“No. I’m not seeing when you’re going to die, Avry. I can’t.” Flea hunched his shoulders as if I’d force him.
“That’s okay. It wouldn’t have changed my mind anyway. I’m going to heal him.” I pushed Flea to the side and grabbed Yuri’s arm.
My magic grew, pushing from my core and flowing toward Yuri where it died as if hitting a wall. I tried again and nothing happened. My healing magic refused to inundate Yuri’s body and bring the sickness back into me.
“Did you cure him?” Flea asked, sounding peevish.
“No.” I explained about the wall.
Flea glanced at Yuri. The young patient squeezed his eyes shut. Tears leaked from the corners and ran down his temples.
“The Peace Lily serum must still be in your blood, too,” Flea said.
“Must be. Although I didn’t think it would affect my healing abilities.” So what had the Peace Lily wished for me to learn?
“Now what?” Flea asked.
“We’ll try my original plan. If that’s okay with you, Yuri?”
Without saying a word or even opening his eyes, he held out his arm. Flea returned to the other side of the cot and once again took Yuri’s left hand in his. I picked up the syringe, found a vein and injected the serum into him.
“So cold, it burns,” Yuri said.
Flea moved to get a blanket, but Yuri wouldn’t let go.
I grasped Yuri’s right hand. “It’s going to hurt like nothing you’ve ever felt before. But don’t despair, it will end.”
Yuri peeked at me. “Now you tell me.”
“Would it have changed your mind?” I asked.
“No.”
Yuri’s grip tightened and every muscle in his body tensed as the serum traveled throughout his body. It didn’t take long for him to start screaming. He let go of our hands and curled into a tight ball, rocking and yelling.
I kept my fingers on his arm. My magic sensed the oily blackness of the plague fighting the cold whiteness of the serum.
Loren and Quain skidded into the doorway. They had their swords in hand. Odd wasn’t far behind. They shouted questions at us.
“Go explain it to them,” I said to Flea. “Wash your hands first.”
“Will he be okay?” Flea asked.
“I’ve no idea. Come back when he’s quiet.”
“Okay.” Flea shooed the monkeys and Odd into the hallway, then dunked his hands into the water bucket before scrubbing his skin.
“Up to the elbows,” I instructed before returning my attention to Yuri.
His cries remained loud and strong. Having been in his position, I empathized with him. I’d never forget the raw agony. It had felt like acid dissolving my insides. The only thing I didn’t know was how long it would take.
Each of his screams lasted for hours, or so it seemed. Helpless, I placed my hand on his shoulder to let him know I was there. Now I understood why Kerrick had attacked the Peace Lily when I’d been inside yelling myself hoarse. Right now I’d do anything to help alleviate Yuri’s pain.
The volume and duration of his shrieks eventually dwindled. Then, in the space of a heartbeat, he died.
I gasped, frozen for a moment. Drawing in a deep breath, I touched his forehead. No spark of magic. Nothing at all. I closed his eyes as the ever-present grief inside my heart expanded, washing over me.
It hadn’t worked. Was that what the Peace Lily meant? Should I give up trying to use the Lily to save people? Were Flea and I the only possible survivors?
Yuri’s eyes opened. Probably a reflex. But then he turned his head and his gaze met mine.
I stepped back. No life shone in his blue eyes. Pure terror gripped me. I’d created one of Tohon’s dead.
Tohon’s voice sounded in my mind. Not one of mine, my dear. Yours. He’s the first of Avry’s dead.
* * *
“Avry, stop yelling.” Odd shook my shoulders.
I focused on him. His face was inches from mine. He seemed concerned. Did I have another nightmare? Yes, I remembered Tohon’s sleek voice.
“What’s wrong?” he asked me.
“I...”
“Oh, no,” Flea said with his voice full of horror.
Odd turned. Flea stood next to Yuri, who had his dead gaze trained on me.
“Did she heal him?” Quain asked. He stood in the doorway with Loren.
“She...” Flea looked at me.
Oh, no was right. Not a nightmare, but I wished it was.
“Is he...?” I couldn’t finish the question.
