“Don’t you think that’s strange?” she asked.
“Now that you mention it, yeah, I do. You think Darius, or worse, Jocasta and Whispering Pines, had anything to do with his disappearance?”
“I can’t imagine that they do,” she replied. “Why? What would be the point?”
Orlando shrugged.
Shireen was beginning to get very worried.
“Get a search party together. All scouts. I’m going, too.”
Orlando nodded. “Where?”
“Out in the Greenweald. I don’t know exactly where, but someplace that birds gather.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Samuel’s trail was discovered leaving the compound and heading into the wild areas between Houses, but since it was only one man, and one who traveled lightly at that, it was faint. Shireen took the lead, and followed it to a clearing in the woods, surrounded by the gigantic trees of the Greenweald.
“He was here,” she told Orlando, squatting down near a fallen log.
Orlando joined her, looked at the log and then walked in widening circles around it.
“Here’s where he came in, but where did he go?”
Shireen stood, brushing her hands off against each other. “I don’t know. This is really strange. Samuel gone without a trace, and that Darius fellow, too. I don’t like it.”
“Are you thinking what I am?” Orlando asked.
She nodded. “Jamshir. This has the stink of Glittering Birch all over it.”
Orlando sighed. “What now?”
“Back to the compound. Gather up the squad leaders. This isn’t going unanswered.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Shireen returned to her office in the hope that Samuel would be there, but he wasn’t. This did have the feeling of something Jamshir would do. She didn’t know if he was aware of Samuel’s importance to the House, but given his friendship with Jediah for years, it wouldn’t surprise her.
And what about Darius? Was he targeted also, or was something else going on there?
It didn’t matter. What was important was getting Samuel back. She turned to leave the office when she heard the horns blowing from the guards.
By the time she got back outside, Orlando was helping a figure across the compound. Her heart froze for a moment when she thought it was Samuel, but then she got a better look. It wasn’t her aide, it was Jocasta’s.
Darius was leaning heavily on Orlando, his face ashen. His shirt was slashed down the front and he had an open wound running from his left shoulder, down across his torso and ending at his stomach. His clothes were soaked with blood.
“Get Willow!” she snapped at a guard, then ran forward to help Orlando.
They got Darius inside and laid him on a table. A servant brought clean linens that they used to staunch the blood while they waited for Willow to arrive.
“What happened?” Shireen asked Orlando.
“No idea. I heard the horns and ran out to see what was going on. A few seconds later he appeared, staggering to the compound. He hasn’t said much.”
Shireen looked down at him. His eyes were closed and his breathing ragged. She hoped he made it. And if he did, she hoped he could tell them more about what happened to Samuel.
Willow arrived and shooed them away from the man. She examined the wound, closed her eyes and went to work. Under her hands the wound partially closed, and the bleeding stopped. Sweat broke out on the healer’s brow as she worked, but soon the color returned to Darius’s cheeks and his breathing steadied.
Willow opened her eyes. “He’ll live, now. That was a horrible wound. It fought against me.”
“I’ve heard that before,” Shireen said, thinking back to Solomon and his condition after fighting a Soul Gaunt.
“It was much the same,” Willow replied. “This can’t be happening again.”
“No,” Orlando said. “If it is one of those, it must be one that Solomon missed, right? Some straggler?”
“You were there,” Shireen said. “You saw the fire. Do you think he missed any?”
“What, then?”
“Maybe one that was held in reserve somewhere. When will he wake?” she asked Willow.
“Not until tomorrow. I want him to sleep for a good while. It will help him heal more quickly. I’ll send someone over to clean him up and watch him through the night.”
Shireen nodded. “Tell them to get me as soon as he’s awake. I have some questions for him.”
“Of course. There is something else, though.”
“Which is?”
“This wound is somewhat different than the ones Solomon had, or those I treated after the battle.”
“What does that mean?” Orlando asked.
“I’m not entirely sure. The wound acted the same as if it was from a Soul Gaunt, but it felt different. I’m not quite sure how to describe it.”
Shireen folded her arms as she looked down at the unconscious man. “If there’s some way to make a Soul Gaunt even worse, I’m sure Jamshir figured it out.”
♦ ♦ ♦
The knock on their door came early the next morning, and Shireen was out of bed answering it before Orlando stirred.
Darius was awake. She wanted to let Orlando sleep a while longer, but wanted him there with her more, to listen and give his council on what he heard.
“Come on,” she said shaking him gently. “He’s awake.”
Orlando was up and ready almost as quickly as she had been.
Minutes later they entered the hall where Darius still lay on a table, his head resting on a pillow and a soft blanket covering him. The healer who attended him overnight bowed to the two as they entered, then moved off to the side, giving them privacy.
“How are you feeling?” Orlando asked, his voice light.
“A lot worse than you apparently think I should,” Darius replied, a weak smile creasing his features.
“Darius,” Shireen said, moving closer. “I know you’re still in pain, but this
