The Wind's Call

by T. A. White

  The fox tilted his head back to give Jason a look of disdain.

  Jason jerked his thumb toward the outside. "Anyway, there’s something outside I thought you might want to see."

  Eva hesitated. She should really help the rest get settled.

  Fiona waved her away. "I have to corral this lot, but you’re free to go. I’ll catch up when I can."

  Eva followed as Jason chattered at her. "Darius wants all of us to stick together. Most of us are either in this building or that one." He pointed to the one right next to theirs.

  "Is that why you pulled me aside?" Eva asked.

  "No, this is." Jason opened an arched wooden door embedded in a six-foot-high stone wall. He stepped aside and gestured for her to enter first.

  She stepped into a small courtyard dotted with cobblestone paths threading through a surprisingly well-maintained garden. Whatever had happened to the residents had happened recently. There were no weeds choking the plants. Someone had carefully tended to them; it was obvious through the health gleaming in the greenness of the leaves and the vividness of the blossoms on the bushes.

  Despite that, the whole courtyard left Eva feeling out of sorts. Like the entire world was out of step. Something was wrong, but she couldn't put her finger on what. It left her with a deep-seated feeling of unease.

  It didn’t take long to figure out what unsettled her so. The place might look like an oasis at first glance, but the scene was more suited to a nightmare.

  Wooded plants shaped like people were frozen mid-step along several of the gravel paths. Their bodies were made up of thousands of intertwined branches shaped so realistically she couldn’t believe they hadn’t been human being once.

  Eva moved cautiously around them, careful not to get too close. Their expressions made her wary. Grief, tragedy, horror. Even rage.

  Eva shivered. This wasn’t a good place. Peace was a distant concept.

  "They're creepy, but kind of amazing, too." Jason folded his arms over his chest. "I wanted to see what you made of them."

  She glanced back at him. "Why?"

  He rubbed his chin, his expression slightly uncomfortable. "There's a bit of a bet going on as to their purpose."

  She lifted an eyebrow. "And you thought I would know?"

  He shrugged. "I figured you'd have a better chance than anyone, given how you've managed to attract so many of them to you."

  "Them?"

  "The mythologicals. They flock to you," he said simply.

  It was an insult, but perhaps it was not intended to be one. Eva sensed he meant it as a compliment.

  "What are the stakes of the bet?" she asked.

  Interest crossed his face. "Winner gets bragging rights."

  She waited. She'd lived among the Trateri long enough to know there had to be more to it than that.

  He rolled his eyes before giving in. "And first choice of any Kyren we find."

  Eva stiffened, anger flooding her veins.

  He held up his hands before she could give voice to the fury lashing her. "I didn't say I agreed with it, but I thought you should know."

  "You want to win this bet," she stated flatly.

  "Yes, but not for the reasons you think," he replied.

  She waited.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. "I'm an orphan. A lostling with no family line or a clan to claim me. There aren't a lot of opportunities for people like me. You have to be extremely talented at what you do, and even then, you have to fight to have what would been yours by right if you'd had a family and clan at your back."

  He looked uncomfortable as he met her eyes. "I guess that's why I wasn't the nicest to you before."

  "You mean you were an ass." Eva wasn't going to let him to pretend otherwise. He had tried to make her feel an inch tall simply because of her birth. Of anyone, he should know what that was like.

  Regret fluttered across his face. "I was jealous. Hardwick thinks of you as a daughter. He’s grooming you to be his heir."

  "Ollie is taking over his herd," Eva said automatically.

  Jason shook his head. "Not according to the rumors I've heard."

  Eva shrugged dismissively. "Rumors are rumors. At any point half a dozen of them are flying around. You can't trust them."

  "I've seen the way the two of them act around you. He respects you. It's something I've always wanted."

  And never managed to get, went unsaid.

  "How does this bet play into that?" she asked.

  He lifted one shoulder, his fingers tapping his leg. "Bragging rights."

