Dyna had to swallow so she could answer. “Did … did you kill him?”
She scoffed. “Do you weep for him?”
“Did you?”
“Not yet.” The sorceress curled her lip as though she regretted not doing so. “He’s under a comatose spell.”
Dyna released an exhalation of pent up breath.
“Will any more of his men come?”
“I’m not sure, they—Cassiel, he—” Dyna covered her mouth and more tears welled in her eyes. He hadn’t been able to reach her. Had they captured him? Was he alive? She should have stayed with him instead of being blinded by her selfish feelings. None of it mattered. All she wanted was to be with him now.
The sorceress rose. “He fought them well. You will see him again.”
“I will?” Dyna pressed on her heart, clinging to that hope. Something stirred in her, filling her with his presence as if he indeed was coming.
The sorceress flicked her wrist again and the fog dissolved away. Rays of golden sunlight streamed through the trees. They were about midway down the hill. Not close enough to shore, but the surface of Loch Loden was visible through the branches.
“Thank you for helping me,” Dyna said. “I need to find my companions.”
“I don’t have the time to help you there. I only came to deal with this man.”
“I’ll not let you get anywhere near him, witch!” Geon stood on shaking legs in front of Von, wielding a knife.
The sorceress rolled her eyes. “Haven’t you had enough? Either you move, or I willmakeyou move. Choose.”
“I won’t.”
“Very well.” She raised a hand and clenched it into a fist. Geon’s right leg snapped out from under him with a sickening crack. A bloody jagged piece of bone protruded from his torn shin. He fell to the ground, his mouth splitting wide in a scream. Dyna cringed, horrified.
But Geon forced himself up, sobbing from the agony. He laid over Von, using himself as a shield. “I care not what you do to me! I won’t let you touch him!”
The sorceress hissed. “Move.”
“You must kill me first!”
She flicked a hand, hurtling the boy into another tree with a brutal thud. Still, he rose again with a whimper and crawled to Von, digging his fingers in the mud.
“Gods, you’re relentless.”
“I won’t stop fighting,” he said, snot and tears streaming down his face. “If it were me lying there, he would never stop fighting either!”
“Must I break every bone in your body?” She twirled a finger, and Geon’s arm snapped under him. His horrid wails filled the woodland.
“Stop!” Dyna cried. “Don’t hurt him anymore!”
The sorceress glared at her. “They stole from me.”
“Then take what belongs to you and leave.”
“You would petition formenwho intended to spirit you away?” She spat the word in disgust and incredulity as though they were vile creatures not worth the dust under her boot.
Dyna held her harsh gaze. “Yes.”
The brave boy was defending his commander. She didn’t want to see him tortured because of it.
The sorceress’s lips tightened in a thin line. Her glowing eyes locked on Von and Geon with such loathing, it reminded Dyna of the way Captain Gareel had looked at her. With hate. His hate had been rooted in fear for humans. What did the sorceress have to fear from them?
