Taste of Darkness
Page 77Reluctant to wake Kerrick, I turned to the horse. He seemed intelligent and hadn’t run off despite the ruckus. “Water?” I asked.
The horse glanced at Kerrick, then walked away. Slinging my pack over my shoulder, I followed him, hoping he wasn’t heading to the aqueduct. Moving almost without sound, he led me to a clean spring. He dipped his head and drank. I waited until he’d finished before ripping off my clothes and wading into the cold, waist-deep water.
An ugly red gash marked where Jael’s sword had punctured me. Deep purple-and-red bruises spread out from the injury. Careful of my ribs, I sat down and dunked my head, then scrubbed every inch of my body twice. I considered a third rinse, but my teeth chattered and my hands were numb.
I climbed from the pool. The horse watched me as I squeezed the water from my hair then shook off as much as I could.
“Thanks,” I said to the horse.
“Humph.”
Was that... No. “Kerrick?”
He appeared next to the horse, looking drained. “Imagine how I felt when I woke up and discovered my horse had stolen my girl.”
I laughed. “I’m sorry, Kerrick, but it was love at first sight.”
“I can understand that. I’m loving what I’m seeing right now.” He leered.
Oh. I grabbed my travel clothes from my pack. Before I could put them on, he closed the distance between us.
“Not so fast.” Kerrick kissed me.
I warmed immediately, wrapping my arms around him. But a familiar foul odor intruded and his stiff shirt scratched my skin. I broke away. He’d gotten dirty carrying me.
“What?” he asked.
He glanced down. “It’s my only shirt.”
I dug through my pack, producing his other shirt. “No it isn’t.”
“Ah. I wondered where that had gotten to.”
“I was keeping it safe for you.”
“Mighty nice of you.” He cocked his head to the side. “How about a deal? I’ll get washed up if you join me?”
Tempting, very tempting. “Do we have time? We have to meet the others.”
Kerrick glanced at the horse. “Hux is fast, but with two of us... Ah, hell.” He kicked off his boots and pulled off his soiled shirt and pants.
“Hux? You named the horse?”
“Yeah. Avry, meet Huxley.”
Huxley snorted and moved closer.
“Hello.” I scratched him behind the ears. “What happened to your reluctance to having a big noisy creature around?”
Kerrick grabbed my soap and plopped into the pool. “I’ve been training Hux how to be quiet.”
Huxley nudged me with his nose, pushing me closer to Kerrick. Then he headed deeper into the forest.
“Cold.” I shivered, but joined him.
“No worries, my love. I’ll warm you up in no time.”
One of the things I loved about Kerrick—he kept his promises.
* * *
I had to admit, Hux’s ability to move through the forest with hardly a sound was impressive. Even with two people on his back, he galloped as if we weighed nothing. However, every jolt reminded me of my broken ribs. We’d been on the road for a day and, according to Kerrick, we’d traveled at an angle, which was how we’d arrived at the border a few hours before the women.
“They have to keep to the paths,” he explained. “The briars would rip their legs to shreds.”
About to ask why Hux didn’t have any trouble, I realized the answer. Kerrick’s forest magic. He made full use of his power as we waited for the women. Leaving me next to a bonfire, he took Hux hunting and returned with two stags. I helped him butcher the animals and threaded thin ribbons of meat onto twigs to cook.
When the women arrived, they were grateful for the fire and the food. They took turns standing close to the flames, warming up. Everyone looked worn out, including Kerrick. He’d eaten and then disappeared.
Flea, Ives, Odd, and the monkeys found a spot to plop. I joined them.
“Any problems?” I asked.
“Just the usual,” Loren said. “Cold nights, hungry women, blisters, and lots of whining from Quain.”
No response from Quain. He leaned his head back on a tree trunk with his eyes closed.
“Estrid’s troops?” I asked.
“Where’s Kerrick?” Flea asked.
“Resting, I hope. He’s beyond exhausted,” I said.
Flea met my gaze. “Do you think I could...”
“You don’t look any better, Flea.”
“Yeah, well, it’s a different kind of...tired.”
True. Expending magical energy was unlike using physical energy, but there was a hard limit to both. “You can try, but don’t go overboard like Kerrick does.”
Flea stood and scanned the trees. “Where...”
“Just look for Huxley...the horse. He stays close to Kerrick.”
No one commented—more proof they’d all sapped their strength.
“Now what?” Odd asked.
Loren gestured to the clumps of women. “Once we cross the border and find the ladies some decent clothes, they should break up into smaller groups and disperse to the other realms.”