Текст книги "Touch of Power"

Автор книги: Maria V. Snyder

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Текущая страница: 18 (всего у книги 19 страниц)

“But the body’s been frozen in a stasis. Wouldn’t that freeze the toxin, as well?”

“Good point. Don’t give up. Keep thinking, Avry, you have a fine mind.”

“And look where it’s landed us.”

“This is temporary.”

I laughed. “I’m glad you can stay positive.” And I was beginning to like Ryne.

“Positive thoughts lead to positive results.”

“Did you learn that in school?” I asked.

“Yes. One thing the school excelled in was preparing us for the intricacies of politics and the harsh reality of intrigue and deception.”

“That school certainly had an impact on the students. Kerrick’s still grieving over Jael. Tohon still wants to be king of all the Realms.”

“It was life changing for all of us.”

In the morning, guards woke me from a light doze. Yanking me to my feet, they marched me to the infirmary. One removed my manacles and gloves while the other gave me strict instructions. I could work with the patients, but I must not leave the infirmary without them. They would guard the doors and would bring me back to my cell in the evening.

I rubbed my wrists, drank a huge glass of water, visited the privy and sent my helpers out for more food. After I finished my rounds, I sat in my office and read through my apprentice journal. Although I made a list of useful plants, I found no mention of any substance that could animate the dead. No note of a substance that would render a man unconscious, either. Something I could blow in their faces or they could smell.

The guards had been smart enough to keep their distance from me until I put on the gloves. A new set of guards came for me after the sun set. With my hands manacled behind me again, they escorted me below the castle. Still lying on the bed, Ryne looked as if he hadn’t moved since this morning. However, a tray of half-eaten food rested near the door.

When the guards left, he sat up and asked with concern, “Are you all right?”

“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?”

“I’m not the one who pissed off Tohon. He can be quite cruel.”

“I’m fine. I worked in the infirmary all day.”

“Tohon’s no fool. Your healing powers are a valuable resource.”

I glanced at the empty cells around us. “He could also be trying to draw Kerrick out.”

“That, too.” After a few minutes, he chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“You must have driven Kerrick crazy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Kerrick’s all about following orders and giving orders, there is no in between. However, I doubt you’re the type to just follow.”

“We did have our…disagreements.”

“I’d bet. Can you tell me about them?”

“It all seems so stupid now.”

“Consider it a dying man’s last request.”

“That’s not—”

“I know, but I’m bored, in pain and wouldn’t mind the distraction.”

“When you put it that way, how can I refuse?” I regaled him with a few stories of our rocky relationship. Looking back, I couldn’t see how my behavior would endear me to Kerrick. I’d been difficult and a pain in the ass.

Ryne enjoyed the tales. He certainly didn’t act like a dying man in pain. I think that whole positive attitude was the way to go. Worrying and moping won’t change his situation; he might as well enjoy his last days.

The next two days matched the first. Working in the infirmary all day, I stayed in my cell overnight, telling Ryne stories or brainstorming ideas on how to counter Tohon’s defenses. His intelligence was obvious, and I knew he would do great things if he lived. However, his symptoms increased each day. In a few days, he would enter the final stage and nothing I could say would ease his torment.

Time was against us. And, so far, we hadn’t found a way to outsmart the guards. Frustration welled as I stood within ten feet of him, yet couldn’t reach him. Tohon knew what he was doing when he picked our underground accommodations.

Trying to follow Ryne’s example, I focused on the one good thing. Tohon hadn’t caught Kerrick. But I wondered why Tohon hadn’t been down here to gloat. Perhaps Estrid’s forces had made inroads and he was preoccupied. No sign of Kerrick, either. Which was good. Nothing he could do if he was caught, as well—unless they let him keep his lock picks, which I’d learned the guards were too smart to do. Perhaps I could trick them into coming closer to me.

After I’d finished my rounds on that third morning, I read through my journal from cover to cover again, determined to find a way to escape. I also brainstormed ideas in my office. Perhaps there was a way I could trick them into coming closer to me—a fake swoon or direct attack?

