Curses and Warfare

by Jeri Baird

  “Alexa!” Zander jumped to his feet and stumbled. A bloody rag encircled his thigh. “Thank the fates, you’re safe.”

  Seeming unwilling to put her down, Dharien held her. His warmth and strength renewed her. She wished more than anything she could stay in his arms, but she needed to share what happened in the canyon.

  Alexa whispered into his neck, “We need to talk later, but now I have news.”

  He sat her at her feet and put his hands on each side of her face. Tenderly, he kissed her, leaving her weak in a different way.

  He released her, but held her eyes. “I love you.”

  She touched the scar on his cheek and leaned in for another kiss.

  Greydon coughed. Zander cocked an amused eyebrow, and Alexa blushed.

  Father Chanse interrupted them. “Did you find Melina Odella?”

  She jolted from the kiss that had transported her somewhere else back to the reality of what she’d done. She faced the priest and summoned her last bit of courage. “I found her in the canyon. She . . . she tried to kill me.” At his horrified look, she took his arm. “I gave her every reason to change her mind. I’m sorry, Father. She’s dead.”

  Father Chanse rocked back on his heels. “How?”

  “I killed her.” Dharien caught Alexa as she slumped. “She would have cursed the village.”

  “This is my fault.” Father Chanse fell to his knees and dropped his head in his hands. “I chose the village over her. What have I done?”

  Alexa knelt next to him and repeated Moira’s words. “Melina Odella made her choices with free will. You cannot blame yourself.”

  “It is my fault. I’ll live forever with my shame.” He stumbled to his feet and pushed her away as he rushed out of the circle of light.

  “You killed Melina Odella?” Dharien stared as if he’d never seen her.

  “You’ve trained to kill. I did what I had to do.” The horror in his eyes chilled her. To hide her discomfort, she turned to Zander. “Did Kaiya and Odo make it back?”

  Standing next to him, Greydon’s face flashed in anger. “The Odwans captured them.”

  “No!” She fell against Dharien. “How . . .”

  “Quiet,” Zander whispered. “I saw it in Terrec’s eyes. If I tell the warriors, I’ll have to disclose my favor. I’d rather they didn’t know.” Zander fiddled with his bow and glanced at Greydon. “We’ll rescue them unharmed. I promise it.”

  A flash of understanding at Greydon’s distress hit Alexa. The two most important warriors were distracted by love. She couldn’t let them do something foolish. “You’re needed here. I’ll go.”

  “Alexa, no.” Dharien stood in front of her. “You defeated the fortune-teller with magic. These are a hundred men with bows and swords.”

  She drew herself up and felt her power stir. Dharien didn’t understand, and how could he? He thought of her as the girl who needed protecting in the quest. She was the fortune-teller, chosen by Moira. Silver energy rose and surrounded her, lighting the night.

  Dharien stumbled back a step, but he stubbornly said, “Light won’t rescue them.”

  She raised her hand and pushed the energy toward a tree twenty feet away. A crack split the air and the tree toppled. His eyes widened, and he threw his arms up to protect against the flying twigs. She regretted scaring him, but she didn’t regret her power. This was who she was.

  The warriors, jolted from sleep, jumped to their feet and grabbed their bows.

  Zander’s belly-laugh drew confused looks. “Go back to sleep. We have magic on our side. The next battle will be the last.” He took Alexa’s arm and guided her to a circle of downed logs. “We need a plan.”

  After a short discussion, they agreed that Alexa would leave at first light. If the Odwans were spooked by Puck’s ghost, they should be terrified of magic.

  He hadn’t looked her in the eye since the tree demonstration, but Dharien insisted on accompanying her. “Even with your magic, an arrow can take you down. You need someone with a bow to watch out for you.”

  She nodded her agreement. She didn’t need him, but she’d like having him with her. And if, after witnessing her power, he still claimed to love her, she’d believe it was real. Nearing midnight, Alexa yawned. “What do we do now?”

  “We wait,” was Zander’s terse response. “And try to sleep.”

  The others left to find spots to sleep, but Dharien slid down against a log and patted the ground. “Rest with me.” Alexa sat next to Dharien, and he cradled her in his arms. “Aren’t you afraid?” he asked.

