It was Gamarron.
There was an explosion of shouting as the others realized the man beneath the bones was not one of theirs. Gamarron seized the advantage, hitting the general in the face. Grunting, the grizzled veteran dropped to one knee, his torch fizzling out in the water. Nira could see nothing – they had all lost their night sight by looking at the torchlight.
All except Kest and his new eye. His shadowy shape barreled past her and lunged at the fallen general, and they grappled in the water. Nira stumbled away, finally free. Gamarron whirled away into the dark, death in motion. Men were shouting and crying out in pain, but all she could see were dark shapes moving in confused patterns. For a brief moment she envied Kest his new ability. Scrabbling in the shallows of the water, she found a fist-sized stone and decided to bash anything that came too close.
The remaining koira barked and hissed, and the bell-like cry of Renna’s zephyr added to the cacophony. “Kest?” she called out. “Are you all right?” Grunts and thuds answered her. She backed up to the rising, growth-choked streambank not far from the edge of the gorge, determined that no one would sneak up on her.
That’s how she saw the bulky shadow rise up out of the water right by the waterfall. It moved stealthily. She thought it might be Kest, so she stayed her rock hand, but she didn’t let down her guard. And then, revealed in the faint starlight as her night sight returned, she saw it: a dark, jagged line crossing a pale throat from low to high. It was General Garrett – he had snuck away underwater in the dark and confusion and was watching for his moment to strike.
She didn’t stop to think. She rushed out from her perch at him. “How’s the future look now?” Nira cried as she shoved him hard. The whites of his eyes glinted at her as he flailed, scrabbling at her hands for purchase – and then he was gone.
She looked out over the edge of the gorge, disbelieving. I killed him. She never heard him hit the ground; there was too much noise. She wasn’t sorry she’d done it, and that itched at her conscience.
Moments later the commotion died down. “Nira! Are you all right?” Kest panted, coming up behind her.
“Fine,” she said, tearing her eyes away from the empty black of the gorge. “Fine. Are you hurt?”
“They never saw me coming,” he said. “I wasn’t going to let them take you.” He put a hand on her shoulder.
She didn’t mean to do it, but she flinched when he reached for her. Even in the dark she could sense him draw back.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” he said. He retreated.
“Kest...” She knew she’d hurt him, but she didn’t know what to say. So she said nothing, and he walked away. She looked back out over the darkness of the gorge and thought of the old general’s wide eyes as he fell in the dark. Did he hit a branch? Get impaled? Guess he won’t end up in a Naga pot after all. Maybe. Unless he’s still alive down there somehow. She wished she could be more certain about her gift.
“Kest, gather the mounts,” Gamarron said. “We need Guyrin with us, not strapped across some zephyr’s back as it wanders across half the Mainland.” He was calm and commanding, as always. It was a relief.
Kest didn’t seem to agree. He stood his ground, looking angry. “You left us.”
“I did not,” Gamarron said mildly. “I was meditating some distance from camp. As soon as I realized something was amiss, I came in pursuit.” He did not flinch from the sight of Kest’s face.
“You’re the chief,” the boy said, flexing his fists. He seemed upset in a way that Nira wasn’t sure she understood.
Gamarron looked sad. “I suppose I am.”
“A chief protects! A chief is there.” She’d never heard him speak so angrily to the old man. “He doesn’t let his people get attacked.”
The savage sighed, looking to the stars. “I am sorry, Kest, but I will never be the chief you want me to be. You will follow me regardless, because I say so. We have had that conversation already. Please know that if you are harmed – any of you – either I am dead already or I will be as I hunt those who did it. That will have to be enough.”
He walked right up to Kest and looked down at him. “Now go find Guyrin and gather the mounts.” Kest studied him for a long moment before turning away into the brush.
“Still we are pursued,” remarked Renna.
“It will not stop,” Gamarron predicted. “As you said, we have gathered power to ourselves. It cannot escape notice. Where power goes, those who wish to rule follow.” He gave the Hand a meaningful look, and she responded with a shrug and a smile.
Nira shook her head, her hatred for the woman warring with a glimmer of grudging admiration. She’s a power-mad harridan who was willing to sacrifice me to save herself… but at least she’s honest about it.
“Let’s clean up and move out,” Gamarron said. “If anyone wants to catch us from here on out, they’re going to have to run.”
Chapter 14 Apotheosis
Renna Mansour, Hand of Gaia Fourth Class, Bryophyta Division, was not meant to sleep in the dirt and swat at flies all day. The weeks crept past in an intolerable green blur. She’d thought that advising a king would involve a little more pomp and a little less foraging. They were well and truly in the jungle now, the dense deciduous forest of those first few days crowding in closer, getting more humid, and teeming even more with parasitic bugs and carnivorous plants. (She had found a new
