Trading Into Daylight (The Magic Below Paris Book 6)

by C. M. Simpson

“Upstream or dow— Which way was the water going, and where was the mule?”

  Marsh couldn’t find the water to answer him, but her mind provided the pictures, and he cursed again.

  “Here, sit there,” he told her, dumping her unceremoniously on the ground before unbuckling his belt.

  “What are you doing, shadow mage?” Jakob’s voice rang clearly through the gully.

  So much for admiring the buildings, Marsh thought as the deer started.

  He was worried, Roeglin tried to explain. Marsh just bet he was.

  The world swam, and Marsh felt Mordan’s disgust as the deer bolted. The hunt had just become more complicated, and it was all Marsh’s fault.

  No fair, Dan... Marsh slumped forward.

  “What are you doing?” Jakob’s voice was much closer this time, and Marsh caught a sense of genuine puzzlement in his tone.

  “She got some on her,” Roeglin explained. “I need to go dunk her in the river, and I don’t want to get my clothes wet.”

  “Well, you’re doing a fine job of that,” Jakob snarled, picking up Roeglin’s shirt and trousers as well as Marsh’s sodden clothes. “I’ll just go drape them on a rock. They might be ready for you to wear by the time the others get to camp.”

  Roeglin sighed. “Thanks, Jakob.”

  “Just get her clean.”

  “Hey...” Even to her own ears, the protest sounded feeble.

  Roeglin scooped her up in his arms and held her against his very bare chest. Marsh tried to protest but found she didn’t have the energy. Jakob’s warning reached them from what seemed miles away.

  “And for the Deep’s sake, don’t get any of that shit on yourself. I’m not sure I can pull you both out of the river.”

  River... Like that itty bit of— Marsh gasped as Roeglin reached the middle and dropped her.

  Merde! Sorry, Marsh. Oh, Deeps! A hand snatched her arm and hauled her head above the water. Marsh drew a choking breath as Roeglin apologized. Désolé, désolé...merde, she’ll never have me now...

  Even in her foggy condition, Marsh was pretty sure she hadn’t been meant to hear that last bit. She sputtered with laughter. How could she not, when he was trying so hard?

  Stunned silence filtered through her amusement, and her face turned red. Oh, Deeps. You weren’t meant...

  Roeglin gave a rueful chuckle. “We’re a pair, aren’t we? Deep breath, now.”

  Deep breath? Oh... Marsh was glad she’d done as he’d asked because he shoved her head back under the water and scrubbed her head and neck before pulling her back out. As soon as he had, he shifted them both upstream.

  “Think you can get the rest of yourself clean?”

  Marsh nodded, but nearly fell as a wave of dizziness rolled over her.

  Merde, rattled through her head. Out loud, Roeglin said, “Hold still.”

  She wanted to ask him where the cloth had come from but didn’t. When he was done, he carried her to the bank and passed her to Jakob, who wrapped her in another dry cloth.

  “I’ll be out in a minute,” he promised, and Marsh couldn’t help but glance at him. To her disgust, he was fine. Whatever precautions he’d taken to avoid the dust, they’d worked. She couldn’t feel a single sign of them in his head. Of course, she was still affected...

  How badly affected was revealed a moment later when Jakob set her hurriedly down beside a tree. “Stay here.”

  He didn’t wait to see if she was okay but rushed away, returning shortly afterward with Roeglin draped over his shoulders. He was soaked to the skin.

  “Goat-sucking mages...”

  He’d managed to get Marsh dry enough for a shirt, and had turned to Roeglin when a hoot of laughter reached them.

  “Putain à vous, Henri,” Jakob muttered, as Marsh struggled to her feet using the tree for support. He handed her a pair of pants. “They’re nearly dry.”

  Nearly dry was good enough. Marsh managed to get into them without falling over, although she came close. Jakob saved her twice, lashing out to grab her before she completely lost it.

  Henri thought it was hilarious. “Jakob, I didn’t know you swung that way.”

  “Which way, Henri?”

  “Every way,” the other man chortled, and Jakob glared at him.

  “So what if I do?”

