Taste of Darkness (An Avry of Kazan Novel - Book 3)

by Maria V. Snyder

  “A cave-in?” Beau asked.

  “No, but something that’s almost as impenetrable.”

  “Just tell us,” I ordered.

  “The exit is blocked by thirty dead soldiers.”

  KERRICK

  He hated keeping secrets from Avry. But in this case it’d been vital to the success of their mission. And she had understood.

  After Avry’s team left, Kerrick asked Flea about Yuri.

  “It worked, but it might have been too subtle. It’ll all depend on what she remembers.”

  “And where is Yuri now?”

  “Back in his room.”

  “Good.”

  As he led his team through the bare woods, Kerrick marveled over the sheer genius that had brought them all to this point. Amazing. He also wanted to throttle that same genius for putting Avry through so much pain. But if everything went as planned, then it would be over for good and they could live their lives. Provided he didn’t go dormant in the meantime.

  His team followed him in silence. Avry had trained Saul and his squad well. They easily kept up without making a sound. And Kerrick set a fast pace. He limited rest periods and stops. His goal was to arrive near the Healer’s Guild well before Avry’s team.

  After a day on the road, Kerrick slowed and allowed Flea to scout ahead. Flea navigated them around pockets of dead soldiers who had been ordered to hunker down in the dips of the terrain. Flea also shared a bit of his energy with Kerrick. Each day dawned colder than the last, draining his magic.

  As the sun set on the second day, Kerrick prodded the sluggish living green. With Flea’s help, he sought the intruders surrounding the Healer’s Guild, committing their locations to memory because this would be his only chance. The effort exhausted him more than he’d admit to his team.

  “We need to head northeast,” he told the others.

  “But you told Avry we’d attack from the east,” Belen said.

  He didn’t have the energy to explain, but Flea quickly informed Poppa Bear that everything they had told Avry was a lie for Tohon’s benefit.

  “I thought Prince Ryne fed her bad information on purpose, but she wouldn’t listen to me. She’d rather hate him. Again.” Belen chuckled.

  “She’s supposed to hate Ryne,” Kerrick said. “It’s for the best.”

  They spent the rest of the night skirting the outer ring of Tohon’s army.

  “Are we still going to provide a distraction?” Belen asked him when they stopped for breakfast at dawn.

  “We’re going to do more than that. If all goes well, Tohon will be taken care of before she reaches the Healer’s Guild.”

  “Nice.” Belen slapped him on the back.

  Kerrick clamped down on a cry of pain. When he recovered, he noticed Flea studying him. He waved off Flea’s help. Flea needed his full strength. The boy’s magic would be invaluable when the action started. By then, Kerrick would only be able to direct from a safe distance.

  A few hours later, Kerrick led the team to the location he’d zeroed in on earlier. Shuffling his feet, he crunched a few dried leaves and snapped a twig. Belen shot him an annoyed look.

  However, Belen was the least of his troubles. Soldiers jumped from hiding places and swung down from the trees. It happened so fast that the ambushers’ swords pointed at his team’s exposed necks before they could react.

  Kerrick held his hands up, showing he was unarmed. “I know this is a cliché, but take us to your leader.”

  They traveled until the early afternoon when they reached a small valley. There more soldiers joined them.

  “Kerrick, are you going to explain what the he—” Belen gaped at the tall muscular man who strode toward them.

  Kerrick stifled a laugh at Belen’s expression. Poppa Bear had probably never met his match in size and strength.

  “Magic Man, this is unexpected,” Noak said. He waved off the warriors. “Did Prince Ryne send you?”

  “Sort of.”

  Noak waited.

  “He arranged for this to happen, goading Avry into not trusting him and doing what she thought was the opposite of what he wanted,” Kerrick explained. “How soon can you be ready to fight?”

  “We go now.”

  “Not necessary. We plan to attack at dusk.”

  Noak gestured to his warriors, giving them the information. “We will be ready.”

  “There are soldiers with metal collars. They—”

  “Unnatural abominations. We cut off their heads.” Noak sliced the edge of his hand across his throat.

