Daniel’s face lights up. “Luke Skywalker survived freezing weather in the Empire Strikes Back. That guy’s so big I can gut him and we can climb inside the carcass to keep warm.”
“What is Empire Strikes Back?”
“A movie.”
Bryntar’s face looks as confused as mine feels.
He takes out his knife.
“Stop!” I yell.
“We have to put him out of his misery,” Daniel says. “I’m sorry, but it might give us a better chance to beat the cold. And I’m hungry. Aren’t you?”
“Not enough to kill. I can heal him.”
“C’mon. He has two broken legs. Besides, he’s huge. It’s too dangerous.”
“Bryntar, please.”
“Daniel makes sense,” she says. “You are more important than this unfortunate khorbock.”
“You will not kill him!” Light bursts from every cell of my body with such great force that they are thrown backward. My shock immediately diffuses the light and I run to them. “I did not mean to hurt you.”
Daniel helps Bryntar up. “Remind me not to make you mad.”
“What happened to me?”
Bryntar smiles. “Something to remember. Strong emotion controls the light. Come. I shall hold the horns of this creature.”
“You’re both nuts.”
I want to touch his arm, but he backs away. How can I blame him? Energy still thrums through me. “Daniel, please let me save him.”
“Fine. Unknot your ropes. I’m tying him up to be sure he can’t move.” He secures the rope to a chunk of ice, makes a large loop and throws it over the khorbock’s neck. He tightens the loop after he wiggles the rope past the huge horns and wraps the end around another solid piece of ice.
The creature struggles to get up. Its great body crashes into the ice. Over and over.
How I wish I could block out his pain.
Daniel uses the end of his rope to throw another loop around a hind leg.
The leg kicks at Daniel, but he jumps back quickly and pulls the rope tight which stretches the khorbock’s body. Its muscles tremble from the effort to move. “Can’t get to the leg under him. You’d better heal him before he kills himself.”
“Be careful, Elandra.” Bryntar holds one of the horns while I kneel next to the great head and sweep off the snow.
The khorbock rolls his huge brown eyes in terror and tries to strike me. The hoof hangs useless. I remove my gloves and stroke the cream-colored spots on his nose with my hands, surprised with our connection. Once his fear lessens, he transfers his feelings to me: of other creatures, grassy fields and warm water. I close my eyes and let him sense my calm purpose. He snorts and stills all movement when my fingertips touch his broken bones. Holding the knee in place, I feel tremendous amounts of icy tingles stream into it. Trembling with the effort until my fingers burn, I hold fast. To reach the other leg, I hang over his shoulder. When the healing finishes, the creature heaves a great shudder.
It is snowing so hard I cannot see anyone. I call out, “I am finished.”
Bryntar appears immediately at my side. “We need to let him up. If downed for too long, a khorbock has the will to die.”
Daniel touches my shoulder. “I can’t see well enough to take off the ropes.”
I move closer. “I will do it.”
“You can’t!” he exclaims.
“Step back and stay together. Do not talk and do not move.”
He stiffens, then nods and moves away with Bryntar.
I again open myself to the feelings of the khorbock and loosen the loop from the great head. When reaching over to remove it from the magnificent horns, warm air from his nose snuffles against my cheek.
“Easy. Good.” I concentrate on sending the feeling of stillness and crawl over his body to unhook his hind leg. As soon as he is free, the khorbock leaps up. I fall to the bottom of the trench and roll under him. He shakes his head and looks down instead of leaping to freedom and crushing me.
Daniel snatches me as I crawl up. “Are you crazy? You could have been killed.” He pulls me away and reties the rope around my waist.
The creature shakes off the snow and bounds out of the hole. He is so tall that his shoulders reach my head. I am surprised when he does not run away.
Bryntar hands me my gloves. “You have earned his loyalty. He will not leave unless you want him to.”
I pat his neck and the silky hair hanging over his shoulder.