  She observed him. Could she trust him?

  "I won't help you get one of the Kyren as a pet," Eva warned. She didn't think she could even if she wanted to—and she didn't want.

  "That's fine. I thought about what you said before and you were right." His smile was apologetic and regretful.

  The expression made him seem as young as he really was. Without the normal bad temper, he looked like an earnest youth ready and willing to learn.

  Eva sighed before moving down the path.

  "I doubt these are natural," she said finally.

  How could they be? Nothing in nature grew this way. At least nothing she'd ever heard of. This was the Highlands, though. Anything was possible.

  She circled one shaped in the form of a woman, wind catching her skirt so it billowed out behind her, the brown and blond branches of her hair following suit.

  The finest threads of metal glinted deep in the tangle of branches.

  "Is this metal?" Eva asked.

  If so, it was spun finer than anything she'd ever seen. As thin as a strand of hair, it wound around and through the branches, almost as if it was holding them together. It was part of them, as integral as the wood the branches were made up of.

  "What are you talking about?" Jason stepped closer, trying to see what she did.

  He pushed aside one of the branches for a better look. "You're right. It is metal. How did they create this? It should be impossible."

  His face was astonished as he stepped back.

  Eva looked over her shoulder at the rest of the wood people. Some were greener than the one in front of her, small vines and flowers sprouting from them. Others in the more shaded parts of the walled-off courtyard had moss growing on them and a skin tone closer to stone.

  "Our blacksmiths would never be able to make something that fine." Jason's expression was troubled as he regarded the rest.

  The wood people, fifteen in all, watched with unseeing eyes as Eva moved among them. She stopped by one, a girl on the cusp of womanhood, her figure slight. Her hair had flowers growing in it. Pink, the like Eva had never seen before.

  Wonderingly, Eva reached out and brushed the flower's petal. How could metal and plant be one?

  Impossible, just like so many other things she'd seen on this journey. She felt like she'd used that word too many times, but the impossible never got any easier to swallow.

  She was surprised at the warmth of the branches making up the body—almost like they were a person’s flesh.

  The girl's head shifted, wood branches creaking in a small moan.

  Eva stepped back.

  A splintering sound reached her, like roots being yanked out of the ground.

  Jason's face twisted in horror as he lurched forward. "Watch out."

  Eva whirled to find another of the wood figures reaching for her. Jason grabbed her arm and yanked her out of reach.

  The wood figure's mouth opened on a silent scream. Instead of the expected shrill sound, wood creaked and groaned.

  Around them, the rest came to life. They turned as one toward Eva and Jason, their wooden faces frozen in agonized expressions. They were almost silent as they advanced. The dry rustling of their branches as they shook and quivered was terrifying.

  They staggered toward Eva and Jason, trailing roots behind them like tattered cloth.

  "What in all of the gods is this?" Jason hissed, one arm in front of Eva as if it might protect h
er from the garden suddenly springing to life.

  "I'm going to put this out there. Next time you want to show me something—perhaps don't." Eva reached for the dagger Caden had given her. It wouldn't do much good against these things. An ax might. Perhaps next time she should suggest that as a gift.

  "We need to get to the gate," Eva said.

  "How do you expect us to do that?" Jason snapped. "There are five of them between it and us."

  "You're the one who wanted to be an Anateri. Think of a way!" she hissed back.

  The gate represented safety. More importantly, it was a way to keep whatever these things were inside the confines of the courtyard and away from the rest.

  Small figures crawled from beneath the bushes where they'd been hidden until now. They tottered forward on uncertain steps as they milled around uncertainly. Their mouths opened on silent cries.

  "Children," Eva whispered.

  A wood figure staggered toward them. One of its hands brushed Eva's arm. Pain bit deep as its sharp branches tore at her skin.

  Eva cried out, swinging her dagger and knocking its arm back. Jason was there in the next minute, burying his sword in the thing’s side. The blade stuck. Jason swore, yanking futilely on it.