Flea’s fingers curled into fists for a moment, then he steeled himself before touching Yuri’s skin. He snatched his hand away as Yuri turned his head to look at Flea. “Yes.”
I wilted, sagging against Odd. He grabbed me before I toppled.
“Will someone tell us what’s going on?” Quain demanded.
Flea backed up. “He’s dead. Like Tohon’s dead soldiers.”
Everyone stared at me with a variety of emotions. Horror dominated. Odd kept a firm grip on me. Otherwise I would have sunk to the ground. Yuri remained on his cot, staring at Flea.
“What do we do with him?” Quain asked. “Can we train him?”
“No,” I said. “He shouldn’t be. I’d never expected... My fault...”
Loren pulled his short dagger from his belt. “It’s treated with Death Lily toxin. Should I?” he asked me.
“Yes. Please.”
“Sorry, buddy,” Loren said as he pricked Yuri’s arm.
Yuri didn’t flinch or react in anyway. We waited. There was always a slight delay before the toxin worked.
We kept waiting. Nothing happened. Yuri sat there not breathing, not speaking, not being, just there.
“Uh, now what?” Quain asked.
I had no idea. Why didn’t the toxin work? Was it because Yuri had the plague, which was linked to Death Lily toxin?
“Decapitation,” Loren said. “That’s the only other thing that works.”
“Maybe we should take him outside first,” Quain said.
“No. I don’t want anyone else to know about him.” I shivered.
“We could do it after dark when everyone is asleep. Otherwise, you’ll have a mess to clean up and explain.” Loren wiped Yuri’s blood off his blade.
“Can he walk?” Quain asked Flea.
“Why are you asking me?”
“He moved when you touched him. Don’t you have an affinity with the dead?”
“No. I don’t. Avry, did he die from the serum?”
I nodded.
“Avry’s touch revived him. I’d think he’d follow her.”
My touch. I remembered when I’d witnessed Tohon waking his dead. Although his had been dead before he’d injected the serum, he’d pressed his hand to their foreheads, and then, when they’d moved, he guided them by touch. After that, I didn’t know how he’d trained them.
“We shouldn’t kill him...er, again,” Odd said.
“Why?” I pulled away from him, standing on my own wobbly legs.
“It’s a chance to learn more about them.”
“We know how to stop them. That’s all we need to know,” I said.
“Then why didn’t the Death Lily toxin work?” Odd asked.
“I think it’s because he had the plague.”
“Think or know? Big difference.”
“What are you suggesting?” Loren asked Odd.
Oh, no, not him, too. He used that same questioning technique Kerrick and Ryne’d been taught at boarding school.
“I’m suggesting we send a message to Prince Ryne and let him decide what to do.”
Feeling stronger, I stepped toward Yuri. “No. His condition is my responsibility. I decide.”
Odd grabbed my arm, turning me to face him. “I understand that. Do what you feel is right. But consider this. You created him. A healer. We always assumed Tohon used his life magic to revive the dead. What if it wasn’t his life magic, but just magic in general? What if Sepp could add to th
e army of dead? Or one of Tohon’s other magicians?”
A terrifying thought. I glanced at Yuri. A body empty of life. “You have a point. But how can we test your theory? I’m not going to kill—”
“Avry, we’re at war. Fatalities are a regrettable aspect of it.”
“Oh.”
“No,” Flea said. “I’m not doing it.”
“Doing what?” Quain asked.
“Odd wants to test if I can revive the dead.”
“You don’t have to,” I said.
Odd let go of my arm. “There’s no one else.”
“No way.” Flea hugged his chest. “You can’t force me.”
I glared at Odd. “No one is going to force you, Flea. Besides, I don’t have any more serum and the Peace Lily told me I’d only get one sack.” And the lesson had been learned. Stop trying to use the Lily to revive the dead or it might just work.
“At least wait until you talk to Prince Ryne before you decide about Yuri. There’s no need to rush. He can’t do anything. He’s not in any pain.”
Odd made sense, but guilt and fear pushed me to fix my awful mistake right away. An illogical part of my mind thought if he had a proper burial, my guilt over killing him and turning him into an abomination would disappear. The logical part already acknowledged that I’d carry that guilt for the rest of my life. And then there was the fear. Had Tohon branded me like he’d claimed?
