At the sound of soft nickering, she noticed Fair. Lord Norrlen’s horse grazed in a dark clearing beyond the cave. She picked up the familiar voices muted in conversation. Zev sat by her feet and Cassiel sat by her head. One of his cool hands rested on her curled fist. The touch had been enough to pull her out of that darkness.
Had he known she was having a nightmare? Had she been screaming? But no one else had noticed she was awake.
They were watching Rawn who sat on the other side of the campfire. He ground dried, red petals in a wooden bowl and tossed in a pinch of yellow powder from one of the many pouches on his belt. A sweet floral scent filled the air.
This was the first time she’d seen theDynalyaflower other than in books. Nonetheless, she was well-versed in medicine to recognize what he was making. A small pot of water simmered over the fire, the handle hanging from a spit. Rawn removed it to pour it into a wooden cup and mixed the powders.
“What is it?” Cassiel asked stiffly.
“It’s a remedial concoction for my head,” Dyna murmured as she sat up.
“You’re awake.” Zev exhaled in relief. “How are you feeling?”
She managed a brittle smile. Weakness had settled over her bones. Her Essence was spent. It may take her longer to recover. “I’ll be all right.”
Rawn passed her the cup. “Drink, my lady. You will feel much improved.”
A sweet-smelling steam swirled above the red liquid. She blew on the surface before taking a sip. It reminded her of raspberry leaves and a hint of lemongrass. It warmed her sore throat, and her headache immediately faded away.
“Thank you,” Dyna said to Rawn.
Cassiel gave him a curt nod. “Given that you came to our aid, you have my thanks.”
“That puts us within your debt,” Zev said, observing him.
Rawn inclined his head. “I relieve you of your debt. It is dishonorable to gain favors and life-servants at the cost of saving lives. The elves do not practice such a custom. Slavery is banned in the Vale.”
“As it is in Hilos and the Four Realms,” Cassiel mentioned. “The Celestials are not so arrogant to believe we may own a life. That is not the will ofElyon.”
Dyna made a face at him. He deliberately didn’t mention that fact the first time he had saved her life. His expression remained casual, but the corner of his mouth quirked.
“Von and Geon must be life-servants,” she said.
Rawn shook his head. “‘Life-servant’ is an understated term. They are slaves. To have your life saved only to lose it to enslavement is reprehensible. As of late, several kingdoms have proposed to end the Life-Debt Law, but most of Urn resists it, unfortunately. Owning lives is a manner of wealth.”
“Is there a way for them to gain their freedom?” She kept thinking of Von and his insipid face when the sorceress confronted him. He knew he would be defeated, but Dyna sensed his fear had not been against her magic.
“As of last month, the Azure Kingdom has abolished slavery,” Rawn said. “On this land, they are free. They need only acknowledge it.”
“You mean they can walk away?” Zev asked.
“The braver ones do, but many fear the repercussion. With the proper legal assertion of their rights, those in bondage can attain their freedom. However, with Tarn as their master, it may not be a simple feat.”
“Who is he?” Cassiel asked.
“I have yet to make his acquaintance. I know of him through infamy alone. There are several narratives and rumors about him. All of which depict him as a treacherous man who does not fear recourse for his deeds. His band of Raiders pillage and slay in his name. He has murdered and thieved in several kingdoms. Many have placed a sizable bounty on his head, dead or alive. Which is why he never lingers in one place for long.”
“He’s a cutthroat,” Zev concluded.
Rawn nodded. “He has no qualms in killing for what he wants. He will take anything from gold to people.”
Dyna gasped. “People? You say it as though he didn’t earn their servitude.”
“Tarn enslaves those with the skills to serve him. And there is a rumor that he searches for Sacred Scrolls.”
She frowned. “Why would Tarn want those?”
“He does not strike me as a pious man,” Cassiel retorted.
