Wyrd Blood

by Donna Augustine

  The sickness had come on so slowly that I hadn’t realized how bad I felt until I sat here and started feeling normal. Not even normal. I was feeling good. So good that I didn’t even hate the bastard sitting right next to me at the moment.

  “Thanks.” Why did I just blurt that out? If he thought I was grateful, he might try and get even more out of me.

  “Uh huh.”

  It was a far cry from a civil “you’re welcome,” and that didn’t bother me. He’d barely paid attention to my thanks. That was good.

  By the time the healer made her way back to Ryker’s place, I felt like me again, and I’d forgotten how wonderful that was.

  I stepped out of Ryker’s rooms and realized that I could leave, right then. He wasn’t expecting to see me until tomorrow morning. I could slip from this place before he woke in the morning, and head back to my crew. And I’d get to stay for six months before I was dead. Then what? Who’d take care of them after that?

  That wasn’t my biggest dilemma. Ryker had skimmed eighteen months off his life to buy me six. He had a motive. Did that void the sacrifice he was willingly making? My gut said no, while my life experience told me to screw him before he could screw me. Then there was the promise of food for my people. If he upheld his end, I’d be taking food out of their mouths by leaving.

  Perhaps I needed another opinion.

  I weaved through the people until I made my way fifteen feet past the last building but before the forest, where whoever was probably watching me could still keep eyes on me. I knelt down in the grass.

  I found soft dirt and starting digging with my fingers until I found what I was looking for. A nice, fat worm wriggled in the center of my palm but slowly calmed down. Cupping my hands, I whispered into them and then set the worm back onto the ground, where I’d turned the earth.

  The worm wiggled for a moment and looked like he was going to crawl away from camp, but then turned. He headed into the earth directly back the way I’d just come from.

  Maybe it was wrong? The last worm had landed me here. Although I might be dead already if it hadn’t, so could I really say that worm had been wrong? Maybe I should do another worm?

  No. Couldn’t do that. If I insulted the worms by doubting their answer, they might stop giving me the correct ones.

  I slumped, staring at the spot the worm had just disappeared. I was stuck. At least I knew what message to send out tonight.

  I felt Burn approaching, but it wasn’t the first time I’d felt him close by since I’d agreed to stay. I knew I was being watched. Burn wasn’t like Ryker, though, as he had to get a lot closer before I felt his magic.

  I didn’t have the heart to move from my position yet. Plus, it wasn’t like I was doing anything bad. Even the worm was telling me I had to stay.

  Burn stopped beside me, looking down at the little hole I’d made.

  “What was that? I thought you were going to eat that thing. Dinner isn’t that far away.”

  “I was asking the worm for advice.”

  He didn’t say anything as he rubbed the shadow on his jaw. It took a good few minutes before he asked, “What did the worm say?”

  Worst outcome was he’d think I was too insane to be of use and tell Ryker to get rid of me. “It doesn’t actually speak, but the gist was it would be a good idea to hang out here for a while.” Wasn’t exactly what the worm crawling back said, but I’d been worming it for a while and could read the dirt pretty well at this point.

  He scratched his stubble for another minute. “How good is the worm?”

  “Too good.” You would’ve thought I’d just said “horrible” with how dejected the words came out. I wished it was horrible. Why couldn’t that damn thing have crawled in the direction away from this place?

  “Can you ask it something for me?”

  I looked up. This I had not expected. “You want me to worm it for you?”

  “Yeah, worm it,” he said, nodding, as if it were a term he used all day long.

  I shrugged. I didn’t have anything else to do for an hour. Might as well. “What’s the question?”

  “Is Julia into me?”

  I moved a few feet away, to increase my odds of getting a fresh worm, and dug around. “Who’s Julia?”

  “Nobody important.”

  I nodded. Sure she wasn’t. I plucked up a nice worm in my left hand and used my right to carve Xs on opposite sides of the hole. “This is yes and this is no,” I told him as I pointed first to the top and then the bottom.