A loud commotion interrupted me late in the afternoon. My infirmary helpers had all gone to fetch the dinner trays, so I hurried to the main room as two soldiers entered, each carrying an injured colleague. I gestured to the empty beds and they dumped them on the mattresses.

I turned to chastise the soldiers for their rough treatment. The taller one stood right next to me. I stepped back in alarm.

He said, “Easy there, miss.”

My heart flipped over. I glanced at the other. He tried to act innocent.

“Can you heal our colleagues?” Kerrick asked.

I played along, examining the patients. They both had concussions and multiple bruises. “They’ll be fine.” I pointed to a gash on Kerrick’s forearm. “You need sutures. Come to the exam room.” Turning around, I walked to the back room.

A few of my other patients were awake. They watched as we passed them. Would they recognize Kerrick? Would they sound the alarm? My heart urged me to hurry, but I kept my pace even.

I shut the door after both men were inside. Then I sagged against it. Loren smiled at me and I suppressed the desire to hug him.

“You were smart to wait a few days,” I said.

Loren glanced at Kerrick. “Told you. He wanted to rush in here right away.”

“What’s going on?” Kerrick asked.

He was business as usual. No sign of the other Kerrick—the one in the garden. I explained about Sepp and Ryne. When I had mentioned Sepp’s name, Kerrick scowled as a flash of pain crossed his face. Yet another betrayal for him.

“Did you know about Sepp?” I asked him.

“I suspected. And I don’t buy that Tohon’s men found them. Sepp had to tip him off.”

“They met at the Healer’s Guild before the plague, so it’s possible,” I said. Then I looked at Loren. “Have you been here all this time, too?”

“No, we came after the first round of attacks on Tohon’s defenses.”

“We?”

“Quain’s waiting on the other side of the wall. We’d thought it best to have a man on the outside.”

“Where’s Belen?”

“He’s still leading the sneak attacks.” Loren grinned. “Poppa Bear’s quite devious when he wants to be.”

Plus he’d be too noticeable. I studied the two of them. Kerrick had pulled back his brown hair and his face was unshaven. His eyes were now a vibrant green, matching the color of the forest exactly. Both of them wore Tohon’s army’s uniform, but their clothes had been stained with dirt and blood, and ripped as if they just returned from a battle.

“What’s next?” Loren asked.

“You don’t have a plan?” I tried not to let my voice squeak.

“This was it. Getting inside. We’d hoped you’d know all Tohon’s weaknesses by now,” Loren said.

“I do have an idea, but I was hoping with your experience in these things you had something…better.”

“What’s your plan?” Kerrick asked.

So much for my hope. I gave them a brief rundown.

“It could work,” Loren said.

“We’ll make it work,” Kerrick said.

A man shouted on the other side of my door. Then a loud knock sounded. I moved away from the entrance.

“Time to go, Healer Avry,” one of my guards said as he turned the knob.

Kerrick didn’t wait. He yanked the door open, surprising the man. Without hesitating, Kerrick pulled the guard into the room and held him tight.

“Avry.”

I pressed my fingers on the back of the man’s neck and zapped him. Kerrick dropped him and sprinted for his partner, who backed toward the outer door. In two strides, Kerrick tackled him. I ran to them and zapped the struggling man.

Realizing we were in the main room with recovering soldiers all around us, I stood. Loren had drawn his sword.

“No, Loren. These men are not to be hurt,” I said.

“We won’t get far if they raise the alarm,” Kerrick said.

“I know. But they’re mine. I won’t let them be hurt again.”

My patients stared at me. No one said a word for a very long minute. Then, one by one, my patients lay down in their beds, pretending to be asleep. Touched by their silent support, I almost cried. But I didn’t have the time. My infirmary workers would be returning soon.

“Thank you,” I said.

Kerrick and Loren stripped the guards of their uniforms before dumping them in two empty beds. Their dirty uniforms had worked for getting them into the castle complex, but wouldn’t do for escorting me to my cell. They changed.

