“I don’t cater to whiners.”
Checking my pockets, I searched for something to throw at him.
Ryne opened my bag and pulled out my juggling rocks. “Looking for these?” He dropped them into my hand.
My ire instantly dissipated. He had taken the time to find them for me. I rubbed my fingers along the names. Belen, Kerrick, Quain, Loren and Flea. My keepers. “Can you read minds?” I asked.
“No. I’m good at reading people.”
Giggles echoed. Kerrick’s deep voice vibrated in my chest. I met Ryne’s gaze. “You’ll take good care of them?”
“I will.” He stood and waved Kerrick and the kids over. “The meat’s done and it’s delicious.”
The kids ran to Ryne. They wolfed their food down. Between bites they chattered nonstop about the caves, the stalagmites and milky deposits. Kerrick ate in silence, seeming content to listen to the kids.
After they finished eating, Ryne took them out to surprise the monkeys. “I’ll bet they fell asleep on duty. Who wants to bet me?”
“I’ll bet you they didn’t,” Zila said.
“Loser washes the dishes?” Ryne asked.
“Deal.” She shook his hand.
I smiled. She was going to be trouble. My grin faltered when I caught Kerrick staring at me.
He moved closer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
This was the conversation I wanted to avoid. “I thought you knew.”
He sputtered. “How could you think…? You’re smarter than… No wonder you hated…”
It was fun watching him be so…flabbergasted—a whole new side of him. I suppressed a smile. “You did tell Belen that Ryne was all you cared about. That was after you hit me. Not your best moment.”
Sad acknowledgment smoothed Kerrick’s face. “No, it wasn’t.”
“What would you have done if you knew?” I waited even though his conflicted emotions shone clear.
“I wouldn’t have pushed you so hard,” he said.
“And if I’d decided to heal Ryne and you knew the consequences, you’d feel guilty. I’m right and you know it.”
“I still feel guilty,” he said.
“You shouldn’t. I told you from the beginning that it was my decision. And as I recall, you couldn’t threaten, bully, coerce, bribe or otherwise make me decide in Ryne’s favor.”
“I remember. It’s etched in my brain.”
“Good to know I made a lasting impression.”
“Oh, you made an impression. Like a stone caught in my boot.”
“Gee, Kerrick, don’t get all mushy on me.”
He appeared chagrined. “Sorry. It’s been over four years since… I’m a little rusty.”
“Just be yourself. No. Wait,” I said in mock panic. “Don’t be yourself. Be like Belen. A sweet, lovable type.” I grinned.
“And what do you consider Belen?” he asked.
“A good friend. Why?”
“I don’t want to be your friend, Avry.” Kerrick stroked my cheek, then leaned in and kissed me.
It was a wonderfully sweet kiss at first. But he soon let me know sweet and lovable wasn’t his style at all. Intense and passionate would be a more accurate description. As desire swept over me, I didn’t want to be his friend, either.
We broke apart when Zila rushed up to us to inform us that Prince Ryne would be doing the dishes tonight.
“Good,” Kerrick said. “If you had found the monkeys asleep, then they would be doing the dishes for the rest of the trip.”
She giggled. It took a while to settle both kids down, but soon their exhaustion caught up to them and they passed out.
“Here’s the plan for tomorrow,” Kerrick said. “Ryne, Quain and Loren will take the kids over the Nine Mountains to Ivdel. I’ll meet up with you after—”
“You should go with them,” I said. “With Tohon’s patrols, they’ll need your magic—”
“Not happening. Unless you’re coming with us?”
I had depleted my strength getting here, and I wouldn’t let Kerrick carry me again. “I can’t.”
“Then I stay with you.”
“Can’t I at least—”
“No.”
Biting my lip, I kept quiet as Kerrick and Ryne discussed routes and strategy. Relieved to have company for my final days, I still worried over the unnecessary risk of sending the others on without Kerrick. Since changing Kerrick’s mind was impossible, I decided to stop fretting over everyone else. It was time for me to be selfish for once.
In the morning, I pulled Danny and Zila aside. I gave Danny my journal, explaining as much about healing and a healer’s powers as I could.
“I’m sorry, but I won’t be here to teach you, but when you feel that tug, that desire to help another, to heal him, just let it go.” I described the sensation.
Danny didn’t like the idea of leaving me.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “These men are good. They’re going to heal the world.”
“But no one likes healers,” Zila said. She was unusually subdued.
“If you develop the power, they’ll accept you both. You’re not tainted by the past. You’ll be considered miracles.” I hugged them. “You are miracles.” Then I said goodbye to Ryne, Quain and Loren and shooed them all on their way before I cried.
Kerrick accompanied them for a bit, showing them the path. When he returned it seemed as if the cavern warmed. Or it could be due to the plague. Stage one had lasted seven days, and I was three days into stage two. I estimated I had another five days until stage three. Five days with Kerrick and then…
“Finally, I have you all to myself,” he said, sitting next to me.
“So what do you want to do? Play cards, plot how you can defeat Tohon, or reminisce?”
Instead of answering, he drew me down with him onto my bedroll and kissed me. Passion and desire flared, igniting a fever within me. A good fever that prompted me to tug at his clothes with impatience.
