Theron followed the boy’s gaze to the leather band around his wrist, and the stone cradled in the center of it. He frowned. He would swear when the woman crafted it, the stone had been a clear deep blue, like the ocean, like her eyes.
Now the color of Theron’s stone was different. The translucent quality gone, like the bed of a stream stirred to cloud the water. Still a striking deep blue color, but not the same. Out of confused memory, he recalled being in pain and exhausted and trying to move. He remembered his wrist, bathed in heat. The same side where he wore the witch’s gift.
Odd.
When he woke last night to the sound of Ria’s nightmare, his pain and exhaustion had all but disappeared. This morning all his hurts were nearly healed. Miraculous and alarming at the same time. He should say something to his companions, but what? The last thing he needed was for them to think him a demon, or have powers he didn’t.
He remembered the effort evident on Kitsune’s face when she fashioned it. Sapphire eyes nearly gray with exhaustion. “It won’t wield a sword for you, but will offer some protection.” He glanced again at the smoky crystal. What protection was it providing him? What had it cost Kitsune to create this?
He remembered other words she had said, a promise more than a prediction.
“You will have more answers soon.”
Thinking of the stones they both wore, it occurred to Theron that might be true. He took a deep breath, trying to dispel the twisting unease at the pit of his stomach. Healing magic wasn’t evil. Especially, if it allowed him to prevent evil, surely. If it meant he could prevent Lynea’s death, he would bear such sorcery gladly, evil or no.
Answers. Or back to the palace. Theron looked at the sun and how long the shadows were. Mako was right. It was mid-day. They seemed to be heading roughly in the right direction. If they didn’t veer too far south or head into more treacherous territory, it wouldn’t take much to return to the path home.
Rushing in had been a disaster. He needed answers. He could follow the boy a little longer, for that. He had to hope the best for Kino and Lynea for now.
Taking a deep breath, he nodded at the boy. “Okay. We won’t fall behind. Lead on.” The child blinked at him once and turned, heading back to the front of the group. The girl next to him did not question his change in attitude. She seemed to take it in stride. As she seemed to do for nearly everything they’d been through so far.
Putting his heels to Ash, he moved ahead of the others to follow the child. Mako threw a look at him, but gave up the lead readily enough, dropping to guard their rear.
Chapter 12
Another mile of countryside passed before Theron reined in his horse enough to drop back next to Ria again. He rode silently for a while, listening to the steady pace of the horses. If Ria thought it odd, she said nothing. He sighed, letting go of the reins long enough to run a hand through his hair. Glancing her way, he said, “Thank you. For your help.”
There was a surprised silence before the young woman said, “You are welcome.” She sighed, deciding that there would never be a good time to ask, so she might as well ask now. “Mamoru, this threat you spoke of,” she glanced behind them. Mako was looking off into the trees edging their path. He didn’t seem to be listening. “The threat to the lady. It is the Emperor, isn’t it?”
He looked at her for a long moment, assessing. Carefully, he said, “You heard what I told Mako.”
She nodded. “I did. But I was also there, in the palace with you. Those were the Emperor’s personal men you were fighting, not the regular Imperial guards. Their uniforms were different. I know,” she smirked. “I’ve spent a lot of time avoiding them.”
Theron huffed a wry laugh. “Yes, I gathered that,” he said. “Ria, it would be better if you forgot that. It’s dangerous knowledge, especially if we’re caught.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. But I can’t unsee what I’ve seen.” She paused before continuing, “You knew, didn’t you? That thing in the forest came from the palace.”
He nodded, once. “Yes. I’d only just found out, though.” His expression darkened. “I would never have guessed there are so many. But that information. Ria, that you must tell no one. It’s dangerous,” he said again. “The Emperor is protective of them. He thinks of them like pets, and he’s kept their secret.” Theron put all his sincerity into his next words. “He would kill you for it.”