  “Why don’t you do a Y and an N?”

  Because I only knew X. Holding the worm out, I said, “If you know how to worm it, then you do it.”

  “Sorry,” he said a little dramatically.

  I cupped the worm and whispered softly to it before placing it on the ground. The worm wiggled around for a moment and then headed mostly in the yes direction.

  “She likes me?”

  “Sort of, but it’s not a sure thing. I think she’s got some reservations.” After all, it hadn’t been a straight shot.

  “Like what? Can you get more information?” Burn sat on his haunches as the worm finished crawling into its new hole.

  “No. That’s not how this works. The worm has spoken. That’s all you get, or you chance insulting the worm.” I threw some dirt back into the hole. Shop was closed.

  “How do the worms know?”

  “I’m not sure, but they’re very, very wise.”

  He nodded, as if he were taking my words as seriously as I meant them. He could’ve been messing with me, but I didn’t think so.

  With a nod I interpreted as a thanks, Burn wandered off.

  Chapter 13

  I tiptoed across the camp with a mirror in hand. Stupid men—they didn’t blink an eye when I asked if there was a mirror I could borrow. The fact that my hair looked like a rat’s nest didn’t seem to occur to them. Maybe they thought I was going to pretty myself up for them. They were going to be waiting a long while for that. I needed this mirror for one thing, and it had nothing to do with perfectly coiffed hair or rosy cheeks.

  I’d seen the tallest oaks growing on the northwest side, and luckily, that was probably the best spot to try and send my message. Too bad the ward around this place was too weak for me to sense. Meant I’d have to be extra cautious to not trip it.

  I stuffed the kindling I’d grabbed from the forest floor into my sack, which they’d never taken. Between the kindling and the matches and plate I’d snagged, hopefully I could get a message out that wouldn’t involve burning down the tree. The stupidity of trying to make a fire, even a small one, while in a tree didn’t lose itself on me. It would be okay, though. I’d done stupider things. None of this would even matter if they weren’t out there looking for a sign.

  There was a nice, large oak that would work well; its branches were sparse enough. I slung my sack across my back with all my gear and found a perch.

  I kept the fire small and sent the signal off in several different directions. By the time I got down, I had a few singed fingers but I hadn’t started a major fire.

  Hopefully they’d get the message. It was a simple one, if contradictory. I’m safe and stay away didn’t usually go together.

  I made my way down the tree and knew he was waiting for me before I saw his shadow at the bottom of the tree. When I went to drop the last few feet, he caught me. He put me down but didn’t let go of my waist. Ryker in a room alone was a lot to adjust to. Ryker touching me—it was too much. My magic felt chaotic, and I could feel almost a sizzle where he touched my waist.

  “What was the signal?”

  “There wasn’t—”

  “I saw it. Do you want to explain, or should I send someone out to kill whoever you set the message to?”

  “I’m afraid my crew is going to show up, and I told them to stay away,” I blurted, hoping the truth would buy me some space. I was doubtful he’d take my word for it, even though I completely believed him.

  He dropped hi
s hands. Or maybe he would?

  “That’s it? We’re good?”

  He stepped away from me.

  I guessed that meant we were good. I turned and headed back, refusing to look over my shoulder to see if he was going to follow.

  Ryker’s magic flooded my room and nudged me awake. He stood by my hip, staring down.

  “If you sent a message to your crew to stay away, why are they trying to ram themselves through my wards in the middle of the night?” He didn’t sound happy. I wasn’t too happy, being woken from the first sound sleep I’d had in a while. But then what he’d asked settled in my sleep-fogged brain.

  Oh, damn. I shoved a lock of hair away from my face as I got to my feet. “Probably because they like to follow orders about as much as me. If you hurt them, our deal is off. I don’t care if you give me a decade of life.”

  His eyes narrowed a hint. “I don’t care enough to hurt them.”

  Damn, did I just tell him I might’ve felt a little indebted? If he thought he was going to use that against me, he was crazier than I thought. I mean, maybe I owed him something, but not everything.

