“Who’s that? He smells of blood.”
“Our prisoner. He’s going to lead us to Alba,”I said. “How much farther?” I asked with determination.
“Probably after sundown.”
“Is he lying?”I asked Braxius.
His little head cocked to one side, assessing the man before us. “I don’t think so.”
“Is that your pet?”
“Pet?!”If Brax had feathers, he’d be fluffing them in insult.
“He doesn’t like that term.”
Dae raised a hand in submission. “Sorry to offend.” His other hand gripped his upper thigh. I started to feel slightly bad for pushing him.
“I like him. He apologizes. Tio doesn’t apologize.”
“He’s only helping because I’m threatening his life. Don’t let your guard down so fast.”
Brax shrugged against my neck, his usual position, only this time with my hair pulled back, he was fully exposed. I’d take my hair down, but the thought of trapping anymore heat against my skin felt like a death sentence.
“Will you be able to treat that at the outpost?” I asked, taking in the dark stained fabric that didn’t fully stop the bleeding.
“Not well. Extremely limited supplies there,” he said before hobbling northward again.
Letting out a long breath, I considered my grave mistake. I’d turned my back on him, lowered my weapon, and made myself vulnerable. If he had magic, I questioned why he didn’t take that opportunity to use it. He could have donesomethingto free himself of me. I wouldn’t have hesitated if the roles were reversed.
Then again, I would never be part of a group that was so careless with human lives. Whoever this man was, whatever his motivations were, his very involvement denoted danger. I would do well to remember that, despite his cooperation and mildly devastating good looks.
26
Dae
Gods above, my leg fucking hurt. What was this woman doing in the woods, anyway? Why travel this far, armed with only four measly arrows? Two women and a tiny dragon had wandered dangerously close to a power they wouldn’t understand. Nothing but sorrow and suffering awaited them here, especially if they had magic.
I assume her friend revealed hers, otherwise the members wouldn’t have gone through the trouble.Zyannahere had at least been smart, not sharing if she was blessed or not. Though, it would help for me to know.
I couldn’t be sure what her plan was. If she traveled this far to join The Order, why not go willingly? From what I’d witnessed, she had been moments away from killing whoever took her friend. I assumed Val and Dalin had the injured woman, but if Harlson and Johni, the previous game duo, saw an opportunity, I was sure they’d take it. They’d probably suspect their failure wouldn’t be tolerated and thought bringing a magical sacrifice would earn them grace.
Hopeful fools. There would be none. Dedicated to the corrupting cause, they would return in hopes of reward, only to face the severe punishment for failing—death. How they could remain at The Order’s camp for as long as they had and imagine even a shred of hope could be found was a question I couldn’t answer. Then again, perhaps my heart being stripped of any warmth after living like I had for so long had actually become a blessing. Survival was all that resided in me now, and maybe that’s what allowed me to see the inevitable outcome clearly.
Overgrowth on the road cushioned my steps, but that did nothing against the bite of pain that radiated in my leg with every stride. Great divine. Even if I stopped moving I’d find no relief. Dwelling on the incessant ache wouldn’t mend it, so instead I’d been chasing thoughts, one after another. Engaging the huntress stalking behind in conversation helped, and in the moments between, I considered what would follow.
I hadn’t conjured a reasonable excuse as to how I’d negotiate her friend’s release. If the woman behind me was ruthless enough to maim me and command I travel on an injured leg, I had little doubt she’d sink her arrow into any one of our hearts. And while death had become a friend I merely waited to greet, the price of simply exchanging her friend’s life seemed reasonable enough to pay. Another fresh shooting pain blasted through my thigh, making it hard to concentrate on the situation. My vision grew blurry, not from tears, but from the dizzying level of agony that ripped me apart with every step. Weakness had been trained out of me since joining The Order of Darkness, so I would keep pushing. Stopping or asking for a break wasn’t in my nature now.
It would take hours to reach the outpost at this rate. Hours I would need to utilize to come up with a plan. She could very well kill me before then.
She’d be right not to trust any one of us.
Ignoring the brutality she’d inflicted upon me, she didn’t deserve to die. In fact, she was quite brave.I just want to save my friend,she’d said. Maybe foolish was a better term, but admirably brave all the same.She held conviction behind her hazel stare, a spark I once knew in a past life.
“Why are you here? In the north?” I asked, clenching my teeth to work through another jolt of lashing pain as I walked.
“Reasons,” she quipped.
“Come on,Sky Goddess. Play nice. I answered your questions, and you did disfigure me, after all.” Conversation was only a marginal distraction from the screaming pain in my leg now, but I was losing the battle on my own. A moment passed, then another, and I nearly begged for a reply. Anything to help my mind focus on something other than how I might prefer her to launch that second arrow rather than continue like this.