I pulled on those horrid gloves, and Kerrick manacled my wrists behind my back.

Unable to resist, I said, “Just like old times.”

Kerrick’s smile reached his eyes. He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Except this time, they’re loose enough to slide your hands through.”

I walked between Loren and Kerrick as we headed toward the castle. Once inside, I led the way until we reached the stairs, then paused.

“At the bottom are solid double doors guarded by two men,” I explained. “Beyond those doors is a large room for the guards to relax and play cards or dice between checks. There’s always been at least four, maybe five in there with two or three in the cell area. The doors between the cells and room have bars so any noise will be heard by all six of them.” I bit my lip. My plan wasn’t going to work. There were too many guards. “Can you handle that many?” I asked.

“Think positive,” Kerrick said. “Stage an escape attempt when we reach the inner room. Make lots of noise, too. Okay?”

“Yes.”

We descended. When we reached the outer door, one of the guards grumbled, “’Bout time, I—”

Kerrick and Loren moved. I slipped the manacles off, but didn’t let them clang on the stone floor. Both guards were soon immobilized. I zapped them.

Kerrick placed the manacles back on my wrists. Loren removed the keys from a prone form. He inserted it into the lock. “Ready?” he asked.

No. If anything happened to them…

Kerrick nodded.

He opened the door and we entered as if they escorted me. Two of the four guards playing cards glanced up, but didn’t really see us as the game had their full attention. Kerrick squeezed my arm. My cue.

I yanked my left hand out and grabbed the manacles with my right. Yelling, I ran at the guards playing cards. Zapping one of them before they could react, I dove out of the way as Kerrick and Loren chased me. I screamed and carried on, swinging the manacles around.

“Stop her,” Kerrick called as he slammed the hilt of his sword on a guard’s head, knocking him out. He fought with a single-minded intensity.

“She’s free! Watch for her hands!” Loren shouted. He picked up a guy and rammed his head into the stone wall.

My metal cuff connected on a temple and I grabbed a wrist. Sending my magic into the guard, I held on as he cried out in pain. Then I touched the back of his neck, sending him to the floor.

More voices sounded. Bars rattled.

“Get in here,” Kerrick ordered. “We need help.”

The door squealed as two more joined the fray. Another few seconds of chaos ensued. I darted in and zapped the men Kerrick and Loren held before dodging out of the way. Within a minute, we had incapacitated them all.

We stood amid the prone forms, panting from the effort.

Loren grinned. “That was fun. Damn, Avry, you have a healthy set of lungs. Did I hear some girlie screams in there?”

“That was from one of the guards.”

“Ah.”

Our good humor died when we approached Ryne’s cell. The noise hadn’t roused him. Covered with a sheen of sweat, he lay still. Loren unlocked his door and I rushed to his side. Fear lumped in my throat. It was time.

Before I could touch him, Ryne held up a hand. “No. Wait until we’re free.”

“Will you be strong enough to escape?” I asked.

“I just need water.”

Loren went to fetch a glass. I helped Ryne sit up.

The prince smiled at Kerrick. “I knew you’d come. Avry had her doubts.”

“Well, without Loren’s good sense, he’d have been caught right away,” I said.

“Hey, I’m standing right here,” Kerrick said.

“Loren?” Ryne asked.

“At your service.” Loren returned with the water.

“Thank you.” Ryne gulped it down.

“We still have to get out of the castle complex,” Kerrick said. “The sooner, the better. Like now.”

Ryne wobbled at first, but steadied. Determined to walk on his own, Ryne led the way from the cells.

When we passed the guards, Kerrick asked me, “How long will they be out?”

“A few more hours.”

On the stairs, I leaned close to Kerrick. “What’s the plan once we leave the castle?”

“We head for the front entrance. Without Sepp, we can’t go through the Death Lilys around the wall.”

I hoped no one at the infirmary raised the alarm. Darkness had fallen by the time we slipped out the back entrance, which helped. Keeping to the shadows around the base of the castle, we headed toward the main gate. Once we reached the front, we would have to cross the courtyard before exiting. If we didn’t run or act like fugitives, we might make it.

