by Jaleta Clegg
Chapter 25
I had a very strong sense of déjà vu the next morning. Tayvis and I rode the same path as before, only this time it was just the two of us and we both rode horses. Robin offered to send an escort. Tayvis declined. He argued we would travel much faster and be less conspicuous on our own. Robin reluctantly agreed, especially after one of his scouts returned with news that the Duchess' guards had sacked a town supporting Robin and his men.
The horses trotted quickly down the path. By midmorning we reached the place where Ky attacked us before. We stopped to water the horses.
"How are your bruises?" Tayvis asked.
"Sore."
He staked out the horses to let them graze. I rested next to the stream. Water flowed in shallow ripples over a bed of rounded rocks.
"We should be at the base by tomorrow afternoon," Tayvis said. "As long as the weather holds."
I looked skeptically at clear blue sky.
"Thunderstorms," he explained. "Will says the weather will turn soon."
Tivor's climate, at least in the main port city, didn't include thunderstorms. The Academy at Eruus didn't either. All I knew about thunderstorms I'd learned from vids. Lights flashed, lots of rain poured down, the storm ended quickly. No problem.
"You're quiet this morning." Tayvis sat near me.
"What am I supposed to say?" I twisted my cuff back to examine the healing sores on my wrist.
"What are you planning on doing when you get off Dadilan?" He trailed his fingers in the stream.
"I haven't thought that far ahead. I'm just trying to survive until then."
"You don't have a ship." He said it nicely, but it still stung.
"Everything I owned blew up with my ship. Why are you bringing this up?" I didn't want to face the fact that I owned a grand total of twelve credits and a bit of change. If my account was still valid. I had no life waiting for me.
"You could always join the Patrol, Dace."
I stood abruptly. "I'd rather stick my head in an engine exhaust port. While the engine's running."
"You already joined."
I clenched my fists. "You were going to shoot me if I didn't."
"You really believed I would?"
"How was I supposed to know you wouldn't?"
"Point made."
"This is temporary. Isn't it?"
"What is so objectionable about the Patrol?"
"I've been taking orders my whole life."
"Be quiet." He lifted his hand, his whole body listening.
I snapped my mouth shut.
Horses squealed, out of sight down the main road. Tayvis grabbed ours, tightening the saddles. I ran to help.
Horses crashed into the clearing. Sunlight reflected off a familiar bald head. I fought panic at the sight. Ky had found us again.
Tayvis pulled a sword out of his gear. "Get on and go!" Tayvis held his sword high.
"I'm not running away again."
The men charged. Tayvis blocked their clubs with his weapon. I grabbed the reins to keep our horses from running away. They fought my hold, rearing and squealing. I couldn't hold them. They galloped into the woods.
Ky dismounted from his horse, bypassing the men fighting Tayvis.
I squeezed my hands into fists, waiting for an opening.
Ky scowled ferociously. "Leran wants your head. He doesn't appreciate you making a fool of him."
I flexed my fists. I had one punch; I wanted it to hurt as much as possible. If Ky noticed, he didn't show it. I ignored his angry words and waited.
"You made me look a fool." Ky glanced at the fight.
Ky's men knocked the sword from Tayvis' hand, then clubbed him into submission. He sprawled on the grass next to the stream, blood caking in his hair.
"Not even your lover can save you now." Ky smirked.
I put every ounce of anger and fear into my swing. He blocked it with his arm. I felt a fleeting moment of satisfaction when I saw him wince. He grabbed my arm, twisting it behind my back. I kicked his shins. He twisted my arm farther, forcing me to my knees.
"Leran wants the pleasure of actually killing you, but he won't mind if I do a bit of damage first. Resist, Dace, fight me. Give me an excuse to beat you senseless."
More horses pounded into the clearing, slowing near the water. Ky yanked me to my feet. Vunia frowned as she pulled her horse to a stop.
"She's Patrol. Just kill her," Vunia ordered Ky.
He growled and shook me. "I don't take orders from you. Leran knows she's working for the Patrol. He wants his satisfaction."
"We don't have time for petty revenge," Vunia snapped. "Just kill her."
"As I said, Leran wants that pleasure. Five men less won't affect your plans. Tell your mistress we'll be at the monastery at the proper time. We'll dispose of the Patrol agents."
Vunia didn't argue. She wheeled her horse and rode away. Horses and men trailed after her on the path to the Patrol base. Ky jerked me out of the way.
Once they passed out of sight, Ky dragged me over to a horse. "You're going to pay a visit to Leran. Along with your partner." He shoved me at one of his men. "Tie her on."
The man picked me up, throwing me onto the horse. I kicked it, hoping it would run away. It jumped to the side. The man grabbed the reins. Ky slapped me hard across my face. My nose dripped blood. Ky tied my hands to the saddle. They tied my ankles with a length of rope that ran under the horse's belly. The horse snorted and sidled. Ky tugged at the ropes and nodded. He slapped me again, smiling as blood dripped from my lip.
"Tie him on the pack horse," he ordered his men.
I twisted enough to watch. They picked up Tayvis, slinging him across a horse. He hung limply. Blood matted the back of his head. If he were dead, they'd leave him.
Ky slapped me again. "Worried about your lover, are you?" He jerked my horse around, so I couldn't see Tayvis. "Leran should have let me kill you. We should have left you in the Baron's dungeon. It's a mistake I intend to remedy. Move out!" Ky grabbed his horse, swinging onto its back.
