“Where is Kara?” Ona asked. “How close are we?”
“She's on the far side of the Layn.” Xander finished the last of his chunks, tipping the bowl and sucking down what remained. “We're gaining on Kara every day. We're riding and she's not, now.”
“So we'll catch her?” Ona bit her lip.
“If we don't stop riding when the sun sets tomorrow, and we find a ferry across the Layn, we'll catch her around midnight tomorrow. I'm certain of it.” Xander wasn't.
“Thank the Five.” Ona scooted close and rested her head on his shoulder. In a moment, Xander forgot everything but his lovely wife.
“I think I hear Aryn calling my name!” Tania hopped up and smiled brightly. “Please excuse me.” She hurried off.
Xander nuzzled Ona's hair and drank in the smell of lavender. He knew Ona lacked most of her real memories. She did not remember much of their cabin, or the year they spent sailing with the crew of the Wailing Siren, or the nights he spent teaching her the Ancient language. Yet Ona remembered him. She loved him and that was enough.
No matter how long it took to find Kara, Xander would not allow his daughter to return to Tarna. Kara had no future as the royal apprentice — not with King Haven determined to “protect” her — so they would simply leave it all behind. They would become a family again.
Perhaps they would go back to Boon. Perhaps they would settle in Tellvan. All were welcome in the Sun-Blessed Desert, provided they kept to themselves and caused no trouble. They might even go to Rain. Xander had always wanted to visit those treetop villages.
Xander could train Kara to take advantage of Torn's rare blood far better than Anylus or any other mage in the Five Provinces. He should have insisted she come with him after Terras, but it had simply felt too soon. Kara had just returned from the Underside, desperate to save Ona, with her heart set on becoming the royal apprentice and building a life in Tarna.
How could Xander take that from her, squash her hopes and dreams? Kara deserved better, or so he had thought. Now she walked to her doom with a traitor and a demon, because of his decision. Xander had to find her, save her, and ensure no one ever hurt her again.
Soft footfalls sounded and Xander looked up, annoyed. Erius approached like a dog approached a much bigger dog. Head down and steps hesitant.
The Lifewarden’s obsequious respect bothered Xander. He was no great hero and he didn't appreciate being treated like one. Torn Honuron had been no saint, and his son wasn’t much better. Ran in the family.
“Beg pardon, Elder Honuron,” Erius said, “but the others wish to know if we'll be resuming our journey tonight.”
“We'll catch Kara soon enough.” Xander held Ona close. “Tell them to bed down. We have a hard day's ride ahead.”
Five knew Xander needed rest. A few hours in a bedroll with Ona would do wonders for his mood. Facing a Demonkin Soulmage would be difficult enough when fully rested.
No matter the perils ahead, Xander would rescue Kara. Nothing could stop that now, not Anylus, not the Mavoureen, not even the thrice-damned Underside. He was going to put his family back together.
Once he did, nothing would ever separate them again.
JYLLITH WAS MORE than a bit frustrated.
It had been days since Divad revealed his terrible plan, and Andar still had not returned. He had gone on a “hunting trip” with Klyde and several other soldiers — a euphemism for dealing with a Mynt patrol that had wandered too close to their town — and if he died out there, she would have no allies in her fight to stop this cult.
Taking meals and exchanging pleasantries with Divad and his people was the hardest part of her infiltration. It would be so much easier to just kill them all ... at least, everyone except Calun. If it came to that, Jyllith would dispatch Calun as mercifully as she could.
Twilight encroached on the stoop of Andar's office, where Jyllith had waited for almost an hour. After some debate and pride swallowing, she had decided to pretend she was sweet on Andar. A soldier had told her Andar would return by nightfall.
Andar did not return. Darkness fell and Jyllith stood. It was time for dinner at the cultist cabin, and Divad would miss her if she did not show. She slipped a note beneath Andar's door and strode away.
Jyllith's note laid out Divad's plot to sacrifice the village, but if Andar did not return before tomorrow night, he would never read it. Divad planned to open the Mavoureen gate two days from now, at dawn, and Jyllith would stop him. She would creep past Spike and murder Divad in his sleep.
