Kera touched the necklace in Signe’s fingers. “There is a spell using birthstones…”
She had no idea if it could cut through the barrier magic, but it was worth a try. Paper materialized in Kera’s hand. The spell had to be put to paper and then burned before it would work. She stared at it until words appeared, then took off her sapphire ring and held it out. “I give this to you willingly so that you will never forget me, and wherever you are, I will find you.”
Signe made to take it, but Kera shook her head. Understanding dawned, and Signe pulled off her necklace and held it out. “I give this to you willingly so that you will never forget me, and wherever you are, I will find you.”
Together, they placed the items within each other’s palms. With their hands clasped together, Kera closed her eyes, and the spell wove over the items, binding them to each other. When she was done, the paper with the spell on it burned in a flash, the ash taken up by the wind. Kera took the necklace and slipped it on, fingering the ruby set in the center, and Signe pushed Kera’s ring onto her finger.
Kera quickly told her how the spell worked, and when she had nothing more to say, they stood staring at each other. Kera gave her friend a sad smile. “It’s the best I can do.”
“Will it work?”
“Let’s hope. Most of the spells I was allowed to use before were more practical in nature. But you know me. I always tried what I was told I could not do. And failed miserably. Now that I have my own powers, it should work.” She touched the necklace around her neck. “I’ll wear this always. Never take off the ring.”
Signe fingered the ring, pulled her hand to her chest in a protective manner, and nodded.
Halim suddenly burst into the clearing, his eyes bright with fear. Staggering to a stop, he bent, trying to catch his breath as he put his hands on his knees. He managed to point behind him. “They’re doing—” He shook his head and swallowed. “It’s unspeakable.” His gaze rose and found Kera. “We have to save them.”
Kera’s stomach dropped. Now was not a good time. She had commitments…but the fear in Halim’s eyes…it spoke of the horror he’d seen.
Those who were close rushed to the boy and peppered him with questions. Behind him, smoke rose slowly into the sky like a line of fresh ink, black and heavy. It curled and bent unnaturally. What type of fire produced smoke like that?
She had asked the question to the wind, and a voice within her head answered back.
Crouch and place your hand flat on the ground.
She blinked and searched for the one who could speak to her mind as if whispering in her ear. Everyone appeared busy.
We are linked through your power. Now heed my words if you wish to know what evil has risen.
Kera was afraid to ask more. She bent and placed her hand flat on the ground. Rumblings of hate echoed through the dirt. A sudden clash of blades sounded. A stab of dark magic surprised her and she yanked away, flexing fingers suddenly gone numb.
A chuckle echoed in her head. True wickedness has been unleashed the likes none have seen in a long, long while.
She peered back at the rise and fall of unnatural smoke. She couldn’t shake the impression of evil she had felt and its quest to inflict harm.
Signe squatted and twirled the ring Kera had given her. “What?”
“Find me three people capable with the sword.”
A light of hope entered Signe’s eyes. Kera grabbed her friend’s hand before she stood. “I give you no promises. There may be nothing I can do, understand?”
Signe nodded and Kera let go.
All she wanted was to go home to Dylan, but another part of her demanded that she stay. It felt as if her soul were being ripped apart. She closed her eyes, knowing she couldn’t leave. Not yet.
Spinning on her heels, she dashed into the caves and straight to Signe’s quarters and Lani’s clothes chest. She yanked out the garments she needed and stepped behind a screen. When she reemerged, she wore dark-brown leather pants and a dark, long-sleeved linen shirt. Over the shirt, a thick leather vest fit snugly to her torso.
Seeing Reece standing at the entrance to the bedroom, Kera came up short. “You should be in bed.”
“I heard you come in. Where are you going?” he asked.
She didn’t answer, but neatly slid her incordium dagger into its sheath at her waist.
His eyes glittered when he saw the blade. “I know trouble when I see it.”
She’d seen that look before. With deft fingers, she quickly braided her hair, eyeing him as she did. It was too dangerous for him. She couldn’t bear to think he might be harmed because of her.
“You aren’t ready for what’s going on. Stay out of it.” Stepping away, she grabbed the short sword Lani had used, strapped it to her hip, and rushed out.
At the caves’ entrance, she found Scoran, the first Kera had seen defending his rights when she’d entered the caves, and Morgan and Elix, two half bloods. Scoran and Morgan offered gentlemanly hellos, but Elix only nodded her head.
Each was dressed in a manner that would have them blend into their surroundings. Halim held a clay pot filled with a dark greasy mess, which they streaked across their faces. She dipped her fingers in and smeared four fat lines across her face.
Signe took the pot and nodded toward the boy. “Halim will show you the way.”
Kera trusted him even if he was now unsure of her. She suspected half the reason he was willing to go back was to make sure she wouldn’t do anything to endanger anyone else. He was a hero in the making, that little man.
Kera nodded to Halim. “Let’s go, then.”
He took off. For a mutt pedigree, the boy was fast. They were far ahead of the others when the two of them approached the village. Kera had feared they would need to climb the walls, but the strange smoke curled in a wheat field. They entered the stalks, and as they moved forward, the stalks turned a crisp, unhealthy brown. The wheat drooped as if suffering from drought, and the cast-off seeds crackled drily underfoot. Kera and Halim pushed their way through the stalks as quietly as possible. The air thickened in a way that made Kera’s skin crawl. It seemed as if the sun couldn’t push through the odd haze that stretched over the area. The smell of hate and fear had her shuddering long before the wheat grew thinner and the moans of suffering reached them.
It was horrible, hearing that low painful sound. It shook the wheat stalks like ghosts on the hunt. Halim sunk into the dirt; a quiver rattled his limbs. Kera motioned him forward, but he refused to go any farther.
The others suddenly appeared and scooted up next to them, their breaths short from keeping pace, eyes wide.
Kera stroked Halim’s neck, a sweeping motion that ended at his mid-back. She bent her head to his ear. His hair smelled of earth and rain and smoke. “Go home.”
He shook his head and lifted it. A tear hovered on his lashes. He was a sensitive soul, and Kera feared that before Teag righted itself, he would be damaged for good. “Go,” she repeated.
Without looking at Halim, she drew her sword and motioned the others to follow. They slowly crept forward, weapons at the ready, eyes searching.
It didn’t take long for the clearing to come into view. Kera’s legs suddenly refused to move, as if they were stuck in mud so thick it would swallow her. And at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to disappear. The clearing within the field was empty except for a dozen or so people—men, women, and children—their clothes in tatters. They were all gagged and tied down with their limbs stretched out on a slab of ironstone. Thick smoke, as dark and solid as ink, swirled upward, then down, curling around the people and marking their skin reddish-black. The sound the streaks made as they passed was like a rasp against wood, and it made Kera’s skin feel uncomfortably tight.