  “Aren’t you?”

  He jerked away and then sighed and pulled her closer. “Of course. But I have a bow and a sword.”

  “And I have magic.”

  “I’m afraid I’ll lose you.”

  She searched his eyes. “I don’t think we can win without magic. Zander needs me.”

  “What about me? I need you.”

  “We’ll figure this out after the fighting is over. I promise.” Alexa reached up and kissed him. “I don’t intend to die.”

  Warm and safe in Dharien’s arms, she slept. Dorothy stood behind them, head drooping, as exhausted as Alexa.

  Alexa woke when an owl landed on her knee. The glow of dawn reached down into the gulch. She should have left an hour ago! With shaking fingers, she untied the message on the quester’s bird’s leg and unrolled it. Omens didn’t work. Odwans coming. Two panthers loose.

  Dharien rubbed his eyes. “What happened?”

  “We’re late!” She jumped up and raced to find Zander. His look of shock shamed her.

  “I thought you’d left.”

  “I got word from the questers. The Odwans are coming.”

  “Alert the others,” Zander shouted to Greydon.

  Alexa grabbed Zander’s arm. “There’re two black panthers loose.”

  “Damn, I hope they stay on the Odwans’ side.”

  The sound of marching rumbled through the brush. Alexa and Zander ran to the stream and stared down the gulch. The phalanx moved steadily forward, shields protecting them, and spears extended.

  Bruised and bloody, hands tied at their backs, Kaiya and Odo were being frog-marched ahead of the enemy.

  Chapter SIXTY-FIVE

  Zander

  “Hold fire, hold fire,” Zander yelled.

  The phalanx stopped thirty feet away. Fire raced through Zander’s veins. A purple welt marred Kaiya’s cheek. A cut above her eye dripped blood. Odo’s left eye was swollen shut. Oh, gods, what had Terrec done?

  On the left side of the phalanx, Terrec and Del broke from the group and stepped forward. Terrec lowered a shield and sneered. “Your answer, Zander. Do you surrender?”

  Beside him, Greydon grabbed Zander’s arm. “We have to surrender.”

  If giving up saved Kaiya, he’d do it, but Terrec couldn’t be trusted. “If we surrender, he’ll kill them anyway.” Zander sought Kaiya’s eyes. Her look of love gutted him, and then she shook her head. She knew he couldn’t surrender.

  Her bravery astounded him. He’d sent her into danger and still she loved him, still she put the safety of the village before her own life. He had to stall Terrec. None of the options were acceptable.

  “I have an idea.” Alexa pushed between Zander and Greydon. “Be ready to rescue Kaiya and Odo.”

  “Ah, the fortune-teller wannabe,” Terrec taunted. “Your little spells are useless against real weapons. Leave the fighting to the men.”

  Beside Zander, Alexa’s energy vibrated. She held her hands out toward the phalanx and pushed. The spear shafts splintered into jagged pieces.

  “Go! Go now!” she hissed.

  He and Greydon raced for the phalanx. Zander flipped a knife from his sheath.

  “Archers!” Terrec yelled as he raced to rejoin the Odwans.

  Arro
ws flew from the back of the line. One hit Zander’s chest and bounced away, leaving him unharmed. Alexa’s magic cloth had worked.

  Answering arrows from the warriors flew overhead. Dharien called the orders. “Nock, draw, release.”

  Zander cut the ropes holding Kaiya and caught her as she fell. An Odwan reached out from behind the shield and slashed blindly. Zander drew his sword and ran it between the shields. He felt it slide into a body. He twisted the blade and pulled it out, bloody. His gut wrenched.

  Greydon and Odo pulled aside the shields and fought the front men. Kaiya grabbed Zander’s knife and stabbed a man in the heart before he could smash a shield down on Zander’s head.

  Then the warriors rushed down the gulch, whooping and hollering, swords drawn, to fight next to Zander.

  Standing above the brawl, Alexa snapped the Odwans’ arrows as they flew. A sword glanced away from Zander as if hitting an invisible shield. Zander caught sight of Alexa standing, eyebrows drawn, mouth tight. Zander deflected a sword thrust and cut the man down with his sword. Magic helped, but Terrec was right—the war would be won by men with bows and swords.

