find. The canthion trotted ahead. Honor tensed as Harcos leaped at a tree, scaling it in a matter of seconds. Honor took Rowan by the hand as they bounded down the slope toward home. They were not far from the camp when shouts erupted ahead. Rowan sprang into action, but Honor grabbed him in time to pull him back.
“Do not be stupid, Rowan. We cannot go crashing in there if the Makt are there. We will not be helping anyone if we join them.”
Rowan jerked away. “But we cannot just sit here.”
“We will not. We are going to help in any way we can. We just have to be smart about it.”
Honor led him along the far edge of the clearing. Shouts and cries flared ahead, accompanied by the harsh commands of the Makt. Rowan flinched at the sound of a woman screaming. Even though she knew there was an attack happening, Honor wondered why there was not more noise, more fear and terror emanating from their home. Where were the cries of the children? She refused to entertain the thought that they were already dead. The adults of their family would stop at nothing to protect their young, they would die keeping them from harm. As they crept across a narrow section of the river, just above Delta’s pool, Honor made out some of the words being exchanged.
From the sound of things, the Makt were demanding information. A voice Honor recognized, Maris, bravely told them they would not be getting any cooperation from her. A sickening thump followed the declaration. Rowan nearly took off at the sound, but Honor gave him a warning look. He knew running into the fray would be the same as volunteering to be executed. From their vantage point behind the large willow trees, Honor could see a few bodies scattered at awkward angles on the edge of camp. Their men had been prepared to protect their home, and some had paid the price.
Harcos was nearby. His thoughts seemed to infiltrate her own. She knew they would be able to sneak closer to camp from this spot without being detected. Harcos could see the Makt soldiers. They had gathered the remaining adults in the center of camp. As if they wanted to instill terror in each person, they moved from one to the next demanding information they could not provide. When they did not relent, the Makt struck them down. Harcos could not tell if they were dead or unconscious.
“We need to get to the center.” Honor rose to her feet only to be dragged backward with a hand clamped over her mouth.
“Shhh! Do not move. You cannot help them if you are dead,” Gray whispered in her ear.
Relief flooded through her. Maris was still in danger of suffering a bloody fate, but it comforted her to know Gray was alive. Honor turned quickly to embrace him.
“What’s going on? Why are you out here?” Honor demanded.
“Maris told me long ago that this day would come. We’ve had an escape plan in place for years. Most of the women and all the children are safe. Only a few of the men went with them. We needed the others to stay and cause a distraction,” Gray explained.
“Why did not we know about this?” Rowan demanded.
“Your mother was clear. You and Honor were not going to be in danger in this attack. The only way it would work would be if you were unaware.”
Honor did not know if she wanted to punch Maris or hug her. The woman had known more than she had let on, she had indeed prepared for any possibility. Knowing she was not going to find the bodies of the children she had watched grow from infancy brought some comfort.
“So, what now? Aren’t we going to help whoever is left down there?” Rowan demanded.
Gray shook his head sadly. “No. Your mother was very firm. I was to keep you from intervening until the Makt were gone.” He looked at Honor. “She said to remind you that you are no good to Alderwood if you are dead. You have a destiny to fulfill, one that some will stop at nothing to keep you from.”
Honor nodded once. She understood all too well what Maris’ message meant. Though it killed her not to help the mother who raised her, Honor felt the relevance of doing as she was told for the first time in her life. Without argument, Honor and Rowan followed Gray away from the camp.
Each was on high alert as they moved through the trees trying to make as little noise as possible. Honor knew the woods well, so she was curious to see where Gray was leading them. There were no structures nearby, if there were, it would surely have caught the attention of the Makt. Rowan slid his hand into hers. She could only imagine what he was going through. Honor loved Maris like a mother, but she really was Rowan’s mother. She had been too young to fully comprehend her own mother’s death when it happened. Now, she knew exactly what that loss felt like.
Gray slowed to a stop near an old tree. If Honor tried to reach around its trunk, she would need at least two more fully grown adults to close the circle. Gray ran a hand along the bark as though patting a horse. He paused near a knot in the wood and knocked four times in a pattern.
“On behalf of Maris, we request entry.”
The face of an elderly man appeared on the surface of the tree. Honor stepped back in surprise. Of course, it made sense for there to be living beings in every element of nature. Delta belonged to the water, why would there not be creatures who lived in trees?