  He ducked and weaved as the wood person reached for him, trying to stay away from its arms.

  "Let go, damn you." Jason heaved, planting one foot against the wooden figure and shoving it.

  The sword popped free, nearly toppling Jason before he caught himself at the last minute.

  Eva dodged as another of the wood figures swiped at her. She let out a small scream as branches from a second caught in her hair. Her eyes teared up as it yanked painfully, ripping a few strands free.

  She thrust the dagger at it and tore herself loose. There was a rip and a spark of pain as one of the sharper branches dragged along her shoulder.

  Two of the creatures lumbered toward the gate, wood creaking. If they got out, they might kill someone before anyone knew there was anything to defend against.

  "Danger," she screamed. "We're being attacked."

  It was all the warning she had time for as another came for her. They were getting quicker. The slow, jerkiness of their movements smoothing out.

  She rolled under another's outstretched arms. She'd learned from Jason's example—a direct thrust would only leave her weaponless when the blade caught. Better to dodge and evade unless absolutely necessary.

  The wood person followed up with a kick to her stomach. Eva's breath left her in a whoosh. One of the children crawled rapidly across the courtyard grounds, grabbing her foot before dragging her toward one of the adult-sized figures.

  She couldn't help the scream that left her lips as the creature’s spindly fingers sank into her ankle with bruising force.

  Another piled on as Eva fought to get free.

  Jason shouted, rushing in and wielding his sword like a club, knocking one away from Eva, only to be tackled from behind.

  He was quickly overwhelmed as more and more of the creatures crawled out from their hiding places.

  One of those holding Eva reared back, the wood along their arm reshaping into a point.

  Eva's eyes widened as she thrashed in horror. She kicked it in the face, the blow knocking it back only slightly.

  There was an exclamation from the gate and then a sharp whistle before an ax buried itself in the wood person’s neck.

  Bright green sap spurted from the wound, drenching Eva. Her skin burned where it touched.

  Strong hands wrapped around the back of her shirt and yanked, dragging her free.

  Fiona's expression was aghast as she helped Eva to her feet. Caden burst past them, his sword a dance of light as it dismantled and beheaded the creatures who were even now rallying themselves to attack again. They paid little attention to Caden, despite the danger he presented.

  "How is it you always manage to happen onto strangeness?" Fiona shouted.

  Ghost and Roscoe waded into the fray with gleeful battle cries. Despite the exultation on their faces, they were careful to stay near the two women, guarding them as their swords moved in graceful arcs, each trying to top the other for style points.

  "I think it might be a Lowland trait," Roscoe shouted over his shoulder. "Isn't the Battle Queen the same?"

  "She's from the Highlands, you lout," Fiona snapped. "Mind your left side. Keep your defense up."

  Beyond them, Caden was a whirling dervish, at once beautiful and deadly—his face a mask of fury.

  It wasn't directed at her, but Eva couldn't help a small shiver of fear, remembering not so long ago when Caden could intimidate her into silence with merely a look. Seeing him like this made her remember why.

  He was death incarnate, a god come to the mortal realm as he dealt destruction and devastation with equal abandon.

  The creatures stood no chance against him. Each movement was quick and precise.

  It was over in moments, leaving the creatures kindling on the ground. Caden stood in the middle of it all, his Anateri beside him.

  His chest heaved as he cast one last glance around, checking to see if any of the creatures were still alive.

  "Would you like to tell me why you're in the center of trouble once again?" Caden asked Eva, his voice unnaturally calm.

  The thin leash she kept on herself snapped. The fear she'd had to put aside while under attack coupled with the relief of surviving, burst free.

  "Oh yes, let's blame me for this." She threw her hands up. "Because I'm the one who brought those things to life and told them to attack me."

  She realized she still had a bunch of twigs in her hand from the wood woman's hair and she chucked them at Caden's feet.

