Outside, Patrulha closed in on Sada, still with her back to Clarysa and Lionel. Sada’s eyes filled with venom. Her body glowed with otherworldly power.
Patrulha bolted forward, deftly changing sword hands as she did. Her sword now rested squarely in Sada’s abdomen. Clarysa gasped and started to rise, only to be stopped by a cautious Lionel. “I don’t think it's over just yet,” he whispered. “Look!”
Clarysa strained to see. Before them all lingered the mortally wounded Sada, still standing defiantly on her feet. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, yet her lips curved upward in a cruel smile.
Clarysa frowned. Why is she looking so smug?
Sada backed away, ever so slowly. Her face paled as the sword left her body, but the smile–her ever-devilish grin–did not falter. A dark stain ballooned on her side, a reminder that steel could still harm those of the Arts. Then, with a knowing look to the shop, she glided away and out of sight.
Lionel stood and shouted for his men, but Hunter waylaid him, having re-entered from the rear of the store. “Leave Sada to me. Guard Clarysa.” He stormed off.
Clarysa stared intently at Patrulha, who hadn’t moved. “Patrulha?”
She approached the Captain with Lionel close behind. “Patrulha?” Clarysa stepped around to face her.
A jeweled dagger protruded from Patrulha’s good eye. She was still on her feet, but stone dead.
Lionel caught her body as it fell. He laid her gently on the ground. Clarysa knelt beside him, cradling Patrulha’s head. Blood was everywhere. “Oh no. Don’t die. Please don’t die!” Tears ran down her face in torrents.
Hunter ran up to them. “Couldn’t find her.” He blanched upon noticing Patrulha. “Damn that infernal sorceress!” He sank to his knees beside the fallen warrior in grief.
Clarysa cried harder. Then a shadow passed over her.
She looked up. Right into Stellan’s eyes–a now fully human Stellan.
He knelt opposite her, naked but for a strip of cloth wrapped around his hips. He looked upon Patrulha’s bloody face. A tic in his clenched jaw was the only hint of life in his stony expression.
A fresh wave of tears overcame Clarysa as she remembered her conversation with the Captain by the previous night’s fire. She grabbed Stellan’s arm. “She loved you!”
He stared at her in shock.
“She…loved you. Not like a sister, but as a woman.” She drew the warrior’s blood-soaked head closer to her chest. “I don’t think she ever had the courage to tell you. And now, she’ll never be able to!” Clarysa pressed her cheek against Patrulha’s forehead and sobbed. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!
For a long time Stellan was silent. No tears. No emotion. He turned to Hunter. “You are now the Captain. Report.”
And so Hunter filled him in on the details of their journey, Edward’s army, and the recent battle on the apothecary’s doorstep. He ended it with one chilling comment. “Vandeborg remains under siege.”
At this Stellan pulled Lionel aside. Clarysa only half listened as they discussed plans to return to the castle for a counterattack. The Duke informed them that a contingent of the King’s men had since been dispatched from Aldebaran to provide reinforcement.
“And there’s the matter of your sister as well,” added Hunter. “She’s wounded, but I couldn’t find a trace of her.”
Stellan nodded curtly. “Hans will need help cleaning up. Let’s restore order here and begin preparations for the return journey. I have to find some clothes.”
The men dispersed to fulfill his orders. Stellan paused to look upon Clarysa and the deceased Patrulha. A shiver passed through her. She had never seen his green eyes so dark and cold.
He walked away without another word.
Clarysa stared after him. There could be only one reason he was ignoring her. He thinks it’s my fault. He blames me for her death!
And he would be right. Patrulha’s words came back to haunt her: I’m here to rescue him because he deserves a better life, and obviously that means one with you. She had chosen to fight Sada, drawing the sorceress away so Clarysa would be safe. But at what cost? Anguish crushed her heart like a steel vise. She had lost a potential new friend, but Stellan had lost a member of his family.
Clarysa bowed her head, certain her relationship with Stellan was no more.
Chapter 36
The scorching noon sun blazed mercilessly down upon Clarysa as she and her companions departed from the apothecary’s shop. With Lionel and his group, their number had swelled to seventeen. Some of the men nursed injuries from the recent fight. Patrulha was the only casualty. Her horse dragged her body on a makeshift litter. It carved deep ruts into the earth as they headed back to Vandeborg.
Clarysa stared longingly at the back of Stellan’s head. He had yet to utter a single word to her since resuming human form. She had never seen him look so sullen and heartsick–each emotion appeared to permeate his very soul. Perhaps Patrulha’s death had altered his feelings about her, feelings he might never recover. Was this possible?
“Rubbish,” Lionel had told her after she’d confided in him about her fears. “Let him be,” he cautioned. “The man obviously needs time to be alone with his thoughts. Give it to him.”
And this she did. But it was difficult. The ache in her chest only grew more pronounced with every passing minute.
It’s your fault. If you had respected his wishes by staying at Vandeborg, Patrulha might still be alive.
They traveled late into the night and then broke for camp at the edge of the Snowflake Kingdom. Clarysa busied herself by helping Hunter make supper. While passing around food, she noticed Stellan wasn’t by the fire. When her own meal sat upon her lap, she could barely swallow the food. Concern for Stellan overwhelmed her. She could stand the separation no more. Abandoning her meal, she searched for him.
She needn’t look far. She discovered him sitting forlornly by Patrulha’s body.
Clarysa approached quietly and sat beside him at a polite distance. He didn’t acknowledge her presence, but