He broke off the kiss and grinned. “Easy.”
“Not this time.” My hands sought skin.
Once I pulled his shirt off, I ran my fingers over his smooth back. He yanked off my tunic and distracted me from my explorations by kissing my neck. Soon there was nothing between us. Kerrick took the lead as I had no experience.
But I caught on quick. Every part of my body hummed and sang with his every movement. Waves of delightful heat pounded through me. When he whispered my name, shivers raced along my skin.
Afterward we lay together, still entwined. My aches and pains forgotten and replaced by a contented tingle.
Half-asleep, I protested when he moved, turning so he was behind me. Tucking me close, he pulled a blanket over us.
“Better?” he asked, draping an arm over my shoulder.
I snuggled against him. “Yes.”
Unable to remain still for long, he swept my hair from my face and smoothed it. “After all that has happened, I can’t believe you’re here with me.”
“I’m having a hard time believing it, as well.”
“You were with Tohon for twenty-seven days. He could have done anything to you. And when I saw you kissing him, I feared the worst.”
“All he managed was a couple of kisses.”
“I know now. But that wasn’t it. I feared I had lost you without ever telling you how I felt.”
“Is that why you risked your life to talk to me in the garden?”
“Yes, and then you didn’t say a word.”
“You surprised me. Plus I wanted to keep everyone at a distance. I’d already decided to heal Ryne. Being close to someone would make it that much more difficult for me to give up my life for Ryne.”
<
br /> “Yet, you didn’t hesitate to heal him. Does that mean—?”
I rolled over to face him. “No, it doesn’t. Despite my best intentions, I spent those twenty-seven days thinking of you. Every day I smelled spring sunshine and living green. Drove me crazy.”
He looked confused.
“That’s your scent. It’s imprinted on me and I can’t get enough of it.”
“I thought you said I stunk?”
“I lied.”
A slow smile curled his lips. “Prove it.”
I did. In fact, I proved it multiple times over the next four days. It was the best four days of my entire life. I thought it a perfect way to spend the time.
Reality hit me in the form of a sudden convulsion early on the fifth morning. I had entered the third and final stage of the plague.
When Kerrick returned from washing up, I worked on one of my juggling stones. Using a rock and a throwing knife, I chiseled my name into the opposite side of Flea’s. I thought it fitting that we would share the stone.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
I finished and blew the dust from the grooves. “Here.” Handing him the three rocks, I said, “Please give them to Belen. Tell him he was right. They’re keepers.”
“Avry—”
“And if you can find my sister, please give this to her. I’d ask you to sit on her until she reads it, but I fear she’s stubborn like me. Oh, and give my gloves, boots and cloak to Danny. They should fit him next winter.”
“Avry—”
“My pouch is filled with Loren and Quain’s favorite herbs and spices, so make sure they get it back. I don’t have anything for Zila, but when you get to a safe place, please buy her a bunch of hair ribbons for me.”
“Avry—”
“You can have my stiletto and throwing knives. I—”
Kerrick pulled me into hug. “What’s going on?”
Another convulsion hit. My muscles trembled as I gasped for air. Pain twisted deep inside me. I held on to Kerrick until it stopped.
“Oh, no.” His voice broke. “I’d hoped we’d have another good day.”
“Can you do one last thing for me?” I asked.
Instantly wary, he peered at me. “I’m not hurting you.”
“Not that. Can you find a Death Lily close by?”
“For after?”
“No. For now. This afternoon. You know how bad it gets in the third stage. I don’t want to suffer and I don’t want you to watch me suffer.”
“And if I don’t do it?” He didn’t wait for my answer. “Then you’ll go out and search on your own.” His shoulders drooped in defeat. “All right. I’ll be back.”
While he was gone, I had four more convulsions. Each one stronger than the last. I focused on the peaceful detachment waiting for me inside the Death Lily in order to keep from screaming.
I noted with a sick interest how excruciating pain could take the fear right out of dying.
When Kerrick returned, I grabbed his hand, tugging him outside. “Come on before the next—” I doubled over.
By the time the convulsion dissipated, my legs would no longer support my full weight. Kerrick carried me. I had two convulsions before we reached the Lilys. He set me down. Leaning on Kerrick, I peered at the huge white flowers. There were three of them. I smelled a hint of anise. At least one was a Death Lily.
I hugged Kerrick and kissed him goodbye. “Please don’t shut down for another four years. You’ll find another pain-in-the-ass girl to drive you crazy. Just don’t manacle her to a tree, okay?”
He smiled despite the tears streaking his face.
“And listen to Belen. Poppa Bear knows what’s he’s talking about.” I kissed him again. A salty long one, before I pulled back.
Wobbling on unsteady legs, I limped to the Lilys. The scent of anise grew stronger, coming from the middle one. I approached the one in the middle. A hiss sounded as its petals parted. I turned and met Kerrick’s gaze before being engulfed in the comforting darkness.
Two pricks stabbed my arms, and I floated free of my pain-filled body. I relaxed, drifting. The Death Lily shifted. Taste bad. The thorns retreated. It spat me out.
Now I cried. I huddled on the ground and sobbed.