  I grabbed my coat. “Where are they?”

  He headed toward the door. “You need to explain the situation and send them on their way before they become a nuisance.”

  I followed him toward the oak where I’d sent my signal from, and saw Burn and Sneak standing there, looking out into the trees.

  Ryker stopped beside them while I kept going, knowing they were out here somewhere, hidden in the forest.

  “She wasn’t trying to leave. She wormed it,” Burn said. I didn’t know if he was defending me to Ryker or Sneak or both.

  “What was she doing?” Ryker asked.

  “You know, worming it.” Burn said it as if everyone knew what worming was.

  “Worming it?” Ryker asked.

  “Yeah, it’s like this thing she does where she asks a worm a question.”

  “And you think…”

  I couldn’t hear the rest as I moved farther away, but I wasn’t interested in Ryker’s opinion of worming it. He could think whatever he wanted.

  I saw Ruck’s face peeking out from behind a tree ten feet away. He held up a finger and made a small circle. It was our sign that the crew was in place, and to get ready. I shook my head slightly.

  I knew the others might be close by but hanging back in case it was a trap.

  Ruck looked me over, and I thought he was looking for some sort of restraints. He made the signal again.

  I shook my head and then waved him toward me as I walked in his direction. He hesitated, looking over at where Ryker, Sneak, and Burn were.

  I waved again. He headed toward me, but he wasn’t happy about it.

  I knew what the flick of his eyes toward Ryker’s group meant as he got closer. I gave a single, short shake, telling him no.

  Ruck looked at me as if he were trying to understand which piece of the puzzle he was missing. Why wasn’t I trying to get away?

  Once he was right in front of me, I said, “I can’t leave.”

  “There’s only three of them. They’re kind of big, but the odds are on our side.”

  If only that were true. Ruck didn’t realize who we were up against.

  “There could be ten of us and we wouldn’t win, not up against him.”

  Ruck’s eyes shot to Ryker, even though he didn’t know who he was, and back to me. He was catching on. “It’s like that?”

  I nodded. “Worse, actually. The dark one in the center is Ryker.”

  Ruck’s jaw dropped for a second as the stories came back to him. He shook his head.

  Ryker gave Ruck a nod, confirming his identity, as if he heard everything.

  “Have they hurt you?” Ruck’s eyes were searching for some injury now, and then shooting back to the trio like he could take them all on.

  “No. Ryker is actually trying to keep me alive at the moment. He needs me.”

  “Keep you alive from what?”

  Ruck stared at me, his fists clenched as if he were prepared for battle. If I didn’t get this explanation out fast enough, he might end up pounded into the ground, because he seemed to not realize how outmatched he was. Or maybe he didn’t care. If I thought someone was hurting him, I wouldn’t have.

  I found myself biting the side of my cheek instead of speaking. The explanation wasn’t as difficult as it was unpleasant. I decided to start with the easiest part and build up from there. I needed to take baby steps in this whole I’ve got a problem area.

  “You know how I’ve denied feeling sick even though you knew I was lying through my teeth?”

  He nodded. No argument or hard time. Maybe this wouldn’t be as difficult as I feared.

  Except I was at a loss for what to say next. When words failed, I resorted to action. I tugged down my shirt far enough to show him the bruise on my chest. It was barely there now, but enough of a hint remained.

  He squinted in the dark as he leaned in closer. “What is that? Did he beat you?”

  I pulled my shirt up quickly. Words might’ve been the better option. “No. He didn’t do it. It’s a debt.”

  I spat out the rest of what Ryker had told me, along with my own knowledge before the situation devolved. I watched as dread filled Ruck’s expression.

  Then the denial hit. “Why would the Debt Collector want you? How do you know he isn’t lying?”

  “He isn’t. I can feel it.”

  His face fell. Ruck trusted my instincts enough to accept it, which was a really good thing. Convincing someone you’re going to die was a lousy thing to have to do.

  “Who would’ve negotiated a deal for you?”