Too bad about thirty soldiers guarded the front gate.

Chapter 26

“Were they here when you came in?” I asked Kerrick.

“No.”

“Flee or fight?” Loren whispered.

The torchlight illuminated the soldiers. Too many for the three of us. One of the guards we knocked out in the infirmary must have tipped Tohon off. I leaned against the wall. It seemed my life resembled a never-ending game of capture the flag, with me being the one player who is always getting caught in enemy territory.

“Flee,” I said.

“There’s nowhere to hide,” Kerrick said. “We’ll be captured. At least this way we die fighting.”

“We’ll go over the back wall.”

“I’d rather be skewered than eaten,” Loren said, sounding more like Quain.

“The Death Lilys won’t attack you. Trust me.”

Ryne looked at me as if I had lost my mind. But Kerrick and Loren had been through this with me with Flea.

“Take the lead,” Kerrick said to me.

Ryne stifled his surprise and shot me a measuring glance.

I retraced our steps. When we reached the open area behind the castle, I stepped out as if going to the infirmary like I had done dozens of times before. Kerrick and Loren stayed close to my side with Ryne following us.

About halfway there, a shout broke the silence. Another group of soldiers had been hiding in the shadows of the infirmary.

“Run for the back wall,” I said.

Kerrick bent, picked up Ryne and draped him over his shoulder. We bolted. The ground almost shook from the pounding of boots behind us.

As we drew near, I shouted, “Don’t get too close to the Lilys. Let me go first.” I rushed up to the closest Lily. Stopping right under the petals, I waved my arms. “Come on! Eat me!”

The Death Lily didn’t move. Kerrick and Loren came up beside me. Nothing happened.

I glanced at Kerrick in confusion.

He grinned. “Peace Lilys! Grab my hands.”

Loren and I clamped onto Kerrick. His magic zipped along my skin as he pulled us into the Peace Lilys. Enough of them for Kerrick to use his power, covering us with a camouflage so we blended in. We reached the wall, turned left for two dozen paces before stopping at a good spot where we could see through the leaves. Kerrick set Ryne down, but the prince kept his hand on Kerrick’s arm.

The number of soldiers increased, but they wouldn’t come near the Lilys. Voices shouted. No one had seen where we had gone. Most claimed we were Lily food.

Tohon strode into the middle of the chaos. Everyone fell silent at his command. He conferred with a few soldiers. I wondered if he would tell his men about the Lilys.

What was more important to him? The illusion of Death Lilys protecting his castle or finding us? I had to admit, it was an effective defense as long as no one knew they were Peace Lilys. Only we had been desperate enough to approach them.

“One problem,” Kerrick whispered. “When we climb over, we’ll be exposed. Is there another spot that’s hidden?”

“Yes. There’s a garden of Death Lilys in the back corner.”

“Death? Are you sure?”

“Yes, but they’ve been neutralized.”

We inched our way to the corner.

Tohon decided not to send his soldiers into the Lilys. Instead, he sent them to run outside through the front gate and position themselves around the walls to block our escape. We picked up our pace.

Tohon shouted, “I know you can survive the Death Lilys, Avry. I know what you’re doing. It’s temporary. You know I have my dead soldiers. You’ve signed a contract. You gave me your word. Don’t do anything rash. Come out with your friends and all is forgiven, my dear.”

We kept moving, but Kerrick’s grip on my hand tightened. Cold fear knotted in my throat and clutched my heart in its icy grip. I knew what I had to do. When we reached the corner, Kerrick ordered Loren over the wall first so he could help Ryne.

When Kerrick’s attention was focused on Loren, I touched Ryne’s hand. My magic exploded from my chest and he rocked back in surprise. Then I collected the oily blackness that sickened him and transferred it into me.

Ryne squeezed my hand. “Thank you,” he whispered.

“Stop Tohon and take care of my boys,” I said in his ear.

“I promise.”

Kerrick peered at us in suspicion.

“Ryne’s turn,” I said.