Unable to make a decision, I appealed to my guys. “What do you think?”
“Take him outside and finish this now,” Flea said without hesitation.
“I’m inclined to agree with Odd on this,” Loren said. “We should consult with Prince Ryne. He might have a different perspective. But, Avry.” Loren met my gaze. “I’ll support your decision either way.”
Quain rubbed a hand over his head as if smoothing down imaginary hair. “Flea told us you couldn’t heal Yuri even though you tried. I think we shouldn’t tell Prince Ryne about the attempt or he’d be upset.”
“Upset is putting it mildly,” Loren muttered.
Quain ignored him. “Yuri was going to die regardless—”
“But I had no right—”
“Hush, I’m still talking. I think if it was me, and you turned me into the not dead, or whatever you call them, I’d want you to learn as much as you could from me in order to help our army.”
“A rather long-winded way to say he agrees with Odd,” Loren said.
I glanced at Flea. “Quain just had to talk it through.” And he made another good point. While my heart agreed with Flea, the logical choice would be to wait. “Let’s hear what Ryne has to say first.”
Flea’s face paled. I turned to him. “Remember, it’s your magic. You decide if and when you’ll use it. Not Ryne. Not me. Not anyone.”
“Yeah, but Prince Ryne will talk circles around me, confusing me, and the next I’d know I’d be doing what he wants.”
“Just follow your instincts.” I reached out to touch his shoulder.
He jumped back in alarm. Stung, I stood with my hand hovering over empty space. I’d thought I had achieved the maximum amount of guilt a person could ever feel, but I was wrong.
* * *
We had a single day before we needed to leave to rendezvous with Captain Drisana. I informed Lieutenant Macon of the situation with Yuri, since those of us who knew were included in the rescue mission.
“He needs no care. He won’t move. Just make sure no one enters this cavern.”
Macon eyed Yuri with a queasy expression. Yuri remained on the cot.
The lieutenant gestured to Yuri. “You sure he won’t move.”
“Yes. I’ve sent a message to Prince Ryne. Once I hear from him, I’ll decide what to do with Yuri.”
“What if you don’t return from the mission?”
Good question. “Then follow Prince Ryne’s advice.”
“And if he causes problems before then?”
“He shouldn’t. But in that case, you can decapitate him.”
Not happy about the situation, Macon grumbled, but agreed to assign a guard at the cavern’s entrance.
I spent the rest of the day checking on my patients with Ginger. Flea avoided me, dashing away any time I even stepped in his direction. I would have laughed if it didn’t hurt so much. The monkeys and Odd packed equipment and sharpened their swords, preparing for the mission. Gathering extra medical supplies, I put together an aid kit in case we had injuries.
We planned to leave an hour before dawn. Most of the team settled down next to the fire right after supper. Flea planted himself between Quain and Loren. They’d only had about four hours of sleep two nights ago. Me, too. But the thought of Tohon’s sleek voice invading my dreams prevented me from lying down. He would gloat with glee, claiming Yuri was more proof that I carried his magic. Bad enough my own fears whispered that very same thing.
A few hours later, Ginger guided me to an empty cot. “Sleep. Or you’ll be useless for the mission,” she said, pressing down on my shoulders.
I perched on the edge, uncertain.
“Do you want a sleeping draft?” Her stiff-backed posture meant she wouldn’t go away until I stretched out. She flicked her long brown braid over her shoulder, waiting for my answer.
Ginger reminded me of Loren—practical, intelligent, and stubborn when it suited her. Like now. Around forty years old, she didn’t tolerate overly whiny patients, either.
“No, thanks.”
“Then what are you waiting for? An order from the prince?”
I smiled for an instant. Should I tell her about how well I obeyed orders from Ryne?
Ginger pointed to the pillow.
“Okay, okay.” I kicked off my boots and eased back onto the cot, resting my head on the pillow. Every muscle relaxed as a heaviness spread throughout my body. “Are you always this bossy?”
“Only when needed.” She remained standing next to the cot. “Stop fighting it and close your eyes.”