She had almost reached the cabin when she heard sobbing. So what if someone was crying? It was none of her business and she couldn't help.
Yet that sobbing called to her. It sounded familiar because Jyllith had cried like that herself, missing her murdered family. She followed the sound behind the cabin. She found a boy pressing his head to his knees.
“Calun!” Jyllith gripped his shoulders and shook him, once. “What's happened? Are you all right?” Had Divad punished him for something?
Calun looked up at her. “Jyllith?” He threw his arms around her, sobbing even louder.
Jyllith went stiff as he clutched her tight. She let him hug her, even hugged him back, and felt the cold inside her thaw. Jyllith had never had a little brother — only sisters — and now, Calun had her wondering what a little brother might have felt like.
“He's lying.” Calun sniffled. “It's just a cruel trick. It has to be a trick!”
“Who's lying?” Jyllith asked.
“Xel.”
Jyllith felt a rush of anger. She eased Calun back so she could stare into his wet eyes. “What did Xel lie about?”
“He said demon jail doesn't exist.”
“Demon jail?” What was he talking about?
“Where people go,” Calun said. “When we make them into davengers. Their souls go to demon jail.”
Jyllith almost strangled him then. How could Calun be so blind, so stupid? As she stared into his earnest, wet eyes, she forced such thoughts away. Calun was, after all, only a boy.
“What exactly did Xel tell you?”
“He told me Divad lied. He told me the people we send to the Underside are tortured endlessly. He told me demons rip their faces off.” Calun stared at her with wide wet eyes. “The demons don't do that, do they? Torture people? They just put them in jail.”
Jyllith did not know whether to hug him or slap him, yet the deception made sense. Why would Divad tell his cultists the truth about demon glyphs? She saw now that Calun would never have made anyone into a davenger if he knew the truth. He could never live with the guilt.
Jyllith knew that guilt because it had almost driven her mad. She had known the people she sent to the Underside would be tortured, but she had thought them sociopaths and murderers. She had thought they deserved it and they most certainly had not.
Jyllith hugged Calun and stroked his hair until he calmed. She eased him away and sat beside him. “Tell me about demon jail.”
“It's where bad people go.” Calun wiped his wet nose. “The man I turned into Torch was a murderer. He killed two people in Knoll Point, their child too. He wanted gold.”
“He murdered a family. Like yours?”
“He was evil! Divad told me that the Mavoureen take people like that man and put them in a cell where they can never hurt anyone. They eat bread and water and think about what they did. Once they repent, once they truly feel sorry, they can leave, but not until then.”
“That's what happens when you send souls to the Underside.” Jyllith looked to the dark sky. “Demon jail.”
“It's the truth!” Calun grabbed her arm and held tight. “They don't torture them. Even the people that man murdered wouldn't want him tortured. It's not true, is it?”
Calun was deluded, childish, yet she could not bear to hurt him. The reality of what she had done tore her apart every night, and she would not inflict that upon Calun. He did not deserve to live with her pain.
“Xel's lying.” Jyl
lith made herself smile at him. “He just wanted to upset you. You shouldn't let him.”
“Really?” Calun asked. He looked so hopeful now.
“I need you to be strong. Help me. We're friends, right?”
“Always.” He hugged her arm. “You’ll always be my friend.”
Jyllith knew then she could not kill him. One day he might learn the truth of his crimes, but Jyllith would protect him until she couldn't any longer. It felt good to know she could still protect someone, even if all she could do was get him somewhere safe before she killed herself.
“Don't tell Xel we spoke. This must be our secret. If Xel thinks you're upset, he won't mess with you again.”
Calun wiped at red-rimmed eyes. “I get it.” He hugged her again. “Thank you. You understand what it feels like to lose your family, to lose everyone.”
Jyllith blinked back unexpected tears. Tears would only confuse him, and she could not have that. Calun could not know how good he made her feel. It had been a long time since she felt like she had any family.
Andar had not returned and Jyllith could not wait for him. He would be on guard tomorrow night, so she had to strike tonight, when he did not expect it. She would murder Divad and save Knoll Point.