She said nothing for a moment. Then she grinned, nodding. “Okay, I got it. I can keep my mouth shut, if we see anyone out here.” She waved to the trees and road in general. “But danger hasn’t caught me yet.”
Theron didn’t respond with more than a half smile and a shake of his head. The memory of her arm twisted up behind her back, a guard looming above her, rose to the surface of his mind. Either she was putting up a good face, or she had forgotten how near “danger” had been. “Ah, well. There is still much I don’t understand in all this.” Unconsciously, he flicked his eyes to the left, head tipping towards the guard riding at their rear. He sighed. “It would be better if we don’t talk about this any longer. At least, until we know more.”
Ria’s eyes grew troubled, also landing on the former guard. She hesitated, but nodded. “… Theron,” a small frown creased her forehead as she said his name.
He smiled. “Mm?”
She lowered her voice, glancing at Mako once more. “Those runes, in the tunnels. What you did.” she trailed off, but Theron heard the question there.
Quietly, he said, “Kamiryoku.” His mouth twisted. “Another secret, this one mine.”
Ria lifted an eyebrow, confused. “But those etchings had been there, for a long time. What do you mean, your secret?”
“Yes, placed there by an earlier Mamoru.” He looked over at her. “You’ve seen two of the three gifts, passed down through generations of Mamoru.”
“Oh. But then why did you say you couldn’t –”
“Because I wasn’t supposed to be the Mamoru. It’s not in my blood.” The words were sharper than he meant and Ria blinked, apparently not knowing what to say. And even though the subject wasn’t one Theron really wanted to talk about, he found himself continuing. “The Isao’s were given gifts, to protect the lady.” He sighed. “Strength, Shield and Seal.”
“Gifts?” she asked, a little too loudly, before looking quickly at the guard. Lowering her voice, she leaned towards him, questions tumbling out, one after another. “Is that how that door was hidden? What else can you do? Do you have to do those movements every time? “
He laughed shortly. “I’ve said too much already. A large part of Kamiryoku’s power lies in its secrecy, Ria. If people knew, the Mamoru wouldn’t be able to do his job. Others would find ways around what he could do.”
She frowned at him, opening her mouth to ask or say more. He shook his head at her, deciding to give her a little more, hoping it would satisfy her curiosity. “Kamiryoku can be used in different ways, yes.” He pushed away the squirm of anxiety in telling her; he was only confirming what she had already witnessed. “Some are quick,” he held up a hand when she started to speak, nodding. “Some need time to use, and forms to help focus. All of them use energy that takes time to regain.” He looked down, before continuing quietly, “I think that’s why I was unconscious for so long, afterward.”
“Oh,” she said. She must have realized the trust he put in her, because she hesitated before asking in a small voice, “But I’m sorry, how do you know how to use the gift if you couldn’t use it?”
Her eyes were too sincere and he squashed the urge to lash out at her. It wasn’t her fault that he’d shared so much. Suddenly finding it difficult to look at her, he kept his eyes on the road in front of them. “Kino took me in when my parents died.” He could have said more and maybe he should have, if he wanted her to understand. But he couldn’t. So instead, he said shortly, “I’m not an Isao by blood,” and he tried to keep the bitterness from it, but didn’t quite succeed.
“Oh,” she said softly. He
could feel her gaze, curious and quiet, but he didn’t say anything more.
The small group covered miles before the sun began to set and though they were still heading back towards the palace, their path veered to the very edge of Midorihiro.
The mountains, which had been shrouded in mist and distance, loomed nearby and the air grew colder as the small party moved higher in elevation. The mountaintops could be easily seen now, rimmed in gold and crimson. It was brilliant against the snow caps, still dusted with snow even this far into summer.
It was time to find shelter and strike a fire. The night would be much colder tonight, particularly since the sky was clear. Since the place they chose wasn’t as protected as the last, both Theron and Mako took turns to keep a watchful eye over the girl and horses as they slept.