“We’ll be warmer in the trench,” Daniel says. He jumps in and lifts us down.
Relieved to be out of the stinging wind, I sink to the frozen ground. The khorbock folds his legs and lies above us, tucking his nose in his chest. “Will he be all right?”
Bryntar nods. “He stores much fat and his hair keeps him warm.”
“We should be so lucky,” Daniel says. “Without blankets or wood for a fire, I don’t know if we can make it through the night.”
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Discovering
The blizzard shrieks over our heads, leaving us in a world of white. The pillars of ice above block most of the snow from reaching us.
Daniel pulls us together into a corner and wraps his arms around me. “We have to share our warmth.”
I insert myself between them as we huddle together in silence, knowing this trench is our last resting place. Without a fire, we cannot survive the night. I shiver, but not with cold, with the knowledge I am responsible for this by saving an animal instead of those I love. What was I thinking?
“It is done, Elandra.” Bryntar says. “You cannot regret who you are or decisions that are past.”
“I am beginning to think you can read minds,” I say.
She smiles. “Only your face.”
“Am I missing something?” Daniel asks, looking down at me.
“I am sorry for sacrificing your lives for that creature.”
“You were thinking about saving a life,” he says, “not about dying.”
“How can you not hate me when we are going to freeze to death?”
He winks. “By hoping for a miracle.”
I melt and my heart beats faster sheltered in his arms. Even though I know he cannot feel it, my love pours into him. I close my eyes and hold in my tears.
Bryntar sits up abruptly. “What are you doing?”
“Going to sleep.”
“You did something else. Your body emitted heat instead of light.”
“I felt it, too,” Daniel says.
My face flushes. “I was thinking.”
Bryntar strokes my face. “With that kind of heat, we might survive this night. Try it again.”
Heat radiates through my clothes with thoughts of Daniel.
He hugs me. “Wow. That’s terrific.”
“What if I cannot maintain the heat we need?”
“Maybe I can help. What are you thinking?” he asks.
I cannot tell you that. “I-I need to concentrate to make it work.”
“Don’t let me stop you. I’d like to be warm.”
“What if I fall asleep?”
“We’ll take turns keeping you awake,” he says. “I’ll go first.”
I take Bryntar’s hand. She relaxes and closes her eyes. Her feelings of relief flow through me.
“You can tell me.” Daniel whispers in my ear. My toes tingle. “What thoughts can make you do that?”
More of my heat soaks into him. “I cannot concentrate and answer your questions.”
“Right.” He chuckles. “You might have to keep me awake.” His arms tighten around me and I feel safe in a trench in the middle of a blizzard.
He falls asleep quickly. My eyes never close, not when their lives depend on me. Instead of waking Bryntar, I let her sleep. She deserves it after spending the second-worst day of her life helping me. The night passes with thoughts about what it would be like to be far away from here and loving Daniel for as long as we live.
…
The blizzard blows over during
the middle of the night. The silence is complete, broken only by deep breathing and the loud snuffles of the khorbock. My uncle’s death sneaks into my mind. I send the thought away and begin reciting long passages that Taroc made me memorize in order to say awake. Thank you, Father. Long after, the sun brightens the sky in shades of pink. I am grateful to see another sunrise.
The khorbock grunts as he rises and shakes off snow.
Daniel releases me and jumps up. “I can’t believe I fell asleep.”
Bryntar stretches her legs. “You did not wake me, either.”
“You both needed sleep more than I did.” I stagger up, so tired I sway.
Daniel catches me and teases. “Guess you like it in my arms.”
I pull away, embarrassed. “Only to save your life.” I think I feel his disappointment, but it is gone in an instant.
Bryntar climbs out of the trench. “Let us go. We all need food.”
I climb out stiffly while Daniel gathers the rope. The khorbock rubs his nose against my hair and I pat his shoulder. “How far do we have to go?”
“Too far for you without sleep.” Bryntar says. “You ride the khorbock.”
