“We have come to speak with clan leader Kane,” I announced in a strong voice. “Will you let us pass?”
“I know you, Nyx, and the power of the whip that dangles from your hip,” said the gold-haired man. “Great weapon of the queen.”
“And I know you too, Locke,” I said with a slight bow of my head. “The protector of Kane and second-in-command of the great force that is the animal clan. But you have me wrong. I’m sure you already know that I am not Aurora’s weapon any longer. I’ve been branded a traitor and now willingly follow someone who seeks a life of peace on the Earth.”
“And it seems that you keep good company,” Locke taunted. “A traitor traveling with yet another branded as a traitor. Starting a club?”
“Yes, I am,” I admitted, causing his eyebrows to jump unexpectedly before his head fell back with laughter. I didn’t crack a smile because I wasn’t joking. It wasn’t in my nature.
“And you wish to kneel before Kane and ask that his people protect you and this traitor when Aurora comes for your heads at long last?” Locke said when he saw I wasn’t joining him in the great joke that he thought I’d made.
“Rowe is no traitor,” I bit out, taking a step closer to Locke so my body was between the two naturi. “He sacrificed everything that he ever was, sacrificed his place among our people so you could now stand on the fresh earth and be wrapped in the warm powers of the Great Mother. Rowe is no traitor,” I repeated. “He’s your savior and should be afforded the respect he has earned.”
Locke stared at Rowe over my shoulder, his full lips pressed into a firm, unyielding line as he weighed my words. To my surprise, he gave a soft grunt and nodded to Rowe, giving what little approval that I could extract from the naturi. I had to win them all over one by one, pulling them away from Aurora’s twisted way of thinking. In the heat of battle, many had clung to her skirts, but now that the powers of the earth once again flowed through our starved bodies, our people were starting to think differently. They were a little more open. Cynnia may have set a series of tasks ahead of me, but since looking on Rowe for the first time since Aurora’s betrayal, it had become my own personal quest to win him back some of his former honor and glory, as he deserved.
“You make a valid point, Dark One,” Locke said, putting my teeth on edge as he used a nickname I seemed to be cursed with for the rest of my life. “I am willing to allow Rowe to pass so long as he immediately leaves our domain and does not return.”
“And me?” I asked, cocking my head to the side.
“You have crimes to atone for,” Locke said, a vicious grin spreading across his handsome face. “You have slaughtered a number of the animal clan over the long centuries. You have attacked and struck fear in the hearts of our people when you swore to be our protector.”
“While I know that you will not believe me, I took no joy in those acts, but was simply following the orders of my queen, as I swore to do. That reason does not absolve me of my crimes, but it does at least explain my actions.”
“Convenient answer. Blame it on the queen and wash your hands of the matter,” Locke sneered.
“The blood of our people will always stain my hands, and I will pay for those crimes, but now is not the time. Would not Kane like the chance to strike out at the true source of your anger and isolation? Would not your great leader like to take a shot at Aurora?”
“How do you know that we don’t already plan against her rule?”
Rowe snorted, stepping forward. “While the animal clan has always been the strongest fighters among our people, you will not get as close to her as you may hope. You need help, and Kane knows it. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be hiding out in the mountains, but marching across these great lands to take the battle to her.”
“You were told to leave,” Locke snapped as he balled his fists at his sides.
Rowe shrugged. “Nyx comes before you, offering you a chance to strike at the one that used you as her dogs of war. Wouldn’t it be in the best interest of your people to allow Kane to hear her plan? Besides, wouldn’t your leader take more joy in watching her slaughter than just receiving her head after the battle is completed?”
Your assistance is less than heartening, I murmured in Rowe’s brain while keeping my face perfectly blank as Locke considered my fate.
If you die now, I may never be free of this damned collar. Furthermore, I would prefer it if Locke and the others don’t discover that you have me on a short leash.
After more than a minute one corner of Locke’s mouth finally quirked in a half smile. “You make an interesting case. Things have been quiet recently. I’m sure that Kane would appreciate a little entertainment, particularly if it means killing not only a sister of the queen but also the Dark One.”
“Thank you,” I murmured through clenched teeth. I knew we would not be welcomed with open arms, but I had not expected this level of hostility. Too much time living quietly with Cynnia had made me forget how much I was hated by the rest of our people. Many wanted to see my head on the end of a pike just as badly as they wanted to see either Cynnia or Aurora dead. If I did not believe so completely in Cynnia’s vision, then I would have said it was time for another family to rule over the naturi, while Aurora, Cynnia, and I faded from existence and memory.
“You will be led to Kane, where he will decide whether you are to be given an audience or just killed,” Locke said.
“And my reprieve?” Rowe inquired.
A fresh smile appeared on Locke’s face as he turned his gaze on the one-eyed naturi. “Revoked since you’ve decided to remain at her side. Your life is now back in Kane’s hands.” He then returned to the form of an owl and took to the skies again, flying high overhead for a moment before wheeling around toward the east.
You are becoming more trouble than you are worth, Rowe grumbled silently at me as we started walking. The other naturi in animal form drew closer to us, ushering us forward. Our escort continued to snarl and growl, keeping us moving at a brisk pace for fear of someone taking a nip at our legs should we slow too much.
You were facing death at the hands of Aurora when I grabbed you, I replied as I stepped over a log. I jerked my right leg forward as I brought it over the next log, narrowly escaping a fox snapping at my ankle. Its sharp little teeth scrapped along the sides of my leather boot. Now you’re complaining that you face death at Kane’s hands. Is there really any difference? Death is death, is it not?
I find it more likely that I will escape death at Kane’s hands but be stuck with this damned collar because you will be killed before I acquire the key.
I’m beginning to understand why the Fire Starter is so determined to kill you.
To my surprise, Rowe looked over his shoulder and flashed a wicked smile. For the first time, I wondered if the naturi was actually teasing me. The Rowe that I grew up with had always been a ruthless killer and brilliant fighter, but in the last months that I’d known him on Earth, I also discovered he had a somewhat unique sense of humor. Was this all a game to him? Did he have some secret that he was hiding away? A chill swept down my spine as I wondered who I should fear more: Kane or Rowe.
Nine
Rowe and I trudged nearly five miles through the woods in silence. Only the sounds of the occasional broken branch and the growling of our guards echoed through the dense forest. At the end of our march the dancing light of a fire peeked between the trees, beckoning us forward. My stomach twisted into knots, but I maintained my outward calm. I would not be deterred from my mission. I would not disappoint Cynnia. I would bring back Rowe and win over the animal clan. It was our only hope. Besides, my dear younger sister still had the more difficult task ahead of her.