Theron didn’t feel the need to exchange pleasantries during the rare times both men were awake. He mulled over what he’d do when he got to back, ignoring the possibility that he might be too late to get Lynea out. It made sleeping difficult. Exhausted and restless, he woke a few times during the night to see Mako brooding, eyes unfocused and staring into the banked fire.
In the morning, their mysterious guide reappeared, dropping from a tree a few yards from camp. He brought a gift of a quail’s eggs, and with the addition of the rabbit that Theron snared, they shared a quick meal.
It was almost time to go and Ria watched Mako packing his things into a tight bundle. He rubbed a hand roughly over his face, blinking blearily. The scowl on his face told her to stay away, even if she had wanted to help. The Protector was packing up too, his movements sharp as he doused the fire with dirt. He tied his bundle to the back of Ash’s saddle, and sighing, he rolled his shoulders, stretching. Was she the only one who’d slept?
The boy stood by the trail, his weight shifting from foot to foot. Ria glanced up when he ran up the first few feet of the tree next to him, grasping the lowest branch. Quickly, he flipped over and hung down, his knees hooked over the brance. She smiled. The impatient crease between his eyebrows was just as obvious upside down as right side up. At least he’s not tired.
When they finally finished readying the horses, the boy huffed an exaggerated breath, flipping over easily to land silently in a crouch. He stood up, and threw a glance over his shoulder before trotting forward into the forest.
Thankfully, it was a wide path and the horses had no trouble with it. Which was good, because they continued, traveling at a steady pace for hours. Ria watched the sun track across the sky, its heat beating down on them and almost unbearable, in spite of the trees shadowing the trail. The men had said they were heading toward the Mistwood. It was a very old and mostly uninhabited part of the vast, forested country. Almost directly north of the palace, the Mistwood threaded all the way to the Greenstone mines and met up against the Eiji Forest, which surrounded the Emperor’s home and Ria’s village.
Looking towards their destination, her mouth turned down. She didn’t remember when her parents had brought her to live in the village, she’d been too young. From then to now, the village was all she knew. A trip so far from the village had been a daydream for years. She’d thought it would be exciting. But these trees were days away from the Emperor’s woods and they all looked the same. Her back was sore and her bottom was sore. Her legs ached from the unnatural position she was forced to sit in. But she didn’t mention any of this. She was here because she wanted to help him. Theron.
It must be late afternoon. How much farther was it? She understood the frustration in Theron’s eyes, though it terrified her to think of him entering the palace again. She understood his bitten back anger at their slow and steady pace. The Emerald Lady was in danger. It must be agonizing for him.
She understood. Because something else she didn’t mention was that itch under her skin. The one that said she had something to do at the palace, and it was growing more urgent. Stronger. Almost to the point of pain. So yes, she would do everything she could to help him, because doing so might help her. If nothing else, it would get her back to that place that pulled at her. So she kept riding and she didn’t complain. The mist swirled and the trees thickened as they grew closer and closer to the mountain range.
The dense tree and undergrowth crowded the path upon which they rode. It was a threatening feeling, that closeness.
“This forest is not friendly,” Ria commented uneasily. She felt nervous and agitated and wished the boy would reach wherever it was he was leading them. A friendly cottage. A nice village. Anywhere but this gloomy and desolate place where the birds did not sing. She no longer heard the familiar sound of critters rustling in the fallen leaves. In fact, the fallen leaves themselves were rare. The sun still beat down on them through the sparse foliage. And now she decided that she had been wrong, the trees did not look all the same. The further they went, the more they changed. The trees here were nearly barren, their branches twisted and gnarled. The ground was black with the smear of decomposing leaves. The smell of moss and rotten foliage was a heavy weight in the air. Overall, it wasn’t a welcome change. “Are we nearly there?”