“Yes, sir.” I managed to provoke a slight grin from Ginger before she faded. “All right, Tohon, your turn.”
“My turn for what, my dear?”
“Tell me things I don’t want to hear. Your turn to gloat.”
We walked through a forest, holding hands. I gazed at the greenery, flush with life. No autumn colors. Familiar clumps of trees and bushes passed and I realized we were in the silent-training area near Zabin.
“There’s no need to gloat. You’ve finally accepted the truth. And see what you’ve learned already.”
“That I’m capable of doing horrible things?”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself, my dear. Experimenting and learning are essential. You already discovered quite a bit about the Lilys and how the toxin and serum work. You may even find a cure for the toxin and save lots of lives.”
“Searching for a cure created the plague, Tohon.” As he was well aware, since he’d helped the healers with their research. “I’m not going to be the cause of another one.”
“How do you know another one hasn’t already been started? You’ve even considered how strange it was for Ryne to get sick years after being exposed to the disease. And don’t forget, I know all about Death Lily toxin. I’ve been experimenting with it for a long time.”
Horror welled. “Did you produce a different strain?”
“Have you ever wondered why I helped the Healer’s Guild?”
“You’re dodging my question.”
“Indulge me.”
I mulled it over. “You had the time since your father picked your cousin to be his heir.”
“Ouch. Keep thinking.”
“Your magic makes all the lady healers swoon so I think you had your pick of evening companions.”
He smirked. “The perks of being a life magician. But I was after more than a warm bed. Think devious thoughts, my dear.”
In boarding school Tohon had wanted one thing: to be crowned king in his final year. Instead, Ryne had won the crown. But to Tohon, it was
considerably more than a political exercise. He desired a kingdom more than anything. What would he do to gain it?
I stopped, shocked to my core, gaping at Tohon’s serene expression. “You spread the plague. You murdered six million people.”
“It’s not murder, my dear. It’s called biological warfare.”
* * *
“Avry, wake up.” Odd sat on the edge of the cot. “You’re yelling in your sleep.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize to me. You’re the one dreaming about Tohon.”
Oh, great, I’d called Tohon’s name. “I—”
“No need to explain. I understand. Tohon’s the stuff of nightmares.”
Sitting up, I said, “Is it time to go?”
“Soon. Cook made us a pot of oatmeal. Go and eat breakfast before we leave. Everything looks better with a full stomach.” He patted his.
“Odd’s philosophy on life?”
He smiled. “Is there any other?”
“Not worth listening to, I’m sure.”
“Damn straight.”
After consuming a bowl of steaming oatmeal, I gathered my pack and joined the monkeys, Flea, and the odd squad outside the cave. The coming dawn turned the eastern sky a charcoal gray. Odd signaled and, without a word, we headed northwest to the rendezvous point.
My thoughts returned to my dream. Had Tohon released the plague as a form of biological warfare, or was it just me thinking devious thoughts? The only reason Tohon’s efforts to become king of all the realms had any chance of succeeding was because of the plague. Did it matter if he’d caused it or not? That knowledge couldn’t change the past, and everyone already knew he was a monster. Why couldn’t he try what Jael did and marry into the position? If the plague hadn’t killed Estrid’s son, Stanslov, it would have worked for Jael.
I returned to Tohon. Would he create a second form of the plague to use later? Kerrick had said one of Tohon’s spies had attacked Ryne before he fell ill. The assassin had wrapped his hands around the prince’s throat. And Yuri’s encounter with the enemy had resulted in a gash on his neck. Did that mean the attackers were sick, too? They had killed the man who’d touched Ryne, but Yuri’s opponent might still be alive. Doubtful I could find him, though.
Another devious thought struck. What if Sepp already knew that those who died from the plague were immune to the Death Lily toxin? What if he and Cellina had purposely released another form of the plague so they could create dead soldiers resistant to Ryne’s best defense? Blow darts filled with toxin had been the most effective in neutralizing the dead soldiers who all wore neck protectors. A soldier had to be close to use the skull jab, which had less success.
Taste of Darkness (An Avry of Kazan Novel - Book 3) Page 10
