“What is that stuff?” I asked.
“Poultice of wormwood. We use it to cure wounds caused by magical venoms.”
“Just don’t eat it,” Kull said.
“I wasn’t planning on it.”
Kull held up something. I focused through blurry eyes and realized he held the scalpel. A spot of blood slicked the tip. “Want to tell me what this is about?”
“I was trying to heal you.”
“By nearly killing yourself?”
“I’m fine.”
“You weren’t five minutes ago. You stopped breathing. What were you doing?”
“I thought I could take the magic into my own body and destroy it. It didn’t work how I’d planned.”
Arantha slathered the goop on my neck, and I pushed her hand away. “Thanks, but I’m feeling much better now.”
I sat up, and this time I didn’t feel like fainting.
“Next time, you must warn me before tampering with dark magic,” Arantha said. “There are better ways to deal with it.”
“I’ll remember.” How did she know anything about dark magic in the first place?
Arantha stood and walked to the tent’s flap. “I shall return in the morning. I think it would be best for everyone if you leave first thing tomorrow.” She pulled the canvas aside and exited the tent.
Kull handed me a blanket. I pulled the soft fabric close, still feeling a chill from the dream.
“You saw your godson?” Kull asked.
“Yes. How did you know?”
“You said his name right after you woke up.”
“Oh yes, I suppose I did. Kull, I think I’ve found him. There was this light tower, and an enchanted wall surrounding it. I have to figure out where it is.”
“Enchanted wall?”
“Yes, with elven magic.”
“It could be in Laurentia.”
“No, it looked barren. And I saw ash on the ground.”
“Goblin lands.”
I nodded.
He exhaled a sigh. “We could search forever.”
I found it odd that he said ‘we.’
“Maybe not. There was a man there. He called himself Mr. Green, from Earth. If I can find him, he might help me.”
“Do you trust him?”
“I’m not sure. But I’m certain Jeremiah was in that tower.”
Kull’s jaw tightened. “Sounds risky.”
“I agree. But what other choice do I have?”
He didn’t have an answer. The coals shimmered and crackled, sending sparks flying into the air. When I turned back to Kull, he looked at me with a half-grin.
“Why are you smiling?”
He took a blanket and wiped the goop off my face. “I miss your freckles.”
“You’re hilarious.”
Kull leaned back and placed his hands under his head. “I don’t like any of this. An elven wall in goblin lands shouldn’t exist. Goblins in the Wult tombs shouldn’t exist. Something is off, and I plan to find out what after I kill the bastards who took my sister.”
“I’m sure Heidel is safe.” I was lying, of course, but a lie seemed like an appropriate response in this situation.
“Yes, I’m sure she is.”
His eyes closed. He looked so peaceful, yet careworn at the same time.
“Arantha is right. We must leave first thing in the morning.”
I laid back, not too close to him, my head resting on a pillow. As I closed my eyes, I saw the light tower with its flickering pulses that pounded through my skull.
Kull leaned closer, the warmth of his body close to mine.
I fell asleep to the sounds of the crackling fire and the calming scent of sandalwood. As my mind drifted off, I heard Mr. Green’s words in my head.
Those you love will betray you.
I awoke to the sound of rustling clothing. My eyes opened. I stared through the hole in the tent’s ceiling. False gray light brought little illumination to the tent. I stared around the dark room, trying to find the source of the noise.
Arantha stood by the tent’s flap.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“Geth wanted you to leave as soon as possible. I’m only helping you get your things in order. I shall be back shortly.” She gave me a curt nod and then left the tent, her arms filled with bundles of cloth.
Although I’d had several hours of sleep, my head throbbed. I rubbed my temples as I turned to Kull, who rested with his face turned away from me.
With careful hands, I pulled the covers away to reveal the scar on his back. A thick scab of dark blood had dried where the gash had been. The infected pink edge had faded, which was a good sign. Kull had been lucky. I doubted he would’ve survived another day with a wound like that. He’d said once before that he was alive because the gods allowed it. He meant it.
I scooted closer to the fire, feeling the early morning chill seep inside the tent. I rubbed my hands together to get the circulation going. My head hurt as I stood, but I ignored it as best as I could. I crossed to the table where I’d put my clothes.
The table sat empty.
I searched around it, hoping they’d fallen off, but I found nothing. Had I put them somewhere else? Perhaps Kull had moved them. I debated on waking him when I remembered that Arantha had been holding a bundle of clothing. Had they been my clothes?
My heart sped up. This wasn’t good. Geth’s book and the dream catcher were still hidden inside.
I crossed to the tent’s flap when I heard a man yelling. I stepped out, cold air nipping at my skin, to find Arantha passed out only a few yards away from the tent. Peerling’s book lay next to her, its pages flapping in a stiff wind. A man crouched over her, studying the black dream catcher that was clutched in her hand.
“Geth!” he called.
The man looked up as I approached, his dark eyes wide. “Is this yours?”
Uh-oh. How could I explain my way out of this one? What should I say?
“Is it yours?” he repeated louder.
Geth appeared behind the man, accompanied by several other brutes nearly as tall as Kull. Geth hesitated as he stepped toward Arantha. His face paled
