into five days. And since Tauno had left before dinner to scout the area ahead, we had one less to guard the camp.
My bat swooped over the rising heat of the fire. He’d been staying with me during the day and hunting food at night. I longed to fly with him, soaring over the ground.
Tauno returned the next morning to report no signs of activity along our path to the Jewelrose border. “There is a good site to camp about two miles south of the border,” he said. “I will join you there.” He left.
I wondered what had kept him awake. Unlike Tauno, I had had a few hours’ sleep last night. Perhaps I shouldn’t complain anymore.
We packed and followed Tauno s trail. Another uneventful day and we found the camp location without any problems. Tauno reappeared with dinner hanging from his belt.
“I discovered the location of the barn,” he said, while butchering the rabbits. “It is four miles west of here in a little hollow.”
Valek quizzed him for the details. “We’ll have to strike in the dark,” he said. “We’ll go after midnight, leave the horses in the trees and then attack.”
Tauno agreed. He cubed the meat and dropped it into the pot. “I will sleep, then.”
While Marrok stirred the stew, Valek prepped the reed pipes and I saddled the horses. Garnet sighed when I cinched his straps tight.
“It’s not far,” I said aloud. “Then you can rest.”
I joined Marrok and Valek where they sat by the fire. They ate their stew and I filled a bowl for me. The broth tasted better; there was a hint of spice.
“This is good,” I said to Marrok. “I think you’re getting the hang of it. What did you add?”
“A new ingredient. Can you tell what it is?”
When I sampled another spoonful, I rolled the liquid around my mouth before swallowing. The aftertaste reminded me of Rand’s favorite cookie recipe. “Ginger?”
Valek dropped his stew. He jumped to his feet but stumbled. A look of horror creased his forehead. “Butter root!”
“Poison?”
“No.” He sank to his knees. “Sleeping draft.”
CHAPTER 29
VALEK COLLAPSED ONTO the ground. But just before he closed his eyes, he winked at me. I glanced around. Marrok hunched over his bowl, appearing to be asleep. A bone-deep fatigue spread throughout my body, but I remained awake. Perhaps I hadn’t swallowed enough butter root.
Not wanting to be caught “aware,” I pulled my switchblade and hid the weapon in the palm of my hand with my thumb resting on the button. Slumping over, I let my upper body fall to the side. The stew spilled off my lap and onto the ground, soaking into my pants. Great.
I feigned sleep. My muscles stiffened and the cold seeped into my skin. Trying not to shiver, I strained to hear any noise to give me a hint of what was going on.
The horses whinnied in alarm and I opened my mind to Kiki for the first time in days, hoping the tiny use of my magic wouldn’t alert anyone.
Bad smell, she said. Quiet Man tied reins.
Quiet Man?
She huffed and showed me an image of Tauno.
Why would he do that?
Ask Garnet.
Where did you go today, Garnet? I asked.
See people. Smell fear.
I cut off the connection when voices approached.
“So easy! All the talk about the Soulfinder and the Ghost Warrior and look at them! Sleeping like babies,” a male voice said.
“Trust is a powerful ally. Right, Tauno?” a female voice asked. She had the same lilt as a Sandseed.
Was Tauno in league with them? Or had they captured him today and forced him to help them?
“Yes. And trust is blind. No one suspected me even after the ambush in the plains.” He laughed. “Trust is for stupid people. Even the Sandseed Elders had no idea. My ability to find the Daviian camps amazed them.”
They chuckled, enjoying themselves. Anger seethed in my blood. Tauno could trust I would make him regret his actions.
As they decided what to do, I counted four distinct voices. Two men and one woman plus the traitor Tauno. They planned to use Marrok to appease the Council, and bring me to their leader, Jal.
“Kill the Ghost Warrior,” one of the Vermin ordered. “Make sure you cut his throat and collect his blood. It will be just revenge for Alea and her brother.”
I waited. Arms wrapped around my chest and another set around my ankles. They lifted me off the ground.
“Now!” Valek yelled.
I triggered my switchblade and yanked my knees toward my chest, pulling the surprised Vermin holding my feet into my knife. Hot blood gushed onto my hands. I wrenched the blade out of his stomach before the other Vermin dropped me onto the ground. I scrambled to my feet as he pulled his scimitar.
Switchblade against scimitar. Bad odds. And I had used the Curare on my weapon on the first man. This wouldn’t be a long fight. I glanced at Valek. He fought Tauno and the woman. His sword against their spears. Better odds. I hoped I could last long enough for Valek to help me.
“Drop your weapon,” the Vermin ordered me.
When I didn’t obey, the man swung and I dodged to the side. He lunged. I backed away. He swiped at my neck. I ducked. He hacked and I danced.
Winded with the effort, the Vermin said, “You will not be harmed if you surrender.”
After another attack, I realized what he was doing. “You’re not allowed to kill me,” I said. “Jal wants me alive so he can feed me to his pet Fire Warper!”
My smugness infuriated him. He increased the pace of his swings. Bad decision.
“I can still hurt you. Bleed you. Torture you.”
His blade sliced through my cape. I stepped back as blood welled from the slash along my arm. Really bad decision. He advanced. I retreated. His scimitar found more open areas and soon my arms and legs were crisscrossed with bleeding cuts. I felt light-headed and my feet moved with an unusual slowness. My energy drained at an alarming rate.
My bat appeared. He flew at the Vermin, diving and pulling his hair. The Vermin flailed his arms, giving me an opening, but my switchblade felt so heavy and my body reacted too slowly. The Vermin must be a strong Warper. He had weakened my mental defenses without my notice.
The Warper stared at the bat and the poor creature crashed to the ground.
“Is that all you have?” he asked. “What about your great soul magic? I think the Fire Warper will be disappointed.” He shrugged. “Orders are orders.”
He swung his weapon. My arms moved, but couldn’t block the hilt of his scimitar from striking my temple.
My vision blurred as I crumpled to the ground. The world spun. I rolled away from the Warper. When I reached Kiki’s hooves, I let the blackness claim me.
A hammer pounded on the side of my skull. Wake up, it pounded. Open your eyes. More hammering. I refused. The next time, a dull throb intruded on my oblivion. Come on, it pulsed. Open your eyes. Please.
I woke, feeling like a cutting board. My arms and legs burned with pain and my head hurt. Valek hunched over me, pouring water on my cuts, inflaming them.
