Taste of Darkness

After three nights with little sleep, I dozed in the chair.

“Am I boring you, my dear?” Tohon asked, waking me.

“Has anything happened?” I asked.

“Not yet, which is why we need to leave. But first you need to change.” Tohon grabbed my arm and helped me stand. He gestured to two women waiting nearby. “Don’t touch her skin.”

The ladies towed me behind a screen.

“What’s going on?” I asked.

They ignored me as they removed my cloak and uniform. With a quick no-nonsense efficiency that would have made Mom proud, they dressed me like one of the dead soldiers, complete with metal collar. Instead of my hands clamped behind my back, they secured a wide leather belt around my waist and cuffed my arms to my sides. They wound my hair into a bun and covered it with a knit cap.

When we returned to the main area, Tohon had also changed from his silk tunic and black pants. He, too, resembled one of the dead.

“Ah, there’re our doppelgangers,” Tohon said.

I turned. A woman with long auburn hair pulled into a single braid and green eyes arrived along with a handsome dark-haired man. The woman tied my cloak around her and the guards manacled her hands behind her back. The man stepped behind the screen and returned wearing Tohon’s clothes.

“Nice.” Tohon beamed. “Do you remember the plan?”

Both nodded.

“Very good.” Tohon gestured to the flaps. “Shall we, my dear?”

Not like I had a choice. We ducked outside. The sun hung low in the sky. It was about two hours before dusk. As we strode through the camp, I scanned the soldiers. No one appeared to be settling down for the night. No “catching them with their pants down.” Another group of guards followed us, as did the dead ufas, of course.

“You’re rather quiet. What are you thinking?” Tohon asked.

“The doppelgangers are a smart move.” Unfortunately.

“A compliment? You must be feeling ill, my dear.”

The thought of being bonded to him went way beyond ill into the domain of nauseating, foul, repulsive, and vile. A sarcastic comment died in my throat. No sense upsetting Tohon unduly, and if he believed I was resigned to my fate, then all the better.

We left the guild’s compound and entered the forest. After an hour, I recognized the area. I slowed.

“Something wrong?” Tohon smirked.

“Is that—”

“Yes. Ryne’s first headquarters. Do you have fond memories of that cave?”

“I don’t like caves,” I said.

“Really? Yet you spend so much time in them.”

“They provide protection for my patients.”

“Yes, they’re handy for protection.” Tohon led me straight to the entrance.

I hesitated. Once inside, the chances of my rescue or escape bottomed out at zero. The soldiers behind us moved closer.

“Go on, my dear. Make a break for it. It might make you feel better. Frankly, this docile act is rather boring.”

I’d get two steps before being tackled. No thanks. I walked toward the cave. Right before I entered, an icy chill brushed my skin, raising goose bumps on my arms. An omen? Or something else? A memory stirred and then slipped out of reach.

Instead of a damp, cold cavern, warmth pulsed. A fire had been started and comfortable chairs set around it. In fact, the place had all the trappings of Tohon’s lavish tent. Most of the men followed us inside, but the ufas remained outside.

“Impressed?” Tohon asked.

“Yes. I’d like caves a lot more if they were all like this.”

He laughed. “Stick with me, my dear, and you’ll never have to sleep on the ground again.”

“If you’re giving me the choice, then I’ll take the ground.”

“And there’s the sarcasm. Good, I was getting worried.” Tohon yanked off his metal collar and tossed it aside.

When he approached me, I recognized the gleam in his eyes. I backed away until I bumped into the wall. He unhooked my collar and dropped it, and then removed the knit cap. Untying my bun, Tohon let my hair down. He placed his hands on either side of my head and leaned in as if to kiss me.

I ducked.

With a growl, he hauled me to my feet. “Cute.” He put his hand over my mouth and shoved my head back. Hard.

Pain exploded as my skull connected with the stone. He let go and I slid down. My vision blurred and the cave spun, but I held on to consciousness. I remained on the ground as Tohon settled in a chair and directed his men.

Soldiers arrived from time to time with news. Eventually the sharp pain dulled into a throb. I struggled into a sitting position.

One man ran into the cave and announced they were under attack.

Tohon huffed in amusement. “Under attack? With such a small force, it’s more like a nuisance than an attack.”

“But, sire. There are hundreds of them! Coming from all directions.”

Tohon hopped to his feet. “Details, now!”

The man explained, his words tumbling out with a rush. “They don’t look like Prince Ryne’s troops. They have strange curved blades and colorful sashes.”

Noak and his men! I suppressed a shout of joy.

“We have plenty of troops. Send them where they need to be,” Tohon ordered.

“Yes, sire.” The man bolted.

Tohon stormed over to me. “Did you know about this?”

“No.”

“They’re the tribesmen from the north. They’re supposed to be guarding the Milligreen Pass. My men confirmed it.”