After that, she would take Calun somewhere safe.
KARA TENDED ANYLUS THROUGH THE NIGHT and the morning, while Sera aided him with bloodmending. They could not move until Anylus recovered and Kara refused to leave him. She offered Sera what blood she could. Together, the two of them made Anylus live.
Anylus woke close to midday, eyes bleary. He focused on her, on them both, and everyone knew he was alive due to their efforts. “Thank you.”
“Royal Adept,” Kara said, “what was that?”
It was only when Anylus started thrashing and shouting that Kara took the dream world. She had been searching for a mage hidden by an astral glyph, or some attacker invisible to the naked eye. A Mavoureen.
Kara had found nothing, and desperation filled her until she heard the sound over Anylus's panicked, tortured screams. Singing. Someone had been singing, a mournful sound that she somehow understood.
So she found the singer and sang back.
Even now, Kara was unsure how she had done that. Hearing that song had drawn words from her lips she no longer remembered. Did some trace of Torn's memories remain from when he possessed her body?
Kara knew the High Protector had used the Ancient language as no other mage before him — singing changes into the world, as the ancient bloodsingers had done — but she had never imagined she would retain any of that knowledge. Yet she did have Torn's blood, and she had possessed his body in the Underside. He had also possessed her.
“Kara,” Anylus rasped, “your father is pursuing us. With hunters.”
“What?” Byn gripped Anylus's arm and helped him up. “Xander's chasing us?”
“He's following Kara,” Anylus said, relaxing in Byn's grip, “under duress. My former soldiers, the andux orn, are using him to hunt us down.” Anylus smiled faintly at Sera. “I'm afraid they’re looking for you too.”
“Because I'm Demonkin.” Sera fixed Kara with narrowed eyes. “King Haven wants me dead.”
Kara stood and shook her head. She missed Xander terribly, but this could not be a new development. “How long have you known he was following us?”
“Days.” Anylus brushed off Byn's arms and stood, shaky. “Xander has been tracking us and I've done what I could to misdirect him, but yesterday night, he got the better of me. I'm afraid I miscalculated.”
“My father would never hunt me for the Mynt!” Kara knew that. Xander loved her far too much. They loved each other.
“Perhaps he wouldn't,” Anylus said, “if Ona was with him. But Ona is back in Tarna, perhaps hostage, like you were, Kara. I suspect King Haven won't free Ona until you all return. Haven seeks to protect us, and this is how he believes he'll do it.”
“Andux orn means demon slayer.” Byn translated, almost to himself. “So your people murder demons? They fight Mavoureen?”
“They murder Demonkin,” Anylus said. “Before they can turn.”
Byn pulled Sera close. “You can't let them catch us.” He looked at Kara. “We're so close to finding that cure.”
Kara grimaced. Anylus had absolutely no right to keep news of this pursuit from her, yet he had hidden it for days. Haven holding her mother and using her father made a great deal of sense. Haven wanted her back, desperately, and Anylus’s betrayal must have angered him.
“You should have told me.” Kara resisted the urge to shout. “I had a right to know. Have you kept anything else from me?”
Anylus shook his head. “Nothing.”
“How can I believe you, after this?”
Her teacher sagged in place. “I only kept it from you because I did not want you to worry.”
“Well, if you think to keep anything else from me because I might worry,” Kara said, glaring, “don't.”
Anylus inclined his head. He looked battered and bruised, even after Sera's bloodmending, and Kara's anger cooled.
Anylus had gotten her out of Tarna. He had given up his entire life to help her. She looked across the Layn, to her father.
“We're going to rescue Xander,” Kara said.
“What?” Sera stepped forward. “We can't!”
“I trust my father. Once we get him away from those legionnaires, he'll believe me about Knoll Point. He'll help us stop the Demonkin.”
“And then he'll kill Sera!” Byn shouted.
“I know him,” Kara said. “He—”
“You traveled together for what, a few days? And then he left you!” Byn's nostrils flared. “He's a wanted man in Tarna and he never explained why, did he? Even after you asked, he just told you not worry?”