With Kerrick’s help, Ryne climbed the Lilys to the top of the wall. When he was out of sight, Kerrick said, “Your turn.”

“I can’t. I gave my word. Don’t worry, I’ve healed Ryne. Go and make sure he stops Tohon.”

“You gave your word to a madman under duress. You don’t have to honor it.” He pulled me close. “Come with me. Please.”

This was harder than deciding to heal Ryne. After all our bickering, he still wished to spend my last days with me. Leaning on him, I closed my eyes and breathed in his scent. Living green and spring sunshine. I opened my eyes. Tipping my head back, I met his gaze. Raw emotion shone on his face. He held nothing back.

Kerrick dipped his head. His lips met mine. A wonderful explosion of sensations started in the pit of my stomach and radiated out. His kiss was nothing like Tohon’s. It wasn’t manipulative or a show of dominance. It was his heart and soul. A gift.

And I wasn’t about to let him watch me die a slow and painful death. I pulled back. “I’ve a bit of…unfinished business with Tohon.” I couldn’t leave without making sure Danny was taken care of.

Kerrick stared at me with a confused pain. “But he’ll kill you.”

Now it was my turn to be confused. “I’m going to die, anyway. You know that.”

Kerrick shook his head, scowling.

Damn. A few little clues clicked into place. No wonder he didn’t seem that upset when I’d agreed to save Ryne. “Go. Get Ryne far away from here. He’ll explain it.”

“Avry, if this is because I’ve hurt—”

I covered his mouth with my own, kissing him one last time. “This isn’t because of anything you did. If the circumstances were different, I would go with you in a heartbeat. Talk to Ryne.”

Tohon’s voice grew louder as he shouted for me to surrender.

He dropped his arms. “Why can’t you tell me?”

“Go. Or all this is for nothing.” I pushed him.

He wouldn’t budge and his jaw settled into that stubborn line. Time for drastic action. Before he could grab me, I dashed between the Lilys and out to where Tohon could see me.

Kerrick’s hoarse cry would haunt me for the rest of my days.

“Where are your friends?” Tohon asked with a deadly tone.

“Gone.”

“Kerrick, too?”

“Yes.”

“Come here.” He held out a hand.

Bracing for the worst, I strode to him, but I balked at touching him. He snatched my hand, holding it with both of his. His magic vibrated through my bones.

He closed his eyes for a moment before meeting my gaze. “You’re a fool.” Dropping my hand, he shook his head in disgust. “You’re not worth my time.” Tohon pulled his sword. He pressed the tip to my chest.

Pain burned, but I stood my ground as I waited for the cold steel to plunge into my equally cold heart.

Tohon sheathed his weapon. “Killing you would be a kindness. And I’m not inclined to show you any. But what to do with you?” He tapped a finger on his lips. “How long do you have?”

“Ten to fifteen days. Twenty at most.”

“Will you be able to function?”

Function? What an odd word. “After the initial bout of stomach problems, I’ll be lucid and able to work for about ten days.”

“Our contract stands until you’re incapacitated. Make sure you teach your helpers everything they need to know to care for my soldiers before that point.”

Not what I had been expecting. At all.

“Surprised?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“Expected me to throw your sick ass in a cell?”

“Yes.”

“It’s tempting, but unnecessary. Nothing I can do will be worse than what you did to yourself. When you’re in your final days, I’ll be close by so you can beg me to kill you.”

Nausea swirled. Plague symptom or fear? Hard to tell. “Will you?”

“No. You’re going to suffer until the very end.”

Except for the bouts of vomiting, diarrhea and nausea, my days resumed the pattern I’d established before Ryne’s rescue. I worked in the infirmary all day and returned to my rooms at night. Other things had changed, though. Winter no longer helped me. Tohon no longer tapped on the secret panel. And he didn’t ask me to help him with his Death Lily experiments. His absence was an unexpected bonus.

It took seven days for the stomach symptoms to cease. Then the bone-deep aches and shooting pains started. Knowing my time was limited, I sorted my meager belongings. I had placed the juggling rocks in my pockets. When a round of sickness overcame me, I clutched them in my hands. It helped.

