Now, as the morning sun rose steadily in the sky, I recalled that tense conversation as I stared down at Tess. In the distance, I saw Hukri approaching.
“Go to your friend,” I told Tess. “Herpikiwill join you soon. And remember—”
“Yes, if she so much as twitches, I will send for you,” Tess finished for me. I let her interruption slide. She was not a member of my horde and as such, I was not herVorakkar. She had rejected my offer to join the horde, as had many of the humans that came from the Dead Mountain, though I knew she had her own reasons, reasons she would explain to Mina once she woke.
Because I had to believe she would, that Minawouldwake.
That was the only way I would survive.
I inclined my head and passed her on the slope, nodding to Hukri in greeting before I set forth, towards the front of my horde. In the distance, I saw the flags of Rath Rowin waving in the breeze. A small encampment had been made for his traveling party, an area cleared within the gates. They would stay for a week or more, as we waited for the others to arrive.
Inside my council’svoliki, I saw Rath Drokka’s red eyes glow as I entered and I watched his white-haired queen bow her head. Valavik was there too but it was only the four of us for now. Rath Kitala was on his way, as was the newest of theVorakkars,to ride out into the wild lands, and at such a tumultuous time.
TheVorakkarof Rath Serok.
The alleged son of theDothikkarhimself, though it was rumored that Dakkar’s king ignored his birthright. A bastard son, born from the womb of the king’s servant. An unwanted son, whom theDothikkarhad banished from his great halls at the time of his birth.
Now Rath Serok was a king in his own right, the path to his power paved with his own blood.
“Rowin,” theVorakkarof Rath Drokka greeted.
“We are sorry to hear about yourMorakkari,” his white-haired queen said next, her gentle voice seeming to soothe some of the tension in thevoliki. Dust from the plains was still settled on her high cheekbones as her violet eyes watched me closely. “We came as soon as thethesperarrived.”
“I appreciate your haste,Morakkari,” I rasped, as a wave of exhaustion came over me. The long nights were creeping up on me. “And we have much to discuss.”
Drokka didn’t waste any time.
“Did you receive news of Rath Okkili?” he asked.
My brow furrowed. “Nik. Histhespersceased weeks ago. I assumed he had begun passage towards the northlands.”
“The Orala Pass is frozen over,” Drokka told me. “He could not even traverse the north river.”
Vok.
Which meant the priestesses couldn’t be reached. Not until it thawed. Not until the height of the warm season, which wasmonthsaway.
I raked a hand through my hair, peering behind Drokka at the map of Dakkar. The one Mina had painstakingly memorized. My eyes darted to the village she’d grown up in.
We would still have to endure months of the fog, which grew every passing day. Even if the priestesses finally came, there was no assurance they’d knowwhatit was, or how to defeat it.
“We cannot stay in the eastlands much longer,” I said, my tone grim. “The fog grows too unpredictable. Especially now.”
“Is it true then?” Drokka asked quietly. “Has the Dead Mountain fallen?”
“I saw it myself,” I told him, my jaw clenching. “Ifeltit myself.”
And afterwards, I felt my queen’s heart cease beating. I couldstillfeel that raw, scraping agony as it clawed at me from the inside out.
TheMorakkariwas still looking at me. I had the strangest feeling that she heard exactly what went unspoken, that she heard all the thoughts swirling in my mind.
“After I used the heartstone under the Dead Mountain, I slept for a long time too,” she murmured softly. Next to her, Drokka rumbled, reaching out a hand to press to her lower back, as if he was loath to remember that time. “I slept and I dreamed and I healed. Your queen is still alive. Her heart beats, does it not? Every day, she grows stronger. And soon, she will wake too. Kakkari is within her now. The goddess will not abandon her. Just as she did not abandonus.”
She cast a long look at her mate and I saw the way Drokka’s harsh face softened for her.
“Tell us about her,” theMorakkarirequested after she cleared her throat. “Tell us exactly what happened under the Dead Mountain.Hanniva.”
Seeing no reason not to, I did as the humanMorakkariasked.