  "I'm getting a little sick of being the bad guy all the time. You try dealing with all I’ve had thrown at me and see how you fare." Eva's voice had risen to a shout.

  "I think she's cracked," Ghost said in a whisper to Roscoe.

  He wasn't quiet enough. Eva's attention snapped to them.

  Ghost gulped. He'd faced down monstrous creatures only seconds before, but now a touch of apprehension crossed his face at whatever he saw in her expression.

  "What was that?" Eva asked, her voice sliding into a low rumble. "Are you insinuating that I'm mentally unstable because I had a natural reaction to another one of you idiots telling me something is my fault when it isn't?"

  Eva was aware she was acting crazy, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. It was all too much. Too many people wanting things she couldn't possibly deliver. She wanted her simple life back. Not this dangerous one that seemed to get more dangerous with every passing second.

  She wanted to be the type who saw a dangerous situation and ran from it like any sane person would. Not this person who constantly found herself embroiled in it.

  This was not the simple life she thought she'd lead as a herd mistress.

  "Well, to be fair, you're the only one these things attacked," Roscoe pointed out. "We all had contact with the figures and none of us set them off."

  There was silence as Eva stared at them. Her gaze swept the group. Fiona winced as the color drained from Eva's face.

  "Not helping," Fiona told Roscoe, who had the decency to look slightly guilty.

  "Is this true?" Eva asked.

  They all nodded. Some reluctantly. Some less so.

  Caden watched it all with his enigmatic gaze, his arms folded over his chest.

  Eva's shoulders slumped at this confirmation that here was one more thing different about her.

  "Everyone out," Caden ordered.

  The others tramped toward the gate. Fiona lingered, giving her a significant look as she murmured. "There's nothing between you two. Uh-huh."

  Eva mustered a tiny glare for the other woman as she left.

  They were quiet for several moments while Caden watched her.

  "I didn't do anything besides touch one. You can't put the blame for all this on me," Eva burst out.

  "You're right," he sa
id.

  She paused and stared at him. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. The commander losing an argument was unheard of.

  "I saw you in danger and my temper got the better of me," he continued stiffly. "It shouldn't have happened."

  Eva frowned, unsure now as she studied him. An apology? From a man she was sure had never apologized for anything in his life? He could lop off a person's head and still have that same placid expression. She doubted it would even register.

  "Why were you angry?" Eva asked.

  He didn't answer immediately, giving his attention to the bits of broken plant and wood strewn over the ground.

  Eva cocked her head, letting her mind tease and untangle all the threads that had been ruffling her feathers until now.

  It didn't make sense. Unless—hmm. He acted like a parent might if their child did something dangerous. Only he wasn't her parent and she definitely was not his daughter.

  "Do you perhaps like me?" Eva asked, watching him carefully. "In a physical sort of way?"

  He arched an eyebrow at her, his lips curving in a crooked smile. "What a tepid description."

  Eva lifted a shoulder. "I'm not sure if I believe in love. If I did, I wouldn't believe you felt that emotion after such a short time."

  A matter of weeks really, and maybe two meetings before then.

  He took a step closer, the look in his eyes sending flutters through Eva's belly. "I say tepid because that word doesn't have a hope of touching even the barest surface of what I'm feeling."

  His eyes darkened.

  "Tepid, because I want to bend you over and do many, many things to you. You're a craving in my blood and a fire in my veins that I can't seem to work out, no matter how I try. Lips I'd like to lose myself in and a mind that pushes even when you know you're outmatched, little rabbit." His eyes were half-lidded, the look he gave her sultry. "You're a raindrop who thinks she's a tempest, and damn if I don't want to see you teach them to fear your wrath.”

  Eva's breath came faster. The words coming from this normally reserved man—a man who spoke rarely—were more seductive than a thousand kisses.

  He took another step closer, one hand rising to grip the back of her neck. "I'm tired of watching you give that fire to everyone else. If I was smart, I’d collect on what I know should be mine."