Taste of Darkness

Rescue? Ah. “You think Cellina left Estrid and her high-ranking officers behind?” Sepp had frozen them all in a magical stasis.

“It doesn’t make sense for her to drag them back to Vyg. Besides, she believes only Sepp can awaken them.”

Oh. Now I understood his earlier reluctance. “You need Flea to go in with the initial attack and awaken them if they’re still there.” It was easier to rescue people who could walk.

“Yes. And I know how...protective you are of him.”

“I am. Which just means I’m going, too.”

“No, you’re not,” Ryne said, as if that ended the discussion.

It didn’t. “Yes, I am.”

“It’s too dangerous.”

“Then keep Flea with me at the infirmary until you’ve secured Zabin.”

“And if we can’t, there will be no second chance. He has to go.” Ryne held up a hand, stopping my protest. “He’s a good fighter, Avry. Very capable.”

“I don’t care.”

He fingered the light brown stubble growing on his cheeks. Dark smudges of exhaustion marked his eyes. “How about if I assign a squad with the sole purpose of protecting him during the attack?”

“That’s acceptable, but I’m still going.”

His demeanor changed. “I can ensure you stay behind.”

KERRICK

He resisted the pull. Fought the fever.

I’m not.

Going to.

Relax.

I promised.

Avry.

At times, he was everywhere. Every blade of grass, every tree,      and each bush was him. Stretched across the forest,      he felt every intruder, every animal, and each breeze. Pain from broken limbs      and trampled grass pulsed inside him.

At times, he was nowhere. He existed in a void of light and      sound. But he struggled against the nothingness and returned to the living      green.

At times, he was everywhere and nowhere, teetering on the      edge.

The voice of the living green spoke to him. Told him to rest.      Told him to stop fighting.

Kerrick never liked being told what to do.

I’m not.

Going to.

Rest.

I promised.

Avry.

He resisted the pull. Fought the fever.

CHAPTER 5

Ryne’s hard expression and threat to prevent me from joining Flea failed to affect me. “Uh-huh. And who’s going to help Flea when he pukes up his guts after awaking Estrid and still needs to awaken her staff of about twenty people? He won’t have the strength to do them all.”

His shoulders drooped. “Why didn’t you tell me about that?”

“You were too busy being all ‘no, you’re not going and I’ve spoken’ about it.”

“And you were too busy being all defiant. You could have explained.”

“I could have.”

He studied me for a moment. “Except I was too busy putting my foot down instead of asking you why.”

“That’s what I just said.”

“Yes, but without the sarcasm.” He rubbed both hands over his face. “Now I understand what Kerrick had to deal with all those months. You’re exasperating.”

“Thank you.” Kerrick’s name sent a jab of pain deep into my chest, but I kept it from showing on my face.

Dropping his arms, Ryne just shook his head. “Okay, you can accompany the offensive. I’ll make it work.”

“Good. And just so you know, if Flea and I go, then—”

“The monkeys will insist on going, too. Got it.”

Another thought occurred to me. “What happens if word gets back to Cellina that Estrid and her staff have been reanimated? Do we want to tip our hand now or wait?”

“Excellent question. I debated the very same thing. In the end, I need Estrid. Her acolytes have been effective in recruiting soldiers for her army, and there are a number of her companies that have refused to join my forces. Hundreds of fighters have fled back to Ozero Realm and we need them.”

Unpleasant memories of my encounter with High Priest Chane in Mengels played in my mind. His men had tried to ambush me. “The acolytes use strong-arm methods and outright kidnapping to recruit people. Do you really want to resort to that?”

“Of course not. Which is why we need the High Priestess. Only an order from Estrid will change their methods. Plus she amassed a rather large army and could again. If Tohon hadn’t used his dead soldiers to trap them, he would have had a hard time defeating them.”

“But they fight in the name of the creator.”

“I don’t care if they fight in the name of broccoli. The goal remains the same.”

True. I considered. “What happens if our combined forces conquer Cellina and High Priestess Estrid decides she wants to be in charge?”

“You mean you don’t want to become an acolyte?” Ryne faked horror.

“It’s those garish red robes. The color clashes with my hair.” I flicked an auburn strand from my face.

“Now, now. The creator frowns on vanity.”

“And on laughter, joy, music, dancing... Basically all forms of fun. Oh, and on sex, too. The creator’s a dour deity. However, you’re evading the question.”

“I am?”

“Ryne, talk or I’ll zap you.”