Tears blurred my vision as I shook my head.
“I will do it quickly,” Taio promised.
“It won’t work,” Finnrey said.“Our people have tried amputation before.It has never worked.The virus spreads through the blood.Within seconds, it was carried to every part of me.There’s nothing to do.”
I caught a sob and pressed a fist to my mouth.I knew what she said was true, but I desperately wanted her to be wrong.
“I am sorry, my lady,” Taio said, lowering his head.
Finnrey was watching us now, her dark eyes huge in her face.“Gaz is not a small problem,” she told Taio, her throat raspy.“He will try to kill you again.”
“Finnrey.”I brushed the hair back from her brow.Her skin was warm now, already feeling feverish.“Just rest.”
“He needs to know, Mara.”She looked at Taio again.“That night we spent in the outpost, all he could talk about was killing you.I tried to talk him out of it.Nize did too.”She glanced at me.“But you know Nize will follow Gaz anywhere.”
Gaz.This was his fault.I would kill him myself for this.
Finnrey coughed, a shuddering sound that seemed to wrack her entire body.
The infection was settling in.
“Thank you for the warning, Lady Finnrey,” Taio said.He placed a hand on her arm, just above the bite mark.
A few minutes before the skin had been raw and ragged from the bite, but the area around it was unblemished.Now I could see Finnrey’s veins as they led away from the wound.They were raised and red, much more visible than they should have been.
“I can feel it,” she whispered.“It’s like poison spreading through me.”
Her face blurred, and I realized I was crying.Tears slid down my cheeks and fell on her neck.She gave me a faint smile.“And everyone said you had no feelings.”She started coughing again, and I choked back my sobs.Omira said something, and Taio answered her.I was beginning to understand a little of their language and knew what they were discussing—how much time Finnrey had.How long until we had to kill her?
UntilIhad to kill her...
Finnrey caught her breath and reached for my hand.I held her hand tightly, her skin hot and clammy against mine.She was far too warm for the brisk day.“I don’t want you to do it, Mara,” she said.
She didn’t have to clarify.I knew she was continuing one of the conversations we’d had many times out on patrol.With death so close at hand, we’d often talked about what we’d do if one of us was bitten and not killed outright.We’d each vowed to kill the other quickly and painlessly.
“I promised I would,” I said, my voice thick as I held back sobs.
“We should have never made that promise.”She looked over at Taio.“Let him do it.”
Taio looked at her, then me.His brow furrowed then smoothed.He nodded slowly.“I will give you an honorable death,” he said.
“Finnrey,” I said on a whisper.
But she wasn’t looking at me any longer.
“Have you seen this before?”she asked, indicating the raised red veins that had now spread to her shoulder.
He shook his head.“I have seen Twilight Men.”
“Have you ever killed one?”she asked.
He inclined his head, which was neither a yes or a no.
“You have to destroy the brain,” she said, raising the hand I didn’t hold and touching her forehead.“The easiest kill points are here.”She touched her eye.“Here.”She touched her ear.“Or at the base of the skull.”She reached back and touched the juncture of her neck and head.“A sharp point is best.You can use my skullcrusher.”
Taio glanced at me.
“That’s her weapon,” I said, looking about.Omira moved away and returned with the weapon, laying it on the bedroll beside Finnrey.