  No, not by men alone. The women had come down into the gulch and shot arrow after arrow into the Odwans’ flank. Mother’s determined face was among them.

  His father appeared next to Zander, swinging a scimitar in one hand and a long butcher knife in the other. As he slashed an Odwan’s chest, he grinned at Zander. “Not gonna let you have all the fun.”

  Across from Zander, an arrow pierced Fulk’s chest. The burly marshal made a final stab and killed a man before he dropped.

  Not Fulk! Zander had no time for grief. Back-to-back with Kaiya, Zander fought with her as a team—he with a sword, she with a long knife. Blood soaked his sleeve from a slice across his forearm.

  Behind Zander, Helios joined the fray. He reared and kicked at the Odwans. Their shields meant nothing to the war horse. He back-kicked man after man.

  Suddenly, Kaiya screamed. She sprinted for an Odwan with his sword raised to strike Bindi.

  Helpless, Zander watched Bindi fall and Kaiya kill the man who’d stabbed her.

  Chapter SIXTY-SIX

  Alexa

  Fulk and Bindi lay unmoving as the battle surrounded them. Ignoring the chaos, Eva and Cobie, wearing the green tunics of healers, darted in and pulled them to the side.

  Her energy depleted, Alexa sagged against a tree. Her stones had crumbled as she’d drained all their energy. Despair racked her—she hadn’t done enough to protect them. She gathered what little energy remained in the garnet brooch. A crack split the air as it gave up its final charge. When she thought she’d collapse, Dorothy pressed her nose under Alexa’s arm and filled her with fresh power.

  Even with Dorothy’s added help, Alexa had to choose between firing at the Odwans or protecting the warriors. She chose to protect, but there were many, and she had to be careful or she would end up protecting the Odwans as well. When Father joined Zander, he was another to watch over. She shielded Zander and Kaiya, Greydon and Odo, and those fighting in the worst of the battle. Dharien plunged down the ditch to join in the hand-to-hand fighting, and she included him.

  The omens the questers had tossed caught up to the fight. Feral pigs attacked at random, snakes struck, and hornets buzzed in the air, not discriminating between the warriors and the Odwans. Alexa’s left hand held the protective shield, while her right sent bolts of energy to dissipate the omens.

  Moira had warned Alexa. If only she’d stopped the questers from releasing them. Her comfort in Dharien’s arms had come at a steep price. Indulging in her regret, Alexa’s attention faltered. An Odwan raised his sword and swung at Zander. She threw out her hand—too late.

  Father lunged to protect Zander. The sword intended for her twin sliced their father from neck to gut. Zander struck down the Odwan and dropped to his knees next to Father while Greydon protected him. Zander lifted stricken eyes to Alexa and shook his head. Then he stood and, with an impossible strength, blindly swung his sword with a vengeance Alexa shared. He struck down Odwan after Odwan.

  “Halt!” Terrec’s shout echoed through the fight. He held Elder Warrin with a knife at his throat. Two elders stood: one triumphant, the other’s life in peril.

  Alexa gasped and turned in a furious circle. Somehow, during the fighting, the Odwans had enclosed the warriors from all sides. A wild fear swept across Zander’s face, and he lifted his sword in what Alexa knew would be a fatal move.

  “Wait!” she yelled.

  She struggled to find power, any power, but even with Dorothy’s help, she was depleted.

  “Stars, be damned!” She’d forgotten Moira’s promise. “Moira?” she cried out, desperate for help. “I need you!”

  At her cry, Terrec slit Elder Warrin’s throat.

  Chapter SIXTY-SEVEN

  Zephyr

  Moira appeared next to Zeph. “Now, Zephyr. Use the stone.”

  Heartbroken and frantic to help, Zeph cried, “I don’t know how!”

  If he didn’t act now, he’d fail the ones he loved, and he didn’t know what to do.

  Moira smiled.

  An unexpected peace filled him. He held the stone, glittering with diamonds, to his chest. He was the light-bearer. All his love—for Zander and Alexa, for the warriors, for the village—he sent into the stone. It began to glow, and he directed it to Alexa and Zander.