  “But the collars are—”

  The tribesman yanked his dadao from his sash. Brandishing the weapon, he said, “One chop. Gone.” He pointed to the dadao hanging from Kerrick’s belt. “Yours, too.”

  Sweet.

  Kerrick introduced Noak to the others. Serious and formal, Noak shook all their hands. When it was Flea’s turn, he gazed at the big man in awe. “Was the ambush at Milligreen Pass just a ruse?”

  “Yes. That army is not a threat until snow melts.” Noak kept Flea’s hand. “You Magic Man, as well. You touched by autumn.”

  “We call it death magic,” Flea said.

  “A part of life. Same thing.” He released Flea’s hand.

  Flea rubbed his fingers, looking thoughtful. Kerrick ordered his team to rest while he discussed strategy with Noak.

  But Noak wouldn’t talk tactics. Instead, he held out his hand. “Something is not right.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Magic Man losing his magic.”

  That alarmed him. Kerrick allowed Noak to take his hand. A cold shiver raced down his back.

  “Healer bond within you is thin, breakable,” Noak said. “Your bond with winter is stronger.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.”

  “You must break the healer’s other bond, no one else. Otherwise she will die with him.”

  CHAPTER 23

  “Thirty dead soldiers?” I asked the monkeys. “Are you sure?”

  “Yep,” Quain said.

  “They had the collars, that dead gaze and stood as still as...well...death,” Loren added.

  Not good. I glanced at my team. With fourteen of us, disabling two each wouldn’t be that difficult, but the narrow confines of the tunnel made it tough. Did we retreat? No. Kerrick said we needed to be here. And enough was enough. It was past time for Tohon to be stopped once and for all.

  “Has everyone treated their weapons with Death Lily toxin?” I asked.

  Nods and “yes, sirs.”

  “Who has the blow gun?” I asked.

  Private Red Hair stepped forward.

  “Loren, are your arrows—”

  “Yes, they’re covered.”

  And my throwing knives had been dipped in the toxin. “Loren, you take point, followed by Private...”

  “Judi, sir.”

  “Judi and me. The three of us will do as much damage as possible from a distance. When they close the gap, we’ll try to push through so you can engage the enemy. Don’t forget there’s a delay before the toxin works. Do you all know the skull jab?”

  More nods and “yes, sirs.”

  “Questions?”

  “What if there are more outside the shaft?” Beau asked.

  Good question. “Once we start the fight, there’s no going back. We’ll keep pressing on until we run out of opposition.” Or they stopped us, but I kept that to myself. “And keep to the plan if anything happens to me. Loren’s the one who needs to get close to Tohon’s tent. I’m just here as backup. Understand?”

  Unhappy agreement.

  Beau extinguished the lantern, and Loren led us through the darkness. We formed a line, keeping a hand on the shoulder of the person in front of us.

  As we neared the exit, the blackness diluted in subtle hues. Loren solidified into a dark figure and shadows defined the rough contours of the walls. The shaft veered to the right. Loren fitted an arrow into his bow, signaling us to be ready.

 
I pulled two knives, while Judi primed her blow gun. We fanned out to each side of Loren. Light shone beyond the bend.

  Loren counted under his breath, “One, two, three.”

  On three we stepped into view. The bow twanged and a puff of air sounded. Squinting in the brightness, I aimed at the closest figure on the right without an arrow sticking out of his or her chest. Judi aimed left so we didn’t waste our weapons. I managed to hit another before the first wave of dead reached us.

  We were armed with swords, but the tight space limited their effectiveness. Instead of throwing my knives, I poked the thin blades into the enemy as I shoved through them.

  The stench of the dead filled the tunnel along with shouts, curses, and the ring of metal. After I used my last knife, strong hands clamped on my wrist, tugging me toward the exit. I glanced back to see the gap between me and my team widen.

  Fear and revulsion fueled my efforts to break free. Frantic I pressed my hand on one man’s face, zapping him. Of course, it didn’t slow my progress. I covered another’s eyes. No effect.