Ky rode down the road next to the stream. His men followed, my horse led by one in the middle and Tayvis at the rear.
We rode hard through the rest of the day. We crossed from the hills of Sherwood to the wide valley. I saw Gragensberg in the distance. We kept going, into the hills on the other side. The few villagers unlucky enough to see us pretended they didn't, one glance at me and then back to their fields and animals.
We rode high in the hills, away from farms and villages. Tall pine trees covered the slopes. The sun set as we rode into a wide clearing dominated by a single building with a squat, round tower at one end. The rest was a tall rectangle built of huge logs. The windows blazed with golden light from inside.
Ky got off his horse. He stalked over to me, pulling out his knife.
I gingerly licked my swollen lip, tasting dried blood.
Ky chuckled as he played with his dagger.
His men cut Tayvis loose. He fell to the ground, groaning when he hit. Ky's men dragged him into the building. I took small comfort in knowing he still lived. From the look in Ky's eyes I wouldn't for much longer.
Ky's knife flashed, severing the ropes. He pushed me from the horse.
I sprawled in the dirt at his feet. I gathered myself, ready to fight.
He grabbed my shirt, yanking me to my feet. "Enough games." He shoved me through the door into the building.
Animal heads decorated the walls. Glass eyes watched without pity.
Two windows in the opposite wall showed nothing of the night outside, reflecting instead the light of the lamps burning between heads. A small fire burned sullenly in a space big enough to roast a whole horse. The flames flickered as the front door shut. Two chairs sat in front of the fireplace occupied by men I never wanted to meet again.
Leran lifted a single eyebrow, sipping from a glass of amber liquid.
Baron Molier rose from his chair. "The demon? What spell did you cast? Since you came into my dunge
on I have been unable to think of any other woman. So plain." He stroked my cheek with his hand. "It isn't your beauty that holds me since you have none. What evil magic did you work? No matter, now that I have you again perhaps I can break your spell."
I shuddered at his touch, backing into Ky. I didn't know who scared me more. Ky used my shirt to jerk me away from the Baron's hand.
Leran chuckled. "She's too dangerous for you, Baron. Leave her to me."
Baron Molier snaked his hand out, grabbing the collar of my shirt. He glared at Leran. "I have been well versed in dealing with demons. I will take great pleasure in breaking the spell myself."
"She is more than you believe." Leran carefully set his glass on the arm of his heavy chair. "This is a matter best left to expert knowledge."
Molier yanked my collar. I staggered towards him. Ky grabbed my shirt. Molier growled softly.
"Should I be flattered you're fighting over me?"
Ky slapped me across the back of my head with his free hand.
"You forget your place, sorcerer," Molier told Leran. "I dealt with demons long before you came to my lands. I will attend to this one personally."
Leran stood, drawing himself to his full height. He looked impressive in dark green and silver. Molier didn't flinch.
"You threaten me?" Molier said.
The tension in the room tightened. Leran's men fingered their weapons.
"A voice of warning, Baron," Leran said. "Nothing more. The demon has proven herself cunning and devious."
"She is still a woman." Molier turned his predatory smile on me.
I shrank away from him as far as Ky's fist would allow.
Ameli entered, her skirts swishing in a sudden silence. "Leran? I can't find the blankets. What is she doing here?" She planted her fists on her hips and glared. Her blond hair coiled in tidy braids around her head, like a crown.
Leran's smile spread over his lips like oil on water. "A trade, Baron? A woman for a woman."
Molier cocked his head, studying Ameli, his eyes cold and calculating. His fingers rubbed absently over my collar. "You will break her hold on my soul?" He let go of my collar.
"But of course." Leran gave Molier a half bow. "Your soul is always in my care, Baron."
Ameli paled. "Leran? You can't do this."
Molier advanced on her. She backed away from him.
"Leran! The terms of my research contract were very clear." She switched to Basic, her eyes focused on Molier, though she begged Leran.
"And who is to know, Ameli my dear? Think of the opportunities for field research."
"You speak the demon tongue!" Molier shot a suspicious glare at Leran.
"The lady Ameli is part demon," Leran said, "on her mother's side."
Baron Molier took another step towards Ameli.
"Leran? Please don't do this." She flattened herself against the wall.
"I will see that your reports are published," Leran assured her.
She stretched her hands along the wall, fumbling for a weapon. She came up empty. Molier leisurely plucked pins from her hair. It slithered down around her face. She whimpered.
Leran lifted his glass, studying the liquid inside.
"Leran!" Ameli called desperately.
Molier kicked open the door into the far wing of the lodge, shoving Ameli through. The door shut with a bang, muffling her pleas.
Tayvis groaned.
Leran's gaze flickered to where he sprawled on the floor. "Chain him."
His goons dragged Tayvis to the wall. They snapped iron cuffs around his wrists, leaving him hanging under a row of especially gloomy animal heads. He sagged, still barely conscious.
"I will get answers from you," Leran threatened. "No lies this time. Tie her," he snapped at his men.
They shoved me into a chair. They tied my wrists to the arms, my ankles to the legs, my waist to the back. By the time they finished my head was the only part that could move.
Part of me still plotted escape. I would take any opportunity Leran gave me, though I doubted he would be that sloppy. The rest of me wondered what torture he would use and how much it would hurt.