Kerrick crouched next to me in concern. “What happened?” he asked.
I wiped my eyes, trying to get my emotions under control. Above Kerrick, the Lily on the right hissed. Its petals opened. Without thought, I pushed him out of the way. It snatched me instead. There were two Death Lilys in this small patch. I waited to be expelled.
But this one was…odd. Instead of blackness, there was a fuzzy white light as if the petals were translucent. It smelled of vanilla. Two thin tendrils wrapped around my upper arms, then dug in with what felt like a hundred little barbs. I yelped in surprise and pain. My consciousness didn’t float but I sensed another’s presence with me.
Feelings of pride and ownership overwhelmed me as if the Lily thought of me as its child. Our healer. Then it injected a cold liquid into my arms. The icy toxin numbed at first, then burned like acid. I jerked. The convulsions were mild in comparison to this agony.
I writhed and screamed and yelled until I lost my voice. It felt as if the Lily was digesting me from the inside of my body to the outside. No matter which way I twisted, I couldn’t get away from the burning torture. Finally, I curled into a tight ball.
Like a quick puff of air blowing out a candle’s flame, my world ended.
I woke in Kerrick’s arms. Head bowed, his eyes were closed. Had he stopped me from going to the peaceful afterlife again? All my muscles ached. A rank cottony taste filled my mouth. My throat burned. Pins and needles swarmed over my hands, arms, feet and legs as if all my limbs had fallen asleep.
“Wh—?” My voice croaked.
Kerrick’s eyes snapped open. He stared at me in astonishment.
Not able to talk, I raised my eyebrows, inviting him to explain.
He pressed two fingers to my neck, feeling my pulse.
“Ke—” I squeaked.
“A Peace Lily grabbed you. A Peace Lily!” He blinked.
Unheard of, but it explained the white light and soothing scent. But not the excruciating pain. I waved for him to continue.
“You cried out in such misery…but I couldn’t free you. We should make body armor out of their petals. My knife didn’t make a dent.”
I tapped his chest.
“Oh…sorry.” He smiled and stared at me again.
This time I punched him on the shoulder.
“The Lily eventually spat you out like the other had. Except…” His grin faded. “You were dead.” He shuddered at the memory. “But now you’re…not.”
I considered. Peace Lilys must also contain a toxin. So I died from the Peace Lily’s toxin, but still haven’t died from the plague. Which meant I’d soon be dead again. And my attempt to cheat the plague had completely and utterly failed.
I struggled to stand, but Kerrick wouldn’t let me. He carried me back to the cave and tucked me under the blanket. I fell asleep waiting for the convulsions to begin anew.
Except a funny thing happened. My health improved. I worried the symptoms would return, but after a few days without pain, I stopped panicking over every twinge and cramp.
“The Peace Lily cured you,” Kerrick said.
His mood during the past couple days had been positively buoyant. I’d never seen him this way before. “But why didn’t it help the thousands who suffered and died from the plague? Plus I was around all those Lilys by Tohon’s castle walls when I was sick. None of them had moved. Why now? Why me? No one has survived the plague. It isn’t possible.”
Kerrick considered. “You didn’t survive.
I wasn’t imagining it. You had no heartbeat, no signs of life at all. The way you described the agony from the flower’s poison, it seems as if the Lily accelerated the plague inside you until you died.”
It had certainly felt that way. “Then how did I come back to life?”
He shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care. I consider it a gift.” He leaned close, kissed me and proceeded to unwrap his gift, distracting me from my churning thoughts.
Much later, as we sat around the fire, Kerrick handed me my things that I had given to him. “Looks like you’re going to have to deliver Noelle’s letter yourself.”
And I’d promised Estrid I would return—I’d return for Noelle regardless, but still. However, all the rest of those problems I’d been happy to leave behind remained. I thought my job was done after I’d healed Ryne. He was supposed to fix everything, returning the survivors’ lives to normal.
We had to find a way to stop Tohon and his army of living and dead soldiers. He had Sepp on his side now, which would make it harder. Jael tried to kill me and Kerrick. I’d injured her, so I was pretty sure she would be seeking revenge. Danny and Zila would need to learn how to be healers. The list went on.
At least I’d struck Tohon a major blow. He’d lost Ryne, Danny, Zila, a healer and his Death Lily patch. All because of me. Pride and a sense of accomplishment filled me until I remembered about the Peace Lily. More research into both the Death and Peace Lilys was needed. I felt I’d just scratched the surface of what these Lilys meant to the survival of our world. At least my pride remained.
As if sensing my thoughts, Kerrick pulled me close. “There’s still a long way to go to put things right.”
“I sense a but coming.”
“However…” He quirked a smile. “You promised Danny we were going to heal our world. We can’t do it without our healer.”
“One healer might not be enough for what needs to be done,” I said.
“Take it one task at a time. You’ve already checked off quite a number of them. Ryne.” He mentioned the impact my actions had on slowing down Tohon’s plans. “And you broke through the ice around my heart. Belen will be ecstatic. He’d thought it impossible. I did, too. And I won’t miss him calling me a cold heartless bastard about my behavior toward you.”
Touch of Power Page 34