I put my necklace in an envelope with a letter to my sister, Noelle. I apologized and explained everything to her, but couldn’t even guess if she’d receive it, let alone read my words. Besides hurting Kerrick, she was my biggest regret. Maybe one of my patients would find a way to get the envelope to her.

As for Kerrick, I hoped Ryne explained. I had told Ryne everything about Tohon and what he’d been doing with the toxin.

I considered Danny’s situation. The boy would be well cared for if he stayed here, but the thought of Tohon raising him horrified me. I would need to help him escape. Too bad, Tohon wouldn’t stop injecting the toxin unless the Death Lilys stopped producing them.

Healing Ryne had been my main goal, and I’d achieved it. Yet, I would love to strike one blow to Tohon before I died. That night, I snuck up to the room behind Tohon’s lab. More children had been brought in, and others were gone. I crossed to the outer door. A hallway stretched to either side, I turned left and found the other sickrooms Danny had mentioned. Then I went right, searching for him. He slept in a small room on the bottom of a bunk bed.

Relieved, I sat next to him, calling his name.

“Hello, Avry,” he said when he woke. “What are you doing here?”

“Remember when I said I don’t like to see kids getting sick?”

“Yeah.”

“And you said we couldn’t stop it?”

“Yeah.”

“What if I told you I thought of a way to stop it. At least for a while. Would you be interested in helping me?”

He considered. “But what about the soldiers? That’s important.”

“Do you think it’s right to kill children to test medicines?”

“No, but—”

“There are many other ways to test medicine and none of it involves harming kids.”

His eyebrows drew together.

“I know because I’m a healer. I would never risk anyone for experiments.”

Danny shrank back. “But healers are bad. They started the plague.”

“Those healers are gone. I’m the last one and soon I’ll be gone.” I considered how much to tell him. “Danny, did King Tohon explain how you might develop healing powers in the future?”

He clutched the blanket to his chest. “No.”

“It’s not a bad thing if you do. This world needs healers and I think people are becoming more accepting.” I told him about the toxin. “King Tohon’s methods are too horrific, Danny. I want to take you someplace safe.”

“Me, too?” a girl’s voice said from above.

I glanced up in surprise. An angelic face surrounded by a mane of messy brown hair peered down at me from the upper bunk.

“That’s Zila. She’s eight,” Danny said.

“I survived, too,” she said. “I want to go. King Tohon’s mean.”

“Anyone else?” I asked.

“No. Just us,” Danny said.

“We’re special. King Tohon said so,” she said. “Two from dozens.”

“Dozens?” Danny frowned at her. “Are you sure he said dozens?”

“Yep.”

He was old enough to realize what that meant. Danny’s face paled, but he swallowed and met my gaze with determination. “We’ll help you.”

I filled them in on my plan. “Can you be ready to go tomorrow night around this time?”

“Yes,” they both said.

“Don’t tell anyone,” I added.

“Do I look like I’m eight?” Danny asked.

“Hey.” Zila threw her pillow at him.

He ducked it easily and tossed it back.

Curious, I asked, “How old are you?”

He straightened. “I’m twelve and three-quarters.”

I kept to my normal routine the next day. When I returned to my rooms from the infirmary, I brought my journal, food and a few first-aid supplies, packing them in my knapsack along with the envelope for Noelle. We’d need money, but I’d planned to sell my throwing knives.

Danny had told me the nurses only came during the day, so it should go smoothly. When it was well after midnight, I collected the kids. Dressed and ready, they both had small packs slung over their backs.

Hurrying through the castle, we slipped outside without incident. The moon was brighter than I’d wished, but we crossed to the outer buildings without raising an alarm. I paused in the stable’s shadows to listen for sounds of pursuit. After a few minutes of silence, we headed to the Death Lily garden.

Once there, I stopped next to the first one. Even though the petals were held open, I stuck my hand inside. A thorn pricked my palm. My awareness floated along the Lilys consciousness. Its misery consumed me.