Theron looked up at her question, seeing the former guardsman also eying him. His answer was prickly with dissatisfaction. “The palace is getting closer, but not quickly enough.” Seeing the boy was waiting where the path diverged, he muttered, “If he is taking us somewhere useful, we had better arrive there soon.”
An uneasy silence fell when they took the turn off the path and deeper into the Mistwood. The sunlight that had been a constant companion became a rare and infrequent visitor, its filtered light creating shadows that seemed to shift, making Theron’s companions uneasy and restless.
He watched the boy ahead of them, darting through the brush and not phased at all by the uncomfortable quiet. In fact, he seemed to move even more confidently and it became difficult to keep up with him at all. The bright bob of his hair was the only thing that allowed them to track him, as he pulled further into the lead.
“Slow down, lad.” Theron called. Ignoring the stiffness in his newly healed muscles, the Protector urged his horse to move more quickly, mindful of the dangerous footing through the roots and wild undergrowth.
A startled oath had Theron looking over his shoulder, to see the guard staring into the gloom on the right side of their path. “Did you see that?” Mako asked, his voice less confident than normal. Theron followed the man’s gaze. It was hard to note in the shadows, but there was definitely something there. Movement and sound. Wolves? Theron had heard their numbers were growing out in the wilder parts of the country, scarce prey making them dangerous to humans. They could check it out to make sure, but the distance between them and their guide had stretched to the point that he was worried they’d lose him.
Better not to borrow trouble, when they had plenty all on their own.
Keeping his voice low, he said, “I see it.” He paused, his eyes searching the surrounding forest. There was no further movement. “Whatever that is, it’s only watching us. Wolves will only attack if one of us gets separated, or if we seem weak.” Mako looked irritated and Theron didn’t know if it was because he was explaining something the guard already knew or because he didn’t believe him. He didn’t really care. “Leave it for now. If it comes back or gets any closer, we’ll investigate.”
The former guard let out a grumble, but didn’t push the matter.
Theron looked back to the head of the trail, only to find the boy gone. “Damn.” He spurred his horse, trotting up to where the child had been last.
“What is it?” Ria tried to keep her voice calm. The woods were spooking her.
“He’s gone.” Searching the path in front of them, he honestly couldn’t say where the child had gone. It wasn’t so much a path than the suggestion of one, twisting and tight, especially for the horses.
Dismounting, Theron stepped forward to the spot where he had last seen the boy. There was virtually no light from the sun here and the ground was littered with leaves and other de
bris. The subtle scuff or edge of a soft soled shoe would be impossible to find. He looked anyway, worried that his only chance at the information the witch had promised was slipping away.
“There. Mamoru.” Ria was pointing to the left of where he knelt. Irritated at the interruption, he looked anyway, by reflex. In a barely there gap between the trees, a berry bush grew. Two of the branches had been snapped, sap oozing from the wounded wood. It looked like some of the berries had been crushed by the rough brush from the passage of an animal or person going by. Difficult evidence to refute. He smiled.
“Good eyes. He must have gone this way,” the girl’s eyebrows went up and she returned the smile. “Mm,” he frowned. “It’s too tight for the horses.”
“Should we leave them here?”
He thought again about those odd shadows shifting along their path. Not attacking, but they had not seemed friendly. “It wouldn’t be wise.”
The girl’s mouth twisted in thought, he could see the discomfort in her eyes before she said, “I can stay here with them, while you two go ahead.” She paused. “You wouldn’t have an extra dagger with you, would you?”
One side of his mouth curved up. “And if I did, would you know what to do with it?”
Raising an eyebrow, Ria said sharply, “Well, I didn’t do too badly in the tunnel, though I’m sure I don’t have the skill you do. It can’t be that hard, right? Pointy end goes toward the enemy.”
Remembering her thrown dagger and the fortunate distraction of the guard, he regretted the question, but he knew she couldn’t possibly be accustomed to or prepared for a true fight. “Basically. But it can get a little more complicated than that.”
Splinter (Trapped Souls Book 1) Page 19