  “Remember where I was right before I met you.”

  “This is why you can’t leave?”

  “He knows the Debt Collector. He thinks he can help me get rid of it.” Plus there was that eighteen months he’d just given away.

  “Why would he do that?”

  “So that I can help him get into Bedlam. He thinks I can get past their wards.”

  Ruck’s mouth dropped. “Bedlam? The Bedlam? The one with the dragons? You can do that?”

  This was worse than telling him I was sick. “He thinks I can.”

  A silent “whoa” formed on his lips.

  “That doesn’t mean I can.”

  “Does that mean you’re staying?” Ruck’s voice was barely above a whisper. I understood. I never thought I’d leave him either. We were going to die together. Or that was what I’d thought.

  I nodded. “But not forever.”

  Sadness fell over his expression, and as much as it twisted my insides to see it, it was better than what came next. There were few people as stubborn as me, but Ruck was one of them.

  Pure determination burned on his face. “Then I’m staying too.”

  There was a rustling in the trees. Suddenly, Marra, Sinsy, and Fetch were coming toward me.

  “We’re staying too,” Sinsy said as they all rushed me.

  Marra pointed at the five of us and then made a circle. We’re one. Fetch nodded.

  They’d obviously heard everything, so I cut to the real problem, the thing that made me want to chase them out of here. “If I can do what he wants, it’ll bring war here. You know what happens then.” We all did. Death. We’d seen so many refugees coming through the Ruined City because of wars that I’d lost count.

  “Do they have food?” Sinsy asked, as if I hadn’t mentioned war.

  Oh yes, did they ever have food. But I couldn’t talk about that. “It doesn’t matter about the food if you’re all dead. Plus, I’ve made a deal to get some for you in a—”

  “What do they have?” Ruck asked, the others looking more interested in the menu. Did they not hear the part about walking into their deaths?

  “Stuff. They’ve got some stuff.” I shrugged, hoping we could blow this part off.

  Fetch stared at Ryker, Sneak, and Burn. “They look like they eat a lot.”

 
“I’m not leaving you here,” Ruck said.

  “If he can stay, why can’t we?” Sinsy asked.

  I shook my head. “Fine. Let’s all go have a chat.”

  Ryker was the one who wanted them gone—let him tell them. They weren’t listening to me, so I might as well use his innate nastiness to my benefit. Let him scare them off.

  I took another look around before I walked over to Ryker. “Where’s Tiger?”

  “Tiger went to work for Loretta,” Ruck said.

  I nodded. I’d wondered if that was going to happen after another week of being hungry. I hoped he didn’t end up on the stick, but it was his choice.

  I stepped in front of Ryker with my crew behind me. I’d expected the ward to be the first obstacle that would keep them out, but they walked right through it. Ryker must’ve taken it down. Couldn’t imagine why, though.

  Ryker stood with Sneak on one side and Burn on his other. I stopped in front of Ryker. It was hard to ignore how good it felt to have my crew at my back, but I had to. They had to go. It was for the best, even as each step they took away from here would cut me deep. Their deaths would be worse. After Ryker attacked Bedlam, this place wouldn’t be safe.

  “They want to stay.” I threw my hands up. Now I just needed to wait for Ryker to tell them to leave.

  Ruck puffed out his chest as he stated firmly, “We’re staying. We go where she goes.”

  Ryker looked at them, and I waited for the bastard to get on his high horse and treat them as he had me. I saw him take in the way Marra was nudging Sinsy in her own way of speaking. I knew how weak and bedraggled we all were compared to his people, how thin and weak. He’d think they were useless to him and send them on their way. Every second he took sizing them up weighed in my favor. Ryker would definitely send them away.

  He took a last appraisal and then said, “You take care of yourselves and you all get a work detail.”

  What? What did he just say? Oh no, this wasn’t what was supposed to happen. He’d told me to get rid of them! Stunned into silence, I watched in horror as the details got worked out.

  “We can work and we always take care of ourselves,” Ruck said, still puffed up.