“Estrid provided us with fresh provisions,” Kerrick said. “There’s plenty of daylight left. We’ll head north toward the Nine Mountains as planned.”

The others looked at me, which didn’t make Kerrick happy. Although, as far as I knew, nothing made him happy. Having no interest in leading, I said to Kerrick, “Lead on.”

We walked through the streets of Zabin. I noticed how the citizens who didn’t wear the robes kept their gazes on the ground. They hurried along as if afraid someone would stop them.

Exiting the city, we followed the border road so named because it paralleled the border between Vyg and Pomyt. Without having to worry about Estrid’s soldiers, we could use the road and camp on the Pomyt side. Most of Vyg was still disputed territory.

An hour outside Zabin, we encountered trouble. Kerrick cursed and pulled his sword, warning us before six horses broke from the forest. I yanked one of my throwing knives as everyone grabbed their weapons, but it didn’t matter. Jael led the ambush. No weapon could match her magic.

Armed soldiers rode on the other five horses. And, as an added bonus, Noelle shared Jael’s mount. Sitting behind Jael, my sister wouldn’t meet my gaze, but she stared with a cold disgust at my companions.

“Estrid was a fool to let you go,” Jael said. “Our army is more than capable of handling Tohon’s.”

“Did you come all this way just to say goodbye?” Kerrick asked.

“Oh, yes. This is goodbye,” Jael said. “Unlike Estrid, I’m not a fool. You’re too dangerous to leave alive.”

“Estrid won’t be happy,” Kerrick said.

“That’s why I’m not dragging the healer back with me. She’ll just squeal to the High Priestess, and I don’t want to tip my hand just yet.”

“But you trust Avry’s sister?”

“My little protégée has been surprisingly helpful. She’s also proving to be quite valuable and loyal. We agree on so many things.”

Not good. Noelle finally met my gaze and I was the one to glance away. Pure joy over my imminent demise shone from her face. Not only had she changed, but she’d found another person to shadow.

“You don’t need to kill my men,” Kerrick said.

“And leave them to avenge your deaths? Didn’t you hear me when I said I wasn’t a fool? Goodbye, Kerrick, I’m afraid there’s no chance of us ever getting back together.”

In desperation, I threw my knife at her, aiming for her neck. But the air thickened, stopping the weapon in midair. It dropped to the ground.

Jael tsked, shaking her head at my lame attempt before a wall of air slammed into us, knocking us to the ground. When the wall retreated, it sucked all the breath from our lungs. This time Jael wasn’t playing around.

Chapter 15

Lying on the ground, I strained to draw a breath. Familiarity with this particular situation didn’t prevent my panic from rising, but knowing Belen and the others also suffered kept my fear from dominating.

My healing magic surged and fought to keep air in my lungs. Jael’s power pressed harder, but another magic tingled along the back of my hand. I looked to my left. Kerrick lay next to me with his arm outstretched. Jael either didn’t know about his forest magic or didn’t believe it would make a difference. On its own, it probably wouldn’t, but combined with mine…

I grasped his hand and it felt as if I had just been struck by lightning. Instead of sharing my energy with him, he sent his to me. And, damn, the man was strong. The forest’s vast energy waited for me to tap into it. Air flowed back into my lungs as the healing power won the battle. I “healed” Kerrick and reversed the flow of energy, letting Kerrick tap into mine.

Not quite understanding what had happened, Jael frowned at us. Suffocating six people required all of her strength, but now she only had four. And if we didn’t stop her soon, she would kill them.

Keeping a grip on Kerrick’s hand, I grabbed one of my knives and flung it at her. It struck her upper arm. She yelped and I sent another into her thigh. The horse reared at the scent of blood. Noelle clutched Jael’s waist, but they remained in the saddle. My attack did break her concentration. Noisy gasps erupted behind me.

Her soldiers drew their weapons. Kerrick dropped my hand in order to engage the soldiers while the others recovered. Heavy branches dropped from the trees above us, scaring the horses. Against five on horseback, Kerrick was holding his own. It was impressive, but I knew with the energy he spent he wouldn’t last. I wounded two of the soldiers. By then Belen, Loren and Quain joined in the battle.

Although boastful, Jael’s claim of not being a fool proved accurate. She called for a retreat and the six horses galloped away.

We cheered and congratulated ourselves until we realized Flea remained prone on the ground. He stared at the sky, but he wasn’t moving. I raced over to him. Blue lips, eyes vacant and the pasty pallor of the dead greeted me.

I touched Flea’s slack face. No magic swelled from my core. “Kerrick,” I yelled.

He knelt next to me and covered my hands with his. Magic flowed into me, but I couldn’t funnel it into Flea. I tried until exhausted. And I would have kept going, but Kerrick pulled me away. Healers couldn’t bring the dead back to life, but I had hoped just this once I could.

Numb with grief, I sat next to Flea as Kerrick and Belen discussed the macabre yet necessary task of burying him. Loren and Quain stood nearby, looking miserable.