  “I’d be asking you how you got the pair of them to cooperate.”

  Jakob was far from amused. “You’re not funny. Do they look like they’re cooperating to you?”

  Henri closed the distance and looked down at Roeglin before studying Marsh. He took hold of her before she slid away from the tree and sat her carefully on a log. “Bridge, take this, would you?”

  Marsh might have been offended, but Henri left her as soon as Brigitte came and sat beside her. Marsh watched as the big man picked Roeglin up and helped Jakob get the mage back into his clothing.

  Behind them, Obasi soothed the mules and saddled the one she’d cleaned.

  “What happened?” Henri demanded.

  Jakob pointed at her. “She decided to wash the Deeps-be-damned mule.”

  Marsh?

  Marsh rolled her eyes. Master Envermet in her head was the last thing she needed.

  Marsh? The question was repeated and accompanied by a mental shake.

  Mule’s clean... Marsh ventured, and he was gone. We’ll come as soon as we can. Do as you’re told.

  Just what was that all about? Marsh’s head swam, and her stomach roiled.

  Gerry’s voice dragged at her attention. “Is the tack dry?”

  “Dry enough to use,” Jakob answered. “Why?”

  “Kat says the remnant are on the move. She got us out before they arrived. Left her kill to distract them.”

  Thanks, Dan...

  The kat hissed at her, the sound scratching the inside of her skull. Marsh got the impression of Mordan trying very hard to concentrate as she followed a large group of remnant. Now, Captain Envermet’s words made sense.

  Fear jolted through her, doing more to clear the effects of the powder than anything so far. Remnant!

  The remnant had left the deer carcass and followed the trail they’d made in the morning. Mordan had warned Aisha, and the little girl had relayed the message to Master Envermet.

  A wave of reassurance followed—Master Envermet telling her they were inside and safe. Marsh relaxed until a shadow fell across her. She looked up.

  “You need to get on the mule,” Henri told her, holding out a hand.

  Marsh took it, glad of Brigitte’s support as Henri hauled her to her feet. They helped her to her mule and boosted her into the saddle. The leather still felt slightly damp, but she didn’t mention it.

  No doubt, Henri already knew. The man had been working around mules for as long as she had. For him to be using it meant the situation was urgent...or it very soon would be. She didn’t relish trying to fight in her current condition.

  Brigitte spoke, drawing her attention. “Master Envermet says the wolves are breaking the trail.” A note of disgust crept into the mage’s voice. “Oh... They’re pissing like you wouldn’t believe!”

  “Marking their territory?” Jakob asked, and Brigitte was silent a moment.

  Marsh had a sense of her relaying the question, which was confirmed when the mage replied.

  “Yes.”

  “Funny,” Henri mused. “I didn’t know remnant knew how to track, let alone that they had the sense of smell for it.”

  The man had a point, and Marsh wondered what could be making the once-human monsters behave that way. It was like... The image of a rounded lump attached to a remnant spine flashed across her mind.

  Mordan must have picked it up because Brigitte relayed the answer shortly after.

  “Master Envermet says Mordan sees strange lumps on their backs or the back of their necks. He thinks they’re being controlled by those mind-bug things we cut off the other lot.”

  She shuddered, and Marsh shuddered with her. Why was she feeling so cold?

/>   Brigitte spoke again. “Master Envermet says we should head toward the township and try to find a secure campsite on the way. The kat and wolves will find us and guide them when it’s safe.”

  “Wish we’d brought one of the kids,” Henri muttered as three wolves trotted out from the ruins above.

  “They’re here to guide us,” Brigitte explained. Marsh threw up over the mule’s neck.

  “So much for washing the dark-assed mule,” Henri grumbled.

  “No time for that now,” Jakob told him. “Wolves want us to move.”

  More of the pack had appeared ahead of them, bouncing at the edge of the path into the ruins.

  “Henri, make sure they don’t fall off.”

  Henri watched as Brigitte walked the mule forward and groaned. “Stop, stop, stop. I’ve got a better idea.”

  Oh, yeah... Marsh thought moments later as she hung across the saddle. This is sooo much better...