  If only they obeyed me like Yuri. But he didn’t obey me until I touched him again. Why not? I gasped. Flea! Flea had checked Yuri’s pulse after I awoke him to confirm Yuri’s status. That was why Yuri didn’t listen to me until after I touched him the second time.

  I reached for the closest dead flesh and yelled, “Stop!”

  He did. Ecstatic, I touched the ones near me, ordering them to stop. However, others pressed in, trapping my arms. They passed me up the steep slope and right into the waiting arms of Tohon.

  * * *

  Tohon smiled. “Fancy meeting you here, my dear.”

  I grabbed his throat, intending to squeeze the life from him. But two living soldiers pulled me off him and yanked my arms behind my back. At least two dozen others fanned out around the tunnel’s exit along with a half dozen dead ufas.

  “Bind her hands,” Tohon ordered. “You try my patience, my dear.”

  Cold metal bit into my wrists—an all-too-familiar feeling.

  “How did you know?” I asked.

  “Your sleep powder actually worked in my favor. I could rifle through your thoughts without your waking or remembering my presence.” Tohon gestured to his guards. “Take care of anyone who makes it out of the tunnel.”

  “Yes, sire.”

  “No!” I said.

  They all ignored me.

  “Don’t, Tohon, I’ll...”

  “You’ll what?” Tohon asked. “Cooperate? Promise not to kill me? Agree to be my queen? It’s too late for that.” He stepped closer to me. “No doubt you’re smart. It’s no surprise you figured out that the dead obey whichever magician touches them last. So let’s not pretend you don’t know what else is going on between us.”

  “You can’t claim me, Tohon. You tried before and failed.”

  “And now I know why. With two magicians, one can’t force it on the other. It grows with time and the use of magic. That’s the beauty of this...bond.” He savored the word.

  My stomach churned with bile.

  “Do you remember the first time we met?” Tohon asked.

  “Unfortunately.” It had also been my first run-in with his dead.

  “During our brief encounter, I imprinted on you and started the process. Sheer happenstance.” He swung his arm wide. “I’ve been learning all about this wonderful quirk of our magic while waiting for you.”

  Ah. The real reason he’d been camping in the ruins of the Healer’s Guild—the underground storage room with all those crates full of research notes.

  Tohon linked his arm through mine. “Now, let’s go get into position so we’re ready for Team Kerrick. I believe they’re attacking two hours after midnight.”

  I glanced back. No activity at the mouth of the tunnel. Pain clamped around my heart. Maybe the quiet meant my team had retreated deeper in the mines. Beau did know his way around. I clung to that bit of hope.

  The hope expanded a smidge when half of Tohon’s men followed us to the guild with the dead ufas trotting beside them, leaving only a dozen soldiers behind. From the angle of the sun, it was just past midafternoon. I also clutched the fact Kerrick knew about my dreams. Never had I been so glad to be lied to.

  Tohon chatted about what he’d learned about the bond. Half-distracted with worry for Kerrick and my team, I didn’t fully listen. Noak had told me Tohon’s death would break the bond and that was all I needed.

  “...will result in the immediate death of the other,” Tohon said.

  That caught my attention. “Even if the other isn’t hurt?”

  “Yes. So it’ll be in my best interest to keep you alive, my dear. And vice versa.”

  A tightness ringed my chest. Breathing became difficult. Don’t panic, I repeated in my mind. “Except we’re not... We haven’t...completed the process.”

  “Not yet. Kerrick must die or go dormant. After that, we’ll be bonded.”

  “And I’ll have an excellent reason to commit suicide.”

  “Now, now, my dear. Don’t be nasty. Do you remember how your body reacts to my touch?”

  “Unfortunately.”

  “I believe your words were scatterbrained and swooning. Well, I tried clearheaded and cooperative, and was tricked. Then I tried threatening you, scaring you, and killing your sister. Yet, you resisted every effort and almost killed me in the process.” He tsked. “Once we’re bonded, I will ensure that quick intelligence of yours is turned to goo. I will enjoy scatterbrained and swooning Avry very much.”