Kara winced. She had told Byn and Sera that in confidence, but Byn was right. Xander had never explained why he couldn't come to Tarna with them, what his crime was, and that did bother her. Why hide it?
“Even if he could help us,” Byn continued, “what makes you think we can stop these andux orn and the legionnaires with them? What if we get captured, too? Sera dies!”
“We also don't have time,” Sera added. “If we don't find a cure in two more days, this execution glyph fires. It's a day's walk to Pale Lake.”
“Mynt's hunters are riding,” Anylus said. “We are not. Even if we don't wait, the delay we've incurred due to my injuries means they will likely catch us before we reach Pale Lake. How will we protect Sera then?”
Kara wanted to rescue her father more than she wanted anything, at the moment, but she forced herself to look at this as a leader would. Like Trell would, weighing the risks of each course. If only he was here.
Xander was safe with Haven's forces, even if he was a captive. Ona was safe too, and Kara could not believe King Haven would harm her. Haven simply wanted her back, and if she knew Xander, he would want her to run.
“Kara—” Byn said, but Sera shushed him.
“This is Kara's decision,” Sera said. “She led us to Tarna and she got us through everything, even the worst of it. I trust her.” Sera smiled, sad and tired. “No matter what you choose, I'm with you. As long as we're together.”
That simple admission twisted Kara's stomach into knots. Her decision could very well end Sera's life, yet Sera didn't shout at her, didn't berate her, didn't plead or curse. Sera had given her life and soul to save Kara, and now Kara was risking Sera for no reason at all.
“You said they're tracking me,” Kara said. “If I lead them in another direction, could the rest of you still travel to Pale Lake?” She hated leaving Sera and Byn, but what choice did she have?
“That may not be necessary,” Anylus said. “I believe I can buy us time to all reach Knoll Point together, if you permit it.”
“How?” If Anylus had hidden something else from her, Kara was going to toss him into the river.
“A blood doll.”
Kara searched her memor
y of her studies at Solyr. She found nothing.
“What's a blood doll?” Byn asked for both of them.
“I believe Xander is tracking you through your blood,” Anylus said. “It is the one unique element you and he share. Torn’s blood.”
That made sense. “So how do we stop him from tracking us?”
“Sera,” Anylus said. “I'll need your help.”
Sera stepped closer. “What do you need me to do?”
“Draw out Kara's blood. We'll use it to construct a simulacrum, a blood construct that bears Kara's mark so brightly it obscures her real body. We will send it southwest, to the Children of Rain, while we head to Pale Lake.”
Sera turned to Kara and waited. Once more, Sera placed her life in Kara’s hands. That decided her. She would save Sera no matter the risk.
“Do it.” Kara looked to Anylus. “But why Sera? Why can't you do this?”
“Because this is a demon glyph.” Anylus closed his eyes and took the dream world. “Sera. You will need to make incisions.”
“I’m ready.” Sera produced a hunting knife from her travel cloak, watching Anylus intently. “Where?”
Kara did not like how that knife looked in Sera's hands, how comfortable Sera seemed holding it. Kara was imagining things, exhausted from days on the run. Sera hated hurting people and that would never change.
“Slice Kara's wrists,” Anylus said. “After you draw out her blood, bind the wounds quickly.”
“Hold out your arms.” Sera smiled the comforting smile she had learned from Senior Healer Landra. “I'm afraid this will sting.”
Kara extended her wrists, palms up. She caught Byn wincing out of the corner of her gaze. He didn't like this any better than they did.
Sera opened Kara’s wrist with the tip of the knife. Agony rushed up Kara's arm, but she grimaced and held still. Sera expertly moved the knife and sliced again, opening Kara's other wrist. Wet blood gushed down her arms into her palms, dripping from her fingers.
“Now, I'll draw the glyphs you need to scribe.” Anylus painted a duo of spiky demon glyphs on the air. “I dare not ignite them.”
Sera painting Anylus's glyphs on each of Kara's bleeding wrists. When she ignited them, they sucked Kara's blood into the air. That blood swelled and pulsed like a beating heart, growing in size and bubbling.
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