  20

  Rest and Recalibration

  Marsh woke to the sound of boots stomping closer. Her head felt like it was stuffed with hot coals, and her mouth was as dry as sand. She tried to open her eyes and groaned as orange light lanced through her brain.

  The pain connected with her stomach and she rolled to one side, thankful for the bucket that materialized in front of her face.

  “I’m sorry. We found his notes, but we couldn’t identify the herbs we needed.” Master Envermet’s voice was soft with regret. “I should also kick your ass for taking such a risk.”

  “My mule,” she muttered. “My responsibility.”

  “I’ll be sure to remind Henri of that since he washed it clean when we arrived.”

  Marsh groaned again, wondering how many more dinners she was going to owe the man before she finally had a chance to pay. Master Envermet laughed.

  “Since you and Roeglin suffered instead of anyone else, he’s willing to forgive you—this time.”

  Somehow, Marsh doubted it.

  “You need to drink something,” Captain Envermet told her as Roeglin came to consciousness in the same way she had.

  Henri groaned. “How much longer?” he complained. “First the mule, now this.”

  “It could have been you,” Izmay told him, her voice far too sweet.

  Apparently, Henri thought so too because he sighed. “I’ll boil some more water, then.”

  “You do that, sweetie,” Izmay agreed, and Marsh realized the man was in trouble. She wondered what else he’d done.

  “I think Izmay disapproved of the way he transported you,” Master Envermet began. “And then there was the suggestion we stick you and your mules in the rain to be rinsed clean, and then he made Aisha cry and picked a fight with Tamlin...”

  Wow. Henri had been in fine form.

  “That’s one way to put it.” He wiped her face and eased her into a sitting position, keeping a steadying arm around her shoulders until the world stopped spinning. When everything was stable again, he lifted a mug of warm water to her lips.

  “Here, drink this...and try to keep it down. There’s only so much space in the bucket, and we don’t have any spares.”

  Marsh didn’t want to think about what that might mean, so she sipped the water cautiously. When that mug stayed down, Master Envermet had her drink another, and then a third. When that was empty, he had her sleep again.

  Roeglin’s mind brushed against hers as she faded. It was poor consolation that he seemed to be in as bad a way as she was. What the fuck had the assassin put in the dust?

  She thought she heard Master Envermet begin to reply as she faded, but she didn’t hear what he said.

  Roeglin was sitting beside her when she woke the next time. To her relief, she felt okay.

  No pain sliced through her skull when she opened her eyes, and her stomach stayed calm.

  “Hey,” Roeglin greeted her. “How are you feeling?”

  “I’m...okay,” Marsh told him, surprised to find it was true. She pushed herself upright. “Yeah, okay. You?”

  “Better than either of you has any right to be,” Henri answered, coming over to hand them a half loaf of shroom bread each.

  “Where are we?”

  “Wolves brought us here. Master Envermet kept promising us ‘a big cave,’ and this is what they came up with. It’s even got a roof and enough rocks to block the entrance.” He looked around. “It’s even better than the raider base.”

  Following his gaze, Marsh could see he was right. The building was old, but it was remarkably well preserved. She looked for signs it had been repaired and found none. The floor had been cleared of rubble, and she got the impression that was recent since there was still plenty lying beyond where the team had laid out their sleeping rolls and stabled the mules.

  “How long were we out?”

  “A day.” Henri didn’t look impressed.

  Fortunately, Master Envermet chose that moment to intervene. “However, if you and Roeglin are up to it, we can hit the town tonight. The ch...teens tell me we’ll need to go over the wall. Aisha tells me ‘No trouble, we can go through.’”

  He did a near-perfect imitation of the child’s tone, and Marsh had to laugh. Her humor died as quickly as it had arrived, however, and she pushed herself to her feet, taking a bite of her bread as she did so. “Let’s not leave Gustav there any longer than we already have.”

  Master Envermet followed her to her feet, ready to catch her if she fell.

  Marsh was about to apologize for being the cause of the trouble when he reached out and pressed his finger against her lips. “You did what needed to be done. We couldn’t have been without the mule any more than you could have left it the way it was.”