“What if I fall off?”
“A khorbock is easy to ride.”
“What if he runs away with me?”
“He can carry all of us.”
“Oh.”
She hands me the rope and I stare at it.
“Let me,” Daniel says. He hands me a length of rope and loops it around the creature’s nose.
“Let me ride him first.” Bryntar takes the rope from him and grabs the mane.
Daniel hands her the other end and holds his hands together. She steps on them and lifts one leg over the creature to settle on his back.
“Step away.”
The khorbock snorts and hops to the side, trembling.
She pats his neck and hums a song I have not heard since I was a baby. The melody
drifts in the air. His ears twitch. She squeezes his sides gently and guides him in a circle. “This is an extremely intelligent khorbock. I have never seen one so gentle.”
“It’s the Enchantress’s touch,” Daniel says, winking at me.
My heart thumps faster. I wish he would not do that.
“Or he has belonged to another,” she says.
“I’m glad he’s here. Let’s go.” Daniel locks his hands together for me.
I lightly step into them and straddle the khorbock’s wide back, careful to avoid the long horns. Daniel jumps up behind me.
“Hold on,” Bryntar says. “We can make the valley before dark.”
I grab her waist and Daniel encloses mine.
She makes a clicking sound with her mouth and the creature strides forward in a long-legged gait. The movement is so smooth that I fall against Daniel and am instantly asleep.
…
I awake when the khorbock hops sideways and snorts, almost dumping me on the ground. I gently loosen the tight grip around my waist and turn to Daniel. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he says.
Violet, purple and red streak across the deepening sky like giant wings. “Where is the valley?”
“Beyond that cluster of rocks,” Bryntar says.
“Why did we stop?”
“Something spooked the khorbock,” Daniel says.
“I need to get off and walk,” I say, slipping down the hairy side. My legs buckle and feel like I am still riding the creature.
Daniel and Bryntar dismount and she hands me the rope.
The khorbock jumps again when a slight breeze carries a faint, “Help.”
“Did you hear that?” I hurry forward across the hard ice, pulling a reluctant khorbock.
“Help. Help me!”
It is Jyrr.
The khorbock stops near a great fissure and refuses to take another step.
I start forward, but Bryntar grabs my hand. “As soon as he sees your hair, he will know who you are.”
“What about her eyes?” Daniel asks.
She slumps. “We cannot hide her.”
Daniel hands me his hat. “This can help a little.”
“It is too dangerous,” Bryntar says.
I breathe deeply and stuff my hair inside the hat.
She sighs. “What about my clawed hand and scales?”
“Your hair covers most of them,” I say. “You can hide your hand.”
“Any islander will know Daniel is an outsider,” she says.
“They all probably know by now,” he says.
He takes the rope off the khorbock. “We’ll just have to tie him up and leave him where his people can find him. Agreed?”
“How are you going to do that?” I ask. “He is taller and outweighs you.”
“You know who is down there?”
“I recognize his voice.”
Daniel shakes his head in disgust. “The jerk?”
“I think so.”
“He won’t be expecting an attack.” He turns to Bryntar. “You have any way to knock him out?”
“My pleasure.”
Daniel grins. “He might get some sense.”
“Do you think that is a good idea?” I ask. “He is powerful.”
“What else can we do?” Daniel starts to crawl to the crevice. “Do I need to know anything else about Ice Lords that could help me with this guy?”
“They respect strength and fearlessness,” Bryntar says. “Although the female warriors are held in great esteem, male Ice Lords rule.”
“Great.”
I wonder why that matters until I remember the books of my childhood. Few civilizations give equal status to women.
Daniel reaches the edge of the fissure and peers over it.
Bryntar creeps up behind him.
“Get me out of here.” Jyrr sounds far away.
Daniel removes the rope from the khorbock and tosses it over the edge. “Tie this around your waist.”
