“Fine,” Jahr’ad ground out. “Zariah, see that the lady,” he said the word mockingly, “gets her magic back.”
Zariah nodded, then let her power flow from her hands and outward toward me. As my magic returned, I felt as if I could breathe again. Going without my magic was one of the worst feelings in the world. I’d rather lose a limb than lose my magic.
Jahr’ad’s gaze snagged on me. “We would have had a good time, you and I. You can’t blame me for trying.”
“Actually, I can,” Kull said.
“Have you got a problem with me?” Jahr’ad said.
“No, I’ve got many problems with you.”
Jahr’ad lunged at Kull, his hands balled into tight fists, aiming a punch at Kull’s face, but Kull sidestepped, grabbed the man by his long rows of greasy hair, and threw him in the water. The man landed with a splash. Jahr’ad floundered in the pool, cursing and screaming. Zariah pulled a spear off her back and pointed it at Kull.
“I’ll kill you for that,” she ground out.
“Try it,” he said.
Zariah’s spear glowed with red magic as she thrust it at him. I felt her magic gathered in a whirlpool around her, ready to strike him down. I had seconds to react, so I pulled my magic inside and then flung my hand at her, letting the blue and amber swirls ignite in a blinding halo of magic. It felt wonderful to wield it again, and as my magic struck Zariah and knocked her to the ground, I was certain that felt even better.
But as the magic cleared, I wondered if I had been too late. Kull stumbled back with the spear’s tip embedded in his shoulder. I rushed to him as he pulled the spear out of his flesh and tossed it to the ground.
“You deserve what you get,” Zariah spat as she writhed on the floor.
Kull clamped his hand over the wound. “It’s nothing,” he said as I stood next to him.
“Let me see.”
“It only grazed me.”
“I’ve got to heal the venom-drake’s wound, anyway. You might as well let me see.”
He grumbled, but then moved his hand away. The spear had pierced deep into his muscle tissue, and the grayish-colored fluid mingling with the blood bothered me.
“The venom-drake’s poison has entered his blood,” Zariah said. “You’re too late to save him.”
I helped Kull sit on the ground.
“I’ll be fine,” he said.
“Stop being brave,” I told him.
He gently grabbed my fingers. “I’m not. I’ve been through worse. Being without you is worse.”
I smoothed the hair from his forehead. “I know.”
Jahr’ad climbed out of the pool, soaking wet, water streaming off him and making a puddle on the ground. “You,” he said, pointing at Kull, “have gone too far.” He turned his gaze on me. “Don’t you dare heal him. He deserves the fate he gets. I’m warning you, if you dare use one spell on him—”
Maveryck stepped between Kull and Jahr’ad. “Need I remind you of our bargain? Killing him will ensure the end of our trading. Forever.”
Jahr’ad spit at Maveryck’s feet. “Then you’d better leave now before I start renegotiating. Zariah, come.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Are you sure?”
“I said come!”
She lingered a moment longer before storming out of the room, following Jahr’ad. When they’d both disappeared, I turned to Kull. Healing him came easily to me, perhaps because I’d done it too many times to count. Letting the magic flow from me and into him, I felt its power run smooth and strong, an elixir that absorbed the venom and snuffed it out. As the magic worked through his blood, the color slowly returned to his cheeks. He inhaled deeply as the magic dissipated.
“We should go now,” Heidel said. “I don’t want to be here a moment longer than necessary.”
“I agree,” Kull said, standing.
“Careful,” I said. “You still need to take it easy.”
“Why would I do such a thing?”
“I figured you would say that.”
“She’s right,” Heidel said. “You’re not immortal, you know.”
Maveryck raised an eyebrow. “Why would you use those words?”
“Which words?”
He shook his head. “Nothing. Forget I said anything. Now, if you will all kindly follow me.” He headed for the door. “Don’t talk to anyone. We’ll have to grab our things, and then we’ll make it out.”
We followed him through the narrow corridors, found our bags in the room we’d left them in, and then hurried to the exit. We got a few sidelong glances from Jahr’ad’s people, but I didn’t care. We were finally free, and that was all that mattered.
It took half the day to make it across the desert and back to the light-rails, but the more distance we put between ourselves and the dragon baron, the better. I half expected Jahr’ad to come after us and constantly glanced over my shoulder to make sure he wasn’t following.
“Won’t he come after us?” Heidel asked, echoing my thoughts.
We must have both been worried about the same thing as we crossed the hot sand with the light-rails in our sight.
“He can’t,” Maveryck said. “There is one thing you must understand about Jahr’ad. Greed is his only motivation. He won’t risk losing his trade with me.”
“But won’t he worry that we’ll tell the sky king of his hideout?” Heidel asked.
“Not necessarily. Jahr’ad is a nomad. He will simply pack up and find a new place. He’s used to it. He’s done it many times before.”
“I hate that man,” Kull said.
“I agree,” I added.
“We all agree,” Heidel said, “except Maveryck. He seems to get along with him just fine.”
“I tolerate him. There is a difference.” His gaze lingered on Heidel, and she quickly looked away.
Maveryck cleared his throat. “As soon as we reach the rails, I think it would be prudent that Olive journey to Earth Kingdom so she can discover more about the vachonette egg, and with luck, find out the egg’s location. That is, if you feel your magic has recovered enough in order