“You may enter and be well.”
A ripple washed over the oversized base revealing an opening large enough for them to crouch and enter. Gray motioned for them to go first. Rowan looked skeptical. Honor was up for the adventure. She bent her knees and waddled inside. A slope led her down underground. Rowan and Gray filed in behind her as she followed the angled decline deeper into the earth. At times, she wondered if they were burrowing down to the home of some large woodland creature. Certainly, the structure had not been manmade, it was imperfect in a way that man could never hope to achieve.
“Almost there,” Gray grunted from behind.
Honor knew he must have been right, because she could hear voices up ahead. She continued to walk like a duck until she was forced onto her knees by the narrowing tunnel. Finally, the space gave way, and she was able to rise to a standing position.
“Honor! Rowan!” A throng of people rushed to meet them.
Honor hugged the group as the children crowded around their legs. She noticed Saige and a few of the children’s parents brimming with emotion at the edge of the open cavern. It occurred to Honor that they must have gone much further underground than she had initially thought. Crystals and stalagmites jutted out from otherwise smooth walls and ceiling. Cool air seemed too full of human heat to feel natural. Honor looked around at the details. There were cots and tunnels that extended in other directions. How could it be possible that Maris had somehow built a labyrinth for them in preparation for this day? It seemed unlikely that she had accomplished this alone. The face of the old man appeared in her mind once more. There was clearly much about Alderwood Honor did not know, information Maris had used to save her family.
“How long are you going to stay down here?” Rowan asked his father.
“Once the Makt are gone, the plan is to head to Milltown. We’ll figure it out from there.”
Honor returned her focus to Gray. “I do not think that’s a wise idea. You will not find much in Milltown aside from a traumatizing pile of corpses.”
The other adults had gathered nearby as the children went back to chasing a tiny lightning bug around the cavern. Murmurs told Honor they were going to need more explanation. She and Rowan told their story, ending with the moment Gray found them to bring them to safety. Both had conveniently left out any mention of Harcos. There were too many unknowns that made telling anyone of his involvement much more complicated. Honor herself had yet to fully grasp why he was there and what was expected of her. There was no way she would be able to articulate it all to anyone but those closest to her.
“If we are not to go to Milltown, then what should we do, Gray?” Fern, one of the young mothers, asked.
“I am not entirely sure. It is hard to determine where the Makt have been. I think we’ll head north. Our ca
mp is south of Milltown and just off the road that leads through Alderwood toward Pallisaide. My best guess is they are heading south again.”
Honor knew he had no way of truly predicting the movements or motives of the Makt. No one but King Junius usually had a grasp on their whereabouts. Even the King himself seemed to have lost control of his trained attack dogs in recent years. The other adults took Gray’s word as law. They were desperate for a leader, someone to keep them from falling victim to a bloody death at the hands of the soldiers.
Honor looked around at the survivors gathered underground. Some she knew would be back at the camp, either dead or soon to be. Others she wondered why they would not be here with the rest of their camp.
“Where is Ash? Tell me he did not stay behind to fight?” Honor demanded in the middle of the conversations going on around her.
Almost immediately, a silence covered the group like a heavy weight. No one made eye contact with her. He must have died.
“Oh no, he was so young,” she began to lament before Gray cut her off.
“Do not let his youth lead you astray. He is not dead, Honor. Apparently, he has joined the Makt. He led them to us.” Gray looked apologetically at Saige.
Ash had never been much of a leader, so it did not surprise her that he would find something to be a part of that would allow him anonymity and autonomy. But she had never imagined he would join the Makt. A sick feeling in her stomach clenched her tightly until bile rose in her throat. One glance at the look of apologetic pleading on Saige’s face confirmed Gray’s words. Ash had led the Makt to their camp.
“But, why?” Honor barely managed to bring her voice above a whisper.
Silence and a few halfhearted shrugs were the only responses she received. No one had an answer to offer. Her heart sank.
“When do we go see if anyone survived?” Rowan demanded.
“We do not. Maris was very clear. We leave tonight after dusk.”
“We are not going with you.” Honor surprised herself with the statement.
Gray nodded. “I expected as much. Get some rest, I will wake you before we leave.”