  He looked over his shoulder. “Aisha is happy.”

  For a moment, Marsh got the impression that the little girl’s happiness was as important to him as the mule. He raised an eyebrow. “And it’s not to you?”

  That made her smile. “Don’t tell her.”

  He smiled back. “It may be too late for that.”

  Looking down, Marsh saw he was right. Aisha’s bright blue eyes peered up at her from behind the shadow captain’s legs.

  “You ‘kay?” the child asked.

  Marsh nodded, and Aisha’s face brightened.

  “We go get Gustav?” she asked hopefully.

  Marsh nodded. “Yes.”

  She looked at Roeglin, and he nodded too. “Yes,” he told the girl, and Aisha bounced on her toes, clapping her hands.

  “Yes! I’ll come too!”

  Marsh frowned, ready to say no, but the decision had already been made. Master Envermet rested a hand on the child’s shoulder. “Yes,” he agreed. “You’re coming, too. But, you have to do everything Tamlin and Brigitte say.”

  “’Kay,” Aisha promised, but Master Envermet wasn’t fooled.

  “Show me your hands.”

  She lifted her hands, and he caught her wrists in his palms.

  “Now promise,” he ordered. “Promise you’ll do everything Tamlin and Brigitte say.”

  Aisha scowled but Master Envermet didn’t let go, and she kept her fingers uncrossed as she said, “Bien! I promise. I promise!”

  “How long do we have?” Marsh asked, and Master Envermet looked around.

  “We still have to saddle the mules and let Mordan know we’re coming so she can warn the wolves. She tells me the remnant are hunting a half-day away and we can reach the town safely.”

  “And the raiders?”

  “Are all tucked up behind their walls,” Master Envermet answered.

  Marsh nodded and started sorting her gear. She dealt with some brief ablutions and found her armor neatly stacked at the end of her bedroll. When she’d pulled it on, she had Roeglin check it, then checked his in return.

  When they were dressed and ready and their gear had been packed and strapped behind their mules’ saddles, they assembled with the team. Marsh endured the appraising looks as her teammates studied her.

  They had every rig
ht to make sure she was okay. They were giving Roeglin the same looks, which was poor comfort since it gave her an idea exactly how sick her ill-advised washing of the mule had made them. The fact it had needed to be done didn’t seem to matter.

  She still felt guilty for holding them up.

  Gustav is fine. Master Envermet’s revelation came out of the blue, and Marsh couldn’t hide her surprise. He ignored her and started giving orders.

  “Let’s go. Marsh, you and Roeglin are with me. Henri, Izmay, Jakob, stay together and take care of the youngers.”

  Youngers... It was the first time Marsh had heard the term, and she had to admire Master Envermet’s attempt to avoid offending the kids. He kept speaking.

  “Brigitte, Gerry, Zeb, and Obasi, I want you working parallel with my team but keeping an eye on the rest in case they need help.”

  Brigitte snorted. “Are you kidding? That’s the strongest team, right there.”

  The adults of the team looked worried, and the youngers preened. With the team broken into units, Master Envermet led them into the night.

  Marsh glanced around as she left. The building appealed to her. It had all the makings of a secure waystation. The only thing that could change that was the approach.

  Roeglin touched her thoughts. If there’s an upper floor, we could add a monastery. The Deeps know the area needs one.

  His words made her spirits lift.

  Perhaps when this is over... he began, but let the thought drift as Master Envermet spoke.

  “Marsh, monitor the dark for life forces and see what the shadows can reveal about what lies ahead. Roeglin, I need to know what minds are nearby.”

  They bent to their tasks as Mordan and the wolf pack guided them close to the town and into the shelter of more ruins. Master Envermet dismounted. “We leave the mules here,” he ordered. “The wolves will keep watch.”

  Several of the pack arrayed themselves around the entrance and the outside of the walls as he tethered his mount.

  “We’ll return for them,” he told Aisha when the little girl gave him a worried look.

  She bit her lower lip and nodded, then her eyes flared green. After a moment, she said, “Bristlebear says if we do not come back by next sun-sleep, they will chew the reins and let the mules go.”