  Even more motive to commit suicide, but I clamped my mouth shut for the remainder of the trip to the Healer’s Guild.

  When we arrived, Tohon shook his head. “Such a waste. The buildings were magnificent. Perhaps I’ll have them rebuilt. Would you like that, my dear?”

  Actually, I would. Very much. “Yes.”

  “Don’t sound so surprised. I do care about the Fifteen Realms. So much so that I want to unite us all so we can prosper and grow.”

  Again, I refrained from commenting. While his goal was admirable, his methods were not. No amount of arguing would change his mind. He’d convinced himself that his actions had been with the purest intentions. That murdering six million people wasn’t a crime when you called it biological warfare. That reanimating the dead was making the most of your limited resources and not morally repugnant.

  Instead, I asked, “How did you protect your...er...friends from the first plague virus?”

  “Ah. I wondered when you’d ask me that. Although, I think you’ve already figured it out.”

  I had? “You had the cure and managed to give it to Ryne and the others during your school reunion before spreading the plague.”

  “Correct. And you already know what the cure is.”

  I mulled it over. My blood cured the new plague, so following the logic... “Your blood!”

  “Correct. I discovered my life magic infused my blood with curative properties while doing my research at the Healer’s Guild. Along with the fact that about a third of the people didn’t contract that plague either by avoiding exposure or just a natural resistance—a happy side effect as a king needs subjects. Besides, it would have been incredibly stupid to release the plague without a cure.”

  “Do you have a cure for the new plague? The one Wynn stole?”

  “Of course. However, I developed that one to be more difficult to spread—to use more for assassination than mass exterminations. Your death magician was kinder to that traitor than I would have been. I’d planned for Wynn to experience a great deal of agony before she died.”

  My thoughts spun. He’d gone to such lengths to be a king—the more I learned, the sicker I felt. At that moment, I gave up trying to figure out this horrible business of war. Spies, double crosses, ambushes, and strategic military positioning; how did anyone keep it all straight?

  Then I realized it wasn’t my job to keep track. It was Ryne’s and maybe I should have just trusted him to do his job and I should h
ave focused on my job—healing patients. Interfering with Ryne’s strategy had only landed me here with Tohon.

  Tohon guided me inside his tent. The fabric hung low on its frame and water dripped from the edges. They had soaked the material to keep it from burning. Lovely.

  He pushed me into a chair then ignored me as he sent for his officers. No one, except the guards at the entrance, paid me any attention. Even if I slipped past them, I doubted I’d get far.

  “Any signs of Prince Kerrick’s team?” Tohon asked one of his lieutenants.

  “No, sire.”

  “Keep vigilant, they could strike at any time. And spread the word, all patrols are on duty. No one sleeps tonight.”

  “Yes, sire!”

  Tohon noticed my interest. “You don’t really think I believed all your information? I was pretty confident about you, but once you told Kerrick about our dreams, I’d be a fool to trust anything he said.”

  Yet he had soaked the fabric of his tent. I listened as Tohon positioned his troops and dealt with the various problems and questions from his men. Fear simmered in my chest, but a numb sense of inevitability settled over me. Events had been set into motion; I would either get an opportunity to act or not. Ideally, I’d kill Tohon. Worst case... I shied away from that line of thought. As Ryne had once said, positive thoughts led to positive results.

  After three nights with little sleep, I dozed in the chair.

  “Am I boring you, my dear?” Tohon asked, waking me.

  “Has anything happened?” I asked.

  “Not yet, which is why we need to leave. But first you need to change.” Tohon grabbed my arm and helped me stand. He gestured to two women waiting nearby. “Don’t touch her skin.”

  The ladies towed me behind a screen.

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  They ignored me as they removed my cloak and uniform. With a quick no-nonsense efficiency that would have made Mom proud, they dressed me like one of the dead soldiers, complete with metal collar. Instead of my hands clamped behind my back, they secured a wide leather belt around my waist and cuffed my arms to my sides. They wound my hair into a bun and covered it with a knit cap.

  When we returned to the main area, Tohon had also changed from his silk tunic and black pants. He, too, resembled one of the dead.