  Alexa’s silver aura surrounded her. Zander’s gold energy encircled him. Their energy grew, but it wasn’t enough. He would fail them, after all.

  And then, Merindah’s spirit joined him. “You don’t do this alone, Zephyr.”

  “Merindah? What are you doing here? You died?”

  “I’ve always known it was my fate. This is my task, as it is yours.”

  Merindah placed her hand over his on the stone. The energy surged. Copper mixed with diamond and filled Alexa and Zander until the glow was so strong, everyone standing near averted their eyes.

  God gently took Merindah’s hand. “You’ve earned your reward.”

  They faded.

  Moira took their place. Her smile filled Zeph with warmth.

  “Zephyr, whisper of wind, light-bearer. Because of your love, Zander and Alexa have a chance to save the village.”

  “Am I done? Will I never see Zander or Alexa again?” Longing overwhelmed him. “Or Dorothy?” He suddenly didn’t want to go.

  “Gentle boy, you will be a part of their lives yet again.” She held out her hand. “But for now, come with me and rest.”

  Zeph took her hand. The battle below was gone. The pain was gone. Only the diamond stone remained. Its brilliance grew until Zeph became the light.

  Chapter SIXTY-EIGHT

  Alexa

  Zeph’s love bloomed in Alexa’s heart. Silver energy flowed in and around her. Below her, Zander glowed with gold.

  She felt Merindah’s death and stumbled. Energy shot through her like a taut band snapping. Tears streamed down her face as copper energy blended with her own.

  She walked down the side of the gulch toward her twin.

  Silence filled the gulch. Confused, the Odwans and warriors separated and created a path to her twin. Zander grasped her outstretched hand and jerked as their energy joined.

  Awed faces from both sides surrounded them. Fulk, Bindi, Father, Elder Warrin and others, dead and wounded, lay scattered among the living.

  Clear and strong, Zander’s voice rang out. “Enough. We offer sanctuary to all those who embrace peace. No Odwan will be turned away who pledges to put down his weapon and join us, united to work together.” He stared at Terrec. “We made that offer to Terrec last night. Did he tell you?”

  Odwans glanced back and forth between Zander and Terrec, as if they doubted her twin’s sincerity. But right before them, Terrec had slit a man’s throat without reason—did t
hat not shock them?

  Dharien’s father lay at Terrec’s feet, bloodied and lifeless. At the corner of her vision, Dharien and Greydon’s grief-stricken faces broke her heart. She’d attend to Dharien’s pain later. This war had to end now.

  She met Terrec’s eyes and then the eyes of the Odwans around him. “As a council member, I attest his offer is true.”

  Del appeared at Terrec’s side. “Father, enough. You promised an easy win, not this bloodbath.” He glanced at the warriors and the weary villagers. “These are innocent people. I won’t be a part of this anymore.”

  “You bastard traitor,” Terrec spat.

  An Odwan grabbed Elder Terrec and knocked the knife away. He twisted Terrec’s arms behind his back. “Is this true?” he grunted. “They offered us shelter?”

  Terrec snarled, “You believe him over me?”

  “Your own son has deserted you.” The man tightened his hold on Terrec. “We lost men with families. We’re sick of war.” He shoved the unarmed Terrec away from him. “You lied. You’re worse than the Kharoks.”

  Terrec returned the man’s stare. “You’re pathetic. You’re afraid of boys?”

  Dharien stepped forward and aimed his bow at Terrec. “You murdered my father!” Blinking back tears, he loosed the arrow.

  It flew true. Terrec crumpled, shot through the neck where the armor didn’t cover.

  One by one, the Odwans dropped their weapons and kneeled, as if dazed.

  Healers moved silently among the fallen, tending to both sides. The war was over, but the cost had been great, and all because one man wanted more power.

  Shocked warriors gathered around Elder Warrin’s body, comforting Dharien and Greydon as they bent over their father, weapons abandoned. Exhausted, Alexa buried her head in Zander’s chest. He seemed as unable to move as she. There was no joy in the victory, only relief it was over.

  Snarls drew her attention. Two black panthers stalked toward her and Zander. Confused, Alexa froze. Were they now to die? Had Moira only delayed their punishment from the quest?