“What? Well, I was,” Traijen said, slumping down in his saddle as he nudged his horse to catch up.
As they made their way down the street, Katrina leaned up and placed her head on Rone’s shoulder.
“So, does this mean I can come with you?” She asked in a gentle whisper — her hot breath in his ear and brushing the side of his neck, caused Rone to tilt his head to the side as if he had been tickled.
“It means, I won’t leave you here to be hassled by idiotic guards,” Rone said with a grin he couldn’t help.
Katrina squeezed his waist a little tighter as they rode down the street and laid her head against his back.
“Thank you, Rone. I have to admit I’m not used to anyone being willing to stand up for me. Since my exile, I’ve taken care of myself, you know. Even when I was apprenticed to someone, they never really seemed to care much.”
“You’re talking about the merchant we found you with?” Rone asked, looking back at her. Katrina seemed to be thinking of something else as a keen look of sadness came over her face.
“Yes, him and someone else. The only time they ever did anything for me was when they wanted something in return.”
“What did they want?” Rone asked, concerned over the sudden and deep sadness in her voice.
Katrina looked down to avoid eye contact and pulled the top of her tunic together as if she had suddenly become embarrassed.
“Things I should never have given them.” She replied softly. The tone of her voice, along with the look of pain that suddenly crossed her face, made Rone wish he had not asked. Pulling her face up gently to look him in the eyes, he made her a promise.
“I won’t ask you for anything, Kat, and as long as you’re with me, neither will anyone else.” His words were caring, and even if she didn’t think she should, she believed him. Which meant more to her then she could show. So instead, she squeezed his waist gently, and they rode on to the Library in silence.
As she sat there behind Rone and thinking about what he had just done for her, Katrina reached up and touched the pendant under her tunic. She felt the cold metal of its chain and the warmth that the gem gave off against her skin. A heat that meant the enchantment was working and told her their conversation had not gone unheard.
With a quick jerk of her hand, the chain holding the pendant snapped, and the necklace fell free from around her. She released her tunic and let it slide out from underneath it, falling unnoticed by those who traveled with her. Where it landed on the street and was crushed by the feet of their horse.
****
Inside the ruins of Grey Ridge keep, Zannith Daltorea threw the silver bowl he held against the wall, spilling the water and shattering the enchantment that it contained.
His yellow eyes starring at its bent form lying on the ground, and he cursed under his breath. That little harlot will pay for this, and she will pay dearly.
He thought as he stormed out of the room and onto the crumbling battlements outside. Standing in the cold night air, he summoned forth his considerable power. Using it to open a portal to a small village on the southern border of the badlands controlled by the DokalFae.
This village was one of the few where exiles could find work and be welcomed among others that had suffered the same fate. Here is where he discovered his apprentice, and where he offered her the means to care for her sickly little sister.
Leana was the reason Katrina had been exiled because she refused to murder Leana in one of the priests of Mephesto’s sacrifices. A sacrifice her own mother had ordered.
As he stood outside the door of the small hut where Leana was living, he smiled with intense joy.
“Before I’m done, she will regret ever being saved in the first place.” He said as he opened the door.
Moments later, the silence of the sleeping village was shattered by the sound of a woman’s agonizing screams. As the captain of the village militia sprung from his bed and grabbed for his bow, he could see the red glow of firelight pouring through the cracks of his shuttered window.
As he flung back the latches and pushed the window open, he could see Leana’s hut was completely engulfed in flames. Worse still, outside of its blazing ruins was Leana. She had been lashed to a pole, and her face was twisted and distorted in a mask of agony.
From her neck down, her naked body was bare of all skin, exposing the bloody tissue and muscles that lay underneath. She screamed again and again as the pain drove her mind to madness.
Unable to stand the sight of it any longer, the Captain drew back his bow and sent an arrow flying into the woman’s heart.
That’s when he saw it, the vapors of some unknown magic escaping on the tail of her last breath. Dissipating on the night's breeze.
Whoever had done this had enchanted the poor woman. Sustaining her life in perpetual agony until the arrow mercifully stopped her heart.
From the darkened shadows of a nearby building, Zannith smiled to himself.
“No one turns their back on me, Katrina.” He said as he stepped into another portal and disappeared.
25
The next morning Tobias Longbranch stood in the window of the main house and stared out at the Thorn Caller Rangers going about their duties. This is not how he wanted to gain leadership of their order, but it’s how it happened, and there’s no changing it.
The other Rangers can’t hear Max as he can, they can’t see his shade the way he does. He raised his cup to his mouth and drank down the strong whiskey in large gulps.
As he placed it back on the table in front of him, he felt the grip of a cold hand on his shoulders.
“It’s time, Tobias, we need to take the fight to the Orcs. We need to drive them from our home for good.”
As Tobias turned around, he could see the ghostly pale apparition standing there. This image of Max was looking frail and sickly.
“Why do you look so weak old friend? Is death taking it’s toll already?” The shade only shimmered and faded from view for a moment before reappearing close to the door.
“It’s the Orcs Tobias, their poisoning of the forest is destroying my spirit now as well. You need to muster the Rangers and attack them head-on.”
“There’s not enough of us old friend. To attack now before others can be summoned would be futile.” Tobias said as he refilled his mug.
“Don’t you trust me, Tobias? Have I ever led you wrong?” The shade asked, gliding forward and rested its cold hands on Tobias’s shoulders.
“No, you have not,” Tobias replied, taking another deep swallow from his whiskey.
Just then, the door to the house swung open as Decker and Sagina stepped inside.
“Hail Tobias,” Decker said as he greeted him with a nod.
“I’m glad you’re here Decker, Summon the others for me please.” Sagina looked at Decker then back at Tobias.
“We need to talk before we do Tobias,” She said, sounding more than a little concerned.
“It can wait,” Tobias answered angrily as he caught the looks of mistrust shared between the two of them.
“No, it really can’t Tobias,” Decker said, holding up his hand to keep Tobias from exiting through the door.
“We are worried about you, man. You have not come out of here in days. You don’t eat. You barely sleep, and you don’t talk to us. We know Max’s death has been hard on you, but the others need a leader now more than ever.”
“Thank you for your concern, but that’s exactly why I need you to gather everyone outside. It’s time I became that leader.”
Decker sighed a breath of relief at Tobias’s statement. He had been worried about Tobias for a few days now, but even more so about the other Rangers. He had not missed the talks they were having about calling for a vote of leadership. Some were also tossing around the idea of leaving the Rangers order entirely.