I pace. Why am I so nervous? It seems to take forever before two large hands toss up a jeweled bridle and carved saddle. When the dark hair of the Ice Lord appears, Bryntar leaps up and kicks him in the head. He sags and his weight pulls Daniel toward the crevice.
“Help.”
“Daniel!”
Bryntar and I grab his legs and pull them both to safety. My heart thumps so hard I think it is going to jump out of my chest.
Daniel smiles sheepishly. “Should have thought that one through.” He separates the two pieces of rope, gathers one and uses the other to tie Jyrr’s wrists behind his back. He secures the arms by wrapping the rope several times around his chest and waist and down to each ankle. He leaves only a small amount of rope between the prisoner’s feet. “That should do it.” He sits him up.
The Ice Lord moans. He opens his eyes and glares at Daniel. “You assaulted the heir to this kingdom. Release me at once.”
“I don’t think so.”
Jyrr smiles. “Since you saved my life, I can be lenient.”
“I am not going to untie you,” Daniel says.
“You shall be tortured and killed for your actions!”
Daniel smiles. “Is that any way to treat your savior? No one else is riding to your rescue.” He picks up the saddle and bridle. The jewels sparkle in the waning sun. He turns to me. “I think these will be perfect for my khorbock, don’t you?”
Jyrr tightens. “Those belong to me.”
The Ice Lord’s anger streaks through me, hot and jagged. I am speechless and do not understand why Daniel provokes him.
“There are two dead khorbocks at the bottom of the crevice,” Daniel says in a flat tone. “Anyone else down there?”
Defiant, Jyrr’s eyes flash. “No.”
“What is the penalty if an Ice Lord is caught lying?” Daniel asks Bryntar.
“The tongue is ripped out,” Bryntar says.
Jyrr’s icy purple skin pales. “My friend and I were caught in a blizzard and fell into the crevice. His khorbock crushed him.”
> Daniel’s eyes flare. “Where I come from, we don’t leave our dead behind.”
Jyrr flinches and lowers his eyes. “He lies under the khorbock. I could not free him, even with my great strength.”
“When we free you, bring your people to return the body to his family.”
Jyrr sneers. “Who are you to order me?”
“I’m the one who decides whether you live or die.” Daniel hauls him to his feet.
Jyrr is a head taller, but there is no fear inside Daniel. He walks without a limp, but I feel the strain on his knee. He looks at us, winks and leaps up on the khorbock. “Mount up. I’m hungry.”
I am about to argue with Daniel when Bryntar whispers in my ear. “Do not interfere. It is important for Daniel to gain respect.”
Daniel reaches a hand for me and while he settles me behind him, he stares at Jyrr. Chills race up and down my body at the disdain in the Ice Lord’s eyes. Something passes between the young men and I feel Daniel has somehow claimed me as his property. I am not sure if I like this.
Bryntar mounts behind the saddle.
Daniel secures the rope. “Let’s go.”
Jyrr scowls. He raises his chin in defiance and almost trips with the rope tied between his ankles. “You expect me to walk like this?”
“I can throw you back into the crevice. Or leave you for the bearrans.”
I am confused with the laughter Daniel feels and the opposition of his curt words.
“Who are you?” Jyrr asks.
“Your enemy. Be a good boy.”
Jyrr stiffens. He utters a few unknown words of anger, hatred shivering through him and me.
Daniel turns the khorbock south. To his credit, he keeps the khorbock at a slow walk so Jyrr does not stumble too much.
We eventually reach an ice wall painted with the last brilliant rays of sun. The khorbock steps onto an almost hidden trail. Around and down we wind on a thin path of melting ice and crumbling rock. The khorbock is sure-footed and does not miss a step. It is difficult for Jyrr to keep from falling.
“Are you trying to slay me?” he asks. His face does not mask his rage and frustration.
Daniel looks at him with arrogance. “With your great strength, I am sure you’re quite capable of walking this simple path.”
The Ice Lord yells more unfamiliar words.
Enchantress Sacrifice Page 16