How can we help? I thought.

Images of the orange toxin sacks filled my mind. I still had them in my pack. Then it showed me squeezing the liquid onto the ground around the plants. Its own toxin would kill the Death Lily. It wanted to die. Except I had the impression killing these plants was more like cutting off a limb than ending the Death Lily’s consciousness.

It released my hand and I held another two sacks. I quickly explained to Danny and Zila what we needed to do. Giving them each one of my throwing knives along with a stern warning to be careful with the sharp weapons, I sent them to the other Death Lilys. After they started, I grabbed my stiletto and cut a toxin sack open. I poured the poison around the base of the plant, then moved to the next one.

We worked as fast as possible. While the kids went deeper into the garden, I stayed on the outer rows. Because of the plague symptoms, I moved slower than the kids. I hoped I would get them to safety before I entered stage three.

Dawn was only a couple of hours away when we finished. At least I succeeded in one more thing. Tohon would have to plant a whole new garden of Death Lilys and wait for the Lilys to mature before he could start again. Perhaps by then Ryne and Estrid would be victorious.

The three of us cut through the dying garden to the back wall. Danny and Zila hesitated when they spotted the Peace Lilys. I assured them they wouldn’t be snatched. We pushed through to the wall.

Danny climbed over first, then Zila and I followed. As I crested the top, I felt no guilt in breaking my word to Tohon. Kerrick had been right. Tohon was a madman and there was no way I’d leave Danny and Zila in his care.

A surprised cry sounded as I dropped to the ground. I straightened and spun. Standing at the edge of the forest, Tohon held Zila, and Sepp had Danny’s arm twisted behind his back. I almost wilted in defeat right there. Damn.

“So predictable, Avry,” Tohon said. “I puzzled over why you would stay behind once Ryne had been rescued. Then I figured you had discovered my experimental children. Once I understood, all I had to do was assign a nurse to watch and wait. You didn’t disappoint.”

I glanced around, counting the soldiers. He’d brought six guards.

“You don’t think we needed an army to handle a couple of kids and a dying healer?” Sepp’s sneering tone bordered on incredulity.

“A healer who saved your life. As I recall, you almost died because Tohon had his dead soldiers capture me on my way to the cave. If it wasn’t for Kerrick’s timely rescue, you would not have survived your injuries.”

Sepp glanced at Tohon with anger and horror creasing his brow. I used the distraction to pull a couple throwing knives.

“Don’t listen to her,” Tohon said. “I allowed Kerrick to rescue her. I needed to touch her before they discovered Ryne was missing to ensure she’d return to me.” He studied me. “Is that all you have?”

It might not have helped me now, but I had planted a seed of doubt in Sepp’s twisted mind. “I have this.” I brandished my weapons.

“And if you move, I’ll hurt this little girl. So I suggest you drop all your knives on the ground,” Tohon said.

When I didn’t, Zila cried out in pain. I tossed my weapons down.

“Now, lead the way back to the castle. If you try anything stupid, I’ll hurt her again.”

I noticed movement along the ground in my peripheral vision, but I kept my gaze on Tohon. “How could I do anything, Tohon? All I have left are these.” I reached into my pocket slowly and withdrew my stones.

“What are they?” Sepp asked.

“Juggling stones. See?” I juggled the three rocks. Belen was right. They were the perfect size and weight. I did a bunch of tricks, reversing direction, throwing them high, then low, using one hand and doing a spin-throw combination.

Tohon and Sepp looked at me as if I’d lost my mind, but the guards and the kids watched fascinated. Good. No one noticed the vines creeping around their legs. And Kerrick had called me stubborn. The man was supposed to be long gone by now.

At the first shout of alarm, I threw my rocks as hard and fast as I could. One hit Tohon square on the forehead. The second cracked Sepp in his temple. Both men let go of their hostages when hit.

“Run,” I yelled to Danny and Zila.

They bolted into the woods as Kerrick, Ryne, Quain and Loren took advantage of the surprised guards whose feet were entangled in the vines. I dove for my knives.